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