Gothic Cathedral, amis, pigeons, Nehemiah

We got our e mail from William at 3:00 in the morning again, our time.  I read it at about 7:00.  I don't think I will stay up until 3:00 next week, but since there is sort of a pattern, maybe I will set my alarm!!!! 

His letter makes his mission sound great.  He seems to be doing well except for his sore feet and foot odor problem (they have to take off their shoes in some houses there.) 

It takes about 9-10 days to get letters from here to there through the postal service.  So far, he's only received one of the letters we have sent him. 

Chartres Cathedral

He gets to travel to Paris quite often and he even did what they call an "exchange" in a city named Chartres, which is an hour away from Paris on train.  He loved the town and thought it was really pretty.  There is a Gothic cathedral that is bigger and cooler than Notre Dame there.  But, he said, the missionary work in Chartres was not going too well.  They walked and knocked on doors for FIVE hours without much luck.  He saw one positive come out of all that "porting" (porting is knocking on doors.  In french "porte" is "door") the positive was he got a lot of practice in his french speaking and his door approach. 

He said that he and his companion were the only "equipe" (team) to have a baptism last week in the whole mission, so the APs called them for the mission president and told them that they were doing a good job and to keep it up. 

 

He was super happy to have some "amis" (Amis de l'englise means "friends to the church") (which we call "investigators"). 

 

He said that since neither him not his companion know how to shop or cook, they decided to try to get more "mangez-vous" which is dinner at members of the church's houses.  He really likes those because they sometimes bring their amis with them to members houses for dinner and so then the members are present during their lessons. 

He also really enjoys visiting recent converts.  He met a husband and wife who have completely embraced the gospel and are the most faithful people he has ever met.  "The gospel changes people and brings a light into their home that nothing else can."

He got to say a prayer at church on Sunday and also was able to be in the circle for the person who was baptized confirmation. 

 

He is doing well with the language, but he said that everyone expects him to understand everything they are saying, but he doesn't yet. 

There are weird HUGE pigeons there that aim for people with their bird poop and sound like turkeys. These weird birds also fly right at you, so you have to dodge them because if they hit you they would actually do damage.  He didn't say if he's been hit by poop or a bird yet, though!  (Hope not!) 

He has noticed that so many people in France wear America stuff.  He said that it might be because of the Olympics, but it is also seems to be their style to wear stars and stripes.

 

Here's some of Elder Guymon's own words---

 

"I've been searching for a mission plaque scripture. haven't found one yet. but i found a new fav bible story. Nehemiah was commanded to build the walls of Jericho so he assembled a bunch of peeps and they started doing it. a lot of people were telling him to get down and theres no reason to be up there. he says, i dont remember the exact quote " i am doing a great work and i can not come down. why should i come down? for the work shall cease while i speak with you" i think that is a great saying for church work. as missionaries we are up on a wall, but we cant come down because then the work would cease. we need to stay clean and unspotted from the world. when we are set apart as missionaries, we are literally set apart from the world. the real quote is neh 6:3"

 

He told us about a video of a member named Nadja Pettitt on www.mormon.org . The people featured in the video are in hes ward and they help a lot.  So I went and watched it, and it's in English, so you should too.  You can see where William has been and see a wonderful, nice French mom, who I don't even know, but already really like because she has been nice to my son. 

He wants everyone to e mail him if they want to get the Monday e mail he sends out to us.  His e mail address is william.guymon@myldsmail.net .  He only has an hour each Monday on the computer, so send him letters too- 

 

Elder Guymon
Les Missionnaires
56 blvd. de l'Evasion Apt N° C301
95800 CERGY LE HAUT
France