Holly Hills Lane

I'm dreaming of Holly Hills Lane. 203 Holly Hills Lane to be exact. It's the new address of the future. The new location of the rasmussen family. What could be better?

So my family is moving to this beautiful house on holly hills lane and i'm stuck in Holy Hell landing.

I"m not sure if you can tell but it's been a rough week. Bourdeaux is tough. Cold. Rainy. Tough. I'm I've discoverd i'm not. Not like I thought I was at least.

Translation= First week was hard. Really Hard. I won't bore you with the downward spiral of self pity but know that i'm needing, begging for your prayers. A nice glass of hot chocolate on holly hills lane sounds really nice right now. But alas, here i am in the south of france working for the Lord. Why do I envy sleeping inn, home cooked meals, and hugs from my mom? Who needs it? I've got super companion, tuna, and a brand new five dollar umbrella. Who could be happier?

Despite my not so subtle bad additude, the Lord is still blessing us with Miracles.

Here's the past two weeks as promised:

Nov 15: Why is my nephew the smartest kid in the world and my mom the best mom in the universe? Thanks for the letter. Elder Hills "you can hvae the car dance". A bumpersticker that says "attiontion. vous allez aimer." Attetion. you are goign to love it. Seeign a panting of two giraffs with their necks all twisted together and their heads in the clowds. That's love to me.

Nov 16: I love teachign english. love it love it love it. Eating Fajitas for dinner. Contacting in the rain. Walking home after English class with Auralie. I love that girl.

Nov 17: Knocking doors in an apartement building. 12 floors a whole after noon and so much fun. Singing Christmas carrols to Reine. Being contacted by a Priest. He old me I was charming but he wasn't converting to my religion. Seeing a car that says etoile sportive. Sports star. Everythign is so much prettier in french. Etoile sportive. Breaking into the primary song I hope they call me on a misison while walking home for the day. I just feel so good here.

Nov 18: Bizare I hvae to tlak to you call from President. I don't like sweat pants and dress shoes. It's a bad idea. Telling my comps that pres is moving me to bordeaux. and our hearts just broke. it will be like leaving family. this 17 year old girl that we have been teaching that just didn't seem to be getting it. like she didn't care if we were there or not. When i told her i was getting transfered she took off her beautiful french scarf and put it around my neck. She told me she loved me. I gave her my ctr ring. I hope it means as much to her.

Nov 19: Mutation Preperation. Packing saying good bye. Seeing two arabic men playing the accoradian in fromt of 76 Boulavard de Strasburg, my favorite door in all of france, for the passerbyes buying fruit at the market. I just wanted to let life stand still so that I could soak in the silly music to the bottom of my soul. But the bus kept rolling. I will always have the visual. an old man sang spanish at the top of his lungs on the buss today. I loved him for it. I want to sing spanish from the top of my lungs.

Nov 20: Placing a randomly grabbed english book of mormon to Ann who I saw reading an english newspaper. What a great lady. Gavos came to church. Laina a man we taught last week who told us he'd think about it. And today he just walked up to the bus stop with his book of mormon in hand and his suit on. What the miracle! Good bye dinner at the hills.

Nov 21: Some weird guy helped me with my bags at the train station. Sandrine our ami who says she feels so good that she cries. and she feels like the bad thigns in her life are coming out of her tears. Calling president and telling him we did all of our contacts. he was proud.

Nov 22: Pan de chocolate. the best french invention. Going to an arab market in front of this huge old cathedral. Helping a friend move an ugly green couch.

Nov 23: Doing a missionary contact blitz and hating it! But at least my comp doesn't judge my weakness.

Nov 24: Happy thanksgiving. I ate a kabob for dinner. I lvoe zone conference.

Nov 25: Getting planning done in the right amount of time. For the first time ever. Riding the tram back and forth to stay warm.

Nov 26: God is anxions to support you in your practical and specific challenges. So says the missionary manual. Chant en ville. Peole were mean but we did get to see some weird student protest.

Nov 27: Little 7 year old girl bore her testimony of prayer. Crying during the primary presentation. I love the ward. it's the only time i felt whole all week.

Nov 28: Alta and the first discussion. Buying an umbrella to fight of the rain. Reading our heritage from cover to cover in one day. Falling asleep at 9:00 pm becuase of emotion and physicall exhastion.

Love you all. Please pray.

Shai