April 26, 2011

Hi Mom!

 

Wow, too many letters to keep track of!!  I figured out about the time thing, though.  Ummm... Well, my companion reminded me.  When it is 10 here, I think it is 10 there, too.  But she reminded me that you were still fast asleep.  Oh well, worth a shot, eh? You stay up pretty late sometimes...

 

It took a long time to get back because the prices were cheaper.  And, since this is the most expensive mission, it is necessary to save money where they can.  Wow, I was about to type in Franglais (French & English)... if I randomly type <il faut>, that means 'it is necessary'.  But on the way back, we were actually in a bus, not on a train.  I wasn't too happy.  I think I might've even died... if I did, I'm resurrected now.

 

The legal stuff was basically a medical examination type a deal.  It went great.  I will soon be legal in both Suisse AND France.  Yay!!  We stayed with the missionaries in Dijon.  One of my companions from the MTC was there!  I was so excited to see her again! 

 

I saw her later in the week too, and all the other missionaries who came with me from the MTC.  Because we had a training.  There are 8 lessons they are integrating into the missionary work, and so we went over the 8 lessons.  Apparently, the missionaries coming from the MTC will all have learned those 8 lessons, as well.  So I'll need to know them inside and out.

 

With all of that stuff going on, we haven't had much time to have very many RDVs (rendezvous).  Remember I mentioned Zayda? She is in France at the moment, for work.  So we are emailing her to keep in contact and check up on commitments and such.  We're hoping she's not too far away, because we might be able to go see her since we have a car.  It'll be alot easier.  Teaching through email is difficult.

 

Transfer calls were this morning.  We were pretty sure that neither me nor my companion would be transfered, and we were right.  But I can't wait to hear who moved where!  And the new missionaries are coming in from the MTC.  My comp and I are going to meet up with them and do some contacting.  My comp told me I had better not get lost!  Hehe we'll see...  I'm more worried about if the Suiss people actually start talking to us, because I won't have my companion with me.  I will have a new missionary with me.  So.  I will pray for the gift of tongues.  And when you get this, you should pray for me too.  Because we are going contacting at 3ish, so you will probably be up.

 

Have a great week!!  Love you, Mom!!

 

Sister Bartlomé

 

P.S. I put an accent on my last name on my nametag!! Now people can pronounce my name right :D

April 18, 2011

Hi Mommy!!

 

This will be short.  As long as I can make it, though.  I have legality stuff to go to in Dijon, France, and we are leaving at 4:30 this afternoon and won't be back until 5 tomorrow afternoon.  And train ride for 9 ish hours!! 3ish hours one way, 6ish the other way.  Grrrr... :(

 

One thing I have really learned here is not to judge who will be interested in the gospel, and who won't, based on how they are, the things they do, and other things.  We got 2 references from some Elders, and they told us that 1 would most likely be interested, and the other, maybe not.  In reality, it was quite the opposite!  They didn't think Claire would be interested, but she really liked the Plan of Salvation, and she said that she was even going to share it with her prayer group.  That should be interesting.  But we have another rendezvous with her tomorrow evening, and we will be teaching her about the Restoration.  I pray that she will be open to that, too. 

 

I am understanding more and more of the language.  Sometimes if I don't understand a whole bunch, I find myself zoning out and not even trying to pay attention.  Then when I catch myself, it's always hard to get back into the conversation.  It gets frustrating at times.  But I can do it, with the Lord's help.

 

There is a girl here, Zayda.  I think I have mentioned her before.  She speaks spanish and english, and is learning french.  She came to Suisse with a friend, and is trying to make a living here.  Not knowing anything, just coming for the experience.  I decided I want to do that sometime.  Only it wouldn't work in a french environment anymore, because after my mission, I will be able to get by.  So... maybe I will try it in Italy.  That'd be fun :)  Difficult, yes.  But, an experience.

 

Zayda is a good example to me, though.  She is really embracing the gospel and it's teachings.  She already loves people, and she loves helping others, too.  And now when times get difficult for her, she can turn to the Lord. 

 

2 days ago was my one-month mark being in Suisse!! My comp and I celebrated by going out for ice cream.  I have 3 months on my mission in general, and she has 3 months left for her mission.  It's hard to believe that I'll be where she is someday...

 

Well, gotta go.  Love you!!

 

Soeur Bartlomé

 

P.S. Pâcques (Pronounced 'Pack'), or Easter, is on a FRIDAY here.  Weird, huh?

04/12/2011

Mommy!! :)

 

Yes mail in Suisse is alot more reliable than in Mexico.  We get mail 3 times a day Monday through Saturday, and once on Sunday.  They like to be efficient. 

 

I am glad you got to have a good time with Jazmine and going to Chuckecheeses and the rest of the family too.  Did you tell her happy birthday for me??

 

I wish that Mother Nature would forget the month here... :P  I am not a big fan of the heat.  It's actually not too hot, but I like the cold :)  My companion wonders what I will do when summer comes and it gets even hotter.  Meh.  I think I will survive.  If not, expect a funeral announcement within the next couple of months ok? ;)

 

I remember that time at the MTC!!  I remember they told us that if we wanted our parents to see us and be on camera, we couldn't do anything silly when the camera was looking at us.  It was interesting, because the camera guy was walking around during the ... I think it was a fireside... either that or a devotional.  Either way, it was good :)

 

This past week has been pretty interesting.  I have found out since I got here that it is more than a little difficult to talk with Jehovah's Witnesses, because most of the times they just like to argue and debate, but they won't take anything or do anything more to find out the truth.  But we met one this past week and spoke to him.  My companion and I both bore our testimonies to him, and he was touched!  He actually took a passalong card that we gave him.  This was an evening when we had planned on visiting a member, and then going to an investigator's home and teaching a lesson.  The investigator wasn't there, though! But if she had been there, we wouldn't have found that Jehovah's Witness.  I hope that he someday sincerely ponders about the message we shared that day.

 

My companion received her 'dying letter'.  AKA the letter that tells her she is almost finished with her mission and to plan on what she is going to do after!  She has... less than 100 days, I believe.  Yes, I DID figure it out.  Hey, I have to brush up on my math skills or I'll lose them all!

 

I lost my companion the other day!! We were on the tram, and she got off and I didn't.  I was thinking about something and not really paying attention, so I didn't see her get off.  She always makes sure that I see her before she gets off.  Apparently, I was looking but not seeing.  Laugh.  I went 5 or 6 stops before I realized she wasn't there!  Oh yeah, that might sound weird if I don't mention that:  We don't sit next to each other on the trams or buses.  Actually, we split up so we have more opportunity to talk to people.  Which is not always a good thing if I don't know where we're going... haha

 

One thing I really like here is there are people who play music on the trams!  They play a couple of songs, then go around and ask the passengers for money.  They play some good ones sometimes.  The other day, there was a boy (I swear, he was barely a teenager!) who played Rondo Alla Turka (Lemmings ;D ).  He wasn't looking at the keyboard for most of the time!! He was looking around, behind him to see who was outside... like it was nothing to play that song.  It was amazing!

 

I continue to be intrigued with the language.  Sometimes I understand what people are saying, and sometimes I don't.  Not quite sure if it varies from person to person, with what we're talking about, with what time of day it is, with what mood I'm in, or a combination of all those. 

The Bishop can speak some English.  And he speaks it with an American accent, too!!  It surprised me, because he is French.  No not Suiss.  French.  But we were in a meeting one time, and he said a few English words, and it threw me off! He said it just makes sense to him.  And he said he learned it from having American companions during his own mission.  Interesting...

 

The town of Yvoire was the Medieval town of sorts that I mentioned.  It was pretty there.  I will bring my camera next time and send pictures.  We looked in all the different stores to see what they had.  And we went with Sister Murdock, the mission president's wife.  She bought us ice cream.  mmmmmmmmmm.....  There was a store there that had cuckoo clocks.  Which reminded me that I was going to buy one.  But for some reason I still have the inclination to ask permission...  So.  Is there any reason I can't use my debit card within the next week or so to buy a cuckoo clock?  I want to get one from Geneva, not France, so I need to buy it before I leave Geneva. 

 

Love you, Mom!! Stay happy!! Keep smiling!!

 

Love, Sister Bartlome

3/29/2011

Mommy!!!

I lost all the letters on the keyboard again :( I have to relearn them everz time...

Hehe nope I am not surprised that Breanna's engaged.  I would've been surprised if she WASN'T engaged when I got back!!  Tell her congrats for me :D

I sent the letter the day I arrived in Suisse, I believe.  Tuesday.  Well, that's when I gave it to President Murdock.  He might've sent it off right away, but I don't know.

Surprisingly, I have not taught a SINGLE LESSON!!  We have been trying to figure things out since neither of us know the area.  We have set up a few rendez-vous, but most of them have fallen through (tombez-vous).  Then the other ones weren't really interested in our message.  It is sad :(  We had a rendezvous the other day that we were SURE was going to happen... and then she didn't show up!!! I wonder what happened :( I'm pretty sure she was interested.  So we'll see what we can do to help her when we find out what went wrong.

So, getting to know the area has involved beaucoup beaucoup de knocking on doors (porting), and beaucoup de contacting, too.  Most of the time, I will start out with what I have planned to say, and can understand and respond a little.  But then my comp takes over, because I don't understand a whole lot yet.  But yesterday, she left me out on a limb!  I started talking to someone, and when she normally would've taken over, she didn't!! When I looked at her, she looked back as if to say, go for it!! So I tried to continue.  The woman we were talking to was nice, and she wasn't a native french speaker so she was very understanding.  So now, I will have to talk more, and strive to understand more. 

I need to take notes throughout the week too, so I know what to say...

This past weekend was daylight-savings-time. And... most of the missionaries were late for church.  No one knew!  The Elders called us up at 9:30 and told us that church had started a half hour ago.  Apparently, they announced it in church the week before... Well, I couldn't understand.  Don't blame me :P Haha it was funny.  At least we got an extra hour of sleep.

Along with going to explore our  quartier (area. pronounced car-tee-a  -a as in cake-), we have also been visiting with members.  Those are normally mangez-vous.  aka we eat dinner with the family while visiting, and then afterward share a thought or a lesson or something.  Ok so I have been to a few of those, so if you want to count those as lessons, go for it. It is a good experience visiting with the members, though, I like it!!  We visited with the bishop and his family, and his daughter is sharing the gospel with one of her friends.  And there's another lady that we visit who was less active, but she has been coming and I am always excited to see her :)  Unfornately, I can't understand what she says.  I've been noticing who I can understand, and who I can't.  Mostly, I can understand french when: It is spoken by an american or otherwise english speaker, or by italians, or by portugese people.  And I think some other language speakers, too.  I have a hard time understanding it when it is spoken by a native, or by a spanish speaker.  I am anxiously awaiting the day when I can magically understand, though.  That's how it happens, right?

Oh yeah.  Computers.  We don't have computers in our apartment, so we use public computers.  I think the cost for using the computers can be reimbursed... maybe. maybe not. Teehee I'll find out and let you know next week ;)

Transfers here... I'm not sure exactly what that means.  But I think it means not only changing locations, but also changing companions.  I don't think that mz companion has been in 10 different places.  But she is pretty close to leaving.  I think she goes home in...July.  Soon, in any case.

Well I think I am about out of things to say.  My mind is blank-ish.  So until next week.  I hope by then I can tell you that I have taught a lesson or two...  I CAN say that we gave away 2 BoMs, however!!! That was exciting :D :D :D First 2 times I've done that.  Anyways.  Love you!!! Have a great fantastic week!!

Love,
Soeur Bartlomé

P.S.  Random question:  where does the word 'ridonculous' come from?

04/05/2011

Hello again :)

 

Conference was great!! I always kinda wondered when people watched conference when they live halfway across the world.  Well, now I know.  The Sat morning session was broadcast on Saturday at 6pm, and all the other sessions were broadcast on Sunday! The priesthood session at...2, I believe. Jk. That was the Sat afternoon session.  The priesthood session was before that, probably at 10.  Then the Sunday morning at 6pm, and the Sunday afternoon at 10pm.  We didn't watch the last one, it was too late.  But yeah, I did notice there seemed to be a theme among the talks.  Guess the Lord has something to say to His children, huh? :)

Forgot to say last week: I went to FRANCE!! One of the members lives there, ...the Bishop, actually... and several of the other members, too.  But I was excited :D I realized two things:  One, I have now been in 4 different countries.  Two, when I return home, that will be the second time that I have been to the USA (Cuz the first time I stayed there for 21 years ^^)  Along the lines of visiting the members, though, we decided it would be easier if we could use a car... So can you send me one??  Haha jk.  No we asked President Murdock if it would be possible to drive a car when we need to, and he said YES!! So when we need to, we will be able to drive.  And they have all sorts of funny rules in France and Switzerland, like one is that on some streets, you have to park on the side with odd number houses the first half of the month, and the side with even number houses the last half.  It was bizarre.  And they have multilane roundabouts!! I haven't seen one in person, but it makes me a little nervous...

We taught some lessons!! I was so happy ^^  The rendezvous I told you about last time, turns out she lost her phone and I think her wallet too.  And she had to sort things out.  But we met with her yesterday.  She is awesome, and so ready to learn!! She loves people and cares about them so much :)  And we've met with some other people who used to meet with the missionaries, too. 

I decided to send some pictures for your enjoyment.  I included some pictures of our apartment (the kitchen is TINY), a view from the window, the jet d'eau (that is pronounced Jay doe, only the J is pronounced like the second G in garage.  Make sense?) which is the big jet of water, and a road we walked down and... hmmm... yeah.  We had quite the adventure 2 weeks ago :)  You should look up the jet d'eau, it is interesting and really awesome!!  I will send more pictures later, maybe next week. 

I heard from some of the missionaries in my district!! Soeur Echols called last night, and we talked for about a half hour or so.  Unfortunately, all the others are in other missions :(  But she emailed everyone, and some of them answered! It was good to hear from them and to know that they are safe and doing well :)

 

Well gotta go. Today's adventure before getting back to work is to go to a Medieval town of sorts. Yay ^^

Oh yeah about the random question: ridonculous is a word that I have only heard Americans use.  I was just wondering where it started.  It's not French, it is a made-up english word.

 

Wishing you the best!!  Glad you are having a good time with puzzles and such.  Tell Cyndi and Bonnie thank you for the letters they sent!! I would send one back, but I have yet to figure out how and where to buy stamps and send the letters.  I'll send a letter as soon as I can, and as soon as I have time :)  Wish Jazmine happy birthday for me when you see her!  Love you all!!

1st Week in Geneva

Hi Mom!

 

Ha I found the exclamation mark! The keyboard is a little different here.  So if I type a z I might mean y and if i type < that means the letter right after it should be capitalized.  <o and if I type a y it might be a z.  So yeah.  Fun Fun keyboard.  I wont be able to type when i get back home.

 

I didnt get pictures, but I can get pictures when I get back.  Right now, I donàt (the à is where the apostrophe should be!!! :p) know how to print them off or get them developed, and I dont think Im going to, either.  Ill just concentrate on other stuff and get pictures when I get back :)

My companion, Sister Thacker, has already been in this mission for quite a while.  This is her 10th transfer. (I found the apostrophe!! yay :D)  She was serving in Lyon, and Dijon, and I forget where else.  I am the second person she has trained.  She can understand french, and she can also understand the gist of what Spanish and Portuguese people say.  Yeah, we come across all sorts of people here in Switzerland.  It's about all I can do to realize that they are speaking french, let alone understand what they are saying.  But I am definitely understanding more than the first day.  It's interesting, because from what people say (people in general, not just in Suisse), understanding a language comes before speaking it.  But at the present time, I can speak and get someone to understand what I'm saying.  The problem is understanding.  So I am a bit backwards.  That's ok, though :)

 

I think I am finally getting over jetlag.  I might not have had it, I don't know.  What I know is that I've had a headache since I got here.  We have been riding the trams and buses alot, and those give me headaches.  And alot of cigarette smoke around, and that gives me headaches, too.  Then speaking and trying to understand a new language, I'm told that can give headaches, too.  So all of that, plus jetlag...  yeah i was surprised yesterday when I realized I didn't have the headache that has been my constant companion since I've arrived. 

 

You tell that brother of mine that he is crazy for training someone his first (second?) transfer!!  Perfectly insane!  But that is awesome.  Way to go, Robert :)

 

I am serving in Spanish Geneva, which I thought was pretty funny when I first heard it considering I learned a little bit of spanish at the MTC! On Sunday, we went to both the Spanish ward and the French ward.  Spanish first.  They had us missionaries introduce ourselves.  By the way.  We are both new to this area!  So we both had no idea who lived where, where to go, who to talk to, etc.  I still have no idea where to go.  I follow my companion.  She is pretty smart. But yeah.  So Sister Thacker introduced us, and I got up and bore my testimony in Spanish.  It was awesome!  But just the fact that I went to the Spanish ward first, and then the french ward later that afternoon, it showed me how much I really understand in french.  Because in the spanish ward, I understood... not much.  But I got most of the lesson in the french ward.  At least, it sounded like a lesson, complete with a beginning, middle, and end.  Haha yeah it was good.  I'm excited to go back for church next week, and see how much my understand improves in a week. 

 

It is so interesting being here in a new country!!  There are so many things that are different, besides just what it looks like.  First I noticed was the smell.  Everything smelled different.  The buildings, outside, people, rooms,... it was interesting to make that realization.  Then of course the currency.  Haha I have always had comfort from having a few bucks in my wallet, because then I can use it when I need it.  It doesn't work like that here, though!!  Because they don't use dollars :P But now I have a few francs in my wallet, so it's all better now ^_^  Let's see... Oh yeah!! at church for the spanish ward, I went to Primary.  Oddly enough, they spoke in french.  Those kids know both languages.  I'm jealous.  They called up the kids for birthdays this month.  And my comp's birthday is March 25th, same day as Cyndi's!  By the way:  HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CYNDI!!!!!!!!  But the kids sang happy birthday, and then one of them said "en anglais! en anglais!"  Which means, in english.  AHH!! I was even more jealous.  I wish I had known more languages back in primary :(

 

Another difference is they don't have any public restrooms.  So before I go out for the day, I need to make sure that I go or that I will stop by the institute or the church, because I can't just stop at a gas station anymore!!  It is a new experience.

 

Well I think I am out of things to say at the moment.  I need to make lists of what I want to say during the week so my mind doesn't go blank...  There is a joke I have heard, before I got here: What do you call people who know 3 languages? Trilingual.  What do you call people who know 2 languages? Bilingual.  What do you call people who know 1 language? American.  It's so true!!! Or maybe I am just running into all the people who speak multiple languages.  But as soon as someone figures out that my native language is english, a lot of times they start speaking in english.  It is so awesome, I think :)  I hope that I will soon be able to understand and speak french really well... Patience is a virtue, Tiffany!! 

 

Love you, Mom!!! And everyone else at home in the United States!!  If you're not at home, I don't love you.  Haha jk.  Love you all!!

 

Love,

Sister Bartlome

Arrived in Switzerland! 1st Address

3/15/2011

Dear Parents,

We are happy to let you know your daughter arrived safely in Geneva today.  She was met at the airport by Pres. and Sister Murdock and then had lunch at the Mission Home.  The attachments to this email will show her at the mission with President and Sister Murdock.  After lunch she has had the opportunity to go out and make contact with people on the street.  She will have an individual interview with President Murdock after she returns.  Tonight she will have dinner with Pres. and Sister Murdock and the other missionaries that arrived today.  She will stay at the mission home tonight.  Tomorrow she will have training with Pres. Murdock and the Assistants to the President, then she will meet her new companion who will be her Trainer.  In the afternoon she will leave with her companion to go to her first area.  We will send you her address and companion's name in the next day or two.

Please see today's photo in the attachments.

Thank you for sending us such a fine young woman.

Sister Todd, Mission Secretary

Switzerland Geneva Mission

3/16/2011

 

Dear Sister Bartlome,

Sister Bartlome has been assigned a wonderful trainer/companion Sister Thacker.  They are serving in Geneva, Switzrland.  Their address is:

Les Missionnaires

Sister Bartlome

17, rue de la Prairie

CH-1202 Geneva

Switzerland

Please address letters or packages in this format.

Please see the attachments for a picture of her with her companion.  We are grateful to have your daughter in our mission!

With Warmest Regards,

Sister Todd, Mission Secretary

Switzerland Geneva Mission