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August 7 - Une bonne semaine

This week was great. We're starting to see some solid results of our work here in Troyes. The biggest miracle was JP. We met with him and his friend Cecilia (a member) a few times and we felt like it was time to invite him to be baptised during the next lesson. Right after we said the prayer, Cecilia's daughter (she's 6) straight up asked JP if he was going to be baptised soon. There was a bit of a pause...Elder Thomas and I being silent not wanting to jynx anything, then JP said "oui, j'aimerais bien." The rest of the lesson was great and we set a date for September 9. I have a lot of faith that we'll be able to make it. It's really cool to see the difference in JP's countenance between our first rendez-vous and our last. He's much brighter, lighter, and confident in just a couple weeks.

We also met with another family in Romilly from Nigeria. Vivian, David, and their two sons. We mostly spoke with David, who prefers to speak in English, about the restoration and the book of Mormon. His parents were pastors in Nigeria and he was a missionary for his church when he was young, he's read the bible 20 times and really loves God. For that reason I was surprised at how open he was to read the book of Mormon, he accepted it  graciously and said he would read it, and also was very complimentory towards us. He said "you guys are doing the most important work in the world" -- not something you hear everyday from strangers as a missionary. He did ask which was more important to us, the Bible or the Book of Mormon, to which we responded that was like choosing a favorite child. He liked that response and said he needed to be sure that we really loved the bible. We really wants us to come back and meet with him and his son (the son is 12).

We had a great opportunity to offer service to a member of the ward who is moving. We spent a good part of Saturday hauling all his stuff from one apartment building to another. Also, every appartment building and elevator and basically everything in France is tiny, so that makes moving extra difficult. And of course the appartment he was moving into was on the 10th floor. It was quite the job, we had to take this one giant couch up the 10 flights of circular stairs because the elevator was too small. I really felt my love for him grow as we served together. Two of the guys who were there both bore testimony during church the next day that taking that couch up 10 flights of stairs was a miracle. 

Our class for studying the Book of Mormon has been amazing. It's very simple, we sit in a circle, read the Book of Mormon and share our thoughts together. It has been very very spiritual. It's cool to see the power and simplicity of the Book of Mormon touch people as we read and discuss together. We had 4 amis de l'eglise attend the class this week, and it's a wonderful environment where they can (1) feel the spirit, (2) better understand the scriptures, and (3) associate with and befriend the other members of the ward. 

Spiritual thought for the week. We've been thinking a lot about love and service, and I've been able to feel my love for the people grow as we serve amongst them. It made me think of the line from Victor Hugo's Les Miserables "Aimer une autre personne est de voir le visage de Dieu." I'm not sure if that's how he wrote it originally in French, but that's how I translate "to love another person is to see the face of God." Also Mosiah 2:17 "...when you are in the service of your fellow beings you are only in the service of your God."

There's a picture of me in Troyes (sorry for the non-smile) and some rando church building thing. And the some pictures of the church in Troyes. Elder Thomas took a picture of me asking for my tablet back, but it looks like an action shot of me "contacting" someone. A little "bonjour monsieur."




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