Stories 4/29/13

Ma famille et mes amis, 

There is so much that happens each and every week! Man I wish I could tell you all that happens! But for this week...I will just share two stories and a thought.:)

Soeur Jenkins and I went out to a beautiful little town this week called Brissac-Quincé, and it was absolutely incredible! There is a really famous chateau there and we hope to go see it sometime! Anyways. We had set up a rendez-vous with a less active man named Fiacre to teach a lesson and to invite him and his non-member wife and daughter to come to church. It was all clear with the follow up, but when we got there, Fiacre ended up being off at work. We were kinda bummed, but then his sweet wife Hélén let us in for a few minutes. We got to talking about her and her family, kinda hoping that Fiacre would come home, but after a few minutes, Hélén said, "Well what do you have planned for a lesson today? Will you teach me?" haha. And of course we said yes! The missionaries had visited before, but we were lucky enough to be the first missionaries who taught Hélén the Restoration. She was really attentive the entire lesson and asked really good questions. The Spirit was so strong, and I can confidently say that it was the most spiritually guiding lesson I have taught since I have been on the mission. Towards the end of the lesson, we introduced the Book of Mormon and explained some of the things we know thanks to the Book of Mormon. We invited her to read and pray to know that it is true, and she said she would do that that night.Then, Hélén asked, "I always wondered what will happen to me when I die. Can you tell me what will happen to me when I die?" We couldnt believe what we were hearing! It was then an incredible opportunity to be able to share a little bit about the Plan of Salvation, invite her to read the pamphlet, and assure her that we can teach her more all about where we came from, why we are here, and where we are going. Wow it was incredible, and such a testimony building experience for me. We are hopefully going to meet with Hélén again later this week or the next.:) 

The next experience I just wanted to quickly share is about church yesterday! It was an incredible experience to sit and feel of the strength of the members here in France. Truly, Zion is found in the hearts of the Saints here. It is such a blessing and an honor to rub shoulders with them. After church yesterday, I tried really hard to go out of my way to talk to some of the members and to get to know them better, and it was incredible to feel the Lord working through me in my conversations, particularly in the language. Although I couldnt get every word, I clearly understood all that each member said and was able to communicate new ideas and compliments back to them. I couldnt believe I was doing that! Now I still have a lot a lot to work on, but it was such a testament to me that the Lord will do all He needs to be done through you when you show your willingness to serve. We just need to try and do all we can,and the Lord will not only make up the rest, but He will empower us to do more. 

This idea of grace and the Lord making up the difference leads me of a talk I have recently been studying called "His Grace Is Sufficient". In this talk, Brad Wilcox talks about the fact that Christ's grace is sufficient to transform us.  He says, "Christ's arrangement with us is similar to a mom providing music lessons for her child. Because mom pays the debt in full; she can turn to the child and ask for something. What is it? Practice! Does the child's practice pay the piano teacher? No. Does the child's practice repay mom for paying the piano teacher? No. Practicing is hoz the child shows appreciation for mom's incredible gift. It is hoz he takes advantage of the amazing opportunity mom is giving him to live his life at a higher level. Mom's joy is found not in getting repaid, but in seeing her gift used-seeing her child improve. And so she continues to call for practice, practice, practice. If the child sees mom's requirement of practice as being overbearing (Gosh, mom, why do I have to practice? None of the other kids need to practice! I'm just going to be a professional basketball player anyway!), perhaps it is because he doesnt yet see with mom's eyes. He doesnt see hoz much better his life could be if he would choose to live on a higher plane. In the same way, because Jesus has paid justice, He can now turn to us and say, 'Follow me", "Keep my commandmandments". If we see His requirements as being way too much to ask (Gosh! None of the other Christians have to pay tithing! None of the other Christians have to go on missions, serve in callings, and do temple work!), maybe it is because we do not yet see through Christ's eyes. We have not yet comprehended what He is trying to make of us."

I love you all with all of my heart. I look up to you and admire the lives you have led, and I am so grateful for the influence and the support you have given me throughout my life. Thank you so much. 

Remember that you can make a difference, wherever you are. Do something to serve someone else, even if it is only through a smile.:) 

I love you, Soeur Laura Lee Judd

News of Vanessa's mission call 4/18/13

Hello President and Sister Poznanski,

We have great news from home, and if possible, we would love it if somehow this message could get passed along to my daughter, Soeur Laura Lee Judd. Her sister, Vanessa, has just received her mission call to Manchester, England speaking Mandarin Chinese! Leaves July 9th. Same mission as her cousin! We are so grateful that we have two daughters serving missions. Thank you for all that you do!

Love, Lourie Rabe and Family

Dear Sister Rabe and Family,

I called your daughter to share this great news. I read your email on the phone to make sure it was your own words. When she heard about the mission call of her sister in such a special mission (with mandarin), she shouted with joy. She is so happy and asked me to tell her sister "CONGRATULATIONS and GOOD LUCK!!!! YOU WILL BE A GREAT MISSIONARY!!! I LOVE YOU!!"

Thank you for sharing your children with the European people. That's wonderful!!! In fact, we were with your daughter 2 days ago for the interview session in Nantes (maybe you saw the pictures on the Facebook page) and I can tell you that she is doing very well. She is so enthusiastic and we shared a very special time together. I felt a special spirit being in her presence which touched my heart so deeply.

And moreover she already speaks incredible French. It is amazing how could it be possible within less than 3 weeks in France?! It seems like our Heavenly Father has really well prepared these young missionaries for this special time when his work is hastening.

Sister Poznanski

Fresh baguettes and cold showers 4/15/13

Ma famille et mes amis!

Cathedral is 2 blocks away.

Well the weeks here are so dang short, but the days still seem like years haha. I am so excited to write y'all!!!! (Yes yes I still speak like a Texan haha You Frenchies will never stop me!!!!!:))

Like always we were insanely busy! Sister Jenkins and I spent a lot a lot of time contacting, and it was crazy! We went porting (that means door knocking haha) in a town outside of Angers on multiple occasions this week, and on the first day we were out there we met this awesome guy named Mattiew. We couldn't go in cause no one else was home, but we ended up teaching a whole lesson on his door step. He thought the Book of Mormon was really cool, so we gave him one, invited him to read it, and took down his information. We were able to give his information to the Elders in our area, and they are gonna go back and teach him later this week.:) Even though us Sisters cant teach him anymore, please still pray for Mattiew! He is the greatest, and I hope and pray he will continue to learn more about the Gospel.

Haha another awesome story this week happened yesterday when we were street contacting on the way to a lesson. I love Asians.:) (that will never change either haha) so naturally I got super excited when we saw a cute little Asian lady walking down the street. We approached her and introduced ourselves but that was about all we were able to get across to her! haha. For the next fifteen minutes after that she talked talked talked about the most random stuff! haha. I could hardly understand a word she said! haha. But we just smiled and agreed with eveything she said...I hope that was ok.:) haha. But randomly in the middle of the conversation she turned to me and asked me to guess how old she is!!!! haha. I had no idea what to say to her, but she danced around the sidewalk until I finally guessed 55 haha. It was the most bizarre experience I have had on the mission.:) haha.

As for our amis...they are doing good! We didn't get the chance to meet with all of them this week, but they are doing well. We had the best lesson with Mika, and we have really really high hopes with her. Please please pray for Mika and specifically that she will find time in the day to pray. Please also pray for Héléne and that she will be able to find time in her schedule to attend church.

We met a lot with recent converts this week, and they are so strong!!! Please pray for Rahel and Anna and Anna Jean that they may continue to progress in their testimonies of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Thank you so much for all of your support and prayers. I love you all so much and appreciate everything that you have done and continue to do for me. I love you with all of my heart.

Her house! (Right above a boulangerie so it smells like
baguette heaven every minute of every day!)

Oh before I forget again....here is my address in Angers: 

Les Soeurs Missionaires

Soeur Laura Lee Judd

31 Rue de la Roë 

49000 Angers

France

You can continue to send stuff to the mission home, and things will get to me guaranteed if you send them there, but i am going to be in Angers for a while longer haha, so feel free to send letters to Angers. (P.S. dad and Jess I got your letters.:) thank you! they were sent to the Elder's house in Angers, so they got to me haha but use this other address the next time)

Thank you so much again for all of your support through prayers and love. I love you all so so much. Continue to serve others every day. You have so much influence and power to change others and to change yourselves as you selflessly serve. Among fresh baguettes and freezing cold showers haha I will strive to do the same.:)

Smile always, smile lots.:) 

Je vous aime beaucoup, Soeur Judd 

First week in France! (Angers) 4/8/13

ma famille et mes amis,

yeah i am in angers and i love it so much. ....except for this stupid keyboard which is in french haha...i cant figure out how to use the upper case button thing or the comma button or the exclamation key haha. just try and imagine all of this email written in exclamation marks cause that is about how i feel right now. OOOOH here is the upper case key tee hee.

so Angers is a huge college town. it is so beautiful here. there is like no garbage or anything on the ground and i can see the sky haha. Yes sister poznanski is from here and i actually met her  parents yesterday at general conference. they are the heart of the ward here.

the work is good here but i have realized that french is freakin hard. haha. all i can really do is approach people and have my companion take over talking haha. i am happy. but this is hard work.

i wanted to tell you a little bit about some of the people we are teaching.

Helen is about 25 years old and is in medical school here in angers. she is so great. she was my first lesson in the field and it was the coolest experience to teach her. i love her so much. we recently taught her the gospel and she was really receptive to that. Chantal is about 60 years old and is a referral from a member of the ward named Natalie. Chantal suffers from extreme anorexia but is really receptive to the truths we teach. she loves talking about prophets and the scriptures. Mika is a young student here studying accounting and spanish. she is from Berundi and is so so smiley. we taught her the apostasy and she loved it. it made sense to her.

We have a couple more people we are working closely with but that is all i have time to write for now. sorry that wasn't very informative haha but please please pray for these three women. they are so special to me and the lord. I love you all so much. remember that you can find someone to serve anytime anywhere. serve with a smile.

Soeur Laura Lee Judd

She has arrived! 4/3/13

To the family of Sister Judd,

Sister Poznanski and I were delighted to welcome your daughter, Sister Laura Lee Judd, into the France Paris mission on 02 Apr 2013. She and her MTC companions were enthusiastic and all arrived in good health. She spent her first day eating some home cooked food, napping, visiting with me, contacting non-members in the heart of Paris, and sharing testimonies in our home. We enjoyed her spirit.

The next morning, after a mission orientation, Sister Judd left for her first assignment to work in the Angers S. area with Sister Jenkins, who will be her trainer. Their apartment is:

Sister Judd with President and Sister Poznanski

Les Missionaires 6, Square Alexandre 1er
Angers, 49 49100
FRA

Any packages or letters you would like to send will reach your missionary at this address.

We feel very privileged to work with your daughter. We also realize the responsibility we share with you to help her continue to grow spiritually as he faithfully performs his duties. May the Lord inspire us all to sustain him in this challenging and exciting assignment. We hope you will join Sister Poznanski and me in praying each day for your daughter, her companion, investigators, and all of us serving in the  France Paris Mission.

All of the new missionaries

A positive, supportive letter from home every week does wonders to sustain a missionary's morale. Proverbs 25:25 states: As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country. If you have any questions, or if we can assist you in any way, please contact us at our office or home.

Sincerely,
Franck Poznanski
President, France Paris Mission