3/7/2016 1 Comment Saratov Approach... The SequelCoucou à Tous!
Late trains and interesting men are a common occurrence here in the France Paris mission. Our train for exchanges was late and we had been waiting in the dark at the tram stop in Nantes for a very long time when a strange Russian man (who ironically happens to be from Saratov, Russia and only speaks Russian and hardly any French) "approached" me and started speaking Russian. Apparently I look like I speak Russian... Then he looked puzzled at me and says in the little French he knows "You don't speak Russian??"... I don't know why he seemed so surprised, after all, we are in France hahaha. Though that's probably what people here are thinking when I speak to them in broken Franglish hahah. Then, he says that the tram is broken so he is waiting for his friends and offers me and Soeur Burgoyne a ride with them to wherever we need to go...."Saratov Approach 2". Just kidding mom, don't worry! We didn't go with him. Stranger Danger!!! Even though I am about 67% sure he had all good intentions, better to be safe than sorry, haha! Exchanges were fun as always, I adore Soeur Bond. She is leaving in a few weeks and I am so sad :(. I don't know what we are going to do without her hahaha. She is exactly a year ahead of me in the mission so I will get home exactly a year after her. Missions go by so fast... I am still telling people I have only been out for 3 months hahahah. I am not ready to face reality... (It's actually about double that)...NO!! Ever since I got to France, I have heard nonstop talk about "Kebabs" from all the members and the missionaries. Well, to describe a kebab... I would say it is the French Equivalent to a Big Mac. It's basically a bun, jam packed full of shredded meet of some sort; I'm not sure exactly what it is, but it sure is popular! Haha. We had a meeting with the elders in our district to plan out a big "Meet the Mormons" event that we are going to be doing in the next few weeks-- which gave us an excuse to try the "famous kebab" for the first time. The Elders were so stoked to witness the trying of our very first kebabs hahahah, Elders are funny. I admit the best part it was watching the elders "swim" while they ate theirs! By the looks in their eyes, you would have thought they had just eaten the fruit of the tree of life! This week was ZONE CONFERENCE. It's in all caps because zone conference is the bomb. We went the Rennes this time and it was a blast as always. We ate Kentucky fried chicken, which I didn't even know existed in France. I got to introduce my "baby" to everyone and I also watched my "mom" give her dying (going home) testimony. We got a three generation picture! ;) Mission lingo is a bit strange. I remember when I first got here and people were telling me about missionaries who were "dying"... I was very concerned and frankly quite distraught that they were taking it so lightly hahaha. I am going to need to buy a new suitcase just for my cookbooks. This week I added 3 more French Cuisine books to my collection, given to me from members in the ward hahaha, YES!! I have 13 cookbooks now plus one other that I have started writing myself!...it may be becoming a bit of an obsession. The other day we were at Frère Reigner's for dinner (The professional Chef) and he gave me a French chocolate, and a Thai recipe book and he said, "Now take these and promise to come back to Paris to become the chef you were born to be from a REAL French Gourmand!" Apparently a Gourmand is a Chef that has been awarded a collar colored like the French flag as a sign of outstanding achievement in cuisine, or in other words, they are ranked as the best "Gourmands" in France! Wouldn't that be amazing?!...pricey too! Eesh!! Yesterday was fast Sunday and The Lord blessed us with the most amazing miracle. As I was preparing for bed Saturday night I felt prompted to fast for The Lord's help in getting started with the new "Our friends are your friends" program in our mission. Specifically, a family in our ward named the Rio's lingered in my mind. So, I decided to fast to find a new investigator that would fit well with them. We had a planned to eat lunch with the Rio family after church so we figured it would be the perfect time to present the program to the family and ask them to join us in prayer and fasting to find this investigator :) But, before we even had the opportunity, a cute English girl walked into church randomly and sat right behind the Rio's (did I mention they are an English family?) I thought for sure she was a visiting member, she was just glowing! In fact, everyone thought she was a new missionary hahaha. They were all congratulating us on our new trio companionship haha! She made instant friends with the Rios! After sacrament they introduced her to us. She had met the missionaries on the bus in England before she moved to France. Miraculously, we happened to have a lunch already planned with the Rios for Sunday after church. So we invited her last second and we had so much fun! Sister Rio made English food and made her feel like she was right at home :) It was incredible. She is thrilled to be back at church and taking the missionary lessons, and we are thrilled that she is here! We are all going to institute together this weekend :). I bet you can guess what I am going to say next?... Miracles happen... Even in FRANCE! :) Well, that's it for today everyone, I am sorry it's short, I have a very big family and lots of "happy birthdays" to wish this month haha :) One more quick thought before I send this off... In speaking with the members on the topic of missionary work I have heard this goofy phrase WAY too many times... "I have faith, I'm just telling you that I already know they aren't going to listen!" Where is the "faith" in that statement? Two of my favorite and most used phrases in French are "On Sais JAMAIS!" or in other words "We NEVER know!" and "Avec la grande foi vient les grands miracles!"..."Big faith brings big miracles!" Of course this reminds me of a scripture that I love :)... "16 And there was no inequality among them; the Lord did pour out his Spirit on all the face of the land to prepare the minds of the children of men, or to prepare their hearts to receive the word which should be taught among them at the time of his coming-- 17 That they might not be hardened against the word, that they might not be unbelieving, and go on to destruction, but that they might receive the word with joy, and as a branch be grafted into the true vine, that they might enter into the rest of the Lord their God." The Lord is preparing the minds and hearts of ALL his children to receive his gospel. On Sais Jamais, when they will be ready. But, I can promise all of you that when we have big faith, we will see big miracles :) Bisous! Xoxo- Sœur Wyson
1 Comment
Maryanne_wedig
3/7/2016 05:54:04 pm
I was meaning to share with you something that my little brother did on his mission. There were so many catholics in one area where he was serving that he just felt like there was no way anyone would ever listen or accept a Book of Mormon. Finally, when people would say that they were Catholic, he would just look at his companion and ask, "do we give Book of Mormons to Catholics? " his companion would reply, "yes Elder! I believe we do! " most would accept the free book after that. :) I love your emails and I'm so glad you didn't go worth the Russian man! Scary!
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Tracie WysonI feel very honored to have had the opportunity to serve as a full-time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in the France, Paris Mission. Archives
April 2017
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