Bonjour!!!!

I was called to sub in a Primary class last Sunday. It was the second Sunday in a row. The first one was pretty frustrating with Harper, wrestling her for 3 hours and trying to teach a lesson isn't the easiest thing to do. So, the whole week I had a pretty crappy attitude. I prepared the lesson, grudgingly. I wasn't very happy going in to Primary. Overall, I just needed an attitude adjustment.

Well, we had just went into Primary when our new Primary President (that is new in our ward and had no idea who I was or ANYTHING about me) came over to me and told me that, "you have a new boy in your class. I don't know how to say his name and, oh by the way, he only speaks French". She pats me on the shoulder, giggles and walks away. RIGHT THEN I knew why I was there.

I took 3 years of French in High School and 2 years in College. That was 100 years ago, but I can still hold a decent conversation. I felt a chill come over my body and I knew that I wasn't there to teach the lesson, I was there to make this little 7 year old feel welcomed.

Sure enough, he didn't speak any English but when I started speaking French to him, his eyes lit up!!! He couldn't believe I was speaking to him in his native tongue!!! I was able to keep him up to speed as far as sharing time and singing time went and then when we went to class, I was able to teach the other 4 children in the class some things to say to Xavier to make him feel more comfortable. It was so fun!!!

I saw his brother in the hall and spoke to him in French. He was confused. They just BARELY moved here from a French island down by Australia, so their family was the only ones they've been able to converse with.

At the end of Primary, I was able to talk to Xavier some more and I told him that we could be friends. He didn't need to try speaking English to me, I would speak to him in French.

It was such a cool day. Sometimes I doubt why Heavenly Father puts me in certain situations. This is one of those lessons that I shouldn't second guess Him!!!! So, I'm going to brush up on my church vocabulary and see how this Sunday goes when I see the family!!!

Since this happened, I have been thinking and dreaming in French. I LOVE it!!!! There are times when I pop off with a common phrase in French and I have to really think to say it in English. SO COOL!!!!! I have always loved the French language and I'm pretty good at it, so this is maybe just motivation to get me back to where I used to be!!!!

Remember, you don't always know the plan HE has in store for us!!!!!