Bonjour à tous! What an awesome week! We went all over the place. I was back in my beloved Chambèry for a zone activity, and I got to reunite with old friends there. We had stake conference in Genève and I got to see basically the entire Chambèry branch there, so that was even better! We spent a lot of time with the other missionaries all around. I really love my mission family. :) I've been really touched this week by the power that comes behind uniting as one team as members and missionaries. I read a quote this week by Gordon B. Hinckley, as he explains the 3 things that everyone who has recently become a member of the church (or anyone who is learning about the gospel in my opinion) needs from the members of their ward. He says that each of them need an assignment, need to be nourished by the good word of God, but the part that I really want to focus on is this--they need "a friend in the church to whom they can constantly turn, who will walk beside them, who will answer their questions, who will understand their problems." They simply need a friend. This week we have started the lessons with our new amie, Saipo. Well, we get a call from this awesome sister in our ward who asks if we'd like to come over for dinner, AND if we have an ami that we'd like to bring with us. We were like, as a matter of fact, there's a brand new amie that we'd love to bring! So, we bring Saipo to this family's house and it was just wonderful. This sister threw her arms around Saipo and made her feel like a part of the family right off the bat. She willingly opened the doors of her home to our amie, but more importantly, she opened her heart and made her feel loved. Saipo left that night feeling like she was finally a part of something, and she is so excited to keep continuing on with us. A lot of that is thanks to this Christ-like sister in our ward. It is wonderful if you can become friends with the investigators of the missionaries, but you know what's just as good, if not better? Bringing YOUR friends TO the missionaries. Earlier this week we got invited to an FHE at a sister's home and she invited her non-member friend to come as well. We were able to laugh and get to know each other, and then we were able to simply testify of a few gospel principles. Then this sister powerfully shared why her religion is so important to her, how it's made her happy, and how she truly loves her friend, and this is what she wants for her too. Do you know how much more meaningful it is for an ami to hear those words coming from their life-long friend versus a missionary they met an hour earlier? It makes all the difference, because they have that trust already built up, and they know their friend only wants what's best for them. It doesn't always have to be big things like these two examples. We had two other members this week simply ask if they could give an ami and a recent convert a ride to Stake Conference. And then we had another member go and sit next to our ami and the recent convert during the meeting. It's simple gestures like that too that go a long way. Little bits of Christ-like love and friendliness are what will make this work spring forward at the rate the Lord needs. Because the fact of the matter is, is that the missionaries will leave, but the members stay. So we need the members there to have "adopted" our amis into the fold of the ward, so they know they belong there. Because everyone belongs in Christ's church. We can't do this work without you, and you can't do this work without us. So, I ask you: When was the last time you had the missionaries in your home? When was the last time you had them bring one of their investigators to your home? When was the last time you helped them teach a lesson? When was the last time you took the courage to introduce your friend to them? When was the last time you even asked them who they are teaching? When was the last time you made an effort at church to befriend the investigators they bring? When was the last time you went with them to visit less-actives? When was the last time you made the effort to make a recent convert your friend? We understand you don't have time to do this full-time like we do, and that's not what we're asking for. You don't have to do all of these things at once. We're simply asking for a little help every now and then... A little spurt of courage. A little spurt of selflessness. A little spurt of Christ-like love. Aren't we all His disciples? I love you all and thank you for what you already do! YOU make the difference. Love Always,Soeur Shields
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November 2015
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