Well Hello again.First of all, something really important. the email I sent with pix 2 weeks ago... i need everyone to delete the picture in the font. A bunch of us made a listake in taking pictures which is (now obviously) forbidden. we figured it was ok, as long as it wasnt during the ordinance and stuff. But since it was during the meeting, its not allowed. any pictures between the prayers are interdit (forbidden- for all you who dont speak french... :p). Whoops. so please, in the name of the Church, im asking that you delete that picture in the font. Thanks.
Things: i did get ur emails last week-maybe just in hotmail. i forget- and did get the package. it got here fine, just you forgot to put Lss Missionnaires, which made our building manager not happy. haha
Cheering.... um... Mitch is the best cheerleader HHS has ever seen. period. but he specialized in Volleyball, not polo, just for the record. He was a player on boys polo, and ran the clock and stat books for girls, so couldnt ever cheer at polo! haha but its ok.
food- We eat burgers alot, bread, pasta. Normal food for the most part. I havent eaten at a members house in a long time.
language- its coming, slowly but surely. its tough for me cuz theres so much i want to say, but dont know the words. :( but its ok. ittl come. ca va venir...
and weather is cold, and sometimes rainy. like today. but not too bad.
And im pretty sure my nose was broken last summer when me and andrew crashed on the slip n slide. cuz i noticed recently how weird its bent... haha
Now for this week. Tuesday We Started with a RDV with a less active meber, who we have been teaching recently. That went well, and even though hes not able to come to church, i feel he is progressing a little. Hes reading out of the book of Mormon again, and he asks really good questions. It is so great when we read a scripture and he pulls out a pen and writes the reference down to go and read later. We also went with a member to hometeach another less active, after which we hurried to the church to teach Shi-Lin. He never showed up, and eventually sent us a text message saying he wouldnt make it. so we rescheduled for the next day, and finished the day doing some finding.
Wed we had District meeting in Le Havre with the Zone Leaders. Afterwards, we came back to Rouen with The zone leaders for exchanges. Elder barton went to teach Shi-Lin while i went with the other zone leader and did some finding. (Shi Lin never showed up...) After that, we went to do service for a less active, followed by English Class.
Thursday we taught Shi Lin finally. When we met him at the church, he was so sad. He wrote us a note apologizing for missing the RDV on wed because he had double scheduled over class. he thought that it would offend us and that he had lost our friendship because of it. It was sad to see him like that, but after we explained it was ok, and we all have conflicts in life, things went well. We were so blessed that day. We actually had scheduled the visit for sat, and had a less active lesson on thursday. Only a few mins after the less active canceled on us did Shi-Lin text us to say hed be at the church at the same time the cancelled appt was. How distraught wouldve he been if we told him we couldnt make it then!? Even cancelled appts can be blessings! We also saw a member who recently went through a divorce, and he is quite lonely. it was a good visit, and we left him with a message of having hope.
Friday We had a DMB meeting in the morning. Our DMB told us that he was happy at how busy we were and that he hopes Elder Bartons replacement (in 9 days) will be just as motivated. We had 3 other appts on friday, all of which fell thru. that was tough. im trying to see the blessings in these appts falling thru! :P So we ended up doing alot of porting and street contacting. (some teenagers said we looked like harry potter- with our cloak like coats, ties and sweaters. haha. if only we had wands, too! :p)
Sat we went up to the university to contact. the only problem was it was saturday! haha there was absolutely no one out. so we ended up searching for less actives in the branch, confirming adresses and stuff. that took a while. then we planned for next week, and did a little contacting before coming back in for the night.
Sunday we had church, and went to take sacrament to some shut-ins. We filled the afternoon with studying, contacting and porting. (elder Hollands talk from oct 2007 is SO GOOD!! and Elder ballards, too in the same session.) and that was the week.
We are spending alot of time searching for new investigators. And things arent working out so well with that. but i think we are doing a good job with some less actives in the branch. Even though it doesnt help with numbers, its just as important, as enduring to the end is crucial to our salvation. I know the church is true, and im glad that im out here, even through the difficult days. Ive said since like the 3rd week of the MTC that the days are long and the weeks fly by, which is so true still.
Til next week, Elder J