We are about to Christmas and everything is going full bore here in Angouleme. The branch is gearing up for the annual Christmas party and as of today, we have 30 people coming to the feast and festivities. We are working to bring others and who knows, we might have to put people on our knees to squeeze everyone in. The work is going like a house a fire. We are blessed that the two Elders that are here now will stay together for another 6 weeks. We had 9 amis at church today. I must admit that two of those are our perennial "dry Mormons," but the numbers are up. If we keep this pace up, the dream of our last branch president will come true, as he saw shoots of flowers blooming at the branch.
It was exciting to see families coming to church. One of the amis has a baptism date at the end of January and our Portuguese sister told me today that she knows the message of the restoration is true. All we need to do is get over some hurdles and break out the white clothes and fill the font with warm water. Sandra's (our Portuguese sister) husband-to-be is an inactive member of ten years, but he is back and hugged me today and said when he saw me today he was happy. He said that there is more love between the two of us than his own family. This is what it is all about. It is not about numbers, but the love of Christ being spread by the Gospel message.
I have a wonderful 2nd counselor and will have our 1st counselor next week. Both these brethren are from the branch and will be the leaders when we are gone and the branch will be able to stand on its own two feet. With two prospective priesthood holders coming into the fold, we will be growing the branch and the leadership potential. This is a great blessing the Lord has allowed us to see by asking us to stay here during our entire mission. We love these people and would feel it a blessing to spend the eternities with them in the Kingdom of God. It is a little hard to type while weeping with joy.
If we could only get more of the older couples to realize that there are blessings out in the mission field that they will never experience at home. If I could only get you retired couples to get off the couch and come out here with us, you would struggle, cry, struggle some more, and cry, but in the end the results are well worth it.
We went today to see our shy Sister Adele, and she agreed to come to the Christmas Party. Joanne was holding her hands and whispering, "oui, oui, oui" and she then said yes as she saw pure love in Joanne's face. These blessing wouldn't have come if we stayed at home. The souls of these people are precious in the sight of the Lord and He needs someone out here to reach out to them for Him.
Now for my latest French experience. You have all heard the expression, "That is as exciting as watching paint dry." Well, in France, that is an occupation. French federal highway officials do exactly that. Every year, just like at home, the lines along the highways and bye ways get dim with the weather's toll. Well, here in France the nation has not heard of the fast drying paint that we use in the States, so you will see men out on the streets and highways, painting the lines back on the roads by hand or by machine. Ah, you think it ends there, but it doesn't. A group of gaily green clothed men then set up cones along the newly painted area and sit or stand and wait until the paint is dry. The painting truck stops and waits also. One of the men, who must be the supervisor, gets down and tests the paint. When he is satisfied that all is well, he gives the signal for the cones to be taken away and the truck to paint the next 50 meters.
We came upon two men that had painted a line of about 10 meters at an intersection. The truck was blocking off one end of the line and a cone was place on the other side. One of the men must have been a new supervisor because he did not have the sophistication of the others we had seen. Instead of kneeling down and gazing at the paint and then using his index finger to test the paint, this one used his foot to test it. How barbaric can someone be? This testing paint is as important as tasting wine or cheese with a discerning palate and to use the sole of your boot is just uncouth. Only in France can the waiting for paint to dry be such a national obsession. Well, that's all for this week. Keep and enjoy your faith in Jesus. We love you all and our prayers are with you. We feel yours for us. Thank you.
Elder Dad
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