European pizza and questions answered for Steph's RS lesson

As for my week, it was another great
week here in Lyon, France. The "Mormon
monk" was actually here in Lyon on
Wednesday so we went out to lunch
with him and I got a real European
pizza, which are always interesting
(they have an egg cracked over the
top of it!). He actually helped us
teach a lesson which went very well,
and I felt like I was being taught,
almost more than our investigator
which was a great experience!
I actually wanted to tell you a little
bit about this ami that we taught with
the monk. Our amis name is Landry,
and he comes from a Jewish background.
We have been teaching him for a couple
of weeks now and he has quickly become
one of my favorite people I have been
able to teach. He is 23 and actually
a "cool" french kid. He is trying to
start up a publishing company and is
just working on jobs in the mean time.
We were able to teach Landry with 3
different members this week, and we
went to like 4 church activities with
him, which were all great! But it is
just crazy to see the amazing change
that has taken place in his life.
He met with us with the desire
of understanding why we believe that
Jesus was the Messiah, a question most
Jewish people pose, and he now he
understands the importance of Christ
and the need for his atonement and that
Joseph Smith, along with the Book of
Mormon and each succeeding prophet
even until today, is true!
We were at the other chapel with him
in Lyon last night and we actually
had the opportunity to take him into
the baptismal font and demonstrate
how it takes place. We will be
asking him to be baptized this week,
and hopefully he will be baptized
the 29th. What is so great is that
he will still be able to serve a
mission, and I really feel that
he will! I know that Landry is one
of the elect, someone whom our Heavenly
Father has prepared and I am so excited
to see him continue to find the answers
he is searching!
This week we also were able to go to
Geneva to hear from an area 70 for zone
conference and also had a zone leader
council; both of which went very well!
I love Geneva, and I cant believe how
much English I hear there! I think I have
met maybe 2 native English speakers here
who aren't members of the church, where
as is Geneva almost half of everyone is
American or English! Its crazy!
We also had an American party this week
Chez one of our members who is from
England. It was a blast and we ate
burritos. We had it because her friend who
is a law study at George Washington
University was coming to visit. While we
were there she said she was from Houston,
Texas and when I said wow, that's where
I am from, well, actually from Kingwood.
And she was like No Way! I am from
Kingwood. Wait, your last name is Welch,
are you Patty's brother? haha, it was
crazy! Her name was Cynthia Andres, and
she said she was in the other Kingwood
ward. its just a small world as a member
of the church.
This week should be another great week!
We have interviews with our mission
president this Wednesday and a couple of
cool activities going on, and I think
our whole week is completely planned
already with lessons! It is such a
blessing working in a big city!
I pray that you have a great week!
Your loving son,
Elder Bubba Hooch

Salut Moores!

As for your questions:
1) Have you been influenced in some way
through the work of the early missionaries
organized under Joseph Smith?
Of course! Apart from the great mission
that Joseph Smith was himself, the
early missionaries whom were called in
our dispensation have influenced me
enormously. I would say out of all of
the missionaries who have influenced me
the most would be Samuel Smith, the
first missionary for his ability to
pave the way for us all and also his
fearless approach to the work. I also
really admire Dan Jones, who served in
Wales. His ability to talk to everyone,
more specifically, to write letters to
mayors and literaly have cities listen
to him, has inspired me to talk with
all that I can.
2) What are some characteristics we need
to be effective missionaries?
We need to have faith in Jesus Christ.
We mush Love the people. And We must be
obedient. And also we must try and
establish all of the Christlike attributes
found in Chapter 6 of Preach My Gospel.
3) Why should we preach “the first principles” of the gospel?
Because it is through these acts that
we can be saved. But it is interesting
actually. Two days ago I heard a member
of the seventy personally tell me that
we must teach the doctrine
(ex. The atonement) before we teach
the principles(ex. Repentance) in order
for people to truly understand. But I
think that we must teach the principles
because they lead to the action,
which are the saving ordinances of heaven.
4) What can be the consequences of contending with others on the
subject of religion?
You get Nowhere! The golden rule,
"do unto others as you would have
others do unto you." If you want
someone to listen to you, you must
listen to them and be open for us all
to learn more. Contention driveth away
the spirit. A priest the other day tried
proving our faith wrong and20I told him
to come back when he want to talk about
Jesus Christ and was willing to help each
of us grow our faith in our older brother.
5) What do you think it means to “let every word be seasoned with
grace” when preaching the gospel?
Good question. I would say it reflects
the necessity of teaching with the Holy
Ghost, which we are told that if we do
not have, we can not teach.
6) Why can’t we preach the gospel without the Holy Ghost?
Its like what I tell everyone I meet.
I cannot convert anyone. It is only
through the Holy Ghost and their
personal desire that they can be
converted. Only the Holy Ghost
can convert.
Testimony:
I know, as well as I know anything else
in my life, that Jesus is the Christ,
and that his gospel was restored through
the prophet Joseph Smith. I know that
a living prophet stands at the head of
this church, and that as we heed to the
council of Thomas S. Monson, we will
know what we must do to obtain eternal
life. I leave you this small, yet sincere
testimony, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

Your loving bro,
Elder Bubba