During a migraine episode, we had an appointment scheduled with a non-progressing investigator with major word of wisdom issues. Keep them affordable, too. Understood more the culture of the people. (Anonymous), I served in an ever changing mission with boundary changes, area closures and much adversity, but I still had a very successful mission serving in 8 different areas, living in 10 different apartments with 15 different companions. The LDS Church in French Polynesia was founded in 1843 as the first foreign-language mission of the church. (Bryan), One of so many would be having my companion feel prompted enough by the Spirit and asked a devout Muslim to kneel with us and offer a prayer and end in the name of Jesus Christ. (Dennis), One day we stopped a girl in the center of La Rochelle, we had a chat about the Gospel, she told us she had relatives who are Latter-day Saints. (Nicholai), Be more outgoing and less afraid of making mistakes. (Doug), Paris, Versailles, Nantes, Chatiillon, Pau, Tarbes, Bordeaux. To this day, he recalls how miraculous it was to meet missionaries in Arizona who could speak his language. (Nicholai), I walked around for the first 6 weeks saying that Jesus Christ is my flavor because the words for savior and flavor are really close. How to get along with another annoying person. (Drew), Teaching the lessons and seeing the baptism of a young refugee from the Ukraine. I also gained a lot of confidence and happiness. Scriptures Gospel Library Gospel Media Music Library. Almost all of these people are warm and wonderful. There are many Muslim people in France. (Jacob), A stronger testimony of the Gospel. The missionaries attracted converts and established a base for more Latter-day Saint French-speaking immigrants. Be humble, be simple. My first name is Jeff. So I went with that mindset, and I found that the mission was the most fun that Ive ever had. It was awesome to see her progress, her maturity in the gospel, and how the Gospel filled her life with joy. (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. To do otherwise will keep you from speaking for a good part of your mission. Talking to people. My best reasoning is that however we got here as we are now (Big Bang or whatever), we are here. There are a lot of micro climates. It always opens doors. Make sure youre prepared. (Drew), I had the opportunity to teach the missionary discussions in seven different languages over the course of my mission. Give Him your time and dont bring your own agenda. French Population. How to work harder when exhausted. We really should have gotten off, shouldnt we! (Kara), Spent a year in Rouen.it rained a lot. (Nicholai), Temperate 4 seasons. (Dennis), Planning, prioritizing, organizing meetings and much more. We soon discovered that the Arizona Phoenix Mission is home to a large population of French speakers originally from West and Central Africa, Haiti, and other countries around the world. (Drew), I was on splits the first night of my mission with two elders. 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. (Bryan), Calling a Madame a Monsieur . Diligent, heartfelt service with a true, sincere care for others pays dividends. We were there for 20 years before making the journey to America., Brother Luala felt grateful just to come to the United States, but the Lord had more in store for him. We were going to take a trip to Spain but decided not to. (Scott), The history was amazing!!! Wescoured YouTubeto find the best quality videos aboutFrance, that are free from inappropriate music, immodesty and profanity. (Mariah), Dont wear your clothes to deathjust buy some new suits when the old are worn out and the same goes for your shoes. During the 1960s, Church membership increased fivefold as missionaries and members worked to spread the gospel. (Jacob), We had an investigator who was searching for something better in life. I saw almost 50 baptisms in my 18 months. Well, us Canadians (me) did not have a clue how wild the American missionaries would be. (Drew), Paris West & East, St. Brieuc, Versailles. Less stuff to pack is less stuff you have to carry around and keep up with. Either how they got to France, how they found their faith/the Missionaries, some people were alive during WWII, etc. (Elsa), It was very humid, with warm summers and cold winters. (Anonymous), Great food and some very wonderful people who really dont know where to find the truth. One or two probably turned away, but one man was at least curious. Ratatouille. I tapped him on the shoulder after we crossed the street and started talking to him. Just an inch or two of snow, two months of cold, and only a few weeks of hot. France Paris Mission Also, most of our transfers were by train, not automobile. Buy French Language LDS Missionary France or Quebec Mission Tank Top: Shop top fashion brands Tanks & Camis at Amazon.com FREE DELIVERY and Returns possible on eligible purchases Amazon.com: French Language LDS Missionary France or Quebec Mission Tank Top : Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry Summers, you need to organize your time so that you arent in the sun for too long of a period. We were encouraging our amie to stop smoking and thought we were saying it would be more pleasant for her husband kissing her if she stopped. Croissante aux aumaund. (Kara), Personal discipline and a love for life. Learned how to get along with a companion whom you were with 24/7 in every sense of the word. I love their appreciation and priority for music and the arts. Very little snow (winter in Orleans). I felt the Spirit very strongly as I was able to answer Yes. You will become fluent enough. The Gift of Tongues is a very real and very beautiful thing, I can testify to that. It snowed in Paris the winter I served in the mission office and I may have thrown a snowball at a member of President Bennions family. Knowing that you gave your best and you know the truth now. (Mariah), I have some of the most amazing friends who have been able to come visit in the U.S. She was overjoyed when we caught up with her! (Douglas), Crme brle, lapin la moutarde, crpes, couscous algrienne, une bonne quiche, et un sandwich baguette pour quelques euros sur la rue. Bread. (Drew), Pain au chocolate. amertune 10 yr. ago Forgot about Tahiti, even though one of my MTC teachers served there. (Elsa), A gypsy kid stole my companions cheeseburger at one of the McDonalds on Rue Ste. (Doug), Congratulated a person for having been robbed. The honeymoon might last a bit longer (a year or two) but if your partner or yourself are not grounded in the gospel, some rough, exciting, sad times are ahead of you. The ability to learn and speak another language. The cities are full of people from every country imaginable. (Michael), Just be careful where you go after dark. (Dennis), Once they opened up to you, you had a friend for life. Goat cheese salads. I wish Id understood things about the Temple more when I was there attending so much so I couldve more fully appreciated the experience. (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. He is the beginning and the end (Revelation 22:13). The French-speaking members in Phoenix have a deep love for the Savior and strong testimonies that God knows each of His children. (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. We will have mastered all of the elements and planets and will have made our race immortal. 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. You can get souvenirs, mementos, whatever, just remember that if you cant mail it home, though, youll have to carry it in a suitcase somehow. 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. We were knocking doors, a little girl opened the door. 65,950,000 (July 2013 estimate) Operating. Those young men were us giving him the Book Of Mormon. (Jacob), We were riding bikes one day with our skirts pinned and our helmets. Pretty hot in the summer. Alpine German-Speaking Mission. LDS Mission shirts come in all sizes: Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, up to 4XL. You never know what the Lord has in store for the friendships you build with members and investigators. basically serving in Nogent was 10 months of a fantastic spiritual experience that has continued ever since. Fortitude. Then he tried to get between us. Now, as I work, it seems a lot of people only want to associate with those who can help them. My DNA be stolen or something? (Bryan), Almost knocked out a drunk Irish guy that kept jabbing me in the side trying to start a fight. Chinese people are absolutely amazing, humble and kind. 2017-2020, Paul J. Sorensen 2014-2017, Frdric Jean Babin 2011-2014, Franck A. Poznanski 2008-2011, Don H. Staheli ( Listen to an interview with the Stahelis) 2005-2008, Steven H. Pond 2002-2005, Lynn Bennion 1999-2002, David W. Madsen 1996-1999, Dennis K. Brown (Merrilyn), I never ate cheese in my life. Argentina Buenos Aires North. Utah Salt Lake City East Mission. It was a dangerous part of town, but we were just going to the train. In a recent general conference talk, President HenryB. Eyring, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, quoted the First Presidency in 1840 saying, The work which has to be accomplished in the last days is one of vast importance, and will call into action the energy, skill, talent, and ability of the Saints.4 We are each where we are for a reason, and no effort consecrated to accomplishing the work of the Lord will go unnoticed by Him. Since we did nothing everyone was a lot nicer to us. They also do their own laundry, exercise daily, eat nutritious meals provided by each MTC cafeteria and stay in touch with family and friends via weekly emails. (Paul), France felt like home and still does. I smiled kindly and struck up a conversation. Camembert & Brie. Dont hold yourself back. Dont worry about yourself and focus on the Lord and His work you will be happier. We will in effect be Gods. Dont make derogatory remarks about the French. I can get along with almost anyone. It never got too cold, but spending too much time outdoors in the winter was chilly business. This list includes the missionarys name, URL and when their blog was updated. You prayed that we would have a fruitful evening! The Lord answers prayers! Yes. (Michael), Bread. My grammar became worse because of the foreign language, but I learned to explain basic concepts and then building up to more complex concepts as a missionary. A bit rainy in the winter but otherwise okay. (Michael), In Meaux, a Sunday School instructor asked me to get a tableau. (Mariah), My mission is one of the hardest, you dont see many missionaries on bikes, we walk, drive, or use the subways. We taught them most of the discussions and they attended church several times and other church activities. Love the people and dont judge others :)(Jordan), Read the scriptures out loud in the language. But really, I didnt realize it would be some of the most fun Id ever experienced in my life and so much fulfillment and finding myself. Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his wife, Sister Kathy Andersen, spoke at the first of six area devotionals . We used a translator. (Nicholai), Finding Jean-Claude at a bus station and seeing his life change in just 3 weeks. A man opened the door in a small robe and when we asked him if he spoke English, he swung the door wide open and revealed a butcher knife in his hand. (Alex), Pain au chocolat, baguette, Gouda, boxed soup, Brie. (Dennis), One time some members friends gave us a dozen apples or so just after we visited them. Layers. The Quebec Mission (later changed to the Canada Montreal Mission) was created in 1972, and by 1974 several French-speaking branches were created. Sharing the Gospel Online. No smoking no drinking NO DRINKING WINE. (Bryan), The Bible better and Book of Mormon. (Anonymous), My companion and I were beat up by three Arabs about a month after 9/11. We waited for the train going the other direction and it must have been 30-40 minutes later that we got off at her stop. It is possible to spend all day just speaking Chinese. Missionary Training Center. (Michael), Paris (twice), Tours, Meaux, St. Nazaire, Limoges, Cherbourg, Rennes. More trust in the Lord. (Mariah), In the ghettos, having some people try to take your cell phones or cameras. His friend pulled him away but we were scared, partially from the sense that we were not as well protected because we had not been obedient that day. I thought they were knocking at my door, and I opened the door, he says. We dont use cars for transfers. (Bryan), Very atheist. (Douglas), Someone stopped me on the street and started asking about us. You were called to that area to talk to the people you will talk to for a specific reason. I wish I knew the doctrine better or even had a stronger testimony on certain things. That is the adversary trying to stop you and demotivate you.go into the mission believing you will find those who have been prepared. 7. He has prepared a way for them to hear the most important message of all time by calling French-speaking missionaries to find them and invite them to come and see and come and belong.2 No matter how long we may have traveled or how long we may have been searching, not one of us is ever forgotten by our Heavenly Father. We had an elder from England who had not done language training. (Roberto), My dad served in the Franco-Belge Mission 20 years earlier. Then they asked me if they could visit my home because they had a message for me.. We had a great appointment; he finally started to break his habits and read the scriptures himself afterwards. I never actually baptized someone the entire 2 years I served. I learned to love a large variety of foods. Charleroi is my idea of Zion. Heres a list of LDS missionary blogs for the ParisMission. This is a list I made from information from Lifey, current language needs for senior couples, mission websites, and locations of non-English speaking units in the US. Learn on your mission how to recognize the kind of person you do not want to be tied to and the kind you do AND LEARN HOW TO BE THE KIND OF PERSON THAT WILL MAKE A RELATIONSHIP LAST. Just trust in the Lord. Today, more than 59,000 Saints across Spain are "remembering without ceasing [their] work of faith, and labour of love" (1 Thessalonians 1:3). (Michael), French! Later that night, my trainer asked me Elder, do you remember what you prayed for before we left our apartment? Free resources about the France ParisMission: *OtherMission Pages:FranceLDS Missions. Her brother had just accepted the gospel and told her about the blessings he had received and she wanted to know more. The celebration will feature a 364-voice adult choir, a 120-voice children's choir and performances of Latin American, Native American and Pacific Islander folk dances all commemorating the Book. So we turned the other way, and kept walking and bustling through the busy city square. (Zakarias), Our mission is the highest baptizing mission in Europe (except Cabo Verde), and also happens to be the best in the entire world! (Jacob), Be as obedient as you possibly can, but dont beat yourself up if you occasionally are not. It took some good companions to fix that. France Marseille Mission. (Paul), Paris, Vannes, Alencon, La Rochelle, Mantes-la-Jolie, Rennes,and Caen. Friends. (Chloe), Any kind of cheese and bread and Greque kebabs. Try to hold out for Soldes for major discounts. I did not have the gift of tongues from the get go, but I learned to accept myself for mistakes. They encourage you to learn French, and become part of their home. (Anonymous), The end of a mission is the beginning of a life mission to grow and serve. The very first one!? Cant remember the name of the main cheese I loved. How to see others in a different light and to love them and feel compassion for them. I love their politeness, manners and gentility. One was when a recent convert learn how to read by sounding out words from the Book of Mormon and the Gospel Principles manual. He said that translated it meant throat support so I thought it made sense. Crepes, raclette, burrito fete, pastries, Had a knife pulled on me and was jumped by a group of young Arabs. Most of which concern public transportation and drunk people, haha. (Kara), First French stake formed in 1975. (Mariah), I packed all the stuff on the list and used almost everything. Its the Lords. Saints and sant (what is bloody) make the same sound to an English ear. (Doug), Getting stuck in metro doors. (Paul), Forget about home and engulf yourself in the gospel, the language and the French culture. In the end, the most important part of the letter we both received that day were the words, You are hereby called to serve. We love our assignment in French-speaking Arizona, but most of all, we love participating in the work of the Lord. When we left the appointment and went down the stairs, the migraine and weakness both returned. Foofoo. Lots of translating opportunities. When we got there it turned out that the sister missionaries where there as well. In 1975, the first stake in France was organized in Paris. This gives them something real serious to think about. You will be forever blessed in every aspect of your life. If not, they are cheap enough where you can buy a few. Rainy springs. Light skirts for humidity. (Anna), Lapin la moutarde, fraisiers, quiche, poulet aux arachides Africain. Here are LDS-friendly educational videos aboutFrance. American baggy clothes stick out like a sore thumb. Enduring to the end. (Drew), There is so much history in France, and such a warm culture. (Scott), When I was serving in Belgium, we were walking with our recent convert to his house when he ran in front of us and mooned us hahaha. Life-long friends. Missionaries: Historical Antecedents and Foundations for Current Church Policies and Institutions Lynn Henrichsen In 1830, just one language --English --was used in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. I asked for her name as she ran out and she yelled it back. (UK), French is hard and the only way you can learn is by trying and making mistakes and learning if you speak and read and write French. For my last few transfers, we were able to get 20 lessons a week, which is stellar for any mission, especially with larger geographic alliance. A big reason that I memorized the discussions so quickly and taught so many shallow street lessons was to be better than others. From opposite ends of the Pacific, we both gazed down at those words in our letters wondering, Who in Arizona needs to hear about the gospel of Jesus Christ in French?. (Dennis), We were almost missing a train, so I started to drive with my best Italian style..It was quite dangerous because people dont seem to follow Italian streets rules. Keep your wardrobe practical. (Kara), French (study a second language early). (Michael), Too many to list. (Dennis), Do not feel like you are not finding success if there are few baptisms. Wind chill drops the temp 10 degrees and the wind cuts through any clothing you have. We finally ran into one of our Evangelical African friends who cast out the demon in him. (Kara), I mistakenly told a member in the hospital that I was glad that she smelled better, rather than feeling better. (For sisters) A coat with a hood. I learned a valuable language. A week or two in snow, rain in fall and spring, a couple days of gusty wind, and sunshine otherwise. But throughout the course of our service, the Spirit has confirmed to us that we are exactly where the Lord needs us to be and that He will magnify our efforts to accomplish His will here in this corner of the earth. People are proper and polite, they love their language, beauty and history. IMO (Dennis), If you obey, work and communicate openly with your companion, you will be happy. 4. Buy one that will fit a book of Mormon, some pamphlets, a water bottle and a camera. But there are cheap marchs that youll walk through on P-day, shampoo & hygiene products you can pick up for a euro or two in big subway stations like La Dfense as you switch trains and things like that. I know Christ and his mission on earth. (Zakarias), Anything you need you can buy in France. I walked around for the first 6 weeks saying that Jesus Christ is my flavor because the words for savior and flavor are really close. (Matt), Let your mission be a compass for the rest of your life. I love the cosmopolitan, international nature of the cities there, meeting people from every nation, all working together. Member for less than a year but almost a year. Mainly humid. (Drew), Soak up the Temple experience while at the Mission Training Center as much as possible. Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service, Children and Youth: A Face to Face Event with Elder GerritW. Gong. She met the missionaries after her member friend told her about how priesthood holders can bless homes, and this really helped her and her family. Well, Sunday came, and he showed up in a three-piece suit looking like he was a groom! (Valan), St Quentin, St Omer, Brussels, Paris, Nantes, Tours. (Dennis), My wife was my MTC teacher..I think that covers a lot. We kept working through the crowd, and somehow, up ahead another block or two away was that bright pink. I discovered a lot about myself. (Paul), Little to no snow.. humid. The best was in Nantes or Bordeaux where we met in a three story house. Letting truth fill them and watching them achieve their potential. When I got there, it was amazing how many members came over to welcome me back with so much love even though I had been gone for quite some time in a different area. 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! Family unity. The ethnicity is add broad as you will ever find. John Conway and I took the weekend off and biked up to a mountain village. Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service, rev. There are so many types of transportation that you have to figure out how and when to use. For many of them, the path that led them to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ wasnt easy, but meeting these people has helped us see how the Lord guides people to find His true gospel. That was always a good spiritual experience. And those talents are specifically required for the people you teach. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides relief and development projects for humanitarian purposes in countries all over the world. (Paul), Some kids were throwing dirt clods at an old man and we told them to stop. (Roberto), Speaking to others about the gospel, building relationships, leadership skills and following through on commitments, being a strong ward member, and speaking French. Great way to finish! I loved having meals with the people. There was also this ptisserie near the Asniere sur Seine gare that had the worlds greatest beignets. My trainer replied Hey, Eldersonnerie means doorbell. (Zakarias), Baiser-careful!! Never had done it. You are hereby called to serve in the Arizona Phoenix Mission. Love and serve your companion and those you meet. 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. I could tell immediately that he was not interested, so we tried to go the other way, but he followed us. (Chloe), Too many to appropriately list here. Cheese. Preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ to all the people of the world, each in their own language, is a mandate from God. (Mariah), Kabobs, fajitas, cheese, raqulette, burritos, crepes, Charlotte au chocolate, baguette with butter and chocolate and chocolate. I technically served 2 missions. If this will happen in the future given the eternity of time ahead of us why is it not just as reasonable to conclude that this has happened in the past and that we are part of a immortal eternal race who are here on earth to learn how to make moral decisions without being forced to IE Agency. I just waited until the last possible month to earn it. Surely there will be hard and discouraging times. Blessings continue to flow from service. The quicker you do the faster you will start to have one of the most cherished times of your life. ed. Knowing to use common sense. Utah Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission. Charles E. Jones (1990-93) Group, Paris Mission- Dennis K. Brown (1996-99) Group, Paris Mission Heber M. Thompson (1993-96) Group, Paris Mission Moms and Friends (LDS) Group, Paris Mission- President Johnson (1987-90) Group, 30 Funny French Language Mistakes LDS Missionaries Have Made, Things That Keep People From Recording Their Lifey (And Why They Shouldn't), Paris, Orlans, Cergy-Pontoise, Caen, and Cherbourg. Dress and Grooming. (Matt), Being organized, clean, proper with others, patient, happy, and a leader. Also, companionship study could be very spiritual because we were studying similar doctrine together and discussing what we learned in detail. The food is unforgettable. (Valan), Dont bring tons of American clothes. (Bryan), Galettes. Love the people. Save some money and buy a suit or two in France. (Dennis), Raclette, Crpes, Quiche lorraine, Ptisseries (viennoise and pain au chocolat aux amandes), African peanut chicken sauce and rice, and Baguette ham & gruyre sandwich. (Anna), We had decided to go up to a specific village a few train stops away to do some finding. Alaska Anchorage. (Chloe), Do not bring clothes hangers even though the missionary preparation manuals advise it. Have faith in God (Bryan), Forget yourself and go to work. (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. Many of them understand English. Caresser is to pet. How to build an extra floor on a building. However, as we climbed the stairs I felt the migraine lift and strength return. Jodi T. and Scott M. Naatjes. Though the laborers in France have often been few, the harvest has indeed been great (see Luke 10:2). The translator was a new convert too and it was so cool to see her learning as we taught. The people who remember you most are often the companions you serve with so be good to each other. Always soaking wet, get water resistant everything. Many people told me I wouldnt see any since I was going to France. Utah Salt Lake City Mission. (Jeffrey), A warm coat for winter that can withstand wind and rain. Do as much of your study, reading, and praying in your mission language as possible. Cheese. They were going against a whole lifetime of culture to live the principles of the gospel. Rain gear a must. The claires chocolats there were really good, too. Like when someone disses someone and you say Burn! well I said Brul (burn) and found out that doesnt work too well. The grandmothers are all converts, and there are very few third-generation members. (Jeffrey), Immerse yourself in the work. Id never had that happen before. Make sure your luggage can roll so it is easier to travel on transfer days. Learning to talk with anyone from any background. (Matt), Bread and cheese, snails, sauerkraut with various meats, fries and the different sauces that France and Belgium have to offer. Paris P-Days are so much fun. The temperatures didnt seem all that different than the, Cloudy and rainy. That lead to us teaching he and his girlfriend. 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. You are assigned to teach in the French language. We were both more than surprised to receive such a mission call. And I loved hearing peoples stories. We do them ourselves using buses, metros and trains. Try to keep it as small as possible. (Anna), There are two separate cultures in the mission: The city culture and the countryside culture. He decided to be baptized. Not a big one. (Anonymous), Missing the last bus, attempting to hitch hike back home. Often, they were primarily taught by other members or missionaries, but the fact is that there are lots of baptisms going on, and it is beautiful! The country side is amazing. Connecting Daughters of God with His Priesthood Power, Unlocking the Door to Personal Revelation, Grappling with Unanswered Gospel Questions, How Studying Church History Strengthens My Faith, Do You Have Questions about the Gospel? My advice is to rely with all your heart on the Lord and you will make it. There are 346 missions in this index. They love fine food, good education, good music, small gatherings, they dress nicely and are generous. As the sister missionaries who served in this area before us visited him and the Spirit taught him, he came to know for himself the truthfulness of the message they shared. His daughters letting members dedicate his grave, his daughters accepting the LDM that the members gave them with their testimonies of eternal families. (Paul), A second language. (Anonymous), Getting along with your companion is more important than you ever would believe. Good wheels if you have them. Tropical island Evan Long, a BYU student from Oregon, expected malaria pills and poverty when he opened his mission call to Antananarivo, Madagascar.