Week 40 - July 13 - Nantes

                Bon Jour Famille

What's up guys!  This week was pretty sweet!  On Monday we played some basketball with one of our African investigators,Terrance and the other Nantes Elders. It was a while since the last time I played some B-ball. After that I bought a sick french suit for 130 bucks so that people wouldn't laugh at my giant
American suit anymore..

Wednesday we went to one of the members houses that has been going through a divorce and we shared with him the video "The Refiner's fire" and told him that God gives us these tribulations and difficulties because he wants us to progress and learn. I have learned on my mission that one of the main purposes of this life is to learn. And one of the ways we learn is having hard times and tribulations in life. God really does love us and he wants us to become like him one day. But in order to become this perfect, all knowing God, we must obtain all the wisdom and knowledge that we can to have a head start going into the next life. This principle that I have learned on my mission has given me the desire to learn and experience as much as I can.

Thursday we taught a new investigator named Anderson and his story is nuts. He is from Cameroon and he doesn't have a family. He said that he was a slave in Egypt for like 8 years. In order to get here he said he crossed a desert for 2 weeks without any food or water and almost died. He also never went to school so he doesn't know how to read and write. The first appointment we had with him we just watched the restoration video on the Ipad and he really liked it. Without the Ipad he wouldn't have had been able to understand what we were trying to explain because he doesn't understand well. This guy is super cool though. He told us that he just wants a peaceful life and he wants to be a good man, but he just doesn't know how. We then bore our testimonies of how the gospel has brought so much joy to our lives and how it has made us the good men that we are today. He is super excited to learn more of the gospel and Jesus Christ.
Also that day we had another super important appointment that night that I was super nervous for because it was a members boy friend that believed in god that wanted us to answer some of his questions about Joseph Smith. I prepared spiritually as much as I could the week before to be able to have the spirit there with us as we spoke and it was one of the most spiritual lessons I have given on my mission.  Everything was so smooth. Every question he asked we answered perfectly and the french that I was speaking was the best I have spoken on my mission. It really was the spirit that was teaching the lesson through us.

Saturday was super sweet. We first taught this Muslim guy named Ishmael from Russia who spoke English. It went super well. We taught him the plan of salvation and he was super open and potentially the nicest person I have ever met in my life. I really had a different view of Muslims from that day on, because before I met him I really just did not like Muslims and their culture at all. I thought they
were all just mean, bitter and don't actually live the principles that they teach in their religion but there really are some good Muslim people.
Later that day we found a gold mine. While we were knocking doors one day, we found this giant African food store with millions of Africans talking outside of it, so we went in for like 2 hours and talked to some Africans about god. It was probably the highlight of my mission. We are just going to go over there now every day to teach Africans and get recipes for African food. One of them invited us over to make these African dress things called Boo Boos for us and eat some famous food from Africa called foo foo next week. Super pumped.

One last cool thing that happened that week is that on Sunday we went over to this guys house and taught him and his wife the restoration and they are super interested. We showed them part of the restoration video and brought our money African member to come with us and teach.  It went super well and I think they have a ton of potential.

Our boy David still has his baptismal date and is really starting to grow a testimony of the church.

Love you guys!


love, Elder Carson

 Me and Elder McBride at the Beach.

My District at District meeting.

 Playin ball with the Elder's and our Investigator!

 Elder McBride and I playing Ball.

 

Week 39 - July 6 - Nantes

Fam!

This week was pretty good.

Monday we set two baptismal dates and taught a sick african family with a member. The first baptismal date we set was for a guy named walter. He comes from central africa and he speaks fluent English. He
understands super well and keeps all of the commitments we give him. He calls us like every day to see how we are doing and sets appointments with us. He is definitely goin' in the water.

The second one is a dude from Nigeria named David. He is a super cool dude. We had to explain every principle we taught him out of the Bible, but he believes that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that we are the only church on the earth with the priesthood of god. The only problem is that he can only speak english so church is hard for him.
We had to translate for him the whole time and I don't think he had the most spiritual experience. He said that church was pretty good though so we'll see.

The other appointment we had that night was super sick. We met this one guy on the tram a while back called Moise and said that he wanted us to come by his house some time. So we took this sweet African
member with us to his house and when we got there he had 4 kids, a wife and a friend over. We taught the Book of Mormon and it went super well. He still has a lot of questions but they have a lot of
potential.

Tuesday we went to zone conference and it was pretty sweet. We had a training on the Ipads and then we got Ipads at the end of the meeting. Originally we were supposed to get individual ipads but I guess someone stole one hundred Ipads from the mission office the day before the conference so now each companionship shares one Ipad. They just
ordered some more so that we can have one for each missionary but Ivthink it will take a while. The Ipads have been so nice. We have been showing super good Mormon Messages to everyone. It has been working super well. We have had some muslims and catholics that were super closed before we showed the video, but after the video they are open with us and we end up having a really good conversation and get to bare our testimonies. Usually we show the video "Because of him". I'ts so good. God is so smart.

Friday we got to help a non member move. She had so much stuff and we were there like almost all day. She was so thankful and super nice. We didn't get to share with her anything, but I hope we will get to
another time. We are going to try and knock on her door one day to see if we can share a message with her.

That is about all that happened this week! love you guys! I will send pics.

love, Elder Carson

 The Beach with Elder McBride!

 

                            Our new Ipads!

Week 38 - June 29 - Nantes

  "Nantes!"

 This week was pretty good. Last Monday we went to a super cool beach called "Le Baule" about an hour train ride from Nantes. There was like no one there. Just some old people and a ton of condos. We hung out there, ate some crepes, and walked like the whole beach. Sounds pretty gay but it was pretty fun. haha

This week we set two baptismal dates with a guy named Jhislain and a guy named David. Jhislain is a pretty cool African. He is a super smart guy working as a nurse in the hospital of Nantes. We taught him the Restoration and he liked it a lot so we set the baptismal date the first appointment. It was pretty cool. David is a Nigerian that only speaks English and he loves the bible. He told us that if it is in the bible he will believe us. So we brought with us a Nigerian member in our ward who served in Nigeria and knows the bible like the back of his hand to come and prove the things we said in the bible and it went super well. He came to church the following Sunday and he said it was pretty good. We are teaching the Book of Mormon to him tonight and the Nigerian member said that it is the hardest lesson teach to Nigerians, so we will see how that goes.

Our recent convert Laure is doing super well. We had her teach to us the whole plan of salvation and she did super well. She backed up each principle with a scripture from the Book of Mormon and explained everything perfectly, and at the end she bore her testimony of the Book of Mormon and the plan of salvation. Sick appointment.

Our blind less active Pedro from Congo, Africa is doing pretty well also. We decided to center our lessons more towards his 14 year old kid named Joao. He is a stud. He helps his dad do everything because he is blind. he makes every meal for him, cleans the house, and goes with him everywhere he wants to go holding his arm directing him so he doesn't have to use a blind cane. We taught about having good friends and reading the scriptures every day to help us make good choices. He shared an experience with us about his friends making wrong choices and how hard it is to make good choices around them. But he bore his testimony about the happiness he has when he obeys the commandments. We bought him some really nice scriptures with a leather scripture case with our testimonies inside and a picture of me, Elder McBride and Joao. I think he will like it a lot.

This week I also started this thing called "purification of the soul". It is basically a 40 day fast from all the things that could be even remotely hindering the spirit for 40 days, and he gives the promise that if you do the 40 days you will not have the envy of doing it any more. he says to start the 40 day fast, you fast from food and water for 24 hours to know what you should write in a list of things that could be hindering you from the spirit and to give you strength to accomplish the fast. So I am starting that today. I'll keep you guys updated on how it goes. 

love you guys! thanks for all the support!

love, Elder Carson

(A letter written by a Stake President to his children in the Mission Field. This talk is also known as the “40-Day Missionary Fast talk. Take it as you wish.)

One day, a member informed us that he had an investigator that was ready to be taught and he volunteered to attend the first discussion. The discussion went along as usual. At the conclusion my companion and I bore witness of Joseph Smith and then turned to our friend. He paused for a moment, looked at the young lady and said, “I know that Joseph Smith was and is a Prophet of God.” The room was filled with an extraterrestrial force. The investigator started to cry.
As we walked home, I was baffled. That man said the exact same words that we had said, but the result was dramatically different. When he spoke, he had an influence that we did not have. There was no question that the influence was the Holy Ghost, but this man seemed to have it in a different way. There was still something to be learned. I had to find out what the secret was, so I returned to the scriptures. It seemed like we were so close to being effective and yet we just could not make it happen.

A Challenge to Purify

After several weeks of searching and praying, we attended a meeting and heard a well known Church leader. He spoke about the scriptures as a source of strength and about the process of spiritual influence. His words caused a burning in my soul. When he finished his address, I intentionally lingered behind. When I was finally alone with this man, I asked him for a few moments of his time. I explained my desire to be effective. I told him about the lesson I had learned. I told him that something was still missing. Finally, I asked him if he could tell me what it was.
He looked into my eyes and said nothing. Nearly a minute went by and I began to feel very uncomfortable. Finally he spoke. He said, “Elder, when those pretty young ladies pass you on the street, what do you think about?” Before I could answer, he asked, “Do you ever speak sarcastically to your junior companion?” “Do you get up at the designated time every morning?” “Do you keep every mission rule?”
His list of questions grew longer. Finally he said, “These are the things that keep the Holy Ghost from being your companion. If you want the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost, then you must purify yourself. I will tell you how to do it. Go home and fast for a day. In the attitude of fasting and prayer, make a list of every behavior that pokes at your spirit. Once you have made your list, then go to the Lord. Covenant with the Lord that you will fast from the things on that list for 40 days. In other words, for 40 days, you will do nothing that appears on that list.
“You cannot just stop the old behavior and start the new ones. You need the help of the Lord. So each morning, go to the Lord and specifically promise Him that you will start each item on the list. Ask for His help so you can have extra strength and then, at night, go over your list with the Lord. If you failed on some items, figure out why. Tell the Lord. Ask for more strength the next day. Go through the process for 40 days. If you do, you will find that your most basic desires will change. Your spirit will flourish and the Holy Ghost will become your constant companion. You will become an effective tool in the hands of the Lord.”

The Process of Purification

We went home determined to make the concept work. We began to fast and we began to make a list. It proved much harder than we assumed it would be. I would pray and then I would feel impressed to write down some item. Then, arguing that there was nothing wrong with the particular thing, I would fight the impression. For example, I felt impressed to put golf on the list. My response was, “There is nothing wrong with golf. We only play on preparation day.” I ignored the fact that on the other six days, my mind continually dwelt upon how to play better. I wrestled with the Spirit and then finally wrote golf on the list. It is interesting that from the moment I wrote it on the list, I experienced the most intense desire to play golf. Everywhere I turned, there was some reminder, some temptation to break the commitment. So it was with each item on the list. Each day, I had to fight all my natural inclinations and turn to the Lord for the help necessary to overcome myself. Sometime between the 30th and 40th day, I suddenly realized that my desire for the things on the list had disappeared. It was as if a great anchor had been cut from me.

The Process of Surrender

The last morning, my companion and I knelt in prayer and then started out the door. I was impressed to go back and again pray. With unusual confidence, I addressed the Lord, “Father, these are thy children. We are now doing everything within our power to live the gospel. We turn the burden over to Thee. Please carry us the rest of the way.”

The Gifts of the Spirit

We went to our first appointment. Halfway through the discussion, our investigator began to make an excuse that he could not be baptized, because he did not believe that Joseph Smith was a Prophet of God. I interrupted him. “That is untrue. You do know that Joseph Smith is a Prophet. Your real fear is that your mother will disapprove if you join the Church. In the name of Jesus Christ, I promise you that your entire family will embrace the Gospel because of your courageous example. The Lord wants you to be baptized now and it is necessary that you comply.” I never before had done anything like that. In fact, I knew nothing about his mother. He had hardly mentioned her. While I could hardly believe what I had said, a familiar spirit filled the room. This brother began to weep. He committed to be baptized the following Saturday.
The experience repeated itself. At our very next meeting with each investigator, there was a celestial manifestation and everyone one of them was committed to baptism. In an eight-week period, sixteen people were baptized. It was an unusual number for our mission. While the number of baptisms was large, the truly impressive thing was the change in my companion and I. We were different people. Our most basic desires and motives had been altered. Credit and recognition were no longer of any consequence. For the first time in our lives, the things of God were more important than the “things of this world and honors of men.”
Our sensitivity deepened. We noticed how often we would cry. Several times a day we would be brought to tears by a prayer, a talk, a discussion, a scripture, or almost anything would deeply touch us. Our concern was continually focused upon others. For the first time, we could understand Nephi’s claim, “For I pray continually for them by day, and mine eyes water my pillow by night” because of them. We could understand the statement because for the first time, we could understand Nephi’s motives.
The Holy Ghost became our constant companion because our motives had changed, because we had an eye single to the glory of God, the Lord could trust us and we experienced the power of the Priesthood and became effective tools in his hands.

Week 37 - June 22 - Nantes

He just wrote a personal letter this week.

Mom and dad,

Hey I don't have a ton of time because we just got back from the beach. It was super cool.

The beach that we went to was so rich. There was like these crazy super sweet cars there and super nice houses right next to the beach. There was like no one there either. It was super calm with like only old people.

The mission is so great. I can't believe how much it has changed my life already. Its been hard but I have learned so much. In every ward I go in I work with and bear my testimony of the mission and the gospel with the young men in the ward because I know how much it can help them.

The other day I thought about what kind of person I was before the mission and how far I have come, and I have come so far man. it is nuts. Thank you for raising me up in the gospel and encouraging me to go on a mission. Love you guys!

love, Jax

Week 36 - June 15 - Nantes

What's up Fam.....

This week was a good one and a gay one! I will explain.

The beginning of the week was super good. We found a lot of new investigators and taught a lot of people. We found this guy from Nigeria named Kelly that said he left Nigeria because he was wanted there. He loves God and wants to know more about us because he was looking for a church to go to. That is how every African thinks here. They don't actually believe that there is one true church. They just go to the one they like the most.

I might as well have served my mission in Africa. There are so many here and I have come to love them so much. I have been trying to learn one of the languages that they use in Kinshasa Congo called Lin gala. They love it if you can speak Lin gala.

We also found a brotha named Moses and his family of 5 this week. We taught him and his wife the restoration, and they thought it was cool. I think that they have a lot of potential.

We also taught our most solid Chinese investigator Song this week. He was originally atheist, but he actually believes in God now and in the church. He told us the other day when he was about to go into an interview he was super nervous so he said a prayer and right after the prayer he said that he felt peace come over him and the interview went super well. He still said that the baptism might take time, but he is progressing super well. Sorry Chase Taylor for stealing your investigator!

The end of the week was pretty slow.. There was a gay pride day thing and everywhere we went guys were making out with guys and the women were making out with women. It was literally all over Nantes..  Right after they had their parade thing, so many people were yelling at us and hatin' on us. It brought a really bad spirit to Nantes I think because after that day, we didn't find any new investigators and it seemed like absolutely no one wanted to listen to us.

Other than that, it was a pretty good week. 

 

 Je vous aime tous! Passez un bon semaine!!

(I love you all! Have a great week!!)

love, Elder Carson




I love you all! Have a great week

Week 35 - June 8 - Nantes

Pictures and No email.... Hmmm I'll take it..

Hey guys,

 I am not going to do emails this week because one of the members in the ward is going to take us to the beach to play some beach volleyball. I will get some good pics!  

Last week was super cool though. One of the members took us to a place in our area like 2 hours away by car right next to the ocean. It was so cool. We visited some less actives down there and we did some contacting on the beach. I will send you some pics.

love you guys!

love, Jax

 Road trip to find less actives by the beach

 Another city we visited by the ocean to go door to door. there was a sick old castle there also.

 The district in Nantes.

 

Week 34 - June 1 - Nantes

Good Week!

Monday: Today we went to this giant mall about 45 minutes away from our apartment and just hung out there for a while, then after that we played some baseball. Elder Davis in my last apartment gave two gloves and a baseball before he left home. That was pretty fun, I haven't thrown a baseball forever. After that we went to a members house to give them a little spiritual thought. The members here in France will only let you come over if you just give a spiritual thought. We taught about charity and told them to pray in the morning and ask god to give them a chance to be charitable during the day and then re account what you have accomplished to god in your nightly prayers. This actually works super well. I have been trying this the last 3 weeks and god always gives me these experiences each day.

Tuesday: Today we did double exchanges with the zone leaders so we set 6 appointments. It was super cool. We taught a less active named Pedro the restoration and he loved it. After him we taught a brotha named Bonheur at a train stop. He isn't really progressing right now. He thinks that he doesn't have to be baptised again so he won't accept a baptismal date. He tells us what we are saying is true but he doesn't understand.

Wednesday: Today we taught this guy that was totally insane. We went to try to find his house to meet up with him and we saw him standing by this little green door. He was super excited to see us. We went inside the little green door and it was like a little cave that led to a huge building with tiny apartments. He brought us to his apartment on the first floor and it was disgusting. His bed had dirt all over it, we couldn't even see the floor, and he had writings all over the wall saying things like "the house of Melchizedek", "Allah", and drawings of weird devilish stuff everywhere. I had the worst feeling in his house. We taught him about prayer and asked him if he would pray to know that Jesus Christ is the son of god, and he said "no". Then started going on saying that Jesus Christ is his best friend who lives in Paris named Max. After he went on about that for like 10 minutes we said a prayer with him and left. The weirdest appointment I have ever had by far..

Thursday: Today we went to another less actives house today named Evers. We taught him the Restoration and told him to pray again to know if it was true because he had said earlier that he couldn't remember a time when he prayed to know if it were true. But he said that he probably wouldn't pray again because he knows it is true already. After him we went to an African families house and shared a little spiritual thought. After the thought the dad told us that he wants us to prepare his 10 year old son for baptism with the missionary lessons.

Friday: Today we taught a dude from Beijing named Song, and he speaks English. He had been an investigator a long time ago. He was super pumped to start up the missionary lessons again. We taught him the word of wisdom and he said he would live it without any hesitation.

Saturday: Today 7 investigators told us they were coming to church and none of them came. After church we went finding for a bit and found some super solid brothas on the tram. Life would suck here in France with out these Africans! haha 

Today in my studies I was reading in Doctrine and Covenants 93 and I came across a scripture that I really liked. in D&C 93:36 it reads: 36 The ^aglory of God is ^bintelligence, or, in other words,^clight and truth.

The glory of god is intelligence or wisdom. I thought about how we can gain this wisdom or intelligence, and I came to the conclusion that it is only obtained through experience. To let god expand our minds and give us this intelligence, we have to live by the principles that we learn. We can learn from the scriptures, but it is only when we start living the things we learn from the scriptures for God to expand our minds and give us intelligence.

I love all you guys and hope you have a good week!

love, Elder Carson

 

 

​A Cathedral by our house

 

 Model shot on top of the castle by our apartment.

  

Our less active, Pedro.