Paris Bound!

Last week I didn’t even bother telling you that transfers were coming up. I had just arrived here in Charleroi and figured I would stay here … wrong. I got a phone call Monday telling me that I would be leaving early Wednesday morning for PARIS! My head is still spinning … wait, I just got here! And not only that, but I’ve really started loving it here!

I am so grateful for the opportunity I have had to serve with Sœur Gordon. She is still relatively new in the mission but works like a horse. She is so bold, but loving, with the people we teach and meet, it’s incredible! I will really miss working with her as we have grown so close by “whitewashing” here in Charleroi. She has so much faith and I know she will continue to get big things going here in this city. As for me, another part of my heart will be left in Charleroi. I will never be able to forget the inspiring people here that have changed my life. I am headed to the heart of France - PARIS - to find that family I know the Lord is preparing for me!

My penpal, Camille, and her family drove an hour and a half to come visit me on my preparation day (Pday) on Monday! They are so wonderful and have truly become my family. Sœur Gordon was able to meet them and we were able to have a wonderful time eating pizza together at a nice Italian restaurant just down the street from where we live. Afterwards, I was able to take them to the church building not too far away and give them a tour. My heart filled with joy as I showed them the many paintings of Christ that line the walls, the little nursery and primary rooms for children on Sundays as well as the many other classrooms. Camille’s mom asked so many questions and really seemed interested. As we entered the chapel, there was such a reverence and strong spirit as I explained the sacred ordinance (the sacrament) we partake of each Sunday to renew our baptismal covenants. It was so neat being able to testify to them of living prophets and the importance the gospel plays in my life! I know they are being prepared to accept the gospel one day when they are fully ready. It was sad saying goodbye to them, but it was also such a blast being able to see them and share with these special people my testimony of the gospel.

Sœur Gordon and I saw another week of miracles. It’s crazy thinking back just six weeks ago when I first arrived here in Charleroi. This change and transfer has come sooner than I could have imagined, but I can honestly say that I gave it my all here. I don’t understand why I am needed in Paris, but I know that our mission president is an inspired man of God.

I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ in my life. There is nothing that brings me greater joy. Continue to share it with your friends! This is the greatest work there is!

“And if it so be that you should labor all your days in crying repentance unto this people, and bring, save it be one soul unto me, how great shall be your joy with him in the kingdom of my Father! And now, if your joy will be great with one soul that you have brought unto me into the kingdom of my Father, how great will be your joy if you should bring many souls unto me!” Doctrine & Covenants 8:15-16

Do you want an inside scoop on the daily life of a missionary? Check out this link at lds.org to find out for yourself!

https://www.lds.org/youth/article/mission-life?lang=eng&cid=HPWE102313125

I love you all!

Sœur Madeline Vance

Firmly Planted In Our Faith

It’s official. I love Charleroi.

Things are really starting to progress here with Soeur Gordon. We are getting to know almost all of the members in the two wards and are starting to increase the number of lessons we are teaching each week. We are finding so many families! I can’t wait to reach the goal of leading them to baptism before Christmas! We have been going through lists and have been passing by many less-active families and young adults and sharing our testimonies of the temple with them. It’s incredible to see how the Lord directs His work through us as His servants.

Last week I hit my 8 month mark … 8 months, can you believe it? Next month I will be at the halfway point of my mission. I have learned and grown so much, but I also know there is still so much to do with the short time I have left.

We saw an amazing miracle this past week. We have been trying to work with the wards in an effort to find willing members to come out and teach lessons to our amies with us. Many members were busy, so we decided to ask Julie. Julie is a middle-aged woman from Congo. She has been a member for quite some time now but has been inactive for the last 10 years. She had a disease where she was deathly afraid to leave her apartment alone … even to go to the grocery store. After much work with physicians and counselors, and visits from the sister missionaries, she told us that she has been healed. She went on to tell us how the Savior has given her the strength to leave her apartment so she can go to church and institute each week. She has been coming to church and institute (a religious class for young adults) every week now. She is one of those incredible and special people that lights up when she sees you. Her countenance seems to beam with light as her smile spreads across her face. We decided to ask her to come and teach with us one evening … little did we know that we would want her coming with us EVERY time. She testified from the depth of her SOUL. She testified of the veracity of our living Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. She related with our amie, and shared her own personal trials she has had to pass through and how she was able to overcome them with her faith in Christ. It was absolutely incredible!

Needless to say, we talked with our ward mission leader right after and asked for her to be called as a ward missionary! I am truly starting to understand the importance of working with members, active and inactive, in this great work of salvation, in bringing souls unto Christ.

On another note, Halloween is just around the corner. It is becoming more widely celebrated here in Europe every year. It was funny because the other night we were doing some porting in between our teaching appointments and we realized it was growing dark. There was a full moon and we found ourselves walking down streets with a bunch of woods and other ones with corn fields lining each side. We started talking about how spooky it seemed, especially with Halloween coming up. Then, near one of the houses we were passing, a huge howling dog came bounding towards us and crashed into the fence right before it got to us! It was growling and barking ferociously! I screamed and grabbed Soeur Gordon and started dying laughing as I realized how tightly I was grabbing on to her. Right then a group of bats starting screeching and flying all around us out of nowhere! Halloween is DEFINITELY around the corner!

We were able to set a baptismal date with our Italian amie, Zlaticia, for November 16^th! It’s so exciting to watch her progress and the excitement in her eyes as we talk more and more about the Book of Mormon and how it really can change our lives. Please pray for her … pray that she will continue to go forward in faith and follow the strong feelings she has, and Christ’s example, and be baptized next month.

When we are faced with life-changing experiences, I know that we can start to question many things and those decisions we had been so sure about in the past. I loved something that President Uchtdorf said during this past General Conference a couple weeks ago: "Doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith". When we have received a confirmation from the Holy Ghost, through good and peaceful feelings in our heart, that we need to go a certain direction in our lives, we must stay true to that decision. Doubts will always creep in, but if we have our feet planted firmly in our faith in Christ, we will never waver, and we will never wander. Our Savior is there to lead us by the hand, even during the hardest of times. We are never alone … He truly does love us and is aware of us.

For those of you thinking about serving a mission, I will say it again … GO! Go, and don’t look back! Don’t question the “yes” answer you received. Go forward with a heart full of faith and trust that the Lord will take care of you. I can promise you, as a representative of Jesus Christ, that He absolutely will. He is our Shepherd, and He will always guide us to where we need to be. The Lord’s plan is always better. He knows what we need in our lives … those things that will help us learn and grow. I am so glad I followed the Lord’s plan and not my own. Sure, I would’ve loved to play college soccer somewhere, but my Heavenly Father needed me here at this time. Looking back now, I can honestly say there is no better way. I am so grateful I decided to serve … it has been the experience of a lifetime!

I know the gospel of Jesus Christ is true. Continue to lean on the Lord … every day and every hour. He is there for us. I thank you for your love and support; I can feel your prayers. Have a wonderful week!

Soeur Madeline Vance

Rolling Up Our Sleeves

Hello Everyone!

Soeur Gordon and I had a much better week here in Charleroi. Things are finally starting to fall into place. There is still so much work to do, but we are feeling the stress leave our shoulders as the Lord is guiding our efforts in His work.

This past week the futbol (soccer) team here in Belgium had a big game against Croatia, where the winner would qualify to compete in the World Cup next summer in Brazil. Friday night, as we were making plans for our lessons the following day, we were startled by loud noises outside of our apartment. At first we brushed it off, but the noises continued and we rushed to the window because we thought there was a riot outside! Cars were flying at full speed down the roads and people were hanging out the car windows, screaming and honking the horns. We had no idea what was going on! Everyone was outside going NUTS, waving Belgian flags. It was then that we realized that Belgium had won! Haha, I started laughing as I remembered how serious they take futbol here in Europe. They beat Croatia 2-1, and will be going to the WORLD CUP! GO BELGIUM!

On Tuesday morning, during personal scripture study, I was reading in Alma Chapter 17 in the Book of Mormon. The chapter taught about the faithful young sons of Mosiah, who were sent out to be missionaries to the Lamanites, who were their brethren, but also their enemies in the land. Alma 17:2-3 really seemed to jump out at me, as it talked about the things they did as missionaries to have the Spirit with them and to be able to teach with power. It said, "... they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God. But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God." Isn’t that what each of us wants? Don’t we all want to be able to be bold and testify with the POWER of God? As I read those verses I felt prompted to fast, like it said in that verse, so that Soeur Gordon and I would be able to have the strong presence of the Spirit with us and also be able to teach with power like those young men did in the Book of Mormon. I proposed the idea to Soeur Gordon and she agreed. We hadn’t fasted together before and knew that with our fasting and sincere prayer that we would see miracles.

We also have been trying to implement new things and ideas in this area in order for the members to work better with the missionaries. We decided to try "POWER HOUR”.  We prayed that it would go well and that we would be able to find those who would be interested in learning about our message as we went to the home of the bishop in our ward. Bishop Rousselet has four adorable kids … three boys and one girl (poor thing!). They were all so sweet. We gathered together and shared a scripture (Ether 3:5) with them to start off this new finding activity. "Behold, O Lord, thou canst do this. We know that thou art able to show forth great power, which looks small unto the understanding of men." Then, we all knelt in prayer and asked the Lord where we needed to go for the next hour to find those people who were searching for the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ in their lives. After the prayer, we looked to Bishop Rousselet and his wife, opened our map, and asked them where we should go. They both pointed to the same street, rue Caluwaert. It was cool to see how in tune with the Spirit they were! We put on our coats, and prepared to leave. We asked them to pray for us every 20 minutes we were out, and told them we would be stopping every 15 minutes to pray as well.

As we set off to rue Caluwaert, only a block or two away, my heart raced. My pace quickened as I knew we were about to witness miracles. We had been fasting all day, but I didn’t feel the hunger. I was determined to find those who I knew the Lord was preparing for us that night. It was growing dark and, as we turned down the street to where they had told us to go, it looked deserted. No one was outside, and there were hardly any cars parked on the street. Any other day I would’ve kept walking to find somewhere else that seemed more promising … but not this night. I had full confidence that the Lord, through His faithful members, had led us to this street for a reason.

Instead of knocking on every door systematically, we tried to follow the Spirit. Sometimes Soeur Gordon and I would pause, look at each other, and head straight towards the same door! It was so cool! The first few doors people weren’t home or people weren’t interested in praying with us or listening to the incredible message we had to share with them. After 15 minutes, we stopped to pray for help and direction. I could feel my spirits on the edge of getting discouraged, but knowing that the Rousselet family was back at their home praying for us kept me going. Then the miracles started happening. ONE AFTER ANOTHER. Soeur Gordon felt prompted to talk to a young woman standing on her doorstep with her little toddler in her arms. Her name was Priscella and she was so nice, and said she wasn’t sure if she believed in God. We then began to testify that we knew, without a doubt, that God lives and that He loves us … that He loves HER and knows her by NAME. I watched as the Spirit touched her heart. We gave her a brochure on the Plan of Salvation, with answers to questions of the soul such as "Where do I come from?", "Why am I here?", and "Where am I going after this life?". She was really interested and said she would read it. We left her with a prayer and she told us we could come back another time to teach her family.

As we continued to knock on doors and follow the Spirit, we found so many people that were willing to listen to us! We gave a “The Family: A Proclamation to the World” brochure to a family, and gave out two more brochures to women that claimed to be atheists. Five different houses on that small street, rue Caluwaert, said we could come back and share more about our message of Jesus Christ.

At the end of this miraculous hour, before we went back into our bishop’s home, Soeur Gordon and I offered a prayer of gratitude to our gracious Father in Heaven who had blessed us with miracles. I know we were being led by the Spirit and that angels were around us. The Rousselet family was enthusiastic to hear about the many miracles that occurred only a couple streets away from their home! Our bishop’s wife even offered to teach with us when we go back and teach those families!

I know that the Lord’s work is too grand for missionaries to do alone. It is when we work with members that we see others come unto Christ and accept the restored gospel in their lives. They talked so much about missionary work in General Conference last week and I know it is something we must constantly be doing. I only have ten more months to wear this black badge, but I am determined to be a missionary for the rest of my life. This work is too important, and the gospel of Jesus Christ brings too much joy, for it to go to waste or go unshared.

On another note, Soeur Gordon and I visited a less-active member’s home last week. We refer to them (The Duret Family) as the "Cheaper by the Dozen" family, except they don’t have 12 kids … they have FIFTEEN … and another one on the way! They usually aren’t very receptive to the missionaries, but as we knocked on the door, four of the kids answered. Their big bulldog ran past them and booked it out the door!! They all started yelling after him and chased him down their street and caught him before he ran into the main street with all the cars. It was NUTS! We ended up talking to the mom and she was super happy to meet us and we set up a family home evening with them this Friday! We will see how that goes!

We were walking home the other night and were super tired after a long day. It was dark and cold out and we had a long walk ahead of us. All of a sudden, a car swerves next to us and the tire blows out as it rolls up on the curve a few feet behind us with a flat tire. The elderly woman inside was shaking her head and looked distressed. We turned around and figured we should try to help her. She was a Belgian woman named Francine and explained to us that someone had rear ended her at the traffic light and sped off. Her rear light was shattered and the rim of the wheel on the back left was dented and the tire was completely deflated.

I felt bad and figured we could wait with her as she called someone for help, and thought that we could maybe even call a member of our ward to come and help. But little did I know that help was standing right next to me. Soeur Gordon whips off her coat, throws her bag on the sidewalk, rolls up her sleeves and says, "We can help! My dad's a mechanic; we'll have your tire changed for you in no time!"

I chuckled as I was not expecting to hear that come from my sweet companion! The next 15 minutes we dug in the back of her trunk for tools, the spare tire, and had that car lifted up and that tire changed like it was nobody's business! I wanted SO bad to take a picture of Soeur Gordon on her knees working on this thing in her dress and nylons with her hands full of dirt and grease! It was AWESOME! I took some serious notes and will be able to change a tire for anyone that rolls up with a flat during the rest of my mission! Haha, Francine was so touched by our service and help. We gave her a pass-along card and told her she was always welcome at our church just up the street. What a cool way to share the gospel through service!

I know the gospel is true and I love my mission. While we all go through hard times, those are the moments that refine us. I know our goal of finding families and baptizing them before Christmas is an inspired goal from God. I loved what Elder Ballard said in General Conference, "We are not asking everyone to do everything. We are simply asking all members to pray, knowing that if every member, young and old, will reach out to just “one” between now and Christmas, millions will feel the love of the Lord, Jesus Christ. And what a wonderful gift to the Savior."

Let us all reach out to someone this holiday season and share the joy we feel from the restored gospel of Jesus Christ! Thank you so much for your prayers and support. I love Belgium … the chocolate is great, but the work is GREATER! Haha, I love you  and have a wonderful week!

Soeur Madeline Vance

The Christmas Spirit

We jump-started last week with an incredible Zone Conference in Brussels! A few months ago we were given the goal to have 100 baptisms in two transfers (or ~ 3 months). We not only reached it, but exceeded it, bringing 115 people to Christ in those two transfers. It was so incredible and I was so grateful to be able to take part in that hastening of the work! President Poznanski, his wife and our other mission leaders set a new goal for us at the meeting … the bar has been set even higher now. We are to bring a gift to Christ for Christmas this year; the gift is finding a family that will be baptized and that will also prepare themselves to be sealed in the Paris temple when it is completed. They told us to have a vision of this family that we are going to find and to imagine ourselves sitting in their home on Christmas, knowing that we helped bring them the greatest joy this world can know. As I thought of that, my heart filled with hope and enthusiasm for this work. It motivated Soeur Gordon and me to do all we can to find them! PRAY FOR US TO REACH THIS GOAL!

This past week, Soeur Gordon and I have really been focused on trying to find families to achieve this goal and bring the gospel and joy that comes from Jesus Christ to the families here. We try to envision spending Christmas with each family and we pray specifically to know where to go. We had many experiences where we followed the Spirit and were able to find three families that are interested in learning more about the gospel! Please keep these families in your prayers and ask that they will be able to progress: Sandra and Buddy, Johann and Kathy, and Adil and Anna-Christina. Each couple has three children and I know that the gospel will bless their family relationships and will bring a greater spirit of love and peace into their homes.

After the conference, we had to lug home a huge, heavy black microwave, because the one we had in our apartment was not working. Haha, every time we went to use it, it started smoking and spazzing out with sparks shooting out all over. Trying to get the replacement microwave to our apartment was hilarious because it was such a heavy and huge appliance, and we were dragging it around on trains, buses and metros and everyone was looking at us! We are used to getting weird looks because of the black tags we wear, but we really stood out in a more ridiculous way with the huge microwave!

The buses are crazy here! They drive like madmen! If you’re not holding firmly to a pole or handle inside, the speed and abrupt stops of this rollercoaster vehicle will throw you to the ground! I have had a few close encounters and we both laugh uncontrollably as we are standing trying to surf to keep our balance. We talk to and teach a lot of Italians … the other day we had spaghetti for three different meals!

The sisters of Villeneuve DAscq told me today that they have set a baptismal date with one of the amies I used to teach, Magalie, for October 19^th!! I am so excited! Astou’s son Ryan is also being baptized the same day!

I encourage you all to take the time to watch General Conference (http://www.lds.org/general-conference) if you didn’t have the chance to do so this past weekend. Sometimes I wonder if I have even really changed that much on my mission, but then I realize I totally have, and see and feel the difference inside as I had the chance to watch our prophet speak this weekend. I know he is a man of God.

HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK! Love and miss you all!

Sœur Madeline Vance

3 Nephi 5:13