Tough Week!

That really bites that the athletic board is STILL a joke! It seems like the Highland Cross Country team never gets a break, just one kick in the butt after the other. I can only imagine how tough that would be to work your tail off all year, and actually make it, and then because of some administrative garbage you get cut from any chance.

    Well, it turns out things didn't go too great here in France as well.  Even with all of the unfairness of life, and amidst all of the difficulties and trials that we may face, there is someone always there with open arms to pick us up. His is a gentle call, and it does not scream for our attention. His yoke is easy, and His burden is light, and He will always give us rest when it is needed. I definitely became closer to my Eldest Brother this week as me and Elder Horton struggled to the bitter end to find new people to teach.  We had found a lot of new people the week before and fixed rendezvous for this week, but whatever seed was planted in their hearts was quickly scorched by the hot sun. We also just had a ton of things fall through or get cancelled and then ,just to put salt in the wound, my body just flat out gave up last Saturday because I have had  another random episode of insomnia for the past 2 weeks.  Whatever sleep I was getting wasn't enough to function on, because I was fighting to put phrases together in French which has not been a problem for a long time. However, we did find small moments of success amidst our struggles and I managed to recover to a normal sleeping routine after the weekend.

    One night we were visiting a list of old amies and we were having a real hard time finding an address. It was really dark and we were out in the middle of nowhere and  we were pretty much lost. Despite the desire to just give up and find our way home we tried one last time and we ended up knocking on the door we wanted. This lady, named Mary Geane, has lived through more trials than most of us and at first she was a little angry that we had showed up.  She tried to argue with us. She said that because her mom had died ,and her sister and her son, and her other son, and because she was now suffering her own physical infirmities, God didn't exist. What do you say to someone like this? I had a terrible migraine and had just been complaining about my slight suffering and just got slapped in the face with an overwhelming compassion for this poor lady. I boldly testified of the atonement of Jesus Christ and how he has already walked through our steps, however thorny and painful they may have been, and that through Him we might be comforted and receive strength to overcome whatever weaknesses we have, physical, mental, emotional and of course the spiritual pain of sin. My wonderful companion taught how our perspective becomes different in knowing the plan our Heavenly Father has for us.  Even though he is only in his third transfer he perfectly expressed and testified of the plan of salvation. We then related how Christ is the center of this plan and makes it all possible for us to return with our families and our Father after this life. What started as a slightly hostile environment had melted into hope and a powerful love that came from the spirit. All of us were edified. I am so grateful for our Savior and the love He has for all of us. This work is not ours, but His, and we are but His humble servants. I have only felt that love I felt for Mary Geane that night as strongly as I did on a few other occasions, and it is incredible! It is God's love! She unfortunately has to go to the hospital this week but we are keeping contact with her and are doing our best to encourage her and help her to re-strengthen her faith in Christ. 

 That was pretty much our only rendezvous this week but it made up for the rest of the week.

    Well my companion is awesome and is pretty much my favorite if I can pick one. He is way to much like me, that sometimes it creeps me out, but it makes life fun. I hope all is well back in the promised land and I send my love!!!!!!!!!!!!

Elder Lyons 

Oh Boy!

Dear Family!

    What a week! I am SOOOOO exhausted after transfers!!! Our first legitimate day in Valenciennes was not until Friday because I had to take my companion, Elder Horton, all the way down to Orléans to do his legality. Weird being on the opposite side for a change.

     Anyways just to answer a few questions: Yes, I got my card but not the pin,  No I didn't get anything stolen this time, No I cannot go to the baptism this week.

    Elder Horton is an amazing missionary and he is from Layton Utah. He pretty much has got the young fire and inspires me to be better!

    Um mm... Valenciennes is sweet! It reminds me a lot of past villes I have served in. The ward is great and super pumped about the work. We have a car and I have to take care of a blue card (European credit card), thus I have to learn how to balance a budget and send in a card report.....yeah...

     So most of the past couple of days consisted of traveling everywhere and trying to get used to everything. We have gotten to know a lot of cool members already and met the church leadership here. Jacques Mormone is our DMP(ward mission leader) and he is just the greatest he basically has PMG (preach my gospel)memorized and he is the only member in his family. Bishop Kimpé is like only 30 and he is a recent convert. He is basically on fire! 

    As far as work goes, there are a lot of partial member families that we will be working with as well as a few other amies. Yesterday we organized the 2 area books FULL of investigator sheets and prayerfully decided which ones to visit. We have at least a hundred and we visited quite a few on Sunday. So far we have found one that pretty much jumped out of his seat with excitement once he realized who we were and we will be seeing him in a couple of weeks because he is busy with work at the moment.

     Well me and Elder Horton are super excited to work with the members here and of course.....I cant wait to port a new ville (tracting!!!!!!) 

 This new transfer is going to be an adventure as we fight to get used to this new place and make new friends with the members and people of Valenciennes. I thank the Lord for the blessings and opportunities he gives me to grow and show my faith and do my best to follow His commandments. He can call a lot stronger people to be His missionaries but he calls the weak things of the world, namely 19 year old boys, and makes them into men of His holy priesthood to confound the wise and strong ones! Pretty humbling work! It makes me realize more and more how little I am, but also how important I am to my Heavenly Father!!! Without God we are nothing, but put our faith in His only begotten Son Jesus Christ and you can know the mysteries of God!

I loves all of you and I hope y'all got the letters I sent last week

Elder Lyons

Leaving Namur

Dear Family!!!

First off....if I don't get the letter before I leave, Elder Reed can get it to me no problem. Second of all, I might be able to go to the baptism because I am not to far away....but I have to call president first......I am nervous for this call....oh well.

 (oh and for Christmas....as always the best thing you could send me are pictures....and my blue sweater....but I think it would be a lot cheaper if you didn't send to much stuff because it is so expensive. It would be better if you just sent money and I could get something here for a whole lot cheaper beings they have ridiculous sales here where they sell nice stuff for dirt cheap......just surprise me!)

 

So it has been super crazy saying goodbye to everyone and I still cant believe that I am leaving. I am super excited to go to Valenciennes with Elder Horton, he is going to be in his 3rd transfer and he was trained by my awesome friend Elder Youngblood...so it will be pretty much amazing! So this week was a little tough beings all of the rendezvous we had fell through but we managed to still find some new people through members, and they both want to be baptised!! Whatcha know, the work skyrockets right before I leave, I must have been holding it down or something he he jk!

 

Anyways, The best part about this week was Sunday. It was fast Sunday and I of course got the opportunity to bear my last testimony to the ward, and it was tough....but I managed to cry so I was pretty proud of myself...close call though. But the part that made sacrament meeting so awesome was when Coralie and Sandrine bore their testimonies!!!! Yep that's right! First time that either of them have ever done it and it was super sweet! 

Earlier in the week we did a lot of finding. We also took every name in the area book and went and visited all of them to see if there were any lost sheep that we good bring back. A lot of them had moved so their information was useless and was immediately thrown away.  Many of them at least had numbers we could call, so we called all of them.  At the end of all of our area book adventures we have about 3-4 new people that we will be teaching next week that have really good potential.  I am super excited for these people and for the elders in Namur ...they should have some good experiences with them.

 Well in any case I have learned so much from all of the people I had a chance to serve here, and serve with. I have made some amazing friends and I most importantly got to know my Savior better!  In particular this Sunday we had a special fast to understand the atonement better as a mission.  I personally gained a greater witness of Christs love for us and was edified very powerfully by this simple sacrifice we made together. (don't worry I know my limits and drank water as I still have problems residing from past operations and God understands as well) 

I love my mission so much and I am so excited that I have ten whole months to serve my fellow brothers and sisters,  and share my testimony about Jesus with anyone that will hear me! There is no greater message than Jesus Christ and I testify that He lives and he leads and guides this church. IT is HIS church and we are lucky to be a part of it. This gives us the sacred responsibility to share it with as many as possible! Thanks  loads you are all awesome and I have sent loads of letters beings I have tons of Belgian stamps that Iwould not have been able to use unless I sent stuff now.

 

Love Elder Lyons

Wow, what a week!

 

    First of all, Dad you are my hero.  I was thinking about you a lot during conference and in priesthood session as well.  I realized that you would be alone for the first time in a long time. I am so grateful for the wonderful lessons you have taught me all my life. I greatly cherish the times I spent with you and Chris, ESPECIALLY at priesthood session! Don't ever say that we somehow turned out to be great people despite your failings, because you have never failed me or our family!! You have always been a powerful example of charity, obedience, hard work and patience and many of the Christ like virtues I hope to have one day!!! I was the one that was somewhat apprehensive about going to help people move, or clean the church, or do service when I was little, but you taught me how vitally important it was. I couldn't be lazy at our house because I would have shrunk up in the bitterness of my guilt by your strong example!!  You loved me enough to correct me and chasten me when I needed it, and taught me some of the most valuable lessons I will never forget. I have been greatly blessed because of you on my mission, because of your example. Many people that I have helped as they have tried to understand the gospel or how to incorporate their principles have been made possible because YOU taught me how to keep them ALWAYS with NO EXCEPTIONS!!! I love you dad and I apologize for being so emotional but I feel so strongly this love for you and our family that if I didn't write something I think my heart would explode!  Not to mention that your email touched me greatly ....which is kinda embarrassing because I am in a public computer place and people are probably wondering why I am freaking out! hehehe

    Again you are my hero, both you and mom, and Chris, and Meagan, and Rachel, and Natalie and all of my family!!!

 

    OK whew! That was hard! So this week was full of SUPER UPS and SUPER DOWNS. I don't think I can handle this emotional ride for too much longer, because it is killing me. (he he).

     First, the bad news....We got ANOTHER letter form Francoise this week that basically said she wants us to stay away from her. Our heart was TORN! We spent some time writing her a letter and gave her one last chance to hear our testimony of God, His Son Jesus Christ, and HIS gospel....it was a very painful letter. I hope she will feel our love for her and open her heart to its message. Other bad news was that a lot of our new amies went on short vacations but should be getting back soon ...not to big of a deal.

    NOW the good news!!!! Sandrine and Coralie are SUPER excited about the baptism and have invited all of their less active part member family members to come!! I wouldn't be surprised if similar things happen to this family that happened to the Joumoutt family we baptised last month. All of their family started to come back to church afterwards!!! We have already visited some of their family and they were deeply touched by our testimonies. I am SO excited for this baptism and what it will do for this family that I wanna explode!!  However it is very unlikely that I'll stay here after having spent 3 transfers here already. Plus there are all the changes that are going into the mission soon.  I hope I stay, but we shall see.

 

    Well conference was awesome and I loved all of President Monson's little jokes, slash, just being a spaz! I certainly was edified and greatly appreciated the emphasis on the book of Mormon.     Well I have to bust but I have finished a letter to be sent to Lili, Chris, and Grandma.....I just kept forgetting to send it....sorry, and I will send one to home as well and explain more!!!

 

Love all of you

 

Elder Lyons