February 15—Elder Berthelson’s replacement got here just in time, the other day, to spare us a considerable embarrassment. He’s Elder Fee, a Californian, and he arrived in Tours at the precise moment when Elder Parker and I had an appointment with a Stanford-in-France student, Mike Pillsbury, who had expressed a lively desire to know more about the Church. The complication was that Elder Smith had another appointment at just about the same time. Now that we were restored to our normal four bodies, we were able to go to both meetings.
Our meeting with Mike was very pleasant. He brought a French friend who is a narrow-minded Catholic, and so we had to teach them separately: Elder Parker gave the first discussion in French to the girl, while I covered the first two discussions with Mike in English—in the same small room, besides. Despite the confusion of Babel, and despite the young lady, who showed a total lack of desire to know the truth, we had a good discussion, Mike and I. He seems to be a true and sincere seeker for the truth; if so, we’ll baptize him at the end of this month. Elder Parker emerged from these two simultaneous meetings totally depressed, whereas I, I came out enthusiastic and full of vigor. Such is the influence of a good and sincere investigator on a missionary.
Today, I’m twenty-three years old! My, how fast the quarter-century approaches! And only nine weeks of my mission remain. Incredible.
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Elder R Chris Fee and y’rs truly,
before the door of the Tour de Coudray, in Chinon.
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