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
Sunday, August 28, 2011
Sunday, August 21, 2011
August 15, 2011
Salut tout le monde!
It was a special week! This Saturday I had the blessing to baptize Muamba in the Dordogne. It was so great. Almost the whole branch was there, and he was so happy! He was confirmed Sunday by Bro Faucher. Anyways, the baptism was awesome! We actually started at the river. We sang, we prayed, and then we did the baptism. Bro Bouchet had set up a makeshift "changing room" for me and Muamba (it was two tarps tied to a few trees haha), so we changed, then we headed to the chapel to finish the service. Elder Coenen and I sang "Seigneur Mon Dieu" (How Great Thou Art) at the end. Madame Tudor and Flora came, and Madame Tudor was crying the whole time we were singing and for a few minutes after. We were shocked because we had just come up with it that morning! Muamba had asked us to do a special number, and of course, we procrastinated haha. But wow, it was a great baptismal service. Pray for Muamba so he can continue to grow in the Gospel!
Victoria and Flora are doing great! Well, as far as their progression in the Gospel goes. Actually they're in a really tough situation right now. Victoria can't find any work right now and there is nothing in Bergerac. She's searchign in Bordeaux for work, but doesn't have the money to take the train all the time to Bordeaux. She was really discouraged about that this week. But we can see how much joy the Gospel is bringing her already. And Flora is just great. She's 11 years old, but is super intelligent and very sensible. She understands the principles of the Gospel so well and finds answers to her questions in the Book of Mormon - yes!!! We're so excited for them, and the branch already accepts them as their own. They always stay and talk for an hour after church with everyone and members have even invited them over for dinner. That's pretty rare as far as France goes! The branch is great!
I'm doing well. I think I need to endure Bergerac a little better though. It's a small ville, but I need to keep my faith in it, and keep my expectations high as to what we can accomplish here! Now that I look back, we've had 4 baptisms since I got here, and that's double what I had my whole mission before I got to Bergerac, and we'll have two more in a couple weeks! There are always people who are prepared, and we've got to do ALL WE CAN to find them. The mission is too short. There's too much work to do! Sometimes I feel like my mission is never going to end, because I don't see it ending. I don't see the work ever ending. It's a weird feeling. But, as Gandalf once said, "We must do what we can with the time that is given us." (I've been waiting a long time to whip out that quote :) ). But it's true. I won't be a full time missionary my whole life. I need to do what I can, and all that I can while I'm here. It's similar to life on earth. We won't live here forever. We will die one day, and we need to have done all that we can overcome ourselves, our weaknesses, in order to be pure before God when we return to His presence. This life is the time. This mission is the time. It's kind of scary to think about that sometimes. We want to make every moment count! But I love this quote by Pres. Hinckley that a friend send me this week in an email. "I don't worry too much about the future and I don't worry very much about the past. The past is gone, and you can't change, you can't correct it. The future, you can anticipate, but you can't necessarily do much about it. It is the present you have to deal with. Reach out for every good opportunity to do what you ought to do." If we act NOW, without dwelling on the past or in the future, and do what we know we should do, we will have no regrets and our future will be secure. The church is true, and I know it. God lives and loves us and we are His children. He hopes and expects us to do everything we can to return and live with Him one day, but WE have to decide. I am ever grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ who makes it all possible. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to help people make this decision all day every day. I wouldn't rather be anywhere else! The mission is the best. I love all of you! Bonne semaine!
Love,
Elder Tudor
It was a special week! This Saturday I had the blessing to baptize Muamba in the Dordogne. It was so great. Almost the whole branch was there, and he was so happy! He was confirmed Sunday by Bro Faucher. Anyways, the baptism was awesome! We actually started at the river. We sang, we prayed, and then we did the baptism. Bro Bouchet had set up a makeshift "changing room" for me and Muamba (it was two tarps tied to a few trees haha), so we changed, then we headed to the chapel to finish the service. Elder Coenen and I sang "Seigneur Mon Dieu" (How Great Thou Art) at the end. Madame Tudor and Flora came, and Madame Tudor was crying the whole time we were singing and for a few minutes after. We were shocked because we had just come up with it that morning! Muamba had asked us to do a special number, and of course, we procrastinated haha. But wow, it was a great baptismal service. Pray for Muamba so he can continue to grow in the Gospel!
Victoria and Flora are doing great! Well, as far as their progression in the Gospel goes. Actually they're in a really tough situation right now. Victoria can't find any work right now and there is nothing in Bergerac. She's searchign in Bordeaux for work, but doesn't have the money to take the train all the time to Bordeaux. She was really discouraged about that this week. But we can see how much joy the Gospel is bringing her already. And Flora is just great. She's 11 years old, but is super intelligent and very sensible. She understands the principles of the Gospel so well and finds answers to her questions in the Book of Mormon - yes!!! We're so excited for them, and the branch already accepts them as their own. They always stay and talk for an hour after church with everyone and members have even invited them over for dinner. That's pretty rare as far as France goes! The branch is great!
I'm doing well. I think I need to endure Bergerac a little better though. It's a small ville, but I need to keep my faith in it, and keep my expectations high as to what we can accomplish here! Now that I look back, we've had 4 baptisms since I got here, and that's double what I had my whole mission before I got to Bergerac, and we'll have two more in a couple weeks! There are always people who are prepared, and we've got to do ALL WE CAN to find them. The mission is too short. There's too much work to do! Sometimes I feel like my mission is never going to end, because I don't see it ending. I don't see the work ever ending. It's a weird feeling. But, as Gandalf once said, "We must do what we can with the time that is given us." (I've been waiting a long time to whip out that quote :) ). But it's true. I won't be a full time missionary my whole life. I need to do what I can, and all that I can while I'm here. It's similar to life on earth. We won't live here forever. We will die one day, and we need to have done all that we can overcome ourselves, our weaknesses, in order to be pure before God when we return to His presence. This life is the time. This mission is the time. It's kind of scary to think about that sometimes. We want to make every moment count! But I love this quote by Pres. Hinckley that a friend send me this week in an email. "I don't worry too much about the future and I don't worry very much about the past. The past is gone, and you can't change, you can't correct it. The future, you can anticipate, but you can't necessarily do much about it. It is the present you have to deal with. Reach out for every good opportunity to do what you ought to do." If we act NOW, without dwelling on the past or in the future, and do what we know we should do, we will have no regrets and our future will be secure. The church is true, and I know it. God lives and loves us and we are His children. He hopes and expects us to do everything we can to return and live with Him one day, but WE have to decide. I am ever grateful for our Savior Jesus Christ who makes it all possible. I'm so thankful for the opportunity to help people make this decision all day every day. I wouldn't rather be anywhere else! The mission is the best. I love all of you! Bonne semaine!
Love,
Elder Tudor
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
August 8, 2011
Allo!
Muamba's baptism didn't happen this week because he had to go to Bordeaux to sort out his papers. But it's all set and ready for this Saturday. We're so excited! We're going to do it in La Dordogne (the river) at his request. He says he has to follow Jesus Christ with exactness, and Jesus was baptized in a river, so he has to. Can't argue with that! Anyways, we can't wait, and we're so happy for him.
Last week I talked about an investigator named Victoria Tudor from Romania. By the way, I'm pretty sure we're related, we'll have to do some family history work there though haha. Anyways, we went adn taught her this week and her 11 year old daughter, Flora, was there, so we taught the message of the restoration. The Spirit was so strong, and we invited both of them to be baptized the 27th of August. They both accepted. They both came to church this sunday and they've been reading the Book of Mormon together every day and they love it! What's more is that they're already super good friends with a bunch of ward members even though they just barely met. They came and ate with us at a member's house and they stayed with the memebrs and talked for 3 hours after we left. So no integration problem there. They're already talking to all the memebrs about how excited they are about their baptism. Honestly, I've never seen anything like it on my mission. It's a little surreal. It's a miracle. Every heart that the Lord prepares is a miracle. I know that they were prepared. All we had to do was open our mouths and invite. I love this work, and there's nowhere that I'd rather be. I'm happier than ever and I know that this work is real.
We had interviews with president Murdock this week. He told me during my interview that he used to be a 70 - I had no idea. All of a sudden I got a little more nervous, haha just kidding. It was sweet. He is so inspired and he knew exactly what to say to help me in this moment. I really appreciate him. I'm so excited for the second half of my mission and all the miracles I'm going to see and all that I'm going to learn. But I'm more excited for the people who's lives will be changed because of the Gospel as I work as hard as I can to help them come unto Christ. What else would I rather be doing? Nothing. Anyone who is reading this and is thinking about a mission, don't hesitate. It's the right choice. I know the church is true and I know that Christ lives and he directs his church today through a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson. I love you all and I hope you have a greeeat week!
Much love,
Elder Tudor
Muamba's baptism didn't happen this week because he had to go to Bordeaux to sort out his papers. But it's all set and ready for this Saturday. We're so excited! We're going to do it in La Dordogne (the river) at his request. He says he has to follow Jesus Christ with exactness, and Jesus was baptized in a river, so he has to. Can't argue with that! Anyways, we can't wait, and we're so happy for him.
Last week I talked about an investigator named Victoria Tudor from Romania. By the way, I'm pretty sure we're related, we'll have to do some family history work there though haha. Anyways, we went adn taught her this week and her 11 year old daughter, Flora, was there, so we taught the message of the restoration. The Spirit was so strong, and we invited both of them to be baptized the 27th of August. They both accepted. They both came to church this sunday and they've been reading the Book of Mormon together every day and they love it! What's more is that they're already super good friends with a bunch of ward members even though they just barely met. They came and ate with us at a member's house and they stayed with the memebrs and talked for 3 hours after we left. So no integration problem there. They're already talking to all the memebrs about how excited they are about their baptism. Honestly, I've never seen anything like it on my mission. It's a little surreal. It's a miracle. Every heart that the Lord prepares is a miracle. I know that they were prepared. All we had to do was open our mouths and invite. I love this work, and there's nowhere that I'd rather be. I'm happier than ever and I know that this work is real.
We had interviews with president Murdock this week. He told me during my interview that he used to be a 70 - I had no idea. All of a sudden I got a little more nervous, haha just kidding. It was sweet. He is so inspired and he knew exactly what to say to help me in this moment. I really appreciate him. I'm so excited for the second half of my mission and all the miracles I'm going to see and all that I'm going to learn. But I'm more excited for the people who's lives will be changed because of the Gospel as I work as hard as I can to help them come unto Christ. What else would I rather be doing? Nothing. Anyone who is reading this and is thinking about a mission, don't hesitate. It's the right choice. I know the church is true and I know that Christ lives and he directs his church today through a living prophet, Thomas S. Monson. I love you all and I hope you have a greeeat week!
Much love,
Elder Tudor
Sunday, August 7, 2011
August 1, 2011
Cher tout le monde,
Well, it's happened... I've been out over a year! I can't believe it. I feel like it flew by, but at the same time, I feel like I've been doing this my entire life. It's a weird feeling. This week I've been reflecting a lot about this last year. I thought back to right before I entered the mtc and everything I was expecting. The mission has been totally different than what I expected, but it has been even better than I had ever imagined, and I'm only halfway through! I specifically thought back to what I wanted to become on my mission. As I was reflecting, I looked back and of course I found a thousand ways how I could have done better during the first year of my mission. But then I decided to take a look at what the Lord has enabled me to do, how He has changed me, and what I've become up until now during my mission. When I realized how blessed I have been this last year, it made me cry. The Lord has truly changed me. I'm still old Bryson, but something has definitely changed. I took time to write in my journal the main things that have changed about me and what has caused these changes. Sorry, I won't share my journal with you haha, but it was a really spiritual experience and I realized that I've grown more in this last year than the 19 years that came before it. I've obtained SO much more knowledge of the Gospel than I had before, and I just want to keep finding more and more! This knowledge has pushed me to better apply the Gospel in my life and to apply it for the right reasons. The blessings and the understanding that has come from this application has pushed me to help everyone apply the same principles in their own lives, because I know - I truly know - that it is the only way. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way to true peace and happiness in this life and for eternity. There is nothing more important in this world, or in any world, than this work. Every once in awhile, Satan puts thoughts in your head, or simply people on the street tell us, "No one will listen to you. Why are you here wasting your time? You could do so many other things with your life right now." We even hear sometimes, simply, "You're crazy." That causes you to think. But I have confidence in the Lord and His mission. I know that this is His work. President Murdock said in a zone conference last transfer, talking about testimony, "Once you know, you have to go." I knew and I still know - that's why I came. Alma 43:1 "And now it came to pass that the sons of Alma did go forth among the people, to declare the word unto them. And Alma, also, himself, could not rest, and he also went forth." Ether 12:2 "And Ether was a prophet of the Lord; wherefore Ether came forth in the days of Coriantumr, and began to prophesy unto the people, for he could not be restrained because of the Spirit of the Lord which was in him." Sometimes we're tempted to let up a little bit or take a break, but we KNOW, so we have to GO. We can't be restrained! I'm so thankful for this Gospel, and for the personal testimony that God Himself has given me that it's true. I pray that I might be an instrument in the Lord's hands this last year of my mission in bringing as many people to the truth as are ready to accept it. I pray that I will become what He wants me to become, and I know that I can do it by living the Gospel and serving Him and others with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. Thanks so for all your support back home - it helps more than you know. I love you and pray for you! Have a great week!
Love,
Elder Tudor
P.S. Muamba should be baptized this Saturday!
Well, it's happened... I've been out over a year! I can't believe it. I feel like it flew by, but at the same time, I feel like I've been doing this my entire life. It's a weird feeling. This week I've been reflecting a lot about this last year. I thought back to right before I entered the mtc and everything I was expecting. The mission has been totally different than what I expected, but it has been even better than I had ever imagined, and I'm only halfway through! I specifically thought back to what I wanted to become on my mission. As I was reflecting, I looked back and of course I found a thousand ways how I could have done better during the first year of my mission. But then I decided to take a look at what the Lord has enabled me to do, how He has changed me, and what I've become up until now during my mission. When I realized how blessed I have been this last year, it made me cry. The Lord has truly changed me. I'm still old Bryson, but something has definitely changed. I took time to write in my journal the main things that have changed about me and what has caused these changes. Sorry, I won't share my journal with you haha, but it was a really spiritual experience and I realized that I've grown more in this last year than the 19 years that came before it. I've obtained SO much more knowledge of the Gospel than I had before, and I just want to keep finding more and more! This knowledge has pushed me to better apply the Gospel in my life and to apply it for the right reasons. The blessings and the understanding that has come from this application has pushed me to help everyone apply the same principles in their own lives, because I know - I truly know - that it is the only way. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way to true peace and happiness in this life and for eternity. There is nothing more important in this world, or in any world, than this work. Every once in awhile, Satan puts thoughts in your head, or simply people on the street tell us, "No one will listen to you. Why are you here wasting your time? You could do so many other things with your life right now." We even hear sometimes, simply, "You're crazy." That causes you to think. But I have confidence in the Lord and His mission. I know that this is His work. President Murdock said in a zone conference last transfer, talking about testimony, "Once you know, you have to go." I knew and I still know - that's why I came. Alma 43:1 "And now it came to pass that the sons of Alma did go forth among the people, to declare the word unto them. And Alma, also, himself, could not rest, and he also went forth." Ether 12:2 "And Ether was a prophet of the Lord; wherefore Ether came forth in the days of Coriantumr, and began to prophesy unto the people, for he could not be restrained because of the Spirit of the Lord which was in him." Sometimes we're tempted to let up a little bit or take a break, but we KNOW, so we have to GO. We can't be restrained! I'm so thankful for this Gospel, and for the personal testimony that God Himself has given me that it's true. I pray that I might be an instrument in the Lord's hands this last year of my mission in bringing as many people to the truth as are ready to accept it. I pray that I will become what He wants me to become, and I know that I can do it by living the Gospel and serving Him and others with all my heart, might, mind, and strength. Thanks so for all your support back home - it helps more than you know. I love you and pray for you! Have a great week!
Love,
Elder Tudor
P.S. Muamba should be baptized this Saturday!
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