Packer's France Paris Mission Blog 5

Packers in Paris Blog 5 – April 9-15^th of 2018

Paris is so beautiful right now with its pink blossoms, daffodils and tulips in full bloom, and the sun peeking out more and more with warmth and the laughter of children. 

We especially love this time in Paris! The crowds aren’t too out of control, before it gets to be crammed on every corner you turn, but even that can bring a charm, knowing that this place comes alive from people all over the world. That gives us great opportunities to meet people literally from all over the world. We love hearing their stories and learning from them.  

The crowds aren’t too out of control, before it gets to be crammed on every corner you turn, but even that can bring a charm, knowing that this place comes alive from people all over the world. That gives us great opportunities to meet people literally from every walk of the globe. We love hearing their stories and learning from them.  

I forgot to put this earlier from our first Zone Conference taken in the courtyard of the chapel where each of the Zone Conferences are held in this mission.

Project Update

It may not appear that there’s much to update, but we’ve been diligently working to fine-tune and update our proposal with bids, further designs and working with those on our committee. We could use your PRAYERS for these few weeks. Our proposal is being reviewed next week by several committees and then hopefully our Mission President will personally meet the following week with the Area Presidency to review the project and request their approval. Everyone is on board with the design and purpose of the building and our desire is that we are able to move forward without much delay!

Laundry Update – Because you were wondering?

Since I’m sure you were wondering about how we do laundry, we’ll give you a quick update. 😉 Our apartment came with a very, very small combined washing machine/dryer. The typical time to wash and dry 1 LOAD, takes between 4-6 hours in this one unit. At that, we could only put 3 white shirts in at one time, perhaps a small load of towels. Well, this past week, the mission office had a dryer delivered to our apartment, so that we could keep washing and drying at the same time. It’s been heavenly! Amazing what you appreciate!

Transportation

I’m finally feeling more comfortable to walk to and around a little and taking the bus (not the metro yet) on my own if need be. This happens only when Steve has to go early to unlock the church doors for workers or Elders, since we live the closest. I then come later.

I must admit I LOVE watching the interchange of total strangers conversing one with another as they meet on a bus or metro (usually this seems more common on the bus). If only I could make my video work to show you what I witnessed. It warmed my heart!

Temple Trip

A quick but enjoyable trip took place Tuesday, the 10th. Frequently attending the temple blesses our hearts no matter, as we feel the tentacles from above pour down upon us to help with our mission efforts, our family and our personal lives.

This imagine of the front of the temple was taken while we were driving away on the bus.

Elder Ho

Out of all the missionaries that I would speak of at this point, it would be Elder Ho. We continue to meet the most amazing and delightful and strong missionaries and hearing their stories and seeing their extraordinary influence of good they can have on their mission, is so strengthening.

Elder Ho is a rare and special missionary. He’s from Hong Kong, and his story has really touched us. His French is quite good, and he uses his chinese weekly for all chinese investigators. He is a convert of 4 years, from an atheist background. He has a powerful, simple, but profound testimony of the gospel and loves sharing it with anyone he can, with his very humble words of love for the gospel.

A blessing at the Hospital Chochin

Today we received a phone call to meet at one of the local hospitals to have Steve help Elder Bonny give a blessing to an older woman visiting from Orem, UT. What a sweet experience we had. She had had a reaction to some medication for her diabetes and had gone into renal (kidney) failure. This was her second blessing and by the time we got there, she was looking much improved we were told. Her son, from Spokane, WA flew back to Paris to be with her during her recovery.

She and several of her children and grandchildren were here visiting her parents and grandparents home land in Holland. This specific hospital is a university hospital and known to be the best, so they brought her via ambulance from Holland to Paris. At the end of our visit with her, I read a quote from President Kimball. There was great faith in this woman’s countenance and she knew all would be well.

"No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. It ministers to our education, to the development of such qualities as patience, faith, fortitude and humility. All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable, more worthy to be called the children of God … and it is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation, that we gain the education that we come here to acquire and which will make us more like our Father and Mother in heaven” (cited in Spencer W. Kimball, Faith Precedes the Miracle [1972], 98).

African Flee Market

By the end of the week, we took a little time in the afternoon to take a break and go seeking for the African Flea market. We had a great time, getting some necessary items, at a great price.

Time for Family

Our favorite time of the week is visiting with our children through video chatting. It warms my heart to hear the voices of our little grandchildren and we’re so proud of their amazing and devoted parents. We don’t always fit everyone of them in, but within a two-week period we seem to catch them all! I can’t get enough of hearing their voices and hearing of their new developments, overcoming obstacles, or whatever they feel like blurting out! We love every minute of it!

The major illnesses that have been lingering in our family have become the new normal, not easy, but each one has raised to a level of acceptance of their challenges and have grown immensely. We are so grateful for their faith and diligence to march forward without the support of their Packer parents/grandparents near. How we love each of you so dearly!

Stories from our Sunday Services

Each Sunday we attend three meetings, first the French speaking Sacrament meeting, then the French Sunday School meeting, and last is an English Sacrament meeting (testimony meeting) for visitors who come from all over the world. Steve has been asked to conduct the English Sacrament meeting every other Sunday with Elder Bonny conducting the other week. We’ve loved getting the opportunity to meet and greet the visitors.

Each Sunday the visitors who desire, will stand up and share their testimony, often of their heart warming and tender stories from their visit in France that are filled with miracles. Last Sunday, a little boy stood up and spoke of his experience, feeling sorry for the homeless and asking his dad if they could give a woman some money. His voice was tender and filled with love for all of God’s children. We are always touched by the poignant stories and incredible visitors who come through our doors each week.

One couple we met, were Bro and Sis Van Dam and their little baby boy. They are from the states and Sister Van Dam served her mission here in Paris and her husband in the Netherlands. We found so many sweet connections with them. It would take too long to explain!

The Van Dam Family inside the Institute Building

Sunday Night with the YSA at the Ermatingers

Throughout the week as we meet with the YSA’s, our regular meeting place is at the Institute building. It’s large, spacious and has many commodities that really make it ideal. But, they also really do like a change once and a while. The RS President is an American, and has lived in 13 different countries with her husband and three children, and they live here in Paris for only another couple of months.

They have been hosting a monthly gathering for the YSA’s at their large home for a couple of years now. These activities always provide food, which we all help bring, and then a small spiritual message, which was a brief explanation and discussion on the blessings and purpose of ministering. After food and the lesson, we played Tenzies! It was a bit of insane fun that brought so much laughter, acting like a healing medicine to these incredible young adults. They need this outlet of laughter, feelings of belonging and just pure fun! I’ll admit we loved every minute of it. We’ll be taking over in July after the Ermatingers move. We’ll somehow squeeze them into our much smaller apartment, but feel it’ll work!

The Game Squad Team! There were 18 of us playing Tenzies!

Que Dieu soit avec vous, (May God be with you)

Elder et Soeur Packer                                                                                                  

Grandpère et Mémé

Our Address:

4 quai du Marché Neuf

75004 PARIS 

FRANCE

You may still text or FaceTime Renée at 801-564-1332

We are 8 hours ahead of Mountain Standard Time 

PS Random Pictures

I just had to  post this! Just too cute!

Pompidou Center

Investigator at a fireside with two of her three children. She was choice! We really connected with each of them.