Week 34 (Dunkerque)

What an amazing week! Mostly just because we got to listen to an apostle.

It was great to get to listen to Elder Andersen, he talked about lots of great stuff. We also all got to take a picture together and shake his hand! When he talked to us, he started out by talking about how difficult missionary work is in France. He knows through experience, he served both as a young missionary and as a mission president. It's just how people are here; Christ's Church grows differently in different parts of the world. But he told us that when he was a mission president, he felt sorry for his missionaries with all the challenges they had. But when he knelt in prayer, the Lord told him that he need not apologize for their call to France. It was Him that called them here because He knows who they are. And if they come unto Him, He will comfort them. Such a great thing to know.

And it's officially winter now, we got snow! The day of the Andersen Conference, we were walking in a winter wonderland having a great time. We also got to catch up a bit with everyone we haven't seen in forever. But there's something about snow that just makes everything better, isn't there? It's a lot better than rain, that's for sure. And it makes you feel like a kid again, just for a bit. It brings back those good memories or something I guess.

In any case, I had to give a talk in church yesterday. I got to choose the topic (yay.) so I finally decided to talk about faith. I used in large part Elder Andersen's October 2015 talk, "Faith is not by Chance, but by Choice." I'd highly recommend it, it's a good one. But the main question it starts out with is this, "How does the Savior see my faith?" Is it strong or weak, shining brightly or almost not at all? So I'll leave that as a challenge for you this week, determine what you feel Christ would say about your faith. And while you're at it, find out what you can do to grow it, since I'm sure none of us have perfect faith.

Bonne chance!
Elder Wood

"The winter wonderland on our way to the Mission Conference"

With Elder Blake, whom he knew from his original area in Charleroi

More winter wonderland. (And hooray, he's getting use out of the gloves we bought him!)

All of the attendees at the Mission Conference

Elder Koshiol in the snow (in Dunkirk?)

Food photo - "We made a quiche"