That feeling of love was astounding. I understand what is important. Language. (Dennis), We were almost missing a train, so I started to drive with my best Italian style..It was quite dangerous because people dont seem to follow Italian streets rules. I was also blessed to learn how to set goals and work toward those goals. (Douglas), We joked with a Jewish man on the street, and told him that he should join us in another town for church on Sunday. Get a good,lightweight jacket thatll keep you warm and dry. You cant help them feel Christs love if you dont show them love. Was in 3 missions, all transfers were by airplane. In the summer, it was hot and humid. I even introduced my wife to them on our honeymoon in Paris five years after returning home. You are hereby called to serve in the Arizona Phoenix Mission. For many of them, the path that led them to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ wasnt easy, but meeting these people has helped us see how the Lord guides people to find His true gospel. How to enjoy being anywhere. The best was in Nantes or Bordeaux where we met in a three story house. Check out YA Weekly, located in the Young Adults section under Audiences in the Gospel Library, for new, inspiring content for young adults each week. (Roberto), When knocking on doors the first time, I commented after about three doors to my trainer Man, there sure are a lot of people called sonnerie here! Most of the doorbells said sonnerie on them. (Chloe), Western European oceanic climate. Humanitarian Service Missionaries) Learn More Education 2017-2020, Paul J. Sorensen 2014-2017, Frdric Jean Babin 2011-2014, Franck A. Poznanski 2008-2011, Don H. Staheli ( Listen to an interview with the Stahelis) 2005-2008, Steven H. Pond 2002-2005, Lynn Bennion 1999-2002, David W. Madsen 1996-1999, Dennis K. Brown I love the members and how much they love the missionaries. (Valan), Threw up in garbage can at metro stop after eating flour and water for dinner. I could tell immediately that he was not interested, so we tried to go the other way, but he followed us. (Roberto), While riding our bikes in Orleans, some guys we rode by spat at and hit us in the shoulder. (Stuart), The French can take a long time to open up and embrace new ideas or people, but once they do they are totally committed. My prayer worked and he left us alone and minutes later almost had a brawl with some Arabs up to no good. Very little snow (winter in Orleans). (Anna), (Sisters) Dont feel like you have to have Everything youll need for 2 years. Alabama Birmingham. Cold in the winter, but it never snowed. Hair? HUMOR AND SPIRIT ARE POWERFUL TOOLS in making relationships work. The temporal/secular history of the Church is often many individuals only exposure to the Church, but intelligent discussion of such is often an amazingly positive and readily accessible way to reach people about the Gospel. MyMission.com provides free missionary websites to LDS missionaries and their families giving them a great way to communicate and share mission experiences. (Alex), I made a slight mistake on words and told people we created God, not created by God. Libraries. I Had Left the Church. If we are here now, what will our race be like a hundred, a thousand, a million years from now even if there is no higher power to interfere with our progress? I wish I knew the doctrine better or even had a stronger testimony on certain things. Thankfully, this work isnt ours. He has prepared a way for them to hear the most important message of all time by calling French-speaking missionaries to find them and invite them to come and see and come and belong.2 No matter how long we may have traveled or how long we may have been searching, not one of us is ever forgotten by our Heavenly Father. And I loved hearing peoples stories. My last name is White. Often, they were primarily taught by other members or missionaries, but the fact is that there are lots of baptisms going on, and it is beautiful! Fortitude. But times have changed and there is so much work to do! (Drew), I was a little nervous as plans fell through again with my first blue (trainee), and I was afraid she might be mad or frustrated that we werent teaching quite as much as she probably expected. 2 pairs of sturdy shoes, you will walk a lot. Especially shoes, coat, umbrella (although the wind will destroy it). Buy winter jackets there if youre going in the summer. Foofoo. Never had done it. Also, people enjoyed food. (Kara), Colombes, Evry/Grigny, Versailles, Melun, Bois Guillaume, Rouens, and Nantes. Were His people, engaged together in His holy work.3. We were walking home from the train to our apartment and a drunk guy threw a glass bottle at us that narrowly missed us. (Alex), Language bonus, people skills, being able to carry on a conversation, cooking. (Kara), First French stake formed in 1975. I wasnt sure if I could even make it to his apartment because I was feeling so weak and he lived on the 6th floor. In September 2019, the third French-speaking branch in the United States was organized in Arizona. Crepes. Thats what its about Joy in the journey. (Drew), While serving in Lorient, France in the spring of 2001, we were surprised to find the entire center of town and a 1 km radius around it under evacuation orders because a construction crew had discovered an unexploded bomb from WWII buried beneath the ruins of an old bunker that was being demolished in an expansion project for the local stadium (Lorient had been an Allied port and submarine base during the war). (Nicholai), Frites and sauce, Belgian waffles, foufou. The French people are incredible! Almost all of these people are warm and wonderful. Preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to all the people of the world, each in their own language, is a mandate from God. Crepes. (Mariah), Kabobs, fajitas, cheese, raqulette, burritos, crepes, Charlotte au chocolate, baguette with butter and chocolate and chocolate. (Jacob), Humid, which intensifies both heat and cold. (Anna), One of the best things I think I did to prepare for leaving on a mission was spending a month (or less) focusing on each Christ-like attribute. (Matt), How to find the good in others, studying for a couple hours at a time, and not being afraid to open my mouth. The second taught me patience and flexibility. (Bryan), One time playing soccer near the Eiffel Tower and watching a bunch of illegal sellers of tourist items running away from police and diving into bushes and seeing all their stuff flying everywhere. The beauty of the mission is going to teach you how to rely on the Spirit which will force you to learn talents as you go! It was pretty funny. Ha Ha I had no idea how to lead music. Friends. John Taylor was one of the first missionaries here, but the church is still young. The ability to learn and speak another language. French Language LDS Missionary France or Quebec Mission T-Shirt Definitely a good rain jacket and umbrella and waterproof shoes. We studied listening to the Spirit and acting on faith. Now, as I work, it seems a lot of people only want to associate with those who can help them. (Anna), Living & spending all your time with many different types of companions. It was a dangerous part of town, but we were just going to the train. (Mariah), The place is amazing with so much to see, hear, taste, and enjoy. (Michael), It will be the hardest thing you ever do. She got baptized later, and I got to baptize and confirm her. I love their politeness, manners and gentility. Alaska Anchorage. There are many Muslim people in France. Able to understand new members better. We will in effect be Gods. You are equals no matter what; its not a competition, nor a fashion show (3 Nephi 13:25-34). We interview hundreds of returned missionaries each year, so check back regularly to see new RM interviews. (Jacob), We had an investigator who was searching for something better in life. Enduring to the end. Many of the things I learned from trying to get the award helped me to understand the gospel better. They asked me if I spoke French. One was when a recent convert learn how to read by sounding out words from the Book of Mormon and the Gospel Principles manual. I asked for her name as she ran out and she yelled it back. We do them ourselves using buses, metros and trains. Language mastery. (Mariah), In the ghettos, having some people try to take your cell phones or cameras. Mission Maps - The Church Of Jesus Christ Of Latter-day Saints Buy French Language LDS Missionary France or Quebec Mission Sweatshirt: Shop top fashion brands Sweatshirts at Amazon.com FREE DELIVERY and Returns possible on eligible purchases Amazon.com: French Language LDS Missionary France or Quebec Mission Sweatshirt : Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry (Paul), The language is beautiful. (Zakarias), Anything you need you can buy in France. Amazing member missionaries, amazing examples. Croissante aux aumaund. (Kara), Being there when the first stake was formed in Versailles. Utah Salt Lake City South Mission. Washington DC North Missionaries Group. (Valan), People skills. I was thinking, what are we doing?! On Halloween, we decided to show the French what a real Halloween was like. Self Control. (Drew), There is so much history in France, and such a warm culture. (Zakarias). (Douglas), Everybody kept telling me that a mission would be so difficult, hard work, lots of rejection and stress. My new trainee stepped on dog poop a couple of times first day. But he followed me and came straight up to me with scissors and took off a few inches of a chunk of my long red hair and scurried away. (Paul), A second language. Likewise, there are so many people out there who try to use the secular history of Mormons as a tool of deceit, confusion, and contention. (Michael), Just be careful where you go after dark. In some towns we tracted in, every single home had roses growing so that the whole city smelled of roses. Keep it going! Our mission president is french. (Paul), Some kids were throwing dirt clods at an old man and we told them to stop. And one . The Gift of Tongues is a very real and very beautiful thing, I can testify to that. (Jacob), We were riding bikes one day with our skirts pinned and our helmets. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides relief and development projects for humanitarian purposes in countries all over the world. Also, companionship study could be very spiritual because we were studying similar doctrine together and discussing what we learned in detail. Speaking in tongues Mormon style - The Salt Lake Tribune Rainy springs. People are always working hard and there are always incredible things going on. See DieterF. Uchtdorf, God Will Do Something Unimaginable, Ensign or Liahona, Nov. 2020, 54. (Kale), St. Brieuc, Chateauroux, Limoges, Talence, Nantes, and Montauban. I can get along with almost anyone. (Zakarias), Our mission is the highest baptizing mission in Europe (except Cabo Verde), and also happens to be the best in the entire world! (Elsa), I had three Mission Presidents: President Jones in Paris, Elder Andersen, and President Oveson in Bordeaux. (Stuart), It is humid and moderate. After getting the huge table through the doors, the instructor repeated tableau so I could make the connection that I got the wrong item. I was a part of many individuals accepting the gospel and joining the church. Andersens Encourage French-Speaking Saints to Believe We were handing out English lesson flyers while knocking on doors in St Dennis. (Kara), Spent a year in Rouen.it rained a lot. Bring a shoulder bag. (Anna), Beautiful, mild seasons. An Apostle of Jesus Christ and his wife brought a familiar message of hope to French-speaking Latter-day Saints around the world on Sunday, February 21. We dont use cars for transfers. (Mariah), Just do your best and never give up. Paris is awesome. I wish I wasnt so self-conscious about not speaking French. You are assigned to teach in the French language. We were both more than surprised to receive such a mission call. (Doug), Getting stuck in metro doors. Lots of rain In the winter. Great way to finish! (Alex), My elder and I being driven to the train station by drunk strangers. We were having our district meeting that morning, so two companionships from out of town had arrived earlier by train and they were stopped and informed by police officers just outside our apartment of the situation. We have the coolest mission song ever! (Aaron), I loved teaching my investigator, Marie-line, because she was so sincere. Has awesome preparation days. (Matt), My family has grown much stronger together! Heres a link to the mission map for the ParisMission (LDS). (Scott), When I was serving in Belgium, we were walking with our recent convert to his house when he ran in front of us and mooned us hahaha. Missionary Training Centers - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day When I got there, it was amazing how many members came over to welcome me back with so much love even though I had been gone for quite some time in a different area. Full-Time Senior Missionaries. (Valan), They seem cold at first, but once they warm up to you they are super friendly. You can submit your own article, ideas, or feedback at liahona.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. I tapped him on the shoulder after we crossed the street and started talking to him. The ability to speak to strangers and to do hard things. Bring athletic clothes because the people love soccer. Instead I asked for a bra. Though the laborers in France have often been few, the harvest has indeed been great (see Luke 10:2). Charleroi is my idea of Zion. (Jeffrey), Depends on what part of the county youre in. People skills. Cant remember the name of the main cheese I loved. ed. (Jeffrey), Have a young punk kid saying ta mre and I laughed back at him because I realized he had just said youre mom which doesnt translate as a bad word into English. During the 1960s, Church membership increased fivefold as missionaries and members worked to spread the gospel. Bread. (Elsa), A gypsy kid stole my companions cheeseburger at one of the McDonalds on Rue Ste. (Alex), Their loyalty to family and good friends. I was blessed with the Spirit and was able to do so sufficiently well that no one laughed at me. Winters do get cold. To this day, he recalls how miraculous it was to meet missionaries in Arizona who could speak his language. The cities are full of people from every country imaginable. They are amazing men and their wives are incredible and strong. Cheeses. Beautiful. (Michael), It covers three countries. (Mariah), I loved going to Paris. That was the last time I let him schedule dinner appointments. Mainly humid. In the evening that same day we were in a remote location far from the center and knocking doorsguess who opened one of the door we knocked at.