What another crazy wonderful week in Paris! It’s really
starting to heat up here, and it reminds me of the good ol' humidity in Ohio!
For Pday today, Soeur Doyle and I climbed to the top of the Eiffel Tower! It
was something I always dreamed of doing! We ended up meeting a huge choir group
at the top from San Antonio, and most of them were members of our church. They
treated us like celebrities and all wanted a picture with us! So funny!
My exchange in Rouen, Normandy was so wonderful! I was with
Soeur Berge, a missionary who has been out for a year. We had so many powerful
appointments where we were able to testify of the restored gospel. We found a
cute French family as well!! We were doing some contacting and we both felt so strongly
that we needed to cross the street. We stopped a blonde French lady and started
testifying of eternal families. She was super touched, and began to cry as we
prayed with her! It was so cool! As we were leaving, on JUNE 6 (DDAY!), we
passed by the sacred stake where Joan of Arc was burned. I felt the Spirit so
strongly as I thought of her and her example. I love this quote said of her,
and am always reminded of her courage and desire to stand up for what was right
no matter the price:
"She could leave
her family, speak to knights, to bishops, to a king, wear armor, wield a sword,
go into battle, lead men, bear the pain of arrows that pierced her body and
return to the fight, leap from towers, even crown a King. And when this was
over, she could bear up under the relentless questioning of the most educated
men of the day who tried, hour after hour, week by week, to pinion her into
confessing heresy, to abandon faith in her mission, and betray the message God
had sent her to achieve. Yet she held her own, until broken at last, she was
led weeping to her painful death. She knew she was right, that she had been
called of God to save her beloved France. This she would do for she could do
nothing less."
Joan of Arc truly is one of my greatest heroes. I know that
we too, as missionaries, are called of God to bring about His great work.
Unlike Joan, we are not asked to die for our faith, but asked to LIVE for it.
We are asked to stand as bright beacons in this dark world and light the way
for others to follow and come unto Christ. What a noble calling!
I love you all so very much! We are truly seeing so many
miracles in this mission! We continue to work and pray for our goal of 125
baptisms before the end of this month. Michele continues to progress and feels
more and more strength each day. We did splits with two BYU study abroad
students, Tess and Auburn, who are preparing to go on missions. They were
incredible and brought such a special spirit! Those preparing to serve: go out
with the missionaries!
I know this gospel is true. Jesus is our perfect example. We
had an incredible stake conference this week where we watched a broadcast that
was being shown all over Europe. We heard Elder Neil L. Andersen speak, as well
as President Dieter F. Uchtdorf. They testified that the work here is going to
keep exploding as the Lord truly is preparing the hearts of the people here to
receive the gospel. All we must do is invite others to come unto him!
I love you all; stay strong!
