Packer's France Paris Mission Blog 10

May 28, 2018

Packer's France Paris Mission Blog 10

Packers in Paris Blog 10 – May 14^th–May 20^th of 2018

BRIGHAM HUNSAKER UPDATE

In my last blog I mentioned our need for prayers in Brigham’s and Maddie’s behalf. Thank you for the rush of prayers for both of them. They are still in need of your faith and prayers as they are both still struggling with their different health issues (Brigham’s cancer and Maddie’s ulcerative colitis).

TEMPLE/VISITOR CENTER FAMILY SEARCH

We enjoyed our temple time this past week and also spent a little time in the Visitor Center Family Search area to help with our final preparation for our trip over the weekend in Charleroi, Belgium.

On our way to the temple, we met an LDS family (sisters and their daughters). We loved getting to know them and see their love of being together as loved ones. On our way back on the RER we met more LDS people sandwiched in between those of other faiths. What was beautiful to me though, was our conversations with them. I spoke more with this single woman from San Francisco who is not a member of our LDS faith (India descent, but born and raised in US). As we spoke, I asked her many questions about her work, her family and so on. I also asked her if she was dating and she told me that living in San Francisco was very difficult to find anyone worthy! Wow, I love that word worthy! She radiated such goodness and desire to make the most of her life here on earth.

FAMILY SEARCH WITH A PRINCE

Though our center is not yet set up for visitors, we do have two computers that we can utilize that are certified as Family Search Computers. We had an appointment with the missionaries to meet with a man from Nigeria, Valentine, who would be baptized the following Sunday. We were excited to meet with him, but little did we know of his incredible and heart wrenching story that he would share with us.

Once we got him into Family Search, directing him to input names of his family and ancestors, the spirit filled the room with the love he had for his parents, his ancestors and this work. He shared with us his heart rending stories that made this experience even more evident of the Lord’s love for him. He is of a royal line and his father was designated to be king, but was killed because of his royalty in the civil war in Nicaragua. Once he has been baptized, he will be able to accomplish much more on Family Search and see the fruits of his labors. He’s so excited to take the names of his deceased parents to the temple very soon.

OFII – NEW ENTHUSED MISSIONARIES

We’ve been asked to take on the assignment of taking new missionaries to OFII, where they become legalized after living here three months. We enjoyed this full day of getting to know these sisters and elders and waiting till each one finished their physical examination. The France Paris Mission is in great hands!

FAMILY SEARCH – CHARLEROI & BRUSSELS BELGIUM BOUND

Charleroi Friday 5-18-18 Arrival via a bus and seeing other familiar sites

The time finally came when we arrived in Charleroi. Seeing the river, the barges, the industrial side of Charleroi, the electric trains and so much more that brought me back to a place we called home for nearly 4 years. A home where my dad built the chapel in that city, where I attended school, where my baby sister was born and where I still have friends that our family has kept in touch with all these years. It flooded my mind with memories that are beautiful and very tender!

Apartment Renée lived in as a young girl

Our first destination when we arrived was to drive to the apartment that I grew up in. It doesn’t matter if one has lived 1 year or 50 years in the same place, it’s where we called home and where incredible memories were created while living there during our time in that city. Home is where we can make the memories that shape and direct our future. This literally was the case with my parents and each of their children.

We lived on the middle floor

Our Address: 69 rue de Cheminot

Claude and Léonce Ypersier

We next drove just a few minutes away to the Claude and Léonce Ypersier’s home, our dear friends who were so generous in allowing us to stay with them and make sure we didn’t starve. They are such stalwart, devoted and loving people. We were taught by their extraordinary lessons of love. Claude has recently had his 4^th heart attack and we fear their generosities may have put him over the top. We pray the Lord will bless them for their genuine compassion. We love them dearly!

Ypersier's home

Mariemont

One of my most memorable points of interest when visiting Charleroi is to visit Mariemont Park! Mariemont once stood as a royal estate and hunting park from the 16^th century. It is now a vast public park for all to enjoy! Its immense acreage is lush and green with flowers, roses and architecture and a museum with priceless rarities.

Drive through to Mariemont

BRUSSELS STAKE FAMILY HISTORY/SERVICE DAY in CHARLEROI

It was for this day we were given the opportunity to come to Charleroi to present new and innovative technology in Family Search and Discovery experiences. We were so grateful to present and hopefully enthuse others how fun and rewarding Family Search can be. In our room we spoke with individuals, groups and families on how to use Family Search and the new Discovery tools. I would invite you to attend the Salt Lake Family History Center & the Layton Family Search Center with your family and discover the excitement of getting your feet wet in Family Search.

Charleroi Chapel

Steve helping with a member doing discovery experiences

President and Sister Kahne's family

Indexing - she is hooked!

Some of the other events that took place

Present at this fair was a blood drive, a service project, a Paris Temple stained glass window production presentation, inspiring church videos, our Family Search and Discovery room, and last not but not least, food stations as well.

How the Paris Temple stained glass windows were constructed

Relief Society Service Project

Friends we met

I was overwhelmed by the chance I had to visit with many dear friends and others that became friends.

Our dear friend Daniel Porignaux

Sister Porignaux

Richard Abbenbrook - attended and helped at the Inauguration 52 years ago

Marcel Kahne - LDS Scholar and Renowned Translator

Xavier Rousselet - Stake Patriarch and dear friend

Brigitte and Richard Vanhulst

Edgar Roa & wife (Paris Temple Stained Glass Window designer)

Sister and President Sorensen

~~~~~~ SERVICE PASTORAL & USEPH’S STORY ~~~~~~

If you don’t read anything else from this blog, I urge you to read this section to the end of Final concluding lesson on Service Pastoral!

SATURDAY NIGHT STAKE CONFERENCE SESSION

This session was also held in Charleroi. I love how the Belge speak. They are so easy to understand, and it was as music to my ears to hear all their messages with such clarity. Their messages were most inspiring. I will admit I cried through much of it for many reasons. Each message shared was ALL on ministering! President Sorensen, our mission president, gave an impromptu talk an it was so inspired. These talks were exactly what I needed to hear, where a great purpose began to be unfolded and the pieces of a puzzle began to come together, ever since General Conference last April. Read on…

From the beautiful and inspired messages from the Saturday night Stake Conference session in Charleroi and a poignant discussion over dinner the night before at the Ypersier’s home, came a beautiful and needed lesson I would like to share!

From our most recent General Conference, we were introduced to a higher law on ministering, one that has been practiced by and comes naturally to many, but with a new emphasis on genuine and increased love, there is great room for improvement. It has been on my mind heavily ever since.

Useph’s Story

While eating dinner the first night we arrived at Ypersier’s, we began to discuss about their neighborhood, the ward and their family. Somehow, we began to discuss about our last General Conference with the theme of Ministering, which was aptly translated into French for the church by Bishop Gerald Caussé as, Service Pastoral.

Claude and Léonce Ypersier have always lived a life of service, one out of love, not as a burden or responsibility or to aggrandize themselves. They began to tell us (in French) about their neighbor from Lebanon, Useph. Claude and Léonce were kind and friendly to him, though Useph held back at first, a bit taken back by their kindness, perhaps shy as well and maybe even apprehensive. Nevertheless, the Ypersier’s continued their kindness and served him. In time though, Useph began to feel a sense of security with the Ypersier’s and a deep and abiding friendship was formed and Useph began to minister to the Ypersier’s as well with kindnesses and a genuine outreach of love. Initially the neighbors were not so welcoming to Useph, but after many, many months of them seeing the flourishing friendship between Ypersier’s and Useph, they too began to reach out and join in with mutual kindness. This was such a profound and beautiful story of Christlike love.

When we prayerfully seek God’s direction, to better know who really needs our love, who needs our listening ear and who can benefit from a smile, a phone call, a text of joy, a note of appreciation, words of praise, words of comfort and so much more. Remember more than anything to, JUST DO IT! Just love, just reach out, just look out for your loved ones, your neighbor, and those in need!

Final concluding lesson on SERVICE PASTORAL

Building relationships of love and trust in our families first, be it with our parents, our siblings, our children and in-laws, while at the same time seeking out others who need our love can be not only rewarding but life changing! We take these most precious relationships with us to the other side of the veil, so how we strengthen them now through love is vital. While at the MTC we listened to a broadcast that is repeated weekly for all new missionaries, from Elder Bednar, about always Looking Outward, which is the sum of his talk and deemed the most valuable lesson everyone learns while at the MTC. Often, when possible, Senior Couples will attend more than once, as it is so lifechanging.

STAKE CONFERENCE IN BRUSSELS

Claude and Léonce drove us to Brussels for Stake Conference. We loved attending this meeting. President and Sister Sorensen both poke this time and they were so marvelous! This is the building that Steve’s sister and her husband and family attended church for over 27 years. It is such a beautiful and very spacious building. Tom Herway was their Stake President prior to President Kahne. How they LOVED the Herways, as do we all!

After Stake Conference we drove back to Charleroi and to the Chapel so that I could take some pictures I had missed the day before. Afterwards we packed up and said our goodbyes to Claude and Léonce. We were treated so graciously by the Ypersier’s and will always be so grateful for their kindness and love. My heart is full for all our dear friends we met and rekindled friendships with.