Dear family and friends,
I am so grateful to have two companionships serving her in Blois!!! The work is pushing forward so fast here. Both companionships work very very well together, and we push each other positively. Although it is a little squishy in our apartment sometimes, I love rubbing shoulders with the sisters serving here.:)
My companion's name is Soeur Doyle, and she is from Herriman, Utah. She was actually trained by my second companion, Soeur Anderson, in Angers, so I had met her a couple times before. When I got the news that she was going to be my companion, I couldnt help but smile.:) She is dedicated, hard working, and very inspired. She is exactly what Blois needs right now, and I am so grateful to serve by her side.
The two other sisters serving here are really great too! Soeur Paxton is just starting her last transfer of her mission, and I am learning so much from her. She'll be outta town before we know it! The other sister is actually a visa waiter waiting to go to the Temple Square Mission. She is beautiful!!! and FRENCH! I love speaking with her.:) I am getting such good practice!
Our serious investigators are all progressing. Yesterday the famille Velija came to church and starting singing the hymns for the first time.:) Yesterday we went to their house and watched The Testaments with a member, and it was so uplifting for us all. Selvete, the oldest daughter, is progressing the most. She needs to be reading more, but her desires are so pure and strong. We hope to have a date fixed with her this week. As for the rest of the family, they are learning how to recognise the Spirit. With the language barrier, it is really hard, but we are making headway!!!
We recently starting teaching an old investigator named Nadiha Zarka. Soeur Mangum and I "accidently" knocked on her door a couple weeks ago, and since then she is progressing really fast to baptism. She doesnt have a date yet, but we hope to have one by the end of the week. Saturday night we had a wonderful family home evening with Nadiha at our stake president's house, and yesterday she came to church. We will see her again tomorrow.
Maggy Kerlo is progressing really well, and she attended church for the second time yesterday. She LOVES singing the hymns and is really sensitive to the Spirit. She struggles severely with her health and is hard to schedule with, but she is progressing well. Reading and understanding the Book of Mormon is the hardest thing for her right now. I know that when that testimony comes, Maggy will be baptised. Keep Maggy, especially, in your prayers.
Maria Poletto is progressing really well but, sadly, can only progress so much because she and Chris are not married. She is regularly reading the Book of Mormon, praying, coming to church every week, and she so desires the blessings of the Gospel in her life and in the lives of her children, Axel and Exaucée, but without being married, she cannot make that step. Chris will absolutly not budge on marriage, but we are praying. Maria, in fact, is thinking about moving to Bretagne to live with her mom and sister...and if that were to be the case, she could be baptised. Please keep her in your thoughts and prayers.
Mirian and Jennyfer have been progressing well since their baptism. Mirian loves visiting teaching! and is setting good goals like praying as a family every night. Jennyfer is anxiously sharing her testimony of God with everyone around her and loves teaching lessons with us. She has recently been spending a lot of time with Selvete and Suada Velija, and her support is really strengthening them. The toughest things for both Mirian and Jennyfer, though, is regularly reading out of the Book of Mormon. Truly, like us all, they need to be reading everyday so that they can see their testimonies continue to grow brighter and brighter. Please keep them in your prayers.
I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to serve as a missionary at this time, in this place, at this time. I know this is where the Lord needs me. Take the time to find out where the Lord needs you.
Remember that you can make a difference, wherever you are. Find someone to help, and always always remember to smile.:)
I love you with all of my heart, Soeur Laura Lee Judd
