Delays and Successes (Week #1 Transfer #15)

Hello everyone! I hope you had a great week. I did too. Finally I am with my dear new collegue, Elder Suisse, from North Ogden Utah! My 3rd Utah companion in a row, which is funny since I had never had one before Elder Thorne since Elder Kelsey in the MTC.

Elder Laney and Elder Suisse

It has been fast and things are doing good. This week was an especially challenging one in terms of some opposition to the work, namely in the form of delays, but we know who always wins in the end :) God has always got our backs and a little time doesn't put a stop to what needs to happen. The blues, after 1 delayed flight and another missed one and then a close one, got into Lyon Tuesday night, pushing everything planned a day later. And so I got to meet Elder Suisse on Thursday after some finding in Lyon with Elder Carlson, Hanson, and Little who were also training. We immediately took a train after conference with the blues and President to head home, but our train had a problem and was stopped for 3 hours 15 minutes outside of Lyon, and then we finally headed home, delaying Besancon's baptismal interview to the next evening.  But we made it!  Elder Suisse is getting a handle on the roads here and doing a great job, and I was able to interview Emilie the ami of the elders there.  We got to see her baptism in the Dijon chapel Saturday which was a choice experience.  I love being able to help out with that.  

Emilie's baptism

Sunday was well, and Elder Suisse is killing it with his French, holding conversations with people already and teaching like a master.  So I'm excited to work some more with him. Today was a tranquil p-day and we had a good time getting some rest. 

Car elevator at the Lyon chapel

I wanted to share a story of our ami Mptit! So we met him about a month ago, fixed a rdv and then saw him and showed him the church.  He was very interested in our message and has beliefs in Christ already.  We explained all the paintings, and then taught him the retab.  He listened attentively, and Elder Arne, with whom I was doing an exchange, ended inviting him to take this very seriously because it was so important, then we invited him to read the Book of Mormon and pray to know if it was true.  A week later with a call I found out he had read 1/4 of it already, and was doing additional research on the church and liking what he found.  He wanted to meet us after he finished the book sadly, so we weren't able to fix another rdv.  To my surprise after multiple attempts to get back in touch over the next month he calls, apologizes for not responding as he had been traveling, and then explains how he had done exactly as he said, read the entire Book of Mormon, as well as the Pearl of Great Price, and even had been reading into the separate Presidents of the church.  He likes what he sees and said he has written down all his questions, he hopes we can bring him some clarity.  We will see him Wednesday, and I know he will find more.  It was such a cool miracle so I had to share it.  Like those ones you hear about where people just take that seed and run with it and call you back with a well sized sapling. 

The Last Supper Dijon Cathedral

This work is true and so cool to be a part of!  Have a great week everyone and know that sometimes the fruits of your efforts may come later, sometimes sooner, and sometimes in like one month :)  God does his work! And Mpiti is awesome, so cool.

Love,
Elder Laney