Bon Jour! First Letter from France

ooooo boy France! France! France! The land of Material and judgments! Perhaps I fit right in because the first couple days here have been nothing short of a brand new experience and quick judgments.

My companions name is Elder Graham from Spanish Fork, UTAH.

O well, the first thing I noticed in France was how small every single car was its ridiculous they sound like little itty bitty lawn mowers I would be embarrassed to drive one-- ha ha they are so cute. Every single bathroom in France separates the toilet from the shower and sink! It is beautiful here in France.

The first full day I was in Pau, Elder Graham and I went to 3 less active members houses. The first maison we went to this old old old old old lady had over 30 dogs running around and over 70 birds in cages it was insane and super loud. We went with Frere Lyon who is Chinese that was originally Buddhist. He is the ward mission leader. He gave the lesson on the Liahona and they had me bear my testimony on prophets. So far every french maison I have been in has offered me tarts, cookies or some swweeeeeeet fruity drank its super delish!

Its sort a weird because the french members whom I met yesterday and Saturday at conference all look at me with this look of oooo you don't speak very good french. They are super nice about it and everything but its like that look of oooo I feel bad for you and I don't understand you... sort a awkward but funny. The youth in Pau is tight there are about 100 members and the youth love talking to the American Missionary and laughing and laughing about my poor french and accent its tons of fun. I got to play piano with one of them for a few minutes and he was nicer to me.

We are on the 13th floor of a huge apt building in downtown Pau. Its got a great view of the catholic cathedral off in the distance and the city. I love our little deck. Elder Graham and I sing, plan and have tons of fun in the fresh air of the french sky. We are in the heart of the ville and hear the bells ring every morning It's sooo french esssk! Seriously bells in the morning, all i need now is a baguette as well as a barie.

We have had dinner at a few members houses. French People take forever to eat. It's way more social and takes forever. We have had a few dinner appointments and our fastest one has been 2 hours. Also, whenever I tell people I'm from Washington they all think its WA DC and so I try and explain "pas DC, pas DC" they just don't get it it's funny. A few nights ago we ate at Frere Lyons and he fed Elder Graham and I tonnnnnss of egg rolls that he hand made. He gave us a ridiculous amount of food just to see if we would be polite and eat it all! I'm not going to lie, one of the more challenging things thus far on the mission!! It was delicious!


I have only seen one fast food McDonalds here and it is ALWAYS packed the have huge lines and no exaggeration probably about 50 kids constantly at Micky Ds, I miss ice and drinking fountains. Everything is from tap and the milk here just isn't the same... scratch that tons of things here just isn't the same... namely the language haha!!

Elder Graham only has 6 months in the mission left and his faith and french is awesome. He is a great example and we relate on many levels. I'm so happy that
Everyone hears beeezoooos by the way as in kiss cheek to cheek. When I told one of the kids in the ward, in America we only shake hands, he was super surprised and asked Elder Graham if I was lying.

There are geckos running around or a some kind of lizard looking thing also running around its interesting I think I might try and catch one. Tons of them don't have a tail parc que people love tearing them off so there are tons of tailless geckos running around in France.

Elder Graham and I use the bus system for everything. Well I love you all and miss the great Northwest a ton, France is good too though :) The baguettes and things here are Amazing! Thanks you for all of your letters and support The Gospel of Jesus Christ is so real and so true and I'm so grateful for the opportunity I have had and that we indeed have a prophet on the earth to lead us.
love,
Elder Garlock

P.S. Here are some cheeses that I have tried and enjoy. You should try them, if you can find them in the United States:
Soignon Frommage De Chevre
Casino Carre Frommage A Pate molle
Coulommiers Carrefour Doux and Moelleux
President Rondele au Bleu
and we ate this really amazing ice cream bar called Magnum Ecuador Dark no joke its named Magnum Ecuador Dark I was super surprised