(Kara), Love every minute and never stop praying! I discovered a lot about myself. The ethnicity is add broad as you will ever find. (Nicholai), Finding Jean-Claude at a bus station and seeing his life change in just 3 weeks. (Anonymous), Missing the last bus, attempting to hitch hike back home. The food is unforgettable. (Paul), A new perspective on life. (Chloe), Do not bring clothes hangers even though the missionary preparation manuals advise it. Always practice the language. (Valan), We found a guy that hadnt been to church in twenty years and he was re-baptized and reactivated. (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. You can find happiness in anything if you want to. There was an incredible spirit in the room which we could tell he felt. We used a translator. DC North Graff/Gottfredson 1992-98 Group. ed. Id never had that happen before. Language. I even introduced my wife to them on our honeymoon in Paris five years after returning home. (Alex), Having an Amish call and say that the Book of Mormon is true and that he wants to be baptized. Im so excited to see how it grows and now the temple is being dedicated! (Mariah), I loved going to Paris. French-speaking immigrants from the Piedmont valleys of alpine Italy, taught Utahns how to raise and use silk. Alabama Birmingham. The prophets of the Book of Mormon regularly apologize for the weaknesses of mortal tongues because it can be the first and most intimidating barrier to sharing eternal truths with strangers in strange lands, but it can be overcome. (Chloe), Investigators reading the scriptures and telling us what they learned. The French are kind but you need to be real and sincere with themthey will see through insincerity very quickly. 4. Charleroi is my idea of Zion. So are the Africans! Loved eating escargot just so I could tell everyone back home that I ate SNAILS. Either how they got to France, how they found their faith/the Missionaries, some people were alive during WWII, etc. (Elsa), Grecs (kbab sandwiches) were a staple of my diet in every area I served in Northern France. (Alex), The ability to speak and teach without having every word written out. Its the best mission ever! We were told that our street was pretty much on the line of the evacuation zone and that we could leave if we wanted but otherwise were advised to stay in our apartment until the demolition specialist from Belgium could arrive on the TGV later that afternoon. In the Book of Mormon, King Benjamin prophesies, And moreover, I say unto you, that the time shall come when the knowledge of a Savior shall spread throughout every nation, kindred, tongue, and people (Mosiah 3:20). In our first discussion with her, we felt the spirit so strong that my companion asked her to be baptized and she responded that of course she would beas if that was a silly question. (Anonymous), My companion and I were beat up by three Arabs about a month after 9/11. (Dennis), People, natural vegetation, culture. The countryside is where you find more of the French people, and they vary from region and town to town. She asked me to volley with her, so I handed my things to my companion and we volleyed for a minute or two in front of the Htel de Ville. Read the Book of Mormon in the language. (Aaron), I loved teaching my investigator, Marie-line, because she was so sincere. (Anonymous), Where ever you are called, serve with all your might, mind, and strength. Dont assume they dont understand you if you are speaking in English together. Also, companionship study could be very spiritual because we were studying similar doctrine together and discussing what we learned in detail. (2019), 1. (Doug), Getting stuck in metro doors. (Roberto), Speaking to others about the gospel, building relationships, leadership skills and following through on commitments, being a strong ward member, and speaking French. (Douglas), Someone stopped me on the street and started asking about us. You have the power and talent to help people. The ability to speak to strangers and to do hard things. (Drew), There is so much history in France, and such a warm culture. and just after a couple months of coming home, Ive secured a great job practicing my mission language while also potentially already planning my career. (Alex), I made a slight mistake on words and told people we created God, not created by God. (Michael), Bread. 252- 253). (Merrilyn), Learn how to provide good reasons to believe in God without resorting to Bible/Book of Mormon/Prayer (which are all great ways to learn of God but some/most people need a logical reason to believe in a Higher Power at all. The members are incredible. (Stuart), Well I had a French companion and I was joking and said your mom to him in french but in french that means a super bad word haha so be careful with your translations haha. Also, people enjoyed food. If you have found this service helpful, please consider donating! Self Control. French Polynesia (Tahiti) Skip to Main Content. There's also Cote d'Ivoire, and Belgium. (Doug), Paris is difficult at first but then, it just gets in your bones. You will be forever blessed in every aspect of your life. (Mariah), The place is amazing with so much to see, hear, taste, and enjoy. Cheese. Pastries. Friends. Slightly nerve racking but ultimately hilarious. Online Recommendation System. (Jeffrey), You will teach mostly African immigrants. I saw almost 50 baptisms in my 18 months. *Send your missionary a gift (mission-specific shirts, ties, Christmas stockings/ornaments, pillowcases, etc.). Alaska Anchorage. (Scott), I would say to ignore and not listen to anybody who tries to tell you that Europe is super hard and that you wont get hardly any baptisms. Didnt understand the word robbed. (Zakarias), Buying three tickets for Trois from a kiosk in Le Havre. Lardons & crime fraiche with pasta. We finally ran into one of our Evangelical African friends who cast out the demon in him. I have a stronger testimony. (Douglas), Orleans, Reims, Lorient, Sarcelle(Paris ghettos), Soissons, and Alencon, and then I got to serve in many others on exchanges. He then reached out and grabbed some of my long red hair, and cut off several inches. (Chloe), My companion and I were street contacting in Troyes and we were stopped by a woman dressed in a volleyball uniform holding a volleyball with two holding a net. (Kale), Poubelles, crepes, couscous, steak-frites. Jodi T. and Scott M. Naatjes. Powerful tools to collect, organize and share your missionary experiences! Keep them affordable, too. There are so many types of transportation that you have to figure out how and when to use. He participates in the temple preparation class we teach twice per week, and his testimony is a blessing to everyone around him. For many of them, the path that led them to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ wasn't easy, but meeting these people has helped us see how the Lord guides people to find His true gospel. We dont use cars for transfers. But there was no time to jump out and talk to her, get her number or set up an appointment. It was pretty funny. (Kara), French (study a second language early). It was very embarrassing. Try to keep it as small as possible. Since we did nothing everyone was a lot nicer to us. Surely there will be hard and discouraging times. (Bryan), The people are very kind and stick to themselves. Comfortable shoes (those flats wont last you long on the cobblestone roads!) How to keep pushing past hard times. Pretty hot in the summer. Laundry. (Matt), Let your mission be a compass for the rest of your life. Alpine German-Speaking Mission. MyMission.com provides free missionary websites to LDS missionaries and their families giving them a great way to communicate and share mission experiences. Try to remember the quality of the people represent more than the quantity of numbers you have. However, as we climbed the stairs I felt the migraine lift and strength return. We taught them most of the discussions and they attended church several times and other church activities. (Jordan), How to speak another language. Well, us Canadians (me) did not have a clue how wild the American missionaries would be. I saw behind her a huge dog and right after she said bonjour I told her to shut the door because I was afraid that the dog would attack us. We try to keep this information up to date, but its a good idea to check the address with several sources, including your mission packet or the mission office. (Mariah), I packed all the stuff on the list and used almost everything. Just when we were starting to talk, she jumped up and ran to the door This is my stop! if you dont know the truth when you first leave, I promise you will know as you let yourself go to work and you will come back a better person. (Dennis), Once they opened up to you, you had a friend for life. amertune 10 yr. ago Forgot about Tahiti, even though one of my MTC teachers served there. (Jeffrey), A warm coat for winter that can withstand wind and rain. (Mariah), My mission is one of the hardest, you dont see many missionaries on bikes, we walk, drive, or use the subways. ): I have complete confidence in you. The French are awesome people. Basically love the Lord and the Gospel more than you love anything, anyone else and youll do fine. Learned how to get along with a companion whom you were with 24/7 in every sense of the word. There were a few people at the median when we got there, so naturally we started talking to them. 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. I wish I wasnt so self-conscious about not speaking French. (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. (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). Sharing the Gospel Online. We interview hundreds of returned missionaries each year, so check back regularly to see new RM interviews. (Scott), The history was amazing!!! 4 seasons without the extremes you get in the Midwest. 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! (Douglas), Everybody kept telling me that a mission would be so difficult, hard work, lots of rejection and stress. (Kara), TIGHTS! (Anonymous), The end of a mission is the beginning of a life mission to grow and serve. (Drew), Rain in the winter, hot in the summer- especially in Paris. (Kara), Fresh bread and chocolate. Ether 12:27 was revelation in DIRECT response to Moronis plea for understanding in light of his linguistic weaknesses. (Stuart), Cholet (twice), Troyes, Coutances, Aulnay-sous-Bois, le Vesinet, Tours. They asked me if I spoke French. If you do, He will frustrate it and show you the right path.