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