Bonjour à tous!
Happy Memorial Day! I hope everyone enjoys their day off. :) It's also a holiday here in France, but not the same one. And it has been beautiful these past 5 days! Finally after two long months of rain we have sun! We had a good week. Maybe not as far as statistics, but in our spiritual progression, yes! We found, thanks to the Elders, another new investigator. Her name is Benoitte and she's from Congo. We had a really good lesson with her. At first it was kind of bumpy, but as we talked with her and got to know her and followed the spirit she really opened up and we were able to leave with a strong spirit. She told us that a year ago the missionaries knocked on her door, but she was in the middle of moving, so they asked her if she needed help. She was so grateful, because she had a three year old and two month old baby. She said that the Elders came back the next day with four other missionaries and helped her move all of her things to a new apartment. After that she lost her phone (or it broke, can't remember) so she no longer had the missionaries phone number and has not had contact with them since. Then last Monday the V. D'Ascq Elders knocked on her door and she immediately let them in. They weren't able to stay since she's single, so they told her Soeur Alves and I would call and we could pass by that week. The Elders immediately called us and we immediately called Benoitte and we were able to see her on Wednesday. She told us that she knows there's a reason that God sent us to her and that we must have something for her. It was so neat when she shared this experience with us! She was supposed to come to church yesterday, but sadly didn't, however we're going to see her tomorrow, so hopefully we can help get to church and respect the commitments we give her. She is very sweet and was happy to receive the Book of Mormon. I know that the Lord prepared people for us to teach. You can help too, by finding these people for the missionaries. ;) Love you all!
Bisous, Soeur Reeves
Monday, May 28, 2012
Monday, May 21, 2012
Les Photos de Villeneuve-d'Ascq
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| Soon after my arrival in Villeneuve-d'Ascq. There's a huge park across from our apartment with horses and a lake and pathways in the forest. |
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| Grand Place in Lille |
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| Soeur Murray and Soeur Carter at Zone Conference |
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| Monday night after the huge snow storm. The buses quit going because of the snow and then it started to melt! We had to walk on the ledge along the side. I felt like a rat. Our boots were soaking wet by the time we got home. |
week 65 - following the spirit
Salut!
Happy Birthday this week to Sam and Jessica! I hope you enjoy your birthdays, and we'll see if Sam is like some of the other grandkids who eat their entire cake by themselves. Thank you for the wonderful experiences that you shared, Dad, Laurie and Ryan, and Mom for the talks that were given. They're all such inspiring stories. Just to let you know, since you're probably wondering. Veronique has disappeared. Ha, I have taught so many Africans that are amazing and want to get baptised and then they disappear and we never hear from them again; we call and their phone number never works, or we pass by their house multiple times, but no one is ever there. (I think it's often from legal problems or family problems back home in Africa). Alexandre called and said that he talked with his wife, but she is still against us coming, the Elders coming, or the senior couple. He said since she won't let us come over, he might try passing by the church sometime. Who knows, it might be a while. We have planted a seed, but I'm sure missionaries in the future will get to watch it grow.
On a happier note... We got two new investigators this week! Last Monday we were supposed to go eat at some member's home but they cancelled at the last minute because the mom was sick. We had totally forgotten to make a back up plan, I think because we thought we were for sure going since we had confirmed the night before. We said a prayer asking the Lord what he wanted us to do. We had made a plan to pass by some in-actives during the week and at the same time contact in those areas to try to find new investigators. We decided to go to the north part of Villeneuve D'Ascq by the Metro stop Jean Jaurès and pass by some in-active members. Either they weren't home or they had moved, and then a man told us that we weren't aloud to proselyte in apartment buildings (the sign confirmed it). We started to walk back toward the metro. I feel like we were like Nephi when he said, "And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do." (1 Nephi 4:6). Soeur Alves pointed in one directed and said, "I think the Metro is by there." I didn't think it was, but I was tired and didn't want to say she was wrong so I kept my mouth shut and followed her. As we were walking along the path we walked past a couple who we knew were not from France and who looked like islanders. Soeur Alves stopped and asked them if we were going in the right direction for the Metro, they said, "no," and that it was on the other side of the neighborhood. We thanked them and then they asked, "are you Christian?" We said yes and asked if they were too. They said yes and then we started talking with them and found out that they're from New Caledonia and they asked what we were doing here so we told them we were missionaries. They know the name of the church, since there are a lot of members in Polynesia and they had met the missionaries once before. We asked them if we could come over and share our message with them and they said yes!
We had our first rendez-vous with them on Saturday night, they're names are Geneviève and Jean-Christophe and have 4 adorable children and their family is very important to them. They are very open people and so kind and Jean-Christophe had an amazing story of how he was converted to Jesus Christ and totally changed his life. I'm so grateful we followed the spirit (and that I kept my mouth shut.) I know that we were led by him to Geneviève and Christophe and I'm excited to keep teaching them. We gave them both copies of the Book of Mormon and the family Proclamation. I hope we can get them to come to our church activity and sacrament meeting this next weekend. (We also have two men in our ward who served in New Caledonia).
I know that the Lord prepares people by his spirit and his angels.
Bisous, Soeur Reeves
Happy Birthday this week to Sam and Jessica! I hope you enjoy your birthdays, and we'll see if Sam is like some of the other grandkids who eat their entire cake by themselves. Thank you for the wonderful experiences that you shared, Dad, Laurie and Ryan, and Mom for the talks that were given. They're all such inspiring stories. Just to let you know, since you're probably wondering. Veronique has disappeared. Ha, I have taught so many Africans that are amazing and want to get baptised and then they disappear and we never hear from them again; we call and their phone number never works, or we pass by their house multiple times, but no one is ever there. (I think it's often from legal problems or family problems back home in Africa). Alexandre called and said that he talked with his wife, but she is still against us coming, the Elders coming, or the senior couple. He said since she won't let us come over, he might try passing by the church sometime. Who knows, it might be a while. We have planted a seed, but I'm sure missionaries in the future will get to watch it grow.
On a happier note... We got two new investigators this week! Last Monday we were supposed to go eat at some member's home but they cancelled at the last minute because the mom was sick. We had totally forgotten to make a back up plan, I think because we thought we were for sure going since we had confirmed the night before. We said a prayer asking the Lord what he wanted us to do. We had made a plan to pass by some in-actives during the week and at the same time contact in those areas to try to find new investigators. We decided to go to the north part of Villeneuve D'Ascq by the Metro stop Jean Jaurès and pass by some in-active members. Either they weren't home or they had moved, and then a man told us that we weren't aloud to proselyte in apartment buildings (the sign confirmed it). We started to walk back toward the metro. I feel like we were like Nephi when he said, "And I was led by the Spirit, not knowing beforehand the things which I should do." (1 Nephi 4:6). Soeur Alves pointed in one directed and said, "I think the Metro is by there." I didn't think it was, but I was tired and didn't want to say she was wrong so I kept my mouth shut and followed her. As we were walking along the path we walked past a couple who we knew were not from France and who looked like islanders. Soeur Alves stopped and asked them if we were going in the right direction for the Metro, they said, "no," and that it was on the other side of the neighborhood. We thanked them and then they asked, "are you Christian?" We said yes and asked if they were too. They said yes and then we started talking with them and found out that they're from New Caledonia and they asked what we were doing here so we told them we were missionaries. They know the name of the church, since there are a lot of members in Polynesia and they had met the missionaries once before. We asked them if we could come over and share our message with them and they said yes!
We had our first rendez-vous with them on Saturday night, they're names are Geneviève and Jean-Christophe and have 4 adorable children and their family is very important to them. They are very open people and so kind and Jean-Christophe had an amazing story of how he was converted to Jesus Christ and totally changed his life. I'm so grateful we followed the spirit (and that I kept my mouth shut.) I know that we were led by him to Geneviève and Christophe and I'm excited to keep teaching them. We gave them both copies of the Book of Mormon and the family Proclamation. I hope we can get them to come to our church activity and sacrament meeting this next weekend. (We also have two men in our ward who served in New Caledonia).
I know that the Lord prepares people by his spirit and his angels.
Bisous, Soeur Reeves
Monday, May 14, 2012
week 64 - the Language of Music
Ma chère famille,
It was so fun talking to Mom and Dad, Ryan, Allyson, Julie, Jaclyn and Kristen, Uncle Stan and Aunt Lou yesterday! Mom I think I forgot to tell you Happy Mother's Day! Thank you for being the most wonderful and amazing mother in the world! Congratulations to Jeff, I'm glad many of you were able to be together for that (I'd love to see some pictures). Congratulations Jaclyn! I loved seeing your ring (I'm expecting some pictures from you too). Happy Birthday to Julie, Audrey, and Natalie (got it right this time!) this week! I can't believe you're going to be a teenager Audrey!
Last Monday we had finished everything we needed to on P-day and on time, so we felt great, but then after we left our rendez-vous that evening we saw that we were going to get home late, so we called our district leader to let him know and we hurried to make it to the next bus. The metro arrived at our stop and as I exited, who was on the other side of the door to get on? Alexandre! He quickly stepped back onto the platform and walked out with us. I was so excited to see him again! It's been weeks, and we had tried calling him again about a month ago, but he wouldn't ever answer, then I got an email from Mike letting me know that his girls were still praying for Alexandre and his wife so I called him the next day. This time he answered and he said that he wants to see us, but his wife is still against him taking the lessons. When we ran into him, we and he knew that it wasn't coincidence. He said he's been trying to think of a solution, so we told him we'll keep praying for him and we invited him and his wife to the BYU concert on Saturday. Sadly they didn't come, but I not it was not an accident that we ran into him, and it makes me think of Isabelle with her dad and the fact that she wouldn't get baptised because of him, but the Lord softened his heart and when he met the sister missionaries he was very happy to fix a rendez-vous. Thank you Mike and your daughters for your prayers. Even if it's not while I'm here that his wife's heart is softened I know that one day she will change.
The BYU concert that we had on Saturday was the wind symphony and Jacqueline came with frère and soeur Derone (our ward mission leader and wife). She also brought Kévin her little neighbor who's like a grandson to her. Kévin was present at our last RDV with Jacqueline and Sary. When frère Derone saw Kévin with Jacqueline he invited him to come with them to the concert. He's only 15, but as long as he's with Jacqueline his mom lets him do anything with her. Frère Derone said that he feels like Kévin will be the key to Jacqueline and Sary getting baptised. During the concert the symphony played "A poor wayfaring man of grief" and then they sang a hymn at the end and Soeur Derone said that during both songs Kévin had tears rolling down his cheeks. He told frère Derone that he felt really good while he was in the church and wants to come to our service sometime. They're going to talk with his mom and hopefully he will be coming next Sunday. It was funny when Kévin told frère Derone that he wanted to come to church he looked and Jacqueline and said, "If I go you have to come with me." Sometimes it's children that help bring others into the church. When we were at the concert I also thought about the fact that music is a universal language. Everyone in the world understands and can be touched by music; there is a special spirit that comes with it and I'm grateful that the music that the BYU symphony played touched Kévin.
I love you all! I know this gospel is true and that we are part of the church of Jesus Christ here on the earth today. I hope you all have a wonderful week. A là prochain!
Bisous, Soeur Reeves
It was so fun talking to Mom and Dad, Ryan, Allyson, Julie, Jaclyn and Kristen, Uncle Stan and Aunt Lou yesterday! Mom I think I forgot to tell you Happy Mother's Day! Thank you for being the most wonderful and amazing mother in the world! Congratulations to Jeff, I'm glad many of you were able to be together for that (I'd love to see some pictures). Congratulations Jaclyn! I loved seeing your ring (I'm expecting some pictures from you too). Happy Birthday to Julie, Audrey, and Natalie (got it right this time!) this week! I can't believe you're going to be a teenager Audrey!
Last Monday we had finished everything we needed to on P-day and on time, so we felt great, but then after we left our rendez-vous that evening we saw that we were going to get home late, so we called our district leader to let him know and we hurried to make it to the next bus. The metro arrived at our stop and as I exited, who was on the other side of the door to get on? Alexandre! He quickly stepped back onto the platform and walked out with us. I was so excited to see him again! It's been weeks, and we had tried calling him again about a month ago, but he wouldn't ever answer, then I got an email from Mike letting me know that his girls were still praying for Alexandre and his wife so I called him the next day. This time he answered and he said that he wants to see us, but his wife is still against him taking the lessons. When we ran into him, we and he knew that it wasn't coincidence. He said he's been trying to think of a solution, so we told him we'll keep praying for him and we invited him and his wife to the BYU concert on Saturday. Sadly they didn't come, but I not it was not an accident that we ran into him, and it makes me think of Isabelle with her dad and the fact that she wouldn't get baptised because of him, but the Lord softened his heart and when he met the sister missionaries he was very happy to fix a rendez-vous. Thank you Mike and your daughters for your prayers. Even if it's not while I'm here that his wife's heart is softened I know that one day she will change.
The BYU concert that we had on Saturday was the wind symphony and Jacqueline came with frère and soeur Derone (our ward mission leader and wife). She also brought Kévin her little neighbor who's like a grandson to her. Kévin was present at our last RDV with Jacqueline and Sary. When frère Derone saw Kévin with Jacqueline he invited him to come with them to the concert. He's only 15, but as long as he's with Jacqueline his mom lets him do anything with her. Frère Derone said that he feels like Kévin will be the key to Jacqueline and Sary getting baptised. During the concert the symphony played "A poor wayfaring man of grief" and then they sang a hymn at the end and Soeur Derone said that during both songs Kévin had tears rolling down his cheeks. He told frère Derone that he felt really good while he was in the church and wants to come to our service sometime. They're going to talk with his mom and hopefully he will be coming next Sunday. It was funny when Kévin told frère Derone that he wanted to come to church he looked and Jacqueline and said, "If I go you have to come with me." Sometimes it's children that help bring others into the church. When we were at the concert I also thought about the fact that music is a universal language. Everyone in the world understands and can be touched by music; there is a special spirit that comes with it and I'm grateful that the music that the BYU symphony played touched Kévin.
I love you all! I know this gospel is true and that we are part of the church of Jesus Christ here on the earth today. I hope you all have a wonderful week. A là prochain!
Bisous, Soeur Reeves
Monday, May 7, 2012
week 63 - open your mouth
Bonjour ma famille!
Guess what St. Dié finally has a companionship serving their full-time! I'm so grateful that the members there started to realise that they needed to do their part too, because it's not missionaries who should do all of the finding. I know the Elders their can help save the branch before all of those members die. (All of the active members are pretty old). Sad news, I no longer have a camera to use. Well, I still have a camera, but I don't know why it went crazy on me, same problem as my first camera. Like I said last time, thank goodness for companions and thankfully mom and dad are picking me up so I can take some more pictures with you.
I know I've mentioned before but something I would probably never do back home, is run after a bus in a skirt. I think last week we ran after one every day! They're so nice to stop and I'm pretty sure that all of the bus drivers on line 41 now know who we are, because we're probably the only two girls walking around in skirts, carrying scriptures, that run after their buses. (Unless the Jehovah's Witnesses do it to ;) Jk don't add that to the blog).
We had a good week although none of our investigators came to church :(. We're trying to work on that this week and help our amis understand the importance of the sabbath day and coming to church if they want to be converted. They main thing we're going to focus on this week is contacting and finding new investigators and I was so inspired yesterday at church. Three different members bore their testimonies and shared their experiences of giving out a Book of Mormon (yeah! they kept their commitments!). Each shared the fact that they started by praying and asking Heavenly Father to help them know who to give it to. One sister gave one to a man on the metro, another to a friend and another who felt like she should give it to a client at work ended up giving it to someone else when the opportunity came. I'm so grateful for their example of praying and when the Lord put the person in their path they gave them the Book of Mormon.
Rosita is doing well and is back from the hospital, but sisters are now coming to the Lille ward, so we're going to have to pass her, but I'm grateful that we can give them and investigator since they're doing a whitewash. I know how difficult those are. I just have time to share a little experience about a few weeks ago. There was a strike (you know France and its national sport of strikes) so there were no buses this day. It was a Monday and thankfully a member was able to drop us off to do our emails. We took the metro on our way back, but because there were when we got to the station there were no buses. A girl came up and asked us when the next bus was coming and we told her there weren't any. She walked one way and we went another. We weren't very happy to walk for 30 minutes and there weren't many people out to talk to along the way. After about 15 to 20 minutes the same girl came walking up behind us and asked if we wanted a ride. I was shocked! That doesn't happen often here in France. We told her sure and her dad showed up in about one minute to pick us up. It was only about a two minute drive from there to our apartment so we didn't have much time to talk with them, but we were able to give Vincenne (the girl) and her dad (Christophe) a card and told them it had our number and the address of the church and of course we wrote a big MERCI! on the card. They haven't called us, and I don't know if they've looked up the church website or if something will happen in the future, but I know that little miralces and experiences like that don't happen by accident and we need to take advantage of every oppurtunity Heavenly Father gives us, even if it's just for a couple of minutes. I hope to have many more little experiences like that before I come home.
Bisous, Soeur Reeves
Guess what St. Dié finally has a companionship serving their full-time! I'm so grateful that the members there started to realise that they needed to do their part too, because it's not missionaries who should do all of the finding. I know the Elders their can help save the branch before all of those members die. (All of the active members are pretty old). Sad news, I no longer have a camera to use. Well, I still have a camera, but I don't know why it went crazy on me, same problem as my first camera. Like I said last time, thank goodness for companions and thankfully mom and dad are picking me up so I can take some more pictures with you.
I know I've mentioned before but something I would probably never do back home, is run after a bus in a skirt. I think last week we ran after one every day! They're so nice to stop and I'm pretty sure that all of the bus drivers on line 41 now know who we are, because we're probably the only two girls walking around in skirts, carrying scriptures, that run after their buses. (Unless the Jehovah's Witnesses do it to ;) Jk don't add that to the blog).
We had a good week although none of our investigators came to church :(. We're trying to work on that this week and help our amis understand the importance of the sabbath day and coming to church if they want to be converted. They main thing we're going to focus on this week is contacting and finding new investigators and I was so inspired yesterday at church. Three different members bore their testimonies and shared their experiences of giving out a Book of Mormon (yeah! they kept their commitments!). Each shared the fact that they started by praying and asking Heavenly Father to help them know who to give it to. One sister gave one to a man on the metro, another to a friend and another who felt like she should give it to a client at work ended up giving it to someone else when the opportunity came. I'm so grateful for their example of praying and when the Lord put the person in their path they gave them the Book of Mormon.
Rosita is doing well and is back from the hospital, but sisters are now coming to the Lille ward, so we're going to have to pass her, but I'm grateful that we can give them and investigator since they're doing a whitewash. I know how difficult those are. I just have time to share a little experience about a few weeks ago. There was a strike (you know France and its national sport of strikes) so there were no buses this day. It was a Monday and thankfully a member was able to drop us off to do our emails. We took the metro on our way back, but because there were when we got to the station there were no buses. A girl came up and asked us when the next bus was coming and we told her there weren't any. She walked one way and we went another. We weren't very happy to walk for 30 minutes and there weren't many people out to talk to along the way. After about 15 to 20 minutes the same girl came walking up behind us and asked if we wanted a ride. I was shocked! That doesn't happen often here in France. We told her sure and her dad showed up in about one minute to pick us up. It was only about a two minute drive from there to our apartment so we didn't have much time to talk with them, but we were able to give Vincenne (the girl) and her dad (Christophe) a card and told them it had our number and the address of the church and of course we wrote a big MERCI! on the card. They haven't called us, and I don't know if they've looked up the church website or if something will happen in the future, but I know that little miralces and experiences like that don't happen by accident and we need to take advantage of every oppurtunity Heavenly Father gives us, even if it's just for a couple of minutes. I hope to have many more little experiences like that before I come home.
Bisous, Soeur Reeves
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