Elder Chase Player: "He shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which He commandeth them"

The view of the Eiffel Tower
Bonjour tout le monde! I hope you've all had a fantastic week and are enjoying the beautiful spring weather. This week in Nogent we have had spring weather with rain and sunshine! The Lord has continued to bless us and we have seen many miracles once again. We are preparing for our new mission President coming this July by setting a goal of 125 baptisms in 2 transfers. That's 12 weeks! You might remember that we set a goal of 100 baptisms in 2 transfers when we heard that Elder Oaks was coming last fall. We reached our goal and then some with 115 baptisms Earlier in the year a goal was set for 85 baptisms in 12 week and was also met. Each goal that is set we have been able to reach and this goal will be no different.

This past week we had zone conference with all 4 of the Paris Zones. 125 baptisms was our theme. We have 2 months left and 95 baptisms to go. We learned the principles of faith and prayer and that with obedience and desire we will be able to achieve our goal. President and Soeur Poznanski are amazing and gave us such great information. We've seen that the Lord is going to help us achieve this goal and is preparing people to enter into the waters of baptism...and that leads us to Joe.

Joe is an awesome man about 30 years old who moved to Paris 3 months ago. He was living in Caen, my old zone, when he came into contact with the missionaries. He took all the lessons and then moved to Paris. He was taught once here about 3 months ago and then was in the hospital for 2 months and has not been contacted since. We called him on Sunday and set up a rendez-vous for Wednesday. On Wednesday we arrived at his apartment to teach him and he told us he needed to find his brochures. He pulled out, "True to the Faith, Teachings of Latter Day Prophets, The Bible, The Brochure and the Book of Mormon. We were confused and thought he must be a member. He told us no. We decided to start over with the teachings and answer his questions so we started with the Restoration and watched the video. It was an awesome lesson. The spirit was so strong and so we gave him a date to be baptized. He was so happy and has been waiting for this day to come. We asked him to pray for confirmation and told him we would pray too.

On Friday we had another rendez-vous with him and answered his questions and taught the Plan of Salvation. He loved it and said, "It just makes sense." At the end of the lesson we asked if he had received a confirmation and he said "Yes! I was preparing something to eat and I totally forgot that I was hungry because after I prayed I had a happiness that I can't even describe in words!" He wants to surprise his family because he's the only one that is not a member. He even has a sister in Ghana, Africa on a mission. To say the least it was one of the coolest, most spiritual experiences I've had and to feel the joy of this man's heart as he accepts the gospel was awesome! On Sunday we met him at the Gare to go to church with him and he was in a classy suit, with his iPad ready to go. When we arrived he opened up the Gospel Library app, he'd already downloaded, and asked what number was the opening song! Right before the sacrament one of the Deacons asked him to help pass because they thought he was a member already. I think that sums it up! He's amazing and we are so excited for him!

Another awesome miracle happened while we were doing our weekly planning. We were looking through the Area Book and a name jumped out at us so we called it. The man said we could come and see them and so on Sunday we arrived on the bus to the Rue Bel Air. It was such a cool area with gorgeous homes. At the gate there were 4 kids playing outside and when we asked if their dad was there they invited us to come in. We went in and met the family and started talking as the 4 kids peeked in from the other room to see what was going on. We said they could come join us and they quickly did. We asked how many of the kids were theirs and they said all of them plus 3 others that weren't home. A total of 7 children! Wahoo! We talked to them and they are from Romania and very "believing". It was an awesome moment and we are going back on Tuesday to teach them about the Restoration. From these two examples you can see how the Lord prepares people and never gives us a commandment without helping us. As for our 125 baptisms I know he's prepared a way to accomplish that goal too!

HIGHLIGHTS:

...We helped a member family from Albania last Monday and Tuesday around Paris. Got them checked into their hotel and then back to the Gare the next day. They were so grateful and said that their whole branch prayed for them to have a safe trip and it was coming true!

...Met lots of awesome people porting including a Portuguese family who kept saying, as they were reading the brochure in Portuguese, "That's true!"

...Saw Jean again (The man who put the nail in his head) and he's doing great and says to say "Hi" to all of you!

...Had an exchange with Elder Lloyd...he's awesome!

...Met the kindest family who is here from Tahiti! They are members and some of the best people I've ever met. They are here for the wife to undergo treatment for cancer. They are an amazing example of faith in trails and Christ like love!

That's a wrap for this week. I love all of you and am so grateful for your love and prayers. Have a great week and I'll talk to you on Mother's day!!! :)

Love...
Elder Player