Week 62 (Les Lilas)

This week was jam-packed with conferences, which was neat. But it didn't leave time for much else.

First off we had a Tri-Zone Conference with all three Paris zones. We all met and had a great time discussing different topics like sabbath day observance and the Plan of Salvation. Then to finish, Brad Wilcox showed up with his wife and they talked to us! He talked a lot about the gathering of Israel and opened it up to a Q&A at the end. He has so many amazing insights, it was great to get to hear him speak.
(See his famous "His Grace is Sufficient" talk here! https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/brad-wilcox/his-grace-is-sufficient/)

We also had the New Missionary Conference for Elder Coryell this Friday. Président Sorensen had all the new missionaries and their trainers come to discuss things pertaining to new missionaries. We reviewed some of the rules, talked about how the mission is hard, and also some motivational/inspirational stuff to help us through that. It was really interesting to see what kinds of things I remembered from when I had mine last year, and also what Président has changed/added since.

Elder Coryell has also been making lots of progress with the language. At the beginning I had to speak most of the time, but now he's starting to understand more. It's a big job to be the companion with better French, especially when you don't actually understand everything that's going on! But God always helps us through our trials, and helps us grow stronger!

Bon courage!
Elder Wood

Group photo of the Tri-Zone conference with Brad Wilcox

With Elder Hicken at Zone Conference (he is from our home stake in Oregon)

Mountain Dew from the care package (his parents went a little overboard bringing treats from the US)

Week 61 (Les Lilas)

What a week! So much has happened it's hard to believe.

First off, my new companion. I got a call Tuesday night from the Assistants telling me that I would be going to the airport the next morning to pick up my companion, that was a surprise! So after Elder Vincenzi arrived, all three of us went over to try and find him. We got a bit turned around actually and went to the wrong side of the airport at first, so then we ran across the whole thing to get to his terminal. But all's well that ends well! He came out and we brought  him home safe and sound.

The rest of the week it's been fun getting  him used to France. His name is Elder Coryell, and he actually has already served 2 transfers in the US. His visa took a while to come in, so he was sent over to Portland, Maine. And it turns out that his trainer there was Elder Ellsworth! The same one from the MTC! Such a small world. So basically, he already sorta knows how to be a missionary, but he isn't used to French. So I'm doing my best to impart of my (limited) knowledge. Luckily though, Elder Vincenzi is a native French speaker so he's a big help.

In other news, this Sunday was fast and testimony meeting, so everyone got the chance to go up and bear their testimony. What was interesting was that it was my turn to translate. So I did my best to understand what was being said, and turn around and say it all in English. Please, if you're ever in a situation where someone has to translate live for you, be courteous and speak slowly and clearly. And also give them the scripture references! Nothing's harder than translating scripture language being read at 90 miles an hour.

And wish me luck with training! Hopefully I do a good enough job with the Lord's help. But I'm sure it will be fine, since nothing is impossible with Him at our side.

À toute à l'heure!
Elder Wood

Welcome to Elder Coryell

Elder Wood and Elder Coryell together at the church building

Saying farewell to Elder Hulet at the train station

"We tried facemasks all together"

Food photo: A delicious pastry

Week 60 (Les Lilas)

It's a multiple of six, so you know what that means! Transfers are coming!

So let's get this over with. I'll be staying, and Elder Hulet is headed home. And as for my new companion, I have no idea who he is. Why not? Because he hasn't gotten to France yet, he's a brand new missionary. So I'll be training him.

This week we said goodbye to lots of members since it was Elder Hulet's last week as a missionary. We got invited over a bunch to eat and it was great to get to know the members a little better.

We also had a ward temple trip on Saturday! We brought some of our new converts to do baptisms for the dead for the first time, and it was great to see them help their ancestors receive that ordinance. And I love visiting the temple, you can always feel the Spirit so strongly, it's great.

We also met with a less active member, Michel. He told us how he doesn't really have a testimony of the Book of Mormon, he just believes in it because it's like the Bible. So we're trying to help him gain one, because without a testimony it's really hard to stay on the covenant path when difficulties arise. A testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon is one of the most precious possessions we can have in this life, so we all need to do our very best to gain, strengthen, and keep our own throughout our lives.

Bonne semaine!
Elder Wood

Elder Wood and Elder Hulet with some of their new members at the temple

Elder Hulet, Mamady ready for baptism, and Elder Wood

Attendees at Mamady's baptism

All the missionaries love this street for some reason :-)

The lovely Clayson family sent this photo after they attended church in Les Lilas ward

Dinner with a family in the ward. The back row is Elders Rozsa, Labbe, Wood, and Hulet, but I'm not sure who the other two elders are.

One more dinner with ward members.

Food photo - Looks like a very balanced meal?

Week 59 (Les Lilas)

Another week flies by and brings more adventures with it!

The main adventure was the baptism this week! Our friend Mamady was baptized and confirmed this weekend as the newest member of Paris Lilas. We spent a lot of time working to finalize everything for the baptism, and it went well! I was even the one to baptize him since the member who was supposed to had something come up last minute. It's always an amazing experience to be at a baptism, you really feel the Spirit so strongly.

We also had a member make us an amazing meal on Friday. She invited us all over Friday night for a huge African dinner she cooked. She also invited a couple of other members, so it was a real feast! The other Elders even brought an ami because they had scheduled a rendez-vous with him the same night. So when they called her to say they might have to leave early, she told them to just invite him too!

And it's still just amazing every time I think about how I'm actually in Paris. Also how I've been a missionary for over a year now! The time really flies. So like Elder Hulet said once, you have to grasp the moment before it passes you by. Because before you know it, everything will have changed.

À plus!
Elder Wood

I believe this photo is from the baptism this week

Dinner with a family in the ward (Elders Rosza, Labbe, Wood, and Hulet)

Elders Rosza, Hulet, Labbe, Wood, a ward member, and the ward mission leader. This was at a ward Family Home Evening social.

An interesting missionary sculpture. Elders David (far left), Hulet, McLeod, and Wood.

They had a competitive Jenga game

A glimpse of the wolf spider living on their windowsill

More fun with Duolingo

Week 58 (Les Lilas)

This was a crazy busy week. I felt like we didn't even have time for anything!

Part of the reason for that was the ward activity we had on Saturday. We started with a big game of soccer, and that took a lot out of us. Yesterday I was completely sore! But it was great to spend some quality time with the ward. We then had a picnic and an olympiad with lots of events, which Elder Hulet and I dominated at. I don't know if it was our training from elementary school or what, but our team won by a landslide.

We also had Zone Conference this week. The whole zone of Paris-Est came together and we had a huge gathering! We talked a lot about the Word of Wisdom and how to teach it and help people live by it. It was also good to see everyone again. It isn't often that you see other missionaries, so every time you do it's amazing!

And since this was Elder Hulet's last Zone Conference, he got the chance to bear his testimony. He talked about the feelings of inadequacy we sometimes have, and how they're normal but we shouldn't let them discourage us. We shouldn't feel that we aren't worthy enough to do the Lord's work, or that we aren't capable. Because even when we aren't, He is there to help us. Almost every prophet talked about how he felt weak or not good enough, but God never left them alone. And it's thanks to their willingness to try that great things came to pass.

À plus tard!
Elder Wood

Ready for the soccer game - standing back right are Elders Wood, Hulet, Labbe, and Rozsa

Tour de France again, leaving Reims on Tuesday morning

District photo: Elders Wood, Hulet, McLeod, David, Rosza, and Labbe

Zone Conference. Elder Wood is standing in the center, right behind President Sorensen.

A mangez-vous at a ward member's home

Still shot from the soccer game - Elder Wood in the white shirt standing at back

Getting ready for the tug-of-war event

Elder Wood and Elder Hulet with a ward member

Week 57 (Les Lilas)

This week was great, we did lots of cool stuff!

We started off by teaching back to back lessons about the Restoration and the Book of Mormon. It was crazy, we taught three or four times in a row, just waiting in the church for the next person to show up in between. I don't think I've ever done that before. It's so great to get to teach everyone about the gospel like that.

We were also invited over to eat at members' houses three days in a row. It was honestly so much food. They stuffed us for three days, and then the next day was Fast Sunday, so we were thankful for the opportunity to not eat. It was great to get to know some of the members better and strengthen that relationship.

And today we're in Reims! Le Tour de France passed through today, so we got to watch as all the riders went by. It's still weird sometimes to think that I'm actually in France, doing French things. And being a missionary. That's why you've got to hold on to the moments, before they go away. It's the little things in life that are sometimes the most important.

Passez un bon moment!
Elder Wood

Food photo: A delicious French pastry with strawberries

Elder Wood with the previous Elder Clayton (who was recently released but returned with his family to tour)

Elder Clayton's mom texted this picture to me (missionary moms know we love random photos). Elder Hulet, Elder Wood, Elder Labbe, and Elder Rozsa

Elder Hulet and Elder Wood on the train to Reims. They were pretty excited to get to ride 1st class this trip.

The French countryside seen from the train window

In Reims, waiting for the Tour de France to ride by - notice the orange Tour flag.

The Tour de France peleton rides through Reims

This is actually a state of Winged Victory on the Subé Fountain in Reims. The missionaries call it the "fake Moroni" statue since it looks like the gold Moroni statue on top of many temples.

Week 56 (Les Lilas)

Another busy week in Paris!

We actually left Paris for a day though, we had exchanges in Reims. It wasn't as busy there, so we walked around and talked to lots of people. It was great to get to see the other Elders out there and to work with them for the day. Sometimes you just need a change of pace.

This week we also had a cool experience with a member. She set up a rendez-vous with us and two of her friends so we could share a spiritual message with them! Her friends are really cool and we set up a return appointment this week to talk more about the Book of Mormon! I'm super excited to talk to them more, and also to work with their member friend. As it has been said, missionary work is at its best when the member missionaries work alongside the full-time missionaries. Their efforts are combined, then with the Lord's help miracles are brought to pass! So what are you waiting for?

Allons-y!
Elder Wood

Elders Wood and Hulet on the left side, with the Reims elders (Elder McLeod in the rear, Elder David in front) on the right.

Food photo: "Elder Hulet tried a new drink. It has algae in it..."

"Fun Fact of the week"