Monday, December 2, 2013

Bordeaux, Week #11

Dear Family,

I hope that you all had a lovely Thanksgiving! If it was anything like the past, I'm sure it was great. We got to do our coordination meeting at the Senior Couple's home with the WML who is from Idaho and his family, with the other elders in our ward and had a wonderful feast :) Sister D made some really good potatoes and super good gravy and Sister T made us a delicious pumpkin pie and apple pie. It was really fun :) We didn't have an actual turkey because France doesn't roll like that, but we had slices that sufficed :) 

Anyway, this past week was super busy and packed and I'm still exhausted from the after effects. It's great. Tuesday we went to pass by an old ami who wasn't there, but L answered and let us in! She is from Nigeria and I guess a few years ago was taught by elders. But we met her cousin and gave a mini lesson on the Restoration. We set a time to go back, but they weren't there. We'll keep trying and see where it goes. It was super funny because while Soeur M was praying, they kept saying amen. They agreed with a lot of the things she said I guess.

Tuesday night was our ami activity that an American couple put on for all the missionaries and our amis, and some YSA. A came and had a great time, and also Al. Al is is an old ami, she has been taught twice already before and she actually had a date before I got here, but was dropped because she didn't keep her commitments. She came up to me and said she wanted to work towards baptism again for Christmas. Cool. So we had a lesson with her on Friday. She remembered a bit, but somehow thought that we believe Joseph Smith was the creator and that baptism is so you can have more friends... Yes we have a bit of work to do. If she keeps her commitments and makes an effort we of course will help her get to baptism, but we are concerned that she only wants it for the company because she is quite lonely. I don't think we'll give her a date for a while. But that Thanksgiving activity was fun and all the missionaries had at least one ami there.

The Talence Sisters gave us a referral for this older man, B who takes care of his sister, who has some mental disabilities. We went and visited them and he was the sweetest old man ever. You know ho you can just tell when people are lonely? I think it was nice for him to have company. We gave him a Book of Mormon and he was so grateful. Hopefully he reads and gets so overtaken by the spirit that he wants to get baptized. Right now. 

A is doing good. She is reading and praying, coming to church. She really is just lacking faith, or courage. She feels peace when she prays. She likes church and loves the lessons we have, but she is afraid to make the leap. We asked her what is holding her back, and she said she just doesn't feel like she knows enough to make a decision like that. She came to the baptism of a little girl in our ward and was touched. We don't know how to help her see that sometimes you just need to take that leap of faith and trust that God will be there. Hopefully this week she'll receive an answer and recognize that there is only on true church and there is only one way to reach Salvation. 

S now has a date for baptism! :) The 15th of February. It's a ways away, but now he has something to work towards. We wanted to do it sooner, but he is going to be in Angoulame for like the next 3 weeks so we can't teach him. and then gone some in January. BOO. But he understands so much, and so well too. Soeur M asked him to be baptized and he was a little confused/shocked. It was great. After he understood, he said it was a Christmas surprise! ha ha awesome. He reads everything we ask. He says he prays and comes to church when he is in Bordeaux. So we are grateful for him. He is doing really well and progressing so much. 

Anyway, sorry for the length. This week was so full of just lessons and visiting people. It was fantastic! Sunday I just want you to know that I ate foie gras aka exploded goose liver, escargot, aka snails, sea snails, duck heart, duck stomach, and oysters. It was an adventure to say the least. I have pictures for proof too! 

I love you all so much and I am so grateful for the wonderful blessings that Heavenly Father gives us everyday. This gospel is true and it is the only way to be truly happy. I know that with all my heart. I love you!

Love, Soeur Roberts

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