Monday, March 31, 2014

Wilfried's Baptism!!!

6 missionaries in Rouen!

Creepy Cemetery we got lost in!


Right Before Wilfried's Baptism

Isn't Wilfried a cool looking dude!

  Bonjour!  Tout le monde!  I hope you've all had a great week and if you are in Salt Lake I hope you're enjoying the snow!  This week has been full of running around, exchanges, teaching, Wilfried's baptism and yesterday his confirmation and his receiving the Holy Ghost.  To say the least it has ended on a high note!

Last Monday we met a man named Richard.  The soeurs had found this awesome guy when they were porting and had set up a church tour.  The wanted to meet us at the church on Monday and hand him off. We re-arranged some plans and made it possible.  We arrived at the church at 7 pm and gave Richard a church tour.  He had read some of the Book of Mormon already and had questions.  As we discussed things we asked if he could feel anything.  He just said, "Ya, but I can't describe it."  We explained, "That's the spirit testifying that these things are true!"  We invited him to Wilfried's baptism and he said he'd be there.

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday were full of exchanges.  On Tuesday we left Rouen early in the morning for Mantes la Jolie.  After a lovely 1 hour train ride we arrived, had district meeting and then started exchanges.  I was with Elder Martinez in Rouen.  Elder Martinez is from Utah but lived in Tijuana, Mexico for 7 years.  He has been out for 6 weeks longer than me.  It was an awesome exchange and we taught Wilfried the rest of the commandments, which he accepted.  We visited with 3 members and left spiritual thoughts and then ported and met a man, Stephane, who we can't wait to go and see again this week!  The exchange ended Wednesday afternoon and Elder Johnson found his way back to Rouen.  The next exchange was 24 hours later.  Later that night we met the soeurs for another man they were going to hand off.  We waited at the bus stop and when he arrived he had a friend with him.  We took them on a church tour. The friend is not interested but hopefully we'll be able to see the other man again this week.  We went to visit Ezechias, who is doing great! and then went to see Tarolin.  We had asked him to pray for the name of a street for us to port and he had.  We went off putting our flyers in the mailboxes expaining we would be back in a few days.  With time to port one more house we saw a mother and a child in a kitchen and knocked. She said, "Entrez/Come in!"  We were rather shocked since this doesn't happen very often and we hadn't even said why we were there.  We told her we were there to talk about the Resurrection of Christ and she again said come in.  We entered and talked about eternal families and asked if she had time to talk to us. She said, "Yes!"  This was really unusual as it was in a "well-to-do" area and during dinner time.  I literally said out loud, "WOW!"  We pulled a brochure out and started talking.  We asked if we could pray and come back but the father arrived home then and sadly said no.  We will pass back this week to give them a DVD and hope for more.

Thursday morning we hopped on a train and went to the small village of Pavilly to see Pascal and had a great rendez-vous.  We hurried back and met the Elders of Mantes again to start our second exchange.  This time I went to Mantes and worked with Elder Wallace.  We had an awesome exchange and Elder Wallace is great.

Friday morning we caught the train back to Rouen and helped a member move some furniture.  We were spoiled again at the Warenghiens and ate delicious salmon quiche, pepper chicken, green beans, bread and cheese with mini eclaires for dessert.  Sister Warenghien loaded up a plate of eclaires to take home for later!:)

Saturday was full of preparing for the baptism.  It went great and Wilfried was so happy!  Elder Johnson was able to baptize him.  The baptism was right before a Relief Society activity so a lot of the members were there to support him.  As he came up out of the water he had the biggest smile on his face that continued through Sunday.  He had bought a new suit, shirt, tie and shoes and was looking really sharp.  After the baptism we had a few refreshments and even Richard had come.  Wilfried and Richard started talking and walked home together because they live close.  Later Wilfried told us that he knows Richard from soccer and they were talking on the way home and some of Richard's concerns were the same as his.  He told him how he had found such peace and answers in the church.  (He's already doing missionary work and wasn't even confirmed yet!)

Sunday continued to be an awesome day and confirmed my testimony of how the gift of the Holy Ghost is real.  Wilfried was so happy and had such a light in his eyes.  Tonight we will go for a FHE with Wilfried, Romain and the Bitanga family.  We can't wait.  On top of all of that we did a pass back of a family we met last Sunday. As we knocked a man said, "I'll be right out."  As we talked about the Book of Mormon we found out he had met with missionaries 10 years ago and he knew a lot and was still interested.  He is now married and has a family.  We set a rendez-vous for later this week and I can't wait to teach Aurelien and his family.

We have been so blessed and thank all of you for your prayers.  The Lord's work is "Hastening" and I'm so grateful to be a part of it here in France!  I hope you all have a great week and have the opportunity to watch General Conference this weekend.  I know there is something for every person who watches and listens with an open heart and a desire to learn.  I love you all so much.  Until next week...

Love, Elder Player
Wilfried and the Bitanga's
right after his confirmation!
The font in Rouen...it's huge!





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