Monday, April 28, 2014
Forgive one another
Bonjour!
This has been an awesome, rainy week here in Toulouse! Unfortunately, my dear dear companion, Elder Dalton, fell ill this week. He was sick up through Thursday, so unfortunately we were not able to leave the apartment for a lot of the time. I spent a lot of time cleaning out the apartment... and uncovered some really interesting stuff haha. But now I have a testimony about cleanliness and order.
This Saturday, we had the chance to do an exchange with the zone leaders. Due to poor planning, me and Elder Adams (Zone Leader) found ourselves out in short sleeve shirts in the cold rain, and we had a full day of work still ahead of us. We decided to just roll with it, and do our work with a smile. We taught 2 lessons to their amis, and that was really cool. We also had some really good conversations just on the road in the pouring rain. We stopped a young couple, and once they warmed up to us, we had a solid 20 minute conversation in the rain. We testified to these people that there is a God, and that he loves us. We gave them our information, and hopefully we will hear from them in the future. :) Also, My companion while on exchange found 2 families and a young adult to teach all in one day! so this next week I will have some good things to report.
My little thought for this week comes from Matt 6:14
I forgot to bring my bible, but it says basically "if you forgive everybody of their trespasses against you, God will forgive you of yours". It hit me that this is a simple thing that will basically get me into heaven. I thought a lot about the miracle of forgiveness, and how miraculous it is that Christ has made it possible for us to be forgiven, not matter what we have done. In return for this, he just asks that we forgive one another. It's not always easy, but let's all try to be more forgiving this week :)
Love you all,
Elder Duckworth
Monday, April 21, 2014
There Will Be Opposition In All Things
Bonjour à tous et toutes!
This has been a fantastic week here in Toulouse that has been full of Miracles. I am still getting used to such a big city. It's a big difference from the cities I have served in before, so Its going to take some adjustment. The ward here is Awesome, there were 156 people at church yesterday! There are some amazing members here, and they are commited to missionary work, so I am very excited for that.
As for our work here, we are basically starting from ground zero, so that means that we get to do a lot of contacting. In a big city it's a lot different, because there is always somebody to talk to. This Saturday, we decided to do a Super Samedi to commemerate easter and thank him in our own small way. We decided that we would do this by being out and working all day, not stopping until it was time to come back inside at 9. We set some high goals as far as numbers go to really push us. We had a glorious, long day full of contacting and passing people, and were able to exceed our goals, which was awesome! Towards the end of the day, we decided to go to Capitol, which is a big square downtown. As we almost got there, a bird took a giant poop on me. It was all down my back, and it was really gross. We had to go to a nearby members house to get it all cleaned off. I didn't let this discourage me though, and decided to keep a smile on my face. We finished the night strong, and we were exhausted. We got back to our neighborhood at about 8:45, and decided that we would finish strong and stay out all the way until 900. We did some more contacting, and we made the triumphant return to our apartment after a fullfiling days work. As we were about to enter the apartment, it was brought to my attention that once again, the birds had gotten me. 2 times in one day!!! And that is how I finished up the day :)
Its a funny story, but there really is something to be learned from it. There will be opposition in all things. The more we try to do what is right, the more the adversary will attack us.
As this last weekend was Easter, I really studied and reflected on the Savior. As a missionary, I have grown a lot in my understanding of him. I just want to take the opportunity to let you all know that I know that He is our Savior. He suffered and died for us. For me, and for you. He did this because he loves us. He loves you so much. And the message that as a Missionary I try to share with the whole world is that HE LIVES. He has overcome death, and by that has made it possible for us to do the same. He suffered for us, so that we can be rid of all of the awful things we experience in life that weigh us down. He wants more than anything for us to come unto him. He has asked us to take his yoke upon us. For his yoke is easy, and his burden is light.
Love you all, have a great week!
Elder Duckworth
This has been a fantastic week here in Toulouse that has been full of Miracles. I am still getting used to such a big city. It's a big difference from the cities I have served in before, so Its going to take some adjustment. The ward here is Awesome, there were 156 people at church yesterday! There are some amazing members here, and they are commited to missionary work, so I am very excited for that.
As for our work here, we are basically starting from ground zero, so that means that we get to do a lot of contacting. In a big city it's a lot different, because there is always somebody to talk to. This Saturday, we decided to do a Super Samedi to commemerate easter and thank him in our own small way. We decided that we would do this by being out and working all day, not stopping until it was time to come back inside at 9. We set some high goals as far as numbers go to really push us. We had a glorious, long day full of contacting and passing people, and were able to exceed our goals, which was awesome! Towards the end of the day, we decided to go to Capitol, which is a big square downtown. As we almost got there, a bird took a giant poop on me. It was all down my back, and it was really gross. We had to go to a nearby members house to get it all cleaned off. I didn't let this discourage me though, and decided to keep a smile on my face. We finished the night strong, and we were exhausted. We got back to our neighborhood at about 8:45, and decided that we would finish strong and stay out all the way until 900. We did some more contacting, and we made the triumphant return to our apartment after a fullfiling days work. As we were about to enter the apartment, it was brought to my attention that once again, the birds had gotten me. 2 times in one day!!! And that is how I finished up the day :)
Its a funny story, but there really is something to be learned from it. There will be opposition in all things. The more we try to do what is right, the more the adversary will attack us.
As this last weekend was Easter, I really studied and reflected on the Savior. As a missionary, I have grown a lot in my understanding of him. I just want to take the opportunity to let you all know that I know that He is our Savior. He suffered and died for us. For me, and for you. He did this because he loves us. He loves you so much. And the message that as a Missionary I try to share with the whole world is that HE LIVES. He has overcome death, and by that has made it possible for us to do the same. He suffered for us, so that we can be rid of all of the awful things we experience in life that weigh us down. He wants more than anything for us to come unto him. He has asked us to take his yoke upon us. For his yoke is easy, and his burden is light.
Love you all, have a great week!
Elder Duckworth
Monday, April 14, 2014
Toulouse, Here I Come!
Bonjour à tous!
So the big news for me is that I have been transfered! I am now serving in the Capitole sector, which contains about half of the city of Toulouse. The news caught me really off guard, but I'm very excited for the work here in Toulouse. I am really going to miss Limoges. That city, and the members there will always hold a very special place in my heart.
This week was an awesome week. The Limoges Sisters' ami, C-- had his Baptism on Saturday, and it was awesome. He is such a cool guy, and a close friend to me. I was able to participate in his confirmation which was a way cool experience.
As far as a "spiritual thought" goes for this week, I didn't really come prepared.
But This last week I have been full of gratitude for the occasion that I have to be here on a mission. I have so much to be thankful for. I have had so many friendships, lessons learned, and personal experiences, that I can't even count them. This week I just want to let you all know that I know that this work can come from nowhere else, except for God. The Church of Jesus Christ has been restored to this earth, and I have the best job in the world, which is to share this with others.
I love you all so much, have a fantastic week!
Avec Amour,
Elder Duckworth
So the big news for me is that I have been transfered! I am now serving in the Capitole sector, which contains about half of the city of Toulouse. The news caught me really off guard, but I'm very excited for the work here in Toulouse. I am really going to miss Limoges. That city, and the members there will always hold a very special place in my heart.
This week was an awesome week. The Limoges Sisters' ami, C-- had his Baptism on Saturday, and it was awesome. He is such a cool guy, and a close friend to me. I was able to participate in his confirmation which was a way cool experience.
As far as a "spiritual thought" goes for this week, I didn't really come prepared.
But This last week I have been full of gratitude for the occasion that I have to be here on a mission. I have so much to be thankful for. I have had so many friendships, lessons learned, and personal experiences, that I can't even count them. This week I just want to let you all know that I know that this work can come from nowhere else, except for God. The Church of Jesus Christ has been restored to this earth, and I have the best job in the world, which is to share this with others.
I love you all so much, have a fantastic week!
Avec Amour,
Elder Duckworth
Old Relic and other pics
OK, so one of these is an old relic in the cathedral next door, and it is the skull of a man named Saint Boniface, kinda funny I thought. There is also a District photo, and me and my lovely companion
Feeding the 5000
Bonjour!
Sorry I missed last week, but we have been having a great time here in wonderful Limoges!!
Not a whole lot in the way of news has been going on, we are still teaching multiple times a week, which has been really awesome. I love being able to see people progress in the gospel. It is such a privilege for me to be able to be a part of this great work. I feel like I am the luckiest guy in the world to be here.
The highlight of my week was definitely General Conference. There was not a single talk that stood out to me, but that is in large part because of how good every single talk was! I have never been so inspired by Conference, and it really hit me what it means to be a part of Christ's true church. It is a HUGE blessing to have inspired men and women called by God to show us the way. Our job is pretty easy. All we have to do is follow them.
Lately I have been studying a lot about the life of the Savior. I was reading the story about Feeding the 5000, when a specific sentence struck me. When the 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes were presented to feed the multitude, one of the Apostles said, "What are these among so many?". I think sometimes I feel that way about myself. What am I among so many? How am I supposed to "feed" such a great multitude? Using logic, there is no way that I am enough. But that is where the Savior comes in. With his help, the 5 loaves and 2 fishes were more than enough to feed the multitude. Christ does this with us too. He stretches us, and takes us farther than we ever imagined that we could go. At the end of this miracle, we learn that 7 baskets of food remained, and this shows that when Christ is done with us, there will be much more than what he started with. I know that through Christ, we all can be stretched to do amazing things, and that we will grow so much from what he uses us for.
I love you all so much. Its something that I say often, but I really do mean it.
Have a great week
Elder Duckworth
Sorry I missed last week, but we have been having a great time here in wonderful Limoges!!
Not a whole lot in the way of news has been going on, we are still teaching multiple times a week, which has been really awesome. I love being able to see people progress in the gospel. It is such a privilege for me to be able to be a part of this great work. I feel like I am the luckiest guy in the world to be here.
The highlight of my week was definitely General Conference. There was not a single talk that stood out to me, but that is in large part because of how good every single talk was! I have never been so inspired by Conference, and it really hit me what it means to be a part of Christ's true church. It is a HUGE blessing to have inspired men and women called by God to show us the way. Our job is pretty easy. All we have to do is follow them.
Lately I have been studying a lot about the life of the Savior. I was reading the story about Feeding the 5000, when a specific sentence struck me. When the 5 loaves of bread and 2 fishes were presented to feed the multitude, one of the Apostles said, "What are these among so many?". I think sometimes I feel that way about myself. What am I among so many? How am I supposed to "feed" such a great multitude? Using logic, there is no way that I am enough. But that is where the Savior comes in. With his help, the 5 loaves and 2 fishes were more than enough to feed the multitude. Christ does this with us too. He stretches us, and takes us farther than we ever imagined that we could go. At the end of this miracle, we learn that 7 baskets of food remained, and this shows that when Christ is done with us, there will be much more than what he started with. I know that through Christ, we all can be stretched to do amazing things, and that we will grow so much from what he uses us for.
I love you all so much. Its something that I say often, but I really do mean it.
Have a great week
Elder Duckworth
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