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

Twenty-eight

So funny story, I deleted all my emails accidentally before they could send.
I will have Soeur Spackman send photos. Love you all and I am so sorry
and I will send a super big email next week. But this week I finished
the Book of Mormon in French and Elder Brill and I  will be getting a
car starting March 1 and I will be a driver. Once again so sorry I
just accidentally deleted everything I wrote and I ran out of time.

Love ya,

Elder Duffy

Envoyé de mon iPad

Twenty-seven

Hello everyone, sorry for not emailing last week :-)

I didn’t have Wi-Fi because I was traveling to Lausanne. A lot has happened the last two weeks.  

Two weeks ago I was on the exchange in Dijon with Elder Barbin. We had

many miracles.  We talked to a family.  After a few moments of conversation they said, “It’s really funny that we ran into you, because we had just prayed for God to let us know why we survived a car accident a couple months before.  The spirit was really strong and we had a good conversation. 

I went straight to Lausanne for a finding zone day. We went to four different cities: Bienne, Neutichal, Yverdon, and Lausanne.

As a a zone we had 416 conversations 46 lessons.  It was intense and a long, tiring day but super awesome. I love miracles. 

We have two baptismal dates for Eric and Luigi. Eric is super cool. He is a doctor studying here.  He’s actually part of Doctors without Borders.  He is 35 years old.  (He is the first investigator that I've had that has

taken notes during rendezvous :-)!  Our other investigator is Luigi he's a

student going to electrical school.   

Last week I ate goose for the first time. It was actually really good and a lot like duck. Another cool miracle: right after we left our apartment we had prayed to find a family.  Right when we left our apartment we saw family and we knew we had to stop and talk to them. We asked for directions and they gave us directions.  We told them that we would love to give them American cookies to show our thanks.  (Actually they gave us the place where he works and we went

the next day.)  His name is Niko and he is super cool. He actually ran in two Olympics for Canada and four world championships (100 m and

200 m).  

This last week we went to Annemasse for a conference.  I was able to see several of my friends that I’ve met on my mission.  Elder McKee, Elder Lythgoe, Elder Hansen and Elder Richmond.  The conference was probably the best

conference I have been to. The subject of this conference was how we

can get past opposition.  Also how to find families to teach.  It is what we have

been focusing on…(trying to contact every family and stroller that

we see).   It’s been pretty fun and we have seen miracles, and we are finding families.  

I would like to say something to anyone that is thinking or not thinking of going

on a mission. Go on a mission!  It is really the best decision you can

make. Even if you have things going for you and you don't know if it will

still be there when you come back… Go on a mission! I know if you

go on a mission Heavenly Father can change you in ways that he

couldn't have if you stayed home. I have really seen that in my own

life and I've seen how you become a better person. As I work hard and be obedient to the rules (I have not been perfect) but I can honestly say that I've tried my best.  I know if you do, you will receive all the blessings Heavenly Father has just for you. 

This is the last week of the transfer! This transfer has

gone by so fast. Elder Richmond is really a great missionary and a

great man and it has been fantastic serving with him. 

Something really important that I have learned is to love everyone around you. 

It’s really hard to do that all the time.  As you try to do your best to love others, work hard, and be obedient, you can find the joy of being a missionary.

I also found out I can juggle seven juggling balls at once.  It is

pretty sweet :-). I actually really do hope that I stay for the next transfer.  

We might actually be getting a car because our area so big. I would be the driver :-) 

We went to a Columbian restaurant/food laundry.  I sent some photos of Colombian food that we got for free.  We had a nice chat with the guy from South America while we ate.  

A shout out to Caden and Melissa.  

Their marriage pictures are amazing! They really are super sweet! Another

shout out to my sister Jenessa who just got into the BYU nurse practitioner 

program…she is amazing! 

Shout out to my dad who taught me to use voice activated software…so if there is anything in my emails that doesn't make sense that is why.  Another shout out to my mom who all this and everything I am would not be possible.  I love you so much mom :-)

If you don’t know if you want to go on a mission go.  It’ll be the best

thing you ever do.  It is definitely super hard but it is where

you can grow the most. Just do it.

The scripture that I would like to share this week is actually the

scripture my mission scripture scripture is D&C 68:6.  Wherefore, be of good cheer, and do not fear, for I the Lord am with you, and will stand by you; and ye

shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the

living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come.

I love you all and remember never fear because you're never alone.

Love y'all and enjoy the ride ;)

Elder Duffy

Envoyé de mon iPad

Twenty-six

No email this week...Elder Duffy didn't have internet connection.

Twenty-five

So this week for me was crazy! So let's start off from the beginning.

Monday:
This day was weird. So we had a normal P-day. Then at 6 we had a rendezvous with a part member family and it went well. With this particular family the hardest part of all of it is their motivation. After that we received a text from one of our friends who needed help with his lock. So long story short we tried to help and we thought we had fixed the problem, so we tried the lock and the door locked but wouldn't unlock! So basically we got locked into his apartment and were late getting home. (This is a good post mission story you will have to ask me about ;)

Tuesday:
Tuesday was a really good day filled with lessons and they went well. Something that I need to work on with lessons is to not be just in a lesson mode and put more of my heart into it.  So I will work on that.

Wednesday:
Today was a traveling day going to Lausanne and watching a conference shown to all the missionaries in the world. It was cool just sitting there with my zone just thinking that we all have a common goal.


World wide mission conference notes:

• Most important thing we do as missionaries is testify of Christ and invite others to come.
• If you are ever unsure what to say is invite others to come unto Christ
• Matt 2:32
• Teach simply
• Adapt to needs
• As your understanding of the Atonement grows your desire to share the Gospel and effectiveness will grow
• Study and love the Book of Mormon, if you do so your investigator’s faith will grow
• Teach repentance and baptize converts, repentance means to change, change of attitude and might change of heart
• Repentance is key to true conversion
• Real intent means, I will act to the answer of my prayer
• Teach those who we teach on our knees, and kneel to pray with those we teach.
• Moroni 8:25-26
• We have the responsibility to be worthy vessels to bring the Spirit with us in the teaching situation
• Obedience is how we can be worthy
• The Holy Ghost is the teacher
• Teaching is not talking, it is listening and observing 
• Focus on people while you are not talking
• If we try our best  the Spirit will guide what we say
• We testify and ask questions in preparation to invite to act
• We need to follow up
• Treasure up in your mind continually the scriptures
• Know people’s names
• Pray, and have a good attitude 
• Talk with everyone 
• Study Preach my Gospel daily

Thursday:
We had district meeting in Lausanne. The main subject was just the importance of the family and how we need to focus more on the family. After district meeting we contacted in Lausanne for about 3 hours.

Friday:
Friday was legendary! So we had a finding day, which is basically a day of all contacting ;) It was super awesome. As a district we had like above 150 conversation, 17 lessons, and like 27 new potentials. Really I feel the presence and direction from the Spirit during contacting. We meet some really cool people like a person on the rugby France team who can do 300 push-ups in a row, professional high jumper that will hopefully be in the olympics in 4 years.  It was great to talk to them.

Saturday:
We got back into Besançon and it is good to be back. We did our weekly planning and had a few appointments.

Sunday:
Had church and had a busy day going to appointments. We are blessed with a lot of friends here in Besancon.

Today:
We went to the Citadel! It was beautiful!  I will write more about it next week but I was within one foot of a really big male lion. Stay tuned until next time!

I am so glad to be a missionary and I am so glad for the Gospel and for the peace and hope it brings into my life. The Gospel makes all the difference!

Love you all and have an amazing week.

Elder Duffy