Missionary Life

Jonah loves playing basketball on P-Day. He didn't think they were playing this P-Day so he didn't bring tennis shoes, but once he had the opportunity to play he went and bought tennis shoes just so he could play. He said, "I have no regrets, it was the best hoop session I've had out here. "

Paris has lived up to Jonah's hopes for his P-Days.  They always do something fun.

They had a cake to celebrate Soeur Teheura's last P-day with them.

The Aulnay District.

Jonah and his district got to go to the temple on P-Day.  It was the first time he has been able to go since the MTC.  He said it was so great to be back and so cool to do an endowment session in French.

After the temple they went to the Palace of Versailles. 

It is a 17th-century royal residence and has 2,300 rooms!

While they were there Jonah ran into two sisters he started his mission with.  Sister Jensen and Sister Rasmuessen are in the Lyon mission so he hasn't seen them since the MTC.  He loved running into him.  The sisters that he went into the field with will go home next month.  It's crazy that they have been out there that long.  It goes slow and fast all at the same time. 

The palace has a hall of mirrors, lined with chandeliers and arched mirrors overlooking the gardens. 

The gardens are famous for hosting historic agreements like the 1919 Treaty of Versailles.

Jonah really likes Elder Donat.  It is his first transfer in the mission.

Soeur Bowden replaced Soeur Teheura.  Jonah said she is really nice.

Jonah said the castles and museums are fun to look at, but he doesn't like to stay for a log time.

Elder McDonald imitating the art work.

Elder Laughlin.  They love to imitate the art work.

Jonah said it was a great P-Day.

Jonah had leadership counsel last week.

He loved meeting up with the other missionaries.

He also said he got to know President Liebard better. 

Disneyland Paris

 

Elder Laughlin and Elder Donat share the apartment with Elder Loosli and Elder McDonald. They all have a lot of fun together. 

Elder Loosli and Elder Donat.

It's starting to get cold in Northern France.  Jonah is not looking forward to the long, wet winter.  He said he doesn't see the sun for months!

Last weekend Elder Gary E Stevenson came to their stake along with their area president, Jack N Gerard. Jonah loved listening to them. He said they taught him a lot. Elder Stevenson taught about the simplicity of the gospel.  He challenged them to keep things simple and testify of Jesus Christ.  He also talked about the Holy Ghost and His job is to testify and bear witness of Jesus Christ. President Gerard talked about the Holy Ghost as well.  He read scriptures from Alma and pointed out that Alma testified of Jesus Christ and after the people had a witness from the Holy Ghost, then he invited them to be baptized.  Jonah said that was really helpful and they used that guidance in some lessons this week.  Jonah said he talks a lot about baptism by fire to help people understand why baptism by proper authority is important and how important it is to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 

They went to Disneyland Paris for P-day.  

This is how Elder McDonald felt about it.

They went to the downtown Disney part, where you can walk around for free.

They just did all the free things and looked around at all the stores. 

Elder Loosli/ Darth Vader.

Jonah loved exploring and seeing everything. 

He said he can see why people say Disneyland is magical. 

Jonah was excited to play basketball with Elder Gambee. 

There are two Elder Gambee’s (they are cousins). Jonah lived with Elder Gambee in his first area and loved him, so he was excited to shoot hoops with his cousin. 

Missionary Life

 

These are pictures from his first P-Day in Paris when they went to the museum.

Elder Goyes and Elder Loosli ran into one of the Sister's friends so they took a picture to send to them.

Jonah does a lot of exchanges. 

Vasikaran brought some grapes for their lesson.

Elder Donat's dad sent him some money and told him to buy everyone a treat at the bakery.

Jonah said the pastries there are so good!

Jonah picked this strawberry dessert and said it was so good!

This is Tina.  Elder Zeedik taught her so Jonah took a picture with her to send to him.

They had a fun activity at the church.

There have been protests in France for weeks now and they have turned into riots.  It started out as a student protest for more funding for education and now it's been taken over by far left groups that are looting and destroying things. They have destroyed business and lit things on fire.  They burned down the Hotel de Ville.  Jonah said they are able to avoid them for the most part.  It has affected transportation, but other than that they haven't affected them too much.  He said there was a fire by the church and they thought it might have been accidental, but then people started throwing fire works so the missionaries ran out of there. 

Sister Bravo went home "died" so they had a funeral for her.

This is Jonah's district.  Elder Laughlin, Elder Donat, Elder McDonald, Soeur Teheura and Soeur Foster.

They look like a fun group.

Jonah said they have a lot of fun together. 

Jonah was messing around with Soeur Teheura's camera at a member meal.

They went to a member meal and the elders all pretended to be asleep when the sisters came in.  

Yesterday for P-Day they played some sports and went shopping.  

Jonah got to do exchanges with Elder Blaylock, his MTC companion.