April 23, 2012

Salut,

It was a wild week!  I'm having a hard time remembering what happened.  We haven't heard from T yet, unfortunately.  But our other amis are doing great.  S Y, the new chinese guy that W X brought to church, is looking great for the 5th, as well as D and G.  T H, a former investigator,  is committed for hte 5th as well now.  S Y is a complete stud.  We haven't even taught him the commandments yet, but he has already stopped smoking and drinking without us even asking.  He is SO ready.  He understands the doctrine like someone who has spent a long time in the church and we only met him last week.  He's like the chinense version of T haha.  So, things are going great, and we're on the hunt for new amis this week as always. 

We've been focusing a lot on finding the elect lately.  Sometimes as missionaries, you can get stuck in the rut of teaching the same people that progress a bit, but aren't really progressing towards baptism.  We've couselled our zone to let all those people go and give them to the Lord til they're ready to progress.  In diong this, we've found so many amazing people.  Ever since we started handing people over to the Lord adn telling the Lord that we would go out and look for those He has already prepared, He has showered His blessings upon us with the most amazing people I've met on my mission.  We don't have as many investigators nor as many lessons as before, but we have 4 or 5 solid people that want to be baptized, something I've never seen on my mission.

Our recent converts are doing fantastic.  A got the priesthood on Sunday.  W X is doing so good as well.  She showed me a couple yoga moves to improve my posture haha.  The D's are doing ok, just a lot is going on now with them trying to get a titre de séjour and finding work and stuff.  R is still the funniest guy I've ever met and is diong great in his calling as sunday school teacher. 

This week we have interviews with president, then the week after that we get transfer calls.  So crazy.  Time is flying!  I think I'll leave Bordeaux in a couple weeks, but I don't want to.  If I did leave, I would want to train.  I'm having a blast with Elder Gubbay and we're blessed with seeing so many miracles. 

A miracle real quick!  I did an exchagne with elder Brown in Agen on Wednesday.  All our lessons fell through and we contacted ALL DAY.  In the morning I met this guy named Mr R who didn't believe in God, but when I told him what God's plan and the Gospel did for my family and what it could do for his, he agreed to see us on Friday.  Then later in the day, Elder Brown and I were both contacting someone, but I felt liek I should leave the contact and talk to other people.  I saw a lady in her 30's with a stroller and went and talked to her.   Her name was L.  I found out that she believes in God but has totally lost confidence in what men say about Him and therefore has no religion.  I testified of the restoration, prophets, and the Book of Mormon.  By this time Elder Brown had come over and we asked her if we could bring by the book another day.  She said she didn't want to give us any contact info, but we decided to leave her with a copy of the BoM  anyways, which we usually don't do.  She was really pleased and said she'd read and pray to know if it was true and if there were prophets on the earth.  Friday night I got a call from Elder Brown.  It ends up that Mr. R is S's husband!  They went to their house on Firday night and were able to teach the restoration to their whole family and they agreed to meet with them a second time.  I know the Lord puts people in our path for a reason, and He always provides ways for His children to hear the Gospel message when they're ready to.

Well, Gotta go, but have a great week everyone.  Love you!

Elder Tudor

April 16, 2012

Salutations,
It was a week of finding! All of our progressing amis are out of town or just got baptized, so we did lots of finding this week. It was really fun! It's been a long time, since we've been really busy preparing baptisms. Unfortunately, T wasn't baptized this week. He will be soon, he just needs some more time. He's definitely the most prepared and sincere person Elder Gubbay and I have ever met on our missions. Wen Xue and Arnaud are doing fantastic. One of the greatest parts of the mission is to see the blessings that people receive as they accept and live the Gospel. This week after their baptisms they both have been greatly blessed in so many aspects of their lives. It's incredible to see how quickly the Lord rewards His children for their obedience. W X is doing some missionary work as well! She has a chinese friend named Shi (pronounced "sure"). Basically, she talked to him about her baptism, he saw what it did for her and he wanted it as well, so he came to church with her and he told us he wants to be baptized. He has a date for the 5th of May as well as G and D. It should be a good day that day! Other than the people I've mentioned, we don't really have any other investigators that progress.
We're really focusing on finding the elect right now and inviting every single person to be baptized. We did a lot of finding this week via our mormon board. That bad boy works miracles still. We've also been doing this thing called "pillars of light" that the assistants showed us during zone council in Lyon a couple weeks ago. It's just a basic contact method, but it works really well. It's based off of Joseph Smith's experience prior to and during the first vision. Just like Joseph Smith had a question, we start the contact by an inspired question like, what have you done to build a happy family? Or what is the purpose of life? They start thinking about the question and start talking, then we teach a simple truth (like when Joseph Smith was taught by James from the Bible) and testify of it and allow the Spirit to confirm that truth and tie it to the restoration. There's more that is linked with Joseph Smith's experience, but I just had a blank and can't think haah sorry. But the idea is really cool. God can't speak to men until they ask questions. President shared soemthing really cool during zone council. He said one time when he was a 70 they were in a meeting with presidetn Packer. President Packer was addressing some issue about people thinking we're not Christians and he took some time to take questions. President Murdock asked him, "president Packer, why do they think we're not Christians?" Pres. Packer, "it's called the apostasy - next question." In that moment, it hit president that the apostasy continues today and the restoration didn't happen in 1830, but it happens every time someone is converted to the Gospel. We're not here to contact, teach lessons, etc; We're here to restore the Gospel into the lives of these people who are still living in the apostasy! I love having this vision of things. We need to bring people to the sacred grove by everything we do and we need to allow them to have the Gospel restored in their lives and end the apostasy. I know the church is true! We've gotta go to a lesson, so I had to cut my thought short. Sorry! Have a great week! Love you.
Love,
Elder Tudor

April 9, 2012

Hey!

Wow. I have to much to say this week. We'll see how far I get. First of all, W X. and A got baptized on Saturday! A has been taught off and on for over a year, and like I told you, we saw him 4 weeks back just to invite him again to be baptized (even though he came up to Elder Buss a few months ago and siad that every missionary who has come to Bordeaux has tried to get him baptized but all have failed so it wasn't even worth trying) and he accepted that he would do it IF he got an answer. That date we set was this past saturday. Well since that day and over the past few weeks not a lot changed. He had the same attitude toward's baptism. He had no desire to be baptized and didn't see the need. The friday before conference, we decided to fast and pray during general conference that he would be touched by the Spirit and feel pushed by the Spirit to be baptized. I saw him between conference sessions and he was all smiley and told me that he always loves Elder Holland's talks and that's all he said to me. We had a lesson with him monday and we and he knew that it was time to say yes or no to baptism. We sat down, said a prayer to start the lesson, then the first thing he said after the prayer was, "I've decided I'm going to get baptized. I don't know when, but I will. When I left the room after general conference, I said to myself, I need to be a member of this chruch. It's not because I've been convinced of a certain doctrine or anything, but it's because I just want to live the life of a good member of the church." Elder Gubbay and I probably looked dumbfounded at this point. Then he went on saying that he didn't think it would be this saturday because he wanted to let people know in advance, but then we just said, "no, you're getting baptized this saturday." and he said, "ok". And then we planned the baptismal service. What a miracle. What a testimony it was for me of the power of fasting and prayer. He was baptized by a member and his fiancée's dad confirmed him (his fiancée is a member). They're getting married in September. The Lord truly changes people's hearts and he hears our prayers in behalf of others!

W X's conversion is an incredible story as well. I told you last week about her experience with the Book of Mormon. We saw her on tuesday to finish up teaching her the commandments and prepare for her baptism saturday. After the opening prayer we asked her if she had any questions. She said no, but she did say, "since I've started meeting with you, coming to church, and reading the book of Mormon, I can't stop smiling! I'm constantly happy! My room mate even says I laugh in my sleep!" and it's true! The first time we saw her she was really sad and life and her own mistakes seemed to be taking a toll on her, but now she just has this light eminating from her and you can really feel it! She is just constantly smiling and is always happy. The Gospel is true. It works! She is so sweet. Last week she took close up pictures of me and Elder Gubbay because she is an art major and is an amazing artist. She can draw anything. After the lesson she showed us the portraits she drew of us. She drew both of our faces on these huge pieces of paper and it was incredible looking. I'll have to take a pic and show you. It was so cool haha. Before we finished the lesson though, we asked her who she wanted to baptize her. She told all three of us to stand up (R was there too) and she looked around for a minute at each of us, then she picked me because I was the closest to her height haha. She's super funny. Then Saturday came. In the morning, I realized that since W X is chinese and since she's new to french, the idea came to my mind to baptize her in chinese. I asked Elder Gubbay and he thought it was a great idea, so he lent me his missionary manual in chinese and I studied the prayer all day, practicing my pronunciation with Elder Gubbay. Right before the baptism I asked W X if she wanted me to do it in chinese or french and she looked super surprised that I offered to do it in chinese and she said "yeah, do it in chinese!" For some reason, I hadn't quite mentally prepared myself and hadn't thought she'd actually say yes haha. All of a sudden I was super nervous about it and afraid of saying it wrong and having to do it over again. I especially didn't want to have to do it over again because W X was already kind of nervous. But the moment of the baptism came. Arnaud was baptized first, then it was W X's turn. We got in the water and Elder Gubbay said I looked so nervous haha. Simply for her sake, I didn't want to mess it up, and I wanted her baptism to be special and I didn't want her to worry about understanding me or me not being able to say it right. We got situated, and as I rose my arm to say the prayer, I just felt calm, confident, and comforted. I said her name, said the prayer in chinese, and baptized her. Everything went great and there was no need to do it again. In the heat of the moment I didn't quite appreciate it, but the rest of the day and on Sunday I realized how much the Lord helped me in that moment. Elder Gubbay said I said the prayer better than I had ever said it when I practiced with him. A bunch of people came up to me after and said that they didn't even recognize my voice when I said the prayer. The bishop, who couldn't actually see the baptism because of all the people, but could hear it, said he didn't think it was me that baptized her and was wondering what the heck happened and where I had gone haha. I was kind of alarmed to hear all of this afterwards. All the chinese investigators and members that were there said they were shocked as well when they heard it and asked Elder Gubbay how long I've been studying chinese haha. As I reflected on that moment, I just realized how great the power of the priesthood and the power of the Spirit are. The Lord qualifies His servants for whatever righteous task they undertake. The Lord helps us and lifts us up so we can magnify our callings. The gifts of the Spirit are real. It wasn't just something really cool that I could write in my journal and tell to my grandkids one day. The Lord wanted W X to be batpized in her first language and I'm so thankful to have been an instrument in His hands to help her come closer to Christ. The Priesthood is real and the ordinances we perform really do draw us closer to Him through sacred promises. I love my mission! There's so much more to say, but I don't have time.

T is INCREDIBLE. He'll be baptized this saturday if everything goes according to plan. He's going to be a missionary someday. I could write a book about him and the lessons we've had with him. The church is true, I love it here, and I know I'm where I'm supposed to be. The Holy Ghost is real and it works in our lives and in our hearts. I'm so thankful for Christ and His atonement. The other day we were on an exchange and a guy walking down the street yelled, "Jesus est mort!" (Jesus is dead) and we yelled back, "Il est ressuscité!" (He is resurrected!). Apparently the Elders in that area see that man every day and they have the same exchange of words. How great it is it to be able to say that we know that He lives. He lives! I know he does. He is at the head of this church and he isn't sitting around diong nothing. He is running His church today and performing miracles in the lives of all those who have faith in Him. Let us all have faith in Him whom we love and testify of and let Him work miracles through our Faith and service. I love you and have a great week!

Love,

Elder Tudor

April 2, 2012

Heylo,
We had a great week and things are rolling along great right now. We've got 6 amazing people who are preparing for baptism for the month of April. We've been SO blessed to find these people. Things are crazy as usual being zone leader and doing exchanges all the time. I went back to Bergerac this week for a day because there's a new DL Elder Wilcox there. He's great! Bergerac is in good hands. It always feels weird going back there haha. I feel like my mission has ended and I'm touring my old cities.
Conference was amazing!! We had 6 investigators come and watch at least one of the sessions. I'm so thankful for the prophet and the apostles. When I hear them speak I just feel peace and safety. I know that they speak the word of God. Before this conference, I wrote down a list of 6 or 7 questions and concerns I had, hoping and praying that conference would help me with those things. Amazingly, every question was answered, and a few were quite specific and not general topics. For one of them, there was a talk given specifically on the subject! I know God knows us and all our needs, just as president Monson said at the beginning of conference. These men are prophets, seers, and revelators. There's no doubt in my mind about it. I'm SO thankful for their guidance and their examples. How blessed are we to have prophets and apostles and the priesthood on the earth? There is no other church or organization on the face of the earth led directly by God himself through 15 christlike men who are chosen by God, given His priesthood, who work and serve in perfect unity and love with no wordly reward or gain, but they simply do it because they love God and they love their fellow man. I love the church!
This week pray for W X. and A who should be getting baptized. W X. is pretty solid. This week she said she had a question about whether she could be forgiven of her past mistakes. She took the BoM and opened it up randomly and start reading. She opened up to 3 nephi 9 and started reading from verse 18 until the end of the chapter. She shared that with us and said that she must be and wants to be baptized. What a miracle! Apparently that has happened multiple times to her on different occasions as well. T is still doing great. The guy knows everything already somehow. He understands the priesthood, the restoration, the plan of salvation, and we've only taught him twice. He says stuff before we even teach him, it's incredible. He's so prepared. We just go and start teaching and then he teaches himself (more like the spirit teaches him). He told us the whole first half or the plan of salvation basically without us even getting past premortal life haha. He's going on a mission for sure (he's only 20). His baptismal date is the 14th.
I read this morning in preach my gospel about accountability and I don't know what happend, but between that and conference, I really got fired up. I'm stoked for the rest of this transfer and I wanna just "leave it all on the field" as they say. I hope everything is well with all of you. The church is true! Every soul has great worth, and yes, even your own (sometimes it's hard to see that). This week I was reflecting on less active members of the church or returned missionaries who come home and just turn into the same person they were before or go through the motions again. I don't ever ever want that to happen to me. The mission has shown me what the Gospel offers and now I want to dedicate my whole life to living it and sharing it. That has to be our priority in life or we will never find true joy and satisfaction. That is God's plan - He's laid it before us, and now let's live it up! (in a Godly sense). I love you all!
Bonne semaine.
Love,
Elder Tudor

March 26, 2012

Hey,
I have hardly any time to write today, but we had a great week! There were 4 baptisms in the zone and 11 in the mission. We have a few new people getting ready for baptism. We had a few miracles where people basically just came to us and they were SO prepared already! We've now got A, W X., D, G, M, and tonight we are inviting T, who is this miracle guy, to be baptized. Yes, I said M. This guy is so amazing. He was born muslim but it didn't go well with him and how he's searching; he's form Guinea and he's super sincere. We'll see what happens. T is a guy I met at place de la victoire doing street meetings (with our big sign that says MORMONS on it with temple pics and stuff and BIENTOT EN FRANCE on bottom because of the new temple in Paris soon. Everyone stops and asks us what it is, it's super effective!) and i talked with him about 20 minutes. He's looked around at so many religions and studied with so many but decided to just make his ownbelief because he didn't feel that he found the absolute truth; I explained the restoration and he said he wanted to come to church. He showed up at church in a suit looking all sharp and just started introducing himself to everyone. During our investigators sunday school class on the Priesthood, he was giving answers like he was a member of the church! He said things about the Priesthood that were just incredible that only members would usually know and understand. Everyone in the class was just looking at eachother in shock. He's incredible! We're seeing him tonight.
Elder Gubbay and I are staying together in Bordeaux! I'm really glad! I've always wanted to train though. I hope I'll be able to by the end of my mission. Today is crazy because we're helping everyone with trains and stuff for transfers and right now we have a little break so we're doing emails. There's so many good things going on right now in the zone and in the city of Bordeaux. It's sad to see some missionaries leave the zone, but we're excited for our new zone. Yesterday afternoon we did an activity with the YSA where we took our big street board and put it in front of the giant opera house and did street meetings. There were 6 missionaries and 7 or 8 YSA. We talked to tons of people and found some awesome people. It was really cool for the YSA too. We noticed that when one person stops to look at the sign and talks with us, tons of people do, so what we would do is we would have the YSA talk to us like they weren't members and then tons of people would start stopping haha. We didn't do that the whole time, it's a good trick though. You should take a look on Mormon.org at the video by Brother Defranchi. He's an opera singer at the Bordeaux opera and he's a member of the Talence Ward. Well, I've gotta go, sorry! I love you guys and I'll have a lot of news next week. Thanks for everything! Have a great week!
Love,
Elder Tudor