So we didn't get enough time at the church yesterday, my companion got none in fact i was the only one who had time, so we came by a internet cafe to email a bit more for them. So I decided to send a short note.
We have mission conference on wednesday which will be a lot of fun. Except that we have to wake up at like 5 so we can get ready and be on the bus at 6:15 to get to the gare for our train to Paris that leaves at like 7 or something. But the good news is, I will get to see Elder Ellsworth and Elder Lee there along with the rest of the Elders in the mission. Which will be way cool. Elder Ellsworth actually called me on thursday I think and we talked for a bit, we are both excited to see eachother again so that will be awesome. Also, I will get to go around Paris a bit after conference and probably see the Eifel Tower and maybe Notre Dame. Interesting fact, Notre Dame is actually white. They cleaned it in the past few months and it came up white not grey, so expect some pictures of that one of these days.
All is well here, I am very happy and am throwing myself in the work. It is still slow with the language but I am picking things up pretty quickly. It is nice having another equipe in the apartment to talk to and get advice on the American side, like calling cards and things like that. So that is nice to have.
But it is a lot of fun here and I am glad to be out. It was a hard decision at first and a lot of things came up that I could have just quit and stayed home, but I am glad that I came out. I have no regrets from leaving. I am glad that I don't have emotional baggage back home. School is always in the back of my mind but I don't worry about it. Life will be there when I get back so why should I rush it? I get two years to serve the Lord and live in France, what else could I ask for? Life is good for me now and I just don't want to lose that. Just thought I would let you know that I am enjoying everything and that life is good. Wish you could be here to enjoy it but maybe in two years you can.
Things are really beautiful here and I will try to get more pictures of Angers itself for next week so you can see the things like the Cathedral and the Castle and just the natural things as well.
Love, Elder Sanborn
April 20, 2010
Elder Sanborn emails from Angers France
Bonjour from France and French keyboards, so if you see letters words messed up, it is not me. ok nevermind, I found the english button so it should be fine now.
Anyways, I am loving it here in Anger (Ahn-jay). It is amazing. We have a castle and a large catholic cathedrel in town which are really cool to see. We made it in okay with the volcano and the ones leaving left just in time from what I hear. I am not sure of my address here to be honest, but you seem to know the address since you googled it. It is on a street with a boulangerie/pattiserie right on the corner which is pretty cool.
The trip was good, they fed us a decent dinner and a pretty good breakfast so that wasn't bad. It was just long but I did get to sit by myself which helped my legs. And thanks again for the plane pillow you sent for my birthday, it was amazing. I got all my stuff in my bags which amazed me since before all my books I was under the weight limit by like 15 pounds. Really weird. I got to sleep for a few hours and experienced no jet lag afterwards which was really nice.
So, the first few days. We got off the plane and met the Assistants and president who led us to a car outside for our bags. After our bags were safely delivered we were lead to a large parking building in the airport and were met by the president again with pain du chocolat. They were absolutely amazing. Much better than anything here that is for sure. So then we took a train to downtown paris with the Assistants. I got to talk to a crazy frenchman who gave us a map to heaven. Ya, don't ask me either it was weird. But then we got off and were led to the church where our "moms" were. (The person that takes us out contacting is called our mom). My "mom" is Elder Walter, who "died" (getting ready to go home)last week so he won't be in the mission anymore. Me and him went out with a book of mormon and went contacting for about a half an hour. It wasn't too bad and we placed a pamphlet with a lady from Congo but that was it.
So after that we were led back to the church and the assistants took us to the mission home. We showered, relaxed, ate dinner, and then after a brief testimony meeting we went to bed. The next morning president woke us up at the normal time and we went up to a good breakfast of cold cereal. After that he took us into this office and we watched a short video and then he announced our first areas and our "dads" (trainers). My "dad" is Elder Boudet, yes he is French-the south of France. He is awesome and really good for me. So we then got into cars and drove to a place called Consecration point by the missionaries, Right outside a castle were Louis XIV lived. Which was cool to see. So we went there and got to meet our trainers and take a picture with them, which I will send to you in a different email probably. So then we got to go back to the mission home to get our bags and go off to our areas.
Our first stop was in Paris to get a Pizza Kebab (You will see the picture, basically a cheese pizza covered in tomatoes, lettuce, onions, kebab meat, and some sauce on the side. Really good) and a father/son tie. So we got that then headed off to a train to Angers. Long train ride but when we got there the other two missionaries in Angers, Elder Tom and Williams met us and we drove a bus to the church building. Yes it is an actual building about as big as the seminary wing on the stake center plus the gym. It is nice.
So we went there and had an english class which we hold each wednesday. After that we had a rendez-vous with a young chinese couple who seem very interested. Huai Xi and Lei. They are progressing pretty well so we will see what happens. Then finally after that the DMP (Dirigent de Mission de Paroisse - Ward mission leader) gave us a ride home. He is British and served in France so it was nice to speak english. After that I got to see the apartment and unpack. Long first day. The next day started a normal day with another rendez-vous and some contacting as well as buying my proslyting bag, yes i bought one and i like it. I saw some of the sights and that has been most days. We ride the bus everywhere which is pretty nice. Sunday I had a nice big headache. Got to the ward, which normally has around 80-100 members I think, and I got asked a lot of questions in a language i don't know, so i stayed close to Elder Boudet and let him talk. A lot of members made fun of our name because it sounds both like Sans Borne and Sans Born (withot limits/born) So they liked that. But it is pretty good.
After we had a mangez-vous (lunch appointment) with some members which literally blew my head because of all the French. But I lived. After we went on a nice walk with one of the members and he showed us the cathedrel. We went in while they were having a mass and it was interesting to see/hear. The organ was amazing to hear especially. It was just cool to see how big it was. Haven't gone into the castle yet, but i will. We see it most days.
I didn't write down where everyone is going. But I do remember that Elder Dykstra (the only missionary who was assigned to Belgium mission) is assigned to Brussels. Elder Ellis is going to Brest. And Elder Horne is in a suburb of Paris. But we are pretty much scattered all over. I think Elder Collette went to Normandy. The apartment is small, about the size of our living room and kitchen, maybe smaller. We have a washing machine and dryer in the kitchen, our beds in the main room, and the other two elders closet is our dining room. So it is compact, but I like it that way. First week has been good and tiring. I haven't had a crepe yet but I have had a pizza kebab, like I said, and a french apple pastry which was good. I do plan on having more when I get money..Speaking of money...
So they give us a JP Morgan chase card for our mission money. I went to take out some money from it so I could have some and it said the pin was wrong. Ok..so later that day I checked my pin and wrote it down so i could get some out later. When I went back i used the pin and it didn't work again. I looked at what i wrote down but still nothing. Now, in America the card would just get blocked. But in France, they detain your card. So the post office kept my card. We went back later and asked for it, (they didnt like my drivers license either) and they said because i used the pin wrong to many times they have to give it to the bank and cant give it back. Joyful so for the next week or so i dont have a french card. But I have been using my card when I need to. If you can, can you check the balance and send me the number every week. I want to do it, but it is hard to translate the dollars into euros...Anyways.
Elder Boudet is very helpful in teaching me the language and helping me when I need help. Although after bearing my testimony on sunday he said my french is very good, but i still can't talk much. And am lost in most conversations and lessons. My area is Huge. I thought it was just the city of angers but it is a big area. I don't know the exacts but I am sure you could figure out. We had to take an hour long car ride with the bishop to get to one of the members for a lesson.
Speaking of cars... We are a car misson. SUPRISE! Our area gets a car every 3rd week and since the French License costs about 3000 dollars and you need 6 months of class to get one, Elder Boudet doesn't have one, so in 3 weeks guess who gets to drive the streets of Angers. Yes me, and I am not excited. They are really good drivers here and the roads aren't too bad. But we will see. They are called Clios and are all stick shifts. So we will see how that works out.
Just so you know, we normally email from 4-6 but today we were playing sports for later than we wanted so we are at the chruch emailing. Usually we go to a internet cafe for it.
Things are well and i hope i answered all your questions and concerncs.
Oh i almost forgot. I need you to email my mtc teacher Frere Emery with the list of missionaries in Lille. He is doing and internship there and wanted to know. Here is the list
Dalton-Perez, Dungan-Neidhart, Curran-Pubst, Durhman-Porter, Carson-Christensen, Holcombe-Fanise, Hayes-Clark, Maxwell-Zarbock, Clauson-Hann, Perdue-Kirkland, Hood-Woyak, Scott-Nelson. His email is GrantPaulEmery@gmail.com. I would do it but he doesnt want us emailing him.
Also, can i get the recipe for chicken annalee, I am going to try to make it.
I love you lots and am happy to be out here. Until next week.
Elder Sanborn
Anyways, I am loving it here in Anger (Ahn-jay). It is amazing. We have a castle and a large catholic cathedrel in town which are really cool to see. We made it in okay with the volcano and the ones leaving left just in time from what I hear. I am not sure of my address here to be honest, but you seem to know the address since you googled it. It is on a street with a boulangerie/pattiserie right on the corner which is pretty cool.
The trip was good, they fed us a decent dinner and a pretty good breakfast so that wasn't bad. It was just long but I did get to sit by myself which helped my legs. And thanks again for the plane pillow you sent for my birthday, it was amazing. I got all my stuff in my bags which amazed me since before all my books I was under the weight limit by like 15 pounds. Really weird. I got to sleep for a few hours and experienced no jet lag afterwards which was really nice.
So, the first few days. We got off the plane and met the Assistants and president who led us to a car outside for our bags. After our bags were safely delivered we were lead to a large parking building in the airport and were met by the president again with pain du chocolat. They were absolutely amazing. Much better than anything here that is for sure. So then we took a train to downtown paris with the Assistants. I got to talk to a crazy frenchman who gave us a map to heaven. Ya, don't ask me either it was weird. But then we got off and were led to the church where our "moms" were. (The person that takes us out contacting is called our mom). My "mom" is Elder Walter, who "died" (getting ready to go home)last week so he won't be in the mission anymore. Me and him went out with a book of mormon and went contacting for about a half an hour. It wasn't too bad and we placed a pamphlet with a lady from Congo but that was it.
So after that we were led back to the church and the assistants took us to the mission home. We showered, relaxed, ate dinner, and then after a brief testimony meeting we went to bed. The next morning president woke us up at the normal time and we went up to a good breakfast of cold cereal. After that he took us into this office and we watched a short video and then he announced our first areas and our "dads" (trainers). My "dad" is Elder Boudet, yes he is French-the south of France. He is awesome and really good for me. So we then got into cars and drove to a place called Consecration point by the missionaries, Right outside a castle were Louis XIV lived. Which was cool to see. So we went there and got to meet our trainers and take a picture with them, which I will send to you in a different email probably. So then we got to go back to the mission home to get our bags and go off to our areas.
Our first stop was in Paris to get a Pizza Kebab (You will see the picture, basically a cheese pizza covered in tomatoes, lettuce, onions, kebab meat, and some sauce on the side. Really good) and a father/son tie. So we got that then headed off to a train to Angers. Long train ride but when we got there the other two missionaries in Angers, Elder Tom and Williams met us and we drove a bus to the church building. Yes it is an actual building about as big as the seminary wing on the stake center plus the gym. It is nice.
So we went there and had an english class which we hold each wednesday. After that we had a rendez-vous with a young chinese couple who seem very interested. Huai Xi and Lei. They are progressing pretty well so we will see what happens. Then finally after that the DMP (Dirigent de Mission de Paroisse - Ward mission leader) gave us a ride home. He is British and served in France so it was nice to speak english. After that I got to see the apartment and unpack. Long first day. The next day started a normal day with another rendez-vous and some contacting as well as buying my proslyting bag, yes i bought one and i like it. I saw some of the sights and that has been most days. We ride the bus everywhere which is pretty nice. Sunday I had a nice big headache. Got to the ward, which normally has around 80-100 members I think, and I got asked a lot of questions in a language i don't know, so i stayed close to Elder Boudet and let him talk. A lot of members made fun of our name because it sounds both like Sans Borne and Sans Born (withot limits/born) So they liked that. But it is pretty good.
After we had a mangez-vous (lunch appointment) with some members which literally blew my head because of all the French. But I lived. After we went on a nice walk with one of the members and he showed us the cathedrel. We went in while they were having a mass and it was interesting to see/hear. The organ was amazing to hear especially. It was just cool to see how big it was. Haven't gone into the castle yet, but i will. We see it most days.
I didn't write down where everyone is going. But I do remember that Elder Dykstra (the only missionary who was assigned to Belgium mission) is assigned to Brussels. Elder Ellis is going to Brest. And Elder Horne is in a suburb of Paris. But we are pretty much scattered all over. I think Elder Collette went to Normandy. The apartment is small, about the size of our living room and kitchen, maybe smaller. We have a washing machine and dryer in the kitchen, our beds in the main room, and the other two elders closet is our dining room. So it is compact, but I like it that way. First week has been good and tiring. I haven't had a crepe yet but I have had a pizza kebab, like I said, and a french apple pastry which was good. I do plan on having more when I get money..Speaking of money...
So they give us a JP Morgan chase card for our mission money. I went to take out some money from it so I could have some and it said the pin was wrong. Ok..so later that day I checked my pin and wrote it down so i could get some out later. When I went back i used the pin and it didn't work again. I looked at what i wrote down but still nothing. Now, in America the card would just get blocked. But in France, they detain your card. So the post office kept my card. We went back later and asked for it, (they didnt like my drivers license either) and they said because i used the pin wrong to many times they have to give it to the bank and cant give it back. Joyful so for the next week or so i dont have a french card. But I have been using my card when I need to. If you can, can you check the balance and send me the number every week. I want to do it, but it is hard to translate the dollars into euros...Anyways.
Elder Boudet is very helpful in teaching me the language and helping me when I need help. Although after bearing my testimony on sunday he said my french is very good, but i still can't talk much. And am lost in most conversations and lessons. My area is Huge. I thought it was just the city of angers but it is a big area. I don't know the exacts but I am sure you could figure out. We had to take an hour long car ride with the bishop to get to one of the members for a lesson.
Speaking of cars... We are a car misson. SUPRISE! Our area gets a car every 3rd week and since the French License costs about 3000 dollars and you need 6 months of class to get one, Elder Boudet doesn't have one, so in 3 weeks guess who gets to drive the streets of Angers. Yes me, and I am not excited. They are really good drivers here and the roads aren't too bad. But we will see. They are called Clios and are all stick shifts. So we will see how that works out.
Just so you know, we normally email from 4-6 but today we were playing sports for later than we wanted so we are at the chruch emailing. Usually we go to a internet cafe for it.
Things are well and i hope i answered all your questions and concerncs.
Oh i almost forgot. I need you to email my mtc teacher Frere Emery with the list of missionaries in Lille. He is doing and internship there and wanted to know. Here is the list
Dalton-Perez, Dungan-Neidhart, Curran-Pubst, Durhman-Porter, Carson-Christensen, Holcombe-Fanise, Hayes-Clark, Maxwell-Zarbock, Clauson-Hann, Perdue-Kirkland, Hood-Woyak, Scott-Nelson. His email is GrantPaulEmery@gmail.com. I would do it but he doesnt want us emailing him.
Also, can i get the recipe for chicken annalee, I am going to try to make it.
I love you lots and am happy to be out here. Until next week.
Elder Sanborn
April 17, 2010
Made it to France
Jonathan left for France on April 12 and arrived at the Paris mission home on April 13. We received a note from the Mission President, President Stahlei and he said that the missionaries arrived and spent the first day eating home cooked food, napping, visting with the President, contacting non-members in the heart of Paris and sharing testimonies in the mission home.
The next morning, April 14th, Elder Sanborn left for his first assignment to work in the Angers Area with Elder Boudet, Guilhem, who will be his trainer. Their apartment address is:
Elder Sanborn
Les Missionnaires
6, Square Alexandre 1er
49100 ANGERS
FRANCE
Letters would be great for him (though with the planes not flying--not sure how mail gets through). His mission president sent this scripture: Proverbs 25:25: As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country.
We will update his blog as soon as we here from him, which hopefully will be Monday as that is the P-day for the missionaries in Paris France mission.
April 4, 2010
1 week to go in the MTC
...Priesthood session is still in the fireside room so we will just be living in there this weekend basically. So much fun. Classes are cancelled because of it. President Didier spoke this Tuesday, but besides that it has been pretty normal.
Thanks for reading the letter (to the Copper Crest Primary), I love hearing from the kids every so often. It is like amazing. Thanks for the advice too, I was just sick and a bit down but I am over that now. Feeling good and loving it here. Life is really good. I am enjoying being with my companion and everyone in my district. I am sad that I only have a week left of it. scary.
I really enjoyed the hosting experience this last week. It was fun to show the new missionaries around and have the families know that their son/daughter is in good hands at the MTC. It made me feel really old. Hosting was way fun and cool to see the new missionaries. I got to host 3 people, 2 elders and a sister. For the elders we take them to their class and residence but for the sisters it is just straight to the residence and two sisters take over to get her settled in. The sister had a big family and was really sad so we made sure to make her laugh and cheer her up. She lingered a bit with her family, but it was fine, no one was rushing her since she walked in like the old way.
I have not found out yet (when he leaves), but I will try to send an email if we find out at lunch or I will tell AnnaLee tomorrow when it is so she can call or text everyone about it. I think I can call, but am not sure. We usualyl get to the airport 2 hours early for flights so I will ahve time before I levae. There is a direct flight to Paris but I think they make us take a lay over. If so, I will probably call from there too or just from there. We will see though. The coat was a good idea and I will be sure to use it as a pillow.
I do like it here, we had a good experience in the TRC. I bore my testimony of the Word of Wisdom and answered their qusetions aboout life after death. The people we teach are real members that fake investigators. They are really good at faking it though. So it is interesting. Samantha is very good at faking it and has 20 - 40 missionaries teaching her weekly.
I am making a little note card about the plan of salvation in french and english and will get it laminated before I leave to have with me. I also made a new hymnmook. I took a french one and took all the binding off and put it into a 3 ring binder so I can play piano in church easier. And if I get music for prelude or stuff I can slip them in there and have them to play. It will be a good thing to have and I will send pictures of it before I leave so you can see it. I am raelly proud of it. Besides that the week has been normal. We get our plans today to leave and will speak only in french next week. Starting today. So it will be hard but worth it. I love it here and am excited to leave but at the same time wouldn't mind staying.
Life gets down every now and then but that is just life I guess. I am doing better and loving it here again. It is an amazing place and I am actually enjoying having Elder Horne as my companion. He is a great guy and I am starting to see him from new eyes. I am glad that he is my companion becuase he is more laid back and not uptight, which really makes life a lot easier. I see some other equipes and the argue over what they want to do, and we have that sometimes but we have learned to deal with eachother a lot earlier so it is pretty good. I am glad he is my companion. It was probably just a little bit of sickness and fatigue that I was feeling last week but I am free of that now, so it is all good. I still hate making my bed and am glad at nights where I don't destroy my covers so I have to start over (I actually learned to sleep with my feet covered believe it or not, we will see if it stays like that though). I have the top bunk and it is a hassle to change the sheets and remake my bed since I have to pull the bed out from the wall just to get around to tuck sheets in. But I do and we pass inspections each week. I think this "cloud" as you called it has lifted from me and that I do feel a lot better and ready to serve with all my heart might mind and strength.
I am reading a lot from the Book of Mormon and learning some great lessons. Like my new favorite story is about Abinadi. I mean this guy comes up to the people and calls them to repentence, the King gets mad and kicks him out. So he comes back in disguise after two years to tell them the Lord is going to punish them now, and when the King brings him before him he just slaps him in the face for all his wickedness. Then when told if he denies what he said to the people that he will be allowed to live. He then is bold enough to say that he would die rather than deny it. So they Flog him with burning sticks until he catches on fire. THEN while he is on fire burning to death he prophecies more. I mean seriously! Instead of screaming in pain to give them pleasure or what not, he prophesies. HOW COOL IS THAT?! Then we see the conversion story of Alma the Older. I think we overloook that story way to much. I mean here is a High Priest of a wicked king. He had concubines and harlots and commited a lot of other sins because it is what they did. He was nearly as wicked as the King. But he is touched by the words of Abinadi and after defending him is kicked out and repents. I imagine that the process of his repentence was not as hard as his sons, but definetly very hard. I never really read that much depth into it but it is pretty intense to think about. I have found so many cool things in the book as I have really read it this time through. I have also been marking different things in colors (like the names of christ in yellow, his words in red) and it is really amazing to see that nearly every page mentions Christ. It truly is a testament of Christ.
Love you lots,
Elder Sanborn
Thanks for reading the letter (to the Copper Crest Primary), I love hearing from the kids every so often. It is like amazing. Thanks for the advice too, I was just sick and a bit down but I am over that now. Feeling good and loving it here. Life is really good. I am enjoying being with my companion and everyone in my district. I am sad that I only have a week left of it. scary.
I really enjoyed the hosting experience this last week. It was fun to show the new missionaries around and have the families know that their son/daughter is in good hands at the MTC. It made me feel really old. Hosting was way fun and cool to see the new missionaries. I got to host 3 people, 2 elders and a sister. For the elders we take them to their class and residence but for the sisters it is just straight to the residence and two sisters take over to get her settled in. The sister had a big family and was really sad so we made sure to make her laugh and cheer her up. She lingered a bit with her family, but it was fine, no one was rushing her since she walked in like the old way.
I have not found out yet (when he leaves), but I will try to send an email if we find out at lunch or I will tell AnnaLee tomorrow when it is so she can call or text everyone about it. I think I can call, but am not sure. We usualyl get to the airport 2 hours early for flights so I will ahve time before I levae. There is a direct flight to Paris but I think they make us take a lay over. If so, I will probably call from there too or just from there. We will see though. The coat was a good idea and I will be sure to use it as a pillow.
I do like it here, we had a good experience in the TRC. I bore my testimony of the Word of Wisdom and answered their qusetions aboout life after death. The people we teach are real members that fake investigators. They are really good at faking it though. So it is interesting. Samantha is very good at faking it and has 20 - 40 missionaries teaching her weekly.
I am making a little note card about the plan of salvation in french and english and will get it laminated before I leave to have with me. I also made a new hymnmook. I took a french one and took all the binding off and put it into a 3 ring binder so I can play piano in church easier. And if I get music for prelude or stuff I can slip them in there and have them to play. It will be a good thing to have and I will send pictures of it before I leave so you can see it. I am raelly proud of it. Besides that the week has been normal. We get our plans today to leave and will speak only in french next week. Starting today. So it will be hard but worth it. I love it here and am excited to leave but at the same time wouldn't mind staying.
Life gets down every now and then but that is just life I guess. I am doing better and loving it here again. It is an amazing place and I am actually enjoying having Elder Horne as my companion. He is a great guy and I am starting to see him from new eyes. I am glad that he is my companion becuase he is more laid back and not uptight, which really makes life a lot easier. I see some other equipes and the argue over what they want to do, and we have that sometimes but we have learned to deal with eachother a lot earlier so it is pretty good. I am glad he is my companion. It was probably just a little bit of sickness and fatigue that I was feeling last week but I am free of that now, so it is all good. I still hate making my bed and am glad at nights where I don't destroy my covers so I have to start over (I actually learned to sleep with my feet covered believe it or not, we will see if it stays like that though). I have the top bunk and it is a hassle to change the sheets and remake my bed since I have to pull the bed out from the wall just to get around to tuck sheets in. But I do and we pass inspections each week. I think this "cloud" as you called it has lifted from me and that I do feel a lot better and ready to serve with all my heart might mind and strength.
I am reading a lot from the Book of Mormon and learning some great lessons. Like my new favorite story is about Abinadi. I mean this guy comes up to the people and calls them to repentence, the King gets mad and kicks him out. So he comes back in disguise after two years to tell them the Lord is going to punish them now, and when the King brings him before him he just slaps him in the face for all his wickedness. Then when told if he denies what he said to the people that he will be allowed to live. He then is bold enough to say that he would die rather than deny it. So they Flog him with burning sticks until he catches on fire. THEN while he is on fire burning to death he prophecies more. I mean seriously! Instead of screaming in pain to give them pleasure or what not, he prophesies. HOW COOL IS THAT?! Then we see the conversion story of Alma the Older. I think we overloook that story way to much. I mean here is a High Priest of a wicked king. He had concubines and harlots and commited a lot of other sins because it is what they did. He was nearly as wicked as the King. But he is touched by the words of Abinadi and after defending him is kicked out and repents. I imagine that the process of his repentence was not as hard as his sons, but definetly very hard. I never really read that much depth into it but it is pretty intense to think about. I have found so many cool things in the book as I have really read it this time through. I have also been marking different things in colors (like the names of christ in yellow, his words in red) and it is really amazing to see that nearly every page mentions Christ. It truly is a testament of Christ.
Love you lots,
Elder Sanborn
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