Bring a shoulder bag. (Jacob), A stronger testimony of the Gospel. I discovered a lot about myself. (Anonymous), Where ever you are called, serve with all your might, mind, and strength. A few of the members had a chuckle. (Anonymous), Missing the last bus, attempting to hitch hike back home. I was thinking, what are we doing?! Kebab. And I loved hearing peoples stories. Enduring to the end. (Valan), You will succeed. (Kara), Being there when the first stake was formed in Versailles. Remember this when you are off your mission and are in the process of choosing an eternal partner. Very brave people. Shortly after leaving the apartment, I felt the Spirit tell me to talk to the guy crossing the street in front of me. Living Life. (Drew), I was a little nervous as plans fell through again with my first blue (trainee), and I was afraid she might be mad or frustrated that we werent teaching quite as much as she probably expected. There are many Muslim people in France. One or two probably turned away, but one man was at least curious. (Dennis), My wife was my MTC teacher..I think that covers a lot. (Drew), Rain in the winter, hot in the summer- especially in Paris. Sometimes I would directly translate English to French and confuse people too haha. Dont get discouraged because it will be hard and you will be confused on what to do. The honeymoon might last a bit longer (a year or two) but if your partner or yourself are not grounded in the gospel, some rough, exciting, sad times are ahead of you. (Valan), Love of scriptures. We were encouraging our amie to stop smoking and thought we were saying it would be more pleasant for her husband kissing her if she stopped. He told us (in French) that he was excited to be there, but exciter in French means to be sexually aroused. When we left the appointment and went down the stairs, the migraine and weakness both returned. Knowing that you gave your best and you know the truth now. (Matt), Being organized, clean, proper with others, patient, happy, and a leader. (Michael), I served in Normandie so where I was it rained 295 days a year on average and was usually very cloudy. (Paul), Some kids were throwing dirt clods at an old man and we told them to stop. (Bryan), The people are very kind and stick to themselves. She asked me if the Book of Mormon could truly change her life for the better. (Nicholai), Be more outgoing and less afraid of making mistakes. (Roberto), Good, sturdy walking shoes- Danskos maybe. (Jordan), How to speak another language. Then he tried to get between us. Basically love the Lord and the Gospel more than you love anything, anyone else and youll do fine. Surely there will be hard and discouraging times. Now my son is also serving in the same mission I know there were about 100 + missionaries and maybe 20-some sisters It was a lot smaller area than it is now. Utah Salt Lake City West Mission. The church and the work of the restoration will go forward and we can be a part if we choose. Caresser is to pet. (Stuart), Crpe, Burrito Fte, Donner Kebab, Brioche, Galette Brtonne, Crme Frache Pizza. There are 346 missions in this index. (Matt), Bread and cheese, snails, sauerkraut with various meats, fries and the different sauces that France and Belgium have to offer. (Chloe), I wish I was more dedicated in obtaining the Ammon Award. Now, as I work, it seems a lot of people only want to associate with those who can help them. One was when a recent convert learn how to read by sounding out words from the Book of Mormon and the Gospel Principles manual. Letting truth fill them and watching them achieve their potential. So we turned the other way, and kept walking and bustling through the busy city square. Learn to accept them for who they are, look for the good in them, compromise with them, and have a good time while you are with them. (Zakarias), Anything you need you can buy in France. Avoid accumulating things on your mission. (Doug), Pray for the people even before you get your call. Understood more the culture of the people. Rain gear a must. He then reached out and grabbed some of my long red hair, and cut off several inches. However, as we climbed the stairs I felt the migraine lift and strength return. You learn about traditions from every part of the world and celebrate with them. Missionary Training Center. Other miracles were feeling like we should have gotten off as a specific train stop to keep talking to somebody, turning around 10 minutes later, catching a new train, turning back, and still finding that person we wanted to talk to in the mass of people in that little town. Give Him your time and dont bring your own agenda. (Roberto), Speaking to others about the gospel, building relationships, leadership skills and following through on commitments, being a strong ward member, and speaking French. His daughters letting members dedicate his grave, his daughters accepting the LDM that the members gave them with their testimonies of eternal families. Here's a list of current and past Mission Presidents of the Paris LDS Mission. (Bryan), Calling a Madame a Monsieur . I did not have the gift of tongues from the get go, but I learned to accept myself for mistakes. (Doug), Congratulated a person for having been robbed. THE HONEY MOON ONLY LASTS FOR TWO WEEKS. He said that translated it meant throat support so I thought it made sense. (Jeffrey), Nantes, Rennes, Poitier, Bourges, Tours, Reims, Antony, Sarcelles. An assignment as unusual as a French-speaking mission in Arizona has certainly caused us to question the impact of our role once or twice. (Doug), Dont worry so much about yourself or the future. But at the same time, I felt some inner rush to keep hurrying to find her. So are the Africans! (Stuart), Cholet (twice), Troyes, Coutances, Aulnay-sous-Bois, le Vesinet, Tours. But when I got to France they used cheese on everything and I started eating it and could not believe how much I loved it. (Kara), Second language, presentation skills used in business meetings, focus on goals, attention to detail and record keeping. (Jordan), It rains a lot in France! Organization. Buy one that will fit a book of Mormon, some pamphlets, a water bottle and a camera. French-speaking immigrants from the Piedmont valleys of alpine Italy, taught Utahns how to raise and use silk. (Kara), French (study a second language early). Buy French Language LDS Missionary France or Quebec Mission Tank Top: Shop top fashion brands Tanks & Camis at Amazon.com FREE DELIVERY and Returns possible on eligible purchases Amazon.com: French Language LDS Missionary France or Quebec Mission Tank Top : Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry (Elsa), Grecs (kbab sandwiches) were a staple of my diet in every area I served in Northern France. Make sure your luggage can roll so it is easier to travel on transfer days. (Mariah), We were out knocking on doors late one night and missed the last bus back into the main town where our apartment was. I wish I wasnt so self-conscious about not speaking French. (Valan), St Quentin, St Omer, Brussels, Paris, Nantes, Tours. French Polynesia (Tahiti) Skip to Main Content. We were handing out English lesson flyers while knocking on doors in St Dennis. During a migraine episode, we had an appointment scheduled with a non-progressing investigator with major word of wisdom issues. (Kara), Love every minute and never stop praying! Missionary Preparation. Libraries. You will never be in that place with that person again. There was also this ptisserie near the Asniere sur Seine gare that had the worlds greatest beignets. (Alex), Having an Amish call and say that the Book of Mormon is true and that he wants to be baptized. Getting along with different personalities and people. Wescoured YouTubeto find the best quality videos aboutFrance, that are free from inappropriate music, immodesty and profanity. Also, people enjoyed food. We will in effect be Gods. (Drew), While serving in Lorient, France in the spring of 2001, we were surprised to find the entire center of town and a 1 km radius around it under evacuation orders because a construction crew had discovered an unexploded bomb from WWII buried beneath the ruins of an old bunker that was being demolished in an expansion project for the local stadium (Lorient had been an Allied port and submarine base during the war). (Doug), Good sturdy yet lightweight luggage. It about caused her to pull a stitch. (Mariah), My mission is one of the hardest, you dont see many missionaries on bikes, we walk, drive, or use the subways. That will bless your life and the life of your family forever. Cant remember the name of the main cheese I loved. (Doug), Changed every aspect of my life. Always soaking wet, get water resistant everything. To name two, I was blessed to learn to love people, even though I dont directly benefit in any temporal way from those people. 4. Both times we helped those people feel the love of God and ultimately stopped the suicide. To access the official, up-to-date LDS.org map for the Paris Mission: Here are in-depth YouTube video interviews with returned missionaries from the France ParisMission. For many of them, the path that led them to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ wasn't easy, but meeting these people has helped us see how the Lord guides people to find His true gospel. American baggy clothes stick out like a sore thumb. *Click here to browse Paris Mission gifts. Goat cheese salads. Focus on what you can say and build from there. This helped me to accomplish many things later in life. To this day, he recalls how miraculous it was to meet missionaries in Arizona who could speak his language. The French are awesome people. Read the Book of Mormon in the language. 6. {if(f.fbq)return;n=f.fbq=function(){n.callMethod?n.callMethod.apply(n,arguments):n.queue.push(arguments)};if(!f._fbq)f._fbq=n;n.push=n;n.loaded=!0;n.version='2.0';n.queue=[];t=b.createElement(e);t.async=!0;t.src=v;s=b.getElementsByTagName(e)[0];s.parentNode.insertBefore(t,s)}(window,document,'script','https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/fbevents.js');fbq('init','966613626711939');fbq('track','PageView'); Frog legs, snails, baguettes, and many more! (Douglas), We joked with a Jewish man on the street, and told him that he should join us in another town for church on Sunday. Cold in winter, hot in summer. Amazing ville. I loved having meals with the people. French Language Called to Serve LDS Mormon Missionary design for sister or elder missionaries serving in Paris or Lyon France, Belgium, Switzerland, Montreal Quebec, Benin, Cote d'Ivoire, Congo, Madagascar, or any other French speaking missions. France Paris Alumni Web Site is dedicated to the alumni of this mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. (Michael), In Meaux, a Sunday School instructor asked me to get a tableau. The first was humbling because he showed me that I was arrogant and inflexible. The countryside is where you find more of the French people, and they vary from region and town to town. Heres a link to the mission map for the ParisMission (LDS). Raclettr. We spoke French to her and she repeated it all in Russian. Memorized the Articles of Faith. They asked me if I spoke French. The grandmothers are all converts, and there are very few third-generation members. (Nicholai), Temperate 4 seasons. (Scott), Crepes Kebabs Gallettes Panninis Baguettes. (Elsa), A gypsy kid stole my companions cheeseburger at one of the McDonalds on Rue Ste. A knowledge of Gods love and His involvement and interest in my life. He decided to be baptized. (Matt), Do not bring a lot of stuff with you from the States because you will most likely throw it away and get European clothing, and it makes transferring towns much easier when its light Trust me. So I went with that mindset, and I found that the mission was the most fun that Ive ever had. (Roberto), Spoke out more-even if I wasnt confident in French yet. We were going to take a trip to Spain but decided not to. The sisters where Im from wear black all over! We tried to explain to him that we werent nuns, and he thought that we were sad about it, so he spent 20 minutes reassuring us that someday we could be nuns. (Dennis). More people than I had imagined are in Paris. . France Marseille Mission. Here are LDS-friendly educational videos aboutFrance. (Alex), Language bonus, people skills, being able to carry on a conversation, cooking. A lot more humid than the desert I grew up in. (Nicholai), Layers. They were all so kind and friendly. The people who remember you most are often the companions you serve with so be good to each other. (For sisters) A coat with a hood. Any things you really like about the area/people? No spirit, no success. On Halloween, we decided to show the French what a real Halloween was like. Since we did nothing everyone was a lot nicer to us. (Anna), One of the best things I think I did to prepare for leaving on a mission was spending a month (or less) focusing on each Christ-like attribute. You will be forever blessed in every aspect of your life. Winters do get cold. RussellM. Nelson, opening remarks in Children and Youth: A Face to Face Event with Elder GerritW. Gong, Nov. 17, 2019, broadcasts.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. In a revelation to Joseph Smith the Prophet in 1833, the Lord said, "For it shall come . You can submit your own article, ideas, or feedback at liahona.ChurchofJesusChrist.org. Have faith in God (Bryan), Forget yourself and go to work. The second taught me patience and flexibility. Serve. (Anna), A lady answered the door in a robe and looked directly into my eyes and said, You have beautiful eyes. (Matt), Too many to count. Talked about the gospel without being awkward. (Anonymous), Getting along with your companion is more important than you ever would believe. When he started towards my blue, I got rather defensive, raised my voice, and then he ran away. For many of them, the path that led them to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ wasnt easy, but meeting these people has helped us see how the Lord guides people to find His true gospel. Make sure youre prepared. 188 Countries Receiving Humanitarian Aid (Since 1985) 36,639 Welfare Services Missionaries (Incl. Family unity. (Mariah), Just relax, you dont need to kill yourself to learn the language, it will come with time. The people are nicer than what is portrayed in American media. Just an inch or two of snow, two months of cold, and only a few weeks of hot. Keep your wardrobe practical. (Alex), The ability to speak and teach without having every word written out. Fortitude. Yes. Utah Salt Lake City North Mission. Some times to a fault for preaching the gospel as they only want to worry about themselves and dont need anything else . The quicker you do the faster you will start to have one of the most cherished times of your life. The ability to learn and speak another language. (Merrilyn), Learn how to provide good reasons to believe in God without resorting to Bible/Book of Mormon/Prayer (which are all great ways to learn of God but some/most people need a logical reason to believe in a Higher Power at all. We had to explain to him that we couldnt give him money because we were missionaries and he stopped, thought for a minute, and said, Oh! It didnt usually get too hot except for when the wind blew in from the Sahara. Pretty hot in the summer. The Quebec Mission (later changed to the Canada Montreal Mission) was created in 1972, and by 1974 several French-speaking branches were created. Crepes. John Conway and I took the weekend off and biked up to a mountain village. Wind chill drops the temp 10 degrees and the wind cuts through any clothing you have. If you do, He will frustrate it and show you the right path. (Jeffrey), Immerse yourself in the work. I learned to love a large variety of foods. Heres a recent address for the ParisMission. Bread. Well, us Canadians (me) did not have a clue how wild the American missionaries would be. The same can be said about your companions in the field. I love their architecture, their love of flowers and symmetry, their pride and knowledge of their history, their wisdom growing from their mistakes. I still have a copy of the flyer the police were handing out in my mission scrapbook. Each US mission has languages you are officially called to speak and then other languages that you might be asked to speak regardless of your call. A beautiful family and peace of mind and eternal perspective. Lots of translating opportunities. Throughout our time as missionaries here, we have learned three important truths about missionary work that wed like to share with our fellow missionaries around the world. Make sure you have good, sturdy walking shoes that will last. (Anna), People always told me it would be SO HARD. (Matt), Belfort, Rouen, Villenuve Dascq, Mulhouse, Nivelles (Belgium), and Saint-Omer. But after a few steps, we felt it wasnt right. She knew completely the truth and she whole-heartedly embraced the gospel from day one. (Scott), Organization, being bold, self discipline, diligence, hard work, following the spirit, studying scriptures, working with others. Learn the discussions in English before going to the Mission Training Center then you have a better idea of what you are saying in French. It was pretty funny. Dont buy more than you need. (Stuart), It is humid and moderate. Dont worry about yourself and focus on the Lord and His work you will be happier. Since then, the missionary work has accelerated, and the knowledge of a Savior has reached many French-speaking people in this part of the world. (Anna), Beautiful, mild seasons. I am married with 6 children and currently serve on the High Council and I am still a missionary every day. Then they asked me if they could visit my home because they had a message for me.. Some random guy didnt like that and ran up to my companion and I and threw a punch at me but stopped his swing right before it hit my face. You dont always know what kind of circumstances a missionary is coming from. (Jordan), Riding the bus at night in Mauritius. (Drew), I was on splits the first night of my mission with two elders. A man opened the door in a small robe and when we asked him if he spoke English, he swung the door wide open and revealed a butcher knife in his hand. Go all out! I love how particular they can be, and how they say hello to every person in the room before they sit down. There are so many types of transportation that you have to figure out how and when to use. to LDS Mission Network (LDSMN Official Donation Page) Number of records: Alumni: 3108: . Beautiful. Language. Forget the nylons (if you can get away with it). Click the mission name for a page that indicates the mission (s) that now serve the same area. (Jordan), Finding a family that we were taking a Book of Mormon to whose address we had left at home, hours away. Frequently Asked Questions. I never actually baptized someone the entire 2 years I served. The people outside of Paris seem more friendly to Americans than Parisians do. Keep them affordable, too. Should we turn around? Missionaries: Historical Antecedents and Foundations for Current Church Policies and Institutions Lynn Henrichsen In 1830, just one language --English --was used in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints. (Elsa), The opening of the Bordeaux StakeElder Packer was phenomenal. I cant remember exactly how late it was, but the out of town companionships had to wait until well after dinner time before the trains were even up and running again so they could return home for the night. IMO (Dennis), If you obey, work and communicate openly with your companion, you will be happy. Other franciphone missions are Tahiti, Quebec, Haiti, Switzerland, and temple square. (Mariah), I loved going to Paris. (Dennis), One time some members friends gave us a dozen apples or so just after we visited them. I have a stronger testimony. She was overjoyed when we caught up with her! Tartiflette. John Taylor was one of the first missionaries here, but the church is still young. The temperatures didnt seem all that different than the, Cloudy and rainy. You are assigned to teach in the French language. We were both more than surprised to receive such a mission call. (Doug), Paris is difficult at first but then, it just gets in your bones. That lead to us teaching he and his girlfriend. Africa North (AN), North America (NA), and South America (SA) are abbreviated for concise column and reduction of row height for most rows. Buy French Language LDS Missionary France or Quebec Mission Sweatshirt: Shop top fashion brands Sweatshirts at Amazon.com FREE DELIVERY and Returns possible on eligible purchases Amazon.com: French Language LDS Missionary France or Quebec Mission Sweatshirt : Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry Here are T-shirts for the France ParisMission! (Bryan), Almost knocked out a drunk Irish guy that kept jabbing me in the side trying to start a fight. (Jordan), Pain au chocolat, religiouse; quiche. I learned to listen more than I talk. Almost all of these people are warm and wonderful. basically serving in Nogent was 10 months of a fantastic spiritual experience that has continued ever since. France has over 65 million total inhabitants; Switzerland, nearly 8 million total . I am now a French teacher. (Nicholai), Frites and sauce, Belgian waffles, foufou. Creme Fresh was a staple for missionary cuisine. Especially shoes, coat, umbrella (although the wind will destroy it). I loved learning about the French and African cultures I loved the history and sites everywhere I served. (Matt), Being threatened numerous times and actually being punched in the face. (Stuart), I suffered from debilitating migraines during my mission. Today, more than 59,000 Saints across Spain are "remembering without ceasing [their] work of faith, and labour of love" (1 Thessalonians 1:3). Not only was I blessed with the chance to develop near-native fluency in French during my time serving, but I developed a literary fluency in most of the Romance Languages along the way. I came here as a refugee, says Brother Justin Luala. What blessings did you receive from serving a mission? How to work harder when exhausted. (Jacob), Humid, which intensifies both heat and cold. I also gained a lot of confidence and happiness. So youd have to be prepared for anything over the course of a year. Try to hold out for Soldes for major discounts. She said she was hoping to talk with us more, and what a miracle it was that we just appeared! (Mariah), Had a great companionship study in the morning and really felt the Spirit. (Matt), I called women, men sometimes haha. (Paul), Paris, Vannes, Alencon, La Rochelle, Mantes-la-Jolie, Rennes,and Caen. The claires chocolats there were really good, too. (Douglas), Every baptism was such a spiritual experience. :) Although most Missionaries are American, there are a good number of native french speaking Missionaries as well. Thats what its about Joy in the journey. I learned more during my mission than 25 years of life. We kept working through the crowd, and somehow, up ahead another block or two away was that bright pink. Elder Neil L. Andersen of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and his wife, Sister Kathy Andersen, spoke at the first of six area devotionals . I would not be the same person without that growth. (Mariah), Not many baptisms. When we got there it turned out that the sister missionaries where there as well. Keeping my voice low when talking to someone else. (Alex), Pain au chocolat, baguette, Gouda, boxed soup, Brie. Instead I asked for a bra. Many of them understand English. (Paul), Someone telling me they were literally the devil my first Christmas when we were porting in La Rochelle. Every apartment will have enough. All these things I learned are essential in my present life and future. Cheese. (Michael), It will be the hardest thing you ever do. I love the members and how much they love the missionaries. (Doug), Paris, Versailles, Nantes, Chatiillon, Pau, Tarbes, Bordeaux. and just after a couple months of coming home, Ive secured a great job practicing my mission language while also potentially already planning my career. My DNA be stolen or something? Just when we were starting to talk, she jumped up and ran to the door This is my stop! If not, they are cheap enough where you can buy a few. We were thinking the same thing. How to love all of Gods children. (Jordan), Riding bicycles down the hill from the supermarket with a Christmas tree tied to the back of my companion with her scarf. A language and an extra degree. (Kara), It was a magical place to serve. (Stuart), I wish that I hadnt done things for competitive reasons. (Merrilyn). (Drew), Soak up the Temple experience while at the Mission Training Center as much as possible. (Mariah), Dont wear your clothes to deathjust buy some new suits when the old are worn out and the same goes for your shoes. There are a lot of tourists in Paris, but also a lot of castles and country side outside of Paris. But really, I didnt realize it would be some of the most fun Id ever experienced in my life and so much fulfillment and finding myself. In some towns we tracted in, every single home had roses growing so that the whole city smelled of roses. (Anna), There are two separate cultures in the mission: The city culture and the countryside culture. Utah Salt Lake City Temple Square Mission. So I turned my bleue away and walked around the median just to be safe. (Mariah), Getting city vendors to sell you little souvenirs for really cheap by having two of them competing with each other for your purchase. (Bryan), A strong testimony of the work and of the church. (Paul), Kebab. The Church was legally recognized in October 1968. (Alex), Love the people and enjoy your differences and similarities. I know Christ and his mission on earth. No smoking no drinking NO DRINKING WINE. -awesome!!!! We all spent the day in our apartment, having our meeting there in our living room, followed by a big lunch. In general, weather is nice, except it occasionally snows in the winter and there are occasional heat waves in the summer. Nothing changes the truthfulness of the gospel and Satan will work against you, so fight the battles and win. The members preparing his name for temple work, the bishop emailing me a year after his death to tell me that he had personally done the proxy temple ordinances in Jean-Claudes name. We just kept riding. You will become fluent enough. In the end, the most important part of the letter we both received that day were the words, You are hereby called to serve. We love our assignment in French-speaking Arizona, but most of all, we love participating in the work of the Lord. The mission designs are printed on white shirts and are shipped to you. Powerful tools to collect, organize and share your missionary experiences! French Population. The people are amazing once you get past the front door, they are always excited to be able to help someone after they learn your asking for help and not trying to sell them stuff. (Drew), There are many Africans in France. Well, we started walking one direction out of the station. In my head, I translated tableau as table and went to get one. 7. Very little snow (winter in Orleans). We had a great appointment; he finally started to break his habits and read the scriptures himself afterwards. It was amazing to see someones life lifted up and to receive joy through the Gospel. You will learn sacrifice real fast. (Aaron), I loved teaching my investigator, Marie-line, because she was so sincere. (Merrilyn), I met a woman whom my dad had taught and baptized 20 years earlier and that reinforced the importance of sharing the gospel and strengthening get new members I also now teach French and LOVE the connections I still have in France as I have been able to keep several friendships strong .