Bonjour à tous!
I realized recently that when I told you about the different things in France, they didn't exactly shed the most positive light on things here. So I will dismiss all doubts now:
- There are flowers EVERYWHERE! I swear, every single house here has at least two rose bushes with flowers of all kinds of colors. It is so uplifting during long days to stop and look around.
- The sacrament bread in my ward... is baguette. How cool is that?!
- We take public transportation all the time, and there have been many moments when a guy with an accordian or violin stepped onto the train to play a beautiful piece of music masterfully. I was serenaded in Spanish once because this singing lady saw my suit and thought this guy has money. I was sorry to disappoint.
- It rains all the time here, but it's rarely a heavy rain that soaks you. Sometimes it's like a cloud of mist.
- Everyone loves soccer here. They're not all amazing at it, but they all love to hop into games just to have some fun.
My Dougie....
So, about the title to this email. I had a contacting opportunity last week that was THE BEE'S KNEES! We did our Saturday Sport again which was off-the-heezy like last week, and one kid brought a friend. He was this 16 year-old black kid named Junior who was killin' it in ping pong. At one point, he won a match, and began a victory dance... yes, my friends... he did the dougie. Oh how my adrenaline jumped! It didn't take me long to meander over and join his little party. He was shocked! A missionary that dougies?? who's also white?? We talked. We danced. And he took the first lesson. Easily one of the coolest moments of the mission so far.
This was such a great week. We're in the second transfer now; Elder Utahia is still my comp, and we're still in Aulnay. What a blessing. We've started planning for some huge events that should happen by the end of this transfer, and I'm so stoked to see what pans out. I'll keep you all in the loop.
Jacky
There was one moment this week that really stood out to me. So, Elder Utahia is Tahitian, which means that we get invited to soooo many Tahitian events. This week we went to an event that was pretty somber, but I'm so glad I was able to attend. It turned out to be a very beautiful moment.
In the ward neighboring Aulnay, there's an old fellow visiting from Tahiti named Jacky. Jacky is here because his wife has Leukemia, and she's being treated by specialists. Jacky has invited E.U. and I over many times for dinner appointments, and he grabs us at every stake event. He's such a nice man and he has an incredible testimony. I've really grown to love him. Unfortunately, we got a curveball last week; Jacky's wife died.
Arrangements were quickly made, and a funeral took place. E. Utahia and I attended, and the service was incredible. We were two of many missionaries that came, and E.U. was one of lots and lots of Tahitians. One Tahitian pulled out a guitar and started playing Tahitian songs and hymns. Everyone there had an incredible voice and there was a plethora of different harmonies for each song.
During one of the songs, I looked up to see Jacky standing close to his recently passed wife, singing to her; making subtle hand gestures imitating various Tahitian dances, representing years of culture and moments that these two spent together. Tears were streaming down his face as he serenaded his wife. His love for her was palpable.
I really started thinking after I witnessed this, and I noticed how neither Jacky nor his wife are exactly what Hollywood would describe as a "cute couple." They weren't in excellent health and they weren't physically fit, yet the love felt in this moment was more beautiful than anything else. It brought tears to my eyes to see a man leave behind his home and family to live in a one-room apartment for 8 months in another country while his wife's maladie was treated, only to see her pass-away. Then to sing to her still, dance for her still, and continue show his love for her in everyway he knew how. That's fidelity. That's real love. That's a beautiful relationship. Jacky is a very good man.
That's for the support everyone, and for goodness sake, someone send me some peanut butter!
Love you all!
Elder Wheatley
Check it out! Drum performers in a train gare! They were super good, too!
Accordian man! I gave this man a euro. He deserved it.
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