What an adventure this week! Brief outline: We had an exchange Tuesday with
the Castres Elders then went to Bordeaux on Wedensday for our big zone
conference with 5 zones where Elder and Sister Kearon spoke it was so cool, we
then drove to Lyon Wednesday night with the office elders and some other zone
leaders, and then Thursday went to Geneva and Friday had our leadership
conference withe Elder Kearon, and returned all the way to Toulouse Friday night
on train. Lots of travel and we returned home exhausted.
So first and foremost, our star player of the week is Margot, our wonderful
ami who is progressing very nicely and stilll has a wonderful desire to be
baptized. She is struggling to overcome coffee and to drop some more catholic
habits. (she told us that she was praying to Joseph Smith and we had to clarify
who prophets are and that we only pray to God) We saw Tuesday and Sunday, and
both times she showed signs of spiritual progression. She even thanked Heavenly
Father in her closing prayer for the two boys that He had sent to help her with
things that are eternal when they could be doing so many other things. That
really touched me.
We had another moment as we were teaching about Thomas S Monson being a
modern day Prophet that was special. I testified that he was a prophet and one
proof of that was my call to serve in France and to be teaching her the Gospel
and how it was meant to be me. And she agreed saying that we would say things
that she was already thinking and she had no idea how we knew them. It was
special.
The conference in Bordeaux was excellent. The Kearons are just awesome.
(the zone leaders and sister training leaders got to meet with them privately
before hand...) I was equally impressed by both of them and would've liked to
hear them speak all day. The talked about our diligence and how we must attack
our mornings. They quoted Elder Holland who said, Your mission will be
determined by every morning of your life. and went on to discuss the importance
of focus and true conversion for now and into the future. President and Sr.
Roney taught equally powerfully. President talked about how we can change our
future families for the better by changing now. He discussed our actions and
integrity and diligence will directly affect our current families and bless our
future families. It was really awesome.
Then on Friday in Geneva we had a much smaller meeting with the Zone
leaders and sister training leaders and Elder Kearon and the Roneys. It was much
more intimate setting where Elder Kearon was a bit more casual but just as
powerful and it was really a big discussion of things we had learned and how we
could teach them to others in our circles of influence. He is a convert from
England. He was baptized when he was 26 and his wife is from CA. Just an
incredible couple.
Saturday and Sunday were booked as well. Saturday we got to spend lunchtime
with the family Serrano-Milone. They are among my favorite families in the
world. I love teaching in their home. Fr. SM is a hero of mine. He is the stake
high councilman over missionary work and is so motivated. We work with him
often. He is the man.
Sunday we got a surprise invite to eat lunch with the family Frau after
church and then went from rdv to rdv and didnt come home until 930 Sunday night.
Our week was very full. Physically, emotionally, spiritually, mentally. We were
moving and learning and teaching at every moment. Fun and exhausting. I've never
had such a fast 6 weeks in my life.
As I reviewed my conference notes I was really hit by the importance of
conversion. They didn't really use that word exactly but that was the message
that I took from it. And Elder Bollard and I have had good open conversations
about our strengths and weaknesses since in order to really improve and change.
I'm excited and looking forward with faith. How much we need the Gospel in our
lives. How much we need our Savior in our lives. How much the world needs the
Savior.
I love you so much!
Elder Montgomery
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| Elder Bollard and I at the chapel in Geneva |
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| Overlooking Geneva Lake...it was really sunny! |
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| Geneva downtown |
