"God is with us"

This week we had what we call "finding day" in Lille. Missionaries came in from other areas to spend the day trying to find "new Amis" for our sector. We were able to get members of the ward involved and went out on "splits" with them so that we could have even more teams of missionaries out. Overall the day was really successful and we were able to talk with some really great people! The last person of the day that we talked with was a college student from China. It was interesting because we found out she was actually Christian. She said that it has been hard because her family is Christian but not very many other people from China are. She came to Lille for school but hasn't really been able to go to church because they are all in French and she doesn't understand French very well yet. I told her that our church is Christian based and that she can come on Sunday and we will translate for her! It is going to be General Conference anyways so we can have her just watch it in English. I am really hoping that she comes and has a good experience.

Easter dinner with the missionaries!

This has definitely been a week full of lots of different emotions. Obviously, everyone has heard about the recent events in Belgium and the missionaries that were injured. I was just with all those missionaries within the last couple weeks so it was definitely a shock to hear the news. Everyone is very grateful they are alive and are praying they will all be able to have fast recovery. They will all be back in the US by the end of the week. It has been cool to see firsthand the good that has come out of such a terrible event. The amount of people that have been willing to talk and pray with us has literally doubled. Even people that are Atheist have been willing to pray with us because they wanted to pray for the people in Belgium.

Last transfer with cute Soeur Clain!

This week was also Easter! This year Easter became so much more meaningful. I feel a lot of gratitude for the knowledge that because Christ was Resurrected that we can be too. Who knows if the burns the missionaries received from the attacks will ever fully heal in this life. However, I have a strong testimony that because of Christ our bodies will one day be restored to their perfect form. Alma 40:23 "The soul shall be restored to the body, and the body to the soul; yea, and every limb and joint shall be restored to its body; yea, even a hair of the head shall not be lost; but all things shall be restored to their proper and perfect frame." On Easter Sunday, we also had the opportunity to do a mission wide fast with the families of the missionaries who were injured. It almost feels like Thanksgiving because everyone is just feeling really grateful for all the blessings and miracles we have seen this past week. We broke our fast together by having a big Easter dinner at the church! We had a lot people on the street this week that asked how we could feel so at peace and not be fearful when terrible things are happening in the world. I think Soeur Clain (the sister who was also hurt during the attacks in Belgium) puts it the best way, "It's simple, God is with us."  I couldn't think of a better way to say it. No doubt he watches over and protects all of us because he is indeed "with us." Church is true. All is well here in France! Have a wonderful week!

Love, Soeur Johnson