L'Église de Jésus-Christ des Saints des Derniers Jours

After staying up all night eating delicious food, I tried figuring out the train schedule to get me to Versailles so I could attend the Versailles Ward of the LDS Church. Well, on sundays, apparently, the trains are a lot less frequent so I couldn't find one to take me on time so instead, I decided to join my friend Hannah in the Paris Ward.

I ran to my train station, skirt flapping and baguete and banana in hand. I know I must have looked très cool. 
Such a cool ward! While it was filled with a lot of visitors and tourists, I saw a lot of new families that just moved in and was amongst an extremely diverse group. Basically the congregation consisted of more French Africans and Asians than native white French people. I opted out of translations for sacrament and listened to the French talks trying so hard to recognize at least one word here and there, but my head was spinning. Not quite there yet!

I wish I were better at simple conversations so that I could attempt an introduction to a French person but I know like one sentence and that's about it. I can recognize random words but putting them together is just not my level hahahaha

I did talk to some missionaries though, and met another au pair here from California. Her name is Emily and she lives outside of Paris as well. Now there are 3 of us LDS au pairs! The three or four sets of missionaries that are assigned to this mission/ward range in speaking English, French, and Mandarin Chinese. Some even speak all 3 although that is not required. They are just the happiest people ever and it reminds me of so many awesome missionaries that I've met and seen who have the same countenance. Even my inspiring big sis in all her pictures and stories! I love missionaries!

Once you walk into the beautiful little courtyard where the church meetings are held, straight ahead to the left is the main entrance and just inside the door is a gigantic wooden Livre de Mormon (Book of Mormon). It is taller than I am and stands there next to a table of real Livres de Mormon where I picked up a copy to try and study from. Gonna be fun! I understand most of 1 Nephi chapter 1.

After church, Hannah, Emily and I took a short little walk down the street and onto Notre Dame's island where it was clogged with tourists. But, oh my. Notre Dame and the surrounding buildings in that quarter of the city are beyond description. The detail in each pillar and door and the hundreds of statues carved into the side is just breathtaking and awe inspiring. Then I hopped on the metro back home and into more awkward French encounters with family. But that is life! I just have to learn to not be awkward nut understood! Gotta learn French so at Christmas time when the family gathers at the grandparents, I'll be able to speak t them and not be the "dumb Américain" ;)


And theeeeeen I came home and ate lunch and ate some dessert :) Cause when in France, do as the French do.