Valenciennes

Dear Family

 

     OK, first of all, I am sorry Chris. I had written a ton of letters the last few weeks and I thought that I may have included one in Grandmas (to save postage) for you as well; but in any case, tomorrow morning I will be sending more.  I will send yours first so I don't forget.  I PROMISE as well!!   I am super sorry that I have been idle (he he scriptural word).....

    Anyways, in other news, I am finally legal in France!!!!! I don't remember if I already told you or not.  Let's just say, that it is more than a relief to finally have that escapade over with.

    I got the Halloween package and it was super awesome! Thank you so much for all that you do for me.  It is SO nice to have someone that supports you during the hardest work I could ever be doing. It motivates me to be better because it makes me think of my wonderful parents example and brother and sisters.  I remember how awesome they are and I in turn strive to be like them! Also, all I would really like for Christmas is pictures. That book you sent last time was the best Christmas gift (along with the carols) I have ever gotten and it touched me deeply. I really don't want you spending lots of money on me, especially since it takes SOO much to just send a simple sweater and candy. If you want you can wire in money and I could buy something at "soldes". Those are the crazy sales that happen here around Christmas and they sell really nice stuff super cheap.  I would really just prefer a nice little note and some pictures over any thing you could get in the store.

     OK enough of the technical stuff... This week was much better. We have finally started to get things going a little bit and are finding people to teach. We have visited nearly all of the investigators in the area book, and more or less, call sheets are all that remain untouched for now.     We have hit a striving effort to rescue lost sheep, and have picked up two or three , all of which are very promising. One is named Robert Louchez. He is a scientist and is very very bright. He knows probably a little too much for his own good, but he is SUPER nice, very friendly, and has a strong belief in Christ and His gospel, which was surprising. Some of his beliefs are very strange and he is somewhat of a bizarre man, but it is very hard not to love him. Our first rendezvous with him was a very touching one as we mostly just strived to get to know him. We got to share spiritual experiences with each other and it was cool to see how he has been lifted and edified by the trials he has due to cancer.   I was able to relate with him a bit because of my experiences.   Then we testified of how this restored gospel can be of an even greater blessing to him. We testified of the reality of the miracles of Christ, as testified of in the Book of Mormon, in our day.  How the restored gospel can help us be closer to God than be any other means. He was deeply touched and is excited to see us for the following visits.

     Another super cool experience happened before we found Robert. We had planned to stop by a members house and give them brownies because we felt very strongly that they needed to be visited.......We hadn't even put their faces to the names of those we would be seeing but we knew that that was going to be the best use of our time. So we set out to take a  25 min. bus ride out to this tiny town called Raismes (pronounced "ram"). IT TOOK WAY LONGER THAN 25 MINUTES! First, the bus wouldn't stop for us even after I waved it down. He must of missed us somehow and the next one took it's own sweet time  getting there.  I almost wanted to just throw the plans out the window, but we stuck with it and we eventually got to our destination. It started out normal. The Gros family was a little surprised to see us in the middle of their little town but gratefully took us in. We talked and talked and enjoyed each others company and they expressed their joy in having the missionaries over after such a long time of not having them. Then I opened our message with the scripture in Alma 37:6-7.  As I was reading it Sister Gros started bawling. I didn't know if I was to continue, or to try and comfort her.....but I felt like I needed to continue. I testified of the power of the small miracles of everyday that turn into the miracle of our life. For me,  this would be all of the moments I had family home evening (despite how grumpy us children may have started to be) and all of the times I went to church as a family, all of the small testimonies from personal scripture study and those that were given by my church leaders, and most important by my loving parents and sisters and brother. I gave an example of Rachel and Natty praying for me when I was really sick with pancreatic stuff.  How much their simple prayers strengthened and touched me. Then Elder Horton testified of the power of doing the simple things.  Scripture study, prayer, and going to church. How doing these things in his life has helped him and blessed him to have incredible French for a missionary his age!! Then Sister Gros told us that they were just heading through a rough time right now. She told us that it always seemed to be right at the climax of their trials, that missionaries just randomly showed up like we had.  How the simple visits of missionaries had kept them strong and persistent in the gospel. She expressed gratitude for us and our thoughtfulness in coming. We were deeply touched by their gratitude and told them not to forget how much they have strengthened all those missionaries as well, and us!! We need them as much or more than they need us! They also expressed a desire to give us referrals. A few of their friends to teach, with them, as soon as their friends were of vacance!!

    SUPER cool family! After all of the blessings I have received, the realization comes of how weak I still am. How much stronger I need  to be. I have to put off the natural man. I often feel like Nephi when he exclaimed," O wretched man that I am, because such little things beset me".  Fears, laziness, whatever it may be.  Then I take courage because I know in whom I have trusted, and if I continue in faith,  God  will help me shake off this natural man and become more like Him who created me!!

 

I love you lots and I look forward to hearing more from you!!! You are in my prayers and my heart everyday and give me strength when I have none!!  LOVES, Elder Lyons