We had transfer calls this week! Our zone got all jumbled up, but Elder Laney and I get to stay in Dijon for his last transfer! Hooray!! I'm starting to really love this area and ward and mission and everything! We had some really cool experiences and miracles this week. First off, our mission's goal for less active and convert members, and investigators to church this week was 451, and we got 542! We were all so excited! It was definitely a reminder that with God driving this work, no goal is to high. Now let's see if I can remember everything that happened this week- there was tons of stuff!
We had a couple of mange-vouz (dinner and lunch appointments) with members, which is always good. We had crêpes with one family, this awesome goat cheese salad thing with another, and frog legs with a third. All so good and very French! We've also been trying lots of different cheeses this week. Turns out there are lots of delicious French cheeses out there, and there are some that should probably be burned (I'm talking to you, Roquefort).
We spent some time contacting in the biggest park I've ever seen, so that was super cool. The weather was fantastic, and we found a zoo! Albeit the most disappointing zoo I've ever witnessed (see picture), but a zoo nonetheless!
I've been absolutely loving being able to read all the general conference talks. My favorite is probably the one about the God's choir, by Elder Holland. We are led by some inspired people!
We passed some old investigators and less-active members in some outer villes this week, and it was awesome to see more of this beautiful country. Lots of vineyards, but they won't be super green until August-ish.
Our members are incroyable!! On Sunday we had at least seven come up to us and ask if we're staying for another transfer and get so excited when we said we were. One older member in particular made my day. I was talking to Frère Retailleau and accidently said "merci pour tous que tu fait," when I should have said "que vous faite" (more formal, and a rule for missionaries). I corrected myself, and he laughed and put his hand on my shoulder and said "you use 'tu' when speaking to your father or grandfather, so I think it would be appropriate." So nice- I love our members!
Speaking of church, we had a really cool miracle happen on Sunday. A young woman from Virginia who will be nannying for a family in Dijon for the next year showed up and went to all the classes. We talked to some members she'd sat with, and they said she was Christian, but not a member, that she lived close to the church and had just decided to come, and that she was interested in learning more. She told the member that she plans to keep coming, so we hope to talk to her about lessons next time she comes. She just showed up because she felt like it, and our fantastic members, with their broken English, fellowshipped her and started doing missionary work! Super cool!
Another miracle - the Paris temple is complete! It'll be dedicated in a month! There's a sweet video about it on the home page of Lds.org, so that's awesome!
French has been coming along, so that's cool. I've found that I'm able to follow most conversations and say pretty much everything I want to say, so just so y'all know, the gift of tongues is 100% real.
I've been thinking a lot about the spirit and its influence this week, and am so grateful that we have been blessed with that gift. We have guidance and comfort available to us every second of the day, as long as we're worthy. Pretty amazing! My scripture of the week: 2 Nephi 33:6, which says "I glory in plainness; I glory in truth; I glory in my Jesus, for he hath redeemed my soul from hell." I've found that this is true for me too. I love that line, "I glory in my Jesus". I hope I always have that hope in my life. Super cool scripture, and as usual, just what I needed this week.
And in conclusion, one more miracle for your edification. We were contacting early in the week, and decided to go pass an ancient Ami named Jean-Paul. After a tram ride that took longer than expected, we showed up at the house and knocked on the door. An Asian woman answered, we asked if Jean-Paul was home, and she said he'd moved to the United States and that she hadn't heard from him in a long time. We thanked her and left, and while we were walking away, Elder Laney started walking really fast. I asked him what was going on, and he said he'd seen an Asian man on our way to the house and had felt prompted to talk to him, but had kept walking and that he was trying to catch him. I was like "there's no way it's Jean-Paul, the lady said he'd moved to the U.S." But we kept running, and turned down a smaller street that Elder Laney said felt right. We ran for a little longer and saw a man just standing on the sidewalk. We went up to talk to him, but he spoke first and was like "missionaries! I attended your church every week for two years when I was younger!" We were shocked! We talked for a minute, and Elder Laney asked for his name, and it was totally Jean-Paul! I couldn't believe it! He told us he'd try to come to church next week! Craziness! God is there and he really does care.
Anywho, that's all I can remember. I love you all and you're always in my prayers.
Elder Suisse
Attached are pics of :
A rock in the middle of the road. One block from our rendezvous. We had to drive around and were a half hour late. French roads are insane.
Me trying to take a cool picture of some ivy
Some soon-to-be green vineyards with yellow mustard fields in the background (cuz it's Dijon)
Me and Elder Laney in the park (please note my classy sweater and favorite tie)
Us at the zoo with some donkeys. Besides a small goat, literally the most exciting thing there.
Us chez Cuisiat with our cuisses de grenouille (frog legs)
A fancy chèvre cheese salad
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