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

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

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!

July 25, 2011

Gael's Baptism

Fireworks
The District last transfer

Bonjour à tous,
Gael's baptism was amazing! It was this saturday at noon, and his dad, who just received the priesthood a couple weeks ago, baptized him. It was perfect. The spirit was so strong, except for maybe when I goofed on the piano once during a hymn haha. Oh yeah, I don't know if I've told you, but I've been playing the piano for sacrament meeting and other meetings often since I arrived in France. My hymn skills have improved greatly since I left haha. Better late than never. Anyways, Gael is the funniest little kid. He bore his testimony after at the end of the baptismal service. He started out by saying it's too bad he wasn't able to stay and swim in the nice warm water haha. He said it felt like the weight of sin had been lifted off his shoulders, and that he would never sin again - maybe. Haha. We'll have to talk about that one with him. It was a great experience though. I got to participate in his confirmation as well. Muamba came to the baptism and he loved it, but he told me that he wants to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be baptized in a river haha. We'll have to talk to the president and the city of Bergerac about that one, but that would be so sweet!
Oh yeah, I forgot to tell you last week that on the 14th of July we got special permission from president Murdock to go watch teh fireworks late at night with the Bouchet family. They were super amazing! They were on the riverside, and they had some fireworks that shot out of the river which I thought was pretty sweet. Happy Bastille day!
This week started out pretty slow, but ended great. We found a new investigator friday who is awesome. And what is her name, you might ask? Madame Victoria TUDOR! Haha. She is from Romania but has been here for many years now. She's very sincere and she came to church and loved it. We talked about all the jokes that people in France make about our name haha. We'll be seeing her again tomorrow. I actually wasn't there for the first lesson because we were on exchange with teh zone leaders, so I'm stoked to get to know her better. We endured well at the beginning of the week and we were blessed at the end of the week for it. Today we found a new investigator who is amazing. Her name is Monique. She's black and is in a wheelchair. She's so humble and so receptive to the message. After hours of searching new investigators, it is so uplifting to find such humble, genuine people, who are willing to make place for the word of God.
As you know, it was transfers last week, but neither Elder Coenen nor I were trasnfered, so nothing too exciting! Elders Carson and Noyce left the district and we got two new missionaries who came over from the old Swiss Mission - Elders Williams (from Las Vegas) and Caldwell (from happy valley). Elder Caldwell told me on the phone I worked with him at coldstone, but I dont remember his name. I guess I'll know when I see him haha.
Things are going well her with me and Elder Coenen. I like having a french speaking companion. With english speaking companions, we try as hard as we can to speak french all the time, but every once in awhile we speak a little english, but with a french speaking comp there's no break haha. My French has worstened a little I think because I can never speak english, so I can't get out the english that's in my head, and I'm starting to really speak Franglais. I can hardly say a few sentences without slipping a word of English in haha. It's pretty funny, espcially because I don't notice it and Elder Coenen has to tell me. I hope that doesn't last too long haha. Well that's about it for this week. I love you all. The church is true. Jesus Christ is truly our savior. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. Joseph Smith was a true prophet, President Monson is the prophet of God today, and all of the saving ordinances along with Priesthood authority are on the earth. And everyone is able to know that it's true if they seek and ask in faith! Have a great week :)
Much love,
Elder Tudor

-I forgot to tell you that Yves was baptized by Elder Garland a couple of weeks ago in Cannes. Woohoo! Apparently it was quite a story too. He just found a job but he had to work Sundays all day. He went into his new boss and told him he was going to make covenants with the Lord and that he would not work Sundays, at first the boss refused, but Yves bore testimony to him about his baptism and the commandments, and in the end his boss said he didn't have to work Sundays. Stud!

July 18, 2011

Dear extremeties of the earth,
So transfer calls are normally Friday, but they took longer with the joining of the missions, so we were supposed to get them this morning, but it's 4 30 and still no call haha. A good week in Bergerac! A lot of things could have gone better, but we'll take what we can get. We definitely saw the hand of the Lord. Gael will by baptized by his papa this week! Muamba was in Bordeaux all week and he was able to attend a baptism there. He loved it so much and he keeps getting more and more excited for his baptism. We taught him tithing this week just before he left to Bordeaux. Teaching tithing to an investigator committed for baptism can be nerve wracking sometimes because we never know how they'll react. But Elder Lumakaso and I went in with faith (we were on exchange). We said the prayer and introduced the topic. Immediately he stopped us and started talking and talking about how he paid tithing to churches all the time in Africa and he talked about all the blessings he had received from it. Elder Lumakaso, the member, and I just looked at eachother like... Wow, ok! Haha Muamba is a stud. He said one time he had no money to pay tithing with, so he gave all he had really which was a nice watch that he had bought. He said that three days later, someone gave him a watch for free! Then he bore testimony about tithing. All we had to say was how much he had to pay, and he accepted. He even asked if he can pay more haha. I'm so thankful for how much the Lord has prepared him to receive the Gospel!
I had a cool experience this week. Elder Coenen and I were crossing the street and on the sidewalk on the other side there was a big group of people and just to the side was a lady alone who looked like she was about to cross the street but was just standing there like she was waiting for something. I was debating whether to talk to her because I could tell she wanted to cross and if I stopped her I would block the group of people behind her from crossing the street, but I felt like we needed to talk to her. I said bonjour and told her we present a message about Jesus Christ. She looked the other way and said, "sorry, I'm completely atheist!" and was even mad. I wondered why I had been propmted to talk to her because it was pretty rude how she said it. But then I felt like I needed to insist a little bit and I simply asker her "why?" Then she opened up and talked about how she had just lost some family members and how her life is just misery right now. I told her God loved her and I testified that God gives us trials to make us stronger and happier in the longrun, and that he hasn't left us alone to get through it, but He sent His Son Jesus Christ to help us. Next thing I knew she was tearing up, and started saying how much she needed to hear that and that we were the answers to her prayers, her "angels" she said. The Spirit was so strong. Even though we were there with people all around and cars passing by, the Spirit spoke to her heart and she knew that what we were saying was true and that she needed to hear more. We set up an appointment, and we'll be seeing her this week. I learned a lot from that contact. Probably half the people we talk to say they don't believe in God, and sometimes we persist, but often times we just ask them if they know anyone else who would be interested. But that contact reminded me that the worth of EVERY SOUL is great in the sight of God. As missionaries and as members, we need to try our best to bring every soul to Christ, no matter how heard hearted they might be at first, the power of the Spirit will humble them and help them recognize the truth.
Sunday night we had an interesting, random experience. We found an old man in the road who had fallen and had a huge gash in his head and it was bleeding like crazy. Some people had stopped and looked but hadn't really done anything. Elder Coenen and I picked him up and asked him what happened. He told us he was staying at the hospital but had left to get money from an atm. We told him we had to get him back to the Hospital right then, but he wouldn't until he had his money! Stubborn old man haha. So we walked with him because with every step he almost fell over. The atm was a good half mile away too. That was probably quite a scene, two missionaries walking the streets of Bergerac with an old man with a bloody face and hospital clothes on. Finally we got there and he got his money and we walked back and got him fixed up at the hospital. Poor guy, he had a big old gash in his head. I have no idea how he was conscious. Good thing we were there to walk with him, or I think he would have kept falling and eventually hurt himself a lot more seriously. Well I'm out of time. Sorry I don't know about the transfer yet. You'll find out soon enough. Love you! Bonne semaine
Love,
Elder Tudooooor (that's how Muamba says my name)

July 11, 2011

Birthday card a member gave me and my birthday kabob

Reporters in our apartment

Beynac


Crazy cat who stares at us everyday

Allo!
It was an interesting week! We started out by being filmed all day long on Monday. They filmed us doing groceries, our emails, shopping, and then when we worked. They filmed us during a lesson with Maurel and Muamba and it was a super spiritual lesson too. Maurel and Muamba are doing well. They weren't baptized this week, unfortunately. They were hesitant and didn't make up their minds. Friday night, Muamba said he wanted to saturday, but it was too late! So we have to delay it. The sad part is that he's going to Bordeaux for three weeks then coming back here, so we set the date for the 6th of August. We're still workign with Maurel. This week we talked a lot about their testimony of the Book of Mormon and they're really gaining their testimonies little by little. Yesterday Maurel said he wants to be baptized, but in the United States haha. I'm not sure what he's talking about. Gael will still be baptized the 23rd, and we just starting teaching his bro Guillame who is super sweet (16 yeard old).
I'm loving the mission every day. Bergerac is tiny, but it's sweet. My district is awesome too. Tomorrow we're having district meeting in Perigeux, then I'm giong on exchange with Elder Lumakosa here in Bergerac, then Wednesday I have to do an exchange in Brive because the rest of Frank's family is getting baptized and need interviews! So I'm stoked. We get transfer calls this Friday, I can't believe it! The mission just keeps flying by faster and faster. It's kind of frightening haha. So at zone council, I guess the president said that he's going to totally mix up the missions next transfer - meaning that he's going to try to put a toulouse missionary with a geneve missionary in each companionship. So chances are I'll have a new comp next week. Especially because Elder Coenen is European and they'll need him in Switzerland since us Yankees aren't allowed. So we'll see! I've always wanted to be a trainer, I hope I'[ll be able to this transfer. If I do, I'll get to take an airplane to Geneva haha. Sweet! Our mission is huge.
This week I learned the power of testimony. A lot of times we teach and explain really well, but forget to testify. Monday, we were with Maurel and Muamba (for the cameras too) and we were talking about how their testimony of the book of mormon would resolve their concerns. We explained over and over how they can gain a testimony from the Holy Ghost and why it is so important. They kept interrupting us and wouldn't let us finish what we were saying. It was like they weren't really listening to us. Then out of nowhere, we all just started testifying about how we received a testimony of the restoration and what that means to us. Elder Coenen bore such a powerful testimony as well. They didn't interrupt while we were testifying, but they just listened. And after we finished, they were quiet, and pondering. The Spirit was so strong, and even the camera lady looked shocked haha. It reminded me of the scripture in Alma 4:19 "And this he did that he ahimself might go forth among his people, or among the people of Nephi, that he might bpreach thecword of God unto them, to dstir them up in eremembrance of their duty, and that he might pull down, by the word of God, all the pride and craftiness and all the contentions which were among his people, seeing no way that he might reclaim them save it were in bearing down in pure ftestimony against them." Alma saw no way to save the people, except to bear pure testimony. Our most powerful tool as missionaries is the Spirit, which manifests itself through our testimonies. After we bore testimony, they accepted to read and pray to know, despite their defiance five minutes before. I've said it before, but we really are nothing without the Spirit. We tried to explain for a half hour how they can get a testimony, but the Spirit told them in an instant what they need to do. I'm humbled by the power of the Lord every day out here. I know it is real. I know that God speaks to His children through his spirit, and anyone that searches diligently will find. Thanks everyone for all your support! It's super weird being 20 and not being home on my bday. The Bouchets took me out to McDonald's for my bday - yes! Haha it was great. Thanks for your letters and emails. I love you all!
Love,
Elder Tu Dors

July 4, 2011

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