Hello!

I hope that everyone is doing very very well. This week has been so great. It has been crazy, a bit stressful but so incredible! Of course after getting our calls last Monday I was getting a bit worried dealing with the transfer and organizing the baptism, doing the interview and with a new companion that is fairly young but it worked out splendidly! Of course I will go into the details. I would also send you a picture of Auguste with the baptism but I don't have a way to connect to the computer for the moment, so I will have to send it next week.

Well last Monday we went to see Auguste to give him the last few teachings, organize his baptism, and the interview. It went super well! He was even taking notes. We planned his baptism and scheduled his interview with Elder Cunningham also. Everything we talked about he was just on the edge of his seat just taking it all in but what is even crazier is that when he would make a comment it was so very well put and explained it was basically like he was teaching us. He is going to be such a great member of the church!

On Tuesday, we went and passed investigators and less actives so that Elder Nicholes could say bye to everyone. We also went and saw Frederick and answered a bunch of questions he had about the resurrection and of course invited him to the baptism Saturday. In the evening, we then went to the Haas' house to eat and for Elder Nicholes to say his goodbyes. Organizing the transfer for the next day was such a nightmare. We didn't get train codes to print out our tickets until about 8:30 but we were with the family so on the way home we hurried and printed them out to find out what time to be at the train station and we found out that it was poorly organized and I actually had no ticket so when the Elders in Geneva called we found out that I would actually be by myself for about an hour in Montauban before Elder Fitch (my new companion would get there).

Wednesday, thenkfully Elder Nicholes didn't leave until about 10:30 so we didn't have to be up early or anything so I just waited around for an hour until Elder Fitch got there. We then went home and he unpacked a bit and then we went and saw Tatiana and actually, finally, had a decent lesson with her. After her, we met Mirabelle in a park and talked about and had a good lesson with her as well. She still doesn't quite understand why our church is different or it's important but she loves having lessons and talking about God. For the rest of the evening we went and contacted people and passed different old investigators and less actives.

Thursday was the interview for Auguste, so we had to go meet the Elders of Albi at the train station in Toulouse and then Elder Cunnigham and I went to Montauban and the others to Albi. By the time we got back to Montauban we had to hurry and go to the Red Cross so that we could do our service. Because it is summer vacation, there weren't very many that came. Go figure, these people are coming to get basically free food and yet they have the money to go away for summer vacation... Hmmm.... Whatever. Because there weren't too many people, we headed back home to change and to eat a very late lunch. We did quite a bit of contacting and pass backs until the interview for Auguste that evening. The interview went perfectly and then we went over the final touches for clothes and all of that.

Friday, Elder Cunningham and I headed to Albi so we could re-exchange. We got there and barely missed our bus so Elder Fitch and I had to wait until about 1:20 for the next bus. By the time we got home, we had some lunch and then had a quick meeting with our Branch Mission Leader to verify everything for the baptism. Afterwards, we went to go see Frederick and we talked about the ten commandments and obedience. It was a pretty good lesson. It was one of our investigator's birthdays and we were having a little meal after the baptism the next day so we went and made cookies. We called up Auguste and asked if he had a minute and we wanted to stop by and give him the cookies and Elder Fitch had a CTR ring in French, which is CLB choisir le bien, so we swung by and saw him and had a quick lesson and then Auguste could meet Elder Fitch at least before the baptism. He was doing great. We then hurried and dropped off some more cookies to Elyse for her birthday and then she invited us to a birthday meal that she was having that sunday so we said we would be there and that we would go with Jean Pierre, which is her friend in the Branch that introduced her to us. We then went home pretty tired and crashed.

Saturday was quite a busy day! We hadn't had time to do our weekly planning so we did that in the morning and then ate lunch and then went and did some contacting and passing people. We went and saw Mirabelle again and had a pretty good quick little lesson and then we went and did some more contacting until about 5, when we went and grabbed all of the stuff for the baptism and headed to the church, where Auguste already was. We got everything ready and then had a little bit of time before it started to just take a breather and have a quiet moment. Auguste and I changed into our white clothes and then we began the service a little bit after 6. It was really good, and I didn't mess up any words and he went completely in the water so it worked out the first time! We changed and then went back in and heard another talk and Auguste gave a very nice, simple, sweet testimony. It was great! We finished and then we had a little meal after with everyone that came. Thankfully quite a few members were there and Frederick came too.

Sunday was another good day obviously with Auguste receiving the Holy Ghost but that wasn't until the last hour. He was there for Priesthood for the first time, normally he came at ten but he was there at nine and then we had our investigator's class and recent converts and it was my week to teach. The lesson actually went pretty well thankfully. Then in Sacrament Meeting Auguste received the Holy Ghost and we had a great Sacrament Meeting, the Stake President was even there. After, we waited for a long time and then went with Jean Pierre to the birthday meal for his friend and it ended up being a big latino party. We honestly felt like we were transported to South America! We were totally the minorities. Even the French people were! Everyone was Latin. And of course, most of them knew who we were too. We had some good discussion. Well, it lasted a lot longer than expected and we were out in the middle of nowhere so Jean Pierre took us back to Montauban and we contacted a bit and then went home.

As you can see, or read, it has been such a crazy week but a great one as well. The baptism was incredible and he is just so happy and excited to be in the church! I can't wait to see him continue to progress. Well, I hope that everyone is doing well. I love you all and appreciate you all. I hope to hear from you soon. Have a great week. Bye!

Elder Kirkpatrick