Oct 24th 2011

Momma and Pappa,
Oh momma et Pappa,

It was great to hear the nitty gritty this week ;)  

The Lord blessed me double time too, because I was able to buy a bigger umbrella with 10 euros of my mission money I had in my wallet. Normally, that is not approved. However, with the circumstance, I was able to reimburse myself with something I really needed. :) I just want you to know mom and dad, that I realize how much you work and I have no intention to just throw money around on my mission. I'm thrifty, and I work hard to create the habit of living by necessity and not by impulse. I, in no way, want to create a financial problem for you. My heart wrenches when I think of all the sacrifices you have made for me... I love you so much, thank you for your great examples.

I also would like to tell you that your names will be submitted in the Bern Switzerland Temple ;) Our branch President, President Stephean Ruffier Meray, is going to the temple with his wife this week, so I had the bright idea of sending him with a list of your names. I included both grandparents, and the girls too! I love you all so much, it is a way I can send you my love.

This week was great! I was sick with a fever for a bit, but I got over it! I stayed in Monday and just slept and took meds. Tuesday I was good to go! It is very cold her now, the mornings are the worst! During the day, not too bad, the Sun is out normally. Today it is raining though. We had a great week of finding and teaching! We taught an old investigator named Daba. She is from Senegal, and is in middle of a divorce. I actually taught her about 5 months ago. We taught with a member from Cote D'Ivoir (Ivory Coast) and they kicked it off. We invited her to baptism for the 20th November and she accepted! She came to church with her 5 year old daughter on Sunday as well, so it is legit. We will be seeing her again today, as well as many times in the weeks leading up to the day. I pray we can be instruments it he Lord's hands to help her be baptized that day! We have asked the ward to pray for her, so I would like to ask you to keep her in your daily prayers. With all our prayers of faith we will see a baptism!

We have been having a lot of luck with tracting too. We have knocked on several good doors ha ha. Taught an older women this week too. She let us right in, don't worry her husband was there. She is 72 years old, and is handicapped due to a malpractice. Her husband has Alzheimer's disease as well. Keep them in your prayers please. We also are teaching a man named Johnny. He is really humble, and very kind. He has a lot of faith, and knows we are disciples of Christ. Keep him in your prayers too.

We have been teaching a lot this last week, and I was happy. Teaching is such a blessing! I am amazed each time we teach with how the spirit uses me as a instrument. There is always something I say that I learn for the first time! The spirit teaches me as he is teaching our investigators, I love it!

Huge news too, we made contact with Cécile! We made cookies and decided to give it a shoot in visiting her. She was there! However, she was in the middle of moving. She moved to Strasbourg on Thursday. She was happy when we seen her; she had a smile from ear to ear. She told us she just had some problems she had to deal with elsewhere: Paris, Strasbourg, the south. She just got back this last week in time to move all her stuff out. She has family in Strasbourg she needs to be with she told us. I asked her if she still wanted to practice the Gospel and she said these reassuring words, "In every way" We are going to do the work necessary to transfer her records to Strasbourg. It is such a huge blessing and testimony to me that God wanted me to stay in Gap for several reasons. Not only is there work for me to do, but i needed that reassurance that Cécile was okay. I actually thought that it was our fault as missionaries that she disappeared. I needed closure, and now I have it. I am at peace, and my faith has grown ten fold. The Lord works in such mysterious ways sometimes, but I know he always has my well being in mind. He knows me perfectly, he knows what I need.

Friday, we also had a Zone Conference in Aix, and it was there we got to hear from Elder Caussé from the 1st Quorum of the Seventy. It was amazing! I learned so much, and I am re-amped to work with everything I have! I have been studying patience, hope, and faith a lot this week. I have felt very discouraged at times, and I realize that I need to persevere and leave all the discouragement behind. I have been attacking it with my studies, and the principle that we must never look back! Luke 9:61-62, look it up, it's great for any discouragement any of us have!

I love you all, I can't wait to hear from you all again! Oh and if you get a chance, look at the Mormon ad on the home page of the church site. CLAY IS IN IT!!!!! CRAZY!!!!