Bonjour ma famille!
I've kinda robbed you of emails the past two weeks so I'll
give you a good one today.
This week has been stellar. It has been high 50s and low 60s
with sun almost the entire week. And as a result everybody seems to be happier.
Haha
Fun things that happened this week:
We went bowling, us four elders, and all my summer training
paid off as I pulled out a 2 point win. It was a really fun time.
We taught a man who was from french royalty and sold lots of
classic movie paraphenela online. Reminded me of the guy of the White and Nerdy
music Video. Haha he didnt really want to hear our message
We passed an old investigator, who lived in a sketchy
government building. He opened his door and was very happy to see us, but told
us to come back another time. He had some beer and cigarettes going on, but
showed us his giant american flag he had hanging in his living room and gave us
a big smile to which (slightly in jest) we put our hands over our hearts. He
was really proud but told us to come back today, so we're going to pass him
tonight. I was laughing a lot.
We had our fair share of miracles this week as well.
First and foremost we taught Ludo, our ami is doing really
well.
We had a really intense lecon with him on wednesday. He had
been kicked out by his girlfriend and had told us that he had slept in the
homeless shelter with almost nothing to eat for the past two nights. We could
smell alcohol on his breath. After presenting the Family A Proclamation to the
world, Frere donadier who we were teaching with stopped and brought up a
concern that we already knew about: Ludo said he CANT forgive his parents for their
abusive past. We talked about it a little and Ludo assured us that if we had
been through what hed been through we would not be able to forgive either.
Then we brought out Alma 7:11-13. (which i challenge all of you to know
by heart.) And assured him with a burning testimony that there was someone who
had been suffering alongside of him the entire time, and who had walked his
path with him.
11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and aafflictions
andbtemptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which
saith he will ctake upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him adeath, that he may bloose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to csuccorhis people according to their infirmities.
13 Now the Spirit aknoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the bflesh that he might ctake upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.
12 And he will take upon him adeath, that he may bloose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to csuccorhis people according to their infirmities.
13 Now the Spirit aknoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the bflesh that he might ctake upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.
He started crying and it was very very intense. We finished
our lecon on that intense note and told him to keep praying, and keep
exercising faith in His Heavenly Father.
We then saw him again yesterday after church and he was all
smiles and the very first thing he told us as we sat down was about the answers
to his prayers he had received. He mentioned that (moreso in passing but i'll
take it) it would be hard to forgive his parents. Which is progress, his heart
is softening and he is gaining more light. It is quite exciting.
We were porting on a beautiful Thursday afternoon. We
knocked on a ladys door and she came and spoke with us, mostly telling us how
we needed to learn french and improve our accents...haha thanks...but then told
us that there was an English man who lived across the street. We went directly
over and there were two men out in the back yard burning leaves and chopping
trees. We addressed one of them in french and asked him if he was from here. Of
course he was from England...He is a super pleasant guy. And after telling him
we were representatives of Jesus Christ and that we shared a message about Him
and His restored gospel and asking him if he was interested in learning more,
he replied with a simple, "well yeah, yeah i am". Ah Who knew such a
short phrase could bring such joy to a man's heart. He told us that he was busy
but to call him and set up a time to talk.
Soldes is starting here, prices of anything and everything
in stores all over the country of france are being cut by 30 to 70 percent off.
Needless to say Elder Wilson decided we would be shopping all day today.
Us 4 Elders sung in Sacrament meeting yesterday as part of
our E-day, Endear the members day, in which we worked to love them to death
(members are so essential to missionary work!!!). We also put little cute notes
on the chalkboards of all the classrooms and in the hymnbooks in the pages of
songs that we sang in church. And lastly we baked tons of cookies (which are an
American delicacy that they love) and wrote cards to each family with a bag of
chocolate chip cookies. Fun Fact: They dont have chocolate chips here. We had
to buy bars of chocolate and chop them up. It was a big hit, they loved it.
As of right now our biggest task is working to clean out the
Ward Roster. Which in our branch of 60 actif members, we have about 240 members
listed on the Roster. It has now fallen on our shoulders as missionaries to
play detective and eliminate old addresses and numbers and find the new ones.
Thats all I got for this week. I love you all so very much.
I think and pray for you everyday.
I leave you my testimony that I know that Jesus Christ is
our Savior. And through applying His Gospel in our lives, we WILL find
happiness and peace.
I echo Alma's words:
11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions
and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which
saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him adeath, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
12 And he will take upon him adeath, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might ctake upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.
Beaucoup d'amour,
Elder William Montgomery
