December 30, 2013

BONJOUR.

Merry Christmas! I hope it was merry and bright for all of you. Here's how this holiday week passed in France.

Step 1. Probably the best P-day ever. Not true, but we did get really, really, REALLY good hot chocolate. I think they really did melt a creme brulee in mine. Hard life. And that's where the best P-day ever, ended. We were geniuses and went to the post office and to the busiest mall in Lyon 2 days before Christmas. (....) Not our smartest move, hated our lives while we were being bustled by the crowds, but we survived. Spent the rest of the night making 8 DOZEN cookies to pass out to members the next day.

Christmas Eve quickly became one of the best days of my life when a member gave us the Lion King to watch on Christmas, and then THE MANZONIES called and told me they were COMING TO LYON that afternoon! (I use capitals, because when I found this out, I really do think I started screaming.) We spent the afternoon until their arrival passing out cookies, and sharing Christmas cheer. The Nigerian member, Patience, gave us a giant container full of African fried rice. We met with the Manzonies, and they took us to get a pastry, and it was so fun to spend a little time with them. Also, I got to meet their daughter! She's super cool. Seriously, if the hot chocolate wasn't enough, it was the greatest way to kick off Christmas. They drove us to the church, and we took pictures where I'm sure  I look windswept and horrifying, but it was the greatest to see them. The famille Pascaud came and picked us up from there for Christmas Eve dinner. Woof. Now begins the fun part of all the weird things they eat here.  I'll just do an overall list in a bit. Dinner was actually really fun, and the A.Ps were there as well. The only bad things was that we ate so late. Also, being out after 10:30? Weirdest, most tiring experience ever.

Christmas morning we "slept in", while both laying awake in our bed. We set up a comfy, mattress and pillow-filled mega-bed to open presents on, and drank hot chocolate, while listening to Christmas music. THANK YOU ALL FOR THE GIFTS. Already talked to my family about it, but to those who sent gifts, I am so grateful for your thoughtfulness! Right at the end of opening presents, we both seemed to remember that we were not home for the holidays, so we quickly turned on the Lion King, pulled crackers, and ate scrambled eggs.  

Christmas afternoon was spent at the famille Georges, where they literally tried to kill us by force feeding us snails. The best part? I GOT TO TALK TO MY FAMILY. They know how that went. Is it totally a one-sided thing when I say it was the best? Probs. Super sureal, but I think moments before it finally hit me that I hadn't seen or heard you all since April (sick joke of leaving the MTC after Mother's Day). It was definitely a tender mercy to see and talk to my family. They give me the support that I need. They miss me, so they still think I'm funny. Love you all.

After hanging up (which was ROUGH), I felt like curling up in a ball for the rest of the night. Thankfully, you never have time to do that as a missionary, and the second you start thinking about someone else, you forget your worries. So we went and spent Christmas evening firstly with a less active who told us she'd be all alone (NO), and then with Zamir and Zamira! Their first Christmas, actaully believing in Christ! Really fun, also, we met their parents. Baby steps, but by the end, Zamir was explaining the Plan of Salvation to them.

The days after Christmas are basically still holidays, so we filled our days with passing members, service, and the longest lunch of my life. Mostly because it was SEVEN courses, some being oysters and escargot. NO, PLEASE, NO. The plus? This less-active had a Kevin Bacon plate on her wall! Whaaat? Right next to "Ingrid", the cat that looked like it had killed someone. Classic.

This week has been a bit slow work wise, since most people are "gone" or "busy" with "family". But that meant we got to focus on others who needed our love that easily get forgotten in the juggle that is being a missionary. Also, funny story to end it. Last night, we were passing a referral who wanted a Book of Mormon, but her building is impossible to get into. You need a secret code or something. This wasn't the first time we had passed and discovered this problem. So then, my GENIUS Brit, decides to start singing and whistling to get the attention of the lady at the window. So there we were, singing and waving and whistling. And it worked! A lady told us how to get in, who turned out to be the lady we were looking for, and we gave her a LdeM.

I LOVED spending Christmas here. Not because I spent it in France, but because I spent it as a missonary. What a blessing! I got to eat weird food, and speak in another language, and share the same love that Christmas brings me at home, to the people here. Moral of this story, if you're ever feeling sad, stop thinking about yourself, and it'll all be better. That's why missionary work is the best, because the more you forget yourself, and remember it is the Lord's work, the happier you are.

Weird things I ate this week:

Fois Gras.

Lamb (actually REALLY good... but it made my spiritual thought about the shepherds and their lambs a bit awkward...)

Weird, PINK, fish paste that tasted like the bottom of the fish tank.

Oysters.

SO. MANY. ESCARGOTS.

Je vous aime.

Soeur Luthi

December 23, 2013

Ahhhh…another email, sent while in a creepy internet cafe while I have Children’s songbook songs blasting so I don’t hear the apostate music. Love it.

First of all, HAPPY CHRISTMAS, HARRY!!!!

This week was started by a member taking half of our P-day to make us an elaborate meal at the church. Also, this week was “Open Doors”, which was put on by our ward, as a way that they took the apostles call to open the doors of the chapel seriously. So for 4 hours every day this week, we were princess waving at contacting passersby, as a giant screen played a Christmas video. Other than the fact that it was freezing, it was pretty cool to see all the people watching from their cars and getting a bit of the Christmas spirit. It was especially great when some of the youth came out and helped us contact.

So other than freezing our limbs off while sharing the Christmas spirit, my Brit and I had a great week. We tried extra hard to be diligent this week, and had a good time running everywhere, pushing each other to contact everyone, etc. We had some REALLY cool experiences this week. We met a boy named Martin, who was a referral, and it was the coolest/most surreal experience. We prayed before we knocked on his door, and Soeur Francis later explained that she had felt overcome, and had no idea what she was saying, but words just came to her mind. Well, that worked, because when he came out, I could’ve sworn that I had KNOWN him before. This young kid who is from the Czech Republic, and lonely here in France, who needs the gospel way more than he thinks he does. But he was open and took a Book of Mormon, and I’m cool with relying on the power that book has.

The Relief Society had a dinner this week, which consisted of guessing Christmas songs (which were all English), which then meant Comfort, a member who teaches with us a lot, recruited me, and used all my answers to beat everyone else. Winners.

We got to see Zamir and Zamira more this week! Right now, we’re working with them on telling their parents their desires to baptized, because Zamira is trying to go the rebellious, “I’m 19, I’ll do what I want and tell them later” attitude. NO! So Joy brought some pizza, and we had a lesson with them, and then they came again to go caroling with us, when all the Lyon missionaries went. We’re going to visit their family on Christmas, and get to know them more.

We also had Zone Conference this week! I got to see 3 old comps and it was awesome! It was obviously all about Christmas, and was the best thing ever. Also, we got our Christmas presents! Don’t worry, I haven’t opened them yet.

So a stressful thing this week was when we got to Friday, and still had NOWHERE to go on Christmas. WHAT? Okay, I know that that is not the real reason for the season, but I had no idea what to do. I have my British bleu, who NEEDS a good Christmas, since first transfers are hard enough, not including spending major holidays away from family. I had talked to the Sister Training Leaders about it, and was trying to not worry about it. Take not for what you’ll eat, and all that, right? Needless to say, I had a prayer in my heart. PRAYER WORKS, MY FRIENDS. That day, our phone was ringing like crazy, and has been since with invites. We’ve had to turn people down, because apparently the Christmas meals are Christmas Eve night, and for lunch only. Also, members brought us cookies and literal BAGS of food to church. It is overwhelming, and we have an incredible amount of gratitude

.

ALSO. We get to stay out late on Christmas Eve (with members…duh), and get to sleep in Christmas Day. They told us we could watch a Disney movie (not like we actually have one of those lying around), and my companion screamed in the internet café with joy. Merry Christmas to all! I will be Skyping around 3 or 4 my time (happy early Christmas morning), so look out family.

I think the thing I love the most about the Christmas season is the light. In what could be a dark, and cold season, Christmas illuminates this time of year. Light is so symbolic to me. It is so apparent and beautiful. It is warm, happy, and brings peace. It impedes all darkness.  President Eyring said,

“One of the most beautiful symbols of the birth of Jesus Christ into this world is light. The appearance of the long-promised Messiah brought light to a darkened world.”

Christ is the Light of the world, not merely of a season. The Savior Himself said,

“I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.”

I hope all of you have a very Merry Christmas. This is a special time of the year, when hearts are softened, and spirits are tenderer. I know that the Savior of the world, came to be our light. He lives.

Je vous aime.

Soeur Luthi

December 16, 2013

Bonjour.

This email comes to you from a creepy internet cafe, equiped with a broken mouse (fun), sitting next to my new, British comp. 

This week was crazy (shocker). After sending off my companions, I was given a replacement comp, who was also training. We spent the remainder of the day running around trying to get everything done. Since I knew my new bleu would be crazy tired and jetlagged, I changed the day for when we wrapped presents, and took Soeur Eshbach with me instead. The closer and closer it gets to the holidays, the busier and busier the wrapping gets. We spent almost 2 hours on transport, there and back, and then to a members, and it was COLD. But the night ended with meeting up with all the trainers for the trainer dinner. This time, we skipped on MacDo, and upgraded to a nice pizza joint. It was so fun! Mostly because I got to see tons of missionaries that I love! Soeur Kupfer, Elder Taylor, and Elder Andersen were all there from the MTC. Spent some time with good ole' Mama Hulme, and even Soeur Smith, from Grenoble. We took back 6 missionaries to my tiny apartment so we could all crash (and by we, I mean them, cause I literally "slept" on the floor).

The next day we got a frantic call from the STLs to get the random 2nd transfer missionaries who were staying with us to a metro stop all the way across town, so there we were, dragging a million suitcases around town with us. But we got there, headed to the office to meet all the other missionaries, and be trained for training.We spent the rest of the day at the chapel getting out bleus. Pretty sure only like 2 sisters were American, and my new comp is Soeur Francis. She's English, originally from South Africa, and cooler than me in almost every other way. She's studying art, OBVIOUSLY has a beautiful accent, goes running with me, and is FUNNY. Guys. Like, British, dry, funny. Heaven. She thinks it's disgusting that American's eat applesauce, and I'm inadvertently copying her accent. Compunity.

I thought bringing a bleu into exploding Ecully would be cake. We've never had a hard time finding people to teach, especially since we met with out amis so much. Not really the case. Missionary work always goes in waves, where at one pont you're super successful with tons of people to teach, etc....and then suddenly, it's no more, and you're back to finding. We're at the finding part. Her first day consisted of lots of contacting, and a crazy and depressing lesson with Zamir and Zamira. So we taught them, with Soeur Anderson, and we (aka-she, props to her on her wierd mom senses) knew that something was wrong, and Zamira just starts crying. Uh oh. Zamir finally explained that his parents (who come from a Muslim culture), had told them they cannot meet with us, only to learn French. Nothing religious. This isn't as earth shattering as it seems, but our hearts were broken as we saw how sad they were, especially Zamira, because they were told they could not be baptized. Right when they want to. GOOD ONE, ADVERSARY. Seriously, it was the worst. We all (minus my poor bleu) spent the lesson crying. I don't know what this means for them. I know they'll get baptized. But I, and they, have no idea when that will be. Please pray for them.

The rest of the week was a crazy haze. Trying to set things up and getting tombez over and over. But things will pick up. Also, Joy is really progressing! She wants to be baptized in January, and came to church, and stayed for the baptism that was after, and loved it! Also, Zamir and Zamira came to sacrament meeting out of the blue, and I about cried. And Zamira is the cutest thing ever, and was in a skirt! Progress!

Maya, thank you so much for the package. I haven't really opened the present, I just hung up the decorations and got really competitive with Soeur Francis with the Christmas trivia.

I have no idea when we'll Skype yet, since they're still trying to get it sorted out where we will be going for that.

JE VOUS AIME.

Soeur Luthi

*Sorry, this creepy computer won't let me load pictures.*

December 9, 2013

 My Italian

Well, another transfer day, barely survived, as can be told from the timing of this email. I'm still in Lyon. And I'm training again. I was sad to have my two comps leave me, Soeur Paulo for Geneva and Soeur Bragg for Nice. So most of the day was spent at the GARE, saying goodbyes, and meeting with the other missionaries who came through. I hate spending the day in the GARE, but Joy, our favorite member came and kept me company in the morning, bringing treats to keep us happy and warm. Also, I SAW SOEUR BUONANOTE. For those who have forgotten, she's my favorite Italian who was in the MTC with me, and I haven't seen her for basially our entire missions because she's been in Suisse, but I got to see her on the way to Carcassonne! 

This week, once again, went to fast. I felt like half of the time, we were running from place to place. This week in Lyon was the Fête des Lumières, a celebration of when Mary saved Lyon from the plague a few hundred years ago. It's actually really cool, because the French go ALL out for it. It was a 4 day celebration, which caused half of the transport in the city to shut down early/have a line that looked like Disneyland on a summer day. It was actually really cool to see, minus the crowds of 3 million+ people. Look up the history and pictures though, because it's so beautiful. This made work pretty interesting, since half of the buses didn't work after about 5, leaving us to walk/run to rendez-vous. 

Soeur Theroomy, a Malaysian less active had us over for some spicy and delicious food, as we are trying to help her back to church. She's got an awesome faith, the problem is, her dang kids are anti. Greeeeeeaaat. So it's slow and steady, since most Sunday's, she's called by one of her kids for some "family emergency" or another, but we'll get her there! 

Oh, here's a cool miracle: We were on our way to a lesson. This was one of the moments where for some reason public transport was out of the question, so we were walking. We ended up at one of the metro stop offices, as Soeur Bragg is sorting something out with her pass. The two gaurd/watchmen (whatever they were?) who were in the office came and started contacting *us* by asking "Qu'est-ce que cette livre?" (about the Livre de Mormon we were holding). That, my friends, is why you always have a Book of Mormon in your hands. I explained and invited them to learn more. They were a little hesitant, since they were on the job, but they both wanted one. They were excited when we testified about the promise, and happily told us they'd read it. What does this show us? We should all carry around Books of Mormon and people will be draw to us! Mmmm? Anyone?

We visited a few members this week, who all ended up being single women. Not going to lie, our ward is a bit overwhelming since it's like the biggest one in the mish (#hardlife), only because there are SO many people who need our love and attention. But I love visiting members, because even after one short visit, they feel like your best friends, and suddenly, whenever they see you, they are so happy to see you! Members are the best! Also, any chance to hear a conversion/life story, and I'm sold. We ask them about their lives and experiences, and they respond with their soucis and testimonies, and we (the Spirit) help them rekindle the flame of their faith. Also, this holiday season isn't easy for everyone. It can be lonely. And all people need every once in a while is some love.

We met with Joy (ami) again this week. It is seriously the most incredible thing to watch her learn, because we can see the Spirit working with her. This time, she told us she would for sure be baptized in January, since it's "What God wants me to do". PRAISE. We also got to see member Joy, who is one of our favorite people/best friends. She calls the three of us her "angels", and we've officially started the exclusive club of The 4 Libras. She's so great, and SO loving, and her and her nonmember husband love having us. We even had a last supper with them, as we played the funnest game "BANG", ate lemon cheesecake (OH.MY.WORD.), and then they took us to a Chinese buffet thing to meet all their non member friends, where Soeur Bragg and I were interviewed about the "glamorous" California life, quote, unquote. We debated what stars we should make up and say that we've met. #iloveforiegners 

Transfer calls, were stressful as usual, but especially hard since it meant Soeur Bragg and Paulo had to say goodbye to our members, and especially Zamir and Zamira. So let me just explain the dramatic way this all went down. First of all, when we met with them on Friday and told them the news, they suddenly got very quiet, and would've spent the entire lesson sinking into a depression, had we not read about the Savior. So, it was depressing, and the whole "last Sunday" concept are always sad. There was also a repas after church, which apparently in France means bring your own picnic? Of course, we didn't know that, and were expecting to share with others. So the sweet bishop's wife grabbed all of our plates, which had very little on them, and filled them, even though she had her entire family to feed. It's moments like that when I'm humbled to pieces. We had to perform like a million times at church, and after, when a group of missionaries put on a concert. Then, randomly, they told us Zamir/a had to leave. IIIIIIIIIII'M SORRY, it's not "acceptable" for us to "expect" for you to "spend the entire day at church" with "us"?! Yeah, that was a surprise. Mostly since we had planned this big, final lesson, and now we only had a few minutes to say goodbye. We went into a room with them, and said a kneeling prayer, and then the most spirit-packed 10 minutes ever. Soeur Paulo bore her testimony to them, and you could visibly see the light RADIATING from her eyes. Soeur Bragg gave a tearful testimony, full of love. Then..THEN, Zamir gave his testimony about how he knew we would always be best friends, and how he was grateful that we had helped him come to know the Savior. *Sidenote: At this point, we're all slightly beside ourselves.* Zamira, who was a bit quiet, bore her testimony, and it was one of the most honest, sincere, pure things I have ever heard. Why?

She looked at us at one point randomly during a lesson, and did this face..love her.

1. She knows the Book of Mormon is true.

2. She knows this church is true.

3. She knows that Jesus Christ is the Savior.

4. She knows that we were best friends in the premortal life "and even though we don't really speak the same language now, we did then, and we can feel that same love".

Was it one of the best moments on my mission to hear that? Yes. Yes, it was. They are incredible.

Something special about the Fête des Lumières here in Lyon, is that on 8 decembre, everyone puts these little luminarias (is that what they're called?), along their window seals. So for our last night, before we had to stress about packing, we walked outside, and got to see all the beautiful lights along the river. It was a bit difficult to contact since most of the people we passed were drunk, returning from the Fête, but the flickering lights coming from everyones window seals, along with the Fête lights, was so incredible. In a dark and cold night, they made everything seem a little warmer. IT'S SYMBOLIC. That's what the Savior does. No matter how dark, or cold, or terrible, etc, the situation, the Savior does nothing but bring light and joy and peace and love. The message (HIM), can do nothing but bring good things. Happy things. I've seen it so much during this week. The light that comes into someones eyes when they feel the Spirit. The light that radiates from someone when they serve others. The light that comes from this season, as people remember the impportant things. Look for the light, keep it in your lives, and share it with others.

I'm sad to no longer be in a trio, but I'm grateful for my companions. For the love they have for the work, and the things they taught me. But I'm excited for my new bleu. I'm praying for her. 

Je vous aime.

Soeur Luthi