Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Bonjour mon famille!
I miss you all so much!  This week has been a hectic one.

As soon as I set foot in my district room we started learning french.  Complete immersion haha!  Frere Lindsay only speaks French to us, so there are times that we get frustrated.  We are all praying, bearing our testimonies, and teaching full lessons in French (how exciting!).  The Gift of Tongues exists!

Last night my companion Elder Ollerton and I taught our investigator, Jake about the Great Apostasy and the Restoration, all of it was in French, How insane is that?!  I read the story of the First Vision to him in French as well.  He also gave a closing prayer and asked to know if Joseph Smith really did talk to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ.

How are brothers doing?

"I saw a pillar of light, exactly over my head above the brightness of the sun.  which gradually descended until it fell upon me.  It no sooner appeared than I found myself delivered from the enemy which held me bound.  When the light rested upon me, I saw two personages whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air.  One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other - "This is my beloved Son, hear Him!""

(MEMORIZED!!  WHAT NOW?!)

I know this church is true, I know that it is the only church with the restored gospel with the power of the holy Priesthood.

REMEMBER TO LOOK UP.

Say hi to Alec and Whitney for me.  I miss everyone so much, but I know that I am doing what is right.  Oh, the food is great and there are nine people in my district.

Much love family

Tell everyone to write!  Use dearelder.com.

Don't forget to choose the right and sing a hymn.

Love,
Elder Fitzsimmons

p.s.  I saw Elder Struthers!  Like Alma the younger we rejoiced when we saw our brethren were still strong with the Spirit.

p.s.s.  My P days are on Tuesdays.  It makes our day when we receive physical mail!  I keep them in my journal so I can read them.

Today was a wonderful, emotional day for our family.  Cotton entered the MTC today.  First our family ate lunch at Brick Oven.  The waitress gave Elder Fitzsimmons a goodie bag with two cookies and two suckers for him to share with his first companion (luckeeeeeeeee).  At 12:45 p.m. we pulled up to the curb and Elder Fitzsimmons was greeted by missionaries who helped him with his bags and escorted him away.  Cotton was nervous and excited, he spotted two friends among the missionaries who were greeters and this comforted me.  What a blessing to give Elder Fitzsimmons back to our Heavenly Father for two years to find those who are prepared and waiting to hear the glad news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  Cotton's favorite scripture is Jacob 4:6, take a minute to read this and feel comforted that he is right where he has prepared his whole life to be.

Farewell Luau

Welcome to the Black Pearl Mission.  Cotton Michael Fitzsimmons is called to serve in the Papeete, Tahiti mission and has asked me his mama to keep a blog for friends and family to visit for updates. 

Last weekend Cotton's dad hosted a luau for Cotton to say goodbye to friends, neighbors and family.  Mama Fueston attended, as well as 135 others to wish Cotton the best and to have roasted pig!  You can see my cousin Trenton in the background sporting a lei and tending his pig.  Trenton started roasting the pig Saturday morning at 2 a.m. and began serving it to guests at 7 p.m.  It was delicious.

Tristan's friends had fun.  

Cotton handed out sugar cookies with his MTC address while hugging his friend Jenny (pronounced Jennay, please refer to Forrest Gump for pronunciation), while Heather sports her headband.

 Aunt Lori, Aunt Julie, Grandpa and Grandma Amanda, and others helped out with serving everyone who attended.  I know Cotton enjoyed connecting with those he loves before leaving.  We love you Cotton and know you are where you should be at this time.