We talked a lot about the tools that Heavenly Father has given us to carry out our work here as missionaries, aka planners and the area book. How could a conference involving area books and weapons be so spiritual? Well it definitely was. Everyone left feeling uplifted and motivated to work harder to be perfect in our planning. Even Jesus Christ talked about the importance of keeping important records when he visited the Nephites and saw they hadn't recorded the story of Samuel and his prophecies. I think this conference was a direct answer to my prayers. I've really been wanting to know how to be a better leader and live up to the full potential of the missionary I can be. Now I have just the motivation I need to make sure I'm doing all those things that we all know we have to do, but sometimes slip through the cracks.
After the zone conference we did an exchange with the Val de Saone sisters and it was super fun. I was with Sister Shields, who is going home in two weeks! I remember meeting her my first transfer as a bleu when we had a conference in Nice, and she was only at her halfway point. Now she's going home! I can't believe how fast time goes. It was weird because she's always been an STL since I've known her on the mission, so being hers was backwards. But she was the one doing all the coaching, giving me wonderful advice about missionary work, leadership, and preparing to go home. She's such an amazing missionary and person and I really needed to hear some of her wisdom. I'm so excited for the work she'll be able to do after her mission as she continues to build the kingdom and starts her own family.
Nelly still does not have a baptismal date but she is progressing beautifully. We had a lesson on the Word of Wisdom this week and set a calendar for when she'll stop drinking coffee. Sunday she even fasted for it! Our recent convert, Nadia, gave her first lesson in Relief Society this week! She was totally nervous but so cute. We came over Saturday and she had been studying everyday on the chapter and highlighted and made so many notes. The Lord honors preparation, and she was helped out. Our amie Maman Helene, who has been taking the missionary discussions foreverrrr and refuses to come to Gospel Principles class because she's been to that class for years, actually came to it this Sunday! The day before she had just been saying she would never go back to it because she knew everything. It was hilarious haha we were so happy. The lesson, however, was about eternal marriage, and she was sitting in between a recent convert and a less active, both of whom are married to nonmembers. So basically after the class there was a throw down between the three of them and us the missionaries, as they were pounding us with questions about why eternal marriage is necessary especially if you've been divorced and remarried and how they see it, ain't nobody got time fo that! Needless to say we'll be having some follow up lessons with them soon :).
Last week for Pday we went to a bouchon, which is a typical Lyonnais cafe. They are everywhere here and we've all been wanting to eat at one finally. It was so delicious! We sat there for a few hours to eat all our courses, and it was worth every second. Today we found another bouchon and ate there for lunch, and then for dessert we went crazy. We walked through Vieux Lyon and stopped at five different boulangeries. Each of us got two different pastries. Then we went to some Roman ruins nearby and sampled each of them one by one as we sat in this amphitheatre. It was sooo goood. Lyon is the food capital of the world so you would have to be an idiot not to take advantage of it. We don't regret even one of those calories.
I know what I want for Christmas! This week as I was talking to Sister Shields, she had set a goal to talk about her mission as much as she can when she comes home. I loved that goal. I remember before my mission when I was just a normal student at BYU, people put a taboo on the RMs talking about their mission. It had such a negative connotation for some reason. But now that I'm a missionary, I realize that very few of my friends ever talked about their missions, and when they did, it never bugged me. Why don't people do that more often? I know it's something people can't fully understand because every mission is different, but isn't the work essentially the same everywhere? Wouldn't we be able to feel the spirit hearing about someone's experience whether the mission was served in Brazil or Russia? Even when I got my mission call, I think I only had one or two friends that showed me people from their mission and talked about cool miracles.
Well, I want to know mission stories and miracles! Mom and Dad, Davey, Allison, Juna, extended family members and all my RM friends: choose an experience on your mission that strengthened your testimony, type it down, and send it to my parents. Family members and friends that haven't served missions, send your written testimony of Jesus Christ. I understand some experiences are too sacred to share. I'm not asking for those ones--just a simple one that you wouldn't mind sharing. I'M COMPLETELY SERIOUS ABOUT THIS. That's all I want for Christmas and I promise that not only will I be a happy person, but your testimony will be strengthened as you recall these experiences, and you'll definitely be strengthening mine.
This week I will finish the challenge extended by Elder Adler when he came to visit our mission, the challenge to bear testimony of Jesus Christ to your companion everyday for 30 days straight. This week as I'm finishing my last five days, I'll be writing down my testimony in French and I'll send it in my next letter. Only Dad and Allison (maybe mom) will be able to understand it, but you'll know it's my testimony of our Savior Jesus Christ. Dad, you'll have to excuse my poor French grammar :)
Je vous aime beaucoup!
Soeur Melissa Hurd
Visiting a recent convert with our friend Ahmed!
