2-27-17

Hello Mulhouse fans!!

I don't have a ton of time this week (comme d'hab) so I'll just include a couple quick highlights from the week!

This week we met several incredible new amis!! Most of them were through contacting, but we also contacted a referral from an ami of the Paris soeurs who turned out to be amazing!! Her name is Solange and she lives in Saint Louis. Longtime fans will know that Saint Louis is a little town right on the border with Germany and Switzerland and is a 15-30 min train ride depending on if the train stops at other little towns on the way or not. She has 3 kids (who she made come in for the prayer and invited to stay and talk with us) and is super interested in learning from us! She's also willing to drive all the way to Mulhouse to come to church and activities, and to bring her kids :) I'm so excited to see her again on Thursday.

We also had a super fun missionary activity for the ward on Saturday. It was advertised as a "Ping Pong Pancakes Petit Dejeuner" party and happened right after the baptism of an 8-year-old boy in the ward, so we had a ton of people stick around for the second activity! It was a really fun activity and we had 2 amis come, Marie Monnin and Solange! 

This week was Soeur Bowman's last week in Mulhouse. She's so sad to leave because she's spent 7 months of her mission here!! She got the chance to say goodbye to all the members on Sunday. We also had some bittersweet mangez-vous with the Appasamy and Mortier families, and have planned some with the Wassmer and Mortz families for the next 2 days. It was so hard to see her say goodbye to members, and super weird for me as well. I've never really had that "last Sunday" opportunity (a little tricky when you get midnighted to Mulhouse in the middle of the transfer), but have now watched 3 comps say goodbye. I'm so grateful that I get to stay in this ville for another 6 weeks! The members are so amazing, and the work is progressing so well. I feel so blessed to be surrounded by people who are trying to live the gospel and who are excited to learn about it. 

One last story! We went on a hike today for our last P-day together and tried to find a Celtic tomb that was somewhere in the woods south of Mulhouse. Well, we found the Celtic tomb... and it was actually just a small hill where apparently they buried people about 2600 years ago. Pretty cool when you think about it, but on the outside it's just a pile of dirt. So we sat on top of the Celtic tomb and ate some pâtisseries. It was a good time. We also saw some beautiful views of the Alps and got some incredible pictures from the top of a rickety little watchtower.

Anyway, love you guys! Have a great week!!

Soeur Rogers

Hellooo Paris France Mission fans!!

Soeur Bowman and I just had the most amazing week. It was one of those weeks where you just fall into bed dead tired (or else fall asleep on your knees before you even get to your bed, cough cough The Bowmaster). But it was a good kind of tired, the kind of tired where you worked hard all day and everything just feels so satisfying because you gave your all. We had that feeling the strongest after our finding day in Belfort on Saturday. They've been having a hard time finding new amis recently, so we went HAM and worked super hard all day, and saw a lot of success.

This week we got to go to Paris again for Soeur Bowman's second year legality. It's her missionary birthday!! All the people in her MTC group got together for the anniversary of the day they started their missions... and then spent the day waiting around in an office. But she's legal, folks! All the companions left and went on contacting adventures in Paris. We started at Chatelet, so naturally we wandered around a bit and ultimately contacted people by the Centre Pompidou, Republique, and Notre Dame... whoops ;) It was an awesome afternoon with Soeur Spencer, my old STL. 

Paris was the day before Soeur Bowman's actual anniversary, so we got to really celebrate in style... with a day of cancelled rendez-vous and 5 hours to go contacting. Wahoo!! This is normally not something to get excited about, but it was a blessing in disguise. We hadn't had time to go finding in such a long time that it was actually really liberating. It was a beautiful spring day outside, and we had nothing in our way. We started out with some porting, then switched to trajet contacting and finished with finding by the basin. We had 7 lessons and 4 new amis!!! And then just when it started getting dark out, we headed over to the church for a Valentine's Day Ball. It was a little awkward for us missionaries (we're not allowed to dance...) but it was a good time anyway. The members in Mulhouse are so funny and welcoming, that I really feel at home with them. I am loving my time here in Mulhouse, and I'm so happy that I get to stay another 6 weeks.

Church yesterday was just the magnificent cherry on top of this ice cream sundae of a week. We had four amis at church!! Thierry came and he was so happy to be there. The last couple times he came he wore street clothes, but yesterday he wore a suit! We also saw our amis Jean and Marie Monnin, as well as our ami Calista, who we've only seen one time and who showed up out of the blue!! She had such a good time and bonded with all the members at the ward repas after church. And our less active member Natalie came!!! All of our amis felt the Spirit so strongly and want to come back next week :)

So basically, life is great here in the wonderful city of Mulhouse. The missionaries are happy, the members are happy, and the amis are happy. Also, it's basically springtime!! It's been super sunny and comparatively warm this week, so it was actually pleasant to be outside. Thanks all you guys for your love and support. Have a great week!!

Bisous, 

Soeur Rogers

 Accidentally went to Republique...

 And to Notre Dame...

 whoops :)

 Found Soeur Meredith! #bostonswag

  Beautiful Belfort on our finding day

2-13-17

Hello!!

Soeur Bowman and I have had such a crazy week this week! We managed to pack our week with rendez-vous and spend every spare moment seeing some crazy miracles!! Let's take our week day-by-day, shall we?

On Tuesday we had an amazing rendez-vous with our ami Thierry. It was such a powerful lesson with our bishop, Frere Mortz. We decided at the last minute that we wanted to talk about the Word of Wisdom (a health code given to us through revelation that prohibits coffee, tea, alcohol, drugs, and smoking) and we knew it was going to be important because Thierry is a smoker. So we went into the rendez-vous with faith that it was all going to work out, and it went wonderfully! The most amazing moment was in the middle of the lesson when our bishop (who was born into the church) starts testifying about how he was a smoker when he was younger but that he was able to stop and repent and that he knows Thierry can do it too! We were so amazing by the inspiration to invite Frere Mortz to the rendez-vous because we had no idea!! We are so proud of Thierry's progress. We also set a baptismal date with him for March 25!! It's going to be a long road but it's going to be so worth it, so please pray for Thierry!!

On Tuesday as we were headed back from Thierry's lesson we made a quick pit stop in Porte Jeune (the mall in the center of town). We're generally not allowed to proselyte in malls so we were very suprised when this man started talking to us!! We had literally no time to be able to see him for a lesson because all the next day was full, so instead we just invited him to soiree the next night. It was such a long shot because we didn't have his number or anything, we just gave him a card and invited him to come. So on Wednesday night we got to the tram stop and were just praying and praying that he'd come, and then we got a text from the elders saying that he was already there!! He loved the activity and we were able to set up another time to meet him. 

Thursday and Friday were exchanges with the STLs -- in Paris!! All our rdvs got cancelled so Soeur Mattson and I had some awesome time going contacting in Paris. It's such a different experience to see more of the everyday aspect of Paris. We met some really cool people as we took in the beauty of the buildings and parks in the middle of Paris. I've officially decided that I serve in one of the coolest missions in the world. We met people who come from all over the world in the several hours that we were outside. I also got my first official picture with the Eiffel Tower!! From a distance, but it still counts.

Saturday was jam-packed. Soeur Bowman and I had managed to line up 5 rendez-vous with 4 different members coming with followed by DMP (meeting with our ward mission leader) all within about 6.5 hours. Everything was confirmed beautifully and was going to run smoothly, with everyone coming to the chapel for their appropriate lessons... until Jean (the only one we couldn't confirm because we didn't have his number) showed up 2 1/2 hours late to his lesson... at the end of a lesson and 10 mins before our next ami was about to come!! They were all with men (and we can't be alone with a man) so luckily we had an excess of members at the chapel and the elders walked in right when we needed them. We did a fun split and had two lessons at the same time. My lesson with Jean and the elders went swimmingly, if a little long. But Soeur Bowman's lesson with Edmund was interrupted when the member (our DMP) got up and walked out halfway through!! She had moments in that lesson when she was alone with the ami and moments when there were 3 members participating in the lesson, and she handled it all like a champ. Ultimately all our amis got taught and we even managed to start DMP early. What a day!!

Sunday was a champion finish to a spectacular week. We had 3 amis at church-- Thierry, Jean, and a street contact named Mohammed. With so many amis at different stages in their progression, we decided to have a very simple lesson about prayer, and it went wonderfully!! All of our amis shared amazing experiences, and were so touched by the Spirit. The memebrs are super supportive of the work going on here in Mulhouse, and miracles are happening left and right.

And for the sake of finishing off the week, today we went to the Three Points!! It's the place where France, Germany and Switzerland come together. It was very exciting and very underwhelming at the same time, but we took some good photos. Thanks to everyone for your love and support. Happy Valentine's Day!!

Love, 

Soeur Rogers

Some pics for you lovelies!

Some members gave us breakfast... including my favorite chocolate!

Exchanges in Paris!

The 3 Points

2-6-17

Hello friends and fam!!

The big news for this week is that we have seven-- count 'em, SEVEN progressing amis! That means that they are keeping their commitments to read the Book of Mormon, to pray, to come to church, etc. and that we are having regular rendez-vous with them. All of our amis are so amazing, and I feel so blessed and humbled to be able to help these people as they come to know God.

1. Our first progressing ami is Thierry. He's been on vacation, but on Tuesday we're going to see him and set a baptismal date!

2. Mireille is the sweetest, kindest older lady you've ever met in your life. She's actually an ancien ami but is the proof of the importance of keeping a good area book, because now she's really ready and she knows it too. She's learning new things every day and it's changing her perspective on life!

3. Joel is also a longtime ami from Nigeria. He's been telling us for months that he's going to try to read the Book of Mormon and never does, but after a killer member present lesson and a follow-up on the importance of the Book of Mormon, he's reading it for the first time!!

4. Tee (a nickname because we can never remember her real name) is from Thailand and doesn't speak French, so teaching her is complicated. We're setting up Skype translation with a member from Rennes. In the meantime, she's been reading the Book of Mormon in Thai and coming to church.

5. Christophe is an ami that we met about 2 weeks ago and gave him the Book of Mormon along with a powerful testimony of its truthfulness. He's been reading since then and he thinks it's pretty interesting.

6. Marie Monnin is another ancien ami that we've seen a couple times since the last time she was dropped by the missionaries. She came to church yesterday with her daughter and had a fun time catching up with all her member friends.

7. Frère Edmund is our most recent progressing ami. He's an African guy in a wheelchair who is the most chill person I've ever met. We had an awesome second lesson with him and a member (Frère Wuilleme). He had read the introduction to the Book of Mormon, and he said that it must be important to keep reading! The best part of this lesson was right at the end. We had already closed, he had asked one extra question, and then Frère Wuilleme just says, "Je ne sais pas si vous êtes au courant, mais dans cette église, on baptise nos morts" (I don't know if you are up to date, but in this church, we baptize our dead). Soeur Bowman and I looked at each other and then watched as our member related this completely off-topic story about how he should have died but didn't and thus this church must be true because of family history work... luckily Edmund didn't seem too phased. He had been victim to our stake patriarch earlier in the week, who shook his shoulder and jabbed him in the chest as he asked interrogative questions and quoted random passages from the scriptures to prove irrelevant points. This ami has already proved himself... he's going to go far. 

It has been so incredible to be able to help all of these children of God to come unto Christ and to see the seeds of faith begin to grow. Soeur Bowman and I had a really frustrating week filled with cancelled appointments and hours of time in the streets when nobody wants to listen to us. We've had many moments of frustration and feelings of wasting our time. When you're out at 8:30 at night, it's dark and raining, and nobody wants to listen to you or allow you into their home but you feel like you're not done with the day, it's hard to feel like you've done your best. I think one of the most incredible things I've learned in the last couple weeks is that success is not always a direct result of the work that you put in. There are missionary équipes that work for hours every day and have 2 amis, and équipes that do hardly anything and have 20. The only thing that matters is that you are able to come to your Heavenly Father in prayer and tell Him that you tried your best. I know that as we do everything we are asked to do, we will be rewarded with the companionship of the Holy Ghost. I love being a missionary, and I love this opportunity that I have to use the Atonement every day and become a better missionary. I am so happy here! I know that I'm where I need to be, doing what I need to be doing. 

I love you all! Thanks for you letters and support. Have a great week!!

Soeur Rogers

1-30-17

Hello friends and family!! I have had such an awesome week this week, there's not enough space to talk about it all!!

We have been having a fabulous time contacting this week! It's been just as cold, but we have been seeing just as many miracles. Some mentionnable moments:

1) When we contacted a Muslim girl on the street (normally not allowed) and she told us that she's been searching for an absolute truth.. and then just busts out "oh by the way I speak better English than French" so we continued the contact with her speaking perfect English!

2) When a man contacted me as I'm getting off the tram and says, "I didn't know they had missionaries who were girls!" and then proceeded to give me his name and phone number (I didn't ask)... and then said "oh we didn't fix a rendez-vous! Okay so how about Monday at 14h" and he writes it in my planner for me.

3) When Soeur Bowman contacted a nun on the bus...

4) ... and then because Soeur Bowman contacted a nun on the bus two African guys came up to us and started asking questions

5) When we contacted a cool guy named Eric Emmanuel who believes in the whole total liberty, God is dead kind of thing but we talked to him for 45 mins and he left at the end with a Book of Mormon...

6) ...because another ami of ours named Dennis came up and started talking about how much he loves the church and the missionaries and why don't you want the Book of Mormon? It's a great book! And then we talked with Dennis for another 15 mins

Those last two experiences happened in the freezing cold at 7pm, and standing in the cold for an hour triggered a pretty nasty cold in me. I've been under the weather for the last couple days. Blessings upon blessings, it warmed up just as I got sick, so we were able to keep working without making my cold worse. 

So we are back in contact with our super cool ami Thierry! After a missed rendez-vous and a couple missed calls we decided to pass by his apartment, even though we thought he should be at work. Turns out, he was home!! He had just barely gotten off work, and we were able to set up another rendez-vous. 

A couple days later we came over to talk about the Plan of Salvation. It must have been inspired because Thierry started asking questions about Adam and Eve right as we came in! We ultimately read all of 2 Nephi 2 (a super long and involved chapter that usually takes a couple readings to understand, all about what happened in the Garden of Eden) together with Thierry. After we finished, he nodded to himself and then said, "okay... okay... that makes sense. That makes a lot more sense than what I understood before. I'm going to have to read that again, but I thing I understand" So Thierry gave himself an engagement, and we also asked him to read 2 Nephi 9 before we saw him again because he told us he was leaving for about a week on vacation.

So then we were sitting there on Sunday in the middle of sacrament meeting and Thierry sneaks into the chapel! He told us that his plans changed and that he was leaving later than expected, so he decided to come to church! We had really fun amis class, mostly thanks to the member we invited to join us... who decided that it was really important that Thierry understands EVERYTHING about the veil, about the composition of our spirits, and the exact difference between a sin, a transgression, and an error. He also decided to list all of the commandments he needs to keep before he can be baptized. Despite all the craziness, Thierry was absorbing information like a sponge, and really pondering it as well. We had previously mentioned baptism, and so we asked him if it was still something he wanted, to be baptized and to receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost. He said, "Well yes, of course, this is what I've been searching for. But I know that there are a lot of changes that I have to make before I can be baptized, and I don't know how long that's going to take" So we asked him to pray and ponder about a baptismal date as a goal to work towards, and he said yes!

I'm so happy that I have this opportunity to be a missionary here in France. I think the youth theme for this year, Ask, is so inspired. As we asked Thierry to pray about a baptismal date, we had a really good conversation about what it means to receive an answer to prayer. Thierry is someone who has been in many different churches and who knows the Bible much much better than I do, yet the knowledge we have-- that we can receive real and personal answers to our prayers-- was something that he didn't have. It really made me grateful for the opportunity I had to learn that precious truth while young. So here goes my missionary brain, giving you all an engagement. Take time this week to really communicate with your Heavenly Father. We are promised that as we ask with real intent and with faith that we can receive an answer, He will respond to us. 

Love you all!! Bisous!!

Soeur Rogers