I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go: There's ALWAYS a Silver Lining

Joyeux Thanksgiving!

I got my Thanksgiving package, and wow! Thank you soooo much, it is amazing! I am so excited to eat all of that. Honestly, we had one of the packages of potatoes that day because I couldn't help it. It was heavenly! The potatoes here are ok, but they aren't Idahoans! I'm super pumped for the other packages haha, that will be way fun! I have enough extra room in my luggage by now to not have to worry about carrying it all if I get transferred. That's what happens by the time you leave your first ville haha. Without the Christmas stuff I could probably travel with just my 2 suitcases and the carry-on packed inside the big bag.

So I'll have to be honest with you, this week was harder than last week. We had kind of a rough leçon with Marian, but we figured we could still salvage it and schedule a later leçon. Then I was on exchanges in Nancy with my ZL Elder Pilling. We had some sketchy leçons, including one when their ami was totally drunk. But, the pearl of the exchange was going to be meeting with their ami that was preparing for baptism for this Saturday. The lesson was awesome for the first part, but once we started to teach tithing he flipped. He basically gave us back ALL of his Church reading material and ordered us to get out of his apartment and never come back. So that was a little rough. When we got back to Épinal the next day Elder Hammons (the other ZL) and Elder Stucki had just finished a leçon with Marian. It was almost the same thing. We were able to set up a leçon for tonight to hopefully salvage it, but he basically told them that he was done and didn't want to continue investigating the church. It was not the easiest thing that's happened so far on my mission. But, there are always, ALWAYS silver linings.

This week with the Saitovics was super good. They are all progressing, reading, coming to church, praying, the whole 9 yards. Then on Saturday we had an awesome FHE with them with a family in our branch. Frère Lambin, the dad, bore his testimony about his conversion, then talked about how this was the most wonderful blessing of his life. He basically promised them that he knew they would find happiness here, and inadvertently invited them to be baptized haha. Awesome member! They really felt the Spirit and we are just working on fixing a specific date for right now. But, our lessons with them this week are what helped me make it through. We feel completely at home with that family, and I will probably miss them more than anyone else here, except Elder Stucki haha. I've been their missionary longer than anyone else so far, and we have such a solid relationship. God sends us miracles even in the middle of the storms!

Don't worry too much about the video, if you send it after Thanksgiving I should get it no problem. I believe that Elder Stucki has a Facebook, if you could add him that would be awesome :) Tell Tristan congrats with Mr. RHS! To be honest, I really miss that night haha. It is so cool, and I'm so glad that he did so well. He really is quite an example to others at Rigby High School right now.

I'm so excited to spend Christmas here! Hopefully I'll be in Épinal for all of Christmas season. Our branch president has big plans for us for Christmas day, and Frère Lambin invited us over for my birthday! We basically just have days off those two days, because we can't do missionary work. We might go caroling haha. The Christmas Marché opens up on Friday, and we think the lights turn on that night as well. I'm so excited! Next week I'll send photos of all of it, including the HUMONGOUS tree in the middle of town.

You guys are all in my prayers! Please don't worry about me too much, it was a tough week but it was also a really good week in a lot of ways. I spent a ton of time on my knees, and I've never felt so comforted before. I've learned a lot about myself this week and I feel like I've become a way better missionary because of it. I love you all, and oh.... Skype one month from today!!! Have a great week, I love you!

Love,

Elder Martin