Packer's France Paris Mission Blog 9

Packers in Paris Blog 9 – May 7^th– May 13^th of 2018

Bonjour mes chères amis!

We’ve had such a delightful and full week! How can one go a week in Paris and not enjoy every moment? That’s coming from a missionary perspective, not even a tourist!

We’ve had much to look forward this week, even though often there are sweet surprises that catch us unaware.

BELGIUM BOUND NEWS!

This last Monday we received the go ahead from President Sorensen to accept a request from President Léporé (Stake President in Lyon, France and works for Family Search) to help with a Stake Family History Fair in Charleroi, Belgium for the Brussels Stake! Yes, you heard me right! This Stake Family History Fair will be held in the very chapel my dad built (while our family lived in Charleroi). We were humbled for this opportunity to attend and give family discovery experiences to the attendees. Even though it’s in our mission boundaries, we still had to get permission to go out of the country and for the mission to fund our travel expense since it’s a mission assignment. It will be a great experience in preparation for our center here in Paris as well. We also heard that the Saturday night meeting will be in the Charleroi Chapel building and Stake Conference will be held in the Brussels, Belgium Stake Center, which we plan on attending.

Elden Wood (Charleroi Chapel Building Contractor) and two of his Building Missionaries

FHE with YSA and BYU STUDY ABROAD STUDENTS

This last week’s FHE event came with many more students than normal, as we were flooded with BYU Study Abroad students from all over the US. This group is always changing as they travel around. We often meet them at church the day before. They brought added enthusiasm, change and made new friends. They were pleased that we fed them afterwards. If you feed them, they will come!

SENIOR COUPLE’S CONFERENCE IN VERSAILLES & THE SPOKEN WORD GUEST

This week we were privileged to attend a 2-day Senior Couple’s Conference in and near Versailles. It started off first as we attended the Paris Temple in Versailles.

     Temple guest, Lloyd Newell - Voice of The Spoken Word

As we mingled in the hallway waiting prior to going to the recommend desk, we met Lloyd Newell, his wife and daughter (who had returned home from serving in Paris 9 months ago). Lloyd Newel is the voice of the ‘Spoken Word’ from, “Music and the Spoken Word,” a weekly broadcast with the Tabernacle Choir from the Historic Temple Square Tabernacle.

Lloyd Newell

His message is always filled with such inspiration and motivation to be and do better. Read more about the history of the choir broadcasts below. 

https://www.mormontabernaclechoir.org/articles/music-broadcasts-to-the-world.html

I went up to introduce myself to him and his lovely wife, and that I was Janine Green’s sister, who was a former member of the Tabernacle Choir for 19 years. I figured he would know her. He was so delighted! He told me that he didn’t know all members by name, but he and his wife knew Janine very well. They both could not stop talking about their admiration for her for the wonderful woman she is. I couldn’t have agreed with them more! I bragged a little on her, with her recent graduation and also that she had just finished writing a book of our parents’ history. They were both such genuine, loving and thoughtful individuals.

     His Journal Entries are His Stories

I also told Bro Newell how much I appreciated his beautiful and inspiring messages that he writes and shares each week. He shared with me that these are his journal entries, as they are really just personal stories and experiences of his life that he puts into these inspirational messages. Here is the link of where you can read all of his messages. I love that we have access to these. Some of our friends who are not members of our religion, watch this weekly broadcast faithfully as their Sunday workshop experience.  

http://www.musicandthespokenword.com/messages.shtml

     Sealing Session

Our temple experience was beautiful as we were able to perform sealings with members of our group. Lloyd Newell, his wife and daughter all joined in this session. We were all touched by a profound spirit and peace for all who were together in this sacred place. 

     Training Meeting

After our sealing session we dressed into our street clothes and attended a special meeting for the senior couples in a side room of the Temple’s Visitor Center. We were inspired by the training we received, along with a beautiful history of the sacrifice that took place in France and Europe for members to bravely conquer freedom of religion and their rights. 

     Elder and Sister Newberry

In our group of senior couple missionaries, were Elder and Sister Newberry, a couple serving in Brussels and where Elder Newberry once served in Charleroi back at the time our family lived there. He said that he would work on the Chapel with my dad on Saturdays, which is what the missionaries did to help get the chapel finished, or it may have never happened without them. He shared some very poignant stories that my dad taught, that I need to have him write down or record to share with my family. These were new to me.

Sister and Elder Newberry

     Dinner at the Mission Home

After our meeting, we all drove over to the Mission Home where we were treated to a delicious dinner and a chance to get to know one another. President and Sister Sorensen also shared a little bit about themselves. They are such a genuine, gracious and kind couple who have been remarkable for our mission.

President and Sister Sorensen

     Hotel stay in Le Vesinet
We were grateful to get have a ride with the Newberry’s to our hotel before retiring for the night. I could tell I wasn’t feeling so well and grateful to finally be going to bed. 

WEDNESDAY COUPLE’S CONFERENCE

This morning I woke up with a bronchial cough that left me feeling weak and coughing a lot. Steve asked Elder Newberry if he could come over and join him to give me a blessing. Afterwards they then went over to Newberry’s hotel room to give a blessing for Sister Newberry. We so looked forward to our day and hoped to not have a set back with our health. I was so blessed and grateful for how good I felt all day. There was no doubt I was being blessed. 

We spent the morning at the mission home with all the senior couples, where we received much needed training. There was no doubt the Lord was helping me to feel better. We had such powerful and great discussions on varied mission topics.

Mission Home

     Lessons of Eternity

One side note was a personal testimony from President Sorensen at the end when he spoke of his deceased father. I don’t remember the clear story, but the lesson he taught about his father and losing him at an early age, touched deep into my heart as he was being taught a great lesson that the power and blessings of eternal families is greater than any pain we have in losing them. It helped him through his loss and taught us all that there is joy in knowing that families can be together for the eternities.

     Our Missionary Responsibilities and Purpose

Though we may each may have specific responsibilities on our mission, when it comes down to our overall purpose, it really is the same. We are here to help bring others unto Christ and help them know about eternal families and how we can assist others to know of these eternal truths. We can be a light and beacon for all mankind as we share our light of hope and love of Jesus Christ. 

     Notre Dame and Bateaux Mouche

The rest of the day was a tour day with other couples. We enjoyed this time getting to know each of the couples as we spent time on the train to Paris, and our other activities. Those who needed to drop off luggage all came to our apartment to leave it there, since our next stop was Notre Dame. 

I love Notre Dame, as it symbolizes devotion and great sacrifice to honor and glorify God. It took 400 years to complete. It’s quite exquisite! We love seeing it each day!

We then headed for a boat ride on the Seine river. It was a perfect and beautiful day for an hour-long ride that took us past notable historical sites. It was quite relaxing! We went right past our apartment and told everyone to wave as we said hello to ‘our’ Island! 😉

Pictures of these two events will be at the end!

We finally ended our evening heading back to our apartment for everyone's luggage pick up. We enjoyed getting to know each of the couples better and only wish we were in their midst more often. 

REST FOR THE WEARY AND NOT FOR THE STRONG

Since I was still under the weather, Steve took the day to go to the Center to meet the Family Search Computer man who was installing 2 of our 5 licensed computers for Family Search. He also had a lot of work to do to organize a storage room in the church building that is for storing a lot of excess missionary stuff! Well, that stuff needed a good de-junking and organizing. It looks so much, much better! That’s my Packer! He also stayed up late to help with teaching an investigator with the missionaries. 

     Project Update VISITOR

While Steve was at the Center on Friday, he was so grateful to be there when he received an unexpected visitor from the Area Presidency’s Office. Elder Bateson, the Area Executive Secretary and his wife, came to see the visitor center (requested by the Area Seventy since they are doing major review of the project). It gave Steve a wonderful chance to give him a personal tour and more details of our plans. He told Steve that it is a matter of frequent discussion at the Area Presidency’s office and that it will still be a bit until we know if it is approved.

     Friday Night Mother’s Day Dinner Out

Going out for dinner tonight was a welcomed relief! I love being with Steve no matter where we are, which is everywhere, but eating out and being with him was so appreciated!  

MOTHER’S DAY GREATEST GIFT

What could a Senior Couple Mom want more than anything else for Mother’s Day? It would be to talk with every one of her posterity. In a matter of two days, we spent Saturday and Sunday evening on the phone with all 8 of our children. We had to carefully schedule, but somehow it all worked! I was left with tears of immense joy and love from having spoken with each member of our posterity. While we were speaking to them, I took a snip of each of their families as they squished themselves into their phone or computer for a photo. Since we used my phone to speak with Becca, I never got one of her, but nevertheless, I’ll insert her photo alongside her dear friend, Chase Jackson! 😊 They are going to die that we are posting these, as some were from right after they woke up. We love them no matter! They are all so beautiful to us!

 

Nathan & Dixie Packer Family  (with Blake hiding)

Brandon and Camille Duckworth Family

Jaron & Vanesa Packer Family

Adam & Janine Hunsaker Family (with Adelaide hiding behind Mom)

Brent & Shalamar Packer Family

Jordan & Larissa Packer Family 

Austin & Emma Packer Family 

Becca Packer with Chase Jackson (this was given to me by Becca)

My dear husband is always so good to me and thoughtful on any day, but Mother’s Day is always a bit more awesome and wonderful! I also wish to honor and express my love to the dear women in my life! To my dear and loving mother, to my kind and ever youthful 95-year-old mother in law, to each of my dear sisters and sisters in law and to each of the 8 amazing daughters and daughters in law in our immediate family. How I love and honor each of you! My life is much richer because of your devotion to all that’s good! Happy Mother’s Day to all the women in the sound of my reading!

     Sunday Church Connection again!

I was almost sure there wouldn’t be any connections today, but low and behold, friends from our 2009 Nauvoo Pageant were in church this day. Todd and Allison Mitton were visiting with 2 of their 3 grown children, one had passed away 4 years ago. This is a very special family that we dearly love but had lost contact with. We also discovered that both our fathers served in the same mission very close to each other.

Todd and Allison Mitton Family 

GRANDCHILDREN – Prayers are needed       

If you could please pray for Maddie Packer and Brigham Hunsaker

We love and are grateful for each of you!

Avec gratitude (With gratitude),

Elder et Soeur Packer                                                                                                  

Grandpère et Mémé Packer (Please use our last name on any mail, so they don’t return it)

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

IMAGES OF OUR TWO EVENTS:

Organ Pipes in Notre Dame

Welcome to 'OUR' Island of Notre Dame