If you look real close you can see her standing there.

Last week!

Dear Family, 

I really don't know where to start. I really don't know if there is a start to tell. In Alma 26:12, 16 Ammon exclaims that he is weak, but His God gives him strength, and then says at the end that he cannot say even the smallest part of what he feels. I feel like Ammon today.  After 18 months of serving in France, I am overwhelmed with facing the reality of it all ending. I can't express to you the things I am feeling for these people, or for the things I have learned here, but I would like to end with my testimony. 

I know God lives. I know He is our Heavenly Father and we are His children. I know that He loves us. I have felt His love for every single person I have met here. It's a love that is so special and so different than anything you can imagine, it's really a beautiful thing. Since being here I have learned how important and necessary it is to rely on our Father in Heaven. He is the only One that is there when no one else is. He is the only one that can console the down trodden and the broken hearted. I have seen so many people in desperate situations. People that have nothing compared to the worlds standards, but they have a faith and they recognize and understand their value and worth as children of God. I know God loves every one of us. He is our Father. And He wants nothing but our happiness. 

I know Jesus is the Christ. He is the only begotten of the Father that could atone and suffer for our sins, pains, sorrows, disappointments, everything. And I know that we can be made whole through Him, but we must act. We must seek. He has already paid the price, we need to go out and better ourselves through His atonement. I know change is real when the atonement is applied. I have seen people change and become better, and I have seen people who aren't yet willing to change, to sacrifice. But I know, with every piece of my heart, that if you change, you will find real happiness, real peace, real joy. And all the bad will be erased. Christ knows you. He knows each one of us personally, and He is there to take away our weakness and all the injustice that come at us. I have personally felt the power of the Atonement in my life. It is real and it is there. I know it. 

I know that this is the restored church of Jesus Christ. I know it. I know Joseph Smith was called as a prophet and that because of His faith and sacrifice, we have the same church that Jesus Christ established when He was on the earth. I know this is His church. There is no other church that has the fullness of the Gospel. I know we are led by a prophet today. I know the prophets and apostles we have today are inspired men of God. I know it. And I know that if we follow them and heed their counsel, we will be blessed.

I know the Book of Mormon is true. I know it is the word of God. I know that in it are the words of eternal life, and that it contains the truthfulness of the gospel. I have read that book over and over and I know it is true. I have asked if it is true to the most reliable source, my Heavenly Father, and by the Holy Spirit I know it is true. There is nothing that could persuade me otherwise. It is true. 

The people here are special. They are known for being "hard" but they are kind and gentle. They have hearts full of love. I will never forget them. They will forever be engraven on my heart. 

I can't stop the tears from coming, I am so sad to leave this phase of my life. It is so much harder than expected, but I also know that I have work to do at home. Just know without any doubt that I know this is God's church, Christ is the Savior of the World. I know He lives, and because He lives, we will live again. He changes us. "Et maintenant, voici, je vous le dis, mes frères, si vous avez un changement de coeur, et si vous avez ressenti le désir de chanter le cantique de l'amour rédempteur, je vous le demande: pouvez vous le ressentir maintenant?" Alma 5:26 I love you all. I love my Savior, and I love my Heavenly Father. I know the gospel is true. 

Love, Soeur Roberts

Soeur Roberts and Hodder

Week #10 Ecully

Dear Family,

This week was another great one! Really great :)

Roberto is fine. Armand is great, and the Sima's are fantastic!

Armand is on track for his baptism. We taught him this week about tithing and fasting, which he readily accepted. Then about faith, which was an awesome lesson. A long time ago, he thought that our church didn't believe in miracles (so false) so we discussed and read some verses in Ether 12, specifically vs 4 and 6 and 18. He loved it, and he shared with us some experiences of miracles that he has seen in his life. It was really cool, because Armand is not super open about spiritual things, but he shared some special things to us. he's really great, it has been such a blessing to see him change over the time I've been here.

The Sima family had us over for a FHE and it was wonderful. We talked about faith too, but in Alma 32. Adrien and Chantal had read the chapter and when we were talking about the plant analogy, he explained it perfectly to us. We had a couple come with us too from the ward and they got along so well! it was so fun. And Chantal wants to show us how to wrap our hair up in an African cloth. So cool. At the  end we gave them a little plant that will be their Plant of Faith :) they were so excited. After they fed us African cuisine, always my favorite :) This time it was not spicy. Probably the least spicy African food I've eaten here! ha ha and they came to stake conference and loved it. It was so great to see them :) Chantal loves us :) They will be baptized, as soon as they are married!

This week we had about 15 lessons that fell through, so that was a bummer, but we sang hymns and kept moving forward :) It's OK, it's just the things that will make us tougher, right? And we were still able to find people to teach. :) blessings still come through disappointments :)

We went on an exchange with two African sisters from northern France serving together in Grenoble. They are so great! French in the house, African beignets and just pure fun :) It was fun, I love the sisters that Iwork with! :)

Sunday we had Stake Conference! It was great. We had five amis come and they all really enjoyed it :) And the Stake President at the end did this really clever thing that I loved that will help our members with missionary work and temple work. Our Bishop and Stake President are so good at focusing on missionary work. It's so fun :)

Anyway, that's all for the week :) it was a good one :) full of the spirit :) I love you all SO much! The gospel is true and living and I love it so much. I love you!

Love

Soeur Roberts

Week #9 Ecully

Family, 

So this week was filled with great miracles! Why? Because God is a God of Miracles. 

Armand, par contre, is doing wonderfully. He chose a new date for baptism all by himself from the inspiration he received. So it'll be in November if he keeps persevering :) He is almost stopped smoking, and he is reading daily and loving it and coming to church every Sunday. He is making his own efforts. I love Armand. He is feeling the spirit more and more. 

Miracles! So we contacted a family, the Sima's and they are wonderful. Mom, Chantale, Dad, Adrien, Kids, Maeva, Maelys, and Mael. They have a Book of Mormon and love it and they came to church on Sunday and loved it. We have a FHE planned for Friday with them and a couple in our ward, they are so excited, as are we of course! It's so wonderful. And they are so excited and happy and prepared to receive the fullness of the gospel. 

We also met this guy fishing and he invited us over, which led to meeting his wife and two kids. He is classic french, super funny. Paul, Nadia, Emily and Mark. We had a lesson with them on faith last nigh, then played a game, like FHE and it was wonderful. It may take a bit for them to be ready to change, but i Know that the Lord can prepare anyone He puts in our path. 

Our Nigerian amis are getting a bit distant. It's OK! We still love them. I think most of them are trying to get legal here so we'll give them some time :) 

That's about it. I love this work. We found two families this week who Heavenly Father put in our paths. I'm so grateful for this gospel, especially what it does for the family. Because of the restoration, we know we can be together forever. I know it's true. I love you all so much! 

Love, Soeur Roberts 

Week # 8 Ecully

Dear Family,

This week was a busy one! We had our first exchange of the transfer and a leadership meeting and zone training! And we were able to reach our goal for lessons! It's starting to cool down, and rain. Reminds me of Bordeaux! I love it. Well not really the rain. I only like the rain when I can look at it through a window, not when I'm in it all day with wet feet, but at least my feet get moisturized :) 

We have a group of Nigerians that we work with: Anita, Collins and Blessing, Thelma, Kessman, Juliette, Faith and her family. So we have decided to do a Nigerian Soirée. We asked a member Patience to help us and I'm super stoked. I love Africa. The food is heavenly and will clear your sinuses in literally seconds, give or take a few.We're starting to plan it hopefully for the last or second to last week of the transfer. I'm so excited. 

So Blessing has been sick and Collins has been really struggling. He is feeling quite stressed and losing faith because his life is just not orderly at all. He doesn't have a home or a job and he isn't even legal here. He told us that he just feels down. He asked us why God gives trials, just because I know he is feeling pretty desperate. It was heart breaking. I know he loves the gospel, he knows it is true. He has read all the way up to Helaman in the Book of Mormon and he told us he sleeps with it at night. We pray that he will find some stability soon. Anita is also waiting for papers. She has been very proactive about it. And once she gets them (we pray they will go through!) she can be baptized :) I love her. She cooked for us yesterday after our fast. She is purposely trying to kill us with spiciness because she thinks it's funny how weak we are. I prevailed. Kessman is an old ami that just needed to get married. Well they are married! So we are going to start teaching him again. He has faith like no other.I tell you, Nigerians have faith. Like a lot. 

Roberto is fine. He has good intentions, he just doesn't want it bad enough. He wants to feel the spirit, and he has, he just doesn't know  how to recognize it. His simplicity in questions is progressing. I hope he can just overcome his natural man, but we all need to do that so I will have patience with him. Armand is doing fine as well. He is the type that says "I don't need to pray to know if Joseph is a prophet. I believe that it's possible so that's good enough." NO! You HAVE to pray. He just doesn't get it yet. But they are both coming to church and reading and trying so I'm proud of them. Baptiste is great too. I love teaching him because he always has the spirit, he just is not yet ready to act on it. He will be one, that I know, but not right now. It's not exactly a priority in his life. 

If there is one thing I have learned this week it is where is God in my life? Where do I place Him and His gospel in my life? I think I realize more and more everyday how if we just put God first, in everything, and everything is everything, then we will really find all the happiness possible. I know it brings true happiness and blessings. The most happiness and the most blessings. Have faith. Have hope and never doubt that all is there to make us grow. We do not know more than God. Let's remember that He is greater and knows more, so therefore it would do us great good to listen and do :) I love the Savior and my Heavenly Father. 

Fun adventures: A woman ran away from me in the rain after I asked her if she was cold... One man started talking to Satan during a lesson and I was afraid we were being cursed and therefore going to die... That's it. 

The gospel is true. Jesus Christ lives and He is the Savior. God is our Father. The church has been restored by a prophet and they still lead His church today. I know it is true. I love you all :)

Love, Soeur Roberts

Ecully Week #7

Dear Family, 

Great week in écully. I love this ward, the area, my companion, the investigators. It's just so wonderful here. 

Roberto had his first spiritual experience. He prayed and received a confirmation of truth. He came to conference and received more answers, and read the Book of Mormon and got even more. He is starting to feel the spirit a lot more now. He still focuses a lot on questions that don't necessarily help him get to the celestial kingdom. I had to be a bit firm with him last night and we gave him a commitment to study faith and repentance, only those two things for this week. He said he already knows that, but I promised him if he focused on the simple truths of the gospel, he would have a deeper understanding of the gospel and answers will come. He liked that so I hope he can continue to progress in the light of simplicity. I was so happy with him this week. We had a lesson on the Savior and His light, to which we all testified of His divinity and power to help us and stay with us. The spirit filled the room. I hope he holds on to those feelings He really is starting to understand the gospel better. :) 

Armand  went to conference and really loved the priesthood session. He will get there :) don't know when, but he will. 

We taught a woman named Elizabeth. I learned the negativity does not give you happiness. She talked to us for about an hour straight about all the horrible things in the world and whenever we would testify of the saving and healing power of the Atonement, she kind of started to close her ears. It's OK . I am just sad that she has such a hard time seeing that there are in fact good things in the world... We can always find good. Always. We are still teaching Blessing and Collins. Collins loved conference. Then we now have Anita from Nigeria. They are such a faithful people, but it's hard for them to be baptized until they can be legal here. We'll continue teaching them until they can take that important step. 

That's it. The rest of my time, mostly weekend was filled with the spirit by listening to conference. I loved it. I know these speakers were inspired. I know Thomas S Monson is a prophet of God called to guide the Church of Jesus Christ. I know we can find answers to questions when we study the sources of truth and light. I know that if we take responsibility for our spiritual and physical well being, as well as study the scriptures daily, pray all the time, repent, be obedient, and accept that life can be hard, but with the Savior we can find relief and have peace in our hearts. I am a witness that this Church is true. I know it is Christ's church and I will do everything in my power to respond to the call to Follow Him. I love you all so much. I know Heavenly Father loves you. 

Love, 

Soeur Roberts

                                                         Michael's baptism

Ecully Week #6

 Kjersti and Sister Hodder.  He last companion!

Out to eat with members.

Dear Family,

Great week in Ecully! It was a lot of fun, a lot of good happenings. I have a new companion. Her name is Soeur Hodder from Halifax, Canada, and I'm so excited to be with her. We already know each other pretty well, so I'm expecting great things. :)

Armand is doing great! His baptism was announced for the 11 Octobre. He is happy, nervous, anxious, excited :) He's doing well. We taught him a few times this week and he found a Gospel Principles book an has been cruising through. He is understanding a lot and changing. He is coming to church and reading and doing wonderfully. I'm proud of him. 

Roberto is still on track. We might have to move his date just because of scheduling problems, but it'll be good. He'll get there. We talked about prophets and praying. He has a hard time feeling the spirit, just because he likes doctrine and proof a lot. He knows that he needs the spirit though so that's why we are working on it :) In church he told me he always feels more positive and happy there and I was like yes!  It's the spirit :) So I hope he can continue to progress. 

Collins is really struggling and having a hard time. It's tough on his family because everything is just so unstable and he doesn't like that. He has such a strong testimony. He's already read into Alma, probably Helaman now. Blessing will get there too, she is just progressing a bit slower. 

Great news!! Michel got baptized! On Saturday :) And I got to go to his baptism. And I got to see Jamila. We had a spiritual experience together. She's been reading the book of Mormon and prays and is just progressing so well. I love them so much, I'm so glad I didn't go too far so I still get to see them. That's about it, that you would care about. We're trying to find more investigators, like always. The ones we have are pretty solid, so we just need to keep finding more. 

We passed Gerald to the elders, so now they are teaching him :) He came to church on Sunday so that was good. We'll see. And also we taught Baptiste on Sunday with Ivalani (his member girlfriend) and it went well. We had a little picnic and taught about faith. They are getting there. 

I love you all so much. I know this church is true. Christ lives. I love you! 

Love, Souer Roberts

Week #5 Ecully

Dear Family,

Another good week here in Ecully :) We had some great lessons and made some good progress with some amis, while others got dropped.

So Roberto is doing well! We have a fixed date for October 18. It's pretty sure. He is pretty excited. He is calling October "Le Mois Béni" which is the blessed month so he is happy :) He is doing well with the word of wisdom. He said every time he wants to smoke he thinks of his baptism.  He is doing really well. Asking questions and reading and praying. We have seen so much progress with him. The first time I met him he still didn't know if Christ was the Savior. And now he is coming to church and just doing well. I'm so proud of him :) 

Armand is doing well as well. He has been coming to Church and really wants to be baptized. He got to meet the bishop on Sunday and they talked about how baptism is an engagement for life, not just something you try out, which is exactly what he needed to hear. I think we are going to shoot for the 11 with him in October. He wants to be baptized so bad. It's so great. And he is making so many friends in the church! Integration is great in this ward, they are so good with the amis. 

We were both feeling sick earlier this week so one night while contacting I wasn't super excited because some mean lady said she was in a hurry but literally was walking like a snail. But we decided to keep going. Trying to be diligent and Soeur Floisand stops this girl. Inès. Young, from Paris, goes to the mosque, synagogue, and church. She asked us what we do and when I said we teach those who want to learn more. She asked if we could set up a time to meet! So cool :) so that will be tomorrow. It was just a little reminder to me that the Lord really does look over us and He loves us and will give us little tender mercies whenever He can and when we are being obedient :) 

I love the gospel so much. I am so grateful for the knowledge that I have in knowing that it is true. I know it is the Gospel of Jesus Christ that is going to bless us in our lives and nothing else will do as much for us. This Gospel is true. Jesus is the Christ and the Son of the Living God; And this is His church restored on the earth. I love you all!

Love, Soeur Roberts

Week #4 Ecully

Dear Family,

This week was really great :) We had some really great experiences and lessons that just witnessed to me how much the Lord really is aware of everyone of us. 

Gèrald is doing well. He is so precious. We taught him the Gospel of Jesus Christ and he said he would be baptized :) Not right now, but after he understands more. SO that is great :) He is so good at reading and keeping his engagements. He told us he tries to pray every night, and when I asked him how he felt when he did that he looked at us and smiled and said, "I feel good." We taught him the word of Wisdom Saturday and he was very willing to start living it. He told us he would come to church, he was maybe ready to do it. Unfortunately church came and he texted us and said, "I'm still not sure." So we will help him come to church. He is shy, but whether or not we're shy, church will bless us and help us grow and learn together. We are strengthened by one another. I really like Gèrald though. He will get there :) Even if it takes some time. 

Blessing and Collins are still on their way. Before one of our lessons, Collins was late, so we got some time with Blessing. She progresses just a little bit slower. She hasn't started the Book of Mormon yet, so we read the first chapter together and it went really well. She even opened up more than usual and told us that God witnessed to her in a dream that He was real and loved her, like how Lehi had the vision in 1 Nephi 1. It was really great and the spirit was strong. It has been such a blessing to see them grow in faith and trust in the Lord. They are so willing. Collins is storming through the Book of Mormon, already in Mosiah. So we love them. We taught them about temples and eternal marriage, and we know it is something they want to work towards after baptism.

Anyway, that is about it for this week :) Oh! Elder Ballard came to Geneva and spoke to the missionaries there, so we watched it for Zone Conference. He told us to study Chapter 3 in Preach my Gospel. So that is my invitation to you for today :) Study PMG Ch 3. It is the entire gospel. And on Sunday Pres Roney surprised called me up during his talk to give a minute lesson on the Gospel of Jesus Christ for the ward. That was a little scary.  I know this gospel is true. I know it is true and will bless our lives forever. If we follow the gospel we will have eternal life and happiness. I love you all :) 

Love, Soeur Roberts

Week #3 Ecully

This week was another super busy week! I loved it.

Roberto is progressing well. Sometimes he still has doubts about Christ's role as His Savior because he has Muslim and Christian background so a bit mixed but it's been really great to see his faith grow. He is such an intelligent person and is so diligent in his studies. I'm always so impressed with him. We had a couple lessons this week that went well. He told us he is having a hard time quitting smoking. he only smokes a couple a day, no more than that, but it is hard, because it's an addiction for him, even if it's not a packet a day :) But he's been doing better. We finally have a pretty solid date that he chose himself so that is our goal. :) He really is a great kid. He'll get there :) 

We had a really great lesson with Baptiste too. He said his prayer wasn't super but it wasn't bad either. (He prays once a week :) ) so at the end we invited him to pray twice and he said to me after the closing the prayer that he felt the Holy Spirit again. He really is very sensitive to the spirit, he just needs to have more motivation to do something about it. To have a desire to act with those promptings. He told us that if he got the answer that this was the right church he thinks he'd be "croyant, non pratiquant" so believing, non practicing. I testified to him that he will want to change and want to act when he knows it's true. He isn't yet convinced but I know that when he tastes of the blessings of the gospel he'll keep wanting them and you can't have them if you are sitting doing nothing about it. I really like Baptiste. He just always has a smile and wants to understand. We taught the 10 commandments and he is a little worried because his "God" right now is music. I know he has all the capacity to understand and to apply, he just needs to see and understand how that will bless him more than staring at a wall. :) 

Blessing and Collins are doing wonderfully. Well more so Collins. He is super progressing. He had a spiritual experience with the Book of Mormon. He was reading and read something about Heavenly Hosts being all around and he looked up in the sky and saw clouds moving and felt the spirit testify to him that this book was true. That's all he did. Something as simple as looking up. He came into our lesson and told us he is willing to give up everything to follow the Lord and his true church. We had a lesson this morning too about the word of wisdom and I have never met someone so willing to follow it. He didn't ask questions. He already quit smoking a few days ago because he felt like it was something he should do. He comes to church and he doesn't speak french hardly at all. But he knows this is the right church. Blessing likes to follow Collins. She accepts everything too, but she isn't as passionate I guess is the right word. She'll get there :) And Collins has been sleeping on the road in France because he has no place to live or stay and this morning we found out that a member took him home yesterday from church and is now letting Collins stay with him. Such a blessing for him. He is really changing. 

Gerald met with us again too! Not his friend Frederick though. He is probably scared of us. But Gerald is doing really well. He is very open and willing to accept and try things out. He read a good portion of the Book of Mormon and is working on praying right now. He is not yet ready to come to church. He is a bit shy but that is our next step :) He is really searching. He is very sincere and genuine. Armand is doing fine too. He slept through his alarm Sunday. Classic. He still is working towards baptism so we are there to help him :) He fed us a huge lunch on Saturday. It was so good. He's doing good on the word of wisdom too. 

That's about it. Life is going well in Ecully :) A lot of people are being prepared for the Gospel. And I know it's not just France. People all over the world are being prepared, but we will never know if we don't open our mouths and spark up something about the gospel. I know that this Gospel is true and that the time is now :) The Lord is hastening His work and it's the time to get things going. I love you all so much and I know this is the true Church of Jesus Christ. He lives. 

Love, 

Soeur Roberts

Ecully Week #1

Dearest Family,

I love Ecully! It is really booming here. Like the work load is wonderful!

Roberto is an ami that has been taught since March. He had a date for baptism I think for July or June, but it didn't work out because he "wasn't ready." and it turns out he didn't have a testimony of Christ as the Son of God, so yeah he wasn't ready yet. So my first night, we have a lesson with him. His father is Muslim, mother catholic, both not practicing. He is about 20 years old and super interested in religion. We had the WML from my old ward come and he answered all his questions, straight from the bible and then gave him a baptismal date for August 23. Yeah last Saturday. So no.... anyway, we've been meeting with him and he now has a good testimony of Christ. His date is for the 27 September so I hope we can really prepare him for that. I want to make sure he is doing it because he is converted, not just because he likes the doctrine. He's a really great kid though.

Blessing and Collins are from Nigeria, so believing because almost every Nigerian I have met has a strong faith in Christ. We taught them the Restoration of the Gospel and Collins just got it. He asked the perfect questions and really understood. He told us he just wants to find the true church of Christ, so luckily he's meeting with us because he'll find it :) We watched the Mormon message "Because of Him" and they both loved it. At the end Collins asked about baptism and asked us if he could be baptized. We said yes of course! As long as he comes to church and keeps his commitments. Then he asked us if Blessing could be baptized too :) So sweet. So they are set for the 27th as well, as long as they make the efforts!

Baptiste is the BF of a member. He is incredible. He has long hair, sings in a metal rock band (like evanescence - he clarified for me :) ) and has not really ever had a foundation in religion. We taught him about the plan of salvation and he loved it. He understands everything very well, but he is still on the path to knowing if it is actually true. He reads the Book of Mormon almost daily and has said one personal prayer. He told us it was very bizarre for him to do that, he has a hard time with the concept that God is a man like us but glorified, and praying to someone he can't see. However he said that he felt a "sensation" when he prayed that went away after he ended. The holy Ghost :) He is really great. My only fear is that he will trust his logic more than his faith.

We have many less actives and members that we go visit and try to build up. I really love this ward. President Roney is in it, did I tell you that? The people are wonderful, and I get to see members from my last ward too :) Anyway, it was a week full of lessons and wonderful people! I'm so blessed to be here.

I love you all so much. I know the gospel is true and that it changes people. I know that Christ is our Savior. Life is beautiful and even more so with the Gospel. I love you!

Love, Soeur Roberts

Photos from Confluence

Outside "Brasserie".

Eating Chenille's or Caterpillar as we call it!

Soeur Richardson and Soeur Roberts

At a Zoo

Michel and Soeur Roberts

Meatloaf and Mac and Cheese for American night with Jamila.

Leaving Confluence for new area in Lyon.

Soeur Roberts and Florence, Saying goodbye.

Outside a villa.

Week #5 Lyon

Dear Family, 

Good week in Lyon France :) We had some really great lessons :) With people you don't even know about yet! 

Michel is polish here in France. I was on exchanges and we went up and started talking to him. He speaks a little french so we were able to set up a lesson with him. So Wednesday we have a lesson and it was fun! We were able to get some polish materials, like a Book of Mormon which is the most important! We started with a prayer and then found out he is catholic, here working all by himself! We introduced the Book of Mormon using a lot of brochures and drawings. It was adventurous. I asked him what he thought about what he read and what we said and he said it's the truth! So we engaged him to read and pray about the Book of Mormon and he said he will do it :) It was really cool. I don't know if he understood anything, but he was touched by the spirit. It was a neat experience to see how God works. Works don't covert someone, it's always the spirit. 

Then we taught Hugette. She is the mother of a recent convert in our ward who is a walking miracle. Anyway, she has come to church twice and loved it, and loved us, but who doesn't love sister missionaries? Our lesson was on the Plan of Salvation because she has been taught the Restoration already by the senior couple in our ward. It went great! Mostly. We taught nice and simple and clear and she understood really well. She is very smart. She had questions only on the spirit world. She has read up to Jacob in the Book of Mormon. She is really just an angel and so sweet. She'll be in a different ward because of where she lives but we are teaching her for now because of her son :) She is so sensitive to the spirit too. It is incredible how the Lord prepares those with willing and open hearts. 

On Friday we had a giant genealogy activity. It was really great! We were able to get quite a few people to come and get some numbers and lessons set up. It was all the Lyon missionaries. Great success! Elder Cook from the 12 said that the way to France will be through genealogy so we are really trying to promote more of that. It's true though. Family memories bring up great feelings of love, which is the perfect tie to the gospel. 

We did some other activities this week with some potentials. We hope we can help them want to make a difference in their lives. Because the Gospel will change them. The gospel is so true and i am so grateful for it in my life. It is such a blessing. I love you all so much! 

Love, 

Soeur Roberts

Week #6 Lyon

Famille,

I got transferred across the river! I'm still in Lyon as STL, but i am now in the Ecully ward with Soeur Floisand :) It was an easy switch :) Just moved across the river! 

Anyway, my last week in Confluence was really great. We had some great lessons and were able to get many more lessons to people. Monday night we went to a recent converts house to give her a revie of the Restoration. Her name is Yoyo and she is from Congo and she fed us chenille's. That is french for caterpillar. Yes I ate a caterpillar! It was like eating thanksgiving turkey. That was fun :) 

Jamila is still doing well. She is adorable. We have great talks with her. She told us she prays now all the time. Whenever she needs help or is happy she prays. She looked at us smiling and just said "I've never been like that before!" I can see the changes it makes in people when they talk to their loving Heavenly Father. She has been so much happier. On Saturday we went to dinner together at a famous brasserie and she just had the time of her life, laughing and smiling. She loves our American attitudes. She couldn't stop laughing at how many people would stare at us when we would do something unfrench-like :) 

Our Polish friend Michel is still going strong! We had a lesson on the Restoration and in order to teach it, we printed out the preach my gospel lesson in Polish. We highlighted phrases and would say "OK read this." He'd read it out loud, look at us and we'd say "What do you think?" And he'd say "I think it's true." Almost every time. Then when he wasn't sure, like the part about Joseph seeing God the Father and Jesus Christ, he'd say "What do you think?" to which we replied "We think it's true." Then he'd say "Well if it's true then it's true." And we'd continue. It was so fun teaching him! He doesn't understand neither french nor English very well, but the spirit is there. Every time. He is reading the Book Of Mormon too! Saturday he came to Samedi Sportif and he played soccer with a bunch of member and amis and he schooled everyone. We all called him "Polognais!" on the field. He loved it. En plus! He came to church. Sat through all three hours hardly understanding a word, and he didn't even fall asleep. He is great. It was fun teaching him :) 

Eric came to church by himself last Sunday so naturally i set up a lesson and we had this lesson :) GOOD. He is cool. Super prepared. So we taught him a background lesson thing about the Book of Mormon which he already had and by the end he was convinced that he needs to read the book of Mormon and pray about it if he wants to know if it's true. Wow! He was super cool and nice and sincere which always makes me happy :) 

Then Hugette! We had a great lesson on the Gospel of Jesus Christ with her and she is probably one of the most prepared people I've met. Her son is in our ward and he has been such an example to her. She understands so well and asks such great questions. She came to church and participates like a member. We invited her to baptism and she wants to, but she lacks confidence and faith in her abilities. She doesn't feel like she is good enough yet, and I'm like honey, don't you worry because this gospel is meant for people not good enough yet. Like every person on the face of the earth and ever existed and will exist, except our Savior. She is really great though :) 

I got to visit Florence one last time too. She has really blessed me, even if she can't hear what I'm telling her. We sang her some hymns and some priesthood holders brought her the sacrament. It was a special experience. 

Anyway, i loved my six weeks in this area, it was short but so great and i learned a lot. I love the members in France. they are special people. I know the gospel is true. I know it changes lives. I know that it is Christ's church and I know He is our Savior. I love you all so much. 

Love, Soeur Roberts

Lyon Week #4

Hello, 

This week was good :) I will tell you about Jamila now. And then Florence. And then something else after that. And then I'll bear my testimony on the things I learned this week. :)

We teach her English. She is Algerian, and probably the most adorable lady in the world. So quaint and precious and sweet. Like a little angel. She has Muslim culture/background but not super practicing. Except she doesn't eat pork. We always start with a prayer and talking about God isn't weird with her, so two lessons ago we start talking about trials and prayer. She gets quite emotional and really opens up and cries a bit. Discouraged. (She is having a trial of health at the moment) Then Saturday we help her arrange her little apt because she can't lift heavy things due to her back and then we watch the Because of Him clip from the church. She loved it. Then we watch like four more Mormon messages and she loves them. So we start talking again and she opens up even more about her life and just how she doesn't understand why God doesn't help her and there is so much bad in the world. She got very very emotional and said that sometimes she doubts He is there and listens to her. We were able to testify of prayer and the Love of God and why there are trials. As well as other gospel principles when they came up. We have a FHE planned for Friday and we are so excited. We are hoping to build her faith in Christ :) I love Jamila. So sweet.

Florence is a member I found in our records towards the beginning of the transfer. I had wanted to try to find her because it had been a year since her last missionary visit and she doesn't come to church. The map led us to a nursing home or rehabilitation center for handicapped people. We enter and it is literally abandoned. There were signs of life, but not a soul to guide us or tell us how this whole things works. So we start to leave, failing our task and a car comes in and a nice lady helps us out :) We are able to find little Florence in her wheelchair reading Eragon. Her body is literally killing itself slowly. She can't hear, speaking is a huge struggle, and she can barely use her joints. I can't tell you the humility and the gratitude that filled my heart after visiting this woman. She was baptized 8 years ago but cannot go to church because of her health. I felt impressed that morning to bring my hymn book and it was so cool because we sang to her. We wrote the words on the little whiteboard she has to communicate with. I know she couldn't hear us, but I also know the spirit was there and she felt it. You could see it in her eyes. It was such a beautiful experience to see a faithful member of the church, with her love of the gospel and the Savior Jesus Christ having happiness even through her trial.

Next, we were on the metro and this point we were in a quatro, two other sisters were with us. So we go up to this group of men, who are speaking some African dialect... Nigerian! We talk a bit and two of them had gotten baptized literally 10 minutes before getting on the metro in another church. So we start to give them our card and two other women reach their hands out and want one too! Before we know it, like 10 people asked for our pass along card! What? This is France! No one ASKS for cards with the picture of Christ! That doesn't happen here! WRONG. It just did. Keep the faith.

This week I learned a lot about gratitude for the things that I have.  Jamila and her health, Florence and hers.  I am so blessed to have hands that write, feet that kick, eyes that see and ears that hear. There are people who don't. I am so grateful for the things our Heavenly Father has given me. I love Him and I love my Savior. Even through physical challenges, we can find happiness in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. A temporary challenge here in this life need never stop our spiritual destiny as sons and daughters of God. And I know we will be made perfect in Him, our Savior Jesus Christ after this life. I love you all! 

Love, Soeur Roberts

Week #1 Lyon

Dear Family,

I don't know where to start. This week was not super ordinary and I will tell you why :) So we have a hotel like apartment BECAUSE our apartment is where all the sisters stay who train, go home, come in, etc. So this week was filled with tasks that weren't normal missionary tasks due to the first week of the transfer. I was maid service and a hostess and an information center. It was wild!! Let me tell you though, the sisters that came in were on fire! It has been a while now since the age change and every single sister was 19 and well prepared. So ready to go out and talk to people, leaving all fears behind. It was inspiring. We're to the point now where the missionaries coming in are ready and prepared and understand a little more. It's cool. 

So unfortunately we had a lot of random things to take care of, therefore this email will be rather boring and shorter. The work right now is a bit slow, so me and Sister Richardson made some goals to start setting this companionship on fire too :) I met many members and a few investigators, but unfortunately a lot of them will be leaving for the summer months of vacation. And I don't know if you know, but French people take insanely long vacations. Like at least a month. So we need to find the people that don't like leaving their home :) 

Lyon is really a beautiful city though. SO BIG. There are four wards here. My new ward is the Confluence ward and it seems wonderful. The bishop and his family are great. He served his mission in SLC and met his wife and lived there until recently two or three years about felt prompted to comeback. He has been a blessing here I can tell. There is one member who contacted someone on the tram ride to church. I had never seen that in my life. The members here are very into missionary work and you can tell this ward has been blessed because of their desire to follow the council of our Prophet and Apostles.

Experience: I was talking to this guy that told me he felt in order to really believe in God you have to believe in Humanity. He doesn't believe in man because he experienced some traumatic terrorist attacks when he lived in North Africa with his mom. It got me thinking but I really think that THAT is when you need to believe in God most. I would understand if man had invented God, but we didn't. God is real and there whether we believe it or not. All we need is to trust in Him and His plan for us and listen to His prophets. Anyway, it was really too bad, but I could see this guy getting baptized one day. He just needs to understand where to put his trust :)

Anyway, I'm really sorry this email is not super exciting... I thought I should at least write something though :) I love you. I know the Gospel is true with all my heart. Happy Independence Day to France!

Love Soeur Roberts

Lyon Week #2

Dear Family,

This week was good :) Oh fun stuff! Monday night President let all the missionaries stay out and see fireworks because it was France's fourth of July. It was beautiful and super fun with all the Lyon Missionaries. Plus we got to sleep in! 

Anyway, we have found a few potentials that we hope to turn into serious investigators! Igor is from Congo and we had one lesson with him. It went well, I guess. He has some interesting ideas about religion. He said he stopped it when he was younger but now he just wants to understand. He was funny because he would kinda go in circles and contradict himself a lot, but he could get there :)

We contacted a bus driver, Yves (super French!! :)) who was asking us lots of questions and just really discussing God and so we gave him our card and said to call us, and usually they never do, but literally 30 minutes later he called! We are going to have a lesson tomorrow so we hope that goes well :) 

Then we met this guy Celestin whose entire family are members in Spain. He took the lessons and everything but just never got baptized, so we got his number too and we shall see where that goes :) He was cool too.

On exchanges me and my temporary companion met Nicolas and he was so cool. Like so cool I can't even handle it. We talked about God in the eyes of France and how religion has causes a lot of heart ache here and people are scared of God and how he knows there is something, and whatever it is we shouldn't be afraid. We told him about our strong belief that God is in fact our loving Heavenly Father and we are literally His children and he looked at me and said "It is so good to hear you say that." Then he started talking about authority and how the clergy way back then didn't actually have the authority because if you read the bible... etc. So it was perfect. testify about the restoration of that priesthood power. It was a bummer because he wasn't willing to give us his number or fix a lesson, but he is so cool and soooo on the right track! I hope he goes on the church website. I told him to :) Plus he likes to study religions.

I asked another girl if she had ever asked herself where she came from, why she is here and where she is going and she was like yes but I haven't gotten an answer (she was "non believing") and I was like what are you expecting for an answer and she didn't really know and I was like well what if I said that I could help her find the answers and she looked at me all skeptical and said that would surprise me because I don't think anyone knows. It is just interesting because if reminds me of that story where a guy is in a burning building and he is praying to God to save him, and three times people come up and he tells them he is waiting for God to save him. He dies, goes to heaven and says God why didn't you save me? And God says I tried three times but you rejected all of them. I often wonder what people want when they ask for a "sign" or "answer." God doesn't leave a prayer unanswered ever, but I think sometimes in order to recognize the answer we must continue to align our will with His. And if we don't, we will miss all the answers and help He is giving us.

Saturday there was a baptism for the bishops little girl. They have been working with a friend and his family for about 20 years, it's bishops best friend. Anyway, he was very touched by her baptism and confirmation and we talked with him and got to know him quite a bit. We were talking and I just had such a good feeling about him. He is so prepared. Great guy. Bishop calls after and says that his friend really expressed some things and long story short we are going to William's (the friend) house with the bishops family for dinner :) It might not exactly be a discussion or first lesson, but I am telling you this family is close. It was a great blessing for the bishops family, they have been praying for William for a long time. The Lord's work truly is hastening :) 

 

Lyon is great, I love it. I love the Gospel, I know it is true and I know Jesus is the Christ. I love you all! Happy pioneer day :D

Love, Soeur Roberts

Week #18 Last one from Montpellier!

Dear Family, 

F was baptized July Fifth and confirmed Sunday into the Church of Jesus Christ. It was by far the most incredible moment of my mission. I was so blessed to be able to see her change. She was so cute. Everyone met in the parking lot and she comes out in this adorable white long dress, ready to go! We all go to the chapel and she is just so nervous, she changes and we start. Then it's time for the ordinance! We go walk her into the bathroom and watch her step down into the water. When i saw her go under the spirit was just filling the room. It was so strong. She comes out and she just glowed with the spirit. Calm and confident. She was pure and you could see it. When she came out of the water she just looked at us and smiled and said "This is the new me. I am never going back." It was a beautiful moment. The next day she was confirmed and the spirit was even stronger. She is going to change the world. When she took the sacrament for the first time you could just see that she was changed. F is special. I love her so much. 

It was awesome because her mom came, her best friend, and five other friends who are either atheist or not super practicing. After her mom said "I’ve never been in a church and felt so good." And her best friend said she felt something but didn't know what it was when F was baptized. It was cool to see the spirit work in the hearts of others. 

The rest of the week was pretty crazy! We went to Nice for an exchange so that was really fun. Nice is very beautiful. But oh so hot and humid. I saw the beach though! We talked to this woman who wasn't exactly closed, but she said when she has the desire to know she'll let us know but for right now she doesn't need God. I thought it was so interesting because it's true. People need to have the desire to know and change or it really won't do much. A missionary told me this week that he is tired of chasing, he wants to be chased. It just got me thinking about desire. We can really know anything is true if we simply have the real desire, and with that desire are willing to do something about it. If we truly desire to be like Jesus Christ, we must act and that act requires faith and trust in our Heavenly Father. 

F had the desire. It was real. Because of her, I was able to see the atonement work and change her life. I know this Gospel is true. Jesus Christ is the head of this church. It was restored through a prophet and we still have prophets today. This is Christ's church. He is real and He Himself atoned for each and every one of us. I love my Savior. I love you all! I hope you have a desire to become like Him :) 

Love, Soeur Roberts

Week #17

Famille, *

* family in french

This past week was a roller coaster of faith and miracles :) Let's see. One miracle. I only had two bananas to make banana bread for FHE and I need 3. So I was thinking how I could get a banana, and kinda prayed a bit.  Then yesterday when we were contacting I found a banana on the street! Perfect condition. No bruises, openings, splits. Just perfect. It was a miracle. I think my companion thought I was weird but it was still a miracle and she even checked it to make sure everything was OK. I mean let's be honest.  God even answers prayers like that. 

On to a more spiritual miracle... All is good with F :) Frere G who interviewed her came out with wide eyes and said " She is really a miracle." And it's true. F is a miracle. She has changed so much in her life. I can't wait to see her be baptized. It will be such an incredible experience. We saw her everyday this week. Each lesson was so quick because she knows everything already. She knows about temples, already did 8 generations of her genealogy, patriarchal blessings. It's incredible. AND she has a testimony of it all. I love her so much. 

We met this guy G. We were walking around with a less active trying to find a place to sit out of the sun because she was losing steam and all of a sudden we just decided to go to this park by the train station which can be sketchy sometimes. But we went there. We taught our lesson and as we were teaching (actually it was in Spanish so Soeur O was teaching) and I saw this guy kinda watching us and walking around. So then after the lesson he stops us and starts telling us about his wife that passed away 5 months ago and how he is just broken and wants to give up, but he has the Book of Mormon and feels good when he reads it. He's been wanting to end his life for some time and he's been praying to God and he met us and he said he knows that we were an answer to his prayers. So that was cool. He lives a bit far so we won't see him until Thursday.  He misses his wife a lot;

Fun fact: on exchanges with a Swedish sister she taught the restoration in Swedish to a potential and gave her a Book of Mormon. Swedish is a cool language :) And I realized everyone believes in God they just think they don't because they are too stubborn to have faith. They want a "comfortable God" but Heavenly Father is going to turn us into better things than comfort when we have trials and questions. 

Anyway, that is all :) I love you all. I know the Gospel is true. It truly changes people. 

Love, Soeur Roberts

Week #16 Montpellier

Dear Family, 

Another great week :) So I will tell you a little goal our mission has. July Fifth is our baptism day. We are trying to get as many baptisms as possible on this one day, of course other days are great, but this one day is THE day. So As a gift to Elder Andersen, all the missionaries wrote a list of people they really believed could be baptized on or before July Fifth, since May 10. J was baptized, so we put her name on there.. This past Saturday, we were able to invite F to move her date up to July 5. She is the most prepared person I have ever met. I have never met someone so willing to change and start over, with a desire like hers. She is truly special to me. I love her. She will be baptized. It is truly a miracle.

It was a bit tiring this week, there was a strike for trains so we had to reschedule and do three exchanges and so it was a lot of trains and traveling and running around. I love exchanges though. I learn so much from the sisters I am with. I love them :) 

I will share a couple amazing experiences :) For me at least. 

One: So Tuesday we had a lesson with this guy named F. Just the first lesson. He is Christian. He knows the bible really well. Soeur O is great though, she is an incredible teacher. Anyway, I have always had this fear of forgetting the first vision. I know it, but you never know. In the past I try to push it on to my comps, just in case :) Anyway, she knows my fear. I love her. So it just so happens that I am the one to say the first vision. The spirit filled the room. I started to talk really quiet, mostly praying that I wouldn't mess it up, and I paused right before Joseph Smith starts to talk about the two personages. The spirit flooded the room. F just had this look like the spirit was testifying that what I was saying was true. And even better I was filled with the witness again that Joseph Smith is a prophet. He did see God the Father and the Son. I know it. It was a powerful experience and I didn't mess up the words :) I love my comp. 

Two: On my exchange with Carcassonne, we contacted a devout, catholic priest. Yippee! He started testifying about Mary being the intermediary between us and God, and I said that is OK, I prefer Jesus Christ. Anyway, he was testifying to us and invited us to go home that night and pray to God and say "God I met a disciple of Christ and he told me some things. Is what he said true?" I said I would of course, but I gave him an invitation too. I said, "Pray tonight and tell Heavenly Father that you met two disciples of Jesus Christ,. Is what these two girls said true?" Long story short, when I said we were disciples of Christ, my heart filled with the spirit, both me and my companion. We are true disciples of Christ, called to do this work. I know this man felt a burning in his bosom. It was incredible. And he accepted a Book of Mormon. I don't know if he'll read it. Truth is scary sometimes, especially if you're him. 

It was a great week. I love this work and I know it is the work of the Lord. I love you all! 

Love Soeur Roberts