le dune de pyla

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Holy Crap.

so i woke up this week and though. honestly. i'm in france. i'm a missionary. This is really my life. It's a weird feeling. LIke waking up out of a dream only to realize you are still in it.

The topsy turvy world of sensible shoes has once again taken its toll on my best intentions at positivity. a wicked cold (etre en rhume) doesn't help too much either. nevertheless, perserverence prevails and I am once again sitting here thinking of the amazing stories to share with the family and friends that have me convinced you read this.

the hair cut is working out quite nicely by the way.

let's start with today. well rewind. this week was zone conference. it was amazing. all the missionaries had a subtle fear that it was going to be a hard core lay down the law conference and it turned out to be awesome. it's like we are batteries and every six weeks we get to lay down into our little power charger and get refilled by the good word of God. it was really good.

The theme for the year has been announced. "in the strenght of the Lord." i loved the story time of Joshua in the old testiment and the trials he went through as a leader. for jerico to the promised land one message was clear. "it is always better to be on the lords side and be doing what's right" otherwise you end up the like poor guy who got stoned to death for sneaking in some cannanite treasure. (i think it was cannanite? i dunno. any way totally forbiden) it was a great conference. president took some time to chat with me and let me know that in two weeks my companion is out a here and i'm gonna have to keep this city going. but "in the strenght of the lord" he's confident i can do it.

so we leave this conference riding on the wave of positive energy and we run smack into a killer, very real, force fighting against us. it is totally apparent that our adversary is not too excited when people come unto christ. then the double punch my companion and i get knocked out by this major cold. its nice reeeeeeallll nice.

but today, a 40 minute train ride, a 30 minute bus ride and a 20 minute walk to a 2 hour hike straight up in the sand with rain and wind fighting our progress, and we found ourselves in a little haven of paridise. well besides the particles of sand ripping out our face at 10 miles per hour. it was seriously the most amazing view of the atlantic ocean on one side and this huge forest on the other. the two are seperated by a gigantic pile of sand. which i hiked. today. and it was glorious. and i'm going to be hating it tonight but for today it was totally worth it.

the best part about it is that you can run like heck and take a giant leap and if the photographer times it right it looks like you are jumping into the top of the forest. the landings are a bit rough after but for the photo-why not.

if you ever have an afternoon to kill while driving around the south of france, make it a priority to catch the train, and then the bus, and then the walk, which leads to the hike, and 10 mile rains and mist off the ocean. you'll be glad you did.

How long has it been since i've shared the miracles? trust me they are still happening. its just hard to get them all in. 9:00 at night i'm so tired i can't remember what it's like to hear my first name.

Was it really dec 19 the last time i shared a miracle? ok here some make ups but still not totally current.

Dec 20: vera the german girl. finding black berrets and hearing my companion squeel like a little kid. she's been searching fo r 14 months. putting on tester make up and walking around like we are hot stuff.

dec 21: satan trying to get us down. rates all day and then joy and the book of mormon. Watching mr krugers christmas with a 2 year old and a pregnant mom.

dec 22: riding a train to christmas conference and laughing the whole way. makeing rice crispies for elder richardsons birthday, sneaking out of the church building to drink a dr pepper. pop up card christmas presents. i don't think the zls apprecieated it. seeing sr aagard.

dec 23: best dinner at ota maries ever. candle light. canare. duck pate. walking home in a foggy field and just feeling good. doing a monkey break during planning.

Dec 24: chant en ville with every one. frere charles and the mutual love for religion and politics. he's doing a phd paper on it. in 9 months he and i are going to have a great conversation about it. eating raw oyesters.

Dec 25: my family spoiled me so much. thanks for the oreos ken. man they make a great breakfeast. talking to my mom. caroling the members that night.

Dec 26: Mireille the last minute contact and miracle first. Giving a discours on the importance of prayer

Dec 27: laughing so hard at elder norton. Touring an old battle ship. wearing geans. Mc Doe.

Dec 28: Sr. Maloen and more canare. yummy. beautiful sunshine. Nadi wallot and the beautiful black baby. awesome rv with sandrine.

dec 29: moving fanny. riding gangster in the van with the elders. corse d'anglais on famileis. getting a wickid temprature. sucks

dec 30: setting goals with sevrine. I hate being sick.

Dec 31: 9:38pm finished the book of mormon. Dr pepper and the american resturant. yummmy. Seing eric on the us and hidding from the rain under grocery bags

ok thats all that i have time for today.

lots of love.

shai

i'm still digging sand out of my ears. love it.