January 6, 2014

 Yeah...my artsy comp snuck this one at the cathedral. Knew Mom would love it.

 

Bonne Année!

Happy New Year! Hope you all fixed some good goals, and all that jazz.

Last Monday was not actually a P-day, since we worked ALL day, and the STL's « commanded » that we « take Tuesday as our p-day ». But, not before we had an FHE with Zamir and Zamira's parents, along with President Roney's son. #ecullyperks

So President's son served in Albania (yeah, who knew they actually had missionaries there), and he was here for the holidays...so obviously we interrupted his family time, so he could come speak in Albanian, while we just smile and pretend we know what's happening. Basically we told them the importance of having family nights, a way of teaching them without 'teaching' them. Baby steps.

Guys, guys, people keep contacting us! « Hey! Jesus! Can I learn more? » Are you kidding? So we taught a lot more this week, and they are people who really want to learn more. Also, they don't think I'm some sort of weirdo interrupting their silence on the bus.

New Years Eve, we had our P-day, so after we taught a lesson to this cool African named Hyppolite who introduced us to his beautiful family, we went to a cathedral and bought food and made fajitas, and went to bed early. #missionarynewyears

The only weird thing about it being a New year, is that so many people are still out of town. Walking around on the morning of the first, and the streets were dead. But we still taught, and found new amis! We also taught Zamir and Zamira, who asked Soeur Francis “If you're from South Africa, then why are you white?” …....anyone?....

Kate, I was thinking about you on your birthday. Mostly because I was trying to convince myself that you aren't actually TWELVE. * barf * I remember when you were 2....... I even sang Happy Birthday to my Brit, in your honor. I hope you had a great day, and I LOVED that you sent me pictures of the temple! I'm so glad you went! Love you.

We had to go to Siberia again for district meeting in St. Etienne, and later that night a cra....funny family in the ward had us over for a mangez-vous, which included them trying to make us teach the future anterior to their cool daughter (guys...just because I can speak English, doesn't mean I actually know what grammar I'm using), the mom who is Edna Mode from the Incredibles putting on creepy spa music, and the dad, who almost had a heart attack, and got us home 15 minutes late since they would not let us leave to catch our bus. Members are the best (for reals).

Friday was January 3....do you know what that means? Half way. 9 Months. Had no idea how to react. Wanted to cry and scream all at once. The longest and shortest 9 months of my life, and everyone keeps telling me “it just gets faster”. Everyday, for the last 9 months, I have known what I needed to do for every hour. I've had to plan it all, and yet it went so fast. But I feel like I always have been, and always will be a missionary, living in France, contacting people and teaching them about the Savior. Hands down the happiest 9 months I've ever had. Soeur Francis, being the best Brit, bought me a macroon to “celebrate”.

We had a few tombez this week, but the good sign was that all of the amis rescheduled. But it was interesting to see it play out, because they definitely needed to happen. Like for one, a member came who has been struggling. Our ami didn't show up, so we spent the time instead talking to her. She really opened up, and it was what she needed. Also, on the way back from a tombez, I contacted this cool girl on the bus. We started talking about school and what she was studying, and got talking about why I was a missionary. She was 18, wants to get a doctorate in Sociology (shout out to Mr. Gibbs), grew up religious, and is now atheist. WHAT. That's a change. I talked to her about how I was a missionary because I had seen the blessings in my life. We started talking about prayer, and I 

could tell she wanted to stump me with her sociology-like questions She had prayed, but never really felt an answer. So we talked about real intent, or acting on the answers we do receive, even if they aren't the ones we want. She then asked if I thought prayer would answer the world's problems. Franchement, yes. Because God is the answer to all problems. So then she asked why there are problems in the world, and why does God just let it happen? (Notice, that she recognized there was a God.) And then we talked about choice. People can choose good things or bad things. Not meaning that bad things don't happen to good people, but people can choose to be better, and can choose to rely on the Lord. At this point, I was tripping over myself to actually get off at my stop, but she promised she would pray, and as I was handing her a card, the lady behind us leaned in and told me she had been listening and wanted one too!

Shout out to Elder Tenney

This week ended in an incredible way. First, with going to the Pascaud's in our ward last night, and them showing their missionary book. They have a book with pictures and testimonies of missionaries who have visited them for the past 1,000 years or something. And then, my bleu pointed to one, written by a then bleu missionary, from Dallas, Texas. Elder Kendall Tenney. WHAAAT? #family Nearly flipped the table. So Mom, tell Kendall the Pascaud's say “Bonjour”. They were worried he wouldn't remember them, but wanted to take a picture and photocopy his entry, just in case he did.

And then the greatest moment of my life happened...

WE TAUGHT ZAMIR AND ZAMIRA'S PARENTS.

Their mom wants to come to church. We spent an hour talking to them about God and talking to Him. This is a straight up, 100% MIRACLE. Even Zamir and Zamira were in shock as we got up to leave. Their hearts are softening. They will be sealed for time and all eternity.

With that, I appreciated a few important things.

1. God listens. He hears our prayers. He knows our needs and our desires. He also knows what we need and when we need it.
2. God speaks. He answers prayers. He does it in ways we don't expect, and when we get to the point when we might doubt it'll happen. There are countless experiences in my own life, as well as in the scriptures that testify of this. It is the epitome of how a “restoration” came about. Because God answered the prayer of the young Joseph Smith. He also answered the prayers of the two Albanian siblings. And their missionaries. He is there. He KNOWS us. He loves us. And He will answer us.

Je vous aime.

Soeur Luthi