A Packed Week (Week #4 Transfer #14)

Hello everyone!

Sorry my message is late, we were a bit busy yesterday with some rendezvous. This week was a quick one and jam packed with tons of new people and opportunities to help others, we were running from rdv to rdv this time. 

Elders Perez and Laney with Poe

We were able to see Agnes a few times, who is doing really really well as far as her progression and learning is going. She has a testimony that's always growing and really wants to be baptized, so we're helping her approach her date. Poe is too, and he and Tatiana are doing well, preparing for their marriage, and just awesome. We ate some Tahitian dishes with them which were soooo good, my favorite was this banana and tapioca pudding they made, it was amazing. I also really like poisson cru, basically it's raw fish that is sort of cooked in lemon juice by the acid. Really good. We met some new people including the referral from the American family we met the other week!  Her name is Marjo and is really awesome, I hope we can see her again this week. She was very interested and our little encounter on a bench in a park was so strong with the spirit it was crazy. 

Driving to Neuchâtel, Switzerland 

One really special opportunity also was the fact we got to have zone conference, which was in Lausanne in Switzerland where it was snowing, and was such a spiritual meeting, we all talked in a special reverence and learned so much. President Brown is always a great presence and I love hearing from him each time. Besides we were able to really help one member here who has been having a hard time, but I'm always impressed how the Lord gives us what we need in the moment. Or beforehand! 

Zone Conference in Lausanne Switzerland

Today we saw 2 new people this morning, and we were able to help the first find out she already had a testimony, and the 2nd we felt should just invite her to church, and then during the rdv she brings up church and wants to go! Heavenly Father always "comes in clutch" as Elder Richmond always put it, and I'm always humbled by what and All He does for us each and every day. May the Lord bless all of your weeks, and I hope your weeks will be even more guided as you prepare yourselves to be ready to have His help always. As we are prepared and do our very best, He always does His part. Have a good week and see you soon :)

Lots of love,
Elder Laney

Just another castle on another hilltop on the way to Switzerland...

Swiss Swag

A Week in the Alps (Week #3 Transfer #14)

Hey again,

So we had a really amazing week. Been taking advantage of soldes here since they are almost over, poor Elder Perez is just being dragged around as we hit up the mall for my last soldes.

Awesome French mall where soldes is in full force!

We will do a fun pday activity soon. Monday night we started the week off with some proselyting , did some more Tuesday and then drove 3 hours east into such a beautiful place, Lausanne (where the zone leaders are) is situated at the top of Lac Lémon (same lake that Geneva is on, but at the bottom) and is on a huge slope leading down to the lake, and across is a range of snow capped mountains on the other side. 

Lac Lémon from the Lausanne side

It was a beautiful sunny day and we saw just miracle after miracle, at one point we met this lady who told us God would put people in our path and who suggested we talk to the people not from Switzerland; later we fixed à rdv with a nice German man who spoke English and was super cool and had a good 30 minute conversation with this one awesome couple. They were super nice, and as we discussed the difference between the man's belief in man and our belief in God we felt the spirit testify super strong. The girlfriend was super touched and believed us, and she gladly received a brochure and our card, I pray they look further into what they felt. Anyway, it was a great way to be introduced to the Swiss, I'm in love with the country already.

Desserts in France are amazing!

We had a great District Meeting the next day and an even greater lunch (home made chicken noodle soup with dumplings + grilled cheese, thanks to good old Elder Pistole and Elder Kahn) and I bought way too much Swiss chocolate and sodas. I bought at least 3 bars of chocolate this week, all amazing. We that night got home for an exchange, I was with Elder Shirley who came in with Elder Nelson, it was a fun experience, and we taught a new Ami named Zoe who is from China, she is super awesome and is really considering baptism, and wants to learn more, we will see her again this week. Friday we enjoyed some good old porting and saw Nomena later, we taught her about the temple and she's excited to go.

We had a special experience where I had the opportunity to interview 2 men for baptism. Astounding examples, both of them, and they have come a long way and are doing so much to come to God. It was amazing to see in the end the hand of the Lord in this experience making it possible for these two to be baptized this next coming Saturday. I am elated at their progress and can't wait for them to make this step. I want to share my testimony from this experience with them that though we are imperfect, and our actions and our judgement and all, God will, if we do everything we can and give our all, do the rest. It's just a little we have to do and can do. But He will take the big step for us. That's what a Frere shared in sacrament testimony meeting Sunday. And I know it to be true. Have a wonderful week and remember you can always rely on the Lord. (Isaiah 49:5 -"and my God shall be my strength")

Love,
Elder Laney

An Even Warmer Week (Week #2 Transfer #14)

This week went really really well. Getting a lot warmer, lots of rain but it's nice the water isn't freezing now! I'm liking it. We got to see a lot of tender mercies and cool miracles of which I am always grateful. I find as we always work hard we see miracles every week. This week we started with a P-day, where I finally bought myself a good jacket, a nice wool one that will keep me nice and warm. We then had an exchange with the Besancon Elders, Elder Lanteires (who was in Toulouse zone when I was in Albi!) and Elder Shirley who's a bit newer in the mission. I was with Elder Lanteires and our exchange involved a lot of passing members and others who we hadn't seen in a while, and though no one was home, the bit of finding we did yielded a new ami, Mpiti, who is so cool! And hopefully another soon who was a really nice man. The other elders had no success contacting but tons while passing less active members so it worked out! Wednesday we got to drive out to a ville in the outskirts of town and see some members, she had like 6 cats and 4 dogs so it was fun haha.

Authentic Dijon Mustard from Dijon! Super good :) 

That night we had the WorldWide Missionary Broadcast, where we received much advice on our direction of preaching repentance and baptizing converts, the theme of the broadcast last year. Interestingly, we were given some changes in our schedules which allow us now to be a bit more free as missions and missionaries in using our decisions to plan things as they work best, which is really nice. Our mission has a new schedule which I believe will help us all to be more productive, effective, and relaxed at the same time without too much stress. Some really cool changes anyways.

Dijon divided by trains

Thursday we saw Souer Cuisiat and helped her in a really really difficult situation, but the spirit directed us to change our planned lesson instead to Ether 12:27 (me and Elder Perez had thought of the same exact scripture as we were listening to her and talked about sharing it after, it was really cool) and she was beaming by the end. What an amazing experience. We also helped her neighbor with a super heavy couch, and they gave us a pull up bar in return! I thanked them a lot and told them it would serve missionaries in Dijon for a long long time. The next day we had an exchange and I was with Elder Arne (came in with me! first time we've been together in our whole missions) and Elder Perez was with his companion Elder Walton. Had a great exchange, taught Mpiti and showed him the church, he's really taking this seriously which is cool, we should be seeing him next weekend. We then taught Nomena our recent convert which went really well. The next day we saw a member who hadn't been to church in a while and it was really cool to meet him, he was super grateful for our visit, and we taught Poe. Him and Tatiana should be married in April and then he wants to be baptized the day after! So cool! I'm super super excited for them both. Finished the week off with church, I gave a talk and then we both left since I wasn't feeling well but I'm doing much better! So it was a really great week in all. Lots of miracles. Love you all and I hope you have an awesome semaine and have fun as always, life is awesome :)

Love,
Elder Laney

A Cold Week full of Warm Experiences (Week #1 Transfer #14)

Warm greetings from Dijon,

So I'm starting to get used to the weather up here. I've been down in the south this whole time, spoiled with tons of sunshine and warm weather so I guess it was about time I experienced a little cold, haha!  This week was freezing, but it was good.  The first few days Elder Perez and I went contacting and porting outside and I don't think I've ever been outside for so long in such freezing weather, and I didn't have a winter coat either... but that's ok! I bought one today :) It's been getting warmer now so things should be a little less icy.

Got to see Elder Robards before he headed home!

Thursday we got to see our ami Poe with his girlfriend, who's a member. She helps him a lot in the lessons and he's progressing tons, so cool. They are planning their wedding soon and his baptism after which will be a great experience, I hope I'm here in April to be there to witness both!  Anyway, Friday we were finally able to see our ami Agnes since she's been pretty busy, but wow did we have a great rdv. She told us how she had done as we had asked and knelt and prayed if the Book of Mormon was true.. she explained a warm feeling she felt, one of peace. It is always amazing to see a beginning to someone's testimony.

So many beautiful churches and cathedrals here in Dijon!

We then saw Luc, an old ami who is interested, he is a nice man and I hope we can help him. We also got to teach Nomena our recent convert of only a few weeks, she takes tons of notes during the lessons and is very engaged, a great student and a cool person. Then got to also make a lot of plans with the leadership in the ward here to be able to get the work going with members and missionaries.  After a great Sunday and a great P-day of soldes shopping (I am a fan of french jackets), we are off to a good start to another week.  I ask only for your prayers that our elders and sisters in our mission are supported in their efforts to prepare the people in France before the dedication of the temple, it will be dedicated on May 21st, an event I am so excited to participate in, I believe our mission will have the chance. The very first temple in France!! It's going to be an amazing event. Also the cultural celebration I'm sure will be superb. 

Voilà a typical northern french street in an older town

Anyways I hope you all have a great week, this year is off to a good start for us and I hope it is for you too. Make those resolutions and make little goals to stick to them :) I find weekly goals to be very helpful. Have a happy week and I'll see you all real soon.

Lots of love,
Elder Laney

below: one of like 5 huge cathedrals here in Dijon, there's a lot of awesome architecture here as well as TONS of really really cool churches. Quite the sight. 

Cathedral in Dijon

To the North (Week #6 Transfer #13)

Hey everyone! So this transfer I'm finally off to the northern parts of France, (not really, our mission is the south, but it is the northernmost sector of our mission and I've been in the south the whole time with Tarbes, Albi, Manosque, Mont-de-Marsan and Toulon), so this is exciting! I'm now in Dijon, France (yes, where all the spicy mustard comes from) and I'm super psyched, my new companion is Elder Perez! From Salt lake, so that makes my 2nd Utah companion while in France, and he just finished Elder Robards so voilà, ran into Elder Robards when we switched in Lyon, so crazy he's going home. Well I'm excited for new things :) anyway, Dijon is a pretty ville with snow and is not far from Switzerland, we actually go there a few times each transfer which will be fun (Swiss chocolate!) and we also have a car!!  Last and most importantly the members and Amis here are great according to Elder Strong, Robards, and Perez so it should be awesome. Starting off with a good mangezvous tonight.

Elder Perez and Elder Laney

So our last week in Toulon was quite eventful.

So on P-day we checked out some shopping (soldes hadn't started yet so I haven't dropped on anything quite yet..) and watched Elder Thorne run a mile in 5:19.  Like a gazelle (went running in the morning a few times and I'll just say I can't run quite as fast...)  Tuesday we saw Etienne and Soeur Consales, Etienne is doing really good and reads what we give him, he's starting to learn more and get interested in the gospel. We saw Yvette and Didier a few times (Yvette came to church!) and it was fun, it was hard to say goodbye to them Sunday. On Thursday we went out to an outer ville called Hyeres to meet a referrel, Bernard.  Hilarious man, really nice too and super interested, it was funny because he would just go so hard on these big théories and stuff about religion. We left him with a Book of Mormon and though he didn't want to set up a 2nd rendezvous he was appreciative that we were there to answer any questions if he has any.  We saw Dominique as well and he seems to be doing better, still working towards giving up smoking and he's such a strong person.  We got to go visit Christoffer Saturday and I got to take the boat one last time, so fun, I love taking the boat.  It was Super windy last week and absolutely freezing so I was bundled up and wearing thermals even, despite the fact of being on the Azure coast.  Fun stuff. 

LDS Chapel in Dijon

It was a good week, and one of the miracles we had was this epic bus catch we had coming back from Hyeres.  We had come down from a hill from a passback and looked at the time and it was 10:40, we had a bus at 10:45 and were over a kilometer away.  So Elder Thorne tells me "we can make it!" and takes off, so I'm in a sad pursuit but we run all the way in the direction we believed the bus stop was, and as we approach it I see a bus pulling into traffic and yelled to Elder Thorne, and we just barely made it.  Because of that we were able to be on time and have our refs that most likely would have been canceled otherwise.  Haha, it was pretty fun, and we just kind of happened upon the bus stop not at all knowing the ville just the general direction, God can help us out with the small things too :) anyways have a great week and don't get too cold, especially those in Utah I hear it's insanely cold at the moment, so stay warm!

Lots of love
Elder Laney

Dijon France

ReBonjour (Week #5 Transfer #13)

Hey everyone! We had a good week, a little slow as we are still having trouble with seeing some of our Amis, but we've been fixing some rendezvous so things should be going forward a bit more. For example Didier got back from vacation and seems well, and his mom is making a lot of progress, she even read the chapter we gave her 2 times and understood the atonement super well so that was cool. 

Adventures in French travel...

Last P-day we just relaxed and then did a lot of contacting the next few days. One day we got a call from Efoma, Abraham's sister, telling us her sister Joy wants to be baptized and start coming to church with the new year. Such a cool miracle, we went to see them and we have started teaching Joy and Efoma which is really cool, and it's in English so even better! Haha, always refreshing to teach in English. Haha I get thrown off though, not used to it. 

Charles de Gaulle and the French fleet in Toulon harbor

We've also started teaching a less active lady over 90 years old named Soeur Varlet who is awesome, she's super funny and super fun to see. We found her after passing a name on a list I felt like we should pass, she was home and ever since has been telling us how God does his thing and how crazy it is we found her. So cool. Our bishop told us after she is "absolument délicieuse" which apparently In French is not weird to say at all! Haha, just means she's awesome. Anyways it was a good week for that, and we made some calls and should be seeing some new people too this week.

Petrified Bread.  This is what happens when Elder Golightly bakes...

De tout façon I hope you all have a good week! Make sure to follow the Spirit, I know as we do He'll tell us small little things we can do to help people and He'll do it in small ways.  I've learned we just need to follow good thoughts most of the time, but I also know as we follow the Spirit we will come to recognize His voice more and more. That's definitely one of the greatest gifts I've had on my mission so far :)

Avec amour,
Elder Laney

Bonne Année!! (week #4 Transfer #13)

Hey friends,

We had a great windup to the year, just a good week full of miracles and contacting, seeing some Amis and doing work as usual. I always have such a testimony of this work as I go each week, little miracles and things that would never happen otherwise always take place as we work hard, seek revelation and do our best. Miracles are super cool, and we see a lot of small ones on the day to day, and more significant ones as needed. It's really cool, an the mission has already shown me a lot of this and that that is true. As for our Amis, Dominique is doing really good and Azam is learning some which is cool, we found this family who is really cool and needs our prayers, the family Fernandez Gomez, they are having a hard time but are very open an know already this is true which is so cool.

Toulon Bay

Well after 2016 in France it is interesting to reflect on it, it went by real fast, but also it is amazing and incredible to think about how much happened during just a short 12 months and how much I have learned, grown, and changed. It is a great blessing. I encourage you all to reflect on your past year, remember the good memories and then think of this year, think of what you would like to do, goals and adventures you will have and plan on them. I know Planning helps :) (we plan a LOT) but really it is a cool opportunity to reflect on cherished memories and to look forward. I did the reflecting part this morning and it was cool.

Toulon Harbor

Well I hope you all had a great week! Love you lots and I wish you all again a happy new year! Bonne année!!!

Avec beaucoup d'amour et gratitude,
Elder Laney