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
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