"In My Other Life"

Dear Ones, We've just had such a wonderful evening...a baptismal service for Darline, our young adult friend from Haiti. Many members of her new ward came to support and welcome her. And two of our young amis de l'eglise (investigators)..Adil, from Pakistan and Ilana from Brazil...came to the baptism! The missionaries are no longer teaching Adil, but when he came to the Centre looking for us this evening, the elders said we were at the baptism and so so he came to the church. We were touched that he missed us and are happy to be reconnected with him. Ilana is being taught by the Assistants and has been attending Church and Family Home Evening. It makes our day to see her so happy meeting and mingling with the members. She speaks Portugese and French and tries to understand my Frenglish, but language isn't a barrier...we both feel as if we're long lost friends. Although the regular Institute classses ended a week ago, we had fun Family Home Evening this week on goal setting. Each young adult was asked to write down something they wanted to accomplish by the end of summer. Then they were divided into small groups of 3 to share their goals with eachother and decide on one of the goals to convince the others in a To Tell The Truth game. (Thanks for 1950 game shows!) The point was to be as specific as possible and convey sincerity and enthusiasm so as to convince the other young adults of the REAL owner of the summer goal. We had a lot of fun and Elder Jones wrapped up our activity with scriptures and quotes from Preach My Gospel on the importance of worthy, achievable goals...the closing one being 'le but de la vie' in John 17:3. Wednesday evening we went to watch several of our young men who play on a team in a Geneva recreational league. We were particularly supporting a Manuel, a dearly loved, newly baptized member who has 'slipped' from activity lately. The play was fast and agressive on both sides, but our team was whipped 5 to 1 by the Brazilian team. I think we were the first cheerleaders our team had had, so they were all very appreciative. Thursday we sent out at "Cuisine Alerte" to all the young adults to come for a waffle and game night at the Centre. Twently three were able to join us for an impromptu party, including three Americans on a backpacking trip through Europe who heard that food and friends were available. We had four waffle irons going, served up a half dozen rounds, and played ping poong and foosball for hours! A highlight this week was discovering my picture book farmhouse at the top of a forested hill overlooking lake Geneva and the Alps. The couple who own the farmhouse serve lunch and dinner a couple of days a week...cooked on their old cast iron stove and served by the fireplace and lamp light (no electricity). It was so quaint and exactly how I've pictured 'my other life' in my dreams. I'll try to attach a photo, but it doesn't do it justice. Another special moment in the week was going to a rendevous with the sister missionaries to teach Florence, a very spiritual woman from Ghana who loves the Bible and had many questions on eternal families. We are planning to see her at church tomorrow. In fact, we are meeting investigators at four sacrament meetings tomorrow. It will be a full and joyful day. Thank you all for your interest and prayers, and we're always excited to receive your letters. We were so busy with the final classes during the last two week, that we haven't sent a mission update for a while, but we are loving our friendship with the young adults and the missionaries. We'll try to be a little more faithful in recording and sharing our highlights. Love from us both, Elder and Sister Jones

A Testament To The Truth

We'd like to share an wonderful experience related to us by one of the outstanding young elders in the Geneva Mission. It happened in a city south of Lyon France a few weeks ago. Each companionship of missionaries was given the challenge of 20 street contacts which included teaching a principle, bearing testimony of the principle, and inviting the person to act, to do something like read in the scriptures, come to a meeting, etc. It was Sunday evening, the last day of the challenge week. The missionaries had accomplished 19 of the 20 street contacts. It was time to return to their apartment for the evening, but they were determined to finish their commitment. They saw a man on the street, and the proverbial last contact took place. The man invited them to his home, and they taught him the first discussion on the Restoration. At the end,of the discussion the man raised the Book of Mormon in the air and said, "I'm in trouble. If this book is true, then I need to change. If it is false, you missionaries are in trouble." The man happens to be a 40 year old Catholic monk who speaks 5 languages. The elders continued to teach him the missionary lessons. At the conclusion of one of the lessons he turned to the elders and said, "I need to be baptized. What do I need to do to prepare?" As the missionaries went through the check list, the man responded, "I understand that; yes, I am doing that. This principle I don't understand; please explain it further." They continued to teach and to testify to him. At another lesson as the elders invited him to read several scriptures, he said, "Yes, I'm familiar with that scripture, and that one." Then, all of a sudden, he exclaimed, "Oh, now I see. Now it makes sense. I see how these scriptures all point to Christ and Our Eternal Father's plan." He then invited the elders to come to the monastery and teach his fellow monks. Four elders enjoyed a morning of teaching, each sitting at a table with three or four monks to tell them of the Restoration and Plan of Salvation. The monks were impressed, but they became concerned that their friend had expressed a desire to be baptized and leave the monastery. The Catholic monk was baptized Saturday, Feb 28, 2009. Being a sincere seeker of truth, he rejoices in his new clarity of understanding that enables him to be a true disciple of Christ.

Work Hard, Play Hard

Sunday was our ward conference and we had a number of young adult visitors who stayed for the full block and enjoyed the spirit. We met a young man from Pakistan and he also came to family home evening last night. Dad had a long visit with him about the Proclamation on the Family, and he took part in our fhe activity of taking a Mormon ad, looking up the associated scripture and sharing the principle and application with the group. We also had two girls from Mongolia who were converted here, a young girl from Bolivia, and a young girl and recently baptised young man from Peru participate. So, we're growing!

I can't remember if we mentioned our medical legality trip to Lyon last week. Wish I had time to be more descriptive, but it kindof reminded me of intake procedures at the camps for the Jews during WWII I've read about...blood tests, chest x-rays, substance use and pregnancies questions. We were in some kind of government clinic in an old building by the train station in a huge sprawling city of wall to wall apartment buildings. The new senior couple is being asked to go to Lyon (two hours each way plus toll roads) to help at the Institute twice a week, so we will be happily staying in Geneva.

We'll be going to the young adult ball at Yverdon on Friday night with our group from Geneva and then we have a young adult temple trip to Bern planned for Saturday the 28th. We even had some non members sign up to go, so Dad and I are picturing a question and answer time in the temple foyer with them. Dad is off to High Council tonight and I'm looking forward to teaching the New Testament class. It's fun to be able to really talk about the gospel. At district meeting this morning I felt inspired to try harder with the French language. I read a little every day, but Dad and I probably need to have "French only" periods every day, so I'm forced to communicate. I'll have a little breakthrough, and then a nose dive in comprehension and courage. I was a total Pollyanna to envision myself with any degree of fluency. But...it's still great to be a missionary and I love helping the elders and sisters and meeting new members and investigators from all over the world. And it's amazing how Christian's experiences in Carlsbad are blessing our efforts here.

Thank you for your e-mails...they're really a boost for us.

Sunday was our first fast day in Geneva. We were asked to give the prayers in Sacrament meeting. I about froze, but tried and felt like a little girl with several kind smiles and loving arms around me after the meeting. Later in the evening we met with President Bonny of the Geneva Stake and President Peterson of the Mission on the Outreach Center and I was asked to pray again. There is no hiding...just the impetus to study and be more faithful. I have many occasions to exercise my faith on the piano and have three new "students"...Daniella, an investigator who speaks in Spanish, Claudia in Portugese, and Laura in French. Yes, thank goodness for thumbs ups, smiles, and hugs!

"The institute is in downtown Geneva, so it is about a half hour to 45 minute drive Monday through Friday. We have been coming with the couple we are replacing and trying to get our bearings, but after the near death experience last week, we're taking our time. We have mastered the mission home and the church and are feeling a bit more secure getting around day by day. The weather has been fairly cold and rainy today, with an inversion like atmosphere most days. I'ts picturesque, but I can tell it's going to be green and beautiful come Spring. I've heard the flowers are everywhere and beautiful. Some of the senior couples have told us of favorite scenic villages and of course, the Alps, which we hope to see on p-days when it warms up. We've been very busy learning our responsibilities, attending meetings, getting acquainted with the young adults, and trying to learn how to do simple ordinary things like shopping, laundry, using our French cell phone (local calls only), and anticipate legality procedures. This last Friday was zone conference. The emphasis was on increasing member missionary support through a series of six short lessons and the extending of a variety of action commitments that the missionaries will present to familes. Also, President Peterson spoke on improving the sincerity and effectiveness of our personal prayers. I was a motivating day. I was grateful for the preparation to take my anxiety in anticipation of another Sunday to the Lord. I plead to be able to forget my inadequacies and see ways to serve. When I walked in a bit early to RS, I saw a french hymn book and thought maybe I could play some prelude while the teacher and presidency were setting up. They didn't have a pianist and asked me to play. My hands were kindof shaky, but it was a relief to hear the sisters actually sing along, and I made it through all four pieces. Then in ecole de dimanche, I was asked to give the opening prayer. I have no idea what I said, but Dad said the elders gave him the thumbs up, so I guess it was o.k. This week I understood a little bit more...maybe 10%....Keep praying for me. I LOVE YOU."