ALORS ON CHERCHE

Hi everyone! Another week of adventures has already passed! :) Pretty crazy. I wonder if the time passes as fast as it passes for you as it does for me. 

This week was pretty great. Talence is doing well. 

CONFÉRENCE DE ZONE 

We had zone conference this week, which went hyper cool, as always. This one was a little special because it was a multi-zone conference. Montpellier, Toulouse, Talence and Bordeaux zones were all there. That is like a third of the mission! 

At this conference we watched and discussed Elder Ballard's visit to Genève and how we are going to implement the things that he taught us. One of the loudest messages I heard from the conference was to talk to everyone that we could. President Roney told us that at the conference, all of the Mission Presidents and Area 70s were staying in the same hotel, do they just spoke amongst themselves and enjoyed it or whatever. They were only there for one night. Elder Ballard found THREE referrals for the missionaries during his stay in the hotel. THREE. haha. He is a beast. 

All he did to do that was talk to people. Keep in mind he is an Apostle of the Lord so he is inspired out the wahzoo but still! How impressive is that. We never know how just a few simple words can change a life. It was a good testimony building conference.  

EGLISE NÉO APOSTOLIQUE 

So, we went to the church of one of our amis this Wednesday. It was an experience. I think the name of the church in English is the New Apostolic Church but I'm not sure. Anyway! We went with him to their Wednesday night meeting and it was really interesting. I could tell that the people there were good people who practice their faith. They were really nice to us afterwards as well. They said that they appreciated what we do and that they found it refreshing to talk to young people openly about faith and God. The only thing that we found really odd was at the very end of the service we all sang "HOSANNA!" Really loud. Other than that it was pretty normal. 

Our ami said that he really appreciated us coming and that he wants to come to our church to see how things go down. We will see. 

NOS AMIS

So! We were able to meet with the Inampudi Family (Indian Family) that we met this last week. The rendezvous went really well. We get there and they tell us "Ah! We have been excited all day waiting for you to get here!" We talk a little bit as Sheila prepares dinner. Once dinner is ready we put in "Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration" and watch it as we eat. The food was really good--kind of spicy but good. When I first took a few bites I was like, eh, this isn't spicy but it was a building heat and by the time I had finished my plate I was sweating... hahaha. They told me "Eat a spoonful of yogurt! That will help!" After quenching the fire in my mouth we were able to focus on the movie and start answering questions. 

They had such good questions. Right after they were just asking questions left and right and finally Sheila got to the point to when she said: "Joseph Smith was worried about his salvation and he found out how he could have it. What do we have to do to have it?" Hashtag: the question every missionary in the world wants to hear. With that, we were able to talk about the steps in the gospel and baptism. Shortly after explaining how things work, we invited them to be baptized when they knew that the message we share is true and they accepted! No date yet, but I'm sure it will be soon. :D 

They are such a cool family. Every time I think about them I almost get overwhelmed with emotion at how gracious Heaven Father was in leading us to them. He really does love His children. 

The Inampudi Family came to church the next day and they really liked it. We had to translate for them but they still seemed to enjoy it. All of the members tried super hard to speak English to them (which was really funny---most of them speak really well). They felt really well received. We hope to see them again sometime this next week. The problem is, is that Krishna (the dad) is super busy with work and isn't available all the time. But he said if he even has 30 minutes that he will call us and that he wants to come to the ward activity at the end of the week. Hyper sick! 

MES ETUDES

I was reading in 2 Nephi 31 this week and I am always impressed with the simplicity of the gospel. God doesn't want things to be super hard to understand and I feel that often times I complicate things when really they aren't that complicated. 

When we are exhausted, when we feel like we can't go any further, Christ is there we can continue to press on happily. When we do, we will get the prize :) 

2 Nephi 31:19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save.

 20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.

I love you all!

Que Dieu Vous Bénisse! 

Elder Johnson