Elder Chase Player: Testimonies of Amis and Prophets

Bonjour! Tout Le Monde! I hope you've had a great week and got to enjoy general Conference this past weekend. When conference rolls around each six months it's like little kids on Christmas morning for the missionaries. It was worth the wait and not a let down.! All the messages were so great and I'm so grateful for our leaders and the inspiration they have. As for this week, it was great and still shocks me that it's already Monday again.

Last Monday after P-day we had FHE with the Bitanga family, Romain and Wilfried. The spiritual thought was President Uchtdorf's talk, "Come and Join With Us" from last conference. He tells the story of a couple that asks about the church and all the things that are required by members and finally the couple asks, "So, why are you members of the Church?" That was the question we asked for each of us. "Why are you a member of the Church?" We went around the table and each person expressed their feelings and thoughts and it turned into a testimony meeting. It was so awesome to hear Romain and Wilfried's testimonies. It's amazing to see how the Gospel can change someone's life and bring them so much joy. I'm so grateful for the chance we have to see that change happen in peoples lives.

As the week continued we visited members, new converts and less active members and had some great success with them. We were able to teach the most lessons ever to the less active and new converts. Two of them were able to come to Conference yesterday. We asked members this week to think of a friend they can invite to FHE before Easter. It goes along perfectly with Elder Ballard's talk from yesterday. If everyone will reach out 4 times a year and invite someone to church or to be taught by the missionaries we will see great blessings and an outpouring of his Spirit in our lives! This week we are praying and working with the members to set FHE dates for the next week. One of the things we were asked by President Poznanski was to ask members to pray for a street name that we could port on in their neighborhood and we have seen success there.

It is true, just as President Monson said last conference and emphasized this conference, that "Now is the time for members and missionaries to come together, to work together, to labor in the Lord's vineyard to bring souls unto Him. He has prepared the means for us to share the gospel in a multitude of ways and He will assist us in our labors if we will act in faith to fulfill His work." Over the last few weeks we have worked with members and we have seen miracles. It is when we come together and combine our efforts that we will see lives changed and people brought to Christ. The last week we were able to port a street that Tarolin had prayed about that wasn't far from his house. We met one family that let us in and Saturday afternoon was no different. Each family was so kind to us and encouraged us even when they were not interested. As we ported, we met a man by the name of Christian spoke to us for about 20 minutes at his door. We learned that he had lost his daughter when she was younger and had hatred in his heart against God for taking his daughter. As we talked we asked if he would like to have this feeling taken from him. He said, "yes" and we explained that it's possible by the Atonement of Jesus Christ. He said it is difficult to believe in these things since he is a man of science but he was willing to listen and this week we are super excited to be going back to talk and follow up on the brochure, "The Plan of Salvation" we left with him.

Finally, this weekend was General Conference. It was such an inspiring weekend and full of things to re-charge and give motivation to us to continue to become more like Christ. I hope you all got to see or listen to it and if not take time to because I know that there is a message for you. We were with Wilfried for Conference at Frere Auger's on Saturday might and at the end he said, "That wasn't too bad! I didn't know what to expect and I had so many questions at the beginning but every single one was answered." Wilfried has only been a member for a week and so if he can find answers so can we find answers to the questions we have.

The work here in Rouen is going great and we are continuing to be blessed by the Lord. I'm so grateful to be here with Elder Johnson and still have the goal to have him try some crazy food before I leave, like escargots. We'll see if I can make it happen. Thanks for your love and support and have a great week.

Love you...Elder Player