Elder Chase Player: L'espirit de Noel est dans l'air!

The Spirit of Christmas is in the air!

Salut tout le monde! I hope you are having a great morning and a start to a great week! This past week has been awesome and the Christmas Spirit is in the air! It's the end of another transfer here. (it was only a 4 week transfer and this time it will be 8 weeks with the holidays) We got news on Saturday and found out that Elder Gram is off to Paris, I'll be staying in Nancy and my new companion is from Dallas, Texas, Elder Velazquez. This Wednesday will make for a lot of changes but we are excited and I'm grateful for the experiences Elder Gram and I have had together over the last 4 months.

This past week we were able to go to the Christmas capital of Europe, Strasbourg and do an exchange with a companionship there. I was with Elder Davis and we worked together Thursday and Friday and saw some amazing things happen. Everyone during this time of year is more open and when we sing for them most will listen. In Nancy it was the weekend of St. Nicolas, which is based on a legend, and is a big deal. It includes two days of parades, a huge fireworks show with videos that tell the legend and several other events throughout the day. To say the least, there were plenty of people to contact and we were able to see the fireworks with some members and eat with them after It was amazing and everyone was happy that the Christmas season has arrived.

We were able to teach some new people this week. About two months ago a man contacted us and asked us where out church was. We told him but hadn't heard anything more from him but we were able to fix a rendez-vous with him and taught him on Tuesday. Srdjan is from Serbia so the language was difficult but we could communicate a little bit in french. With pictures and the help of technology we were able to teach a lesson and invite him to church on Sunday. As the third hour started there was still no sign of him and he wasn't answering his phone. Just as our last meeting started who should walk in...Srdjan. We were so happy to see him. He apologized and said he got confused with the buses but hoped he could still come for some of it. He was there for Fast and Testimony meeting and the Sacrament and after we were able to teach him with a young man in the ward. He asked if his baptism would be next week and we said "no" but how about when you are ready and he accepted! So cool!

On Tuesday we received a call from a member of a different ward who wanted to give us a referral of a friend living in Nancy. We took the name and were told it was a single father with three children. The week was busy but we wanted to stop by before the week ended. Finally on Sunday night we went to his apartment and met him just before they were about to leave. His name is Luis and his three children are 11, 9 and 6, He invited us in and we were able to get to know him and explain why we were there. We found out that his wife died about 5 months ago and now he is left alone with their three children. We testified of how families could be together forever and thanks to temples and the ability to be sealed he could be with his wife again. It was so cool and the spirit was telling him it was so. We were able to finish by singing for him and the children and we are going back this Friday to teach him again. They are originally from Mexico and Elder Velazquez, my new companion, will be able to speak spanish with them, even though they speak perfect french and english. It testifies to me that transfers are inspired. I can't wait to see this family progress and see how the gospel changes their lives.

It was a great week and we are continually being blessed here. I can't wait for the things we have set up for this week. We have our huge ward Christmas party this coming weekend which we are looking forward to as well. Know how much I love all of you and have a great week!

Love...
Elder Player