Week 14, Valence, France

Bonjour everyone,

I hope everyone had a good week and that you are all ready for summer break. I had a really great week but it went by very fast. To start off last weekend we had the opportunity to go to Nice to listen to Elder Andersen. We took a bus with all of the missionaries from Switzerland. Switzerland does not let Americans live there so all the missionaries there are from Europe or Tahiti. It was fun to see so many other missionaries. We had all the missionaries in the mission together which is something that almost never happens. I saw my old companion Elder Davis but only had time to give him a hand shake. We spent Monday night in a hotel in Nice and then after the conference on Tuesday went back to Lyon where we slept in an apartment with a bunch of other Elders. Then we made it back to Valence Wednesday afternoon.

The conference was amazing. I learned so much that I will be able to use for the rest of my mission. One thing I learned from Elder Andersen is that I can expect miracles. This is the Lord's work and he will help us do things that no one else thinks we can do. I also learned a lot about Faith. Being on a mission is a great opportunity for me to strengthen my faith in Jesus Christ. I also need to have a lot of faith for miracles to happen. He shared a lot of scriptures of people that had a lot of faith and saw miracles. I learned that God continues to make miracles today and that I need to look for them and be ready for them. I also learned that I should always look for ways I can help build other's Faith in God. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone and I can help everyone as I teach them the principals of the gospel and help them live commandments that will give them a better life. One way that I have tried to do this is by teaching one of our amis the word of wisdom, which is the commandment God gave us to not smoke, drink, or do anything harmful to our bodies. I know that as we continue to help our ami stop smoking he will have a better life and come closer to God.

Next week I'll write more about what I learned from the conference after I have time to look over my notes but I really enjoyed it and learned things that I really needed to hear to help me be a better missionary and person. Elder Andersen gave a very powerful testimony of Jesus Christ. He knows without a doubt that Jesus Christ lives and is the savior of the world. Hearing him say this helped me know that Elder Andersen is an Apostle of Jesus Christ and that Christ does live.

When we came back from Nice we had a short week so we were not able to get as much done but we should have a good week this week. We did an exchange in Lyon on Friday with the Zone leaders which was really fun. I was with Elder Palmer and he taught me a lot. One thing I learned from him is the importance of having daily contact with amis so that they can continue to progress. I also learned that I should try to have more lessons at the church because then they will be familiar with the church and be able to feel the spirit more. It is really hot here but Elder Dover and I bought some fans for our apartment so now I can sleep at night. I hope all of you have a great week,

Elder Bake

Miracle of the week:

We had an awesome lesson with our ami Thierry where we gave him a Book of Mormon.

Fun French Fact of the Week:

A lot more people use trains and busses to get around instead of cars. There are also a lot of times when the train workers go on strike and the trains are delayed or come a lot less often; this happened this week which make thinks tricky for us.

Pictures sent from Anders ward mission leader:

Week 13, Valence France

Bonjour Family and Friends,

This week has been great! We are doing e-mails today because we will be on a bus all day on Monday. We are going to take a bus to Nice and then listen to Elder Andersen on Tuesday. I am really exited to be listening to Elder Andersen and I really think it will be a turning point in my mission. The Mission president has been making a really big deal about this conference. He has asked us to read all of Elder Andersen's talks and do what we can to be spiritually prepared. We also had our Zone training meeting in Lyon this week and we spent all of the time learning about what we can do to be ready for Elder Andersen. It is cool to think that we are having a prophet come to speak to us. I was reading in Mosiah about how the people prepared to hear King Mosiah and how when Christ came to the Nephites He also asked them to prepare for His coming the next day.

This week we had a really cool experience. We went to visit one of our amis, Gilbert who wants to be baptized but said he wants to wait. We explained to him why baptism is important and how it is a commandment from God. He agreed to being baptized on July 5th! We are going to have to work very hard with him to get him ready but I really think he will be if we have the faith.

We have also been doing a lot of service this week for members and other people. There is a really nice couple in the house next to the place where the new church will be built. We did yard work for them last week. On Monday for P-day we played Frisbee in a really big park by the river in centre ville. It was really odd wearing normal cloths but is was really nice to have some time to relax. Below is a picture of the Family Reynaud and Sr. Lechiffler and Elder Dover - guess which is from Texas.

I hope all of you have a great week,

Elder Bake

Fun French Fact of the Week:

The French language does not have a word for Bake so it is really fun explaining to people that my name means "to cook in an oven."

Week 12, Valence, France

Bonjour,

I have finished my first week of the second transfer and my first week with my new companion, Elder Dover. Elder Dover and I have a lot in common which makes life fun: He has been on his mission for about a year and has had some good experiences. He has spent most of his mission in the south by the Mediterranean. He is from Texas but lived in Oregon when he was young. I am only his second American companion. The rest have been two Germans and two Canadians.

We had the chance to meet a lot of the members of the ward this week which was good because Elder Dover is new. It is interesting because my companion does not know the area but I have only been here for six weeks and I don’t speak French very well. We are still trying to figure out how the busses work but it is not too bad.

On Friday we went to Lyon for a conference for all of the new missionaries. It was really fun to see all of the Elders I was with in the MTC. They are all doing well and their French is getting better. They are serving all over the Mission so it was fun to see them again. At the conference we learned that we have everything we need to be great missionaries and make miracles happen. We read the story in the Bible when Jesus fed a lot of people with a few loaves of bread and fishes. He got the bread and fish from a young lad. We are like the young lad because we have everything we need to make miracles. These things are the scriptures and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. This is the Lords work and he can make miracles through us if we let Him. After the conference we went contacting in Lyon which was fun and I got to be with Elder Herdt who was in my MTC district. I also met two people who spoke English.

One thing I forgot to mention is that Elder Anderson is coming to France. And I am not talking about a missionary but a member of the 12 apostles, Elder Anderson. Elder Anderson served his mission in France and was also a mission president here. He will be coming to Nice on June 10 and all the missionaries in the mission are coming to listen to him. Everyone is really excited about this and President Roney thinks this will have a big impact on the missions’ success.

Yesterday we went Porting which is when you go to people’s houses and ask them if they want to listen to our message. I have not done this very many times yet so it was a fun experience. There was one Lady that I could not see very well and I called her a man. There was another time when we talked to an old couple and the wife was really nice but the husband was yelling at us for a really long time. Then all of a sudden he got really nice and was talking to my companion about sports. I was really confused because it was all in French and they were mumbling a lot but it was really funny.

Fun French Fact of the Week:

Everyone in France Smokes! They also don’t believe in braces or brushing their teeth.

Miracle of the Week:

We have a good amount of single people in their 20s in the ward and two of our amis are that age. We set up a time for this week to play games with them and I think that will really help them.

I love you all,

Elder Bake

Week 11, Valence, France

A letter I received from Anders' ward mission leader:

Dear Sister Bake, 

My name is Laurent Lechifflart, and I am the mission leader of the Valence ward where your son is serving right now. We work a lot together and get along well. The progress he makes with the language is just amazing.

Here are a few pictures.
The full time missionaries serving in Valence now:
Sister Röse from Germany and sister Russel from Ohio
Elder Bake (you know where he is from!) and his companion elder Davis from Idaho
Not a single one from Utah... who would believe that?
The week after he arrived, we went for a short hike in the Vercors (the part of the Alps which is east of Valence.) As you can see, it was rather cold, but we still had fun.
The goal of the hike was the top of that cliff.
The week after, we toured the "cité du Chocolat".
It's like a museum explaining everything about chocolate.
Personally, I call it a foretaste of celestial kingdom!
The next week, the elders and I went to the ruins of Crussol, a medieval village with its castle.
The elders with the city of Valence in the background.
I highlighted the building where their apartment is.

Have a great day.
Laurent Lechifflart

  

 

 

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May, 26, 2014

Bonjour,

I don't have much time this week because I've got to catch a train to Marseilles where I will drop off Elder Davis and pick up my new companion, Elder Dover.  Elder Davis is going to be the Zone leader in Nice.  I am really glad I get to stay in Valence. Below is a picture of our amis, Gilbet and Martino, a picture of Grenoble and my new zone leader, Elder Palmer

On Saturday we had a "First Rock" ceremony for the new chapel that is being built here in Valence.  The Mission President and Stake President came.  There is a Mormon message about the Stake president.

May 27, 2014
Bonjour,

Since yesterday was transfer day I get more time to send an email today.  So yesterday we woke up early and went on a train to Marseille.  There I said goodbye to my companion who took another train to Nice.  Then I stayed at the Marseille train station for 11 hours waiting for my new companion.  During the day we picked up other missionaries from their trains and helped them get on their new trains.  It was actually really fun because I got to see a lot of missionaries coming from all over the mission.  It was fun talking to everyone about where they have been and about other missionaries they know.

The best part was meeting Elder Dalton from Beaverton, Oregon.  I have been hoping that I would see him at some point on the mission.  We got to catch up on everything and I found out that he served in Grenoble which is where I go for district meetings.  I also got to spend the day with Elder Joly who was with me in the MTC.  He has been serving in Marseille and was in charge of making sure everyone got on the right train. Below is a picture of Elder Kunsler and Elder Dalton from Oregon.

Every time I go to a member's or amis house they have a bunch of cherries that they give us so that is pretty much all I eat, but I really like them.  I have had 4 cherry pies in 3 days. Below is Sister Russel's Birthday cake made by Anthony.

Elder Davis taught me a lot about setting goals and making plans which has helped me a lot on my mission.  There is a lot to keep track of and remember so it can make things stressful but having plans helps a lot.  It is also really important that we do not waste any time as missionaries so it is extra important to make good plans.  I have learned a lot about prioritizing activities and making sure that the things I am doing are important and helping me achieve my goals.  I already know that I will do much better in school and have a more effective and happy life when I get back from my mission  by doing these things.  I have also learned that it is important to make the Gospel an important priority in life.  We really need the spiritual nourishment we get from the scriptures and going to church in our lives.

My new companion, Elder Dover, is awesome. He also went to BYU for a year before going on his mission.  I just met him but I am excited to work with him.

I love you all

Elder Bake

Fun French fact of the week: The stop lights are on the side of the road instead of being above you. There are also round-a-bouts everywhere.

Week 10, Valence, France

Bonjour,

This week was great.  We taught a lot of lessons and met some awesome people.  One of our amis, Gilbert, is progressing.  He is really cool and we have become really good friends with him.  He has now come to church 3 times and really likes it.  He also came with us all the way to Grenoble for a music show put on by our district leader.  The Music show was really fun.  My companion played the piano really well and I sang Ring of Fire.  Everyone seemed to like it.  I tried to act super American which made everyone laugh.  We had a district meeting where we learned about the importance of using the Book of Mormon in everything so that people can find out for themselves if our message is true.

Love you all,

Elder Bake

Fun French Fact of the week: The laundry machine is located in the kitchen.

Week 9, Valence, France

Bonjour everyone,

This week was really busy but after today and yesterday I am well rested and ready for more. We have been getting a lot of new amis (Anders explained to us that “amis” is the French word for friends.  In the US we call people who are studying the doctrines of our church “investigators.”  In France they call them “friends” or “friends of the church”) lately which means we have been spending a lot of time teaching. Teaching lessons is one of the best parts of missionary work. Especially when you are about to explain something they have never heard before but they know it’s true because of the peace they feel. 

I realized that I have not been talking a lot about the amis we work with so one of them that we spend a lot of time with is Michael. He is an older French man who loves to invite us to his home often. He is quiet and has a nice little dog. We have to explain things a little slower for him but he is doing very well. I really like teaching Michael and have built a good relationship with him since I have been here. 

The main way we find people to teach is though a questionnaire. Most people in France think they do not have the time or the desire to talk about religion but when you tell them you have a questionnaire they have all the time in the world. We ask people in the street or at their houses these four questions:

1 Do you think there are big problems in the World today?

2 Do you think it would be good if we had the help of God today?

3 Do you think it would be good if God talked to men today through prophets like he did in other times?

4 If God did talk to us today, would you want to know what he said? 

Depending on how people answer these questions we can then talk about a lot of things but our main goal is to talk about how our unique message is that the Church of Jesus Christ has been restored to the Earth and that God has called a prophet today to help us. 

The highlight of this week was definitely getting to call home! It was really fun talking to the family and hearing everyone’s voices. Especially Ian's because it was so manly.

Je vous aime et passe une bon Semaine

Elder Bake

Fun French Fact of the Week:

In France there are pharmacies everywhere - like on almost every corner. They all have green crosses to identify them. I heard that the government requires each city to have so many pharmacies per person so they can help people for natural disasters but I don’t know if that’s true.

Week 8, Valence, France

Bonjour Family and Friends,

It is so good to hear from all of you and I hope you all had a great week.  My week was amazing as always.  Sorry I did not email. yesterday.  We had zone conference so our p day is today.  Zone conference was really good.  The President of the Mission came and he and his wife spoke to us.  He gave us a lot of good ideas of how we can be better missionaries.  But basically he just told us to follow the example of Jesus Christ.

On Monday night we met an awesome guy named Fred.  We took him to the church and gave him a lesson. It was a really cool and spiritual experience.  Yesterday we had 4 amis (looked this up: the translation is "friends") come to church which was exciting. They stayed all three hours and even seemed to like it!

I went on an exchange this week with Elder Kunsler who is from Salem.  He is super funny and I learned a lot from him.  He is done with his mission this next transfer and might give a talk in his Dad's ward.  I think his dad is in the Aloha 2nd ward so look out for him.

On Sunday we ate with a family who lives in a small town near Valence; Crest.  It is the most French town I have been to.  The streets are very narrow and have lots of turns so there are no cars.  The houses are all very old.  After dinner we hiked to the top of a hill to a tower that was built in the 11th century and was once part of a castle that was destroyed by order of Louis XIII in the 17th Century.

I love being a missionary, I love being in France. Below is a picture of Anthony who was baptized last week, Sister Gibert, the Sister missionaries in Valance - Sister Rose and Sister Russell and Crest.

Love,
Elder Bake

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