Week #37 - Narbonne

Moooooooooooooooooom!

I'm....staying in Narbonne!  Wooooooo!  This is first time my companion has left me and I haven't left my companion, so this is going to be exciting!  I'm the big boy in Narbonne now, no biggie.  I gotta take the lead now, wow!

My companion is Elder Costa, from Argentina.  YES.  A foreigner, finally.  But he went to BYU Idaho for a couple years, and he speaks perfect english, but, eh, at least he's not from west US like all the rest of my companions.  He's cool.  He was Elder Beyer's companion in the MTC, so that's a neat connection.

Well it sounds like you guys are just partying back there, so I'm gonna get a move on with the week:

Lundi we did a big ol deep clean of the apartment, and also went and visited the cathedral in Narbonne, finally.  It's like the only cool thing in Narbonne, but we hadn't gone to see it yet.  Ha.  Well we saw it and it's cool.  then that evening we went and saw the Mudarras.  We taught Pépé about prayer, and it got a little heated as it does some times when we talk about real stuff.  But those are always good, because we get real feelings and real issues out on the table and we can deal with them.  So it was neat.  Had a tasty dinner, too.  I think it was rabbit stew yuuuuuummmmmm.

Then mardi we were on exchange, and it was fun.  We got a quick RDV with Loulou, our crazy less active, and then had RCM, where we got it all out on the table and told our mission leader what's up and that he needs to slow down and stop doing some of the things he's trying to do, and don't worry, we can take care of that.  He's doing a lot to help, but he's kind of going a little outrageous sometimes with some of his ideas.  It's alright, that keeps it fresh.  Later that evening, we went to pass the Fructusos with cookies, they weren't there, so we passed an ami with cookies, he wasn't there, so we passed Frère Gisserot's wife with cookies, and she wasn't there.  BUT.  This really cool young couple came down as we were trying to call, and we said "if these people aren't home, we'll give you the cookies."  And they weren't home, so we gave them the cookies.  And made friends.  And learned a little about what they think religiously, and they said we could totes stop by some evening after seven, so we'll probably do that.  Neat.  Exchanges are always fun, because neat little things like that always happen.

Mercredi we came home from the exchange, and then went to our new famille's home, the mom's name is Afifa, and that's all I know right now, to do some service.  But there was something wrong with the gas, so that was shot.  But we still SPARKd her up and she was happy to see us, so that was neat.  That evening we managed to get out to Mémé and Pépé's, because it was the only time besides dimanche that we could see them.  So we got out, watched president Monson's talk from General Conference, and hustled back home (Don't let him know I told you this, but on the way home, Elder Phelp's fell off his bike :)  it was bound to happen to one of us one of these days :) He was fine, just a little bruised, no tears in his clothing).

Jeudi we had district meeting, and talked about Elder Andersen, because he's coming in A WEEK AND A HALF. That is going to be really cool to go see him with the whole mission.  We read a bunch of his talks, and shared what we liked about them.  Good stuff.  Then after, I went to Nîmes for another exchange.  This one was neat, because we got a lesson with one of their amis, Jawad, who is reeeaally searching for the truth, and that was cool to see.  I haven't taught anyone but Pépé for a while, so it was really good to teach again.  The spirit was definitely present during that RDV.

Vendredi we got transfer calls, and Elder Phelps is going to Montpellier as Zone Leader, so he'll be my ZL, and I'll see him again a few times this transfer, so no big.  We have some plans that he'll come back here and do some exchanges to surprise his grandpa.  Then we came home from the exchange, and went to game night in Béziers.  That was really neat, because a less active young man came and brought two of his homies, and they really enjoyed it.  And I got to make German pancakes, and they were delicious :) thunks

Samedi we had sportif, and the same less active boy, Carlitos, and one of his friends came (the other had a test, so no worries), and that was really neat.  good fun.  Then, we came back, and Elder Phelps started packing up, because we had plans already for Sunday and we would be gone most of the day.  so he packed up, and we did weekly planning, too.  Also, HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME.  I got your package on lundi, and I opened a gift a day (including the Bednar book, which is not the same one I had, no worries), until my birthday.  THUNKS.  I like ALL OF IT.  I'll send you a picture of me rocking it all.  Then, Elder Phelps made me a cheese cake, very tasty.  And also the Elders in Béziers found an old antiques store that sells records for a euro each, and they bought me a Chopin record that I can listen to in a couple years.  Very nice.  Yes.  Good day.

Dimanche was exciting, because we got to teach primary, and it was Mother's day in France.  so we practiced a couple songs they were going to sing in Sacrament meeting, and it was fun.  The performance went well.  Good group of youngsters.  Then we had the Mudarra birthday bash, because it was Pépé's birthday a few weeks ago, and mine the other day.  We had some amazing rice and shrimp and other seafood that Mémé made and it was mmmmmmmm good.  Uncles and Aunts and cousins were all there, good time.  Then, the senior couple had found a cool famille in Béziers they were going to start teaching, and we went to go visit them and sing for them and eat cheese with them.  SPARKd em up real good.  Played games with them, joked with the childrens, we got em wrapped around our fingers :)  they are a very cool famille, and I'm excited to see where this goes with them.

This was a fun week.  I'm gonna miss Elder Phelps, he was a very good companion, but I'm just as excited for Elder Costa.

Advice for Sam : go on dates instead of not going on dates.

I love Prez Uchtdorf's talk. I like gratitude.  It's important.  And it's also important to show your gratitude for stuff, not just to Heavenly Father in prayer, but also to people. I learned that people really like it a lot if you just say thank you.  SIMPLE.

So I'm staying in Narbonne, don't be afraid to mail that package :)

THANKS FOR HAVING ME AS A SON so that I could have birthdays :)

LOVE YOU

Elder Liechty

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Elder Phelp's family

The Catholic version of "I'm a Mormon" campaign - it must be working if they are using it now!

Week #36 - Narbonne

Mooooooooooooooooom

So, about the package real quick, they came to drop it off when I wasn't there, so they left a slip, and we went to the office to drop off the slip, but they didn't have the package there....hmmmmm...the slip said it got there Saturday, but they said they didn't get anything sat, so maybe it will come in today, so they'll call us.  Ummm, hopefully it gets here! 

I'm gonna miss Jackie(my brother's sweet sweet dog passed away this weekend).  Keeping those two in my prayers, for sure.  Man that's sad.

I forgot to bring my planner today, so anything important that I wanted to make sure I said is probably going to be missed, and I'll get it to you next week :) and we'll see if I remember anything about this week.

ALORS.

Lundi was pday, and we had planned to go a-fishing, but apparently it was going to be bad weather the afternoon.  Ummm, it was beautiful and warm all day, but the grandparents were convinced that it was going to get worse.  Eh.  Whatevs, so instead we kinda sat around, went to this book store that's fun to hang around in and look at the books and smell the new ones n stuff, then we had the grandparents in the evening.  We shared some more testimonies, and all seemed to be going well.

Mardi we had RCM, and that's all I remember from that day.  Actually, it was a missionaries only RCM, because our DMP said he couldn't do it that day (he's kind of bizarre sometimes).  I wish I could tell you more, but the missionary handbook says not to say negative things about your area :) it's not really negative, it just makes things a lot more FUN and interesting.  Yeah.

OH.  Just got a text from the post office, they have my package, cool.  Check.

Mercredi was Pépé's birthday, so we went over to surprise them, and shared a talk about gardening, because he loves his garden.  We've found the only way to get through is through the famille, and through the garden.  So we shared the "I'm the gardener here" one by Hugh B. Brown, I think it was.  Really good.  Still a stubborn little fella.  

Pépé is, a stubborn little man.  he doesn't really get logic.  for example, we asked him "Why do you think your grandson is here?" and he said "Well, because he's here!"  That's what we call Pépé logic.  And I hear what your saying, and it's definitely true.  I think he's waiting something huge.  Because Mémé had a big old manifestation in a dream, and Elder Phelps' mom had a big one, too, but Pépé isn't getting it.  On the other hand, he has had many amazing dreams he told us, but he doesn't understand.  One, for example, was him standing on one side of a river with his ancestors on the other.  And they were saying "come through the water."  Um, I think that's pretty clear, but he didn't think so.  And then he had the Jacob 5 Olive tree grafting dream, too, where he was on a dying tree that he knew was his famille, but his branch was the only good one. so the gardener cut him off and grafted him onto a new healthy tree.  Interesting.  We tried explaining with love what they mean, but he's not accepting.  He's come to church a few times, but he likes to find little things that bug him, like the small parking lot, and the fact that we went ten minutes over just drove him over the edge.  Eh.  We're still loving him, and there has to be something for him.  He needs to recognize the way he, himself, feels the spirit.  Keep praying please!

Jeudi was district meeting in the morning, really good stuff.  President has commanded us to use the BoM a lot more during contacting and during RDVs.  So, we're gonna do that, and it will be fun.  Then I went on exchange in Nîmes, BEAUTIFUL city.  However, I forgot my camera, so, uh, no pictures.  BUT.  I should be going back this Thursday for another exchange, and I'll bring my camera this time.  It's really a cool city, big old collesseum in the middle, old catholic stuff, very clean, too.  and lots bigger than Narbonne :)  We did lots of contacting and had a fun RDV, an overall real good exchange.

Vendredi I came back from Nîmes, and then Frère Fructuoso called us saying he had a friend that needed help moving.  He had told us about her, but we kind of had to force ourselves in to be invited to help, because members around here are afraid of what we'll do if we meet their friends.  So, we came in normal clothes and helped move and avoided forcing any church stuff on her, and gained the trust of Frère Fructuoso.  It was neat, and she said she would invite us over sometime for Couscous. Mmmmmmmmm.  That might be one of my favorite meals now.  Mmmmmmmmm.  Then, that evening, we were supposed to have a Soirée d'Information, but, uh, no one showed up.  Which is kind of okay, because we don't really like the soirée d'info, because the way it is presented is really mécanique, not enough love or testimony or spirit.  So, we were okay with it.  Our DMP was a little upset, but we lifted his spirits.

Then, samedi, we played b-ball up in Béziers, good time.  Béziers got a couple new amis who are pretty cool and played bball with us, good times.  Then, that evening, we went to the Mudarras, and shared the last testimonies, Elder Phelps' mom's and dad's.  The spirit was there, it was really cool, and we asked Pépé what he thought about them.  he said "they're good." and that was it.  We were kind of hoping for something more profound, but that was it.  He's really fighting the spirit, and it's dumb.  But we have to keep loving him, and we can't drop him because Prez told Elder Phelps "you can't drop your grandpa."  So.  After that we stopped by the Fructuosos, asked Frère Fructuoso a little more about this lady, and invited them to come to church the next day (because they are less active.)

Dimanche, he came!  Frère Fructuoso was able to get up and come to church, very cool.  Then, after a good sacrament meeting, we came home.  Then, Frère Fructuoso called us again saying that his friend needed help moving and wanted to give us Couscous that evening, too.  So, we went to help move (after deciding that no, service on sunday is not breaking the sabbath), sparked up the rest of her famille, and then had couscous with them later that evening.  Delicious couscous.  This part is funny.  We were eating around the table, talking, it's the mom (she's a widow of eight years), her daughter (20 something, maybe acutally younger), the daughter's BF-almost-fiancé, and her son (about 7).  And Frère Fructuoso.  We were sitting around, and then she said "clear this up for me, are you Mormons?" and we said YES.  And she asked "where are the beards and the big hats!?!" because everyone in France thinks we're actually Amish.  Ha.  so we cleared that up, discussed a few eternal truths, and so forth.   Still, very good RDV, and they invited us back Wednesday to finish moving and to teach her son english, who actually speaks it pretty dang well already.

the best part is, at the beginning of the week, we made a faith required goal to find a famille of four.  FOUND.  They might not be a perfect famille, or necessarily all married right now :) but God moves in mysterious ways.  Amen to that.  Very good week.

Well that's what I remember, it was cool.  

We're not giving up on Pépé, but keep praying for him.  We're gonna try some different things this week.

Jealous that you got to go to Rod Stewart.

What play was at the Hale Center?

Find out this week if I stay or go!  Now that we have had some cool success, I kinda want to stay.  I'd be happy wherever the Lord puts me, anyway.

LOVE YOU

Elder Liechty

Week #35 - Narbonne

Mawm!

If you must know, I have lost a liiiiitttle weight.  But I'm pretty sure it's the French clothes that did it.  Or the camera angle.

I loooooooooooved talking to you, too!  One hour is not much.  At all.  But, eh, whatevs, at least we got an hour!

Sam is just a lucky buns.  And I've been keeping in touch with Wesley, so I actually totes knew that, too. Oh yeah.

My real friends:

Jacen, Bobby, Kylie, Emily, Nate, Tommy, Ryan, Wesley, Mom, Dad, Caity, Zach.  Sam could work harder, but I'll add him to the list, too.  These are the real friends that write, at least from time to time.  Everyone else I'm gonna unfriend on Facebook when I get home

SO THIS LAST WEEK n whatnot

So last week started on lundi, comme d'habitude.  I don't remember doing much in particular for p-day, we did a real deep clean of the apartment, though.  Afterwards, we had the RDV with Pépé, and tried inviting him to stop drinking, but he said that he wouldn't do that, not even for his famille.  He says, it's not hurting anyone, so why stop?  We told him that it changes him when he's drunk, and that also it's hurting himself, and he gets grumpier, but we just have to keep rubbing those facts in his face, with love, until he stops.

Mardi we went out to Lezignan early in the morning, to pass and see if a less active lived there.  The member lists here in France are pretty sketchy and sometimes have false information, so we have to do this kind of thing often, then mark up the list on our own.  But we found that they live there!  We didn't get to meet them, but that gives us something to do next time we go visit Elder Phelp's grandparents!  we also walked past a guy building a wall, and he recognized us as Mormons, and chatted up with us.  He was neat.  We offered to help build his wall, but, being French, they like to do it on their own, so he said no.  Eh.  We're getting close, however, with this whole service searching thing.  We're gonna get in contact with the Red Cross here in Narbonne, and we have a couple other potential activites in Béziers.  COOOOOL

Mercredi was really fun, because we got to go out to Fleury d'Aude on our bikes, which is a good ol distance.  We brought cookies with us, because there are two familles that live out there, one active, one less active.  And they're neighbors!  We went out and gave them cookies and left, showing them that we didn't want to take a lot of their time, but that we love them.  Because the active famille had always been kind of "eh, we don't really want you over" and the French mentality is that you can't come over unless the house is really clean and we have a huge meal for you.  And at the same time, that's a lot of work, so instead of being invited over to lots of clean houses with big meals, we just....don't really get invited :) but little things like this show that we still love them, and one day will get us into their house!

Jeudi was reaeaeaeaeaeally fun.  We had a BBQ with the grandparents in the morning with their really good friends, who lived in America for a little bit.  We invited them over to get to know them n stuff, and it was really fun.  We made the meal, it was enchiladas and guacamole, and it was goooooooooood.  Then, that evening, we hustled out to Ouveillan where another less active lives, and taught him the restoration, because, like you said yesterda, some of them might as well be amis it's been so long!  He loved it, you could tell he felt the spirit, and it was great.  We invited him to start reading the LdM again, and we gave him a chapter to read.  And he asked "can I read it over and over again?  And can I read more than just that chapter?" and we said "Of course!"  So this is really cool.  even though we might not have many (any) progressing amis, we're working with some pretty cool less active members.

Vendredi we went on exchange with the zone leaders, I stayed here in Narbonne.  Right when Elder Leduc, the ZL, got here, we got a text from Isabelle, who we had not seen since the beginning of this transfer, and she said she wanted to see us in the parc.  So we changed plans and went there and chatted with her, and taught her a little.  While we were there, this drunk man came up and started talking to us, and saying drunk guy stuff, and Isabelle was there defending us, so that was cool.  It's interesting with her, she loves the Mormons, her best friend is LDS, but she's kind of a free spirit and doesn't like to be pinned down to one thing, like the church.  She's cool, anyway, and that was a neat miracle.  Then after, we have a member visiting here in Narbonne from Lormont, where Elder Leduc had served before, so we set up a secret surprise RDV with her in another parc, so that was fun.  Afterwards we headed out to Béziers for game night, another success!  A less active famille was there, as well as more members this time.  We played spoons, it was a hit, and we ate yummy pancakes.  And the weather that evening was veerrry pleasant.

Samedi we started out by playing some b ball with Carlitos, and that was reall fun. Instead of playing 3 on 3, like usual, we played Knock out, and that was real good.  After that we came back to Narbonne, switched companions again, and then headed out to the Fructuosos for a quick visit, just to see them, because they haven't been back to church for a while again.  We asked them to write their testimonies in a couple of LdMs, and we'll hand them out.  They were very excited, and talked about how the missionaries first met them, and the love and the spirit they felt.  But something is keeping them from church, and we gonna find it out.  After that we saw the Mudarras again, yummy dinner, yummy spiritual thought, played some Rummikub, too.

Then yesterday I got to talk to you all!  We had bigger plans to do stuff in Béziers while we waited to do Skype, but Greg came to pick us up earlier than we had expected, so we didn't have much time.  But, eh, whatevs, because I got to talk to my famille and that was awesome.  I LOVE YOU

This was a pretty hoppin week.  Hopefully next week we get more time for contacting n stuff, even though I love RDVs n less actives, but we need to find more new amis!  Thanks for your prayers and your loves.

I can't think of anything else.  Eh.

LOVE YOU

Elder Liechty

PS. Something I forgot to tell you:

I brought a couple of pants with holes in the (you know where) to Mémé, because that was her job once upon a time, a seamstress, and she took care of them.  And while she was finishing them up, she said had this kind of feeling or impression that you were sitting next to her, thanking her for taking care of me.

So, I don't know how your praying or what your praying about, but keep it up, because that's a neat little story.

Love you much!

Dinner aftermath

Chef Elder Phelps

Pretty

Dinner with Pepe and friends

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Week #34 - Narbonne

Momma!

Feliz Cinco de Mayo to you too!  Joyeux Cinq de Mai.  Eh.  Not the same ring.

The next transfer is the day after ma birthday, the 25th.  And, also, I have a request for a birthday present?  I was wondering if you could send me a George Gershwin CD, like greatest hits or something.  Because I talked to prez about it and he said "eh, he's basically 100 years old, go ahead."  My only desire is that it has at least Rhapsody in Blue and Prelude No. 2 on it.  THANKS

I've heard the dandelion thing, too, but I haven't eaten them yet.  But, it is starting to be summer, the season of dandelions, so I'll have to keep you updated!  We eat lots of salad in France.  Lots.

My favorite dish is Saucisse Rougaille, which isn't really French, but it's from Île de la Réunion, which is a French département, so count it.  Other than that, we had really good cous cous the other day.  That was mmmhmmhhmmmmmm.  The least favorite I've had is....this one time we went to someone's home and all we had was salad and then this other vegetable thing.  It was tasty, but, like, let's be real.

Have you had the chance to listen to/watch David A. Bednar's talk "The Character of Christ"?  It was given in the MTC a few years ago, and they recorded it, and it is GOOOOOD.  I was reading his book that you sent me, and it made me think of it.

Thuh Weak

Lundi we went on exchange with Béziers, after P-day of course.  Also that day I tried riding my bike while holding groceries.  It was, let's say, fun.  Then the exchange was real good, we passed a less active young man because his parents were both in Barcelona for the week, and we wanted to see how he was doing.  then, when we came back in, we noticed one of our neighbors trying to carry some big appliance up the stairs into her apartment.  So we went out to help her and her friend, made friends with them, it was real cool, and then supplied them with some tools to install it.  Gotta make good friends with the neighbors, always important!

Mardi we finished up the exchange, we did some contacting on the street, Béziers is interesting.  Then, I had brought the bikes up from Narbonne so that we could go far out and pass some less actives that they hadn't been able to pass yet because there aren't busses, and they don't have bikes.  So that was really neat.  We found their homes, but no one was home.  eh.  happens.  Then that evening we had a RDV with la famille Fructuoso.  Down in Narbonne things sounded like they went pretty well, too.  They were out contacting, and they passed on the road one of the members visiting here from Bordeaux and her daughter, and then this guy we had contacted a while ago, the guy from NZ with the big ol moustache, and he wanted to talk again.  Cool guy.  People are starting to like us here a little bit!

Mercredi was cool.  We had zone conference, filled with the spirit.  Very cool.  Then we went to Mémé and Pépé's house.  WITH PRESIDENT RONEY.  We had invited him, since it was kind of on the way to the next zone conference, and he came, with the assistants and the office elders and his famille.  It was really good.  Spirit was felt again!  Pépé is progressing, little by little.  But he's still a stubborn little Spaniard.

Jeudi was neat, too.  We had a lesson with our less active friend Loulou, and then we rode our bikes out really far, about 16 km, to pass a famille and a less active famille.  The active famille ended up not being there, but the less active famille was!  we got in and talked with them, and they invited us back whenever we want.  Then we biked back and our legs were really huge.

Then good ol vendredi, we went n saw Mémé and Pépé again, taught a good little lesson.  Then we had game night again, not as many people showed up this time, but it was still a big success, with three less actives there!  They had a real good time.  One of them was the Fructuoso's son, who hadn't been to this church since they moved here to Narbonne, so this was his first time.  Good first time experience, I'd say.

Samedi evening we rode our bikes really far again, about 15km out this time, to pass a less active fella that we had only been able to talk with on the phone before.  We came out, and he was like "It's not true!" and he welcomed us in and it was really neat.  He showed us his really nice bike, but he had just had surgery and he couldn't bike for a while, so he was a little downed.  But hopefully soon.  We became his friend, and he, too, said come back as we please.  He can't really leave the house, so chances are he'll be there!  He's very neat, and his testimony still seems cool.  We had lots of less active success this week!

Then yesterday.  First hour of church was interesting, as it always is.  Then, during second hour, Mémé and Pépé came, out of nowhere.  That was a very pleasant surprise!  Pépé was a little grumpy afterwards because church went over ten minutes, but it was still good that he came!  Then after church a member had invited us over for lunch, and that was fun.  Tasty.  Then we went to Mémé and Pépé's just after, food appointment to food appointment, feeling like a state side mission here :)  But we had a good RDV with them, Pépé still slowly progressing.

This week is gonna be crazy.  We're inviting Pépé to not drink wine for an entire week.  Just to see how he changes. He said he can stop whenever we wants, so we're gonna challenge him, and use his boiling Spanish blood against him to accept the challenge.  Actually, we're just going to use love and the spirit.  And if he doesn't accept today, we're gonna invite tomorrow.  and the day after if not.  But if you could pray for him, that would be awesome.  we want him to have a really spiritual experience this week while he's not drinking.  THANKS

so, as for MOTHERS DAY.

We are planning on going to a member's home Sunday evening.  We'll probably get there around 18h, so 10h for you guys, which means you may or may not need to quit out of sacrament meeting a little early?  But it's around then that I should be calling, so LOOK OUT.

love you bunchets.  Have a sweet week, and tell sambo to stay cool

LOVE

Elder Max Liechty

Pres and Sister Roney, Memee and Pepe

Narbonne - Week #33

Eating crabs that mémé caught

Porting at Port la Nouvelle (that's the funny part about it)

Mahaawwwwmmmm

Wowie wow, um, it sounds like you guys had the sweetest weekend there ever was!  You went to Virginia?!?!  How long are you staying there? How much school does Sam get to miss?

If you send the video on a DVD I should be able to watch it on our little DVD player.  Also, John's videos if you have them?

Where did Sam get an accordion?!

The baptism in Gex!  Yeah, I heard about it!  It was the girlfriend of one of the coolest members, Greg Plug.  We always joked about her getting baptized.  Well.  Voila!  And I didn't recognize the name in Bordeaux, but that's also really cool!  

In primary we sang that "Oh it is wonderful that He should care for me enough to die for me" one.  In french it's "Merveilleux Amour."  Kids love the chorus.  I think we sang that one about three times, and that was it

THIS WEEK

Starting with mercredi, because I already told you about lundi et mardi because of the craziness of last week.  The mission had asked us to take a picture of us in the prettiest part of our sectors, so we went down to Port la Nouvelle, the beach, and took a picture of us knocking on the door of the lighthouse.  I'll send that to you.  Then, we had to get on a train and go to Nîmes to stay the night so we could get to Zone Training the next day.  Cool.

Jeudi was zone training, in Nîmes, because the church in Montpellier is under construction.  Nîmes is beautiful, and there is a huge colosseum for bull fighting, which they do here.  Cool.  If I serve there in the summer, I'll have to go to a bull fight!  Zone training was sweet, always a nice remotivation.  Afterward, we went back to Narbonne, did what we do, and talked with a really cool guy with an amazing moustache from New Zealand (the guy was from NZ, too).  He thanked us for reminding him of the things that we know, but we often forget, and for helping people back on the path.  He was sweet, and also had some pretty good jokes n stuff.  Then that evening we went to Elder Phelp's grandparents, and we pulled some tricks out of our sleeves.  He had his mom send testimonies from the whole family, including some really close friends that meme and pepe have met before, and we're gonna read them to him and show him that the gospel blesses families, because the famille is number one to this little spaniard.  It went really well, the spirit was rich.

Vendredi matin we went to the Mudarra's again, but this time we just read a scripture with them.  We tied it in to familles again, about how every time the Lord asks one of His prophets to do something, He always says "and take your famille with you."  That's cool.  GAME NIGHT.  We did game night.  We got there, and there were the usuals there, us, the missionnaires à Béziers, the senior couple, and the old people that normally come.  So we did it anyway, thinking "eh, it was a success because at least people came?"  AND THEN.  We were playing a game, having actually a really good time, and then, through the windows, we saw people flocking.  Two big ol less active familles that the elders à Béziers had invited showed up.  We ended up have 21 people there, and it was a hoot.  The kids were awesome, the parents were awesome.  The senior couple took care of the oldies, and we took care of the hip youngsters.  Lots of fun.  Big success.  Miracle.

So the day before we had invited some of the kids to samedi sportif with us, and they said oh yeah.  So the next day we went to play b-ball, and the usuals were there, us, Béziers, Emmanuel (ward missionary), and then Carlitos who normally comes had brought three friends, and then two of the kids from the night before came!  It was awesome.  And Also Greg Farrands came, and he's young men president (you know, if we had any active young men :)).  that was also a hoot.  then, the afternoon we went out to the Mudarras for a lunch with them and some of the oncles.  It was delicious.  And then we played pétanque.  wow what a good game.  What a good day.

Then dimanche, we went to church.  It was nuts, as usual.  I love this little branch.  Then we came home, snuck ourselves into the Mudarras home again, played some Rummikub, and then read more famille testimonies.  We can tell he's feeling the spirit, but he doesn't want to admit it, and he's hiding it so hard.  Fighting it.  But we'll get him.  Once we pull out the big guns.  Then that evening we had dinner with our DMB, who had invited us earlier.  I don't know if this is appropriate to share, but it's funny.  When we were driving home, he invited us to eat with him, and I saw a pizza guy drive by on his moto.  I joked saying "we're having pizza tonight" and he said "you like pizza" and I said "of course" and I thought we were just teasing and joking, but when we got there, he said "the pizza will be arriving in about 15 minutes."  HA.  He wasn't joking.  Next visit is talking about the Sabbath Day.  The pizza was good, though.

So that was the week.  Most of our amis have gone missing or are on vacation, but that's not just here in Narbonne, that is throughout the zone.  So we're calling this next little bit "spring cleaning" where we find more amis and kind of start over.  Doesn't mean we won't still try to teach the old ones, but, yeah.  We've found some pretty cool characters recently, hopefully we can start teacing them.  Neat.

I love you all, and you should go to church next Sunday, you sinners.  Meh.  Who am I kidding.

LOVE

Elder Max Liechty

Narbonne - Week #32

The Béziers branche

SUNSCREEN!

Nasty ol octopus

We ate sardines.  When I send the card, you can watch the video!

Whoa ho ho ho ho whoa probably scared you real good this time, didn't I!  Late email!

If you send the video next week, bien sur I'd watch it!  That sounds hilarious.  Hil.  Arious.

Uh um I didn't realize you had to order No-AD.  Mmmmmmmm.  I guess that shows how much my momma loves me!  Thanks luuuuuuuuuuuv you!

So, like, Brandon Jared got his call.  what what.  The youngsters are starting to swaaaaarm.  Elder Phelp's little brother just got called to North Carolina mission!  Nuuuuuuts

EASTER IN FRANCE

They have TWO DAYS here!  Sweeeeet.  It starts on Sunday and that's when everyone goes to church and thinks about Jesus, and then they have Mondee when they hide eggs and eat candy n stuff.  Every chance the French get, they take a holiday.  So that's why we didn't do emails yesterday, because everything was closed because it was second Easter.  And of course you got your JWs out protesting Easter those two days, those guys don't celebrate nuthin, the poor children.

The week!

So yeah, we went fishing lundi, that was really fun.  This time I have pictures!  To be continued...

Mardi we........well, lundi evening Elder Phelps started getting the same symptoms that I had had that started my sickness, so we started freaking out and running all over the place and throwing tables over, not knowing what to do.  But then he took some meds, all that, but to no avail.  He woke up sick as a dog.  Luckily, after a little nap, we were able to get out shortly and have a RDV with Isabel, the ami that we're really planning on working with this transfer.  Then he started dying again, so he laid back down.  This time, however, instead of wasting the days of his sickness by watching church movies and doing nothing, I read boat loads in the LdM n stuff and it was cool.

Mercredi, poor Phelpsies was still sick as a dog, worse than the day before even!  We went to his grandparents that afternoon and pretended that he wasn't sick so that they wouldn't get upset with us.  Ummmmm, after that we went home and he napped some more and I finished Alma!  Cool.

Yeah, sorry, this week was just about as exciting as yours!  But jeudi, I can't remember what we did.....All I know is that we had two lessons, one I'm assuming was with Elder Phelp's grandparents, and the other with Isabel.  Yeah, uh....sorry about this email....:)

So we had planned to see the grandparents a lot more often this week, to kind of sneakily make pépé live the gospel.  We planned on stopping by for quicker visits and just reading a chapter with them, to make it so he was reading his scriptures every day.  So we saw them again vendredi, as well as a member who is here in Narbonne for the next little while, from Lormont, just accross the river from Bordeaux.  She roooocks.  She'll help our little branch for the next while when she's here.  Then, that evening, we got over to the Fructuoso's home and watched part of the last session of general conference with them, because they weren't able to before.  General conference rocks.  And the mom, who hasn't been to church since they moved to Narbonne, said she missed that spirit.  So, uh, come to church please.  Takin it slow, gotta get her to go outside first, baby steps, baby steps

Samedi we headed up to Béziers to play some bball with Carlitos Gonzalez.  He's tight.  Then while we were in Béziers, we had a little coordination meeting with the other elders, and we talked about this sweet idea we had to have an evening at the church where we can invite our amis and just play games.  Because, after talking with our mission president and the stake mission leader, we decided that is what the branch needs right now.  Because our amis are not ready to come to the FHEs the branch holds every week where they always somehow delve into uncontrollably deep doctrined.  This is something simple that will let our amis meet the members, and show them that we are normal people, too.   Cool idea.  Stoked for it.  Starting it this vendredi, news to come.  Then, later, we passed by to see if some less actives still lived where we had their addresses, and they did, but we didn't get an opportunity to talk to them.  But then we went to E Phelp's uncle's and we talked a good time, learned some good stuff about Pépé.  And, now, I am branche pianist, so, we went to the church and I practiced the piano.  Yes.

Dimanche we had planned to go to Mémé and Pépé's and just go on a walk with them and teach a lesson, but then it rained, so instead we played cards and ate and taught a lesson.  So.  It was a good day, because it was Easter, and church was fun.  We got to take care of the primary because the primary teacher was out of town with her famille.  They're a bunch of little nutsos, but it was fun.  Talked about Jesus and his resurrection, of course.  That's still so cool that that happened, I gotta say.  He loves us!

Then, yesterday, for Lundi de Pâques, as it is called, we had a tasty tasty lunch with the g parents. The RDV we had with pépé on lundi went really well.  We watched a video about the saviors life, and bore our testimonies, and then pépé bore his little testimony.  It was cool.  And then one of the uncles was there (he's a little handicapped) and he kind of broke the spirit and all just went nuts.  But before that, it was really good.  The savior does miraculous things, that's for sure. In France, Easter is all about the lamb.  So we ate some delicious lamb.  Then, that evening, we tried with no avail to pass some less actives because the Fructuosos didn't come to church for Easter :( but then we went out to Coursan to see some of those we haven't seen in a while because we just got Elder Phelp's bike fixed, and we set up a RDV for this saturday.  Coolio.

Today was our new pday, then.  We had some missionary coordination meetings, we stopped by a music store and played some guitars because it's not open on mondays, and then we went to a mall that is not open on mondays either, and I bought a french dictionary.  Very handy.  Lots of meetings.

Well hopefully this sickness is gone for good, dang it.  And we can finally get out and work.  Should have a pretty righteous week.  Pray for us pleeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaasssssse

I love you all,

Love,

Elder Liechty

Still Narbonne - Week #31

Mommmmmaaaaaa

I'm....staying!  Staying in Narbonne for another with Elder Phelps!  I'm excited.  we got this place started up last transfer, and this one we should really get it moving along.  stooooooooked

As far as the package, I was also wondering if you could sneak in there some No-AD sunscreen or something because around here it's all really expensive, and I only have the face stuff, and I really like No-AD :)

Oh, you'll like the spanish game.  It'll take a lot of playing until we all get it down and we can kick booty at it, but once you get it down it's a real blast.  It's way more fun than silly little kid games like Dominion (aimed at zach)

Did you know I've always wanted to go to four courners........

Ah whatevs, it'll be there in two years probably

The weeeeeeeeeeeeeeek

Lundi was really cool, because we had the surprise RDV with Isabel!  We called her that morning as we were finishing weekly planning to see if there was a moment during the week we could meet up, and she said that day, so we did.  Did I already tell you this story?  Eh.  Maybe.  but it's still a good'n.  We had the RDV with her, and it was the first real teaching RDV we've had with her since even Elder Phelps got here two transfers ago now.  So that was cool.  More news on her to come.

I don't remember everything we did mardi, but the end of the day was really cool.  We had invited Isabel to come to the FHE they hold up in Béziers every mardi and she said 'uh yeah' so she did!  Little did we remember we had a RDV in Coursan that evening with a new famille we wanted to start teaching, so we were in a pickle.  Luckily, the zone leaders were free to do a major exchange (long story short, district leader Elder Smith had to do a colon cleansing that day because he was getting a colonoscopy the next day because he is sick (I don't know if I should put a frowny or a smily face because it's sad that he's sick but also funny that he got his colonoscopy already.  We made lots of jokes about it, I assure you)), and we managed to have two lessons that evening, one in Béziers with Isabel and one in Coursan with the new famille.  I went with Isabel and it was neat cuz she got to meet lots of the members, and Elder Phelps went to the famille in Coursan and there were sweeeeeet and stoked about the LdM, so we'll see where this all goes.

Mercredi we went to E Phelps' grandparents, talked about recognizing the spirit and how we are all different when it comes to that.  He said he has never felt the spirit, and he is an honest man, but we believe that he has felt it before, just not recognized it.  He's been to almost every church history site, as well as general conference.  So.  that's what we're focusing on.  Then, later, we planned to go out in shorts and shirts and search for service like president Roney told us to do here.  but as we went out, E Phelps' bike has been having problems, and it just acted up again and we couldn't go any farther, so that evening was a bust.

Jeudi evening we had a RDV with a less active famille, the Fructuosos.  We played pétanque with them (that's bocci ball), and we learned that the wife never goes outside.  Ever.  We don't know what's wrong, but that's our new goal.  To coax her outside with love.  Because she can't come to church and renew her covenants if she doesn't go outside?  We've got good plans for them.

Vendredi I woke up sick.  Like the beginning of a sickness.  So I mostly shrugged it off and took some meds, and we went and taught E Phelp's grandparents.  But then when we got back I was out and I was dead.  That evening I dragged myself out to go to a soirée d'information that we had invited some amis to that our DMB would be presenting a historical approach to the restoration.  It was very good, except for the fact that I was dyyyyyyiiiiing.  I lived, however, and Isabel and David both showed up!  and Frère Fructuoso.  And some other members.  very cool.

Samedi I stayed inside and died most of the day.  This transfer turned out to be a huge chiasmus, with Elder Phelps dead at the beginning, and me dying at the end.  Interesting.  Hopefully we've taken care of all the death and sickness this last transfer and can consecrate the next to working like a couple of chiefs.  After a long nap, I was well enough to go play pétanque with E Phelp's uncle, aunt, cousin, cousin's girlfriend, and David, our ami.  I really like pétanque, and it doesn't even take any energy.  That's why you see really old French geezers out playing it all the time.  I got to play some of them the other day.  However, I forgot the stuff for my camera, so, uh, no pictures this week.....eh.....sorry :)

Dimanche was awesome, it was Elder Smith's last, and the Senior Couple's first.  their from Quebec, they're called the Laplante famille.  They're sweet.  No offense to all the other senior couples I've met, but, uh, they seem like they're out here more because their solid testimonies than the fact that they have lots of money and not lots to do........I like all the senior couples, don't get me wrong, but I love the Laplantes.  And, Isabel came to church!  Very cool.  We're hoping to work a lot with her this transfer.  Very neat.  Then I finished dying that afternoon, we tried to pass the Fructuosos, too, but they weren't home.  Bummers.

So the end of the week was kind of a drag with me being dead n whatnot, but it was still a pretty dang good week.  glad I get to stay another!

today we went fishing with mémé and pépé, I didn't catch anything...Elder Phelps caught a pregnant crab that we threw back so that next time there will be more crabs :), pépé caught three dorades, and mémé caught a big ol' fish of some kind and, get this, and OCTOPUS.  that was sweet.  I'll send the SD card home soon so that you can see the videos of her killing it.  Nuts.  also, this morning, we took some time to do some contacting, andt he first lady we talked to we got her number and should get a RDV with her soon.  It's been a while since we went contacting, but I always like to remember how good it is like that.

Momma, I'm glad you came to the church, too.  REALLLLLLYYY.  I love your testimony, and I love your mom-ness.  I love yooooouuuuuu.

We should be getting the Liahona chez nous, so no worries about sending a copy.  If not, I'll let you know.  sometimes we get them, sometimes not.  Meh.  I'll let you know.

I got lots of pictures, so, uh, next week I'll show you :)

LOVE YOU

love,

Elder Max Liechty