November 25, 2013

Gratitude.

Bonjour.

Whoever said "P-day" was "relaxing"...they lied. This has been the craziest day so far, but we just got from teaching a lesson in the middle of the GARE. What? Also, Mom, President just emailed me that his brother in Utah sent him that picture of him in the turkey hat.... .... ....I blamed you.

Anyway. This week was great. It started out with my companions thinking I was crazy for scheduling rendez-vous in the middle of P-day (and obviously I didn't learn), but ca va. This week was a bit off since it started with an exchange up in Besancon, whoch actually ended up being closer to a 36 hour ordeal, instead of 24. But! After the three hour train ride up to the cold, north, I got to see Soeur Hulme! She and I got to relive the glory days since we were on exchange just for the night, which included contacting on the way home, in the freezing ice/rain. Yes, winter has officially hit (since apparently the arctic chill wasn't enough), and we woke up to SNOW the two mornings I was there. It was super beautiful, since the little old town looked like a Christmas card, all decked out in Christmas lights, but it was also fridgid. I worked with Soeur Pagano for a day, who is a light, and it was so fun! Also, I was so grateful for the enormous ward that's here in Ecully, since up there they have 11 active members or something crazy like that. But it was beautiful, AND, I saw where Victor Hugo was born! So hiking through the snow as my suitcase acted as a snow shovel to get to the GARE on time since apparently buses don't work when it snows, was all worth it, cause I saw his house. I love France.

We got to meet with Zamir and Zamira a lot this week. And by a lot, I mean like 6 times. So incredible to watch them progress. We are basically done with the lessons, but we read with them to help them understand. They love reading the Book of Mormon.  It ended yesterday with them telling us that they know it's true, and Zamir asking how he could be a missionary. JUST GET BAPTIZED ALREADY. Keep them in your prayers. They have the desire to receive an answer, and we are so close to fixing a date with them.

We visited one of our favorite members, Joy, this week. She's a cool Canadian who's actually from Thailand, but whose husband is French, and she was recently reactivated. She's travelled all over the place, and Soeur Bragg and I force her to tell us all of her adventures, and then make pacts to do the same thing together #thailand2015. She's incredibly kind. Also, another member, Patience, taught with us this week. This is the woman who gives out 50+ pass along cards this week and met her husband by CONTACTING him. She literally exemplifies...exudes (?) the love of the Savior, and after we taught with her, she brings in two giant bags full of food for us. This woman has 8 children. We cried. All I thought of was the scripture in 3 Nephi 13

[...]Remember the words which I have spoken. For behold, ye are they whom I have chosen to minister unto this people. Therefore I say unto you, take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?

For your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you.

So that was a miracle. Also, yesterday was one of my favorite Sundays of the year- THE PRIMARY PROGRAM. In French, too. Of course, sacrament meeting went like half an hour over, but it was worth it. Also, we taught some new amis who are so cool #africansarethebest

Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving! Obviously it's not celebrated here BUT, an American family in the ward invited us over. So my one year not in America, and I still get to partake in the joys of Thanksgiving. President Monson said:

"We can lift ourselves, and others as well, when we refuse to remain in the realm of negative thought and cultivate within our hearts an attitude of gratitude. If ingratitude be numbered among the serious sins, then gratitude takes its place among the noblest of virtues."
I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am grateful for the blessing and opportunity I have to share this gospel with the people of France. I am grateful for the miracles I've seen, for the faith that has grown within me, and the ministering angels that are involved in this work. I am grateful for the power of prayer and for the support that it has given me. I am grateful for this calling, for the people that I've met, and the experience I have learned from. I am grateful to be a missionary.

Je vous aime. 

Soeur Luthi

November 18, 2013

Turkeys and trios

Okay, I'm adding pictures first for those of you who simply scroll down and look at the pictures so this doesn't block your inbox. I KNOW YOU'RE OUT THERE.

 Mom, put the hat to good use. My mission president, everyone. I'll be his Assistant one day.

GUESS WHO'S BACK. #trio 

Yep. Soeur Bragg made her triumphant return, and joined us here in Ecully. Her comp went home due to heath reasons, and since she needs to be here close to the mission nurse (yeah...got one of those now, and she's so scary), she's here! It's been so fun, and she's been so happy to be back to work. It's fun being in a trio, but it's a new way of working. Takes adjusting, but we're all willing. Also, anyone noticing how bundled up we are? Not because baret's are so French, but because it is so freezing.

This week was a good one. And by good I mean incredible with how the work here is exploding. Started off by visiting a less active who made us THE GREATEST MALAYSIAN FOOD. Is that even what it's called? Not sure, but she was awesome and told us stories, and we'll get her back to church because she's the sweetest little thing. Also, her friend looks like Igor, hump back and all...

Anyway. We had exchanges with our sister training leaders this week. Thankfully it was in Gerland, which is still in Lyon, so we only had to ride the metro instead of a train. But we saw incredible miracles while working with the STLs. For example, we pass this lady when we leave the bus and we tried to contact her, but she did the classic keep walking as if she didn't hear us..turns out she had headphones in. When we tried to talk to her again she was super wonderful and kind and then askes us if our church baptizes, because she wants to be baptized. She was so excited when we told her "yes", but even more so when we told her she could be baptized before the end of December if she was ready. She now has a baptismal date. Happy White Christmas.

Since that exchange, I followed the wise Souer Carter's advice to contact at least one person everytime I'm on public transport. It's worked miracles. Whether in finding interested people, or seeing blessings laters, we see it. Also, all three of us have started doing it, which is helpful when you have comps behind you on it. We got to taught a lot this week, especially since we're trying to see our amis daily. Works wonders, and they're not sick of us yet, so we'll keep that up. Also, with three, we can cover more ground and talk to more people. Still working on teaching with three, but it's getting better. Also, President's daughter just got home from her mission, and we got to teach with her #perksofbeinginPresident'sward 

We finally met with one of our amis Joy this week too. Okay, first of all, I LOVE Nigerians. Most faithful and receptive people I've ever met. Also, English speakers is always nice. So Joy was met with by the other sisters only twice and it was so hard to meet with her. After all the craziness of getting a new companion, we almost didn't go to our RDV with her since we hadn't been able to confirm. Good thing we did. So we went over the Plan of Salvation up until the Atonement, and she seriously taught herself. She's had a pretty rough life, but ugh, OH MY WORD, words really can't describe watching the spirit work within her as she learned and understood. So we started talking about baptism and when we invited her she starts crying. And then laughing. What?? We asked her how she felt and she said "I felt something..I don't know I just feel like something came inside of me. I'm so happy!" That, my friend, is the spirit. After that it all fell into place. She wants to see us everyday when she's here, and she brought her daughter to church yesterday and the African ladies (yeah, there's basically a club) in the ward totally made her feel welcome. Also, she has a golden-Jesus face necklace. Doesn't get better than that.

Mom, put the hat to good use. My mission president, everyone. I'll be his Assistant one day.

Had Zone Conference this week, which is uplifting as usual. That's where Soeur Bragg and I were reunited. Best day ever. Also, had an interview with President, and I'm slowly working my way into becoming his assistant one day. 

Made cookies for our recently released DMP. They LOVE "American cookies" here. Also, a new DMP hasn't been called yet...cool.

Something that stuck out to me this week was service. Well, charity and love, really. Because that's the basis of it all, right? President Roney said "When we serve others, love grows within us." It's so simply said, but so true. The Savior set the perfect example of selfless and loving service, one that we can follow. I LOVE the
opportunity I have to spend everyday in the service of others. It really is a blessing to not have to think how I could serve someone, but simply do it by opening my mouth to share the love of the Savior. It really is the best. Try it.

Je vous aime.

Soeur Luthi

November 11, 2013

Prenez courage.

Welcome to my ville.

Bonjour.

This week was "M Week". What does that stand for? Whatever you want it to. Basically just a way to make us work harder. But it was good! Started out the week by heading down to St. Etienne to teach lessons to amis of our baptismal parters who had a baptismal date set (new mission rule). it was so great to teach with Soeur Mod, and her amis are SO sweet. We came back, contacted like crazy, even in the metro. Okay, met me just explain that the metros in France are SILENT. It's like some sort of social faux pas to start up a conversation. But, nevertheless, we do it and some people are completely offended that we would dare, while others ask if we've met before. But we talk to all those to find the elect, right? We taught Zamir and Zamira again this week, which was so great. We did the Retab again with them since their Book of Mormon reading has been subpar. We ended up watching the Restoration (shout out to Brother Harding), and there was the first miracle! It's been translated into Albanian. They loved it and Zamira prayed for the first time for us. Perfect since the theme of that day was testifying about the Book of Mormon. Check.

Next, we went to teach a lesson which turned into a tombez. But the member we got to teach with us (a recent convert), let us have a lesson with her, which was basically answering questions she had about the B.o.M. Then she stayed and taught with us for another recent convert lesson.

Okay, okay, Thursday? Unreal. So after a second lunch at a member's (kill me), we were on our way to teaching a recent convert. Ran into a man from Macedonia who told us to come over and teach his family. So we ran back to our apartment to see if we even had a Book of Mormon in Macedonian (we didn't), and we ran back to act out a lesson about the Savior since his French is so poor. But their family is so sweet and was so happy to have people over. Also, their kids were watching a Bollywood movie and dancing. Then, we go to the church, teach the recent convert about temples and he was so pumped to go (he told us 4 times on Sunday that he was having his interview). We went to take cookies to a less active, and ended up leaving them at her door since she wasn't home. As we were leaving, we ran into her, and turns out, that wasn't her door. Whoops. She let us in to share a spiritual thought and told us to come back to teach her daughters who aren't members but who are interested. We left happy, but then were in a sketch part of town that we are supposed to avoid. So I used my proper judgement and offered the two men murking in the darkness cookies. Turns out to be our engagee that we have had trouble seeing and his potential friend. Set RDVs. Whaaat?

Friday was more all over the place since having some tombez, but Ivalani, a member was out with us ALL day. She taught with us and helped us contact and visited one of our amis in the hospital with us. She's wonderful. Also interesting because people would come up and *contact US*, who were interested. SINCE WHEN DOES THAT EVEN HAPPEN?

Saturday we got to go down to the baptism of the St. Etienne souer's amis. Oh my word. I was a wreck. I was a wreck, and it wasn't even "my baptism". It was so incredible to see people that I had the opportunity to teach make incredible promises with the Lord. Also, because I've seen how hard Soeur Mod's worked since the MTC, and what joy baptism brings. Ugh, everyone, just be baptized already. It's the greatest thing ever.

Also, also, the best reunion of all time occured this week. There Soeur Paulo and I were, going over our lesson for Relief Society (wah wah), someone at the door says "Hey!", and I turn and completely forget what all happened in between, but there Souer Bragg and I were *together*. Yeah,  it's a shame we don't have our own reality show, because that would have been perfect. She's here since her companion is sick, and I hope she stays forever.

Mama, thank you for the packages. The turkey hat was the best part. Wrong. The tape, then the turkey hat. I put it on and I thought my poor, Portugese companion was going to have a heart attack when she saw me in that. Classic. The boots are lovely. And the people at Franglais class loved the Airheads!

Well, tout le monde, this week I liked to focus on our divine nature. Realizing the divine nature of those around us helps us see them as who they could become. Trying to imagine a grumpy Frenchman being baptized makes it a lot easier to contact. I think that realizing the divine nature we all possess gives us a special power to overcome the hard things. John 16:33. I love it in English, but especially in French.

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

Je vous ai dit ces choses, afin que vous ayez la paix en moi. Vous aurez des tribulations dans le monde; mais prenez courage, j'ai vaincu le monde.

I love that the only difference between French and English, is that in French it says to "take courage". Sometimes it's hard to be cheerful during opposition. It takes courage. Work through the hard times, but don't do it alone. The world does not need to be placed upon your shoulders, because He's already overcome it.

Je vous aime.

Soeur Luthi