(Bryan), One of so many would be having my companion feel prompted enough by the Spirit and asked a devout Muslim to kneel with us and offer a prayer and end in the name of Jesus Christ. List of missions of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Memorized the Articles of Faith. (Anonymous), Missing the last bus, attempting to hitch hike back home. How to get along with another annoying person. (Matt), Being threatened numerous times and actually being punched in the face. There was also this ptisserie near the Asniere sur Seine gare that had the worlds greatest beignets. (Kara), French (study a second language early). (Chloe), I learned to communicate better. Organization. The French are awesome people. We were praying for a ride back and a drunk guy picked us up. Summers, you need to organize your time so that you arent in the sun for too long of a period. I tapped him on the shoulder after we crossed the street and started talking to him. (Douglas), Orleans, Reims, Lorient, Sarcelle(Paris ghettos), Soissons, and Alencon, and then I got to serve in many others on exchanges. So many sacrament meetings for me were also so sacred, I felt like they were celestial room moments. I got a letter saying that I had successfully completed the BBN mission and a new call letter came. Do your best to communicate in a loving way with your companion. I love the members and how much they love the missionaries. I know Christ and his mission on earth. Then we were praying for safety. Bad idea. Here are T-shirts for the France ParisMission! They encourage you to learn French, and become part of their home. (Bryan), One time playing soccer near the Eiffel Tower and watching a bunch of illegal sellers of tourist items running away from police and diving into bushes and seeing all their stuff flying everywhere. But work is progressing, and swinging upward. Later that night, my trainer asked me Elder, do you remember what you prayed for before we left our apartment? Instead I asked for a bra. I also learned to listen better. I wish I wasnt so self-conscious about not speaking French. (Jacob), We had an investigator who was searching for something better in life. Yes. In my head, I translated tableau as table and went to get one. Not a big one. Focus on what you can say and build from there. Missionary Training Centers - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Oh yeah and raw hamburger. Charleroi is my idea of Zion. Dont get discouraged because it will be hard and you will be confused on what to do. Hair? (Jeffrey), Depends on what part of the county youre in. This gives them something real serious to think about. Whether we are full-time missionaries or not, no matter where were from or what language we speak, we can all invite others to come unto Christ and partake of the joy that can only be found in His gospel. About Us. One was when a recent convert learn how to read by sounding out words from the Book of Mormon and the Gospel Principles manual. I wouldve worked better with members. (Valan), St Quentin, St Omer, Brussels, Paris, Nantes, Tours. We taught them most of the discussions and they attended church several times and other church activities. (Alex), The ability to speak and teach without having every word written out. (Chloe), My companion and I were street contacting in Troyes and we were stopped by a woman dressed in a volleyball uniform holding a volleyball with two holding a net. I trained Elder Jeffs. Every apartment will have enough. France Paris Mission The people you find in areas really are unique in their own ways and I liked finding out the history on all the areas I was at, while also learning that each person has their own story. Thats what its about Joy in the journey. Serve. The LDS Church in French Polynesia was founded in 1843 as the first foreign-language mission of the church. (Elsa), Asniere, Lorient, Nogent, Montreuil, and Evreux. I served in the Fiji Suva mission, speaking French, which means I was on a island called New Caledonia the whole time. (Stuart), I learned French! (Doug), Changed every aspect of my life. (Scott), St Nazaire Sarcelles Versailles Paris Poitiers Meaux Cergy. (For sisters) A coat with a hood. (Stuart), The French can take a long time to open up and embrace new ideas or people, but once they do they are totally committed. (Chloe), Dont worry about trying to express everything that you want to say. (Doug), Paris, Versailles, Nantes, Chatiillon, Pau, Tarbes, Bordeaux. (Drew), I was a little nervous as plans fell through again with my first blue (trainee), and I was afraid she might be mad or frustrated that we werent teaching quite as much as she probably expected. Either how they got to France, how they found their faith/the Missionaries, some people were alive during WWII, etc. . (Mariah), I cant count all the blessings. (Dennis), Rainy, humid, great sunny days, too. There are many Muslim people in France. 131 Blvd Carnot She was overjoyed when we caught up with her! Croissante aux aumaund. (Anonymous), Perseverance. Utah Salt Lake City North Mission. Just an inch or two of snow, two months of cold, and only a few weeks of hot. Courage, empathy, being able to work hard. (Nicholai), EVERYTHING! Ah well. Always stay hydrated, always have a water bottle on you. You can find happiness in anything if you want to. People are always working hard and there are always incredible things going on. (Michael), Anytime you get to pray with someone or bear your testimony of the Savior is an incredibly spiritual experience! I walked around for the first 6 weeks saying that Jesus Christ is my flavor because the words for savior and flavor are really close. Boots for rain. Remember this when you are off your mission and are in the process of choosing an eternal partner. How the Miracle My Ancestor Experienced during the Spanish Flu Pandemic Is Inspiring Me, Making the Doctrine and Covenants Personal to You. (Dennis), One time some members friends gave us a dozen apples or so just after we visited them. Other miracles were feeling like we should have gotten off as a specific train stop to keep talking to somebody, turning around 10 minutes later, catching a new train, turning back, and still finding that person we wanted to talk to in the mass of people in that little town. RussellM. Nelson, opening remarks in Children and Youth: A Face to Face Event with Elder GerritW. Gong, Nov. 17, 2019, broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Online Recommendation System. It doesnt make sense to have to use time to even begin to find a testimony on your mission when you could be bearing it instead to people that need it. (Kara), It was a magical place to serve. Keep it going! Charles E. Jones (1990-93) Group, Paris Mission- Dennis K. Brown (1996-99) Group, Paris Mission Heber M. Thompson (1993-96) Group, Paris Mission Moms and Friends (LDS) Group, Paris Mission- President Johnson (1987-90) Group, 30 Funny French Language Mistakes LDS Missionaries Have Made, Things That Keep People From Recording Their Lifey (And Why They Shouldn't), Paris, Orlans, Cergy-Pontoise, Caen, and Cherbourg. He told us (in French) that he was excited to be there, but exciter in French means to be sexually aroused. France Marseille Mission. Here Are Five Ways to Find Answers, Helping Loved Ones Face Questions and Doubts about Faith. How to work harder when exhausted. (Dennis), People, natural vegetation, culture. (Matt), Belfort, Rouen, Villenuve Dascq, Mulhouse, Nivelles (Belgium), and Saint-Omer. The first was humbling because he showed me that I was arrogant and inflexible. 2 pairs of sturdy shoes, you will walk a lot. The other blessings were from the ways I grew on my mission. (Doug), Dont worry so much about yourself or the future. (Chloe), Any kind of cheese and bread and Greque kebabs. Likewise, there are so many people out there who try to use the secular history of Mormons as a tool of deceit, confusion, and contention. (Michael), I served in Normandie so where I was it rained 295 days a year on average and was usually very cloudy. (Valan), Never snowed. 6. The temporal/secular history of the Church is often many individuals only exposure to the Church, but intelligent discussion of such is often an amazingly positive and readily accessible way to reach people about the Gospel. (Stuart), I wish that I hadnt done things for competitive reasons. I loved learning about the French and African cultures I loved the history and sites everywhere I served. As the sister missionaries who served in this area before us visited him and the Spirit taught him, he came to know for himself the truthfulness of the message they shared. We were thinking the same thing. My scripture studies were so good, I was always learning new things, meeting amazing new people every day, in extraordinarily beautiful places, and feeling the love of the Lord every single day it was more fulfilling than I ever imagined. I learned more during my mission than 25 years of life. How to enjoy being anywhere. Language. France Paris Mission - Lifey The claires chocolats there were really good, too. Full-Time Senior Missionaries. (Kale), Poubelles, crepes, couscous, steak-frites. I technically served 2 missions. The best was in Nantes or Bordeaux where we met in a three story house. Thankfully, this work isnt ours. Alabama Birmingham. (Valan), You will succeed. I am married with 6 children and currently serve on the High Council and I am still a missionary every day. Mission President:President Paul J. Sorensen. It was pretty funny. Libraries. I was on exchanges and we were unknowingly being led to someone who was about to commit suicide. After getting the huge table through the doors, the instructor repeated tableau so I could make the connection that I got the wrong item. Getting along with different personalities and people. I learned to listen more than I talk. I understand what is important. 4. You will learn sacrifice real fast. (Drew), Rain in the winter, hot in the summer- especially in Paris. We are members of THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF THE BLOODY LAST DAYS. Can reach upper 90s with the additional heat index as well. And high speed trains can get you anywhere you need to go within a couple hours across the country. We interview hundreds of returned missionaries each year, so check back regularly to see new RM interviews. Serve. The French people are incredible! Never had done it. A week or two in snow, rain in fall and spring, a couple days of gusty wind, and sunshine otherwise. (Alex), My elder and I being driven to the train station by drunk strangers. No spirit, no success. You are hereby called to serve in the Arizona Phoenix Mission. A beautiful family and peace of mind and eternal perspective. *Simply click on a shirt design to view the details and submit an order. They were going against a whole lifetime of culture to live the principles of the gospel. Try to keep it as small as possible. (Michael), Bread. (Jeffrey), I wish I knew the language better. Rainy springs. They are excellent cooks as expected. He then reached out and grabbed some of my long red hair, and cut off several inches. Try to remember the quality of the people represent more than the quantity of numbers you have. It was very embarrassing. Missionary Training Center. For many of them, the path that led them to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ wasn't easy, but meeting these people has helped us see how the Lord guides people to find His true gospel. (Anna), There are two separate cultures in the mission: The city culture and the countryside culture. (Kara), Colombes, Evry/Grigny, Versailles, Melun, Bois Guillaume, Rouens, and Nantes. We studied listening to the Spirit and acting on faith. (Bryan), Galettes. I can get along with almost anyone. Missionary Manuals. France - Statistics and Church Facts | Total Church Membership (Valan), Walking in a sketchy city with lots of Arabs and came across a fight in the parking lot. But throughout the course of our service, the Spirit has confirmed to us that we are exactly where the Lord needs us to be and that He will magnify our efforts to accomplish His will here in this corner of the earth. She asked me if the Book of Mormon could truly change her life for the better. (Jordan), More confidence in myself. The people are nicer than what is portrayed in American media. Enduring to the end. (Douglas), We joked with a Jewish man on the street, and told him that he should join us in another town for church on Sunday. Letting truth fill them and watching them achieve their potential. It about caused her to pull a stitch. Jodi T. and Scott M. Naatjes. The church and the work of the restoration will go forward and we can be a part if we choose. More trust in the Lord. My advice is to rely with all your heart on the Lord and you will make it. I asked for her name as she ran out and she yelled it back. (Matt), Bread and cheese, snails, sauerkraut with various meats, fries and the different sauces that France and Belgium have to offer. The same can be said about your companions in the field. It was a dangerous part of town, but we were just going to the train. Youll get rid of the big one quickly of you bring it. My best reasoning is that however we got here as we are now (Big Bang or whatever), we are here. It was right outside a train station and everyone stopped to see how I would react. (Doug), Getting stuck in metro doors. (Anonymous), Great food and some very wonderful people who really dont know where to find the truth. You WILL go through several pairs. Moules frites. Now my son is also serving in the same mission I know there were about 100 + missionaries and maybe 20-some sisters It was a lot smaller area than it is now. Church-Service Missionaries. 7. It was awesome to see her progress, her maturity in the gospel, and how the Gospel filled her life with joy. Is there a list of missions in the US that learn a language - Reddit (Nicholai), The language was really hard for me. no, thank you. How to be more spiritual. As missionaries, we are helping fulfill that prophecy today. Missionary Preparation. That is the adversary trying to stop you and demotivate you.go into the mission believing you will find those who have been prepared. Then they asked me if they could visit my home because they had a message for me.. I wasnt sure if I could even make it to his apartment because I was feeling so weak and he lived on the 6th floor. (Paul), Someone telling me they were literally the devil my first Christmas when we were porting in La Rochelle. Caresser is to pet. (Drew), Soak up the Temple experience while at the Mission Training Center as much as possible. He knows exactly where to find those who are prepared for His message, and He knows how to touch their hearts. Remember that youll be effectively living out of your luggage sometimes, and transfers happen unexpectedly sometimes. (Nicholai), I had 4 Mission PresidentsI only officially met 2 of them. Missionary Training Centers - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Catherine. You have the power and talent to help people. (Jordan), Riding bicycles down the hill from the supermarket with a Christmas tree tied to the back of my companion with her scarf. If this will happen in the future given the eternity of time ahead of us why is it not just as reasonable to conclude that this has happened in the past and that we are part of a immortal eternal race who are here on earth to learn how to make moral decisions without being forced to IE Agency. I didnt say anything to my companion until after 2 more stops. Make sure youre prepared. Here's a list of current and past Mission Presidents of the Paris LDS Mission. Often, they were primarily taught by other members or missionaries, but the fact is that there are lots of baptisms going on, and it is beautiful! (Paul), Some kids were throwing dirt clods at an old man and we told them to stop. (Bryan), Almost knocked out a drunk Irish guy that kept jabbing me in the side trying to start a fight. (Jeffrey), Have a young punk kid saying ta mre and I laughed back at him because I realized he had just said youre mom which doesnt translate as a bad word into English. (Mariah), The place is amazing with so much to see, hear, taste, and enjoy. I should have just tried and learned rather than being worried about being embarrassed. 65,950,000 (July 2013 estimate) Operating. One or two probably turned away, but one man was at least curious. (Merrilyn), I never ate cheese in my life. I returned to my first city nearly a year after I entered the mission and trained a brand new missionary there. (Dennis), My wife was my MTC teacher..I think that covers a lot. It was amazing to see someones life lifted up and to receive joy through the Gospel. (Scott), Crepes Kebabs Gallettes Panninis Baguettes. But he followed me and came straight up to me with scissors and took off a few inches of a chunk of my long red hair and scurried away. It is such beautiful countryside, both in natures landscape, and also in the architecture of the little roads, the stone buildings, the manicured trees and the history there . Comfortable shoes (those flats wont last you long on the cobblestone roads!) Andersens Encourage French-Speaking Saints to Believe Other times, it was just having a conversation with the man in the park about death, and what he was going through. Bring athletic clothes because the people love soccer. Some times to a fault for preaching the gospel as they only want to worry about themselves and dont need anything else . Believe that everything will work out and dont worry so much. You learn about traditions from every part of the world and celebrate with them. THE HONEY MOON ONLY LASTS FOR TWO WEEKS. -awesome!!!! I wish Id understood things about the Temple more when I was there attending so much so I couldve more fully appreciated the experience. When we left the appointment and went down the stairs, the migraine and weakness both returned. (Alex), Rainy, warm in country/cities, very rainy. Today, more than 59,000 Saints across Spain are "remembering without ceasing [their] work of faith, and labour of love" (1 Thessalonians 1:3). Still, the work is a daily challenge. Long suffering. We try to keep this information up to date, but its a good idea to check the address with several sources, including your mission packet or the mission office. How to love all of Gods children. We all spent the day in our apartment, having our meeting there in our living room, followed by a big lunch. And one . (Merrilyn). (Matt), I called women, men sometimes haha. MyMission.com provides free missionary websites to LDS missionaries and their families giving them a great way to communicate and share mission experiences. Weve seen how Heavenly Father has a unique and beautiful plan for Brother Lualaand all the French-speaking people in Phoenix. (Anna), Living & spending all your time with many different types of companions. (Kara), Second language, presentation skills used in business meetings, focus on goals, attention to detail and record keeping. Learn to accept them for who they are, look for the good in them, compromise with them, and have a good time while you are with them. We were going to take a trip to Spain but decided not to. Many of them understand English. So I turned my bleue away and walked around the median just to be safe. French Polynesia (Tahiti) Skip to Main Content. (Doug), Congratulated a person for having been robbed. There are 346 missions in this index. Other franciphone missions are Tahiti, Quebec, Haiti, Switzerland, and temple square. A lot more humid than the desert I grew up in. Save some money and buy a suit or two in France. 188 Countries Receiving Humanitarian Aid (Since 1985) 36,639 Welfare Services Missionaries (Incl. We were walking home from the train to our apartment and a drunk guy threw a glass bottle at us that narrowly missed us. Cold in winter, hot in summer. (Drew), Shoes: buy for comfort, support, and durability, NEVER for fashion. (Merrilyn), I met a woman whom my dad had taught and baptized 20 years earlier and that reinforced the importance of sharing the gospel and strengthening get new members I also now teach French and LOVE the connections I still have in France as I have been able to keep several friendships strong . (Anna), Lapin la moutarde, fraisiers, quiche, poulet aux arachides Africain. You will never be in that place with that person again. (Merrilyn), How to be humorous. When we opened our call letters and read our unique assignment, we never could have imagined the obstacles we would face in the mission field. (Mariah), I loved going to Paris. Almost all of these people are warm and wonderful. DC North Graff/Gottfredson 1992-98 Group. My last name is White. There are many kind, beautiful Muslims, many vibrant and funny Africans, people from the old French colonies, transplants from Asia, South America, the rest of Europe, and also many tourists. HenryB. Eyring, Prayers of Faith, Ensign or Liahona, May 2020, 28. After settling down on the train, a big lady in bright pink barely made the train and shuffled all of her parcels and bags around to sit across from me. This helped me to accomplish many things later in life. Especially shoes, coat, umbrella (although the wind will destroy it). Rabbit. I love you, and so does the Lord. In September 2019, the third French-speaking branch in the United States was organized in Arizona. (Scott), Pack some short sleeve white shirts, I didnt haha buy good shoes, sturdy firm bottom, waterproof. An Apostle of Jesus Christ and his wife brought a familiar message of hope to French-speaking Latter-day Saints around the world on Sunday, February 21. Try to hold out for Soldes for major discounts. I want to live in a place like this. My nervousness changed to joy, and we kept walking along the road, talking to everyone that came close. Dress and Grooming. I love how particular they can be, and how they say hello to every person in the room before they sit down. The weather felt extreme (but its really pretty moderate) but only because of the humidity. Read the Book of Mormon in the language. But they dont always mean the same thing in English. An assignment as unusual as a French-speaking mission in Arizona has certainly caused us to question the impact of our role once or twice. I was thinking, what are we doing?! Great way to finish! And I loved hearing peoples stories. (Scott), In short, I was in Amiens, my comp and I were headed home for dinner, we ran into a young man who had been possessed by a bad spirit, he took off my plaque and broke it. (Alex), Love the people and enjoy your differences and similarities. We just kept riding. Most of which concern public transportation and drunk people, haha. (Kara), Fresh bread and chocolate. Life will go on without you back home, but you can make the most of other peoples lives in your mission because they need you. (Alex), I made a slight mistake on words and told people we created God, not created by God. (Anonymous), It gets very hot and very cold. (Anonymous), Crepes, bread, cheese, pate, patisserie, grec, kabab, etc. Lots of translating opportunities. We had a great appointment; he finally started to break his habits and read the scriptures himself afterwards. Family unity. (Jordan), If you say je suis plein for I am full it really means I am, HA HA I bet everyone makes this one. Brussels is the city of miracles and Nogent is a dream. (Alex), Language bonus, people skills, being able to carry on a conversation, cooking. Fun night! (Kale), St. Brieuc, Chateauroux, Limoges, Talence, Nantes, and Montauban. Machine washable clothes are always best (dry cleaners arent always available). How to keep pushing past hard times. Definitely a good rain jacket and umbrella and waterproof shoes. What blessings did you receive from serving a mission? (Douglas), Every baptism was such a spiritual experience. Preach My Gospel: A Guide to Missionary Service, rev. (Merrilyn), Learn how to provide good reasons to believe in God without resorting to Bible/Book of Mormon/Prayer (which are all great ways to learn of God but some/most people need a logical reason to believe in a Higher Power at all. Turns out she loves family history and was full of love towards us and interested in what we did. A bit rainy in the winter but otherwise okay. She met the missionaries after her member friend told her about how priesthood holders can bless homes, and this really helped her and her family. Trying different foods. Her brother had just accepted the gospel and told her about the blessings he had received and she wanted to know more. (Scott), Organization, being bold, self discipline, diligence, hard work, following the spirit, studying scriptures, working with others. You are equals no matter what; its not a competition, nor a fashion show (3 Nephi 13:25-34). (Merrilyn), Our mission extended from Paris to Tarbes and Pau. We dont use cars for transfers. The people who remember you most are often the companions you serve with so be good to each other. Raclettr. (Bryan), Pack with quality luggage or large packs. (Nicholai), Talked to strangers. (Anna), Beautiful, mild seasons. Alpine German-Speaking Mission. (Kale), Dont worry too much about getting Everything before you leave there are markets with skirts and dresses, big shoe stores for when your shoes wear out, their styles are similar, and members and investigators will be happy to direct you on your P day to find more clothes. (Jacob), A stronger testimony of the Gospel. Thermal ones! Spain - Statistics and Church Facts | Total Church Membership Pack light. Powerful tools to collect, organize and share your missionary experiences! Very little snow (winter in Orleans). (Bryan), A strong testimony of the work and of the church. (Drew), There is so much history in France, and such a warm culture.