Tout Autour de la Tour Eiffel

Transfer News! I am staying in Paris! My new companion is Soeur Doyle, a sister who has been out for a year or so. It should be great! Soeur Wynn is leaving me, haha, and going to Angers, which will probably be her last city before we … are transferred to a city in the United States! I am so grateful for her example and leadership qualities. It was always our dream to serve together, and we sure did! We saw so many miracles, I will forever be grateful for our time together! Also, my last companion, Soeur Kohlert just got transferred to Villeneuve Dascq!!! That’s where I started my mission! I am so excited for her to meet all of the wonderful people I grew to love there!

This week we decided to change things up and just be tourists and spend every chance we could around the Eiffel Tower. No, I'm kidding, it just so happened that a lot of our activities and work we were all in places around the Eiffel Tower! It was always in view and we felt so spoiled! We had a district meeting picnic with a group of missionaries in the park in front of the Eiffel Tower. It was really funny because it was pouring rain, but we were protected in the gazebo we were in. We talked about recognizing God’s hand in our daily lives and how that truly gives us the strength to press forward. The Spirit was so strong as we each shared personal experiences we have had about how we know with a surety that God is aware of us and knows us personally.

Later in the week, we had lessons at this same park with our amie, Caroline. She is a beautiful, middle-aged French woman with an adorable yorkie dog who tags along every time. She also has a 20-year-old daughter who is a professional ballerina here in France! She had a serious audition this past week, and we all prayed for her, and she was chosen to be one of three dancers selected out of 300 dancers to perform in the Grand Theater in Bordeaux! Prayer and hard work definitely pays off! Caroline is interested in feeling a stronger connection to God in her life and has been reading the Book of Mormon! She asks great questions and even came to church on Sunday! It was Mother’s Day here in France, and Caroline was touched by the messages shared on the importance of developing motherly qualities. I’m excited to see how she progresses!

We also did a Helping Hands service project with the ward, picking up trash in the beautiful park surrounding the Eiffel Tower. We were in normal street clothes, and I decided it would be the perfect opportunity to sport my Paris Saint Germain jersey. It was fun, and there were even a few people who came up and questioned us about our nametags.

Our baptisms with Michele and Sandrine didn’t go through this past weekend. We found ourselves a bit disappointed at times, but it was incredible to see how the Lord blessed us in other ways. Michele is still working on giving up smoking and Sandrine wanted to wait a few more weeks, which is fine. We are excited to keep working with them towards their new dates coming up in June!

One morning, Soeur Wynn woke up and told me she had a dream. She told me of a woman named Madame Dedenis, and how she felt like we needed to pass by and see her. She seemed somewhat hesitant about going, but I reminded her that if she felt prompted to do something, that we needed to do it. We were pretty booked for the day with appointments, but we decided we would go by anyway. When we finally stopped by, it was the end of the day, around 8:30pm. We didn’t have much time, and right before we arrived, Soeur Wynn told me the story of this 60-year-old French woman, Madame Dedenis. She had referred herself online to receive the missionaries, as she was interested in genealogy, but after a few lessons with the sisters, she stopped completely. She wanted nothing more to do with the church and none of the missionaries knew why.

When we knocked on her door, she smiled and let us right in. Soeur Wynn turned to me with a huge surprised look on her face, not believing how willing she was to let us in! We walked through cluttered pathways, squeezing through stacks and stacks of books to sit on her bed in this single room apartment. I introduced myself, and joked saying, "Do you like to read?" She laughed and started to tell us all about her love for learning and love of God. We weren’t sure where to start, but we simply asked how she was doing.

All of a sudden, the room went quiet. Madame Dedenis, turned to us with tears in her eyes and said, "I have cancer." My heart broke for this perfect stranger, and I couldn’t help but tear up as I heard her weep. We said we were so sorry, and asked her when she had found out. She replied, "About 40 minutes ago. I came home straight from the doctor. It’s such hard news, you know? I can’t tell anyone … my aged mother has severe health problems and couldn’t take the news. My sweet daughter has a family of her own, and I can’t worry her with my problems. But it feels so good to tell somebody. How did you know to come? I will forever thank my God that you came."

Soeur Wynn and I turned to each other with our jaws dropped! We had no idea! Madame Dedenis continued to confide in us and we testified of the peace we can all find through the Atonement of Christ. It was incredible! She kept thanking us for coming and tears of joy fell down her face as she hugged us goodbye.

As we walked home, Soeur Wynn and I just shook our heads, in awe of the miracle that had just occurred. It was sprinkling rain so we pulled out our umbrellas and began talking about how we know that God truly does love his children, and how perfectly timed our visit was with her. As we turned to enter the metro, our eyes caught the most beautiful thing: a rainbow, gleaming across the sky. I couldn’t help but smile as I realized that our Heavenly Father had left his celestial signature to remind us that He really is there, and that He loves ALL of His children!

I know there are no such things as coincidences. The Lord has a plan for each of us and plays a very large role in our everyday lives. Whether we choose to see those blessings or not is up to us. I know that He knows me by name. He truly is our Father and He knows what is best for us!

I am so excited for this upcoming transfer, to be working with my new companion, Soeur Doyle! Our mission is still shooting for our goal of 125 baptisms before the end of June! We are at 61! I know that our amies in Paris that are preparing for their baptism can be a part of this inspired goal! Thank you for your thoughts, prayers, emails and letters. I have never felt more love and support than at this time. I LOVE MY MISSION! Have a wonderful week!

Soeur Madeline Vance

Synergy ... Blessed for Her Service

Ever since I hit my year mark this past February, I flip open my old journals every day from the beginning of my mission and read my entry from that same day the year before (today I read from the end of May 2013). It has been such a blessing to read my frustrations at the time as a young missionary, and how I slowly progressed to become the young woman and missionary I am today. Reflecting on those times, has helped me see how much I have grown, and how certain experiences touched my heart back then. I encourage all of those who are either serving or planning to serve to do the same, as it truly has been a rewarding and amusing experience for me!

On Tuesday, I did an exchange with a missionary named Soeur Hosking, as she came to Paris for the day. That morning as we were setting goals together, and I couldn’t help but think of my sister, Lydia who was entering the Madrid MTC that very day. I kept a prayer in my heart for Lydia that all would go well, and knew that I would feel a difference knowing she was out here in the mission field with me.

We made goals to testify from our hearts and really mean everything we said to others. We wanted to create an atmosphere for others to have a spiritual experience when talking with us. We set out for the day to do some finding, and the second we stepped on the metro Soeur Hosking started talking with a woman in red. She explained that she is from the United States and that she is learning French, and told them about Jesus Christ and the joy that it brings into her life. I was super impressed! I was not expecting such boldness from such a young missionary. I joined in and we had a great conversation with the woman, leaving her with a card. We switched metros several different times, and EVERY time this young missionary was turning to her right and to her left, opening her mouth and sharing this wonderful message with everyone around her! She was so friendly and loving and the people seemed to positively respond every time. There was one moment when Soeur Hosking and I were sitting on different sides of the metro car, each engaged in different gospel conversations with a small group of people! It was incredible. I felt something special in that moment, as I prayed for the right words to say, only to look over and see Soeur Hosking listening intently to those sitting across from her. Synergy. Unity.

The miracles started flooding in. We had plans of returning home for lunch, but every time we passed our stop to get off on the metro line, we were each too engaged in a great gospel conversation to get up and leave. We must have rode that same metro line 5 or 6 times!!!

We saw so many miracles, including the chance I had to meet a woman from Madrid! I was able to testify of living prophets and also tell her that my sister had just went to the missionary training center there to prepare to become a missionary just like me!

Soeur Hosking later complimented a young woman named Nina on her cute coat, and we got off the metro and taught her a whole lesson right then and there! She was super touched by the prayer we had with her and even came to church on Sunday!! She said, "When I came to church this morning, I was not expecting this ... but what I’ve come to realize that this is the church I have been searching to find all of my life."

The Lord poured down so many miracles on us that day!!! At the end of the exchange, Soeur Hosking and I just looked at each other in awe … speechless. Right before she left she said, "We did all we could today. We had faith, we believed in miracles, and the Lord blessed us with them. But you know what? It’s because of your SISTER that we saw those miracles today. We are being blessed for her service." How grateful I am for the example of my younger sister! Synergy!

Our amie, Michele, who is preparing for her baptism this Sunday, is such a sweetheart! She latches onto the Book of Mormon for spiritual strength and is fully engaged in the 'Stop Smoking' program! On Monday, she went the WHOLE DAY without smoking A SINGLE CIGARETTE! We are talking about a woman who goes through a pack a day! She finally understands that this program, which includes prayer, scripture study, a whole lot of faith and vitamin C, actually works!!! We are doing our best to support her every day so she can be ready. She even hand-made skirts for Soeur Wynn and me to wear for her baptism! She is so inspirational … seeing this woman enter the waters of baptism will be a really victory. She has probably had the roughest past life I have ever seen. It has been full of persecution and trials, and she needs nothing more than the liberation and pure joy that comes from the sacred covenant of baptism. Please keep her in your prayers this week!

I love it here. I wouldn’t be anywhere else in the world. It will be hard having President and Soeur Poznanski leave next month, to be replaced by a new mission president, but I will forever be grateful for the huge and eternal impact they have had on my life. I know our new mission president and his wife will be just as inspired and will be able to lead this mission to rise to a new level as well. I feel a real energy that drives me to give it my all every day. During my interview with Soeur Poznanski yesterday, she related a mission to a marathon. She said, "Soeur Vance, you have been running a marathon. You have been giving it your all. But, what happens at the end of a marathon?" I went on to explain that the runners, completely deflated and exhausted and dragging, just trying to keep going. She then told me of a story of two brothers in her family who ran a marathon together. They stayed in close range with one another the entire time. Soeur Poznanski stood near the finish line with about 100m to go, and just saw these men pale in the face, looking sickly and heaving from exhaustion. She was worried that they were even going to collapse before they made it to the finish line! Then she saw something that has yet to leave her mind or heart. As these two brothers hit the 50m line, they turned to each other, smiled, and set off sprinting. In spite of their extreme fatigue and failing muscles, these two brothers sprinted through the finish line. They claimed their personal victory of giving it their all, up until the end!!! All I could think of at that point was Soeur Wynn and me, and our efforts to do EVERYTHING we can, to give it our all, up until the day we step on that plane.

I love my mission! I love this gospel! Have a great week!

Soeur Madeline Vance

Spain and France ... Two Worlds, One Family

My eyes fill with tears as I write this today. I am so proud of my sister, Lydia, and her decision to serve the Lord as she heads to Spain … hugging my family for the last time at the airport as I type this blog! I felt so blessed to be able to Skype with her one last time yesterday and tell her how my mission has meant the very world to me. Excitement beamed from her eyes as she told me about her farewell talk and her desire to turn her whole heart over to the Lord and the people in Spain. Lydia, now Hermana Vance, is one of my best friends. I love her so much and know she will be an incredible servant of the Lord in Barcelona!

Soeur Wynn and I had a great week! We had the chance to go out to Le Mans, a beautiful little city that reminded me of Saint Quentin. Soeur Richards, a new missionary who has been out for a little over three months, was so much fun to be around! We made the goal together of talking to every person we could around us, and doing our best to change up the way we started the conversation. We testified of different truths such as eternal families, living prophets, the power of prayer, etc. and really saw a difference in the way people received us!

Soeur Richards and I had the chance to teach one of their amies, Germaine. She's a 75-year-old French woman who took lessons from the missionaries over 20 years ago. We decided to give her a tour of the church, because she has a hard time getting to church. On the way there, we were walking together, and it just started to pour! We were all huddled under this huge rainbow umbrella we brought, and Germaine was just enjoying every second of it. We shook off and entered the church.

Germaine instantly felt a special spirit within the walls of the church building. As she looked at pictures of Christ hanging up, she said, "It’s not like other churches here … this place is different." We explained all of the different classes and rooms to her as we gave the tour, including the family history center, where anyone can search for their ancestors. She loved it!

We then went to the Relief Society room where we showed Germaine the baptismal font. She looked intently, and was just silent in deep reflection. Soeur Richards and I were then able to testify how special our baptismal day was for each of us. I was able to explain how, even at 8 years old, I knew I wanted to follow Christ by being baptized in the same manner that He was baptized. I was able to testify of the beautiful and incredible changes I have seen in the lives of those I have met during my mission and how amazing it was to see them come out of the water completely clean, washed of their past sins.

The Spirit was so strong, and Germaine just stood in silence, thinking. She then expressed a great desire to turn to Christ and prepare for her own baptism! It was amazing!!! She knows she must take certain steps in order to do so, and promised us that she would pray that night to be forgiven of her sins through the great gift of repentance. It was incredible. It’s so neat being able to witness others take those steps to follow the Savior.

Both of our amies, Sandrine and Michele are progressing towards their baptisms on May 25^th! Michele even came to watch a baptism this past week and was very touched by the Spirit she felt. Please keep both of these incredible women in your prayers as we do our best to follow the Spirit to know how we can continue to help them progress towards their special day!

They recently made new verses to the hymn, "As Sisters in Zion", which made me think of the great and wonderful opportunity that we have as young women to serve the Lord with all of our heart, might, mind and strength … by serving our fellow brothers and sisters.

The sisters of Zion are called to God’s labor

We willingly serve Him with spirit and might

We go to the nations with truth everlasting

We teach of the Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ

We thank thee, O God, for a prophet to guide us

We trust in His words and our purpose is clear

The angels of heaven are walking beside us

We’ll share our glad message with all who will hear

We go forth enlisted with Helaman’s Army

In numbers much greater than ever before

With power and spirit we’ll faithfully witness

The heavens have spoken, and truth is restored

I absolutely love my mission. Like I was telling my parents on Skype yesterday, every sacrifice that has been made on my behalf to be here, is WORTH IT. I am learning so much. I am changing to be more like my Savior every day. I have never been happier. I love France and the people here. I am so excited for my sister in Spain … she will work miracles! Have a wonderful week and know that I love each one of you, and that you are in my prayers!

Bonne semaine!

Soeur Madeline Vance