We were walking home from the train to our apartment and a drunk guy threw a glass bottle at us that narrowly missed us. (Anna), People always told me it would be SO HARD. (Roberto), My dad served in the Franco-Belge Mission 20 years earlier. (Alex), I made a slight mistake on words and told people we created God, not created by God. Any things you really like about the area/people? My grammar became worse because of the foreign language, but I learned to explain basic concepts and then building up to more complex concepts as a missionary. 131 Blvd Carnot (Doug), Tamil riot near La Chapelle that we had to cross in order to get home. Our mission president is french. Avoid accumulating things on your mission. My first name is Jeff. There were a few people at the median when we got there, so naturally we started talking to them. He was quite disheveled, and asked if he should dress up a little we said, if you want to! The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints provides relief and development projects for humanitarian purposes in countries all over the world. (Anna), One of the best things I think I did to prepare for leaving on a mission was spending a month (or less) focusing on each Christ-like attribute. France Paris Mission (Jeffrey), Teaching and investigator in french, with him replying back in English, while reading from the Arabic Book of Mormon. Make sure you have a mechanism by which they can attach together in case you need to book it across train stations! But really, I didnt realize it would be some of the most fun Id ever experienced in my life and so much fulfillment and finding myself. Argentina Buenos Aires North. French-speaking immigrants from the Piedmont valleys of alpine Italy, taught Utahns how to raise and use silk. (Scott), When I was serving in Belgium, we were walking with our recent convert to his house when he ran in front of us and mooned us hahaha. (Michael), In Meaux, a Sunday School instructor asked me to get a tableau. (Roberto), One day while at the church, a lady called the chapel and asked to learn more. Just when we were starting to talk, she jumped up and ran to the door This is my stop! (Roberto), While riding our bikes in Orleans, some guys we rode by spat at and hit us in the shoulder. (Zakarias), Buying three tickets for Trois from a kiosk in Le Havre. 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. So we turned the other way, and kept walking and bustling through the busy city square. I was on exchanges and we were unknowingly being led to someone who was about to commit suicide. My last companion started training Elder Whitman the day I went home. I loved the people and the area. In a revelation to Joseph Smith the Prophet in 1833, the Lord said, "For it shall come . You can submit your own article, ideas, or feedback at liahona.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. But at the same time, I felt some inner rush to keep hurrying to find her. Knowing that you gave your best and you know the truth now. Also, most of our transfers were by train, not automobile. (Mariah), We were out knocking on doors late one night and missed the last bus back into the main town where our apartment was. (Doug), Discipline, work ethic, study habits, spiritual study habits, organizational skills, language skills. We will have mastered all of the elements and planets and will have made our race immortal. Missionaries called French speaking serve in Reunion and Mauritius and never see the mission home on Madagascar. Croissante aux aumaund. Cant remember the name of the main cheese I loved. (Paul), Little to no snow.. humid. Some random guy didnt like that and ran up to my companion and I and threw a punch at me but stopped his swing right before it hit my face. We made it clear that us sisters were missionaries and why we were here. She knew completely the truth and she whole-heartedly embraced the gospel from day one. He then reached out and grabbed some of my long red hair, and cut off several inches. Very brave people. (Nicholai), Temperate 4 seasons. The French are awesome people. Love and serve your companion and those you meet. If you do, He will frustrate it and show you the right path. Serving missionaries, parents, and friends since 1995 . My companion scheduled a dinner appointment just outside of our area, but I went along with it since he only had three weeks left in his mission. So are the Africans! We kept working through the crowd, and somehow, up ahead another block or two away was that bright pink. (Anna), Lapin la moutarde, fraisiers, quiche, poulet aux arachides Africain. (Elsa), The opening of the Bordeaux StakeElder Packer was phenomenal. I saw almost 50 baptisms in my 18 months. The members are incredible. (Alex), The ability to speak and teach without having every word written out. You were called to that area to talk to the people you will talk to for a specific reason. What blessings did you receive from serving a mission? (Dennis), Rainy, humid, great sunny days, too. (Anna), I had a missionary convince me to go ask for a soutian gorge at a pharmacy when I had a sore throat. (Bryan), Very atheist. It was amazing to see someones life lifted up and to receive joy through the Gospel. Paris P-Days are so much fun. Utah Salt Lake City South Mission. Ways in which I was French, or like specific companions, members or investigators. He participates in the temple preparation class we teach twice per week, and his testimony is a blessing to everyone around him. Missionary Preparation. 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. (Merrilyn), Those who were members of the church and active were heroes. Frequently Asked Questions. We hiked up a mountain one weekend when everyone from Tarbes went to a Missionary Training Session in Bordeaux and there was only room for all missionaries but one so another had to stay behind so we could be a pair. Missionaries: Historical Antecedents and Foundations for Current Church Policies and Institutions Lynn Henrichsen In 1830, just one language --English --was used in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. (Merrilyn), How to be humorous. You will become fluent enough. There are a lot of micro climates. Less stuff to pack is less stuff you have to carry around and keep up with. Love the people and dont judge others :)(Jordan), Read the scriptures out loud in the language. 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. I was blessed with the Spirit and was able to do so sufficiently well that no one laughed at me. How to get along with another annoying person. (Kara), Love every minute and never stop praying! *Learn about living in Utah. Especially shoes, coat, umbrella (although the wind will destroy it). Its the best mission ever! (Kara), Personal discipline and a love for life. (Merrilyn), We always road our velo solexes and scooters (1963 to 1966 without helmets). (Jeffrey), Kebabs, crpes, coquilles St Jacques. That feeling of love was astounding. Always stay hydrated, always have a water bottle on you. I understand what is important. Take pictures of the people you meet (and label them because no matter how much you love them, you will forget their names). Though the laborers in France have often been few, the harvest has indeed been great (see Luke 10:2). (Dennis), Once they opened up to you, you had a friend for life. (Aaron), I loved teaching my investigator, Marie-line, because she was so sincere. (Kale), Confidence, teaching experience, fearlessness, stronger faith, humility, much greater trust in the Lord, and an understanding of our place in his plan, better self image, empathy(Mariah), How to speak French. Brussels is the city of miracles and Nogent is a dream. (Aaron), Communication skills, teaching skills (especially listening! We will in effect be Gods. He then chased us out of the building with said knife. (Kale), St. Brieuc, Chateauroux, Limoges, Talence, Nantes, and Montauban. This list includes the missionarys name, URL and when their blog was updated. Youll get rid of the big one quickly of you bring it. That was always a good spiritual experience. Be humble, be simple. The food is unforgettable. For my last few transfers, we were able to get 20 lessons a week, which is stellar for any mission, especially with larger geographic alliance. Sometimes I would directly translate English to French and confuse people too haha. 6. (Valan), Never snowed. IMO (Dennis), If you obey, work and communicate openly with your companion, you will be happy. 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. The honeymoon might last a bit longer (a year or two) but if your partner or yourself are not grounded in the gospel, some rough, exciting, sad times are ahead of you. So much time immersed in the scriptures, I got to know them so much better 2. Africa North (AN), North America (NA), and South America (SA) are abbreviated for concise column and reduction of row height for most rows. Still, the work is a daily challenge. Living Life. (Anna), (Sisters) Dont feel like you have to have Everything youll need for 2 years. They do provide sheets, but I suggest bringing your own haha. Pack light. (Jeffrey), French speaking and knowing how to act professionally in a setting. (Matt), Being threatened numerous times and actually being punched in the face. (Doug), Paris, Versailles, Nantes, Chatiillon, Pau, Tarbes, Bordeaux. As missionaries, we are helping fulfill that prophecy today. They were all so kind and friendly. The Paris mission is awesome. Always soaking wet, get water resistant everything. Summers, you need to organize your time so that you arent in the sun for too long of a period. Utah Salt Lake City North Mission. On my first assignment, I was asked to lead the music in the Relief Society in Versailles. To this day, he recalls how miraculous it was to meet missionaries in Arizona who could speak his language. (Jordan), If you say je suis plein for I am full it really means I am, HA HA I bet everyone makes this one. (Stuart), I was blessed with two difficult companions. Oh yeah and raw hamburger. I technically served 2 missions. She asked me if the Book of Mormon could truly change her life for the better. Home France LDS Missions. I smiled kindly and struck up a conversation. Long suffering. (Jordan), Riding bicycles down the hill from the supermarket with a Christmas tree tied to the back of my companion with her scarf. ): I have complete confidence in you. The same can be said about your companions in the field. Alpine German-Speaking Mission. It was just awesome. (Anonymous), Crepes, bread, cheese, pate, patisserie, grec, kabab, etc. Scott M. Naatjes, 53, and Jodi T. Naatjes, five children, Lake Marion Ward, Lakeville Minnesota Stake: Alpine German-Speaking Mission, succeeding President Christopher S. Brown and Sister Laura G. Brown. Crepes. (adsbygoogle=window.adsbygoogle||[]).push({}); !function(f,b,e,v,n,t,s) You will never be in that place with that person again. (Valan), People skills. (Douglas), I love their love and pride in their culture and continual quest to perfect their language. Also, companionship study could be very spiritual because we were studying similar doctrine together and discussing what we learned in detail. (Alex), Love the people and enjoy your differences and similarities. Both times we helped those people feel the love of God and ultimately stopped the suicide. Study skills. It was the first time for me! Today, Brother Luala is preparing to enter the holy temple. *Simply click on a shirt design to view the details and submit an order. How to build an extra floor on a building. . I love you, and so does the Lord. Moules frites. Get to know the members, become their friends, and find out ways how you can help them do missionary work. I love how particular they can be, and how they say hello to every person in the room before they sit down. Remember that youll be effectively living out of your luggage sometimes, and transfers happen unexpectedly sometimes. The ones Ive found stateside just arent the same. (Valan), Threw up in garbage can at metro stop after eating flour and water for dinner. (Matt), We have 3 countries in our mission, Paris has the best public transit in the world. (Nicholai), Be more outgoing and less afraid of making mistakes. As missionaries, we seek to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel.1 And as French-speaking missionaries serving in Arizona, weve found that our missionary work has also presented us with unique, diverse, challenging, and culturally vibrant experiences. The Church was legally recognized in October 1968. Laundry. (Paul), The language is beautiful. HUMOR AND SPIRIT ARE POWERFUL TOOLS in making relationships work. (Kale), Poubelles, crepes, couscous, steak-frites. The Gift of Tongues is a very real and very beautiful thing, I can testify to that. (Zakarias), Our mission is the highest baptizing mission in Europe (except Cabo Verde), and also happens to be the best in the entire world! (Dennis), My wife was my MTC teacher..I think that covers a lot. Its the Lords. 4. Heres a list of current and past Mission Presidents of the ParisLDS Mission. 8 Months. (Alex), Having an Amish call and say that the Book of Mormon is true and that he wants to be baptized. The first was humbling because he showed me that I was arrogant and inflexible. The French people are incredible! Ha Ha I had no idea how to lead music. Make sure you have good, sturdy walking shoes that will last. It is so enriching to learn form people from every corner of the world and you can learn so much from them. The designs on mission t-shirts may also be printed on other LDS mission gifts, including: France Parismissionary aprons, Christmas stockings, ties, pillow cases, teddy bears and Christmas ornaments. Ah well. Dress and Grooming. But they dont always mean the same thing in English. They love fine food, good education, good music, small gatherings, they dress nicely and are generous. 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. The grandmothers are all converts, and there are very few third-generation members. (Chloe), I learned to communicate better. (Scott), St Nazaire Sarcelles Versailles Paris Poitiers Meaux Cergy. (Mariah), Dont wear your clothes to deathjust buy some new suits when the old are worn out and the same goes for your shoes. (Doug), Dont worry so much about yourself or the future. (Bryan), Cold wet winters. They were going against a whole lifetime of culture to live the principles of the gospel. (Mariah), Pain au Chocolate. Any advice/testimony for pre-missionaries going to Paris? Save some money and buy a suit or two in France. (Jeffrey), We were about to enter an enclosed complex where I saw few exits and 2 young Arabs when I was prompted that we should ignore the reference and travel and hour back to our main area. Brother Naatjes is a former stake president, high councilor, branch president . I also gained a lot of confidence and happiness. (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. (Scott), The history was amazing!!! John Conway and I took the weekend off and biked up to a mountain village. But after a few steps, we felt it wasnt right. ), how to recognize the Spirit, and much, much more! 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. (Anna), There are two separate cultures in the mission: The city culture and the countryside culture. (Paul), Kebab. Rabbit. (Alex), Language bonus, people skills, being able to carry on a conversation, cooking. Missionaries (frequently with the help of family and friends) fund their own missions an approximate cost of $10,000 to $12,000 per missionary. (Nicholai), I had 4 Mission PresidentsI only officially met 2 of them. 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. But times have changed and there is so much work to do! It was so frightening that one minister from another church ran out of the house yelling If this is religion, I want nothing to do with it. Two girls fainted. Trying different foods. We spent the next four hours walking the sisters home before we could head back to our own apartment. 4 seasons without the extremes you get in the Midwest. The ethnicity is add broad as you will ever find. (Michael), Too many to list. The mission designs are printed on white shirts and are shipped to you. (Drew), I was on splits the first night of my mission with two elders. Alabama Birmingham. Amazing member missionaries, amazing examples. Go all out! Washington DC North Missionaries Group. He has prepared a way for them to hear the most important message of all time by calling French-speaking missionaries to find them and invite them to come and see and come and belong.2 No matter how long we may have traveled or how long we may have been searching, not one of us is ever forgotten by our Heavenly Father. Well, us Canadians (me) did not have a clue how wild the American missionaries would be. Love the people. The more you pray, study and testify, the stronger your testimony will grow. Here Are Five Ways to Find Answers, Helping Loved Ones Face Questions and Doubts about Faith. (Zakarias). Do as much of your study, reading, and praying in your mission language as possible. (Mariah), I cant count all the blessings. Surely there will be hard and discouraging times. But all of the skills and leadership traits and work ethic I received from the mission is allowing me to excel after my mission. Give Him your time and dont bring your own agenda. I didnt say anything to my companion until after 2 more stops. Utah St. George Mission. (Paul), Some kids were throwing dirt clods at an old man and we told them to stop. We studied listening to the Spirit and acting on faith. I love their architecture, their love of flowers and symmetry, their pride and knowledge of their history, their wisdom growing from their mistakes. (Roberto), Spoke out more-even if I wasnt confident in French yet. Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his wife, Sister Kathy Andersen, spoke at the first of six area devotionals . After getting the huge table through the doors, the instructor repeated tableau so I could make the connection that I got the wrong item. Almost all of these people are warm and wonderful. LDS Mission shirts come in all sizes: Small, Medium, Large, Extra Large, up to 4XL. Try to keep your luggage limited, too: one large suitcase, one good backpack or carry-on piece, and a wardrobe bag for your suits/dresses. 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. You prayed that we would have a fruitful evening! The Lord answers prayers! We waited for the train going the other direction and it must have been 30-40 minutes later that we got off at her stop. He is the beginning and the end (Revelation 22:13). We cant wait to hear from you! Either how they got to France, how they found their faith/the Missionaries, some people were alive during WWII, etc. My trainer replied Hey, Eldersonnerie means doorbell. (Zakarias), Baiser-careful!! I just waited until the last possible month to earn it. Slightly nerve racking but ultimately hilarious. We had an elder from England who had not done language training. 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. Here are survey responses from France ParisRMs, to give you a snapshot into what its like to live in the mission. This is a list I made from information from Lifey, current language needs for senior couples, mission websites, and locations of non-English speaking units in the US. 2017-2020, Paul J. Sorensen 2014-2017, Frdric Jean Babin 2011-2014, Franck A. Poznanski 2008-2011, Don H. Staheli ( Listen to an interview with the Stahelis) 2005-2008, Steven H. Pond 2002-2005, Lynn Bennion 1999-2002, David W. Madsen 1996-1999, Dennis K. Brown (Valan), St Quentin, St Omer, Brussels, Paris, Nantes, Tours. (Bryan), Pack with quality luggage or large packs. The sisters where Im from wear black all over! We tried to explain to him that we werent nuns, and he thought that we were sad about it, so he spent 20 minutes reassuring us that someday we could be nuns. Layers. (Douglas), Crme brle, lapin la moutarde, crpes, couscous algrienne, une bonne quiche, et un sandwich baguette pour quelques euros sur la rue. (Anonymous), Great food and some very wonderful people who really dont know where to find the truth. ed. Check out YA Weekly, located in the Young Adults section under Audiences in the Gospel Library, for new, inspiring content for young adults each week. DC North - President Dennis E. Simmons Group. Im so excited to see how it grows and now the temple is being dedicated! I love their wildness for football and tennis. 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. We spoke French to her and she repeated it all in Russian. My best reasoning is that however we got here as we are now (Big Bang or whatever), we are here. Just trust in the Lord. I learned a valuable language. Cold in winter, hot in summer. Lardons & crime fraiche with pasta. Fun night! (Nicholai), 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. -awesome!!!! Libraries. From that moment on, Brother Lualas life was changed. There are many Muslim people in France. If you have found this service helpful, please consider donating! Dont buy more than you need. I should have just tried and learned rather than being worried about being embarrassed. Friends. It was pretty funny. So Why Did My Husband Want to Join It? You WILL go through several pairs. (Stuart), Crpe, Burrito Fte, Donner Kebab, Brioche, Galette Brtonne, Crme Frache Pizza. I feel a sense of direction and a great sense of peace! (Doug), There are an estimated 500,000+ Chinese natives living in Paris and surrounding suburbs. Enjoy every day. We were going to take a trip to Spain but decided not to. (Kara), It was a magical place to serve. Since then, the missionary work has accelerated, and the knowledge of a Savior has reached many French-speaking people in this part of the world. Product details Package Dimensions : 10 x 8 x 1 inches; 4.8 Ounces (Matt), Having my last lesson on my mission where our golden investigator told us a story where he met 2 young men in white shirts and ties that gave him a book that forever changed his life and his families. (Michael), Bread. Heres a link to the mission map for the ParisMission (LDS). Other franciphone missions are Tahiti, Quebec, Haiti, Switzerland, and temple square. (Doug), Good sturdy yet lightweight luggage. How to be more spiritual. I served in the Fiji Suva mission, speaking French, which means I was on a island called New Caledonia the whole time. (Michael), Paris (twice), Tours, Meaux, St. Nazaire, Limoges, Cherbourg, Rennes. Here's a list of current and past Mission Presidents of the Paris LDS Mission. And it wasnt my doingI got to see the Elders baptisms, taught some that others found, found some that others taught, sang or performed at many others, fellowshipped or attended classes with other missionaries investigators and taught many recent converts. amertune 10 yr. ago Forgot about Tahiti, even though one of my MTC teachers served there. Wind chill drops the temp 10 degrees and the wind cuts through any clothing you have. (Doug), Seeing peoples lives change through reading the Book of Mormon with an open heart and mind. Very little snow (winter in Orleans). (Mariah), Not many baptisms. Definitely a good rain jacket and umbrella and waterproof shoes. When we left the appointment and went down the stairs, the migraine and weakness both returned. What are some interestingfacts about the ParisMission? 188 Countries Receiving Humanitarian Aid (Since 1985) 36,639 Welfare Services Missionaries (Incl. They are amazing men and their wives are incredible and strong. Camembert & Brie. Buy winter jackets there if youre going in the summer. (Paul), Forget about home and engulf yourself in the gospel, the language and the French culture. (Chloe), Investigators reading the scriptures and telling us what they learned. (Jordan), Finding a family that we were taking a Book of Mormon to whose address we had left at home, hours away. A knowledge of Gods love and His involvement and interest in my life. Things tend to work out, find joy in serving others. When I got there, it was amazing how many members came over to welcome me back with so much love even though I had been gone for quite some time in a different area. There is a lot to do. One-hundred-fifty years later, in 1981, that number had grown to 71 (Deseret News 1983 Church Almanac 1982, pp. The next day, we were notified from our Mission President that missionaries were no longer to hold Halloween parties in any way whatsoever. She nearly fell off the couch laughing. (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. (Anonymous), Cherbourg, Nogent, Vannes, Sarcelles, St Brieuc, Evreux, Niort, Soissons. It was awesome to see her progress, her maturity in the gospel, and how the Gospel filled her life with joy. MyMission.com provides free missionary websites to LDS missionaries and their families giving them a great way to communicate and share mission experiences. (Aaron), Resilience, hard work, language, friendship. When he started towards my blue, I got rather defensive, raised my voice, and then he ran away. Elders, resale shops are great for finding cheap suits while in the field.
