Hey everyone! I wanted to start by saying thanks for all of your emails this last week. They were much appreciated :)
Luckily, this week was better than last. There are still some improvements that need to be made in my companionship, but I'll get to that later.
On Tuesday, we had district meeting in Nancy. I was in charge of desserts, so I was going to make something. Because we were helping that family move last P-Day, I didn't have time. So, I decided to just buy something at the store the next morning. My companion straight up LIED to me and said that they called and said that they had desserts covered, so we didn't buy any. When I got there, they were all mad at me because I didn't bring anything. I was not very appreciative of him in that moment, but I smiled through it LOL.
On the train ride back he opened up to me. He said that he's the way he is, because he's from Kearns. He says that people who come from elsewhere in Utah get stuff handed to them and they don't appreciate anything. He also said that girls don't want to marry guys from Kearns, so his life is hard. And after his mission he might never marry because of that. He said that me and all the other new missionaries annoyed him, because he could tell that we all came from money (LOL what even?) and that our parents just fund our way through life. I was pretty offended, but I wasn't gonna argue, so I just slept the rest of the train ride. He didn't apologize for his behavior, but now I know why he's acting the way he's acting. This topic played out the rest of the week whenever he would tell investigators that I'm "rich" and that he's not. He tried to pull the pity card with them so much this week. I don't know why, but he did. It was so awkward because they would straight up ask me, "What's it like to be rich"? WHY DO PEOPLE ASK THAT? It was so annoying, but because of my companion, I probably got asked that by 4 different people this week.
We had lots of meetings with less active members this week. The first one was the little old grandma that watched General Conference with us. Her house was cluttered with old creepy porcelain dolls and things from the 19th century. There was barely room to walk, no joke haha. BUT, she was super nice and gave me a chocolate bar. The next day we meet with 3 different inactive people. It was a long and good day. The first family was really nice. I told them that I was from Utah and the mom freaked out. She asked if I knew the Osmond's and then proceeded to pull out a book she made with tons of Donny cut-outs and such. It was so funny. They went inactive because people in their last ward offended them. That seems to be a common reason over here, but we gotta get people to church!! haha. The next lady we spoke with lived about 45 minutes away and the Branch President drove us there. She was sarcastic and a little rude, but overall a good lady. She just mocked my French a few times. Talk about a confidence dropper haha. After her, the Branch President bought us BURGER KING. It was so good! It's expensive over here, but 10x better. After that, me and my companion met with Alhin (the former member, gay man). He actually just received word from the 1st Presidency that he can be baptized in 2 weeks! He's so excited!
Saturday was probably the best day of the week. Apparently, there's this family a few villes over that the Epinal missionaries always go and do service for each Saturday, the Cuche family. Since I've got here, our schedules have been pretty whack so we hadn't been able to do so yet. Yesterday was going to be my first time meeting them. My companion refused to tell me anything about them and said, "for years the senior companions haven't told their companions about them, because it's supposed to be a surprise. You'll just have to see what they're like when we get there". Well, I don't like surprises like that. SO, because we are now a Facebook mission, I was able to find out a little bit more. They're actually a pretty cool family with a cool story. The mom, Maria Cuche Christian, is from Ireland and was actually on their version of "American Idol" (Eurovision) back in the 80's and made it really far (she might have actually won, but I can't remember). Anyway, she was really famous in Ireland at the time and in 1986 was voted as one of Ireland's top 10 most beautiful women. During her stardom, she dated another famous musician at the time who was a MORMON. They got really close, but she eventually broke up with him because she didn't want to marry a Mormon. Then along came her husband. He's from France but served a mission in Ireland. While there, he converted her and essentially her whole family. Apparently, he was a really good missionary and baptized dozens of people. So both of them are really well known in Ireland. After his mission, he went back and married her. I wonder what her ex (who was a Mormon) thinks of this haha. She's also 95% blind. Anyway, since then they have had 7 kids (who are all musical prodigies) and live in France. The mom also went on to be a contestant on "The Voice" (in Ireland though haha). Because their dad baptized so many people, he knows people all over the World, including a bunch of friends in Utah. One of which lives in South Jordan, so they talked to me a bunch about living in SoJo because they've spent a lot of time there. Then the dad asked me "what's it like to be rich"? Really, this question again haha?! He said everyone in South Jordan are multimillionaires and wants to know what it's like (their friend that lives there lives in the Polo Club area, so of course it's nice haha). Oh, I just hate that question, but at least I like their family. Here's why:
So after I knew what they were like, my stress went away. But I didn't tell my companion that I looked anything up beforehand haha. They live in this nice house with a nice pool and everything. Apparently, the missionaries have been doing service for them once a week for the past 25 years! The dad was telling me that the missionaries: built their house with him (took a couple of years), dug out and finished their pool, did all their landscaping, set up for all the holidays for them, etc. So basically, missionaries are free labor for them and they've been able to have nice things because of us haha. I don't mind it though because they are nice and feed us really well. Apparently each week they make a huge lunch complete with desserts and all the works. IT was soo good this week. Their kids are really nice too. They're all good looking and talented! Talk about a perfect family haha. Each of them play instruments (really well too. Their oldest children have even studied music in Paris and have degrees. Their oldest son was even playing Mozart upside down on the grand piano), speak both English and French fluently, and are easy to talk to. After meeting and doing some easy service for them, I was wondering their religious standings. One of their daughters, Stephanie, was really open and actually told me. She said that her dad has a really strong, sarcastic personality and lots of people don't like that (he does. He kinda came off as rude when I first met him. He also has a really crude sense of humor. I'm just gonna have to get used to it haha). She says that they're inactive because members in the two closest wards/branches offended them and they were sick of it. She also said that it's really hard to be Mormon in France, because everyone has wrong impressions of the religion and there are no teenagers in the church. She said she wants to be active, she just wants to be able to have other people her age at church so she doesn't feel alone. THAT MEANS I HAVE SOME WORK TO DO!!! The family told me that they feel so bad that I'm starting my mission in Epinal. They say it's the "armpit" of the mission. I asked them why and they said that the people are mean and there's nothing to do there. I haven't experienced that yet, but it's funny to know what people outside of Epinal think of Epinal. They say that it's the place of "inbreds" HA. I almost choked on my baguette! They were also shocked that I am 18. They say that I'm a "baby" haha. Anyway, they said that if I'm still here for Christmas, they always have the missionaries over then. And they say that they do Christmas the "Irish way" so it's so good. I guess if I'm still in this area by that time, I'll be happy. It's good to learn French, but spending Christmas in a nice, English home would be really fun. And I'm sure the food will be top notch as well.
The next day was church. We had more people show up than last week which was nice. I was asked to give a talk right before Sacrament started. I said yes, but I was so nervous. I messed up on the sacrament prayer and had to do it twice. Oh well, I'm new at this haha. After that I went up to give a talk. It was bad, but I was trying. The dad of the family we moved last week was there and he helped me with a few translations (because he's fluent in English and French). The Branch Presidents wife also knows English and smiled and gave me thumbs up every time I said something correctly. She made me feel so happy haha. They all congratulated me afterward (even though it was really bad) and the Branch President's wife gave me and my companion a bag full of food. So nice. I like these people a lot. Hopefully, I can show the Cuche family how cool the branch really is and get them back? I don't know how, but I can try.
Today we went grocery shopping. The possessed man that chased my companion a few weeks back was there, so now we know where he shops. He looks like Rasputin from Anastasia, so really creepy. He kept coming over to us and chanting weird things. I definitely felt unsafe, but it was good knowing that we were in a very public setting with lots of cameras.
A member of the Branch gave me and my companion a huge McDonald's pamphlet with lots of coupons. The grocery store was right next to McDonald's and the coupons expire at the end of the week. So what did I suggest? Getting McDonald's for lunch. What did my companion say you ask? "No, I don't have the money for it." Then I suggested paying for both of us. His first response, "No, that's a waste of money". With one of the coupons, we could've gotten both of us meals for only 7 euros. So I told him that 7 euros isn't a lot for 2 people and I was more than happy to pay. Then his argument was about how we don't have time to stop and eat to be able to catch our bus. The bus runs every 30 mins, so I told him that. He still wouldn't budge. Don't worry people, I WILL FIND A WAY TO USE AT LEAST ONE OF THESE COUPONS BY THE END OF THE WEEK, MARK MY WORDS hahahaaha. American food is definitely worth the trip, especially when you have lots of coupons. Any suggestions on how to get him on board? Let me know! He also says that he's going to try to get the Mission President to let him finish his mission here with me, because he wants to be here for Christmas time with the Cuche family. OH NO :'( I might be with him till February if that happens. Wish me luck!
Overall, the companionship was better this week. He never apologized for anything or recognized that it was wrong of him to be bossy, but he let me know why he's so grumpy. That's all I could ask for. At least now I know that it is not my fault. He also says that his personality is really stubborn and advised me to never bring up "facts", because he knows them all and if I get something wrong he'll "argue" with me. Oh well, I just have to be careful with what I say apparently. But overall he was nicer this week. Not a lot better, but a little. That's all I wanted, so I know Heavenly Father is answering my prayers. AND Heavenly Father put a wonderful, English speaking family for me to interact with once a week and (hopefully) have Christmas with. So that was definitely a tender mercy. The ward members were also especially great to me this week and I'm really thankful. Right now, there's no place I'd rather be. Even when my companion is driving me crazy, all is well. Thanks for all your prayers and emails. They all mean a lot.
I definitely didn't take a lot of pictures this week, so forgive me. I know that most people like the pictures way more than the actual email. NEXT WEEK THERE WILL BE LOTS, I promise. If I take anymore today I'll send them over!
Thanks again for all the love and support. Love you all. Feel free to email me whenever!!! :)
Love,
Elder Connor Anderson
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