Zone Leader

This week was pretty good.  In regards to your questions:
Do most Swiss travel via public transportation
or have their own cars?

Most people take trains everywhere.
But there are quite a few carsin the cities.
The bus system is very clean and very efficient.
Is it a social status to have a car there?  Yes.  
You know if someone is rich if they have a car.
And you know someone is really rich if they own
their own house.

So how is it going trying to find French 
speakers instead of German?   
It is going well.  After talking to my mission 
president about it we havedecided that any
time that both of us are trying to find people,
i.e. knocking doors or talking to people in
the road, we will do an exchange.
It has worked out really well and I have learned
a little German while doing it.
Nothing beyond a contact
about the gospel though.

Any success yet or is it too early to tell? 
There is a little success.  We had an ami come to
church, his name is Nimaga, and he will be asked
to be baptism this Wednesday.
I am almost positive he will be baptized by
the end of the year.

So now, the moment I know you have been waiting for:
Is Elder Welch staying or going?
Well, this morning we received calls and what
President Peterson said I was not expecting at all.
I am being transferred.  I am going to Lyon!
The biggest city in the mission to be in the highest
baptizingward in our mission.  Not only that
but I am going to be a zone leader. 
That is what was so shocking.  
I am only on my sixth transfer.  I am not going to lie.
I feel really inadequate for this calling.  As far as I know,
the next youngest missionary who is a zone leader in our
mission is on his 11th transfer.   I will be serving with
Elder Black though, who is a really good missionary
who speaks very well (he has had three
French companions). I think we will probably
speak French all the time.
But I really am nervous for this calling.  I know
"whom the Lord calls, he qualifies,"
but I still can't help but think that I am not ready.
But, all will be well.  Maybe just pray to give me
strength and patience during these next couple of weeks.
I really am not that worried, but it is just shocking for me.
I know I will be OK.
I am stoked to be in Lyon for Christmas.  
It is a way big city with a subway and everything.
I am stoked! My new address is:

  Elder Clayton H. Welch
  Les Missionnaires
  138, rue Dedieu
  F-69100 Villeurbanne
  FRANCE

But I will be going to Lyon on Wednesday.
Being a zone leader I will be going to Geneva 2 times
a transfer for "zone leader council" which will be a cool 
experience.This week I hit 9 months!
It crazy how fast time flies.
But I can't tell you how much fun I am having.  I have grown
so much and I know that I will grow 
enormously in the upcoming weeks.
But thanks for all of the birthday wishes.  I appreciate them.
I don't know what I have planned for thanksgiving, but I am sure
we will get a Turkey Sub or something.
As for a Christmas list, maybe just a new suit.
Mine are both still a little 
lose so I wouldn't mind a smaller french one.
But that wont be for a month or so.
What do YOU want for Christmas from France?
Thank you for all you do.  I am truly grateful for all that you do.

Your thankful son,
Elder Clayton H. Welch