It is such a blessing to share my missionary life with all
of you and I hope I am able to convey the truly miraculous experience I am
having here on my mission and my testimony of Jesus Christ. With the very limited
time I have on Mondays, I am so grateful for my parents as they take my message
and post it with photos on this blog during the week. I really feel that you
all are sharing a part of this wonderful experience with me. I would like to
wish my dad and Grandma Vance an early HAPPY BIRTHDAY from Paris, France! I
love you both so much and will be thinking of you on your special days. Also, I
recently received news that Ryan, the son of one of our recent converts (Astou),
was baptized this past weekend! It is incredible knowing that our simple
efforts as missionaries can end up affecting generations!
Soeur Hill and I had another great week together here in
Paris. I am starting to get a feel for the area and am starting to absolutely
love it here. Every day is new and exciting, and I know we will be blessed as
we continue to go forth in faith to find those who are searching for the truth.
Halimata and Ammara are continuing to progress towards
baptism. We set a date with Ammara for November 30th, so please keep
her in your prayers!
On Halloween, Soeur Hill and I met a French woman named
Samia. It was dark and there weren’t a lot of people on the streets, but we
both felt the sudden prompting to cross the street and talk to the woman who
was holding a baby and pushing a stroller. We introduced ourselves and explained
our purpose as missionaries … to invite others to come unto Christ. She said
she was on her way to the Boulangerie (bakery or sandwich store) and asked that
we continue walking with her. She went inside and bought a small treat for her
3-year-old son named Dylan and came back out. Samia then explained that she was
Christian and that her ancestors were from Algeria. She said she had so many
questions and had felt like she had been spending her entire life searching for
the truth. She then invited us to her home, where we were able to share the
beginning part of our message of the restored gospel and pray with her.
We were so excited and set another time to meet with her the
following week. She called us the day before and said she couldn’t meet with us
because her children were sick. We were kind of bummed out and weren’t sure
that she was still interested to learn more.
On Saturday of that week, Samia called us out of the blue
and asked if we were free to meet with her that afternoon. I was on an exchange
with a member in St.Ouen for the day, so Soeur Hill and a member went over and
taught her more about the gospel. Samia wasn’t lying … her kids WERE sick! Her
little girl had chicken pox all over her face! Soeur Hill told me the lesson went
well and that Samia had decided she would start reading The Book of Mormon.
This past Sunday at church … one of those days missionaries
dream of … Samia, her husband Ferrah and their two cute children came to church!!!
WE HAD AN ENTIRE FRENCH FAMILY AT CHURCH!!! My face hurt from smiling as I
couldn’t seem to control the joy I was feeling inside. There was something so
powerful and special about seeing a husband, wife, and two little children
together in the chapel.
It was such a blessing and I am SO excited to see where this
will go. They are such a sweet little family and they have the greatest desire
to learn and find the truth. I had the chance to talk with her husband a little
bit in the hallway after church and he was asking so many questions, telling me
he knew there is one God, and as such, there has to only be one true church.
They were admiring the pictures of Christ on the walls and I know they felt the
Spirit while they were there.
I know the gospel is true. I know the Lord helps us reach our
goals when we are obedient and are doing all we can to do His work. Please pray
for this sweet family! I am not sure what will happen but we will continue to
teach them about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ in hopes of one day
helping them be sealed in the temple for time and all eternity!
"Do your best; your very, very best. Say your prayers and work
hard and leave the harvest to the Lord." - President Gordon B.
Hinckley
Love you,
Soeur Madeline Vance
23, rue du Onze
Novembre
78110 Le Vesinet – FRANCE