There was also this ptisserie near the Asniere sur Seine gare that had the worlds greatest beignets. (Nicholai), Be more outgoing and less afraid of making mistakes. We were encouraging our amie to stop smoking and thought we were saying it would be more pleasant for her husband kissing her if she stopped. Just trust in the Lord. (Douglas), Everybody kept telling me that a mission would be so difficult, hard work, lots of rejection and stress. Keep it going! A big reason that I memorized the discussions so quickly and taught so many shallow street lessons was to be better than others. But Cantonese was the hardest. (Bryan), Almost knocked out a drunk Irish guy that kept jabbing me in the side trying to start a fight. Make sure you have a mechanism by which they can attach together in case you need to book it across train stations! They do provide sheets, but I suggest bringing your own haha. I used both languages every day of my mission, but it was several months in the field before I was comfortable with any one language, let alone both. Organized on 18-Jun-1850 It took a lot of determination, but I felt like it also grew our excitement in learning the language. In the missionary training center, we learned the Tahitian language for six weeks and then tried to learn French for the next six weeks while trying not to forget everything we were taught in Tahitian. Having memorized the discussions in Finnish made it much easier for me to learn the small talk once I arrived in Helsinki. (Scott), This happened twice on mission. My experience was a positive one for me. Members are helpful. I love how particular they can be, and how they say hello to every person in the room before they sit down. (Matt), My family has grown much stronger together! (Zakarias), Our mission is the highest baptizing mission in Europe (except Cabo Verde), and also happens to be the best in the entire world! We do them ourselves using buses, metros and trains. (Jeffrey), A warm coat for winter that can withstand wind and rain. Scott Hinrichs of North Ogden served in the Norway Oslo Mission, 19801982, Norwegian speaking. (Douglas), We joked with a Jewish man on the street, and told him that he should join us in another town for church on Sunday. I think that I knew about two words of Spanish before I entered the missionary training center, and then the fact that I could walk away two months later speaking rudimentary Spanish to me is miraculous. The quicker you do the faster you will start to have one of the most cherished times of your life. Like when someone disses someone and you say Burn! well I said Brul (burn) and found out that doesnt work too well. Thankfully, this work isnt ours. I loved the people and the area. We waited for the train going the other direction and it must have been 30-40 minutes later that we got off at her stop. If I hadnt diligently studied at the missionary training center, I would have struggled more than I did when I first hopped into the mission. My grammar became worse because of the foreign language, but I learned to explain basic concepts and then building up to more complex concepts as a missionary. The people are amazing once you get past the front door, they are always excited to be able to help someone after they learn your asking for help and not trying to sell them stuff. We all spent the day in our apartment, having our meeting there in our living room, followed by a big lunch. We spoke French to her and she repeated it all in Russian. One evening, while teaching a man in his home (or listening while my companion taught him), I had a faith-building experience that gave me confidence with the language moving forward. There was no dictionary available for us at the missionary training center. The second taught me patience and flexibility. (Nicholai), Finding Jean-Claude at a bus station and seeing his life change in just 3 weeks. Richard Berlie Wright of Orangevale, California, served in the Switzerland Zurich Mission, 19751977, German speaking. (Anonymous), I served in an ever changing mission with boundary changes, area closures and much adversity, but I still had a very successful mission serving in 8 different areas, living in 10 different apartments with 15 different companions. Well, us Canadians (me) did not have a clue how wild the American missionaries would be. Connecting Daughters of God with His Priesthood Power, Unlocking the Door to Personal Revelation, Grappling with Unanswered Gospel Questions, How Studying Church History Strengthens My Faith, Do You Have Questions about the Gospel? (Anonymous), Cherbourg, Nogent, Vannes, Sarcelles, St Brieuc, Evreux, Niort, Soissons. (Mariah), Not many baptisms. There are so many types of transportation that you have to figure out how and when to use. Love the people. The language has become a part of me. Many Mormon missionaries are asked to serve in places far from their home where they are required to learn to speak a foreign language. France Bordeaux Mission. He just wanted to help me learn a little more Norwegian. (Chloe), My companion and I were street contacting in Troyes and we were stopped by a woman dressed in a volleyball uniform holding a volleyball with two holding a net. So are the Africans, who tend to be very open spiritually. I dont know if they ever got baptized, but I was definitely prompted to talk to him. French Population. Keep your wardrobe practical. (Anonymous), It gets very hot and very cold. President Luthey and his wife, who had just been released as mission president, were invited to our home in Provo for family home evening. (Drew), Rain in the winter, hot in the summer- especially in Paris. -awesome!!!! Here are several of the experiences, which have been edited for length and clarity. (Zakarias), Kebabs. La Sainte Bible, 1990 edition of the Louis Segond 1910 United Bible Societies version published by the Bible Society of France. I developed a love of linguistics which has indeed carried over into my professional career as a game artist, especially when working in iconography for user-interface design. (Matt), I called women, men sometimes haha. What are some interestingfacts about the ParisMission? I recall joking with them, I guess we know who passed the test! I was also at the LTM over Thanksgiving and Christmas of 1973, which included the funeral of President Harold B. Lee. Learning a new language was not easy. 4 seasons without the extremes you get in the Midwest. The French people are incredible! Yes. The more you pray, study and testify, the stronger your testimony will grow. I didnt find out until 14 years later that the Spirit touched her heart and she knew it was true. Loved eating escargot just so I could tell everyone back home that I ate SNAILS. (Anonymous), Where ever you are called, serve with all your might, mind, and strength. One day while we were speaking to a Norwegian, the man turned to me and said, You should teach your American friend to speak better Norwegian. I still have a copy of the flyer the police were handing out in my mission scrapbook. A bit rainy in the winter but otherwise okay. (Stuart), I learned French! (Jacob), A stronger testimony of the Gospel. Should we turn around? The people outside of Paris seem more friendly to Americans than Parisians do. They were ridiculously good, not really sure why they were so much better tasting than everywhere else, though. Learn the discussions in English before going to the Mission Training Center then you have a better idea of what you are saying in French. The ethnicity is add broad as you will ever find. Marlise Dawn Craig Smurthwaite of Castle Rock, Colorado, served in the Hong Kong Mission, 19981999, Cantonese speaking. That lead to us teaching he and his girlfriend. (Drew), Soak up the Temple experience while at the Mission Training Center as much as possible. (Zakarias), Buying three tickets for Trois from a kiosk in Le Havre. How to be more spiritual. 2017-2020, Paul J. Sorensen 2014-2017, Frdric Jean Babin 2011-2014, Franck A. Poznanski 2008-2011, Don H. Staheli ( Listen to an interview with the Stahelis) 2005-2008, Steven H. Pond 2002-2005, Lynn Bennion 1999-2002, David W. Madsen 1996-1999, Dennis K. Brown ), how to recognize the Spirit, and much, much more! But my experience in the missionary training center was so positive and I was excited, feeling like I was progressing. It was great. Camembert & Brie. (Mariah), I loved going to Paris. (Zakarias), Its like regular mainland European weather- we have both a lot of rain and sun. You will learn sacrifice real fast. I tended to remember all the unusual words that no one else could remember. (Jordan), More confidence in myself. We are members of THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF THE BLOODY LAST DAYS. We were able to set the stage for the visitor center, the temple, and new branches and stakes. (Doug), Getting stuck in metro doors. (Jeffrey), Kebabs, crpes, coquilles St Jacques. Seeing ancient castles and cathedrals and buildings blew my mind!! (Stuart), Crpe, Burrito Fte, Donner Kebab, Brioche, Galette Brtonne, Crme Frache Pizza. (Jordan), It rains a lot in France! We were walking home from the train to our apartment and a drunk guy threw a glass bottle at us that narrowly missed us. There was one coveted language tool, an out-of-print Kiribati-English dictionary that could only be obtained from being transferred to a remote outer island and asking one of the schools there for one, but even that was full of outdated words that no longer existed in the modern language. Get a good,lightweight jacket thatll keep you warm and dry. As of July 2022, there are 410 missions in the church. Either how they got to France, how they found their faith/the Missionaries, some people were alive during WWII, etc. (Aaron), I loved teaching my investigator, Marie-line, because she was so sincere. (Doug), Tamil riot near La Chapelle that we had to cross in order to get home. (Valan), Never snowed. (Aaron), Resilience, hard work, language, friendship. I felt like I was excelling in the technical aspects of Norwegian, but I still felt very foreign. Due to a gift of being able to memorize and another gift of stubborn persistence, I was able to pass off all of the discussions in Norwegian during my time at the missionary training center, a feat that I was told was unusual. I served in the Madagascar Antananarivo mission. (Michael), In Meaux, a Sunday School instructor asked me to get a tableau. The ability to speak to strangers and to do hard things. I didnt feel overwhelmed until I got out in the field. Both times we helped those people feel the love of God and ultimately stopped the suicide. (Jacob), We had an investigator who was searching for something better in life. (Scott), Organization, being bold, self discipline, diligence, hard work, following the spirit, studying scriptures, working with others. The Knight-Mangum Hall, located on the southeast part of the Brigham Young University campus, served as a womens dormitory until it became the central office for the Language Training Mission on June 16, 1963. 8 Months. The honeymoon might last a bit longer (a year or two) but if your partner or yourself are not grounded in the gospel, some rough, exciting, sad times are ahead of you. I was thinking, what are we doing?! Many of the things I learned from trying to get the award helped me to understand the gospel better. It was a good preparation for heading to Argentina, where it took me an additional two months to actually speak to the natives fluently enough for them to understand me. Buy French Language LDS Missionary France or Quebec Mission Sweatshirt: Shop top fashion brands Sweatshirts at Amazon.com FREE DELIVERY and Returns possible on eligible purchases Amazon.com: French Language LDS Missionary France or Quebec Mission Sweatshirt : Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry During the time I was there we were able to get exercise playing soccer and basketball. For many of them, the path that led them to the restored gospel of Jesus Christ wasn't easy, but meeting these people has helped us see how the Lord guides people to find His true gospel. It snowed in Paris the winter I served in the mission office and I may have thrown a snowball at a member of President Bennions family. (Paul), Some kids were throwing dirt clods at an old man and we told them to stop. (Merrilyn). Buy French Language LDS Missionary France or Quebec Mission Pullover Hoodie: Shop top fashion brands Hoodies at Amazon.com FREE DELIVERY and Returns possible on eligible purchases Amazon.com: French Language LDS Missionary France or Quebec Mission Pullover Hoodie : Clothing, Shoes & Jewelry Kebab. They are excellent cooks as expected. I returned to my first city nearly a year after I entered the mission and trained a brand new missionary there. The missionaries stayed in a large pink house just off campus. (Anna), Lapin la moutarde, fraisiers, quiche, poulet aux arachides Africain. (Matt), Being threatened numerous times and actually being punched in the face. The weather felt extreme (but its really pretty moderate) but only because of the humidity. Upon entering the LTM and in attempting to speak only Finnish, all my high school German came flooding into the vacuum of my mind. Photo provided by the Provo Missionary Training Center. Even though I am home now, I still use my Spanish almost every day and am still learning. (Drew), Shoes: buy for comfort, support, and durability, NEVER for fashion. What was the worst thing that could happen? As missionaries, we seek to invite others to come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel.1 And as French-speaking missionaries serving in Arizona, weve found that our missionary work has also presented us with unique, diverse, challenging, and culturally vibrant experiences. We made it clear that us sisters were missionaries and why we were here. The members are awesome. (Michael), Bread. At times I was talking to the people next to me on the plane, not realizing I was speaking to them in Spanish. (Doug), Congratulated a person for having been robbed. I trained Elder Jeffs. I spent most of my time talking to the young children and toddlers in the branch. (Dennis), We were almost missing a train, so I started to drive with my best Italian style..It was quite dangerous because people dont seem to follow Italian streets rules. If you do, He will frustrate it and show you the right path. You will see European clothes and want to change. (Jordan), Finding a family that we were taking a Book of Mormon to whose address we had left at home, hours away. Rainy springs. (Kara), It was a magical place to serve. Have faith in God (Bryan), Forget yourself and go to work. I wish I wasnt so self-conscious about not speaking French. Fortitude. When we opened our call letters and read our unique assignment, we never could have imagined the obstacles we would face in the mission field. It served as a residence hall and classroom primarily for German-speaking missionaries until August 1976. This is the caption information found on the frame plaque accompanying this photo, one of nearly a dozen historical photos showing the development of the Language Training Mission and Missionary Training Center facilities in Provo since the 1960s. Write your testimony in copies of the Book of Mormon that you distribute. American baggy clothes stick out like a sore thumb. Were His people, engaged together in His holy work.3. This came in handy because once in the mission, you were practically immersed in the language. Gospel Library mobile app. Cant remember the name of the main cheese I loved. Create an account to follow your favorite communities and start taking part in conversations. So much time immersed in the scriptures, I got to know them so much better 2. (Michael), Anytime you get to pray with someone or bear your testimony of the Savior is an incredibly spiritual experience! Pack light. No spirit, no success. [1] By country/territory [ edit] List of missions within each country, territory or dependency. The ones Ive found stateside just arent the same. Winters do get cold. And those talents are specifically required for the people you teach. (Jeffrey), Have a young punk kid saying ta mre and I laughed back at him because I realized he had just said youre mom which doesnt translate as a bad word into English. [4] The Church claims a membership of about 38,000 in the country, representing less than 0.1% of the population. Make sure youre prepared. (Nicholai), I had 4 Mission PresidentsI only officially met 2 of them. Try to remember the quality of the people represent more than the quantity of numbers you have. It was a dangerous part of town, but we were just going to the train. A few of the members had a chuckle. After retirement, I finished my lengthy French academics and received a bachelors degree in French in 2014. I cant remember exactly how late it was, but the out of town companionships had to wait until well after dinner time before the trains were even up and running again so they could return home for the night. How to keep pushing past hard times. (Stuart), It is humid and moderate. You dont always know what kind of circumstances a missionary is coming from. When I got to Chile, there was still much to learn, but after four short months I was able to get more solid understanding of the language. I even introduced my wife to them on our honeymoon in Paris five years after returning home. I remember my first day thinking, I am never going to get this. After about two months, it clicked. He then chased us out of the building with said knife. You prayed that we would have a fruitful evening! The Lord answers prayers! (Chloe), Western European oceanic climate. That ended my first porting experience and the Elders bought me my first French pastry. She was overjoyed when we caught up with her! Layers. In preparing my missionary application, I recall taking a test to test my ability to learn a foreign language. Later missionaries entered Quebec City where a branch was organized in 1969. But throughout the course of our service, the Spirit has confirmed to us that we are exactly where the Lord needs us to be and that He will magnify our efforts to accomplish His will here in this corner of the earth. (Bryan), Cold wet winters. I could tell immediately that he was not interested, so we tried to go the other way, but he followed us. The first was humbling because he showed me that I was arrogant and inflexible. It was a surprise for me to meet American people who speak French. The Language Training Mission began with the initial filing process to serve a mission. Ha Ha I had no idea how to lead music. Whether we are full-time missionaries or not, no matter where were from or what language we speak, we can all invite others to come unto Christ and partake of the joy that can only be found in His gospel. Dont contend with them, but always be able to inform them where they can readily find accurate information and that youre always happy to teach them more about the Church and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It took some good companions to fix that. In the evening that same day we were in a remote location far from the center and knocking doorsguess who opened one of the door we knocked at. (Paul), France felt like home and still does. It was so hard, but the people I met forever changed my life. Nothing changes the truthfulness of the gospel and Satan will work against you, so fight the battles and win. (Jordan), Riding bicycles down the hill from the supermarket with a Christmas tree tied to the back of my companion with her scarf. Love and serve your companion and those you meet. Other franciphone missions are Tahiti, Quebec, Haiti, Switzerland, and temple square. Those young men were us giving him the Book Of Mormon. I love their politeness, manners and gentility. That is the adversary trying to stop you and demotivate you.go into the mission believing you will find those who have been prepared. West Indies Mission is English, French, Dutch and Spanish depending on the islands served on. Missionary Manuals. (Paul), Little to no snow.. humid. One or two probably turned away, but one man was at least curious. I love their appreciation and priority for music and the arts. You dont generally need a large trench coat. Enjoy every day. Luckily, we were able to walk away without to much injury. I smiled kindly and struck up a conversation. So are the Africans! (Valan), Walking in a sketchy city with lots of Arabs and came across a fight in the parking lot. Later missionaries entered Quebec City where a branch was organized in 1969. One of the most amazing miracles is that the two-month learning process is the strongest and solid foundation youll ever build before heading out into the world and preach that language. Talked about the gospel without being awkward. Her brother had just accepted the gospel and told her about the blessings he had received and she wanted to know more. (Elsa), I had three Mission Presidents: President Jones in Paris, Elder Andersen, and President Oveson in Bordeaux. (Roberto), My dad served in the Franco-Belge Mission 20 years earlier. Then he tried to get between us. (Alex), Layer! It was awesome to see her progress, her maturity in the gospel, and how the Gospel filled her life with joy. There's also Cote d'Ivoire, and Belgium. (Paul), A new perspective on life. Having learned a foreign language gave me confidence that I was smart enough to do well in college. A new missionary in my apartments that had only been out a month or two was having a conversation with a cashier and another American that had been in Hong Kong studying the language for four years and still couldnt speak the language. Learning the German language in eight weeks was difficultespecially as a new convert and trying to learn about the Churchs culture at the same time. This led me in Patience to realize that, Have a good attitude. Dont worry about yourself and focus on the Lord and His work you will be happier. Go all out! To name two, I was blessed to learn to love people, even though I dont directly benefit in any temporal way from those people. Again, the next transfer took me to Pietarsaari (Jakobstad), where I spent the last four months of my mission. I was in the Mexico Missionary Training Center for six weeks. (Valan), People skills. Something incredible happens when you are doing something for the interest of other people and not just yourself. Courage, empathy, being able to work hard. So I went with that mindset, and I found that the mission was the most fun that Ive ever had. (Matt), How to find the good in others, studying for a couple hours at a time, and not being afraid to open my mouth. (Kara), Fresh bread and chocolate. The other blessings were from the ways I grew on my mission. My advice is to rely with all your heart on the Lord and you will make it. (Anonymous), Perseverance. I love the cosmopolitan, international nature of the cities there, meeting people from every nation, all working together. Jeff Rowland of West Jordan served in the Philippines Ilagan Mission (now called the Cuauyan Mission), 19901992, Tagalog speaking. (Douglas), Someone stopped me on the street and started asking about us. Lardons & crime fraiche with pasta. Contributed ByChristine Rappleye, Deseret News. Photo provided by the Provo Missionary Training Center. The beauty of the mission is going to teach you how to rely on the Spirit which will force you to learn talents as you go! (Merrilyn), Learned a new language. We were required to take a test at the Institute of Religion on the campus of University of Southern California in Los Angeles. (Anonymous), Missing the last bus, attempting to hitch hike back home. (Mariah), Moderate. I love you, and so does the Lord. (Mariah), I had the opportunity to go back to a previous area and be apart of a baptism for a person I had worked with for 6 months. I was also blessed to learn how to set goals and work toward those goals. It was exhausting. When I received my call to serve in Norway, I quickly discovered that I would be speaking Norwegian, a language about which I knew nothing. There are places in the world where the missionaries, even in their humble circumstances, are wealthier than the people they serve: dont insult them and embarrass yourself by over-dressing. My buddies ended up going to the Rockford Illinois Mission and England. Have someone coach you on pronunciation, intonation, and pauses as you read. (Alex), Force yourself to learn the language, talk to people, talk to your companion. (Aaron), Communication skills, teaching skills (especially listening! (Scott), When I was serving in Belgium, we were walking with our recent convert to his house when he ran in front of us and mooned us hahaha. We were knocking doors, a little girl opened the door. Here Are Five Ways to Find Answers, Helping Loved Ones Face Questions and Doubts about Faith. The mission designs are printed on white shirts and are shipped to you. The missionary training center president led with humor and spirit. Creme Fresh was a staple for missionary cuisine. Well, Sunday came, and he showed up in a three-piece suit looking like he was a groom! (Elsa), The opening of the Bordeaux StakeElder Packer was phenomenal. (Michael), It will be the hardest thing you ever do. The Gym is in the Training Building of the old Brigham Young Academy campus, located between 500 and 600 North on the east side of University Avenue. This is the caption information found on the frame plaque accompanying this photo, one of nearly a dozen historical photos showing the development of the Language Training Mission and Missionary Training Center facilities in Provo since the 1960s. It only improved in from that moment on. (Valan), They seem cold at first, but once they warm up to you they are super friendly. And now, I dont want to ever lose the language ability, because it is a part of my testimony of how the Lord can do miracles with our willingness, desire, efforts, and trust in Him! But when I got to France they used cheese on everything and I started eating it and could not believe how much I loved it. The training and principles I learned from the missionary training center truly assisted me to speak to investigators in many aspects. The Allen Hall served as another residence for missionaries. (Matt), Having my last lesson on my mission where our golden investigator told us a story where he met 2 young men in white shirts and ties that gave him a book that forever changed his life and his families. We also were supposed to memorize dozens of scriptures that went along with the discussions that we were learning. A knowledge of Gods love and His involvement and interest in my life. It was very embarrassing. Ah well. A very patient clerk helped me struggle through the process. Hot summers (Anonymous), Wet and cold most of the year and hot and humid in the summer. (Doug), Good sturdy yet lightweight luggage. After three days in the missionary training center one could basically introduce yourself. (Nicholai), Friends, family, French Every good thing that has happened to me ever since. I did not have the gift of tongues from the get go, but I learned to accept myself for mistakes. (Doug), Paris, Versailles, Nantes, Chatiillon, Pau, Tarbes, Bordeaux. (Paul), Youre girlfriend will NOT wait for you. Since we did nothing everyone was a lot nicer to us. I understood where the true gift of tongues originated. Study skills. The church and the work of the restoration will go forward and we can be a part if we choose. She made us repeat phrases in unison until we said them correctly. Lots of translating opportunities. If you had the right gear, it was magical. (Kara), First French stake formed in 1975. (Anna), Living & spending all your time with many different types of companions. The other three came shortly thereafter. (Stuart), In the Spring of 2003 I was serving in Northwest Paris. We used a translator. Bring athletic clothes because the people love soccer. The cities are full of people from every country imaginable. But it doesnt take much time to catch up and understand. My score on the common language test was pretty high. I learned to love a large variety of foods. (Stuart), Well I had a French companion and I was joking and said your mom to him in french but in french that means a super bad word haha so be careful with your translations haha. (Chloe), I wish I was more dedicated in obtaining the Ammon Award. I consider the mission and language learning experience to be among the richest I have ever had. (Jeffrey), French speaking and knowing how to act professionally in a setting. But I continue to regularly study scriptures in Norwegian.
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