Every one responded well to our taco salad at Zone Conference. Many told us it tasted just like home. The only leftovers were some olives, chips and salsa and 2 cups of meat out of 19 lbs. We fed 55.
Pres. Schow likened friends (investigators) to the seeds in the parable of the sower. The seed may be good and the soil good but the timing or the circumstances may have an effect. He encouraged the missionaries to keep those on their lists who have not been interested. 3 Nephi 18:32 ….we know not that they will return and repent and come unto me with full purpose of heart.
Sr. Schow spoke of confluences, the Rhône and Saône Rivers in Lyon joining together to make one great river. She likened this to sacred confluences - aligning hearts and keys to access the blessings of unity. Each of us is a necessary tributary. When we bring our spiritual gifts and our searching for Jesus Christ together, we share convincing power through the Holy Ghost.
Interesting new statistics. I don’t know if these are from France or from the Europe Central Area. Over the last 18 months, we have seen 100% increase in friends attending Sacrament Meeting, 18% increase in rétention of new converts, and 400% increase in convert baptisms. Today was the first time we have had attendance over 50 in our little branch without the help of stake or other members visiting. We also were delighted to read of the dedication by Elder Rasband of the new MTC in Kinshasa. We were able to visit there in 2023 when it was a temporary MTC in an apartment complex without a lot of resources because it was relatively new. The Lord is hastening his work. Do we recognize what is happening before our eyes? All we do is pointed towards Jesus Christ.
We are very excited with the call of Bishop Caussé to the apostleship. If, as Elder Bednar surmised, the Church in Africa continues to grow at the same rate it has in the last ten years, then by 2040 the most spoken language in the Church will be French.
I have read of a 25 year study by North Western University in Chicago of 300 super agers. All were over 80 and still had healthy minds and healthy bodies. Although we all know that diet, exercise, lifestyle, smoking, alcohol have an effect on our quality of life, this study found only one commonality among them and it was social, not biological. It was relationships. The better the quality of your relationships, the more likely you were to age well. Social interactions such as joining a club, developing a new hobby, any learning of new things, any mental stimuli, most likely will give you more healthy, active, sharp years. Another study (Harvard) suggests a 5-3-1 approach: interactions with 5 different people each week, nurturing 3 close relationships, and 1 hour of social interaction a day. I guess there are some unique blessings for extroverts (or senior missionaries).
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| Practising the alphorn for a priesthood gathering near the temple in Bern |
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| Decorations for a Halloween party in a museum |
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| November supermoon on the Saône. |
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