Salut!
Vous allez bien? It was a good week! Kind of crazy, but good haha. On wednesday we went to Bordeaux for a zone conference and we met president Murdock. He's awesome! It was really weird holding zone conference in English though. At one point I had to get up and saw a few words, and all that was coming out was franglais. I tried as hard as I coudl to speak normal english, but every other word was coming out in French! I never knew it could be so hard to speak English haha. Then I went on exchange with my boy Elder Dorton in Brive. It was super fun! It reminded me of when we did exchanges in Nice together. Except now our areas are nothing like Nice haha. Brive's a pretty small place too, but not as small as Bergerac I don't think. Anyways, I did a baptismal interview there and they had a baptism this saturday. It was the daughter of a recent convert. Woohoo! But anyways, back to Bergerac. Maurel and Muamba are doing alright. Maurel said he still needs more time before the baptism. Muamba isn't sure, so if someone is baptized this week, it will be muamba. We hope!
So right now, Elder Coenen and I are being followed by a couple journalists with cameras. It's super weird. Apparently they're making a documentary about the missionaries and eventually it will be on tv in France. When they're finished they'll send me a dvd haha. So yeah, super random! They've followed Elder Coenen off and on during his mission. They were there at the MTC and then when he arrived in Toulouse, but this is the first time really since he's been out in the field. And they'll follow him throughout his whole mission I believe. They called us two weeks ago to ask if they could come today, and we said yeah sure. They said they'd call us back to confirm and tell us when they wuold show up and everything. But they never called us, so last night Elder Coenen and I decided they weren't coming. Then this mornign at 7:30 we got a text from them saying they'll be there at 10:30..... So we scrambled around cleaning up the apartment and everything and re-planning the day haha. It was insanity. But we managed to get everything done. I'll probably give you another update about how the day finished in next week's email.
With the new president we have a half hour less to do our emails, so I won't be able to do as many emails to my friends and stuff. So, whoever wants to write me, they can send me letters! :) This week was kind of like the last. More perseverance! There were a couple of days where nothing was working and no one wanted to talk to us, but we kept going and the week finished great and we had one of the best weeks we've had yet. It seems like at the end of every week I look at our numbers, and I say to myslef, "man, I don't know if we'll be able to repeat that next week." But somehow every week, we keep improving! If we apply our faith, we can do anything. This town is pretty tiring, but we can't let up.
I've been thinking a lot this last week about why I came on a mission, and why I'm doing what I do day in and day out. Of course it's something we're expected to do as young priesthood holders and it's something that will help us the rest of our life, but really the reason why we're all here is the infinite love and atonement of Jesus Christ. I know I'll never be able to fully understand Christ's atoning sacrifice, at least in this life, but I understand it more and more every day that I'm here. I still can't really put it into words, but spiritually I understand it more and more. Christ suffered and died for every single person who lived, lives, and will live. He didn't just suffer for the members of the church, but for EVERY child of God. Think about how many people are members of the church compared to how many people are on the earth or have been on the earth. The only way to apply the atonement is through the fulness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Are we going to let the most marvelous act that has ever and will ever be accomplished go to waste? Not a chance. Of course peopel have their agency to accept the truth, but the more I understand the atonement, the more I desire teh salvation of every person we meet. As Lehi said, "Wherefore, aredemption cometh in and through the bHoly cMessiah; for he is full of dgrace and truth. Behold, he offereth himself a asacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto bnone else can the cends of the law be answered. Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, asave it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who blayeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the cresurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise." That's why we're here! Let's all apply the atonement in our lives by living the Gospel and accept the gift that Christ offers, and just as importantly, let's make these things known to all those around us, because it is offered equally to them! I know that Christ truly sacrificed himself and that it is only by Him that we can obtain happiness in this life and the eternities. Well, I'm out of time - I love you all and hope you have a great week!
Love,
Elder Bryson Nathanael Tudor
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Friday, July 1, 2011
June 27, 2011
Hey there!
Today it was a 100 degrees and tomorrow it will be 104. And right now in this internet cafe it's at least 90. Gah! Mais ça va. Il fait beaucoup plus chaud à l'amerique de sud. Except it's winter there... hmm, I dunno! This week was good! I did an exchange with Elder Carson in Perigeux, and that was fun. Then we went to Bordeaux friday to say bye to President and Sister Carter. They both gave beautiful talks/presentations. I love them! I really appreciated a story that President Carter shared about a missionary who had his last interview with the president before going home and said he felt likle he had wasted his time because the only person he baptized was one 12 year old boy. This mission president kept track of this 12 year old boy his whole life. He served a mission, had a family, etc. In the end, more than 1,100 people came into the church because of that one boy. Sure, we're not baptizing people every week here in France, but we are still doing the lord's work with all our heart. It's impossible to tell what will become because of our work, only God knows. Today, I had one of those moments where I realized my work had paid off. In Nice, Elder Graham and I found a Russian man who understood almost nothing in French. He was hardly progressing, but he did read the Book of Mormon often, so we kept teachign. It seemed like he was getting nothing out of it though. And then I went to Cannes. Today I found out he was baptized last saturday. What a sweet surprise! The work doesn't always go exactly how we want it at the moment, but "the works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught... Remember, remember, that it is not the work of God that is frustrated, but the work of men." Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that this isn't our work, but it is His, and all will be done according to His will.
President Carter also talked a lot about marriage, which was funny haha. He gave us the eleventh commandment: KTWH - Keep Thy Wife Happy. Of course, any time that anyone talks about marriage around a group of missionaries, the discussion goes crazy haha. He talked a lot about the family though. I was really touched to hear his story about how he and Soeur Carter came into the Gospel. At the time he had a big beard, mullet, and played bass in a rock band (which could be my future as well, but on lead guitar ;) ). Because of the Gospel, they got married ( the same day as their baptism), they had kids who went on mission, and when they get back they're going to bless a grand daughter, baptize a grand daughter, and marry one of their sons in the temple all within three weeks. Wow. The Gospel is pretty amazing, isn't it? Simply put, that and the family is the most important thing in the world. I'm so lucky to have the opportunity play a part in this work of salvation here in France.
Something funny - we all stood in line to say bye to president and sister carter. The sister missionaries went first, and they all hugged president carter (usually its not allowed - just a handshake), then when it got to the Elders, the first Elder didnt know whether to hug Sister Carter or not, but he went for it haha. She hugged him and have him the bises (the little kisses on the cheek) and she did the same for all of us. Haha it was such a funny awkward moment. And the president didn't mind, donc ça va haha.
Gael, Maurel, and Muamba are doing great! Fr Bouchet will receive the Aaronic priesthood this sunday so he will baptize his son Gael. That's seriously one of the most beautiful things to witness - a family accepting and living the Gospel together. I can't think of any experiences in particular that I had this week. It was a crazy week haha. But I do remember one thing - perseverance. That's basically the theme of Bergerac! And one of the main principles of the gospel. There are days here when I feel like no one will listen, but we keep talking to everyone anyways, and it's always when we feel the most discouraged and the most like giving up on the day that we receive the blessings. I've found that a good 80 percent of phone numbers we take come in the last half hour or so before we come home, or while we're on our pday and we take a couple seconds to contact someone that we feel is ready for the Gospel. The Lord always pushes us. Why? Because he loves us! Unfortunately, there are few in the world who understand this and lose their faith. But it's ONLY AFTER the trial that we receive a witness that it was all worth it. I ask myself almost every day why he has to push us so much, and every day I learn why if I hold out faithful. That's where we show our faith. We couldn't show faith in God if all was going good. Heavenly Father sent us here to walk by faith, and it is by faith that we follow principles of the Gospel that will allow us eventually to gain salvation. I'm so thankful for a God who allows us to suffer so we become stronger, and more like him. He's given us all we need to combat oppisition in life, we just need to trust him, have faith in him, and apply it! I know the Gospel is true. I know that it is a living Gospel and that we are led by God himself through personal inspiration and our inspired leaders. I love you all and hope you have a great week! And oh yeah, I got to see Elder Park in Bordeaux on Friday! I missed my boy! He's doing great in Tarbes and it was sweet to catch up. Anyways, bonne semaine, ciao!
Love,
Elder Tudor
Today it was a 100 degrees and tomorrow it will be 104. And right now in this internet cafe it's at least 90. Gah! Mais ça va. Il fait beaucoup plus chaud à l'amerique de sud. Except it's winter there... hmm, I dunno! This week was good! I did an exchange with Elder Carson in Perigeux, and that was fun. Then we went to Bordeaux friday to say bye to President and Sister Carter. They both gave beautiful talks/presentations. I love them! I really appreciated a story that President Carter shared about a missionary who had his last interview with the president before going home and said he felt likle he had wasted his time because the only person he baptized was one 12 year old boy. This mission president kept track of this 12 year old boy his whole life. He served a mission, had a family, etc. In the end, more than 1,100 people came into the church because of that one boy. Sure, we're not baptizing people every week here in France, but we are still doing the lord's work with all our heart. It's impossible to tell what will become because of our work, only God knows. Today, I had one of those moments where I realized my work had paid off. In Nice, Elder Graham and I found a Russian man who understood almost nothing in French. He was hardly progressing, but he did read the Book of Mormon often, so we kept teachign. It seemed like he was getting nothing out of it though. And then I went to Cannes. Today I found out he was baptized last saturday. What a sweet surprise! The work doesn't always go exactly how we want it at the moment, but "the works, and the designs, and the purposes of God cannot be frustrated, neither can they come to naught... Remember, remember, that it is not the work of God that is frustrated, but the work of men." Sometimes we need to remind ourselves that this isn't our work, but it is His, and all will be done according to His will.
President Carter also talked a lot about marriage, which was funny haha. He gave us the eleventh commandment: KTWH - Keep Thy Wife Happy. Of course, any time that anyone talks about marriage around a group of missionaries, the discussion goes crazy haha. He talked a lot about the family though. I was really touched to hear his story about how he and Soeur Carter came into the Gospel. At the time he had a big beard, mullet, and played bass in a rock band (which could be my future as well, but on lead guitar ;) ). Because of the Gospel, they got married ( the same day as their baptism), they had kids who went on mission, and when they get back they're going to bless a grand daughter, baptize a grand daughter, and marry one of their sons in the temple all within three weeks. Wow. The Gospel is pretty amazing, isn't it? Simply put, that and the family is the most important thing in the world. I'm so lucky to have the opportunity play a part in this work of salvation here in France.
Something funny - we all stood in line to say bye to president and sister carter. The sister missionaries went first, and they all hugged president carter (usually its not allowed - just a handshake), then when it got to the Elders, the first Elder didnt know whether to hug Sister Carter or not, but he went for it haha. She hugged him and have him the bises (the little kisses on the cheek) and she did the same for all of us. Haha it was such a funny awkward moment. And the president didn't mind, donc ça va haha.
Gael, Maurel, and Muamba are doing great! Fr Bouchet will receive the Aaronic priesthood this sunday so he will baptize his son Gael. That's seriously one of the most beautiful things to witness - a family accepting and living the Gospel together. I can't think of any experiences in particular that I had this week. It was a crazy week haha. But I do remember one thing - perseverance. That's basically the theme of Bergerac! And one of the main principles of the gospel. There are days here when I feel like no one will listen, but we keep talking to everyone anyways, and it's always when we feel the most discouraged and the most like giving up on the day that we receive the blessings. I've found that a good 80 percent of phone numbers we take come in the last half hour or so before we come home, or while we're on our pday and we take a couple seconds to contact someone that we feel is ready for the Gospel. The Lord always pushes us. Why? Because he loves us! Unfortunately, there are few in the world who understand this and lose their faith. But it's ONLY AFTER the trial that we receive a witness that it was all worth it. I ask myself almost every day why he has to push us so much, and every day I learn why if I hold out faithful. That's where we show our faith. We couldn't show faith in God if all was going good. Heavenly Father sent us here to walk by faith, and it is by faith that we follow principles of the Gospel that will allow us eventually to gain salvation. I'm so thankful for a God who allows us to suffer so we become stronger, and more like him. He's given us all we need to combat oppisition in life, we just need to trust him, have faith in him, and apply it! I know the Gospel is true. I know that it is a living Gospel and that we are led by God himself through personal inspiration and our inspired leaders. I love you all and hope you have a great week! And oh yeah, I got to see Elder Park in Bordeaux on Friday! I missed my boy! He's doing great in Tarbes and it was sweet to catch up. Anyways, bonne semaine, ciao!
Love,
Elder Tudor
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
June 20, 2011 plus Pictures!!!
Last moments in Cannes...
Me and Elder Garland
Bergarac
Me and Elder Coenen
Bikes!!!
Bonjour à tous,
Well, looks like I'm just gonna have to get used to this french keyboard haha. It was a good week! We actually had quite a bit of success. A lot more than they've been having here recently. Like I said, Gael will be baptized the 23rd of July, and this week we committed two more for baptism! Their names are Maurel and Muamba. They're both from Congo, but Maurel spent quite a bit of time in South Africa and speaks English too. They're 27 and 30 and super awesome. They're committed for the 9th of July - my Bday!!! I'm super excited for them! They're so awesome. I'd go into details but I really only have a couple minutes. Things are going well here. I rode a bike for the first time on my mission. I felt like the "classic" missionary haha. It was sweet. This week went pretty well, and it's thanks to the Lord. We worked our butts off, but there's still a lot of things we could have done better. We'll get there. This town has already exhausted me haha. It's gonna be a crazy transfer. Well, gotta go, I love you all and hope you have a great week! Sorry for the short email!
Love,
Elder Tudor
Me and Sebastian
Me and Elder GarlandMe in front of church
Me and Brother Perez
Me with Caroline and Matthieu
Me with a Tahitian brother from St Raphael whom I love
Me and T Moo
Bergarac
Me and Elder Coenen
Bikes!!! Bonjour à tous,Well, looks like I'm just gonna have to get used to this french keyboard haha. It was a good week! We actually had quite a bit of success. A lot more than they've been having here recently. Like I said, Gael will be baptized the 23rd of July, and this week we committed two more for baptism! Their names are Maurel and Muamba. They're both from Congo, but Maurel spent quite a bit of time in South Africa and speaks English too. They're 27 and 30 and super awesome. They're committed for the 9th of July - my Bday!!! I'm super excited for them! They're so awesome. I'd go into details but I really only have a couple minutes. Things are going well here. I rode a bike for the first time on my mission. I felt like the "classic" missionary haha. It was sweet. This week went pretty well, and it's thanks to the Lord. We worked our butts off, but there's still a lot of things we could have done better. We'll get there. This town has already exhausted me haha. It's gonna be a crazy transfer. Well, gotta go, I love you all and hope you have a great week! Sorry for the short email!
Love,
Elder Tudor
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Juen 15, 2011
Allo!
So, it was a crazy first week in Bergerac! Unfortunately the cyber café is closed and I only have a few minutes left on this free internet in the library (still with this blasted French keyboard too! But I'm getting better). Well the higlight of this week was definitely... the baptisms! A beautiful couple was baptized this week. Their names are Valerie and Emmanuel Bouchet. They've been taught since December. It was an amazing baptism and I can't wait to get to know them! We just started teaching their son (10 years old) named Gael, and just today he committed to baptism the 23 of July. We had planned to do it on my Birthday, but he'll be out of town for that weekend and the next one. Oh well! He's sweet! They have one other son, Guillame, who is 16 that we want to start teaching! Awesome stuff.
I had another cool experience this Friday. I went to a little town called Beynac et Cazenac (I think, look it up, it's amazing) to do a baptismal interview for one of Elder Dorton and Noyce's investigators in Brive. His name is Franc O'Mullan and he is Irish. His wife is a member and is less active. He has 9 kids that are all under 25 or so! The interview was sweet and he was baptized this Saturday in this beautiful river that runs through the town. You can see like 5 castles from the spot where he was baptized! His house is hundreds of years old and on the cliff above it is this massive castle/fotress where Richard the Lionheart once lived. He found a letter in his house that was written by the son of the first socialist in France that was written forever ago and he had to hand it over to the government haha. This town is old and full of history! I have to go back one day. It's beautiful! 5 of his kids are committed to baptism for July 16 too. I'm stoked!
Bergerac is so small. To give a picture, Perigeux (which is in my district) has about 3 times as many inhabitants as Bergerac, and in their newspaper one day under the column "top 10 things to do in Pergeux", being contacted by the Mormons was listed. Yep. Haha it's awesome though. It will be tough, but I'm stoked! We've got a few other sweet investigators that we've found and we're still searching. The Bouchets are gonna invite one of their friends over for a lesson tonight which is awesome! They're already doin missionary work!
I did an exchange in Bordeaux with Elder Wimmer yesterday (one of the zone leaders). He went to Orem high and will finish his mission in the next few months. He also went to Orchard a couple years, so we talked about people we both know. His cousin is Andie Young! Haha how funny is that. It was a fun exchange and we both learned a lot. We'll all be going to Bordeaux the 24th to see President and Soeur Carter for the last time. Super sad. I'll miss them! Well, my time's about up. Thanks for all your emails, letters, and support! It helps more than you think! I love you!
Love,
Elder Tudor
So, it was a crazy first week in Bergerac! Unfortunately the cyber café is closed and I only have a few minutes left on this free internet in the library (still with this blasted French keyboard too! But I'm getting better). Well the higlight of this week was definitely... the baptisms! A beautiful couple was baptized this week. Their names are Valerie and Emmanuel Bouchet. They've been taught since December. It was an amazing baptism and I can't wait to get to know them! We just started teaching their son (10 years old) named Gael, and just today he committed to baptism the 23 of July. We had planned to do it on my Birthday, but he'll be out of town for that weekend and the next one. Oh well! He's sweet! They have one other son, Guillame, who is 16 that we want to start teaching! Awesome stuff.
I had another cool experience this Friday. I went to a little town called Beynac et Cazenac (I think, look it up, it's amazing) to do a baptismal interview for one of Elder Dorton and Noyce's investigators in Brive. His name is Franc O'Mullan and he is Irish. His wife is a member and is less active. He has 9 kids that are all under 25 or so! The interview was sweet and he was baptized this Saturday in this beautiful river that runs through the town. You can see like 5 castles from the spot where he was baptized! His house is hundreds of years old and on the cliff above it is this massive castle/fotress where Richard the Lionheart once lived. He found a letter in his house that was written by the son of the first socialist in France that was written forever ago and he had to hand it over to the government haha. This town is old and full of history! I have to go back one day. It's beautiful! 5 of his kids are committed to baptism for July 16 too. I'm stoked!
Bergerac is so small. To give a picture, Perigeux (which is in my district) has about 3 times as many inhabitants as Bergerac, and in their newspaper one day under the column "top 10 things to do in Pergeux", being contacted by the Mormons was listed. Yep. Haha it's awesome though. It will be tough, but I'm stoked! We've got a few other sweet investigators that we've found and we're still searching. The Bouchets are gonna invite one of their friends over for a lesson tonight which is awesome! They're already doin missionary work!
I did an exchange in Bordeaux with Elder Wimmer yesterday (one of the zone leaders). He went to Orem high and will finish his mission in the next few months. He also went to Orchard a couple years, so we talked about people we both know. His cousin is Andie Young! Haha how funny is that. It was a fun exchange and we both learned a lot. We'll all be going to Bordeaux the 24th to see President and Soeur Carter for the last time. Super sad. I'll miss them! Well, my time's about up. Thanks for all your emails, letters, and support! It helps more than you think! I love you!
Love,
Elder Tudor
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
June 7, 2011
Allo!
I excuse myself in advance if there are any errors in this letter because I cant change the keyboard from French to English. Sorry! Also, it wont be long because it's hard to type on this and I have less time than usual.
Friday I got a call from President Carter, and he said I was being transfered to the Bergerac! Yeah, thats not one you hear everyday! Haha. Bergerac is, Im pretty sure, the smallest and least populated area of the mission. Its so tiny!! Especially after being in Nice and Cannes. Also, I'll be serving as District Leader here. I'm a little nervous about it, but I'm super stoked too. The other cities in my district are Perigeux and Brives (with one componanionship in each of those cities). And guess what?? My boy Elder Dorton is in Brives! And hes serving with Elder Noyce, my comp from the mtc, which is sweet too. My comp is named Elder Coenen and he is from Belgium, so he's a native French speaker. It's his 2nd transfer so he's still blue and I'll be his polisher. He hasn't especially loved his experience so far on the mission, but I'll keep him happy :).
It was sad leaving Cannes, but my last day I was able to see Sebastian! Little miracle there. I'd go into details, but this keyboard is really bugging me haha. Yves will be baptized zithin the next couple weeks. Here in Bergerac there's not much going on right now as far as missionary zork goes, so I think I'm gonna have to pull a Cannes again. My last week in Cannes we blew away the record for lessons in a week that I've ever had so far on my mission, and I hope it continues like that! I remember when I arrived and the area was dead, and now its up and rolling! Never give up! We hope to get Bergerac up and going soon. Its a lot different here because its so small and Im not used to working in small villes so Im gonna learn a lot these next few weeks. Well, times up, so I'll talk to you next week! I hope you all have a great week. I love you!
Love,
Elder Tudor
I excuse myself in advance if there are any errors in this letter because I cant change the keyboard from French to English. Sorry! Also, it wont be long because it's hard to type on this and I have less time than usual.
Friday I got a call from President Carter, and he said I was being transfered to the Bergerac! Yeah, thats not one you hear everyday! Haha. Bergerac is, Im pretty sure, the smallest and least populated area of the mission. Its so tiny!! Especially after being in Nice and Cannes. Also, I'll be serving as District Leader here. I'm a little nervous about it, but I'm super stoked too. The other cities in my district are Perigeux and Brives (with one componanionship in each of those cities). And guess what?? My boy Elder Dorton is in Brives! And hes serving with Elder Noyce, my comp from the mtc, which is sweet too. My comp is named Elder Coenen and he is from Belgium, so he's a native French speaker. It's his 2nd transfer so he's still blue and I'll be his polisher. He hasn't especially loved his experience so far on the mission, but I'll keep him happy :).
It was sad leaving Cannes, but my last day I was able to see Sebastian! Little miracle there. I'd go into details, but this keyboard is really bugging me haha. Yves will be baptized zithin the next couple weeks. Here in Bergerac there's not much going on right now as far as missionary zork goes, so I think I'm gonna have to pull a Cannes again. My last week in Cannes we blew away the record for lessons in a week that I've ever had so far on my mission, and I hope it continues like that! I remember when I arrived and the area was dead, and now its up and rolling! Never give up! We hope to get Bergerac up and going soon. Its a lot different here because its so small and Im not used to working in small villes so Im gonna learn a lot these next few weeks. Well, times up, so I'll talk to you next week! I hope you all have a great week. I love you!
Love,
Elder Tudor
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
May 30, 2011
I've got like five minutes, so I'll try to jam as much in as I can. Yves wasn't baptized this week... but we did finally get hold of him!! He had to go to the mountains and work, and he had no cell phone service. But he had been reading in the Book of Mormon every day and still wants to be baptized. He might be baptized this Saturday, it depends when he comes back, and he's not sure when he is coming back yet. We'll keep praying for him! The work was a little slower this week, but we're pushin through and we've got a ton of hope for the future here. We've set the goal to find two people this week who will be baptized next transfer. Speaking of transfers, next week I could be in another city. We get calls this Friday. I'd love to stay another transfer with Elder Garland, but we'll see what happens! Today for p day we're going out to the island where the man in the iron mask was. Should be interesting. Well, sorry the email was tiny, but the computer is gonna cut off in a few seconds so I've gotta send. I love all you guys. Thanks for your support! Et bonne fete des mères! (It was the french mother's day yesterday). Ciao! Til next week.
Love,
Elder Tudor
May 25, 2011
Bonjour!
I apologize for the delay! Sunday morning I woke up, and we'll just say I wasn't feeling too well. I called Sister Carter and described what I had, and she told me I had "gastro" or something. I'm not sure what the translation is in English, or if it's the same thing in English, all I know is it's terrible! She told me I couldn't go out and that I couldn't eat until I felt better. The only thing she said I could drink was that nasty bubbly water everyone seems to like here, or soda (but I had to de-carbonate it). And then she added, "and no dairy" ....and no more happiness! (for all you Brian Regan fans out there). So that's my story basically from Sunday to Tuesday. I'll leave out the pleasant details.
It was a good week! Unfortunately only one investigator made it to church, and we had planned on 5 or 6, but we'll get them this week. Yves is doing great of course, but he disappeared into "the mountains" for a few days because he had to work so he wasn't able to come to church, but normally he will be baptized this Saturday! (I think I'd be rich if I had a dollar for every time an investigator told us he had to go to "the mountains" for a little while and then we never heard from him again. But don't worry, he didn't disappear forever, he called us back after he came back :) ) We're super excited for him! We're getting all the plans in order for the baptism.
We had a cool experience this week. We went to an investigator's house for an appointment, but he wasn't there, so we called him up and he said he'd be an hour and a half late. We started porting (door to door) for a little while but it wasn't very effective. Then I remembered this little old lady named Rosaria that Elder Park and I had contacted forever ago and she gave us her address. We had passed by her house numerous times before and she was never there, but we were in the neighborhood and I decided we should to try her again. We knocked, she was there, and so happy to see us! She let us in and we talked for awhile (don't worry, we left the door open and stayed right by the door, so we were following the rules :) ). It was an interesting lesson. Neither of us had the impression to start teaching the Restoration or really start teaching anything at all. We just sat down and chatted for a minute and then she started talking. She talked for awhile, and we listened. Eventually she started talking about how she has always believed in God, but that there were times in her life, especially now, when believing was really hard, even though she wanted to believe. We opened up the Book of Mormon to Ether 12 and read verses 4-6. The Spirit filled the room and she said it was a beautiful verse of scripture. Then she started crying and told us she wants to know if she will see her daughter again who had died, as well as other family members. We testified of the Plan of Salvation, and all of us could just feel the love of our Heavenly Father so strongly. We left her with a scripture to read and set a time to come back to teach the whole plan of salvation (we had to go see our other investigator), then I said a prayer. I felt overwhelmed during the prayer and I started crying too. It was a super powerful lesson, and we didn't teach anything, but the Spirit definitely did!
As we were walking away, I pondered about how lucky we are to have the knowledge of the plan of salvation and the Priesthood on the earth to seal us as families forever. We can't even comprehend how much Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ have done for us. They have made our salvation and eternal happiness with our families possible, and all we have to do is be obedient to their commandments in order to bring about this blessing for us and our families in the eternities, and it is and will ALWAYS be our choice to have it! Let's not forget all that Heavenly Father has set in place for us to succeed, and let's find what we can do better to make sure that all that he has prepared for us will not go to waste, but that we will be able to receive all the blessings He has in store for us. Be thankful! I know I need to do it a lot more. Je vous aime tous et je vous souhaite une bonne semaine!
Love,
Elder Tudor
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