Elder Chase Player: Happy New Year!

Christmas lights by the Gare

Christmas Marche

Bonjour tout le monde! I hope everyone had a great Christmas that was full of family, friends and maybe something French, you never know! This week has been great. Full of many things that I will always remember and a Christmas that I'll never forget!

The week was full of mangez-vous with members for Noel and Christmas contacting and porting. We were able to go out and porte a lot at night and the new contacting method worked great

In our weekly letter to President Poznanski I explained an experience we had on Saturday night. A woman answered the door and quickly said, "I don't believe anymore!" As we started to testify and ask her questions, her heart was softened by the spirit and she became interested. As we kept talking, the children came out and started to listen too. We asked if we could pray and the children said, "Yes!" It was amazing to see how the spirit could touch their hearts and then help them have the desire to learn more. Also, we had the opportunity to sing last night for some families. They even let us in. The power of Christmas songs invites the spirit so fast!

We have been treated like kings during the holidays. The members have fed us well. Christmas Eve started out with lunch at a members named Aurelie. I ate my first raclette, aka french cheeses melted on a burner with an array of meats, potatoes and other things that are good with cheese on it. We had dinner with the Betrand family. Brother Betrand is our Branch President and has an awesome family. We had a spiritual thought, delicious food that started with an onion tarte appetizer, bacon wrapped green beans, lamb, cheese rounds and of course cakes and Buche de Noel. Christmas day was no exception. We ate another raclette, leg of lamb, sausage and more food than I can write about. We were with the Bitanga's, Frere Augey and the Barnjack families. They were all so nice and loaded us up with enough Ferrero Rocher's for the next month. It definitely was different than any other Christmas I've had. It gave us time to see what Christmas is really all about. We all skyped and talked to our families and than, as missionaries, decided that Christmas is all about family and how we are so thankful for the knowledge that families are together forever, even after this life. I'm so grateful for all of you and want you to know how much I love and miss you. You have helped me so much! Thanks for your presents, letters, emails, and cards. I was definitely spoiled this year. I'm so happy to be here in France and to be able to share the gospel and testify of the Birth of Christ. That event has changed all of our lives so much! I hope you all have a great week and a Happy New Year.

Bonne Annee...