Packer's France Paris Mission Blog 8

Packers in Paris Blog 8 – April-30^th-May 6^th of 2018

NEW ZONE AND TRAINING

Last Monday, President Sorensen asked if Steve and I could start attending the Paris South Zone Conferences, so that we can spread out the senior couples better. We loved our Paris Zone, but quickly grew to love the missionaries in the Paris South! We were given an assignment for the following day to prepare a presentation on Health and Safety. We had notes to use, but that evening we made a Power Point to help make it more visual.

Zone Conference was the next morning from 9:30 – 3:00 p.m. The presentation went well, and it helped to have the PowerPoint to help get them more involved. The first half of the conference was in French and the second half in English. We were luckily in the second half! 😉

President Sorensen on the right with one of his AP

 

The Tallest and Shortest Elders in the Mission! Can you guess their heights!

PROJECT UPDATE

So, while we are still on hold as approvals are still being reviewed by upper management. We have been given permission to receive 2 Certified Family History Computers to at least get started on helping a few people at a time. Friday, we went and began to do more cleaning to prepare for the set-up of these computers next week. Your prayers are still very much appreciated to have our proposal granted and to move swiftly!

BYU WOMEN’S CONFERENCE

This past week, our three daughters attended BYU Women’s Conference, coming from Oregon, Southern Utah and Syracuse, UT to spend time at the annual BYU Women’s Conference that I’ve always attended, with one or some of our daughters each year, usually Janine. We have always stayed at my sister’s home, Janine Green, which they still did this year. She’s such a perfect host and so generous! They were wonderful to do a lot of Marco Polos, FaceTime and photos for me to help me feel connected. It was a glorious and great time for these sisters to be together! In two years, it’s high time all the women in our family meet up for an epic Women’s Conference! My sister, Janine Green, also directed the congregational music for the closing session.

Janine Green at BYU Women's Conference

VALIDATION: Lessons from a Senior Missionary “Mom” to a humble missionary

Last Wednesday as we attended our District Meeting, which includes missionaries from the Paris Zone and both Senior Couples here in Paris. We were grateful to still be with some of our beloved missionaries. We have grown to love them like our own, almost literally. Let me explain!

Our District leader taught a powerful lesson from Brad Wilcox’s talk, titled, “His Grace is Sufficient.” It has been one of my favorites for many years!

After this powerful lesson and other discussion needs, we were getting ready for lunch. At this point, Sister Bonny, our other Senior Couple Sister, began to apologize about something she felt she had done wrong and hoping to also teach them an important rule to follow (nothing serious). It was quite a tender moment, but one of the Elders began to mumble under his breath, why this rule was so important that she had mentioned. It didn’t turn out so well, and dear Sister Bonny needed to excuse herself.

At this point, I chose to sit next to this Elder and have a heart to heart conversation about what had just transpired. We talked about the importance of no matter who is right or wrong, it is very important to validate what the other has said and that it is done with kindness and respect. I then began to tell him that one of the most important lessons in relationships he can learn, be it with his companion, his friends, his future wife, his parents, and all others, is to show this same type of respect through kind and generous validation. Open communication can then be more present, and love and adoration is felt. This dear Elder was so teachable and accepting of my words. I also told him that it’s always best to be the first one to apologize! He quickly went to do so, but it didn’t work out till the next day when he went up to the Institute Kitchen and bent down on his knees and humbly asked for forgiveness. Sister Bonny was so touched by his actions!

YSA PLANNING MEETINGS – The meetings with no end in sight

I believe Paris people in general are very long winded. They eat late, they go to bed late, they just seem to do things much later than we are used to, but we’re handling it, somehow!

We had a meeting last Thursday after Institute and the meal that was eaten. We met with the Paris Stake President, his counselor, the Bonny’s, the Institute Director and the 2 Stake YSA Representatives. It went late into the evening and some had quite a distance to return home. Even though it was helpful, my eyes were struggling to stay awake. We admired that the Stake President, such a wonderful and caring individual, had the love and concern to be so present to help with important planning for the YSA. Much good came from this discussion and we are looking forward to helping them and the Paris South Stake however we can! 

MY EIFFEL TOWER AND MOTTO – I can secretly call it my own, can’t I?

I have secretly had a love affair with the Eiffel Tower. It started 40 years ago when I lived here, having a gained a fascination with this immense structure. I don’t think I’m alone! It’s one of the most iconic structures in the world. For me, it represents many things, but recently I’ve come up with a motto that this structure and pillar symbolizes for me. I will share that at the end of this segment.

Finally by dinner time, on Friday, we were able to leave the Family Center from having cleaned and organized more. We were thankful to go and grab a bite to eat at a Greek Kabab restaurant and head off to finally go see the Eiffel Tower. It was the first time we had gone there since we’ve been here.

A hole n the wall, but was pretty good!

I do not idolize or worship the Eiffel Tower in any sense of the word, but I will admit seeing this magnificent structure causes such an excitement in my heart. Its grandeur is splendid and a thrill! It brings back so many memories, but coming here with Steve and walking its grounds was truly magnificent!

Knowing we’ll back many times, I settled on a few cell phone images (I took more than a few, but hopefully won’t inundate with you with all of them). 😊 I secretly wasn’t ready to go back to our apartment till much later, but trying to remember we’re here for 21 more months.

One of the sweet miracles and blessings of going to the Eiffel Tower this day was locating another RER (the fast train) back to our apartment. It’s only 20 min from our 4^th floor to getting off the RER to the Eiffel Tower. Well, with that said, with this particular RER entrance being right around the corner from our apartment, is also the same one we could actually take to go to the temple, in a much simpler and slightly faster way. It was magnificent! It will save us a huge deal of walking into myriads of metro stops from one to another!

RENÉE’S EIFFEL TOWER MOTTO

Stand strong in the face of adversity, look up when life gets you down, and rise above the pride of the world! The climb may be difficult, but the view at the top is worth it!      RP

TEMPLE TRIP TRAVEL ENHANCED – Blessings!

As mentioned above, we were so blessed to find a new RER entrance so that we can go to the temple in a much more direct route with very little walking. It was incredible!

We loved our visit as always at the temple. The session we attended this time was all in English without headphones! I always leave feeling a sense of peace for what lies ahead.

We were in the same session as a couple we later saw on the bus to the RER. This couple noticed our name badge and later found out that the husband is one of the grandsons of President Dallin H. Oaks (1^st Counselor in the Presidency of the church). They were from the Chicago area! We enjoyed a brief and lovely visit with them.

 LOOKING FOR AN AFFORDABLE SALON

I’ve always cut my family’s hair, which has saved thousands of dollars in the past 40 years. But, what was I to do to find an affordable salon for a cut and possible weave in Paris, France, without it costing a fortune? As far as the haircut, I finally got desperate enough, and gave my husband my sharp, but great salon scissors and taught him how to cut the bottom of my hair. I was pleased and grateful to have it done! I think he’s hired, maybe only temporarily, but feeling grateful for his help as I keep looking! 😉

Hair Cut by Elder Steve Packer's Salon 

MULTIPLE JOYOUS SUNDAY CONNECTIONS

I think our Father in Heaven must enjoy all the connections he can create with us while in Paris, but it has been so delightful and always unexpected.

     Joseph and Vicki Anderson from Sacramento, CA

I happened to sit next to a woman in the English Sacrament meeting. In our conversation, we made the connection that her husband and I have the same Great-Great-Grandfather, Jedediah Morgan Grant. After church we had a wonderful visit with her husband about our connections. Joseph Anderson is a Stake President in Sacramento, CA. He will be sending me some wonderful stories that I knew nothing about.

Joseph and Vicki Anderson 

     Kim Egginton and daughter, Alison Simpson

Next connection was a mother/daughter duo Becca and I both knew. The daughter said that when she walked in the church and saw me, she knew immediately that I was Becca Packer’s mom. I was honored!

Kim Egginton and daughter, Alison Simpson

     Kirk and Blenda McGary (son, Cade and wife, Kinsey)

Next was another couple and their son and his wife. I met Blenda McGary in 1997 while directing a community children’s choir for Utah’s Sesquicentennial year. Her siblings and each of their children, (including her son, Cade) were guest performers for my program. I am good friends with her two sisters and her parents used to be in our East Layton ward.

Kirk and Blenda McGary (son, Cade and wife, Kinsey

GENERAL CONFERENCE THOUGHTS

As Steve and I have been studying April’s 2018 General Conference talks, we’ve been so uplifted and motivated to improve and especially encouraged to be much better in our ministering. These talks have definitely stirred our hearts! If we were to honestly think about what this means, our most important ministering would need to begin first with our immediate and then extended families, then to our neighbors and friends and then to all others. Through these selfless acts of love, we are building foundations of love and trust! We are a work in progress!

FAMILY NEWS UPDATE – Read if you have an interest

With the numerous members of our posterity and all that goes on in their lives, we could take several more pages just to share their news each week. For those family members who wish to know, we will periodically share a bit of news or highlights here at the end, though these family members (extended as well)  are such a light and immense joy to us!

We are grateful for the mercy the Lord is pouring down upon us with His blessings on our grandchildren who have had health challenges that seem to be never ending.

Maddie Packer is seeing some improvement with her Ulcerative Colitis, and though she is weak and in pain, she is feeling a sense of hope with her health. Jacob Packer, is recovering well from his recent major neck surgery (if they could only keep him from jumping off of a high platform would help), and Brigham Hunsaker is such a fighter with his Neuroblastoma cancer and finds happiness in between his treatments. Each of the parents and family members who are dealing with these situations are an inspiration and blessing to all of us.

 

Maddie Packer

Jacob Packer

Brigham Hunsaker

Benjamin Packer was baptized last Saturday, and we were able to FaceTime for this event. It was such a joy to witness with him and his family.

 

Benjamin Packer's Baptism Face-timing with Grandma and Grandpa Packer during and after his baptism

Jaron and Vanesa Packer Family 

Austin Packer, our 7^th, just graduated with his Masters in Cello Performance from The University of Utah. Next step onto his doctorate. He decided not to walk, so no images of that but some of his cute family!

Austin & Emma Packer Family

Bowen Packer

I also would like to share a grateful moment about my sister, Janine Green, for graduating with her Masters’ in Public Administration at BYU. She also wrote in a few short months as part of her graduate assignment, a most amazing book of the life of our parents, compiling years and years of service to the Lord and Country, with also the help of gathering from family members. It is a most remarkable book, titled, “Blessings of Duty and Love.” Lives and Missions of Elden and Picola Wood. What a treasure!

Très amicalement (With very best wishes),

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

Random Photos

Each of these men were former missionaries in Paris. They came back with their wives! 

Notre Dame at night

You can buy Eiffel Towers for really cheap! 

The Seine River just below the Eiffel Tower

When two trucks are head to head in battle! 

Hotel de Vllle just down from the Pompidou 

Three children from a family visiting from the Netherlands. They all spoke English so well!