Alright!
Sorry you didn't get this email on Monday but that is because I had to help out
in the train station with all of the missionaries traveling to their new areas.
My new companion was scheduled to come in at around 9:55 PM but his train was
two hours late, so I didn't get to see him until today (Tuesday). But anyway...
I'm
staying in Lyon for another transfer! So, I have at least another six weeks in
Lyon but I have received a new companion! His name is Elder Dupre. All I know
about him is that he is super tall and American. Elder Schneider got
transferred back to Switzerland. I am sad to see him go but it will be good for
him. It is super weird to change companions but I know good things are going to
come to pass! Sorry to build up the suspense! I was only able to do thirty
minutes of email yesterday.
So!
This week has been really crazy and really good!
Généalogie
ACTIVITÉ
This
week we had another genealogy activity which wasn't as successful as the first
but it was still fun. It was really rainy and cold so the people weren't nearly
as nice as usual. We contacted SO many people. Sometimes as people are walking
towards you they catch you in sight and quickly change to the other side of the
street. Smooth, very smooth.
After
being rejected so hard and nearly getting spit on by a nice man I was having a
hard time being positive about the activity. I went up to people expecting to
be rejected, which isn't a good thing to do! But as I realized this I really
tried to be optimistic. I told myself, the next person I contact is going to
say yes, I know it.
So,
I walk up to this guy about my age (I really don’t like to contact teenagers
because they are mean) but I did it anyway and when I did I found out that he
was from Georgia! He told me that he was in France for studies and that he
wasn't overly interested in religion but that he felt like he had been
wandering in life.
I
need to stop being surprised that good things happen when I trust the Lord but
it still surprises me! Ha ha. I went out of my way to contact someone that I
would not normally contact and he just happened to be American and from Georgia
of all places. It is a testament to me that the Lord puts us in the right
places at the right time.
NOS
AMIS
Our
amis are doing very well. Gwenael comes to almost every single Young Adult
activity and has really been integrated into the social aspect of the church.
He is on vacation this week BUT he is coming back on Thursday just to have a
rendezvous with us, which is pretty darn incredible. He has been
prepared.
We
are also teaching Annick and Rachelle who are sisters. They are from Cote d'Ivoire
and invited us over to eat with them this week! It will be interesting to see
what we are going to eat. I'm thinking they said fish and bananas so nothing as
crazy as the African tree maggots. ;) Although, bananas are hard for me.
It
is funny when we teaching them because every single time we have gone over,
they have brought at least one more person than the last time. When we taught
last we had four to teach. If they invite anymore we won't fit. Ha ha ha.
Anyway, there was something really funny that happened when we were teaching
them. So, we invited to them to prepare for baptism and Annick (she always has
questions and has lots of commentary--which is good) was dominating the
conversation and while she was talking Rachelle raised her hand and said
"Hellloooo! Excuse me! I've never been baptized!" I laughed so hard. She was worried that we were going to forget
about her and not let her be baptized. Too funny. Such genuine people.
L'IMPORTANCE
D'AMOUR
This
past week we had a super cool district meeting about how important it is to
love. President Roney at the last Zone Conference told us something to the
affect of "The Plan of Salvation cannot work without love." And it
really is so true. Love is CRUCIAL in the plan of God and in missionary
work.
We
discussed how every sin stems from a lack of love one way or another, and how
every sin can be prevented by loving more. When we lack love for God, we do
things contrary to His will. When we lack love for others, we do things that
could harm them or cause them problems. When we lack love for ourselves, we
submit ourselves to things that are dangerous to our spiritual health.
The
scriptures actually talk about this and I love sharing scriptures! The
scripture says:
"And above all things have fervent charity
among yourselves: for charity preventeth a multitude of sins."
1 Peter 4:8
I
have seen how important it is to love, as the Savoir did. I can promise that as
we love more, we appreciate those around us more, we are happier, and you feel
a peace that can only be God sent.
One
way to love people more is to put yourself in their shoes. Try to understand
how they see the world and how the Savior sees them. When we can recognize that
each person sees the world differently than ourselves, it becomes much easier
to love :)
THE
FRENCH THING OF THE WEEK
Something
extremely ironic about the French language and people is that there is no translation
for the word "awkward". I talked to Elder Schneider about this and he
told me it was because as a French person "your whole life is
awkward."
There
are lots of awkward moments, people, situations, and places but there is not a
single word the French language that has the same connotation as
"awkward" which is almost always perfect to use!
Anyway!
:) That is it for this week! I love you all! Oh, by the way my address is
actually
53
Professeur Rochaix
F-69003
Lyon
France
I
haven't moved but all of my mail goes to the other elders' apartment for some
reason.
ANYWAY!
I love you all lots! Sorry to make you think I was transferred! ;)
Je
vous aime!
Avec
amour,
Elder
Johnson
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