Packer France Paris Mission BLog 25
Packers in
Paris Blog 25 – August 29th – September 2, of 2018
TRANSFERS
– LEAKY WC – TEACHING DAVID
Transfers
Last Wednesday, while I worked on our things here at the apartment,
Steve went to the church to help with transfers, just making sure all was well
with the missionaries coming and going. It’s always helpful to have a senior
missionary present.
Leaky WC
Since last Sunday, we began to notice a drip from our WC (Water Closet
or toilette). We finally contacted our neighbor above us, who was on vacation
and then our guardian and proprietor to report the issue. It took a while
before anything was resolved. It continued pretty steady and finally by last
Wednesday after all our guests were gone, we ended up putting an umbrella in the
small and cozy WC till things were figured out. Things continued to get worse
to where it moved into our kitchen with steady leakage. It could’ve been a much
bigger problem, so we’re counting our blessings. Finally, keys were mailed
overnight to our neighbors apartment so that the doors could be opened and a plumber
to find and repair the problem.
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| Leaky Water Closet - the umbrella saved us! 😉 |
Teaching David
Last Wednesday evening we met with the Sister missionaries with David. He
was invited by the sisters to make specific goals to accomplish each day to
help him understand better what he’s desirous to know about the gospel. He’s a
good man! The sisters are incredible and have made a difference with their
sincerity and great knowledge of the gospel to help others. David is coming
along!
NEW
DISTRICT – NEW GOALS – NEW ENERGY!
We’ve always heard that it’s good to stir things up and often great
things happen. We had a great district prior, but this one in a matter of an
hour, had really stirred up the energy of our District. Elder Phair, our new
District Leader, challenged us with goals that might’ve seemed too high, but
they weren’t, not for this District! In just 4 days they have proven to be amazing
from day one! It’s such a pleasure to be inspired by them!
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| New Paris District |
MEETING
WITH THE THREE PRESIDENTS
We have been preparing and awaiting for some time now for this Zoom meeting,
having to do with our Family History Center opening and the Open House coming
in October. We set up a Zoom conference with the Paris Stake President, the Lyon
Stake President (over Family Search in France) and President Sorensen, our
mission President.
In this meeting we went through all the plans for our center, our Open
House and to know who is paying for what.
As we went through every item on our agenda, we were most grateful for
their enthusiasm, their strong support of the center and their willingness to
stand beside us financially and in every other way, for what we are in need of.
We were humbled by their love and ability to visualize with us the great
purpose and need for this center. President Loisel was on the Zoom conference
with us on our end.
There is much to do in preparation for the opening, but having their
final word on the financial support and all our plans was very much needed. We
will carry on with our committees in preparation for the Family History Open
House to hopefully be the middle of October of this year.
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| President Roland Lepore from Lyon France, over Family Search in France |
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| President Paul Sorensen - France Paris Mission President |
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| President Frederick Loisel - Paris Stake President |
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| Packers and President Loisel - All together on one computer for the Zoom Conference |
INSTITUTE
FANNY MALTERRE
The Institute Students at St-Merri are such remarkable individuals.
Fanny is one of them! She let me know of her plans on leaving this week to go
to school somewhere else in Europe for her schooling. She will make a
difference anywhere she goes, and we will miss her!
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| Fanny Malterre - Institute student heading off for more college |
PROJECT
CENTER OPERATION EFFORTS - DATE NIGHT – NEW FRIEND, LILA
This last Friday we spent most of our day with preparation efforts specifically
on the Family History Center. Though we’ve been working diligently on it for
months, now with more approvals we can move forward with certain items that were
being held back.
Date night and meeting Lila
After spending a long day working at our computers, we took a much-needed
break to go out to eat. We meandered down a familiar area we’d been to before
but took another detour to find restaurants we had not yet seen. The owners or
waiters/waitresses stand outside their restaurant beckoning you in. We stop
periodically at some that look interesting, looking at the menu and move on,
leaving them a bit disappointed if we don’t enter. Near the end of a turn, one
woman cleverly tried to get us to walk into the restaurant. We actually walked
past, turned the corner and there she was again. Not knowing it was the same
restaurant, she smiled and said she had a twin sister (jk). 😊
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| Lila Allaoua - our new Parisienne friend |
As we began to talk with her she very quickly opened up to us about her
concerns with work, her life away from Algeria, and her desire to find friends
with similar standards. I believe she sensed that we were people she could
trust as to why she opened up so much. We then invited her to our Young Single
Adult activities and she was very excited to want to join us, when she’s not
working. She gave us all her contact information and befriended me on Facebook.
We also had such a memorable time at the restaurant sitting next to an
old cathedral, named Saint-Séverin, also known also as the little Notre Dame (I
think there’s a lot of those). Also, a guitarist and percussionist were seated
between us and the cathedral. They played to our hearts content and so we happily
gave them a tip.
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| Musicians |
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| Cathedral Saint-Séverin |
Mathilde – Chocolate heaven
Sometimes a girl, and a guy, needs a bit of chocolate to finish their evening
meal! We only eat the healthy (70+ dark) kind and Mathilde had a plethora of
what we could have! We might have OD’d on chocolate that night!
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| Our Favorite chocolate so far! We love you Mathilde! |
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| It may not look like a lot, but more than we should've! 😊 |
CENTER
PREPARATIONS - PHONE VISITS
Saturday was filled with more preparations for the Family History Center
Open House! Trying to coordinate all three Stakes in Paris which covers about a
153 mile radius (246 kilometers) from the Center of Paris, has been a fun
challenge.
Joys of calling home
We also enjoyed visiting with my parents and some of our children on the
phone! I could spend all day video chatting with our children/grandchildren if
we could. We just take turns and call them when we can, which is never often
enough! How we love hearing their voices and seeing their faces. They are growing
up way too fast! Our thoughts and prayers are always with our loved ones and
pray for their well being and safety and countless blessings poured upon them.
SUNDAY VISITORS
ARE SLOWING DOWN – LESSONS LEARNED – CENTER UPDATE – SABRINA’S VISIT
Visitor’s
slowing down
Now that the summer frenzy of Paris is slowing down, we had less
visitors this Sunday, but nevertheless it was no less inspiring. We always have
in our midst some of the choicest people who come under varied conditions, and
they are always humbled to be here and to visit with us. We’re always grateful
for those who take the time to come to church and renew their covenants during
their full schedule of visiting the sites!
Sunday lessons learned – blessings of the gospel!
Katie Monk – She was guided to move to Paris!
Brother Black – We are always missionaries!
Sister Black – She loves the temple!
Sister Rhoades – She is preparing 3 sons to serve missions!
Woman from the Philippines – She has learned to be very strong, because
she is the only member of the church in her extended family.
Young girl – It takes effort to get to church, but always worth it!
Center update
After church we took another visit through the center to have some of
our committee members to take a peek. They were thrilled to see the progress so
far, as were we! The paint is nearly finished, the electricity is next and it
appears it’s not going to take much longer.
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| Eso and Anne Berberovic |
Sabrina
Sabrina, our wonderful neighbor, who’s right above us and had the leak,
came down to talk over the leak problem and give us her info for insurance. Earlier
we met her awesome parents who live about 30 minutes from here. Sabrina is such
a great person that we feel fortunate to have her as our neighbor. She’s younger
that some of our older children, and a lovely, happy woman! Sorry no photos of this wonderful gem! Maybe another time when it doesn't have to do with a leaky pipe! ;)
May each of you know of our sincere and genuine love for you!
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| The view we love to come home to! Our apartment is the green door right above the lime green box on the left of the river! We're on the 5th floor, but 4th floor in France, as the first floor is 0! |
À plus
tard (See you later),
Elder et Soeur
Packer
Grandpère et Mémé
Packer (Please use our last name on any mail, or it will get returned)
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
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