Salut,
Joyeux Noel et Bonne Année! Well it's almost 2012. I never thought it would be! It seemed so far away back in 2010! This was one of the best Christmas's I've ever had. On Christmas Eve and Christmas night we ate with a Romanian family. We spent Christmas eve with G and V B. They prepared SO much food. Honestly, I have no idea where they get all this food, because they just sell newspapers all day for 40 cents a piece. They're so humble, generous, and jsut full of charity though. V made a wicked good egg salad, but it was called beef salad. Don't ask me why, there wasn't an ounce of beef in it haha. On top of the big egg salad, which looked like a cake, she had decorated it with trees and snowmen and a sleigh all made out of olives, carrots, and peppers haha. She's so awesome. We all sang Christmas carols together after dinner and just had a great time. G played his guitar and sang us a Romanian song. He's the man. I played have yourself a merry little christmas for them on the guitar :). After we finished singing, we watched the Joseph Smith movie with them because G wants to know more about Joseph Smith's life. The spirit was very strong, and at the end, G said, "I know Joseph Smith was a prophet." Hearing investigators bear testimony is the greatest thing ever! I was so touched by the whole evening together. When we left, Elder Buss and I talked about it, and we were just so happy and agreed it was the best Christmas ever. We were invited to a member's house that night, but were invited later by the Bostacas adn decided to go there instead. I'm so glad we did, because if not, they would have just been all alone on Christmas Eve. We were so happy so blessed to celebrate Christmas with them.
On Christmas we went to the Wilkey's, an English family, and ate with them and opened presents; Everyone in their family got each missionary a present. It was so nice! I got some sweet union jack socks haha. Then I skyped you, as you all know. It was so great seeing all of you! It gets less weird every time I call home. I remember the first time was awkward because I had no idea what to say haha. Sophie and Mia are so huge! So is Colin! Colton, I knew you would grow back teh beard haha. It was nice to actually see you this time, Ally!
Christmas night we went to P and L's, the other Romanian family. It was hilarious because they prepard almost exactly the same meal we had had the night before. I guess it was the traditional Romanian Christmas meal! We taught them the plan of salvation. They are so golden. At the end, L asked, "but when I die, will I still be able to see my husband and my children?" They're so ready for the Gospel. So many miracles! I love it here, and don't want to go anywhere. Transfer calls are Friday. Elder Buss and I want to stay put. I'm so blessed to be able to work with Elder Buss. He's the man. I learn tons from him and he's such a good missionary. I hope we stay together another one! Well I'll leave this email a little short since I just talked to all of you, and I have to write a big thing to president this week and probably already have less time than I need for that. I love you guys. Thanks so much for your love and your support. You're the best!
Love, Elder Tudor
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
December 19, 2011
Bonjour à tous,
It was a miraculous week. I can't even explain everything that happened! It was such a crazy week haha. We had zone conference on Wednesday and it was our zone and the Toulouse zone all together here in Bordeaux. Elder Buss and I threw together a pretty sweet presentation complete with a musical demonstration on how the Spirit works in the conversion of our investigators. I wrote a story about a family and started from before they met the missioaries, when they met them, when they were taught etc, until they got baptized. As I told this story, Elder Buss played this beautiful song on the piano, and we said that the Spirit was like the sustain pedal on the piano, so as I read, everytime the misisonaries did something to help the family have the Spirit, the pedal would go on, and it would sound beautiful, but every time the missionaries failed to follow up or something and the family lost the Spirit, he woud take the pedal off and it would sound strange and not very pretty. Near the end, the Spirit is constant because the missionaries are diong everything they're supposed to in order to help the investigators have the sustaining influence of the Spirit and the family is baptized and Elder Buss just plays the end of the piece as normal and it's such a beautiful piece, and for the last few moments of the song I read Mosiah 2 verses 2 and half of 5. The Spirit was really strong, and half the missionaries were crying at the end. It was a really spiritual experience for me to write the story and I really gained a strong testimony that our investigators really depend on us in order to be converted. Of course it's the Spirit that converts, but we are teh ones that invite them to do things that will help them have the Spirit and we create an environment for them to feel adn be converted by teh Spirit. The image with the sustain pedal worked out perfect.
We had a great white elephant gift exchange at zone conference as well. I ended up with a pineapple. Elder Buss and I brought a second tree that we had cut down with our leatherman and wrapped it up in big garbage bags. It looked like a body bag. We also brought a big can of baby milk powder that G and V gave us haha. We told them we don't have children, and V just looked at us and in her awesome english pointed at us one at a time and said, "baby - baby" haha. So we gave it away as a white elephant.
After the zone conference we went on exchagne with the assistants and that was really fun. Me, Elder Bollero, and 6 other misisonaries went to place de la victoire and sang Christmas Carols and contacted people. It was really fun but it was raining and freezing cold haha.
Tuesday and Wednesday were crazy picking up the assistants at the airport and doing zone conference and everything, and then thursday was insane because Elders Duncan and Allen flew in from Lyon to do their legality in Bordeaux and so we had them and the assistants all day long and we had to help them get all their legality sorted out and it was just complete chaos haha. And to top it off, we got a call from president informing us that we no longer have the right to drive in France. Apparently after one year in France, our US licenses are no longer accepted, so we've been driving illegaly. So now we have this giant area with sparatic buses because it's mostly a residential area and we don't have a car anymore. We were nervous about it at first and it's been hard to be effective with our time because we can't just drive around everywhere whenever we want, but we saw miracles this week and just had new investigators coming out of the woodwork. We found four new Chinese investigators this week, and an awesome Romanian couple. The Romanian couple came to church with V this week and we taught them after church. They speak english and they're named P and L. They are so golden. When we sat down before the lesson started, I asked if they had any questions. L said, "Yes, I was wondering... because there's so many churches in the world and how could anyone know which one was right? I've always wanted to know and I've prayed many times to know which one was true, but God hasn't answered my prayers yet. How do I know?" They have a baptismal date for the 7th of January. I've never during my whole mission hear someone say that during a first lesson. I love this work. Both Elder Buss and I agree that we don't deserve to teach these amazing people that are just coming out of nowhere. We feel like we didn't do anything, these people just show up. Miracles always follow faith and works, even if it's not when, where, how, or who you expect it to be. The Lord truly prepares people to receive the Gospel!
G and V are not married so V is moving out today, pray that everything goes well and that she finds a place to live. She has so much faith and is so Christlike, it is incredible. She cuold be baptized this week! we'll see how everything works out. We've got 6 investigators with baptismal dates for the next few weeks, so we're really praying and doing our best to help them get there. It's miracle month, so they will!
I'm living my dream out here. I've always wanted to serve in Bordeaux, and the miracles are just flowing! I know this is God's work, and that we can't even comprehend His love for us. I know Jesus Christ suffered pains and temptations of every kind in order to overcome everything that separates us from our Heavenly Father, and I know we can use His power in our own lives to overcome ourselves - if we only choose to. I'm so thankful for the Gospel and for my mission. It's just flying by, I can't believe it. I love you all! Have a great week, et Joyeux Noel! Je penserai à vous tous, merci pour tout ce que vous faites, je vous aime!
Elder Tudor
P.S. N'oubliez pas de regarder Christmas Vacation pour moi! :)
It was a miraculous week. I can't even explain everything that happened! It was such a crazy week haha. We had zone conference on Wednesday and it was our zone and the Toulouse zone all together here in Bordeaux. Elder Buss and I threw together a pretty sweet presentation complete with a musical demonstration on how the Spirit works in the conversion of our investigators. I wrote a story about a family and started from before they met the missioaries, when they met them, when they were taught etc, until they got baptized. As I told this story, Elder Buss played this beautiful song on the piano, and we said that the Spirit was like the sustain pedal on the piano, so as I read, everytime the misisonaries did something to help the family have the Spirit, the pedal would go on, and it would sound beautiful, but every time the missionaries failed to follow up or something and the family lost the Spirit, he woud take the pedal off and it would sound strange and not very pretty. Near the end, the Spirit is constant because the missionaries are diong everything they're supposed to in order to help the investigators have the sustaining influence of the Spirit and the family is baptized and Elder Buss just plays the end of the piece as normal and it's such a beautiful piece, and for the last few moments of the song I read Mosiah 2 verses 2 and half of 5. The Spirit was really strong, and half the missionaries were crying at the end. It was a really spiritual experience for me to write the story and I really gained a strong testimony that our investigators really depend on us in order to be converted. Of course it's the Spirit that converts, but we are teh ones that invite them to do things that will help them have the Spirit and we create an environment for them to feel adn be converted by teh Spirit. The image with the sustain pedal worked out perfect.
We had a great white elephant gift exchange at zone conference as well. I ended up with a pineapple. Elder Buss and I brought a second tree that we had cut down with our leatherman and wrapped it up in big garbage bags. It looked like a body bag. We also brought a big can of baby milk powder that G and V gave us haha. We told them we don't have children, and V just looked at us and in her awesome english pointed at us one at a time and said, "baby - baby" haha. So we gave it away as a white elephant.
After the zone conference we went on exchagne with the assistants and that was really fun. Me, Elder Bollero, and 6 other misisonaries went to place de la victoire and sang Christmas Carols and contacted people. It was really fun but it was raining and freezing cold haha.
Tuesday and Wednesday were crazy picking up the assistants at the airport and doing zone conference and everything, and then thursday was insane because Elders Duncan and Allen flew in from Lyon to do their legality in Bordeaux and so we had them and the assistants all day long and we had to help them get all their legality sorted out and it was just complete chaos haha. And to top it off, we got a call from president informing us that we no longer have the right to drive in France. Apparently after one year in France, our US licenses are no longer accepted, so we've been driving illegaly. So now we have this giant area with sparatic buses because it's mostly a residential area and we don't have a car anymore. We were nervous about it at first and it's been hard to be effective with our time because we can't just drive around everywhere whenever we want, but we saw miracles this week and just had new investigators coming out of the woodwork. We found four new Chinese investigators this week, and an awesome Romanian couple. The Romanian couple came to church with V this week and we taught them after church. They speak english and they're named P and L. They are so golden. When we sat down before the lesson started, I asked if they had any questions. L said, "Yes, I was wondering... because there's so many churches in the world and how could anyone know which one was right? I've always wanted to know and I've prayed many times to know which one was true, but God hasn't answered my prayers yet. How do I know?" They have a baptismal date for the 7th of January. I've never during my whole mission hear someone say that during a first lesson. I love this work. Both Elder Buss and I agree that we don't deserve to teach these amazing people that are just coming out of nowhere. We feel like we didn't do anything, these people just show up. Miracles always follow faith and works, even if it's not when, where, how, or who you expect it to be. The Lord truly prepares people to receive the Gospel!
G and V are not married so V is moving out today, pray that everything goes well and that she finds a place to live. She has so much faith and is so Christlike, it is incredible. She cuold be baptized this week! we'll see how everything works out. We've got 6 investigators with baptismal dates for the next few weeks, so we're really praying and doing our best to help them get there. It's miracle month, so they will!
I'm living my dream out here. I've always wanted to serve in Bordeaux, and the miracles are just flowing! I know this is God's work, and that we can't even comprehend His love for us. I know Jesus Christ suffered pains and temptations of every kind in order to overcome everything that separates us from our Heavenly Father, and I know we can use His power in our own lives to overcome ourselves - if we only choose to. I'm so thankful for the Gospel and for my mission. It's just flying by, I can't believe it. I love you all! Have a great week, et Joyeux Noel! Je penserai à vous tous, merci pour tout ce que vous faites, je vous aime!
Elder Tudor
P.S. N'oubliez pas de regarder Christmas Vacation pour moi! :)
Thursday, December 15, 2011
December 12, 2011
Wow, it has been a totally insane week, and I don't have enough time at all to write about it! But anways, my chinese is coming along quite well if any of you were wondering :). Really though, Elder Buss is teaching me! That's what we do in the car haha. Speaking of Chinese, we found a new chinese investigator this week named H, or Ava is her French name. She's a student and has only been here a month but studied french and speaks really well. She knows nothing about God, but we've already seen her a few times and she is progressing really well. She has a baptismal date for new year's eve. She's already best friends with like everyone at institute as well. We're so excited for her! In other chinese news, one of our recent converts, C, invited us over for dinner the other night. He usually makes really good chinese food (well, Taiwanese, he's from Taiwan and would be mad if I said Chinese haha). So we got there and there was rice on the table like usual. Then he brought out this meat dish and it was like nothing I'd ever seen. I asked him what it was and he just said beouf, so we went for it. At first we thought it was just fat or somethign cuz it wasn't really meat and it was all chewy and gelly like. It was really odd, so we asked, "C, what part of the cow is this?" - "The foot." Elder Buss and I took a second look at what we were eating, and sure enough, I was holding a cow's hoof in my hand and I was gnawing on the ankle, but we didn't notice at first because it was all brown and cooked. After realizing this, we both tried to contain our laughter while not throwing up. Probably the first time I've ever had that sensation before. Oh C.
The ward Christmas party was Saturday night, and Elder Buss and I did a song. I played guitar and we both sang. It was a song by a french member of the church. It"'s pretty cool, I'll try to send you a video. At the end of the video, you can hear C yell from the back of the auditorium super loud, "well done, Fish!!!" He calls me fish becquse the first time he met me we were at an English member's house, and when they said my name to him in their English accent, it sounded like "Tuna". So now I'm Fish. all the missionaries and the ward mission leader sang a hymn as well. It was far far away on Judea's plains, and we forgot to plan an accompaniment, so I had to make up one onthe spot on the guitar haha. It was intense. I think it worked out ok though.
The Lord blessed us with an amazing miracle this week. A couple weeks ago we found a new investigator named I. She is really sweet and we had a really good first lesson. Then a couple day sbefore our return appointment, she called and left a message and said she didn't want to see us anymore. We decided to let the Spirit do it's work and not call her back, because we knew she knew our message is true. A couple days later she called and left a message saying that she wants to see us again and that she knows that Joseph Smith is a prophet and wants to learn more. We saw her the next day and had a great lesson. I'm so thankful to be a missionary. It makes me realize how much teh Lord does for us. As I think back on this week, we didn't do anything special. We just worked, were obedient, and kept a positive attitude, and we saw so many miracles. I love Bordeaux. These last few weeks have been some of the best of my mission. Elder Buss is the man and I love working with him!
Since it's Christmas, Elder Buss and I decided to go out into a little forest today and cut down a little Christmas tree. I'll send pîcs. It's a long story. To make the story short, all we had was a leatherman. We have a tree now though!
There are so many more things I could write about this week, but don't have the time. The church is true and I love the Gospel because it makes people happy! Have a great week! Love you!
Elder Tudor
The ward Christmas party was Saturday night, and Elder Buss and I did a song. I played guitar and we both sang. It was a song by a french member of the church. It"'s pretty cool, I'll try to send you a video. At the end of the video, you can hear C yell from the back of the auditorium super loud, "well done, Fish!!!" He calls me fish becquse the first time he met me we were at an English member's house, and when they said my name to him in their English accent, it sounded like "Tuna". So now I'm Fish. all the missionaries and the ward mission leader sang a hymn as well. It was far far away on Judea's plains, and we forgot to plan an accompaniment, so I had to make up one onthe spot on the guitar haha. It was intense. I think it worked out ok though.
The Lord blessed us with an amazing miracle this week. A couple weeks ago we found a new investigator named I. She is really sweet and we had a really good first lesson. Then a couple day sbefore our return appointment, she called and left a message and said she didn't want to see us anymore. We decided to let the Spirit do it's work and not call her back, because we knew she knew our message is true. A couple days later she called and left a message saying that she wants to see us again and that she knows that Joseph Smith is a prophet and wants to learn more. We saw her the next day and had a great lesson. I'm so thankful to be a missionary. It makes me realize how much teh Lord does for us. As I think back on this week, we didn't do anything special. We just worked, were obedient, and kept a positive attitude, and we saw so many miracles. I love Bordeaux. These last few weeks have been some of the best of my mission. Elder Buss is the man and I love working with him!
Since it's Christmas, Elder Buss and I decided to go out into a little forest today and cut down a little Christmas tree. I'll send pîcs. It's a long story. To make the story short, all we had was a leatherman. We have a tree now though!
There are so many more things I could write about this week, but don't have the time. The church is true and I love the Gospel because it makes people happy! Have a great week! Love you!
Elder Tudor
December 5, 2011
Hello!
It was a crazy week! We weren't even in Bordeaux for a big part of it. Thursday at noon we left Bordeaux on the train for Lyon and we slept there Thursday night with a bunch of the other zone leaders, and Friday morning we had Jedi Council, which was pretty amazing. It's just the zone leaders, the assistants to president, and the president. We just discuss things that have been working in the mission and areas we can improve and every zone gives a report about their zone and goals that they have. Basically President Murdock just like receives revelation and talks to us and we try madly to write down everything he says haha. It was so inspiring and was such a blessing to be there and be in such a spiritual environment. Then Friday night we took the train back through Montpellier and stayed the night in Toulouse and then took the train to Bordeaux in the morning where we went right to Samedi Sportif (sports saturday) where we played basketball at this giant park with members, other missionaries, and investigators. We had a couple of investigators there. Louis and Rick came, who are so awesome. They're both chinese, and super good at basketball actually. I guess Yao Ming isn't much of a mystery after all! Rick is super tall and at one point he totally stuffed (blocked) a sister missionary hardcore. He wasn't messing around haha. He's going back to China for a few weeks though, but then he'll be back. Luckily I'll most likely still be here when he gets back.
While I was at Jedi Council, I saw Elder Garland! I love meeting old companions again. He's in Lyon now and he came by the institute building where we were having the council because they were doing a lesson there. I missed him! And I got some great news about Yves, remember him? He got baptized just a week or two after I left Cannes. Apparently he's still super strong and active and even helps the missionaries often with teaching. Yes! I love hearing news like that. And I couldn't write him because I don't have any of his info, so I was really happy.
We had a great/crazy Sunday this week. F was confirmed, which was so great, and I had the blessing to participate. Then after church, a chinese recent convert named Charming was given the Aaronic priesthood and F got to watch. He also got to watch as we gave a member a blessing for the sick. Then afterwards, we taught F about hte priesthood, and he was super excited to receive it because he had seen so much Priesthood in action that day. I'm so excited for F! He already finished the Book of Mormon. What a stud. He's progressing like crazy. Then we went to this Romanian couple's house. They told me their son's name is Tudor haha. We taught them. The husband speaks pretty good english and french, and the wife not so much, but he translated. They accepted to be baptized on Christmas Eve! The poor people though, they live in such a terrible house. There was a fire in the house before they bought it so everything is just charred and the walls are all burned and everything, and there's just burned clutter everywhere. Not the greatest place to live. I felt so bad for them. We're going to go help them clean it Monday morning. Before we left, the husband played the guitar and sang us Romanian songs haha it was great. Then they gave us this huge bag of food even though we told them that it was ok and we didn't need it a hundred times. They're so nice. Some of the food was pretty sketch though. It was really interesting! So we drove aroudn the rest of the day with that big bag of food in the back of the car, and there was this goat cheese in it that just smelled terrible. Later that night, Elder Buss was driving and I was in the passenger seat, and all of a sudden Elder Buss started rolling down my window and yelling "that spider is so big!!! it's so big!!!" and I had no idea what was going on. I looked outside for a spider somewhere but was still confused, then to my absolute horror I noticed this big white mass right up on the little ledge by my window in the car, and I looked and saw this massive white spider who's abdomen was probably the size of my thumb! Of course, I screamed like a little girl and when the window was down all the way, I hit it with my cell phone out the window. We kept freaking out for 10 minutes after that haha. It was so scary. We figured it came from the big bag of food cuz the bag had been in the garage. I've never seen a spider like that! I'm pretty uneasy in the car now haha.
I love being in Bordeaux and time is just flying here. We're really busy and I love it. Even though I'm so busy, I don't think I've ever been as focused on the real reason why I'm here as I am right now. When Elder Causse came, he said that sometimes we lose teh Pearl in the box. The story is that this Jewler bought this giant magnificent pearl and wanted to display it in the window of his store. Because it was so amazing, he had this special hand made beautiful box made so he could display the pearl in it. The only problem was that when the people walked by and looked at it, they only noticed the box and the pearl kind of got swallowed up in the box. Sometimes, whether as missionaries or as just members of teh church, we lose the pearl in the box. There's so many techniques and theories and ways to do things in missionary work, and sometimes, we focus too much on finding the best "box" to present the Gospel in, and we forget a little about the precious "pearl" that is the Gospel itself. It doesn't matter what box you have if it doesn't draw attention to the pearl! As members we can get caught up in big extravagant activities etc. and we can get distracted from what is really important. Let's all remember how simple and precious the principles of the Gospel are and how rich the blessings and promesses are that come with them. Out here, I'm not just going contacting, I'm offering people salvation through Jesus Christ, their Savior. I'm not just teaching lessons to say I taught a lesson, but I'm teaching people the way to come unto Christ. Let's remember why we do everything we do in the church. The purpose of the church and its teachings is to invite everyone to come unto Christ and partake of salvation. I know the church is true and that the principles of the Gospel and the commandments are REAL. They make us happy for eternity. Well gotta go, but I love you all!
bisou,
Elder Tudor
It was a crazy week! We weren't even in Bordeaux for a big part of it. Thursday at noon we left Bordeaux on the train for Lyon and we slept there Thursday night with a bunch of the other zone leaders, and Friday morning we had Jedi Council, which was pretty amazing. It's just the zone leaders, the assistants to president, and the president. We just discuss things that have been working in the mission and areas we can improve and every zone gives a report about their zone and goals that they have. Basically President Murdock just like receives revelation and talks to us and we try madly to write down everything he says haha. It was so inspiring and was such a blessing to be there and be in such a spiritual environment. Then Friday night we took the train back through Montpellier and stayed the night in Toulouse and then took the train to Bordeaux in the morning where we went right to Samedi Sportif (sports saturday) where we played basketball at this giant park with members, other missionaries, and investigators. We had a couple of investigators there. Louis and Rick came, who are so awesome. They're both chinese, and super good at basketball actually. I guess Yao Ming isn't much of a mystery after all! Rick is super tall and at one point he totally stuffed (blocked) a sister missionary hardcore. He wasn't messing around haha. He's going back to China for a few weeks though, but then he'll be back. Luckily I'll most likely still be here when he gets back.
While I was at Jedi Council, I saw Elder Garland! I love meeting old companions again. He's in Lyon now and he came by the institute building where we were having the council because they were doing a lesson there. I missed him! And I got some great news about Yves, remember him? He got baptized just a week or two after I left Cannes. Apparently he's still super strong and active and even helps the missionaries often with teaching. Yes! I love hearing news like that. And I couldn't write him because I don't have any of his info, so I was really happy.
We had a great/crazy Sunday this week. F was confirmed, which was so great, and I had the blessing to participate. Then after church, a chinese recent convert named Charming was given the Aaronic priesthood and F got to watch. He also got to watch as we gave a member a blessing for the sick. Then afterwards, we taught F about hte priesthood, and he was super excited to receive it because he had seen so much Priesthood in action that day. I'm so excited for F! He already finished the Book of Mormon. What a stud. He's progressing like crazy. Then we went to this Romanian couple's house. They told me their son's name is Tudor haha. We taught them. The husband speaks pretty good english and french, and the wife not so much, but he translated. They accepted to be baptized on Christmas Eve! The poor people though, they live in such a terrible house. There was a fire in the house before they bought it so everything is just charred and the walls are all burned and everything, and there's just burned clutter everywhere. Not the greatest place to live. I felt so bad for them. We're going to go help them clean it Monday morning. Before we left, the husband played the guitar and sang us Romanian songs haha it was great. Then they gave us this huge bag of food even though we told them that it was ok and we didn't need it a hundred times. They're so nice. Some of the food was pretty sketch though. It was really interesting! So we drove aroudn the rest of the day with that big bag of food in the back of the car, and there was this goat cheese in it that just smelled terrible. Later that night, Elder Buss was driving and I was in the passenger seat, and all of a sudden Elder Buss started rolling down my window and yelling "that spider is so big!!! it's so big!!!" and I had no idea what was going on. I looked outside for a spider somewhere but was still confused, then to my absolute horror I noticed this big white mass right up on the little ledge by my window in the car, and I looked and saw this massive white spider who's abdomen was probably the size of my thumb! Of course, I screamed like a little girl and when the window was down all the way, I hit it with my cell phone out the window. We kept freaking out for 10 minutes after that haha. It was so scary. We figured it came from the big bag of food cuz the bag had been in the garage. I've never seen a spider like that! I'm pretty uneasy in the car now haha.
I love being in Bordeaux and time is just flying here. We're really busy and I love it. Even though I'm so busy, I don't think I've ever been as focused on the real reason why I'm here as I am right now. When Elder Causse came, he said that sometimes we lose teh Pearl in the box. The story is that this Jewler bought this giant magnificent pearl and wanted to display it in the window of his store. Because it was so amazing, he had this special hand made beautiful box made so he could display the pearl in it. The only problem was that when the people walked by and looked at it, they only noticed the box and the pearl kind of got swallowed up in the box. Sometimes, whether as missionaries or as just members of teh church, we lose the pearl in the box. There's so many techniques and theories and ways to do things in missionary work, and sometimes, we focus too much on finding the best "box" to present the Gospel in, and we forget a little about the precious "pearl" that is the Gospel itself. It doesn't matter what box you have if it doesn't draw attention to the pearl! As members we can get caught up in big extravagant activities etc. and we can get distracted from what is really important. Let's all remember how simple and precious the principles of the Gospel are and how rich the blessings and promesses are that come with them. Out here, I'm not just going contacting, I'm offering people salvation through Jesus Christ, their Savior. I'm not just teaching lessons to say I taught a lesson, but I'm teaching people the way to come unto Christ. Let's remember why we do everything we do in the church. The purpose of the church and its teachings is to invite everyone to come unto Christ and partake of salvation. I know the church is true and that the principles of the Gospel and the commandments are REAL. They make us happy for eternity. Well gotta go, but I love you all!
bisou,
Elder Tudor
Tuesday, November 29, 2011
November 28, 2011
Salut tout le monde,
What a week! I LOVE Bordeaux! We've got some great investigators who are progressing well and the work is going great. We're set some great goals for the zone and we're really trying to improve the vision that the missionaries in our zone have and raise the bar of expectations. December is giong to be "miracle month". As soon as our faith increases, it will be.
Well, I guess I'll cut to the chase since you're probably wondering about the subject of this email. Thanksgiving was a crazy day. But I should probably start with Wednesday night. Wednesday night we met with a chinese investigator named F who has been meeting with the us for about a month now. He had a baptismal date for last Saturday but didn't feel ready, so he was praying to know if he should be baptized this week. So we met him at the church and sat down for hte lesson adn said the prayer. As soon as the prayer was over, we asked him how he was doing. His response: So, I looked at my calendar, and I can get baptized next friday or tomorrow. Elder Buss and I looked at eachother like we were making sure we both heard right. Then we said we'd be in Lyon next friday so we have to do it tomorrow! So we called everyone and got him an interview and got everything set up that night. I'm still a little in shock about it. We were freaking out haha. Thanksgiving day was crazy. Us and the Sisters were at the food bank from 8 til 12 sorting out food and throwing away the nasty stuff, which was super fun. Then Elder Buss and I drove home and changed, and went to the giant supermarket to find a turkey (which is rare in france) because we had planned to eat thanksgiving dinner as a district and invite investigators. We found a turkey, and it was the last one in the store... and it was MASSIVE. It weighed like 25 pounds. It was a beast. We had to get it! So we did and they put it in this giant box for us. We had to leave it in the car while we taught a lesson, but we didn't get sick from eating it, don't worry. We took it to the church after and prepared it (Elder Meservy's family had sent turkey bags and a bunch of American thanksgiving food!), but of course we took some pictures with it first. Then we left all the other missionaries to cook while we went and made programs for the baptism at the institute building, and we got back at five minutes to 6, which is when the baptism started. Phew! Traffic in France is terrible. We had the baptismal service, and it was amazing. We were so happy that a lot of members showed up even though it was last minute. The Spirit was very strong and F was so happy. I can't wait to get to know him better. He'll be confirmed this next Sunday because it was stake conference this weekend. Then we all ate Thanksgiving dinner together. There were 6 elders and 4 sisters, and 4 or 5 investigators. It was great! And there was a guitar, so Elder Buss and I did a little number which was fun. The turkey was amazing, as well as all the food. We even had stuffing! It was great. We went around the table and everyone said what they were thankful for and it was really spiritual and it was just a great moment for us and our investigators. So we finished around 830, but it's not over. Then we drove to Bergerac so we could do an exchange there the next day! It was insane; but somehow it all worked out, which was a miracle. Probably the best thanksgiving I've ever had.
This thanksgiving, I was just thankful for the Lord's promises. He gives us commandments and promises us that He will bless us. It's so simple! Missionaries work hard, and they see success, which is nothing that comes from themselves, but is a gift from the Lord for obedience. Investigators keep commitments and keep the commandments, and they receive answers to their prayers and they get baptized. That's what happened with Fu. He prayed about it and really wanted to know, and that's all the Lord asks, so he got his answer and was baptized. I know God loves us. I'm starting to see more and more that He asks us to do the smallest little things compared with the great gifts he bestows upon us for our obedience. If we only seek Him in every aspect of our life and keep our end of the many promises he offers us, we will be blessed with His gifts, and eventually the greatest gift, Eternal Life. All He asks is obedience. It's so simple. I love it. I know it's true.
I love you! I'm thankful for all of you, espeically my family. Thanks for your love, your prayers, and your support.
Love,
Elder Tudor
What a week! I LOVE Bordeaux! We've got some great investigators who are progressing well and the work is going great. We're set some great goals for the zone and we're really trying to improve the vision that the missionaries in our zone have and raise the bar of expectations. December is giong to be "miracle month". As soon as our faith increases, it will be.
Well, I guess I'll cut to the chase since you're probably wondering about the subject of this email. Thanksgiving was a crazy day. But I should probably start with Wednesday night. Wednesday night we met with a chinese investigator named F who has been meeting with the us for about a month now. He had a baptismal date for last Saturday but didn't feel ready, so he was praying to know if he should be baptized this week. So we met him at the church and sat down for hte lesson adn said the prayer. As soon as the prayer was over, we asked him how he was doing. His response: So, I looked at my calendar, and I can get baptized next friday or tomorrow. Elder Buss and I looked at eachother like we were making sure we both heard right. Then we said we'd be in Lyon next friday so we have to do it tomorrow! So we called everyone and got him an interview and got everything set up that night. I'm still a little in shock about it. We were freaking out haha. Thanksgiving day was crazy. Us and the Sisters were at the food bank from 8 til 12 sorting out food and throwing away the nasty stuff, which was super fun. Then Elder Buss and I drove home and changed, and went to the giant supermarket to find a turkey (which is rare in france) because we had planned to eat thanksgiving dinner as a district and invite investigators. We found a turkey, and it was the last one in the store... and it was MASSIVE. It weighed like 25 pounds. It was a beast. We had to get it! So we did and they put it in this giant box for us. We had to leave it in the car while we taught a lesson, but we didn't get sick from eating it, don't worry. We took it to the church after and prepared it (Elder Meservy's family had sent turkey bags and a bunch of American thanksgiving food!), but of course we took some pictures with it first. Then we left all the other missionaries to cook while we went and made programs for the baptism at the institute building, and we got back at five minutes to 6, which is when the baptism started. Phew! Traffic in France is terrible. We had the baptismal service, and it was amazing. We were so happy that a lot of members showed up even though it was last minute. The Spirit was very strong and F was so happy. I can't wait to get to know him better. He'll be confirmed this next Sunday because it was stake conference this weekend. Then we all ate Thanksgiving dinner together. There were 6 elders and 4 sisters, and 4 or 5 investigators. It was great! And there was a guitar, so Elder Buss and I did a little number which was fun. The turkey was amazing, as well as all the food. We even had stuffing! It was great. We went around the table and everyone said what they were thankful for and it was really spiritual and it was just a great moment for us and our investigators. So we finished around 830, but it's not over. Then we drove to Bergerac so we could do an exchange there the next day! It was insane; but somehow it all worked out, which was a miracle. Probably the best thanksgiving I've ever had.
This thanksgiving, I was just thankful for the Lord's promises. He gives us commandments and promises us that He will bless us. It's so simple! Missionaries work hard, and they see success, which is nothing that comes from themselves, but is a gift from the Lord for obedience. Investigators keep commitments and keep the commandments, and they receive answers to their prayers and they get baptized. That's what happened with Fu. He prayed about it and really wanted to know, and that's all the Lord asks, so he got his answer and was baptized. I know God loves us. I'm starting to see more and more that He asks us to do the smallest little things compared with the great gifts he bestows upon us for our obedience. If we only seek Him in every aspect of our life and keep our end of the many promises he offers us, we will be blessed with His gifts, and eventually the greatest gift, Eternal Life. All He asks is obedience. It's so simple. I love it. I know it's true.
I love you! I'm thankful for all of you, espeically my family. Thanks for your love, your prayers, and your support.
Love,
Elder Tudor
Tuesday, November 22, 2011
November 21, 2011
Bonjour à tous,
Oh Bergerac Oh Bergerac, I bid thee farewell, I'm going to Bordeaux to be zone leader! Yep, right now I'm in Bordeaux and my comp is Elder Buss who is a stud. We were actually in the mtc at teh same time, but he's chinese speaking so we didn't really see each other there. It's so awesome to be in Bordeaux! It's huge! I feel so overwhelmed after 6 months in Bergerac haha. And I'm still pretty shocked about being zone leader. I'm super nervous. I don't feel qualified at all. When president called Friday morning and told me, the first thing that ran through my head after the shock of hearing that I would be zl was "I'm going to have to learn to drive a stickshift... in France!" haha. Yeah, I'm pretty scared. It'll be ok though. I'm so happy to be here and to serve all the amazing missionaries in our zone. This is going to be a really humbling experience.
It was pretty sad to leave Bergerac, but it was good. I love everyone there. I got to give a talk in Sacrament yesterday which was sweet. All the members there are so amazing, and I was really touched while talking with many of them yesterday after church. We were invited all over the place Sunday afternoon and I got to spend some time with the B's, the T's, and M and M before I left. It was great. It's crazy to look back at all the things that happened in Bergerac. I'm so blessed to have served there. I made lifelong friends there. It wasn't always easy there, and there were many times when I wondered how the work was going to advance, but everytime, Heavenly Father gave us something to go on. Something to keep our faith and hope alive. I think that no matter what situation we're in, Heavenly Father always provides us with some beam of hope and something to keep us going. This last transfer was kinda tough on me, but I loved it, and I've learned a lot from it. And now I'm moving on to another challenge! It's going to be an amazing transfer and I'm going to learn A LOT. At least I should anyways, if I do all I can. I'm so thankful to be here and to have been given this learning experience and this opportunity to serve. My mind is everywhere today haha sorry, but I'm sending you some pics of Bergerac, and I'll probably have more to say next week.
Thanks for all your support and your testimonies and your prayers. Maybe by next week I'll know how to drive a stickshift and speak a little chinese! :)
Love you all,
Elder Tudor
Oh Bergerac Oh Bergerac, I bid thee farewell, I'm going to Bordeaux to be zone leader! Yep, right now I'm in Bordeaux and my comp is Elder Buss who is a stud. We were actually in the mtc at teh same time, but he's chinese speaking so we didn't really see each other there. It's so awesome to be in Bordeaux! It's huge! I feel so overwhelmed after 6 months in Bergerac haha. And I'm still pretty shocked about being zone leader. I'm super nervous. I don't feel qualified at all. When president called Friday morning and told me, the first thing that ran through my head after the shock of hearing that I would be zl was "I'm going to have to learn to drive a stickshift... in France!" haha. Yeah, I'm pretty scared. It'll be ok though. I'm so happy to be here and to serve all the amazing missionaries in our zone. This is going to be a really humbling experience.
It was pretty sad to leave Bergerac, but it was good. I love everyone there. I got to give a talk in Sacrament yesterday which was sweet. All the members there are so amazing, and I was really touched while talking with many of them yesterday after church. We were invited all over the place Sunday afternoon and I got to spend some time with the B's, the T's, and M and M before I left. It was great. It's crazy to look back at all the things that happened in Bergerac. I'm so blessed to have served there. I made lifelong friends there. It wasn't always easy there, and there were many times when I wondered how the work was going to advance, but everytime, Heavenly Father gave us something to go on. Something to keep our faith and hope alive. I think that no matter what situation we're in, Heavenly Father always provides us with some beam of hope and something to keep us going. This last transfer was kinda tough on me, but I loved it, and I've learned a lot from it. And now I'm moving on to another challenge! It's going to be an amazing transfer and I'm going to learn A LOT. At least I should anyways, if I do all I can. I'm so thankful to be here and to have been given this learning experience and this opportunity to serve. My mind is everywhere today haha sorry, but I'm sending you some pics of Bergerac, and I'll probably have more to say next week.
Thanks for all your support and your testimonies and your prayers. Maybe by next week I'll know how to drive a stickshift and speak a little chinese! :)
Love you all,
Elder Tudor
Thursday, November 17, 2011
November 14, 2011
Salut,
Hey everyone! It was a good week filled with lots of big and small unexpected miracles and experiences. Our investigators are doing good but most weren't available at all this week so we didn't really get to see them. So, naturally, we did a lot of finding. I wanted to share an experience in particular that we had Thursday night. It was Elder Willett's bday and we wanted to celebrate, so for dinner we took M to a restaurant, but it ends up that all the restaurants dont' serve dinner til 7! So we just went and got kebabs haha. But afterwards, we passed by a girl that told us to come back when we were knocking doors one night, and since we had M with us, we decided to go pass her so we could actually enter when we got there. No one was home when we went, so we just started knocking doors in the same residence to show M what finding is like. A big hefty middle aged guy opened up at the second door we knocked on. I explained that we had a message about a living prophet and asked if he had a few minutes for us to leave him a message, adn he said "yeah, come on in!" Just to put this in perspective, I've never been let in while knocking doors in Bergerac. It's true that we haven't done a lot til recently, but still, we were shocked! So we all walked in and he sat us down and he just left us there while he went and finished up some food in the kitchen. He came back in and said hehad half an hour. So we prayed and started talking. His name was N, by the way. He explained had just recently found his faith in Christ and I could just feel the Spirit right from the get go in that lesson. He bore testimony about how Christ had changed his life the last few months. He was just so prepared. We taught the restoration and the Spirit didn't cease. He accepted everything and even said that the Book of Mormon completes the Bible before we even explained that it does. All of us, including M, bore testimony and we invited him to be baptized the 17th of December and he accepted. Before we left, he said "il y a une chaleur dans mon coeur" (there's a burning/heat in my heart) and he said it about three times within the space of a few minutes. He thanked us so many times, and we finally left, all of us basically on teh verge of tears because we were so happy. We walked a little ways, and then put our arms around eachother in a circle and prayed (M said the prayer) for N. (We call him Frere N(Brother N) because it sounds like Pere Noel (Santa Clause) haha). I honestly don't remember many details of the lesson, apart from the burning he said he had in his heart and the extreme joy that I felt. I wrote in my journal about it, and didn't really know what to write, which I thought was weird, because it was the best lesson I've ever taught in my whole mission. All I wrote was that I felt a joy that I've never felt anywhere else but on my mission. My mission means everything to me. I don't think I ever really knew what joy was before my mission. I've never really understood what it means to love others either. Not that I do now, but I'm starting to understand a lot more what love is, and I pray that others will feel Heavenly Father's love through me as I serve them.
The next day, we went for the follow up appointment. We found a chair on the porch with the Book of Mormon on it and a note on the door that Noel had left saying he didn't wish to continue. It broke my heart. That Book of Mormon on the porch and that note taught me many lessons. I know Heavenly Father loves Noel and that he will accept the Gospel one day if he listens to the Spirit. I wrote him a note saying the Book of Mormon was a gift and he can keep it. He'll read it.
Last Sunday we fasted and prayed to find a family to teach. We didn't find a family knocking on doors or contacting. Actually, didn't really find anyoen this week. But our fasting and prayers were answered without us even realizing it. Tuesday, V T called us up out of the blue and invited us over for dinner with her and F (it had been quite a few weeks since she talked to us. We've been passing her house and calling, but no answer.) We got there and she explained everything that happened and why she has been avoiding the church for so long. She just opened up right in front of us without us even asking one question. Then they grabbed their book of Mormons and said, "So, what are we going to read tonight?" and we had a lesson and then ate together. She said she wants to see us still and talk about the Gospel, it's just the members that she avoids for the moment because she was offended by somethign that happened at the talent night awhile ago. We walked out of there just thinking "how in the world did that happen?" It wasn't til the next day that I realized it was the answer to our prayer. It's true that it's not a full family because it's just V and F, but it's a family! But it's not over yet. We had promised F that we'd make her a pie Friday because it was her bday, but thursday V called and invited us to come eat at her son's house Saturday night for a surprise party for F. So we went and it was us, V, F, two of her friends, and V's son K, his wife, and their kid. We had a great opportunity to get to know K and his wife and it went so well. We're hoping and praying that we'll be able to continue to see them and be able to teach them. It's crazy how despite all our finding efforts we find hardly anyone from it, but it seems like when we're making the efforts, we find new people, even if it doesn't come directly from our efforts. The Lord is definitely at the head of this work and he knows if we're doing our best to find people and baptize them, and he rewards us accordingly.
L went to Paris all week and might be gone for 3 months over there. It was pretty hard news too since we had set a baptismal date with him as well, but we'll see if he stays. He's not sure. But anyways, I've gotta go. I hope you have a great week! Love you!
Love,
Elder Tudor
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
November 7, 2011
Salut!
Another week in Bergerac over! I can't believe I've been here since the beginning of June. That flew by! We're already getting close to Christmas. Crazy. Well we had a great week! We ended up doing alot of finding with a lot of appointments falling through and such. It was great though. We're really concentrating on finding a family to teach. We've fixed the goal to find one this week and we're praying and working hard for that. A little update on people that people have been asking me about. Madame T just kind fell off the face of the earth. We've passed by a few times but she never answers anymore. It's ok, it'll happen one day, in the Lord's timing.
Last week I forgot to write about a funny experience. Last Sunday we were sitting in Sunday school when the fire alarm went off. I thought for sure that G had set if off haha but he was in hte primary room so that wasn't possible. We all walked outside immediately to get away from the noise, and the first thign we saw were two Jehovah's witnesses walking around the back parking lot and then there were like 4 or 6 more out near the front of the church. Hmm.... I'm not going to assume anything, but I guess we could say it was a little fishy.
Anyways, this week we saw a miracle. Her name is Mme F and we've been teaching her for a month or so now and she lives in La Force which is about 10 km from Bergerac. She's always been against coming to church, but on Monday we went there with the Branch pres and his wife and taught the Sabbath Day. As soon as we brought up the subject seh went "geeze, you really want me to come to church dont you!" and we said yes, of course haha. But we had a great lesson and the Spirit changed her and she just all of a sudden became open to the idea and at the end we invited her and she said she she wouldn't say yes or no. I asked her what could keep her from coming and she thought for a few seconds and said "well... I guess nothing really!" Then she accepted to come adn said she couldn't not come at least once and see what it's like. Sure enough (even though she had slept in) she got to sacrament meeting sunday morning! It was such a miracle for us because we have some great investigators right now, but it seems like all of them have the hardest time coming to church and all have something blocking them whether that be their schedule or a desire. I've never had such a problem in my mission getting investigators to come to church. That was a great tender mercy we were blessed with this week though.
This week we developed a new technique that we call "musiking". As much as we love contacting and talking with people, when you do it a lot, it can get old and hard to keep the excitement. So we decided to put my portable speaker and my ipod in my backpack and put the Motabs on. It was just loud enough that anyone within 5 to 10 feet or so could hear the hum of motabs. It was so awesome! . People we talked to could hear it but the looked super confused like they were wondering where the music was coming from haha. It was great. The best part was that as soon as we did it we had more success in contacting! We were having a good time and enjoying being missionaries. You've gotta do stuff like that every once in awhile to boost your morale and keep things interesting. And doing that helped us find people that were interested because we were having more fun and enjoying the work more. Plus we were inviting the Spirit into our contacts with God's choir playing in the background :). Good times!
I went on exchange this week with Elder Dorton which was a blast as usual. We went out and visited that Irish family again in Beynac. We ate hot dogs with them. I thought it was ironic that I went all the way to Beynac France to eat a hot dog. Anyways, it was pooring rain all day that day, and poor Elder Willett and Elder Caldwell in Bergerac biked to an outer city 4km away in the pouring rain and got soaked! The guy was there though and became a new investigator. He believes in some prophet that lives in Bordeaux and gave us his book of revelation. We'll see what we can do there. Only in Bergerac!
We've been seeing B, Sister B's dad who is an ex catholic bishop who sits in his house all day smoking and drinking with his boyfriend. He's one of my favorite people ever. We're really trying to help him because he has such a good heart, he's just so taken over by addiction though, it's terrible. When we pray, we always have to stand up, because that's how the catholics do it apparently, but this time at the end of the lesson I told him we were going to pray on our knees. He flipped out saying "Oh la la! ça ne va pas la tete!" and said he would never do it! But Elder Willett and I got on our knees and waited for him for 5 minutes and finally he got on his knees too (after a few expletives) and said the prayer. The Spirit was so strong and he was so humbled, and so was I. There's power in a kneeling prayer, and we're starting to invite all our investigators to do it during our lessons. It was a miracle!
We were in the newspaper last Thursday under an article about evangelist churches. They had a pic of us in front of our chapel and it was pretty legit. The article wasn't that great and she mixed things up a bit about what we said in the interview, but that's ok. Some people we've contacted said they saw us in the paper, so that was cool haha. In the article, they said that we believe the prophets are living, instead of we believe in a living prophet. So everyone probably thinks we believe that Moses and Abraham are still walking around somewhere.
Last night L, our investigator who is half catholic half muslim, accepted a baptismal date for Christmas eve! Woo hoo! We were so excited! He's the man. The work is going great here. Things are a little slower than they've been in the past, but it'll come. I know this is the Lord's work and not mine, so I can't complain about the results if I'm doing my best to be an effective instrument in His hands to bring forth His work. I can always do better, of course, but I'll be working on that my whole life. I know the church is true and that Heavenly Father has truly called prophet in our days and that He inspires all his servants. The Priesthood is on the earth, and by its power and the power of the Spirit this work will keep rolling forward all around the world. Have a great week! I love you!
Elder Tudor
Another week in Bergerac over! I can't believe I've been here since the beginning of June. That flew by! We're already getting close to Christmas. Crazy. Well we had a great week! We ended up doing alot of finding with a lot of appointments falling through and such. It was great though. We're really concentrating on finding a family to teach. We've fixed the goal to find one this week and we're praying and working hard for that. A little update on people that people have been asking me about. Madame T just kind fell off the face of the earth. We've passed by a few times but she never answers anymore. It's ok, it'll happen one day, in the Lord's timing.
Last week I forgot to write about a funny experience. Last Sunday we were sitting in Sunday school when the fire alarm went off. I thought for sure that G had set if off haha but he was in hte primary room so that wasn't possible. We all walked outside immediately to get away from the noise, and the first thign we saw were two Jehovah's witnesses walking around the back parking lot and then there were like 4 or 6 more out near the front of the church. Hmm.... I'm not going to assume anything, but I guess we could say it was a little fishy.
Anyways, this week we saw a miracle. Her name is Mme F and we've been teaching her for a month or so now and she lives in La Force which is about 10 km from Bergerac. She's always been against coming to church, but on Monday we went there with the Branch pres and his wife and taught the Sabbath Day. As soon as we brought up the subject seh went "geeze, you really want me to come to church dont you!" and we said yes, of course haha. But we had a great lesson and the Spirit changed her and she just all of a sudden became open to the idea and at the end we invited her and she said she she wouldn't say yes or no. I asked her what could keep her from coming and she thought for a few seconds and said "well... I guess nothing really!" Then she accepted to come adn said she couldn't not come at least once and see what it's like. Sure enough (even though she had slept in) she got to sacrament meeting sunday morning! It was such a miracle for us because we have some great investigators right now, but it seems like all of them have the hardest time coming to church and all have something blocking them whether that be their schedule or a desire. I've never had such a problem in my mission getting investigators to come to church. That was a great tender mercy we were blessed with this week though.
This week we developed a new technique that we call "musiking". As much as we love contacting and talking with people, when you do it a lot, it can get old and hard to keep the excitement. So we decided to put my portable speaker and my ipod in my backpack and put the Motabs on. It was just loud enough that anyone within 5 to 10 feet or so could hear the hum of motabs. It was so awesome! . People we talked to could hear it but the looked super confused like they were wondering where the music was coming from haha. It was great. The best part was that as soon as we did it we had more success in contacting! We were having a good time and enjoying being missionaries. You've gotta do stuff like that every once in awhile to boost your morale and keep things interesting. And doing that helped us find people that were interested because we were having more fun and enjoying the work more. Plus we were inviting the Spirit into our contacts with God's choir playing in the background :). Good times!
I went on exchange this week with Elder Dorton which was a blast as usual. We went out and visited that Irish family again in Beynac. We ate hot dogs with them. I thought it was ironic that I went all the way to Beynac France to eat a hot dog. Anyways, it was pooring rain all day that day, and poor Elder Willett and Elder Caldwell in Bergerac biked to an outer city 4km away in the pouring rain and got soaked! The guy was there though and became a new investigator. He believes in some prophet that lives in Bordeaux and gave us his book of revelation. We'll see what we can do there. Only in Bergerac!
We've been seeing B, Sister B's dad who is an ex catholic bishop who sits in his house all day smoking and drinking with his boyfriend. He's one of my favorite people ever. We're really trying to help him because he has such a good heart, he's just so taken over by addiction though, it's terrible. When we pray, we always have to stand up, because that's how the catholics do it apparently, but this time at the end of the lesson I told him we were going to pray on our knees. He flipped out saying "Oh la la! ça ne va pas la tete!" and said he would never do it! But Elder Willett and I got on our knees and waited for him for 5 minutes and finally he got on his knees too (after a few expletives) and said the prayer. The Spirit was so strong and he was so humbled, and so was I. There's power in a kneeling prayer, and we're starting to invite all our investigators to do it during our lessons. It was a miracle!
We were in the newspaper last Thursday under an article about evangelist churches. They had a pic of us in front of our chapel and it was pretty legit. The article wasn't that great and she mixed things up a bit about what we said in the interview, but that's ok. Some people we've contacted said they saw us in the paper, so that was cool haha. In the article, they said that we believe the prophets are living, instead of we believe in a living prophet. So everyone probably thinks we believe that Moses and Abraham are still walking around somewhere.
Last night L, our investigator who is half catholic half muslim, accepted a baptismal date for Christmas eve! Woo hoo! We were so excited! He's the man. The work is going great here. Things are a little slower than they've been in the past, but it'll come. I know this is the Lord's work and not mine, so I can't complain about the results if I'm doing my best to be an effective instrument in His hands to bring forth His work. I can always do better, of course, but I'll be working on that my whole life. I know the church is true and that Heavenly Father has truly called prophet in our days and that He inspires all his servants. The Priesthood is on the earth, and by its power and the power of the Spirit this work will keep rolling forward all around the world. Have a great week! I love you!
Elder Tudor
Tuesday, November 1, 2011
October 31, 2011
Hey everybody!
Well it's still pretty warm here in Bergerac, even though it's supposed to get super cold here in the winter. Luckily the cold hasn't arrived yet. On the way to the cybercafe there was a bunch of kids walking around with masks on, but Halloween doesn't go much further than that here. They're not super creative. We had another great week full of miracles and spiritual experiences. I'm so lucky to be on a mission! Every day my testimony is strengthened so much and I can see the Spirit working in my life more and more and I know more and more how to recognize it. Elder Willett and I talk often of how it's such a blessing to be here and to be able to grow so much spiritually. I would be lost if I hadn't gone on a mission. Every day I feel more committed to the path to eternal life. I love it here!
We had interviews with president this week which went really well. I love president Murdock and he's such an inspired man. They missed their flight from Geneva adn showed up at 1:30 for interviews instead of 10 haha but it all worked out. The zone leaders made a sweet slideshow out of pictures that we all sent in and played some Josh Groban to it. It was a good time and we really felt the Spirit. Our investigators are doing well, but just having a hard time getting to church! We are finding some good people right now though and it's great. We have a russian investigator named D who is the man. He's not Christian, but I know with the BoM and the power of the Spirit he'll come to know that Jesus is the Christ. We're teaching a sweet guy from Morroco named L who is catholic/muslim. Go figure! He's so sweet though. Every time we see him in the road he says "Les etats-unis! La family!" He says that the US is family with Morroco for some reason haha it's hilarious. He doesn't have a job and just barely got out of a shelter adn found an apartment. The poor guy has nothing but he's so happy. I love him! We're also teaching G (the other son of the B's) and that is going well. We invited him to be baptized twice. The first time he said he'll do it when he's 70. The second time he said he'd do it in his 20's. We're getting closer! He's sweet, and I'm so excited for him. It'll take some time, but their whole family will be members soon. They're such an amazing family! I never would have thought I'd see a family like them here in France. We're really focusing on and praying to find families right now. We've contacted a few and we hope they'll take the lessons soon. We found a new investigator this week who's in her 60's and has one tooth right in the middle (maybe two.. I dunno) of her mouth and it's pretty crazy looking. She has the highest little girly voice but when she laughs it's a big low man voice. The first time we taught her I thought there was a man in the other room laughing every time she laughed. Pretty scary, she's awesome though. Right now we're really trying tobuild a base of new investigators and get them progressing. Pretty soon we'll be seeing lots of progress if we keep working hard.
One thing I've learned this week is that the company of the Spirit is the greatest thing we can have here on earth. When we have the Spirit, we're just happy! We're filled with teh love of God and we loev everyone. We don't judge, but we love, are patient, kind, and we feel an inner peace that everything is simply ok. It's something that I've learned to appreciate on my mission. The longer I'm out here, the more I can tell when I have the Spirit or not, and the difference between the two is incredible. I'm so happy I have the opportunity to learn to gain the company of the Spirit and keep it, because it's the Holy Ghost that will lead us in the paths of eternal life. Not only because he guides us, but because we have to live worthy of eternal life to have it! This sunday I was sitting in church thinking abotu our investigators who didn't come to church. I was about to be discouraged. But instead, I looked ahead and thought of ways we can get more investigators to church in teh future. I thought about our efforts and was happy that we tried to get them there, but they always have their free choice. The Spirit really is the comforter. A missionary couldn't survive without it, not only because he needs it to teach, but because sometimes the mission can be so discouraging that you just need a little comfort! I'm so happy to be here and I can't believe I've alreayd been out so long. I don't wanna think about it. I've got tons of time left still! I don't wanna leave! I'm so thankful for our Heavenly Father and the fact that he has reached out to us through modern prophets today to restore and keep pure the truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ so we can be happy by living by it. Stay strong, never let Satan have you. He only wants you to be miserable. Wickedness never was happiness - trust me, there's lots of wickedness out here and a lot of sad people. But those that humble themselves and come unto Christ feel the love of God adn are filled with a joy that can't be felt elsewhere. I know the Church is true and that the restored Gospel is the path to eternal life with our families. I love you all and thank you for everything! Have a great week!
Love,
Elder Tudor
Well it's still pretty warm here in Bergerac, even though it's supposed to get super cold here in the winter. Luckily the cold hasn't arrived yet. On the way to the cybercafe there was a bunch of kids walking around with masks on, but Halloween doesn't go much further than that here. They're not super creative. We had another great week full of miracles and spiritual experiences. I'm so lucky to be on a mission! Every day my testimony is strengthened so much and I can see the Spirit working in my life more and more and I know more and more how to recognize it. Elder Willett and I talk often of how it's such a blessing to be here and to be able to grow so much spiritually. I would be lost if I hadn't gone on a mission. Every day I feel more committed to the path to eternal life. I love it here!
We had interviews with president this week which went really well. I love president Murdock and he's such an inspired man. They missed their flight from Geneva adn showed up at 1:30 for interviews instead of 10 haha but it all worked out. The zone leaders made a sweet slideshow out of pictures that we all sent in and played some Josh Groban to it. It was a good time and we really felt the Spirit. Our investigators are doing well, but just having a hard time getting to church! We are finding some good people right now though and it's great. We have a russian investigator named D who is the man. He's not Christian, but I know with the BoM and the power of the Spirit he'll come to know that Jesus is the Christ. We're teaching a sweet guy from Morroco named L who is catholic/muslim. Go figure! He's so sweet though. Every time we see him in the road he says "Les etats-unis! La family!" He says that the US is family with Morroco for some reason haha it's hilarious. He doesn't have a job and just barely got out of a shelter adn found an apartment. The poor guy has nothing but he's so happy. I love him! We're also teaching G (the other son of the B's) and that is going well. We invited him to be baptized twice. The first time he said he'll do it when he's 70. The second time he said he'd do it in his 20's. We're getting closer! He's sweet, and I'm so excited for him. It'll take some time, but their whole family will be members soon. They're such an amazing family! I never would have thought I'd see a family like them here in France. We're really focusing on and praying to find families right now. We've contacted a few and we hope they'll take the lessons soon. We found a new investigator this week who's in her 60's and has one tooth right in the middle (maybe two.. I dunno) of her mouth and it's pretty crazy looking. She has the highest little girly voice but when she laughs it's a big low man voice. The first time we taught her I thought there was a man in the other room laughing every time she laughed. Pretty scary, she's awesome though. Right now we're really trying tobuild a base of new investigators and get them progressing. Pretty soon we'll be seeing lots of progress if we keep working hard.
One thing I've learned this week is that the company of the Spirit is the greatest thing we can have here on earth. When we have the Spirit, we're just happy! We're filled with teh love of God and we loev everyone. We don't judge, but we love, are patient, kind, and we feel an inner peace that everything is simply ok. It's something that I've learned to appreciate on my mission. The longer I'm out here, the more I can tell when I have the Spirit or not, and the difference between the two is incredible. I'm so happy I have the opportunity to learn to gain the company of the Spirit and keep it, because it's the Holy Ghost that will lead us in the paths of eternal life. Not only because he guides us, but because we have to live worthy of eternal life to have it! This sunday I was sitting in church thinking abotu our investigators who didn't come to church. I was about to be discouraged. But instead, I looked ahead and thought of ways we can get more investigators to church in teh future. I thought about our efforts and was happy that we tried to get them there, but they always have their free choice. The Spirit really is the comforter. A missionary couldn't survive without it, not only because he needs it to teach, but because sometimes the mission can be so discouraging that you just need a little comfort! I'm so happy to be here and I can't believe I've alreayd been out so long. I don't wanna think about it. I've got tons of time left still! I don't wanna leave! I'm so thankful for our Heavenly Father and the fact that he has reached out to us through modern prophets today to restore and keep pure the truths of the Gospel of Jesus Christ so we can be happy by living by it. Stay strong, never let Satan have you. He only wants you to be miserable. Wickedness never was happiness - trust me, there's lots of wickedness out here and a lot of sad people. But those that humble themselves and come unto Christ feel the love of God adn are filled with a joy that can't be felt elsewhere. I know the Church is true and that the restored Gospel is the path to eternal life with our families. I love you all and thank you for everything! Have a great week!
Love,
Elder Tudor
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
October 24, 2011
Salutations, Things are going well in Bergerac. I've been here a long time it seems like! I remember the first 3 transfers felt like they went by so fast, but this 4th one seems like the first three all together haha. Our investigators are having a hard time progressing right now, but they're getting there, and we're still finding new ones. But M is progressing still! He got the preisthood yesterday and was ordained a priest and even prepared the sacrament. He was so excited and he was SO happy! We were so happy for him and it's so amazing to see his progression still. All 5 of the people that have been baptized since I've been here are all still active and progressing in the church. It's such a blessing to see it! The work is going well, a little slower with the colder weather, but it's goin. Finishing out this transfer is going to be great and take a lot of faith. Today we met up with a reporter who is doing an article on all the churches in Bergerac. We explained our beliefs and answered her questions and it was great. It's funny to explain to reporters our religion because they can never get it into their heads that we're not a branch off of catholicism or protestantism. I'm really excited to read the article. It will be in the newspaper Thursday. There will be a picture of us two in front of the church as well haha. This week we had the huge blessing to hear from Elder Caussé (born in Bordeaux) of the seventy for a special zone conference in Bordeaux. What a spiritual experience! General authorities are so inspired and the spirit is so strong during these special zone conferences. He got up and asked us what the purpose of the church is, and we responded "To invite others to come unto Christ." Fortunately, we were right haha. He took that phrase and split into two sections. We first discussed coming unto Christ. He asked us what it means to come unto Christ. Of course we talked about the principles and ordinances of the Gospel and so on, and that coming unto Christ is to be saved. Then he asked what it means to be saved, and why be saved? And we were throwing out answers like "to have everything the father has" or "to be perfect" or "to be in his presence" etc. But every time we threw out an answer he just kept asking "but why do you want those things and why does Heavenly Father want you to have them? Just so you can create worlds and be Gods?" It took us awhile, but finally one Elder just said, "Because He loves us." Elder Causse had the answer he was looking for, and we discussed this topic for quite awhile. I felt the spirit so strongly and this discussion really opened my eyes. I'm just going to briefly resume some things he said and thoughts I had. Love is the motivation for everything. The reason God created His plan was because He loves us. The reason we want to return and live with Him is because we love Him, and we want to feel His love as we once did before coming to earth. All of us are searching that love that we once knew. Elder Causse asked us this question, and I just loved it. He said, "Imagine Heavenly Father and the Savior were in the room with us right now. Can you imagine the love you would feel in their presence?" As I thought about that, I just felt an incredible peace and love for Father in Heaven. LOVE is why we're here. LOVE is why we live the Gospel, and the reason why the Gospel exists. We then discussed Lehi's dream. We read in 2nd Nephi 11 when the angel explains to Nephi the meaning of the dream. The Angel tells Nephi that the tree and its fruit represent the Love of God, and then right after, the Angel says "look!" and Nephi sees the Christ and His ministry. I had never noticed that before. The tree, or the love of God, is the Christ, but more specifically, the blessings of His Atonement. All of God's love is manifest in one single event - the Atonement. And to feel that love, is to feel the power of the Atonement. So how do we feel that love? We follow that straight and narrow path that is described in the dream which is the Gospel. We hold fast to the word of God and apply it to our lives, we don't just "cling" to it. When we have Faith, repent, are baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and continue to partake of the Sacrament worthily so that we feel the Holy Ghost's influence and the Love of God in our lives, we are at the tree because we have the blessings of the atonement in our lives. I wanted to share this because it's something I had never realized before. I always thought that we got to the tree at the end of our lives and that the straight and narrow path was our life's journey. But we can well see that even some people who got to the tree and tasted the fruit fell away after a time, so this couldn't be after this life and after judgment that we can taste of the fruit. It is right now. The purpose of the Gospel is so that we may feel the Love of God throughout our lives and partake of the fruit daily. We can and should be at the tree, not just spectators hoping to get there some day. It all just kinda clicked in my head. God will not transform us after this life into somethign we have not become in this life. Especially as a missionary, I need to be at the tree. Elder Causse said we need to be Lehi in the dream. He tasted the fruit, looked around, and invited his family to come and partake. We have to be at the tree, eat of the fruit, be filled with the Love of God, and then we can and will invite others to come and partake because we are filled with His love. We discussed many other thigns and I'd love to share all of it, but don't have time! The week was amazing as I thought about this. I just felt the love of GOd so much this week. This is His work and he created it because He loves us, so as His servant, I must do the work out of love as well! One experience from yesterday sums up my week. We went to a member's brother's house yesterday because he has a serious sickness (not sure what) and can't walk and can't really talk either and is in a bed and can just make noises and move his limbs a little bit. We went with another brother in the branch and gave him a blessing. When we walked in the room and talked with him (and he's about 70), his face just lit up and he was smiling, and moving all around, and his wife said she had never seen him move like that in months. We all felt the spirit. We all felt God's love for him. We loved him. He loved us. That's why I'm here. To help others feel His love! And the only way is through the blessings of the atonement which happens when one follows the restored Gospel. I know God loves us, and that our purpose in life is to make our way back to our Heavenly Father's presence and feel and enjoy His love in His presence again one day. After all, we are His children. I love you all!
Love, Elder Tudor
Love, Elder Tudor
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
October 17, 2011
Cher tout le monde,
Well another week gone in Bergerac. It's flying! I've been here so long, but at the same time, it feels like I just got here. That's basically how it always is during the mission. We're here with M who just showed up at the cybercafe. He's trying to read this outloud and he doesn't speak a lick of english and it's pretty funny. Speaking of M, it was quite a week for him. He went to the hospital with stomach problems for a few days, but they found nothing wrong with him. We went and visited him though and he looked pretty miserable. He was in a room with an old grandpa who moaned all night and he could never get to sleep. Poor guy! Yesterday, M showed up halfway through priesthood (we start with priesthood here) and he walked in in a pink dress shirt and a pure denim suit, except the pants had patches of khaki sewed on, and on one pant leg in big red letters was "G-UNIT". I had to contain myself to not laugh and interrupt the lesson haha. He was looking pretty gangster, and he came and sat next to me and said, "Ca vient des Etats-unis ca!" (that's from the United States!) pointing at his pants. Funniest thing ever. Next week he'll be getting the priesthood (Not in his G-Unit costume I hope) and it was announced in Sacrament meeting yesterday.
We saw so many miracles this week! I don't have time to write them all, but we found some new investigators who are great and we made contact with a few old investigators. One new one is named D and he's from Russia, but he speaks English and spent most of his life in Lithuania. He met the missionaries over there, but it's been a long time, and right now he's living with his girlfriend in Bergerac. He believes in God but has a hard time accepting the fact that Jesus took our sins upon Him, but we used the BoM and testified of the role of Jesus Christ in the plan of salvation and that he is the only way we can receive mercy, and he understood and accepted everything, when at first he said it was impossible for one person to atone for another. It was pretty amazing, and I know that the BoM and the Spirit are our most powerful tools and can help anyone come to realize the truth. We also met an old man on a bench in the park that we were going to walk past because we were on our way somewhere, but I stopped and talked to him. He said right off the bat that he wasn't interested in our message, so I asked him, "Do peace and happiness interest you?" and we started a great conversation and we taught him part of the plan of salvation. He had lost his wife, and after we left he had hope to see her again. Those are the greatest miracles, when we can just help someone come a little closer to Heavenly Father by their hope and faith in true principles. The best part about it was that his name was Rambo! I told him he needed to repent because of all the people he's killed haha. He understood the joke, thankfully.
On Thursday I went to Brive on exchange with Elder Caldwell which was great. He's an amazing missionary and we learned a lot together. Friday night we had another miracle. We've passed the T's a few times in the last couple weeks but with no success. We decided to pass by Friday night and they were there and let us in! We were shocked haha. I was just thinking of how much of a miracle it was while we were there, and they even invited us to eat with them and we did. Mme. T told us how she was offended by some people at church and we were able to talk about it for awhile which was great. We're gonna pass by again next week and keep in contact with them, and I know they'll come around. They're such great people.
This morning during my personal studies I read the BoM first like I always do, and then I didn't really know what to study. I just felt like something was missing and that there was something that I needed to study. I felt like I needed to take out Preach My Gospel, so I did, and I flipped to the first section that came into my head, which was about the power and authority of our calling. I read a quotation by President Kimball about the setting apart of a missionary, and how it is a literal setting apart from sin and the things of the world which puts us above carnal things, and that the blessings of our calling depend on our faithfulness to this setting apart. I thought back to my own setting apart from President Hughes. It was a reminder of how I need to be above the thigns of the world. In the world but not of it. I set a goal to completely separate myslef from the world, even any thoughts of old music or movies or anything. I know the Lord will bless me as a try my best to do this. Then I felt to read "The transforming power of Faith and Character" by Elder Scott, which is one of my favorite talks ever. I love this line - "We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day." I want to become separated from the world. I want to be the best instrument in the hands of the Lord as possible. Sometimes it seems like a huge task, but after reading that I realized that in order to become what I want to become, I just have to take it one day at a time, I need to be what I want to become every day, and then I'll become it. There's no trick or magic about it. You've just got to want it and then do it and be it day after day. And through faith in true principles and acting on them, we become something as we do it consistently. I also liked this quote..."The measure of your character is what you are becoming." If we're not becoming something better, we're not being the best we can be. I know there's so many things I can do better out here and I'm trying to be humble enough and work hard enough to overcome my weaknesses. At the same time, I know that the Lord is happy with my work as I try to do this. I know he'll help me and all of us as we try to become more like Him. That's why he put us here! Anyways, I just have had that on my mind all day and that's what came out in my email, sorry haha. I'm doing great! I'm starting to feel the love of Heavenly Father for His children more and more. I'm starting to understand the true nature of my call more and more as well. I'm not there jsut to do things that missionaries do, but I'm there to be a Christlike missionary and invite all to come unto Him as He would do it. I love this work. There's nothing more simple and beautiful than the Gospel, and nothing that brings more happiness. Never let anything get in the way of living by its principles - anything! Nothing is worth more than what we become and what our Heavenly Father grants us when we live the Gospel. I love you all and hope you have a great week! Thanks for all you do for me!
Love,
Elder Tudor
Well another week gone in Bergerac. It's flying! I've been here so long, but at the same time, it feels like I just got here. That's basically how it always is during the mission. We're here with M who just showed up at the cybercafe. He's trying to read this outloud and he doesn't speak a lick of english and it's pretty funny. Speaking of M, it was quite a week for him. He went to the hospital with stomach problems for a few days, but they found nothing wrong with him. We went and visited him though and he looked pretty miserable. He was in a room with an old grandpa who moaned all night and he could never get to sleep. Poor guy! Yesterday, M showed up halfway through priesthood (we start with priesthood here) and he walked in in a pink dress shirt and a pure denim suit, except the pants had patches of khaki sewed on, and on one pant leg in big red letters was "G-UNIT". I had to contain myself to not laugh and interrupt the lesson haha. He was looking pretty gangster, and he came and sat next to me and said, "Ca vient des Etats-unis ca!" (that's from the United States!) pointing at his pants. Funniest thing ever. Next week he'll be getting the priesthood (Not in his G-Unit costume I hope) and it was announced in Sacrament meeting yesterday.
We saw so many miracles this week! I don't have time to write them all, but we found some new investigators who are great and we made contact with a few old investigators. One new one is named D and he's from Russia, but he speaks English and spent most of his life in Lithuania. He met the missionaries over there, but it's been a long time, and right now he's living with his girlfriend in Bergerac. He believes in God but has a hard time accepting the fact that Jesus took our sins upon Him, but we used the BoM and testified of the role of Jesus Christ in the plan of salvation and that he is the only way we can receive mercy, and he understood and accepted everything, when at first he said it was impossible for one person to atone for another. It was pretty amazing, and I know that the BoM and the Spirit are our most powerful tools and can help anyone come to realize the truth. We also met an old man on a bench in the park that we were going to walk past because we were on our way somewhere, but I stopped and talked to him. He said right off the bat that he wasn't interested in our message, so I asked him, "Do peace and happiness interest you?" and we started a great conversation and we taught him part of the plan of salvation. He had lost his wife, and after we left he had hope to see her again. Those are the greatest miracles, when we can just help someone come a little closer to Heavenly Father by their hope and faith in true principles. The best part about it was that his name was Rambo! I told him he needed to repent because of all the people he's killed haha. He understood the joke, thankfully.
On Thursday I went to Brive on exchange with Elder Caldwell which was great. He's an amazing missionary and we learned a lot together. Friday night we had another miracle. We've passed the T's a few times in the last couple weeks but with no success. We decided to pass by Friday night and they were there and let us in! We were shocked haha. I was just thinking of how much of a miracle it was while we were there, and they even invited us to eat with them and we did. Mme. T told us how she was offended by some people at church and we were able to talk about it for awhile which was great. We're gonna pass by again next week and keep in contact with them, and I know they'll come around. They're such great people.
This morning during my personal studies I read the BoM first like I always do, and then I didn't really know what to study. I just felt like something was missing and that there was something that I needed to study. I felt like I needed to take out Preach My Gospel, so I did, and I flipped to the first section that came into my head, which was about the power and authority of our calling. I read a quotation by President Kimball about the setting apart of a missionary, and how it is a literal setting apart from sin and the things of the world which puts us above carnal things, and that the blessings of our calling depend on our faithfulness to this setting apart. I thought back to my own setting apart from President Hughes. It was a reminder of how I need to be above the thigns of the world. In the world but not of it. I set a goal to completely separate myslef from the world, even any thoughts of old music or movies or anything. I know the Lord will bless me as a try my best to do this. Then I felt to read "The transforming power of Faith and Character" by Elder Scott, which is one of my favorite talks ever. I love this line - "We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day." I want to become separated from the world. I want to be the best instrument in the hands of the Lord as possible. Sometimes it seems like a huge task, but after reading that I realized that in order to become what I want to become, I just have to take it one day at a time, I need to be what I want to become every day, and then I'll become it. There's no trick or magic about it. You've just got to want it and then do it and be it day after day. And through faith in true principles and acting on them, we become something as we do it consistently. I also liked this quote..."The measure of your character is what you are becoming." If we're not becoming something better, we're not being the best we can be. I know there's so many things I can do better out here and I'm trying to be humble enough and work hard enough to overcome my weaknesses. At the same time, I know that the Lord is happy with my work as I try to do this. I know he'll help me and all of us as we try to become more like Him. That's why he put us here! Anyways, I just have had that on my mind all day and that's what came out in my email, sorry haha. I'm doing great! I'm starting to feel the love of Heavenly Father for His children more and more. I'm starting to understand the true nature of my call more and more as well. I'm not there jsut to do things that missionaries do, but I'm there to be a Christlike missionary and invite all to come unto Him as He would do it. I love this work. There's nothing more simple and beautiful than the Gospel, and nothing that brings more happiness. Never let anything get in the way of living by its principles - anything! Nothing is worth more than what we become and what our Heavenly Father grants us when we live the Gospel. I love you all and hope you have a great week! Thanks for all you do for me!
Love,
Elder Tudor
Wednesday, October 12, 2011
October 10, 2011
Bonjour enfants des hommes, Oh Bergerac, Oh Bergerac, I bid thee... not farewell! Yep, I'm staying a 4th in Bergerac! I was so surprised!!! At first I wasn't sure how I felt about it haha, but I'm happy about it now. If there's anyone left in the city that I don't konw yet, I'll know them all by the end of this transfer haha. I'm pretty stoked. And I'm still with Elder Willett which is great. Apparently only two missionaries in our whole zone got transfered (there's about 12 or 13 companionships in the zone) because president thought our zone was too far away and didn't want to move us haha. that's what someone told me anyways. SO, lots of news this week. First of all, A was baptized!!!!! It was so amazing. Miraculously, all of her problems were sorted out and she got all ready to go in this last week. Bro B baptized her, which was so great. Her baptism was quite an experience. First, I need to explain to you that ever since she set a baptismal date she has told us how afraid she is of going underwater during EVERY lesson haha. The day before the baptism we went to her house to see how she was doing, and she was so scared. We read a few scriptures about faith and fear with her, and by the end we got her to say at least that she wasn't scared. She looked terrified though haha. I felt so bad for her, but I knew it would work out. I was a little afraid though because she has really bad respiratory problems and has to sleep with a machine hooked up to her at night so she can breath, and she can hardly get up and go to the bathroom without breathing like she ran a marathon. So Saturday morning the B's picked us all up and off we went. Almost the whole branch was there which was awesome. We took pictures before the meeting started, and she looks absolutely terrified in all of them. I felt so bad! This should be a happy day! She was happy to be baptized, I know, but she was just so terrified of the water. It started half an hour late, as usual (you think it's bad in the U.S.). When it was time for the ordinance, A, bro B, and I got in the font (I was there because she wanted an extra person in case something went wrong, but Bro B actually baptized her). We got her into the font, and waited a few minutes for her to catch her breath and got her all situated, and of course everyone watching was shouting out orders of how to do the baptism like how she needed to put her dress between her legs. The poor lady, she could barely even breathe at the moment! Then Bro B performed the ordinance. Let's just say he didn't exactly ease her down into the water. It happened pretty quick and I just saw her terrified face go into the water and we all heard her scream as she went in. I think he pushed her to the bottom of the font, then finally brought her back out. When she came back out she started coughing really bad, I'm sure she inhaled some water when she went in screaming. I was terrified! Luckily the coughing subsided after a few seconds and she was ok! It was quite a baptism! She's pretty brave to do that with her respiratory problem, I was so happy for her! The service was amazing and the Spirit was there. A cried through all the talks and was so touched, especially knowing that she now is part of a huge family. Sunday, she only planned on coming to Sacrament meeting (which is the last meeting here) for her confirmation because she was so tired after the baptism. But apparently there was some kind of race Sunday morning and when she went to get in her car she noticed that all the streets were blocked off, so she called us and was panicking, but a member went and picked her up in his car and it worked out, and she was confirmed! She was so stressed that she was late haha I felt so bad, but she loved it, and felt so much better after her confirmation. We officially named her "French Granny" of Bergerac. There's a french granny in every city in the mission. The responsibilities basically consist of cooking for the missionaries every once in awhile and reparing their clothes haha, and in return she gets to be called "Mami" which means granny in French. She loves it. In other news, Mb is getting the priesthood next week! I'm so excited for him!!!! He is progressing so well. This week he came with us to visit A once before her baptism. We had only brought him teaching with us once before and it was... interesting haha. But we asked him to bear testimony of his baptism to A. It was one of the most powerful and pure testimonies I had ever heard. I had never really heard his full testimony about his baptism, and wow. I wrote it all down in my journal because he had some experiences and some miracles happen that he had never told us about prior to his baptism. It was so amazing, and it helped A so much. A testimony is one of the most powerful things one can have. Now Mb wants to help us with teaching all the time, especially with A, he loves her and calls her Mami too haha. I love the guy, and I'm so excited for him to receive the Priesthood! So, here we go again, Bergerac. I remember when I got here and saw how small it was. I thought to myself, "well, I have two choices. Be discouraged because of how small it is and how little work there probably is, or work I can work as hard as I can with what I have." I'm glad I chose to work. The Lord has blessed me with more success here than anywhere else on my mission. It's because it's the Lord's work, not mine, and if I'm here, that means He is preparing people here and he wants me to be an instrument in His hands in finding them and helpling them come unto Christ. The greater the opposition is, the greater the miracles are. It's been a year of miracles for the branch in Bergerac, and I'm so happy for them. The branch has strengthened so much, and it will continue to do so. I'm so glad I get to keep serving here. Sometimes I have doubts that there's much left to do here, but i know I wouldn't be here if that was true. The Lord has left me here for a reason, and I want to do all I can to fulfill His work here. I'm going to grow a lot this transfer, as if I haven't already grown enough here in Bergerac. It's quite a testing ground, especially mentally, but I'm stoked! Elder Willett and I have fixed some good goals for this transfer and I know we'll see miracles if we work with the Spirit. Thanks for all your support back home. I love you! Bonne semaine! Love, Elder Tudor
Thursday, October 6, 2011
October 3, 2011
Bonjour a tous,
Frenchmen translating for the the prophet, apostles, and other GA's = bizarre!!! Yep, I watched in French this time. It was good though! I understood everything and that's all that counts. It was just weird seeing these people I know speaking French in different voices! Haha. We got to watch GC at the B family's house which was awesome (on the internet). They didn't have it at the church because they don't have a satellite yet. Mb came as well, and of course he loved it, because he wants to be prophet someday. I liked listening to it in French actually because I payed a lot closer attention and I took pages and pages of notes. I'm so stoked for the Ensign! I didn't get to see the last session or Pres Monson's talk in the Sunday morning session which is too bad, but that's ok. I love conference! It was fun listening to the translator translate Elder Holland's talk in priesthood session. Super intense! I really felt the Spirit during conference and received lots of personal revelation. I hope you all did as well! I loved Elder Scott's talk on the scriptures. I set a goal to memorize a scripture a day til the end of my mission after hearing his talk.
I forgot to tell you last week that we had a really fun experience. We contacted an investigator who lives in La Force which is a tiny town about 8 km from Bergerac, so we took the bikes out there one morning to teach this lady. The road to get there is this tiny road barely big enough for two cars out in the French countryside - it was super epic! And the lady was there thankfully, because it took a good 25 minutes to bike there, and there was a huge hill at the end haha. We were sweating pretty bad when we got to her house. Also, she has this dog, and the first time I looked at it I thought it was a lab, but it's about half the size of a lab. It was so strange. So I asked her waht it was, and she said it was a Labrador/Jack Russell mix. It was so funny looking! It was a mini fat yellow lab basically haha.
I did an exchange in Perigeux this week with Elder Williams. Their area has been struggling a bit for awhile now, but we had a great exchange and turned a day with basically nothing much planned into a really effective and successful day. I hope they see how much is possible there now! Sometimes being in an area a long time gets you discouraged when things start going downhill a bit and it's hard to get your hopes back up, but exchanges always help change things up and helps to find new ideas. So, we have this new method called street meetings where we take this big white wooden board and put it on a tripod in the middle of a public place and contact the people who pass by. We usually put pictures on the board and a question or statement. Elder Williams' board is probably my favorite one haha. He cut out giant letters from this plastic/foam material and painted them and glued them on, so it said "DIEU VOUS AIME" (God loves you) and just put a picture of Jesus next to it. You can see DIEU VOUS AIME from like a thousand feet away haha it's great. So we walked to the place where we wanted to do the street meetings, but we had to carry it there obviously, and as we walked on the sidewalk, Elder Williams would hold it so everyone on the road driving by could see it, and every single person looked at it and either just stared or yelled something lilke "yeah, I love him too!" haha. We got to the place and set it up and were able to talk to a few people for awhile about our message. This one girl was passing by and did a double take of the board, then she pulled out her camera and told us to stand next to it and took a picture of us. Maybe someday I'll find that pic on the internet or something haha. I don't know why, but for some reason that board attracts girls, and girls kept driving by blowing kisses at us. Hmm... maybe we'll have to change it after all. Anyways, It was great to see how well it worked though. President put this method into place a couple months ago and we've all been pretty hesitant about it because it's kind of a Jehovah's Witness kind of thing to do, but we've obeyed president and we're seeing results from it. I know he's inspired and knows what's best for the mission! Speaking of president, he and Sister Murdock came to our apartment this week to consecrate it. It was great to have the President in Bergerac! Haha. They've been doing a tour of the mission consecrating all the apartments. They've got to be exhausted. Their visit did us a lot of good and it was great to feel the spirit that they brought.
We also got invited to have a drink by an old WWII vet in Perigeux that we contacted right outside his house. He was such a nice old man and had lost a kidney and all the toes on his right foot in the war. He had just lost his wife though and was very sad. We taught and testified that he would see his wife again, but he didn't listen. He wouldn't even think that it was possible. He had no hope. It was one of the saddest experiences I've ever had on my mission. My heart goes out to him, because there is just no hope when you don't believe that there is something better waiting for you. There's only despair! And that was his state. We tried our best to help him come to realize that his wife is waiting for him, but he wouldn't accept it. Why wouldn't you accept that? Or at least HOPE it? Hope is so essential to have faith. The man couldn't believe that God existed or that he would see his wife again, simply because he had no hope that it could be true.
Well, next monday we get transfer calls. Crazy! That FLEW by! I might be leaving Bergerac... I feel like I just got here. I don't care if I stay or leave, I'd be happy either way. Changes are always nice, but I love the branch and the investigators here! A should be baptized this Saturday as well, and she wants Bro Bouchet to baptize her, and she wants me to be in the water too in case something happens (she's paranoid that she's going go drown). There's a couple things that might keep her from being baptized this Saturday, so pray for her! I know she can be ready, but it's up to her. This work is amazing. It will never stop. Seeing General conference strengthened my testimony so much that this is God's church. We are in the world, but not of the world. While everyone around us conforms to the world, we don't need to, because we know a better way. How blessed we are to know this way, which is the restored Gospel. Like President Monson repeated, the difference between the world's morals and the Lord's is getting bigger and bigger, which is making it a bigger and bigger battle to bring people unto Christ who are so in the world - but, it's possible, and it is happening anyways. Satan's influence will always be all around us, but we can always separate ourselves, and we can always prevail against his temptations. I know that as we try as hard as we can to separate ourselves from the world, we will have the Spirit more abundantly with us and we will become instruments in God's hands. I know that the Gospel leads to happiness, so I'm going to live it! I love you all and I hope you have a great week!
Love,
Elder Tudor
Frenchmen translating for the the prophet, apostles, and other GA's = bizarre!!! Yep, I watched in French this time. It was good though! I understood everything and that's all that counts. It was just weird seeing these people I know speaking French in different voices! Haha. We got to watch GC at the B family's house which was awesome (on the internet). They didn't have it at the church because they don't have a satellite yet. Mb came as well, and of course he loved it, because he wants to be prophet someday. I liked listening to it in French actually because I payed a lot closer attention and I took pages and pages of notes. I'm so stoked for the Ensign! I didn't get to see the last session or Pres Monson's talk in the Sunday morning session which is too bad, but that's ok. I love conference! It was fun listening to the translator translate Elder Holland's talk in priesthood session. Super intense! I really felt the Spirit during conference and received lots of personal revelation. I hope you all did as well! I loved Elder Scott's talk on the scriptures. I set a goal to memorize a scripture a day til the end of my mission after hearing his talk.
I forgot to tell you last week that we had a really fun experience. We contacted an investigator who lives in La Force which is a tiny town about 8 km from Bergerac, so we took the bikes out there one morning to teach this lady. The road to get there is this tiny road barely big enough for two cars out in the French countryside - it was super epic! And the lady was there thankfully, because it took a good 25 minutes to bike there, and there was a huge hill at the end haha. We were sweating pretty bad when we got to her house. Also, she has this dog, and the first time I looked at it I thought it was a lab, but it's about half the size of a lab. It was so strange. So I asked her waht it was, and she said it was a Labrador/Jack Russell mix. It was so funny looking! It was a mini fat yellow lab basically haha.
I did an exchange in Perigeux this week with Elder Williams. Their area has been struggling a bit for awhile now, but we had a great exchange and turned a day with basically nothing much planned into a really effective and successful day. I hope they see how much is possible there now! Sometimes being in an area a long time gets you discouraged when things start going downhill a bit and it's hard to get your hopes back up, but exchanges always help change things up and helps to find new ideas. So, we have this new method called street meetings where we take this big white wooden board and put it on a tripod in the middle of a public place and contact the people who pass by. We usually put pictures on the board and a question or statement. Elder Williams' board is probably my favorite one haha. He cut out giant letters from this plastic/foam material and painted them and glued them on, so it said "DIEU VOUS AIME" (God loves you) and just put a picture of Jesus next to it. You can see DIEU VOUS AIME from like a thousand feet away haha it's great. So we walked to the place where we wanted to do the street meetings, but we had to carry it there obviously, and as we walked on the sidewalk, Elder Williams would hold it so everyone on the road driving by could see it, and every single person looked at it and either just stared or yelled something lilke "yeah, I love him too!" haha. We got to the place and set it up and were able to talk to a few people for awhile about our message. This one girl was passing by and did a double take of the board, then she pulled out her camera and told us to stand next to it and took a picture of us. Maybe someday I'll find that pic on the internet or something haha. I don't know why, but for some reason that board attracts girls, and girls kept driving by blowing kisses at us. Hmm... maybe we'll have to change it after all. Anyways, It was great to see how well it worked though. President put this method into place a couple months ago and we've all been pretty hesitant about it because it's kind of a Jehovah's Witness kind of thing to do, but we've obeyed president and we're seeing results from it. I know he's inspired and knows what's best for the mission! Speaking of president, he and Sister Murdock came to our apartment this week to consecrate it. It was great to have the President in Bergerac! Haha. They've been doing a tour of the mission consecrating all the apartments. They've got to be exhausted. Their visit did us a lot of good and it was great to feel the spirit that they brought.
We also got invited to have a drink by an old WWII vet in Perigeux that we contacted right outside his house. He was such a nice old man and had lost a kidney and all the toes on his right foot in the war. He had just lost his wife though and was very sad. We taught and testified that he would see his wife again, but he didn't listen. He wouldn't even think that it was possible. He had no hope. It was one of the saddest experiences I've ever had on my mission. My heart goes out to him, because there is just no hope when you don't believe that there is something better waiting for you. There's only despair! And that was his state. We tried our best to help him come to realize that his wife is waiting for him, but he wouldn't accept it. Why wouldn't you accept that? Or at least HOPE it? Hope is so essential to have faith. The man couldn't believe that God existed or that he would see his wife again, simply because he had no hope that it could be true.
Well, next monday we get transfer calls. Crazy! That FLEW by! I might be leaving Bergerac... I feel like I just got here. I don't care if I stay or leave, I'd be happy either way. Changes are always nice, but I love the branch and the investigators here! A should be baptized this Saturday as well, and she wants Bro Bouchet to baptize her, and she wants me to be in the water too in case something happens (she's paranoid that she's going go drown). There's a couple things that might keep her from being baptized this Saturday, so pray for her! I know she can be ready, but it's up to her. This work is amazing. It will never stop. Seeing General conference strengthened my testimony so much that this is God's church. We are in the world, but not of the world. While everyone around us conforms to the world, we don't need to, because we know a better way. How blessed we are to know this way, which is the restored Gospel. Like President Monson repeated, the difference between the world's morals and the Lord's is getting bigger and bigger, which is making it a bigger and bigger battle to bring people unto Christ who are so in the world - but, it's possible, and it is happening anyways. Satan's influence will always be all around us, but we can always separate ourselves, and we can always prevail against his temptations. I know that as we try as hard as we can to separate ourselves from the world, we will have the Spirit more abundantly with us and we will become instruments in God's hands. I know that the Gospel leads to happiness, so I'm going to live it! I love you all and I hope you have a great week!
Love,
Elder Tudor
Monday, September 26, 2011
September 26, 2011
Hello,
Well it was a crazy week! I can't believe the end of the transfer is already coming up - we're already starting the 5th week! Crazy. I'm loving it though. Bergerac is doing alright. It's a small town to be in for a long time haha. We see the same roads and the same people every day, but I love it. We didn't see as much success as we would have wnated this week, but that's alright. We only had one investigator come to c hurch when there were a lot more planning on it, which is always disappointing, but that'll come! A is still doing great! She's the sweetest lady ever. She might have a couple things to overcome before her baptism, but we have faith that everything will be alright (She told us she doesn't drink alcohol, but the B's do her groceries for her, and they told us that she asks for wine each time... so we're not sure what's going on there haha, but we'll see). Elder Willett and I are really trying to do our best to find joy in the work (not that we don't usually, we just wanna have as much fun and work as hard as possible!) The other day we crossed a guy on our bikes who was playing basketball in the street, and we decided to stop and play a little round of horse haha. He probably thought we were super weird in our shirts and ties. It was a sweet experience though. He ended up being pretty young actually - 15 - but looked older. He couldn't believe we had been to NBA games haha. He plays on a club team in the region and dreams of seeing NBA stars. He was surprised we were two short white guys, because when he thinks of americans playing basketball he thinks of giant black men haha. We shot around for about 15 minutes then went on our way. We asked the kid if he or his family would be interested and he said no, but it was cool because it showed the kid we're human beings too! Who knows, maybe he'll meet Elders in the future and remember of his basketball game with them and be more open! Haha it was just a fun opportunity when we had a few extra minutes - and we hadn't shot a basketball in ages! (we also got to know french basketball lingo as well :)) We also had a branch talent show which was funny. Bro B demonstrated self defense (he was in the army) and I was his subject for part of the time. It was scary. A miracle happened during hte talent show too - the T's showed up out of nowhere! We haven't even been able to contact them for over two weeks and they came to the talent show! We have no idea how - we think a member called them, but it was so awesome. They're doing good. V found a litltle job picking grapes in a vineyard, but apparently it's really hard and long. She's having a really hard time. F brought her guitar, and naturally everyone started yelling "elder Tudor play something!" just on the spot. They eventually convinced me to do it so I played a number for them (Hallelujah - requested by V. I decided it was ok since basically all the lyrics are taken from the Bible haha). I couldn't remember all the words, but I could've made up whatever I wanted since none of them understood haha. It was fun. Then at the end I accompanied the closing hymn. It was cool to be able to share some music! It's been awhile!
In Priesthood the lesson was on President Monson's talk about the temple from the last general conference. For the first time since I left the MTC, I realized just how much I miss the temple! I really felt the Spirit during the lesson and felt a huge desire to go to the temple. I thought about all these members in France who don't even have one yet that's within 800 km. Even if they're going to build one in Paris soon, it will be just as far away for these people that live in the South as the other temples are. We are so blessed to have so many temples so close! When I get back, I'm not going to take it for granted. Every week! That's my goal. We're so luck to have the restored Gospel. The temple is one of the evidences of the restored Gospel, and I know that the sacred ordinances that happen there are done by the power and authority of the Priesthood. It's also the evidence that God loves all His children. Just think of how many people have died without ordinances! The B family is getting ready to go to the temple to do baptisms for the dead. They've prepared thousands of names already - it's incredible! I'm so excited for them! And I found out that they will be doing their endowment and getting sealed at the beginning of August next year - which is right when I'll finish my mission. I wanna go to their sealing so bad! (it will be at the Madrid temple) That would be so amazing to see. I love this work. I know that the family can be eternal, and that the principles and ordinances of the Gospel are true and eternal, and they are the key to our eternal happiness as families. Working among His children has helped me see just how marvelous the plan of our Heavenly Father is. I love the people here in Bergerac, and I wish they would all accept the Gospel! I wish that God's plan could be brought about for every one of His children, but just seeing a handful receive it has already brought me more joy than I've ever felt in my life. This is God's work! I know it. Have a great week everyone, love you!
Much love,
Elder Tudor
Well it was a crazy week! I can't believe the end of the transfer is already coming up - we're already starting the 5th week! Crazy. I'm loving it though. Bergerac is doing alright. It's a small town to be in for a long time haha. We see the same roads and the same people every day, but I love it. We didn't see as much success as we would have wnated this week, but that's alright. We only had one investigator come to c hurch when there were a lot more planning on it, which is always disappointing, but that'll come! A is still doing great! She's the sweetest lady ever. She might have a couple things to overcome before her baptism, but we have faith that everything will be alright (She told us she doesn't drink alcohol, but the B's do her groceries for her, and they told us that she asks for wine each time... so we're not sure what's going on there haha, but we'll see). Elder Willett and I are really trying to do our best to find joy in the work (not that we don't usually, we just wanna have as much fun and work as hard as possible!) The other day we crossed a guy on our bikes who was playing basketball in the street, and we decided to stop and play a little round of horse haha. He probably thought we were super weird in our shirts and ties. It was a sweet experience though. He ended up being pretty young actually - 15 - but looked older. He couldn't believe we had been to NBA games haha. He plays on a club team in the region and dreams of seeing NBA stars. He was surprised we were two short white guys, because when he thinks of americans playing basketball he thinks of giant black men haha. We shot around for about 15 minutes then went on our way. We asked the kid if he or his family would be interested and he said no, but it was cool because it showed the kid we're human beings too! Who knows, maybe he'll meet Elders in the future and remember of his basketball game with them and be more open! Haha it was just a fun opportunity when we had a few extra minutes - and we hadn't shot a basketball in ages! (we also got to know french basketball lingo as well :)) We also had a branch talent show which was funny. Bro B demonstrated self defense (he was in the army) and I was his subject for part of the time. It was scary. A miracle happened during hte talent show too - the T's showed up out of nowhere! We haven't even been able to contact them for over two weeks and they came to the talent show! We have no idea how - we think a member called them, but it was so awesome. They're doing good. V found a litltle job picking grapes in a vineyard, but apparently it's really hard and long. She's having a really hard time. F brought her guitar, and naturally everyone started yelling "elder Tudor play something!" just on the spot. They eventually convinced me to do it so I played a number for them (Hallelujah - requested by V. I decided it was ok since basically all the lyrics are taken from the Bible haha). I couldn't remember all the words, but I could've made up whatever I wanted since none of them understood haha. It was fun. Then at the end I accompanied the closing hymn. It was cool to be able to share some music! It's been awhile!
In Priesthood the lesson was on President Monson's talk about the temple from the last general conference. For the first time since I left the MTC, I realized just how much I miss the temple! I really felt the Spirit during the lesson and felt a huge desire to go to the temple. I thought about all these members in France who don't even have one yet that's within 800 km. Even if they're going to build one in Paris soon, it will be just as far away for these people that live in the South as the other temples are. We are so blessed to have so many temples so close! When I get back, I'm not going to take it for granted. Every week! That's my goal. We're so luck to have the restored Gospel. The temple is one of the evidences of the restored Gospel, and I know that the sacred ordinances that happen there are done by the power and authority of the Priesthood. It's also the evidence that God loves all His children. Just think of how many people have died without ordinances! The B family is getting ready to go to the temple to do baptisms for the dead. They've prepared thousands of names already - it's incredible! I'm so excited for them! And I found out that they will be doing their endowment and getting sealed at the beginning of August next year - which is right when I'll finish my mission. I wanna go to their sealing so bad! (it will be at the Madrid temple) That would be so amazing to see. I love this work. I know that the family can be eternal, and that the principles and ordinances of the Gospel are true and eternal, and they are the key to our eternal happiness as families. Working among His children has helped me see just how marvelous the plan of our Heavenly Father is. I love the people here in Bergerac, and I wish they would all accept the Gospel! I wish that God's plan could be brought about for every one of His children, but just seeing a handful receive it has already brought me more joy than I've ever felt in my life. This is God's work! I know it. Have a great week everyone, love you!
Much love,
Elder Tudor
September 19, 2011
Hey everyone!
It was kind of a tough week, but there were miracles as always! We have a new golden investigator named A. She's actually one of the family B's friends. She's an older (not super old) french lady who has lots of health problems and lives all alone and isn't visited often by her family. We gave her a priesthood blessing when I first got to Bergerac, then she left to another city to have some kind of treatment, but now she's back and she's been wanting to see us! She came to church the last couple weeks and we starting setting up teaching appointments. We've been able to see her often and she already has a baptismal date for the 8th of October! She's probably one of the sweetest ladies I've ever met in my life. She has hard health problems, mostly respiratory, but she says that ever since we gave her that blessing and we started coming over she has been so much better. She even did her grocieries the other day and it's been a long time since she's been able to do that! She's already well integrated in the branch, mostly thanks to the B's. Sister B goes over there once a week for her and does groceries for her all the time. She has lots of problems, but she prays every day for strength and it's amazing to see her faith grow! She always ends up crying during our appointments, then I end up crying too haha. But they're tears of joy of course, because we preach the Gospel of joy :). We're SO excited for her! She is excited for her baptism. The other day though she said she was a little afraid for her baptism. We asked her why... and she said it's because she's scared of water. Phew! That's gotta be the best reason that an investigator has ever given us for being scared of baptism haha.
Unfortunately, we haven't had any contact with the T's lately. Apparently someone said something to them last week at church and a couple other thigns happened that offended them. They haven't really talked to us since or wanted to see us. There's some members who still have good contact with them I believe, but for now, no missionaries. I'm confused about the whole situation because I don't really know what happened or why. All we can do is pray for them. Please pray for them this week that their hearts might be softened and that they might be touched by the Spirit. Thank you!
I did an exchange with Elder Dorton this week which is always a good time! The district is doing well and I'm loving being their district leader. I feel like I can do a lot better as a district leader though. There's a lot to learn on a mission! There's always ways to improve and things to better. Kind of like life in general. Thankfully God gives us weaknesses and helps us recoginze them so we can humble ourselves, work on our weaknesses, and progress in life. One of the hardest things to do though is to recognize and accept that you have weaknesses, but that's pride, and where there's pride, there's no progression! That's one thing I've learned recently. Humility = progression, pride = regression. When we're humble and realize we need to change things in our lives, we change, improve, become better people, and qualify ourselves for more blessings from the Lord. But if we constantly tell ourselves that we're doing fine and that our weaknesses aren't "serious" ones, we'll never do anything about it, and we'll just sit and never become anything. That's satan's plan. One thing I've learned on a mission is to never feel too comfortable with yourself. Of course you need to accept yourself and love yourself for who you are, but we need to always keep the vision of what God expects of us - to become like Him! That's God's plan. And I know that He will help us do it as we humble ourselves and exercise faith in Him by overcoming ourselves and our weaknesses! Well gotta go, but I hope you have a great week. I love the mission and I'm happy right where I am :) love you!
Love,
Elder Tudor
It was kind of a tough week, but there were miracles as always! We have a new golden investigator named A. She's actually one of the family B's friends. She's an older (not super old) french lady who has lots of health problems and lives all alone and isn't visited often by her family. We gave her a priesthood blessing when I first got to Bergerac, then she left to another city to have some kind of treatment, but now she's back and she's been wanting to see us! She came to church the last couple weeks and we starting setting up teaching appointments. We've been able to see her often and she already has a baptismal date for the 8th of October! She's probably one of the sweetest ladies I've ever met in my life. She has hard health problems, mostly respiratory, but she says that ever since we gave her that blessing and we started coming over she has been so much better. She even did her grocieries the other day and it's been a long time since she's been able to do that! She's already well integrated in the branch, mostly thanks to the B's. Sister B goes over there once a week for her and does groceries for her all the time. She has lots of problems, but she prays every day for strength and it's amazing to see her faith grow! She always ends up crying during our appointments, then I end up crying too haha. But they're tears of joy of course, because we preach the Gospel of joy :). We're SO excited for her! She is excited for her baptism. The other day though she said she was a little afraid for her baptism. We asked her why... and she said it's because she's scared of water. Phew! That's gotta be the best reason that an investigator has ever given us for being scared of baptism haha.
Unfortunately, we haven't had any contact with the T's lately. Apparently someone said something to them last week at church and a couple other thigns happened that offended them. They haven't really talked to us since or wanted to see us. There's some members who still have good contact with them I believe, but for now, no missionaries. I'm confused about the whole situation because I don't really know what happened or why. All we can do is pray for them. Please pray for them this week that their hearts might be softened and that they might be touched by the Spirit. Thank you!
I did an exchange with Elder Dorton this week which is always a good time! The district is doing well and I'm loving being their district leader. I feel like I can do a lot better as a district leader though. There's a lot to learn on a mission! There's always ways to improve and things to better. Kind of like life in general. Thankfully God gives us weaknesses and helps us recoginze them so we can humble ourselves, work on our weaknesses, and progress in life. One of the hardest things to do though is to recognize and accept that you have weaknesses, but that's pride, and where there's pride, there's no progression! That's one thing I've learned recently. Humility = progression, pride = regression. When we're humble and realize we need to change things in our lives, we change, improve, become better people, and qualify ourselves for more blessings from the Lord. But if we constantly tell ourselves that we're doing fine and that our weaknesses aren't "serious" ones, we'll never do anything about it, and we'll just sit and never become anything. That's satan's plan. One thing I've learned on a mission is to never feel too comfortable with yourself. Of course you need to accept yourself and love yourself for who you are, but we need to always keep the vision of what God expects of us - to become like Him! That's God's plan. And I know that He will help us do it as we humble ourselves and exercise faith in Him by overcoming ourselves and our weaknesses! Well gotta go, but I hope you have a great week. I love the mission and I'm happy right where I am :) love you!
Love,
Elder Tudor
September 12, 2011
Bawnjur (american, for bonjour),
Hey everyone! It was a great week here in Bergerac. We're still seeing miracles every day, and we'll keep seeing them as we work hard and look for the small and great miracles God shows us every day. Elder Willett and I are having a great time. It's weird being with an American again, but I like it. I got used to being with Elder Coenen, and now I've gotta switch back to American mode haha. It's totally different. Anyways, we were really blessed this week. 6 of our investigators were able to come to church this week, which was great. One of them was a new one we found this week named D. He's from Brasil, about 30 years old, and loves to talk! Haha the poor sunday school teacher... D would raise his hand every two minutes and speak for a good 2 or 3 minutes every time haha. And it wasn't just talking, he talked like he was preaching. I think he talked during half the class. I've never seen an investigator do that haha. It was interesting! and a little awkward. Speaking of sunday school, do you remember Bro B? Well, this Sunday he got called as the sunday school teacher. He's been a member for 3 months!!! I couldn't believe it! I'm so excited for him. He's such a stud. He's already read the whole book of Mormon and he's like halfway through Doctrine and Covenants. That's so great that he'll have this calling to really push himself. Mb is doing well. He's so hilarious. If you put him and Maurel in a room together, after about 30 minutes they're both on the ground rolling around laughing to death. It's the funniest thign I've ever seen. I got a video of it. And no one understands what they're saying because they speak half french and half lingala when they joke around like that. Mb still comes to church every sunday and he's progressing well. M still wants to be baptized but won't decide on a date yet. He said he has one in his head, but doesn't want to tell us. We'll see! The T's are doing well, but there's still just so many problems in their lives, and V refuses to talk about baptism for the moment. F is doing great though. She reads the Book of Mormon and really understands it.
I learned quite a bit htis week from the scriptures and from Preach My Gospel. One morning I devoted my study to personal revelation and guidance. First I read the talk by Elder Bednar "the Spirit of Revelation" which I love. I love when he says, "In many of the uncertainties and challenges we encounter in our lives, God requires us to do our best, to act and not to be acted upon, and to trust Him." Then I read this quote in Preach my Gospel by Elder Oaks, "A desire to be led by the Lord is a strength, but it needs to be accompanied by an understanding that our Heavenly Father leaves many decisions for our personal choices. Personal decision making is one of the sources of the growth we are meant to experience in mortality. Persons who try to shift all decision making to the Lord and plead for revelation in every choice will soon find circumstances in which they pray for guidance and don’t receive it... We should study things out in our minds, using the reasoning powers our Creator has placed within us. Then we should pray for guidance and act upon it if we receive it. If we do not receive guidance, we should act upon our best judgment." That quote really struck me. I often question myself and wonder if I'm really acting on the Spirit and doing what I'm supposed to do every day out here. I pray for guidance and I search it, but I don't always necessarily feel guided or directed. This quote helped me realize that God will not push us in one direction or another in all things, if so, we would always be "acted upon" and never be able to act. We need to be able to judge right from wrong for ourselves, with the assistance of the Spirit. I have often found that I have been guided by the Spirit long after the fact. Like in Elder Bednar's talk when he talks about how sometimes our revelation is like the sun rising on a cloudy day. We've all been given the light of Christ, and us church members have the gift of the Holy Ghost. As long as we live worthily and serve the Lord with all our heart, we won't need to worry! We will be guided. We just need to use our best judgment, ask for guidance, then do whatever we feel is the best thing to do, listening for the still small voice. The worst thing we can do is just wait around avoiding making the choice. We just need to put our trust in that Spirit that leads us to do good and follow Christ, and we will always make the right choices, it's simple! I know that God is at the head of this work and that we are truly His children. I know that we can all find our way back into His presence as we search the guidance and inspiration He offers us every day through our obedience to His commandments. Have a great week, love you!
Love,
Elder Tudor
Hey everyone! It was a great week here in Bergerac. We're still seeing miracles every day, and we'll keep seeing them as we work hard and look for the small and great miracles God shows us every day. Elder Willett and I are having a great time. It's weird being with an American again, but I like it. I got used to being with Elder Coenen, and now I've gotta switch back to American mode haha. It's totally different. Anyways, we were really blessed this week. 6 of our investigators were able to come to church this week, which was great. One of them was a new one we found this week named D. He's from Brasil, about 30 years old, and loves to talk! Haha the poor sunday school teacher... D would raise his hand every two minutes and speak for a good 2 or 3 minutes every time haha. And it wasn't just talking, he talked like he was preaching. I think he talked during half the class. I've never seen an investigator do that haha. It was interesting! and a little awkward. Speaking of sunday school, do you remember Bro B? Well, this Sunday he got called as the sunday school teacher. He's been a member for 3 months!!! I couldn't believe it! I'm so excited for him. He's such a stud. He's already read the whole book of Mormon and he's like halfway through Doctrine and Covenants. That's so great that he'll have this calling to really push himself. Mb is doing well. He's so hilarious. If you put him and Maurel in a room together, after about 30 minutes they're both on the ground rolling around laughing to death. It's the funniest thign I've ever seen. I got a video of it. And no one understands what they're saying because they speak half french and half lingala when they joke around like that. Mb still comes to church every sunday and he's progressing well. M still wants to be baptized but won't decide on a date yet. He said he has one in his head, but doesn't want to tell us. We'll see! The T's are doing well, but there's still just so many problems in their lives, and V refuses to talk about baptism for the moment. F is doing great though. She reads the Book of Mormon and really understands it.
I learned quite a bit htis week from the scriptures and from Preach My Gospel. One morning I devoted my study to personal revelation and guidance. First I read the talk by Elder Bednar "the Spirit of Revelation" which I love. I love when he says, "In many of the uncertainties and challenges we encounter in our lives, God requires us to do our best, to act and not to be acted upon, and to trust Him." Then I read this quote in Preach my Gospel by Elder Oaks, "A desire to be led by the Lord is a strength, but it needs to be accompanied by an understanding that our Heavenly Father leaves many decisions for our personal choices. Personal decision making is one of the sources of the growth we are meant to experience in mortality. Persons who try to shift all decision making to the Lord and plead for revelation in every choice will soon find circumstances in which they pray for guidance and don’t receive it... We should study things out in our minds, using the reasoning powers our Creator has placed within us. Then we should pray for guidance and act upon it if we receive it. If we do not receive guidance, we should act upon our best judgment." That quote really struck me. I often question myself and wonder if I'm really acting on the Spirit and doing what I'm supposed to do every day out here. I pray for guidance and I search it, but I don't always necessarily feel guided or directed. This quote helped me realize that God will not push us in one direction or another in all things, if so, we would always be "acted upon" and never be able to act. We need to be able to judge right from wrong for ourselves, with the assistance of the Spirit. I have often found that I have been guided by the Spirit long after the fact. Like in Elder Bednar's talk when he talks about how sometimes our revelation is like the sun rising on a cloudy day. We've all been given the light of Christ, and us church members have the gift of the Holy Ghost. As long as we live worthily and serve the Lord with all our heart, we won't need to worry! We will be guided. We just need to use our best judgment, ask for guidance, then do whatever we feel is the best thing to do, listening for the still small voice. The worst thing we can do is just wait around avoiding making the choice. We just need to put our trust in that Spirit that leads us to do good and follow Christ, and we will always make the right choices, it's simple! I know that God is at the head of this work and that we are truly His children. I know that we can all find our way back into His presence as we search the guidance and inspiration He offers us every day through our obedience to His commandments. Have a great week, love you!
Love,
Elder Tudor
Friday, September 9, 2011
September 5, 2011
Bonjour a tous,
It was an adventure of a week! Wednesday I went to Bordeaux to pick up my new comp Elder Willett. I spent the day with Elder Allen (we were in the same district in the MTC) and Elder Cunningham so that was super fun. Elder Willett is a stud! He's from Mesa, Arizona, but he grew up in Provo. Apparently he was always at Riverside when he was little just like I was, so who knows, we probably met once! But anyways, we're already having a blast together. He's in his 4th transfer. He spent his first 3 transfers in Lyon. Bergerac is a little different than Lyon! haha. He loves it though. We've been working super hard straight from the get-go, and we're seeing fruits. The Lord has really blessed us this last week. We had 5 solid investigators at church, and we're finding new investigators, and having a blast at the same time.
This Friday we helped a sister in the ward move, and that was a great experience. Muamba came too and helped out a lot, so that was a great opportunity for him to become more integrated! He is so hilarious. One of the Bouchet's sons was playing some music on his phone, and "thunderstruck" by AC/DC came on and every time they would say "Thunder!" in the intro, Muamba would yell "Muamba!" and dance around playing the air guitar haha. He's crazy. I love him.
This week my heart was just filled with gratitude for the tender mercies of the Lord. People were just more interested this week, we had more success, and our faith was strengthened. Both of us just had relatively "hard companions", and were a little worn out from that (don't get me wrong, Elder Coenen was one of my favorite companions), but getting together gave at least me a second wind here in Bergerac. I'm so thankful for the hand of the Lord in the work. It's so much easier with Him!
This week I finished the BoM again and restarted. I love reading the BoM, because every time we I do, we find new insights and applications into our lives! As I read the first verse in the Book of Mormon, I was intrigued by what Nephi says, "I, Nephi... having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days." I pondered over these words for awhile. On my mission, I meet many people every day who say God couldn't exist because their lives are too hard. Well, the thing is, life is hard. If life wasn't hard, what would be the point? As I continued to read the story of Nephi, I realized that he went through a lot of persecution and hardship, yet he says that he was highly favored of the Lord. We all face trials in life, but do we let these trials control our lives and our thoughts? Or do we still dedicate our lives to the Lord and continally ponder upon the wonderful mercies and blessings He has given us? Do we complain to the Lord because of our hardships? Or do we thank Him for the opportunity He has given us to put on our divine nature and ask Him for the strength and wisdom to become what he wants us to become because of this trial? It's all about how we look at it and think about it. Our thoughts will change our actions, and our actions will change who we are and what we are becoming. Instead of becoming weakened and helpless by our discouraging thoughts, we can choose to see the positive and face our trials with courage and faith in our Savior. "But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of delivrance." (1 Nephi 1:20) I know that Heavenly Father loves us, and that He wants us to become like Him and have ALL of the blessings that He enjoys. I know that this life is part of the plan that He has created so that we can accomplish this. "Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves - to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life." (2 Nephi 10:23) We decide! And I know that Heavenly Father will support us as we decide to follow Christ and choose eternal life. I know that He will deliver us out of ALL of our trials if we back up our faith with action. I love you all! Have a great week!
Love,
Elder Tudor
It was an adventure of a week! Wednesday I went to Bordeaux to pick up my new comp Elder Willett. I spent the day with Elder Allen (we were in the same district in the MTC) and Elder Cunningham so that was super fun. Elder Willett is a stud! He's from Mesa, Arizona, but he grew up in Provo. Apparently he was always at Riverside when he was little just like I was, so who knows, we probably met once! But anyways, we're already having a blast together. He's in his 4th transfer. He spent his first 3 transfers in Lyon. Bergerac is a little different than Lyon! haha. He loves it though. We've been working super hard straight from the get-go, and we're seeing fruits. The Lord has really blessed us this last week. We had 5 solid investigators at church, and we're finding new investigators, and having a blast at the same time.
This Friday we helped a sister in the ward move, and that was a great experience. Muamba came too and helped out a lot, so that was a great opportunity for him to become more integrated! He is so hilarious. One of the Bouchet's sons was playing some music on his phone, and "thunderstruck" by AC/DC came on and every time they would say "Thunder!" in the intro, Muamba would yell "Muamba!" and dance around playing the air guitar haha. He's crazy. I love him.
This week my heart was just filled with gratitude for the tender mercies of the Lord. People were just more interested this week, we had more success, and our faith was strengthened. Both of us just had relatively "hard companions", and were a little worn out from that (don't get me wrong, Elder Coenen was one of my favorite companions), but getting together gave at least me a second wind here in Bergerac. I'm so thankful for the hand of the Lord in the work. It's so much easier with Him!
This week I finished the BoM again and restarted. I love reading the BoM, because every time we I do, we find new insights and applications into our lives! As I read the first verse in the Book of Mormon, I was intrigued by what Nephi says, "I, Nephi... having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days." I pondered over these words for awhile. On my mission, I meet many people every day who say God couldn't exist because their lives are too hard. Well, the thing is, life is hard. If life wasn't hard, what would be the point? As I continued to read the story of Nephi, I realized that he went through a lot of persecution and hardship, yet he says that he was highly favored of the Lord. We all face trials in life, but do we let these trials control our lives and our thoughts? Or do we still dedicate our lives to the Lord and continally ponder upon the wonderful mercies and blessings He has given us? Do we complain to the Lord because of our hardships? Or do we thank Him for the opportunity He has given us to put on our divine nature and ask Him for the strength and wisdom to become what he wants us to become because of this trial? It's all about how we look at it and think about it. Our thoughts will change our actions, and our actions will change who we are and what we are becoming. Instead of becoming weakened and helpless by our discouraging thoughts, we can choose to see the positive and face our trials with courage and faith in our Savior. "But behold, I, Nephi, will show unto you that the tender mercies of the Lord are over all those whom he hath chosen, because of their faith, to make them mighty even unto the power of delivrance." (1 Nephi 1:20) I know that Heavenly Father loves us, and that He wants us to become like Him and have ALL of the blessings that He enjoys. I know that this life is part of the plan that He has created so that we can accomplish this. "Therefore, cheer up your hearts, and remember that ye are free to act for yourselves - to choose the way of everlasting death or the way of eternal life." (2 Nephi 10:23) We decide! And I know that Heavenly Father will support us as we decide to follow Christ and choose eternal life. I know that He will deliver us out of ALL of our trials if we back up our faith with action. I love you all! Have a great week!
Love,
Elder Tudor
August 29, 2011
Hello,
Well, early this morning we got transfer calls... and I'm going far, far away... not. I'm staying right here! Elder Coenen is leaving though, which is sad. We've had some good times together!! He's going to Aix, lucky duck. My new comp is named Elder Willet (I think) who is in his 4th transfer and was just in Lyon. I'm excited! I think the rest of the district is staying the same. I'm surprise, because the rest of the mission had super crazy changes. I'm stoked though.
The work went pretty well this week. Maurel still has a baptismal date. Muamba should be getting the priesthood soon. After two weeks of searhcing and searching for new investigators we finally got some and we found quite a few people who are interested. We didn't really do anything a whole lot different. We did a lot more knocking on doors than usual though. I used to not be a fan of that, but I'm growing to like it more and more. Victora and Flora are still doing okay. They're still coming church every week and Victoria is sitll looking for an apartment in Bordeaux. A ward member is moving out this week, and another member suggested that Victoria takes that house and works at home taking care of old people (that's a big business here in Bergerac and there's a high demand). That would be awesome! Victoria was stoked about the idea so we're hoping that things will work out so that that can happen, because it's not looking good for housing right now in Bordeaux.
I don't have a lot of time, but I'd like to share something I learned out of the scriptures this week. I was reading in Moroni 7, when Mormon talks about how every good thing comes from God and every bad thing comes from the devil. He also addresses the point that if we don't do good, or "give a good gift" with a good heart, but if we do it "grudgingly; it is counted unto him as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God." That scripture struck me. There's three ways we can do the work of the Lord: grudgingly, out of a sense of duty, and out of a sense of charity. Sometimes I just try to get to the end of the day and finish because I know it's my duty, but I don't really do it out of love for the people. It's hard sometimes to overcome the natural man and do it out of charity! But that is one of my goals for the rest of my mission - to do everything I do out of charity and love for the people. Charity should be the motivation for every work we do for the Lord, because it is His work, and everything He did and does for us is out of pure love. Sorry, I'm out of time, I love you all! Have a great week!
Love,
Elder Tudor
Well, early this morning we got transfer calls... and I'm going far, far away... not. I'm staying right here! Elder Coenen is leaving though, which is sad. We've had some good times together!! He's going to Aix, lucky duck. My new comp is named Elder Willet (I think) who is in his 4th transfer and was just in Lyon. I'm excited! I think the rest of the district is staying the same. I'm surprise, because the rest of the mission had super crazy changes. I'm stoked though.
The work went pretty well this week. Maurel still has a baptismal date. Muamba should be getting the priesthood soon. After two weeks of searhcing and searching for new investigators we finally got some and we found quite a few people who are interested. We didn't really do anything a whole lot different. We did a lot more knocking on doors than usual though. I used to not be a fan of that, but I'm growing to like it more and more. Victora and Flora are still doing okay. They're still coming church every week and Victoria is sitll looking for an apartment in Bordeaux. A ward member is moving out this week, and another member suggested that Victoria takes that house and works at home taking care of old people (that's a big business here in Bergerac and there's a high demand). That would be awesome! Victoria was stoked about the idea so we're hoping that things will work out so that that can happen, because it's not looking good for housing right now in Bordeaux.
I don't have a lot of time, but I'd like to share something I learned out of the scriptures this week. I was reading in Moroni 7, when Mormon talks about how every good thing comes from God and every bad thing comes from the devil. He also addresses the point that if we don't do good, or "give a good gift" with a good heart, but if we do it "grudgingly; it is counted unto him as if he had retained the gift; wherefore he is counted evil before God." That scripture struck me. There's three ways we can do the work of the Lord: grudgingly, out of a sense of duty, and out of a sense of charity. Sometimes I just try to get to the end of the day and finish because I know it's my duty, but I don't really do it out of love for the people. It's hard sometimes to overcome the natural man and do it out of charity! But that is one of my goals for the rest of my mission - to do everything I do out of charity and love for the people. Charity should be the motivation for every work we do for the Lord, because it is His work, and everything He did and does for us is out of pure love. Sorry, I'm out of time, I love you all! Have a great week!
Love,
Elder Tudor
Sunday, August 28, 2011
August 22, 2011
Bonjour a tous,
It was a week of ups and downs! We saw miracles and disappointments. Basically, it was like every other week as a missionary haha. I'll start with the miracles. So, Wednesday, Victoria had a big job interview for a job at a big 4 star hotel in Bordeaux. First of all it is a miracle that she got the interview. She happened to run into one of the owners or something and he was sympathetic towards her situation, so he said to come back for an interview. We fasted and prayed that everythign would go well during her interview and that she would be hired. So she went and had the interview, and she got the job! She couldn't believe it. During the interview, someone from a job search agency called the lady who was interviewing her. The agency was searching work for a person who had worked in hotels before, and the interviewer asked the person on the phone "has this person ever worked in a 3 or 4 star hotel?" the person said no, and then she replied, "well, we can't hire that person, goodbye." That didn't exactly comfort Mme Tudor who had NEVER worked in a hotel haha. But, at the end of the interview, the lady told her she would start in September! What a tender mercy. We came to her house and saw her and Flora the next day and she told us all of this. We were so stoked. Then we talked about their baptism, because the last time they were a little hesitant, adn said they didn't think they were ready. Well apparently, the night before, they were at the table just talking and drinking a glass of water, when Flora spilled a full glass of water all over teh table and it got Victoria's book of mormon all wet. Of course she was super frustrated adn sent Flora away. Then she took up the Book of Mormon to dry it off, and just seeing it there all wet, she said to herself, "that's it, that's my answer. I need to be baptized!" When she told us this story, Elder Coenen and I just looked at eachother in amazement haha. Apparently the Book of Mormon being all wet was a symbol of her being baptized in this Church, and she took that as her answer. I've never seen an answer to a prayer like that! The Book of Mormon works miracles, even when it's soaked.
We were so stoaked after that, but then some opposition came. We were going to teach tithing in the next lesson, but she found out about it before we came through a member of her family. She didn't really mind it, but I think she was a little disappointed that she didn't know about it yet and her baptism was next week. But the main problem was the word of wisdom. She smokes, adn her life is so crazy right now. She has to find an apartment in Bordeaux because she starts working there next month and she is so stressed. She's been putting off quitting smoking. She said she can't quit smoking right now, and she doesn't even want to try until all of this is figured out and settled in Bordeaux. So in the end, she told us that the baptism wasn't possible next week. We testified, but she jsut doesn't have the willpower right now. But It's weird, I didn't feel totally disappointed. I was super sad of course, but I felt something and I know that they will be baptized, even if it's not next week, or if it's not in Bergerac - and that's what counts. Preach My Gospel, and Elder Holland, teach us that we need to be patient with our investigators and go at their pace, not ours. It's true. A lot of times as missionaries, we're so excited about baptizing that sometimes we don't realize that the investigators can't keep up with all the committments. That doesn't mean they don't have faith or that we haven't done a good job, that's just how it is, and if the person is ready for the Gospel, he or she will be baptized eventually. The work of the Lord cannot be frustrated. We're going to continue to teach them all the lessons and commandments and see their faith grow. I'm so excited.
In other news, Maurel, Muamba's buddy, has a baptismal date for the 17th of September! He wan'ts Muamba to baptize him. We're pretty stoked. I just sent in my renewal for my carte de sejour. Super weird. That means I've almost been in France a year! Things are great here adn we're working hard and having fun. Exchanged are this next weekend, we'll see what happens! Love you all.
Love,
Elder Tudor
It was a week of ups and downs! We saw miracles and disappointments. Basically, it was like every other week as a missionary haha. I'll start with the miracles. So, Wednesday, Victoria had a big job interview for a job at a big 4 star hotel in Bordeaux. First of all it is a miracle that she got the interview. She happened to run into one of the owners or something and he was sympathetic towards her situation, so he said to come back for an interview. We fasted and prayed that everythign would go well during her interview and that she would be hired. So she went and had the interview, and she got the job! She couldn't believe it. During the interview, someone from a job search agency called the lady who was interviewing her. The agency was searching work for a person who had worked in hotels before, and the interviewer asked the person on the phone "has this person ever worked in a 3 or 4 star hotel?" the person said no, and then she replied, "well, we can't hire that person, goodbye." That didn't exactly comfort Mme Tudor who had NEVER worked in a hotel haha. But, at the end of the interview, the lady told her she would start in September! What a tender mercy. We came to her house and saw her and Flora the next day and she told us all of this. We were so stoked. Then we talked about their baptism, because the last time they were a little hesitant, adn said they didn't think they were ready. Well apparently, the night before, they were at the table just talking and drinking a glass of water, when Flora spilled a full glass of water all over teh table and it got Victoria's book of mormon all wet. Of course she was super frustrated adn sent Flora away. Then she took up the Book of Mormon to dry it off, and just seeing it there all wet, she said to herself, "that's it, that's my answer. I need to be baptized!" When she told us this story, Elder Coenen and I just looked at eachother in amazement haha. Apparently the Book of Mormon being all wet was a symbol of her being baptized in this Church, and she took that as her answer. I've never seen an answer to a prayer like that! The Book of Mormon works miracles, even when it's soaked.
We were so stoaked after that, but then some opposition came. We were going to teach tithing in the next lesson, but she found out about it before we came through a member of her family. She didn't really mind it, but I think she was a little disappointed that she didn't know about it yet and her baptism was next week. But the main problem was the word of wisdom. She smokes, adn her life is so crazy right now. She has to find an apartment in Bordeaux because she starts working there next month and she is so stressed. She's been putting off quitting smoking. She said she can't quit smoking right now, and she doesn't even want to try until all of this is figured out and settled in Bordeaux. So in the end, she told us that the baptism wasn't possible next week. We testified, but she jsut doesn't have the willpower right now. But It's weird, I didn't feel totally disappointed. I was super sad of course, but I felt something and I know that they will be baptized, even if it's not next week, or if it's not in Bergerac - and that's what counts. Preach My Gospel, and Elder Holland, teach us that we need to be patient with our investigators and go at their pace, not ours. It's true. A lot of times as missionaries, we're so excited about baptizing that sometimes we don't realize that the investigators can't keep up with all the committments. That doesn't mean they don't have faith or that we haven't done a good job, that's just how it is, and if the person is ready for the Gospel, he or she will be baptized eventually. The work of the Lord cannot be frustrated. We're going to continue to teach them all the lessons and commandments and see their faith grow. I'm so excited.
In other news, Maurel, Muamba's buddy, has a baptismal date for the 17th of September! He wan'ts Muamba to baptize him. We're pretty stoked. I just sent in my renewal for my carte de sejour. Super weird. That means I've almost been in France a year! Things are great here adn we're working hard and having fun. Exchanged are this next weekend, we'll see what happens! Love you all.
Love,
Elder Tudor
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