Week #3 Transfer #3, Albi France

Hey everyone,

This week was super fun. We got 3 manger-vous, I was super stuffed after each one, but I'm making sure to do my morning mangos (what we call our morning workouts) so I'll make sure not  to gain tons of weight, or gain some muscle hopefully... We'll see what 15 min a day can help me avoid.  Haha, anyway I tried French chocolate!  It is terrible.  It tasted like a stale Hershey bar and cost me 3 whole euros.  So I'll try some more types to see if I just had bad luck, but i did try some Swiss chocolate and it is literally the best I have ever eaten.  So Lindt (maker of Lindor chocolates) is a great brand and Swiss chocolate wins at the moment.  France does have wonderful pastries and cheese at least.  And quiche.  Seriously excellent quiche...

Quiche perfection

We spent a lot of time with the Rodez elders.  Rodez is just an hour away, and we all go to the same branch here in Albi, though most of the members are from Rodez. Pretty funny since we have like 5 elders and only 30 people there in total.  And 9 members from Albi came to church!!!!  Super cool since soonish we believe the branch will split so all the Rodez members don't have to drive so far, and Albi will be able to continue growing if we have enough members.

Tree tunnel on drive to Rodez

We got to spend Halloween night at a member's home and even trick or treated their door!  Sadly Halloween isn't very popular here, but we did see a huge group of 50 kids with their parents all on roller blades on costumes and it made our night.  Also while yelling happy Halloween to everyone on the ride home from the car one very excited teenage boy yelled it back super excited.  So Halloween is starting to catch on here at least.

Rodez Cathedral - new building dating from 1276 (The original was built in 516 and parts still remain)

Each night as asked by Elder Adler of the Seventy at our last mission conference, we as companions bear our testimony to each other in French for 30 days straight. I'm at 28 and almost done but it's been a really cool experience to see how my testimony grows each time I bear it and how it is changing.  The Spirit really does testify through truth , and I feel the truth and a reaffirmation of what I know whenever I bear my sincere testimony of Jesus Christ.  And so I invite you all to do that this week, bear your testimony to someone you know, or at least about what you do know if it's not a lot, but just be sincere.  It only matters that we mean it, and that's how the Holy Ghost will speak to us.  For friends not in the Church don't hesitate to ask any Mormons you know about their testimony, we love to share
what we believe and it helps us reaffirm our faith too :)

District - Albi and Rodez

Also my French improved dramatically in speech this week.  I don't know why, but I have been praying for help in the language, and my conversational ability has improved a lot and I can really converse with people now, it's super cool.  I understand so much more and am really grateful to the Lord for all the help He gives us. Anyway, Have a great week and love you all tons!!  Have a fun week and I hope you all had a great Halloween!

Good times in Rodez

Avec amour,
Elder Laney

Ps: mangez-vous means a rendez-vous which means a visit to a member's house, but manger means to eat so it's a play on words meaning a meal at a member's house :)