December 27, 2010

Bonne Fette!

Joyeux Noel, tout le monde! I hope you all had a great Christmas this year and were able to feel the love of the Savior even more abundantly during this season. So.. my first Christmas in France!

It was strange not being home or around my family for Christmas, but everything that wasn't there for Christmas this year was filled by enormous amounts of FOOD! We ate at members houses multiple times, and they cook to feed armies when they have the missionaries over. It's ridiculous! I probably gained a few pounds this weekend, but it's ok because I think I've lost a good twelve pounds since I've been out here (yes, despite all the French pastries). In France, they eat seafood mostly for Christmas. I thought it was kind of strange, but I wasn't complaining! On Christmas Eve we ate with the Pleitain family with our investigator Marcelline. It was really sweet, especially since Marcelline probably would have done nothing for Christmas Eve if we hadn't invited her. Christmas day, we ate at the Aslan's with a whole bunch of members and also stayed to play games. We played white elephant (but in French they call it a Chinese Auction) and I ended up with a showerhead that has built-in LED lights that light up the water as it comes out, and it changes colors with the temperature of the water. I was pretty stoked, and we've already installed it in our shower haha.

We ate at with the Giacomin family Sunday and the dad is a chef for the Bishop's restaurant, so needless to say, it was amazing! This year it was a lot easier for me to not get caught up in the worldly part of Christmas. Christmas is to celebrate and remember the greatest gift that was ever given to the world, which is our Savior Jesus Christ. And as we remember Jesus Christ, we think of his infinite love and charity for every single person he came in contact with. I had the opportunity to go around with Elder Call and give cookies that we made to homeless people on the street. I remarked something that was interesting, in that there were many who acted very grateful for our gift, and others that didn't want anything from us and even got mad at us for offering. We often talk about how giving is the best part of Christmas, and not receiving, but how can others give to us if we don't accept their gift? Receiving is just as important! I think that often times we are too prideful to accept the service or gifts that others offer us. Being a missionary, I see that a lot! We share the message of Christ and Eternal Life, which is the greatest gift of all, and we get rejected day after day. I guess the little message I'm trying to get across is that not only do we need to be charitable, but we need to be grateful and accepting of the charity people offer us! Christ has paid the ultimate price for our sins and has offered us the greatest gift in the world, but there are always two parts of a gift exchange: giving and receiving. Let's show our gratitude for Christ by accepting Him, and living the principles He has taught us every day of our lives, so that we can RECEIVE the gift that he gives us, and let's also be more grateful for others and their charity towards us by letting down our pride and letting others give their service and charity to us, especially during this Christmas season. I promise that as we do this, we'll feel the Spirit more abundantly in our lives adn we'll have a greater desire to exercise our own charity. I love you! Bonne semaine! Que Dieu soit avec vous!

Love,

Elder Tudor

December 21, 2010

Zone Christmas Party

Joyeux Noel!
Bonjour tout le monde! Transfer calls were Friday..... and I'm staying in Nice! I'm glad because I already know the ward here and I can have a good Christmas with the members. I'm excited! Also, I received a new companion: Elder Graham from Spanish Fork. He was serving in Pau before he came here. He's pretty old in the mission and only has a few transfers left. I'm super happy to be companions with him! I've only been with him one day now, but I can tell he's going to be an awesome companion,and he's just a super nice guy. And the rest of the apartment is still the same, with Elders Dorton and Call staying here. This weekend we've got all kinds of invitations to eat with the members and celebrate Christmas. I'm excited to eat plenty of Buche de Noel. This past week was a good week. We didn't really have a lot of success as far as numbers ago, but we felt like we worked hard and at the end of the week. Saturday night we went (us and the other companionship) Christmas caroling for our investigators and less actives. We sang, gave them sugar cookies that we made,and gave them a Joy to the World DVD. It was super fun! We visited one of our old investigators, Nelito, who was going to be baptized last month, but then he said he didn'thave time. He was super happy to see us, and he even came to church the next day and we're going to see him this week! A little singing and gift giving goes a long way in missionary work apparently haha. But that was a huge blessing, and I'm so excited for him to continue and progress. I spent all of Monday in Marseilles waiting for Elder Graham to arrive on the train. I was with three other Elders, and we went and saw Notre Dame de la Gare, and ate "the best" kebab in Marseilles. Then I met up with Elder Graham at the train station and we got to Nice around 7 p.m. We had a rendez-vous right then. I felt bad for Elder Graham because we went right to a rdv and he was probably exhausted from starving all day, but he's a soldier. I love working with him! Right now I have some more responsibility because I know the area andour investigators,and he doesn't. I'm pretty excited to be able to do more of the work than I was doing and have more responsibility. Well I gotta go, but I love you all! Merry Christmas! During Christmas, remember the greatest gift that was ever given, which was the sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ for us all. I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, that he died for us all, and most importantly, that He lives! Let us think often of him this week and strive to have the pure love of Christ with us always and look to help and support others as He did. Remember, "Every good gift cometh of Christ" Moroni 10:18. Bonne fetes!

Love,
Elder Tudor

Pictures...

Planting trees in Aix-en-Provence

Dressed up as a mannequin at a Halloween party

Visiting Marcelline and baby Nova

Edvin's Baptism

Monaco

Monaco bling diamond flash drive

Some sort of deliciousness

Missionaries of Nice

December 13, 2010

Edvin's Baptism
Bonjour à tous!
This Saturday, I had the sacred opportunity to attend Edvin's baptism. It was incredible! It was my first time seeing a baptism on my mission. The service was amazing and the Spirit was so strong. So many members showed up to support him, and his mom, brother, and one of his friends came too! We started by singing Joy to The World (he loves Christmas Hymns haha), then we heard a couple talks from members about baptism and the gift of the Holy Ghost. Then Elder Blosil performed the baptism, and another member and I were the witnesses. After that, Edvin told us he wanted to take the opportunity to share his testimony. I was truly touched by his testimony. He is a spiritual giant, and he has been prepared from the foundation of the world! He invited the rest of his family to be baptized during his testimony. He wants them to experience what he has so badly. We've actually already started teaching his family. During the baptism I was reflecting on the progress that he has made in the past month. I thought of the crucial moments in his conversion, and it was always when he said he felt the Holy Ghost confirm his prayer or comfort him when he needed it. I better realized my role as a missionary. All we did was teach, bear testimony, and invite. As he made the efforts on his part by keeping his committments, it was the Spirit that converted him and confirmed to him that the Book of Mormon was true, or that Joseph Smith was a prophet, or that he needed to be baptized. All we did was invite, and the Spirit, along with his efforts, did the rest. I also reflected on what will become of him after his baptism. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is Faith, Repentance, Baptism, reception of the Holy Ghost, and ENDURE TO THE END. The baptism was amazing, but I'm even more excited for him to endure to the end - to become an awesome member, go to the temple, serve a mission, etc. Baptism isn't the end, it's just the beginning, and the Gospel is all about improving yourself every day. I'm so excited for him! And I pray that he will continue to endure and progress in the Gospel. Sunday, I had the opportunity to participate in the conferring of the Gift of the Holy Ghost (which was done by one of the members who Edvin has become friends with). Edvin told us he instantly felt the difference and he felt the companionship of the Holy Ghost. So cool! That night we ate at a member's house and we invited him to come with us. On the bus ride over, I mentioned to him that he could serve a mission if he wanted to (he's 20). As soon as I said that he got super excited, and he wou ldn't stop talking about it! Then at the member's house, the member asked him what he's doing right now in life. He told her that he's gonna finish some school, then serve a mission. What??? He's the man! We explained to him a little more how it works on the way home and he's going to talk to the bishop about it and all. He can't at least for a year I think, but he's ok with that. What a stud. He talks to all his friends about the Gospel already. He's an amazing example to me of humbleness and willingness to follow and serve the Lord. Elder Blosil and I can't stop talking about it. It's interesting how when people are truly converted, they just want to share it with everyone else! He reminds me of Alma and the Sons of Mosiah in the Book of Mormon. I can't wait to find more like him! I'm out of time, so til next week! I love you all! Happy Holidays!

Love,
Elder Tudor

December 6, 2010

It's a Girl!

Cher tout le monde,
Interesting/fantastic week! I'm loving my mission more and more each day, I'm loving our investigators more every day, I'm loving the ward more every day, and I'm loving the people more every day (even when they yell at me that we're a sect :)). It's amazing how mad some people can get just when you say hi to them on the street! Haha but anyways, this week went really well. Edvin is still on track to be baptized this Saturday!!! (the 11th) He's going to be such a strong member. He's already doing missionary work haha. He talks to all his friends and neighbors about the Church and invites them to church, his baptism, and to meet with us. So all is going well with Edvin still, but I think the highlight of this week goes to our investigator named Marcelline. She is about 35 years old and is from Madagascar. She lives with her little boy named Livio and isn't married. She's super sweet, super humble, and super pregnant. We knew she was going to have a baby sometime soon, but she said it would be near the end of December. Then on Friday night we get a call from her saying that she's in the hospital and that she's having the baby that night! I think she was even having contractions when she called! We had no idea what to say to her haha. We were just shocked (and a little terrified haha) that she called us. Here we are, two 19 year old boys, with no experience at all as far as childbirth goes, and we're the first people she calls. She wanted us to come in that night to visit her before she had the baby, but we had some rendez-vous. Haha I have no idea what we would have done! But anyways, she calls us again the next day to tell us that she had the baby at 11 o'clock Friday night and that it's a girl! Woo hoo! Haha after we talked to her on the phone, we started wondering what we should have said. Elder Blosil kept saying, "I didn't even ask how much it weighed!" Haha, we don't know what to say. But she told us she'd like for us to come visit, so Sunday night we stop by the hospital to visit her. On the way to her room we saw a lady sitting in a chair having contractions. ça m'a fait peur! Haha I never thought I'd be in the maternity section of the hospital on my mission. But we got to her room finally and she was so happy to see us. It was really cool. I felt bad that she had no one else, but I was glad that we were there and I could tell how happy it made her. We took pictures, chatted, shared a spiritual thought, and then we offered to give her a blessing. She said she'd love one, and then when we asked who she would like to give it, she asked me if I would. I was really touched, and probably just as much nervous. I'd only ever given one blessing before this, and it was in English. I prayed so hard that I could express what Heavenly Father wanted me to say in French, and that my lack of ability to speak the language wouldn't impede the blessing. But as soon as I laid my hands on her head and started speaking, my fear left. I felt so natural and at ease. It was really bizarre because I was so anxious before. There wasn't one moment during the blessing when I wanted to express something but I couldn't. To me, it was a miracle. The Spirit was strong, and even if Marcelline hadn't understood anything I said, I know she would have felt the love of her Heavenly Father and heard the things she needed to hear through the Spirit. It's in moments like that one when I realize just how much Heavenly Father loves us. I'm so thankful for the Priesthood that He has given us so he can bless His children through those that hold it. I'm so thankful that Heavenly Father answered my prayers and sent His Spirit to comfort me and make up for my weaknesses in that moment. I have a strong testimony of the Power of the Priesthood and of the hand of the Lord in His work. I see it every day, and it's such a blessing. The hand of the Lord is in all of our lives, and if we look for it, we will see it, and we will see just how blessed we are. I love you all and I'm so thankful for your support. You're amazing!

Bonne semaine!
Elder Tudor

December 1, 2010

Bonjour à tous!
J'espere que vous avez passé une bonne semaine! I had an interesting week! First of all, I had my first Thanksgiving outside of the United States. It was weird waking up on Thanksgiving and being one of the few who even knew it was Thanksgiving haha. But a few of the members decided to acknowledge Thanksgiving with us and we had a Thanksgiving dinner at the church. Each companionship invited an investigator (Edvin came) and it was super cool. It wasn't exactly an American Thanksgiving turkey dinner, mais ce n'est pas grave. Well actually it was pretty close. We started with a salad, then we had some turkey and some other meat (not quite sure) and mashed potatoes. Then we had some sweet potatoe casserole (not with sweet potatoes, but regular potatoes baked in sugar and marshmallows) made by the sister missionaries. I loved it! But the French people were appauled at the thought of it. I watched Edvin as he tasted it, and he instantly gagged! It was hilarious. Most of them didn't even try it. Then they started to go on about how crazy Americans are and that they don't know how to cook haha. Then we ate some of Elder Call's grandma's, apparently famous, apple pie and some pumpkin pie. So there you go, I celebrated Thanksgiving in France! Being the companion of the District Leader, I'm kind of all over the place because he has to do an exchange with each Elder in teh district each transfer. It kind of sucks because I love workign with Elder Blosil, but it's alright! I learn so much from exchanges and I get to know more missionaries and how they work and learn from them. So I was in Cannes two times this week (because there is a threesome there and Elder Blosil went on exchange with two of them). Cannes is beautiful! There are a lot of old people there. I think everyone goes there to retire. The work is going well here! Elder Blosil and I have four people currently committed to baptism. Edvin the 11th, Nelito (sweet portuguese guy) the 18th, and Marcelline and Semere the 15th of January. We're working our hardest to keep them committed and on the path! I realize more and more every day just how much this really is the Lord's work. I'm reminded of the scripture I chose for my missionary plaque Alma 26:12 - "Yea, I know that I am anothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will bnot boast of myself, but I will cboast of my God, for in his dstrength I can do all ethings;" I've started realizing just how little I can do without the Lord, but also, how much I CAN do with His help if I let him. It's easy to want to do everythign yourself as a missionary. But there's only so much you can do, and you have to let the Lord do the rest. It's like the story of the Brother of Jared. He asked the Lord to show him how to make light in the boats, and the Lord said "What would you have me do?" rather than handing him the answer or doing it for him. Most of the time, the Lord leaves us to do all that we can to accomplish our goals, get through our difficulties, or overcome problems. And after we have done all we can, he makes up for what we cannot do. In the case of the Brother of Jared, teh Bro of Jared went and found a way to fix the problem by making the stones, but it was the Lord that finished the job for him and touched them to make them light up. I know that if we work our hardest to follow the Lord and overcome our difficulties, the Lord will help us through. But if we just sit around and do nothing, we have no promise. We can pray all we want for something, but if we do nothing to obtain it, we will never reach it. For "Faith wihtout works is dead." We show our Faith in the Lord and his ability to help us by first taking the initiative, in faith, knowing and trusting that he will compensate for our weaknesses after we have tried our hardest. I know that Ammon didn't convert thousand of Lamanites just because he trusted in the Lord, but he worked for it and the Lord gave him success!

Je vous aime tous! Passez une bonne semaine!
Elder Tudor