Thirty-one

Hey everyone! This week a lot happened so let's get started shall we? ;)

So last Monday was super awesome! It all started off waking up at 5 a.m….so we could start cleaning. We did this because we had so much to do but just so little time. After cleaning we did some mangoes (exercise) then we got ready and did studies.  After we did studies we packed, short emails ( sorry for that) :), and then we left to Beaune. It took about an hour in a half to drive to Beaune but it was absolutely amazing! We meet with the Dijon Elders and went to the biggest attraction there, a very old super cool looking hospital. After the hospital we peeked into the Cathedrale, it was pretty cool but not the coolest Cathedrale I have been to. After looking around in Beaune we went into a wood carving place with a super super nice man there. We took a photo and left a pass along card (of course:) After that, we drove to Chalon and ate with the Snows. The Snows are a super couple and they made us hamburgers! It was really good! then we went to a branch family home evening in Chalon. The subject was about receiving revelation and somehow the members got off subject and starting giving us advice on marriage! It was interesting but really the members here love the missionaires and love to give us food! After that we went to the Chalon Elders apartment and spent the night.

Tuesday

We woke up at 5 again because we had to catch a train to go to Lyon for the Christofferson conference. It was super cool. All the missionaires got to shake his hand and really, he is the man. After that Sister Christofferson and Elder Christofferson talked to us but before them we had high European church leaders talk to us and it was really good. Below I will show you the notes I took during the conference. Besides that talking with all the other missionaires is always super fun!

Christofferson conference:

Strength and struggle are traveling companions

Best time to memorize scriptures

We see the big picture as it is

It is not just to do things but to become

Become master teachers

Repent daily

You should often write down things that are new to you when you say it by the Spirit

One of the reasons you are called to your mission is Mission President and couples.

How are we going to help them, focus on repentance

Baptize unto repentance, to repent we must covenant that we will change and obey

How do you know when to stop working with an investigator for a time:

If they are not progressing put them in the area book and move on

If they are not interested, have them read the Book of Mormon and promise blessings

Repenting doesn't just get rid of sin but makes one Holy

The key is to quickly repent

This life is the test, learn the scriptures, memorize Preach my Gospel

We must have the Spirt Answer D.C. 63 We promise people, we must repent of our sins. You receive the Spirit by prayer. We must be by the Spirit, How we live and by prayer.

Hear It, follow It if we do that everything will work out perfectly

After the conference we took at train but to Chalon and then drove to Dijon to do a blitz with the Dijon Elders.

Wednesday:

Today was one of the hardest days on my mission. Really opposition comes before, during, and after big experiences.  It is all good and the key is just to keep on going. Truly time just passes and it is really fun when you can look back with a smile and see how it was all for your good.

Thursday

Wednesday afternoon we drove back to Besancon so when we woke up on Thursday we were on home turf :) Now it was game time! We contacted really hard in downtown for 3 hours and then did some weekly planning then working in the area book.

Friday

Today we just went hard to 3 more hours of contacting in downtown and then we did  port a porting a small ville  just out of Besancon. So we meet with a member and when we arrived, he said, “let me introduce you to my neighbors!”  We were like, OH YA! It was super cool family that he had talked with about religion before.  They weren't super interested but we did give them a Book of Mormon and taught the Restoration so we will see what happens. 

After that we ported this small ville and we lost 2 dogs! We were porting this house and we forgot to close the fence door which is something you should always do is close the gate door. So we knocked and this older gentlemen open the door but 2 puppy dogs ran super quick and past us out of the fence and just kept on running. We asked the guy if he thought he dogs would come back and he said no. So we looked for his dogs for 20 minutes and we realized we would never find them so we wrote this guy a note and Elder Brill gave him his watch. We did it through the mailbox. So that was interesting and by this time we were both pretty mad so we just drove home and did the area book! When I think of these moments you just got to laugh! 

Saturday 

Another day of solid contacting in downtown because today is the best day to do that! So that was super fun! We had 27 conversions so it was super cool!

Sunday

We had church and a meal after and more contacting!

So that was my week. We will be getting transfer calls this week and I am a little nervous because I have been here in Besancon for 2 transfers and the last 9 missionaires have all been here for just 2. So we will see what happens. This is the scripture that I thought a lot of this week.

D:C 122 7-9

7 And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.

8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?

9 Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.

Well I love you all and thank you for everything everyone has everyone for me.

Continue on, journey on, and may God be with you till we meet again.

Love,

Elder Duffy

Thirty

This week has been really good in Besancon! It has been snowing/raining for the whole week but it has been really fun! 

We also started using the car. Driving is so much fun in France! Not going to lie French drivers are a little crazy. Elder Brills is a really good co-pilot. 

So this week has been a week of Port a Port. At the start of my

mission I just contacted people in the streets, trams, or bus.  For the first five months I did maybe two doors, but now I am a big fan. It is really fun. We have

a member here named Frere Broch and he is super intelligent.  After

church this Sunday he showed us the art of port a port. So normally

before this we did a family questionnaire just to get people talking.  With his method, you do a quick introduction of yourselves but

not too long. After introducing yourself you ask, “do you have a moment please?” (please in French is si vous plaît)  I guess if you say that it is a lot harder for people to say no. 

If they say no you bear your testimony and then invite

them. If they say yes, the first question you ask is,  “Do

you believe in God?”  It is really bold, but we have

already seen a lot of miracles.

The mission is fun, but don't think that it is fluffy fun all the time. 

I have been in the darkest abysses in my mind than ever before.

It is hard stuff but every time if you just continue and keep on going you come out so that much stronger. I know that is made possible through Jesus Christ that He descended below everything just so that he can help you and me. This

is a couple verses from the Book of Mormon that I really

love about Christ.

11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and

temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled

which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his

people.

12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of

death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their

infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to

the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his

people according to their infirmities.

13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God

suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins

of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according

to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony

which is in me.

14 Now I say unto you that ye must repent, and be born again; for the

Spirit saith if ye are not born again ye cannot inherit the kingdom of

heaven; therefore come and be baptized unto repentance, that ye may be

washed from your sins, that ye may have faith on the Lamb of God, who

taketh away the sins of the world, who is mighty to save and to

cleanse from all unrighteousness.

15 Yea, I say unto you come and fear not, and lay aside every sin,

which easily doth beset you, which doth bind you down to destruction,

yea, come and go forth, and show unto your God that ye are willing to

repent of your sins and enter into a covenant with him to keep his

commandments, and witness it unto him this day by going into the

waters of baptism.

16 And whosoever doeth this, and keepeth the commandments of God from

thenceforth, the same will remember that I say unto him, yea, he will

remember that I have said unto him, he shall have eternal life,

according to the testimony of the Holy Spirit, which testifieth in me.

I know that is true.

Keep the faith, journey on, love on, and do all of it with a smile.

Make it a great week!

Elder Duffy

Envoyé de mon iPad

Twenty-nine

We went with the Spackmans to a nice villa called Ornnon, It was probably my favorite place I have been in France so far.  It’s holiday season for the people here in France so that just means that everyone is on vacation and either in Paris or another city. We have met a lot of cool people and really cool families. One day it was raining and we were knocking on doors, and because it was raining we actually got in. :-). We actually got into four family houses in a row on this one road and we had really good conversations with them. We're going to go back and try to start teaching them and bring American cookies so pray so that can happen.  We went to Lausanne for zone training. Our mission has a goal to get 187 people committed to be baptized before we have the Elder Todd Christofferson at our conference in two weeks. It's really a high goal for this mission but I know that we can do it! 

This last week has been a little hard because my companion, Elder Brill, has been sick for two days so I hit the area book :-) It is fun calling people. We actually got some contacts it's from it. Last Sunday we got the last active start coming back to church again and she had a super good time.  We really hope that she would continue coming every week. 

Something that I learned from my mission so far is to really work with the members. At the start of my mission I really didn't think about that,  I really just want to go contacting.  I’ve really learned the value of members.

This Sunday the family Brock gave us a cordonee of a family that were interested in being taught the lessons! One of their family members wants to be baptized. 

Tomorrow we get our car :-) It’s actually a pretty nice car.   I won't be able to drive it to start off because not all the paperwork is finished.

A quote that I read this week: The most beautiful things in life are not the things that can be seen or touched or heard it is the things that can be felt. I know that this life is the time that we have to grow physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually so that we can become more like Heavenly Father. I challenge everyone this week: if you don't know that the gospel is true, read the words of modern-day prophets and pray to really know for yourself that's true.  If you have this knowledge for yourself it can be the greatest thing for yourself, for your family, and for your future family. 

Have a fantastic week!

Elder Duffy