Packers France Paris Mission Blog 27
Packers in Paris Blog 27 – September
10th – September 16th, of 2018
YSA FHE NIGHT
Another
fun night with the help of our YSA’s for dinner. Usually it’s a group of YSA’s
who plan and prepare the meal for this night, most of the time. This time it
was a crêpe night with all the toppings for dinner and dessert. One thing the Parisiennes
do here, is use crêpes filled with meat slices, cheeses, vegetables and
whatever you desire. Then, they also use crêpes for a snack, with Nutella or
whatever they like, or the real treat is with full on sweet ingredients. They
made some Gluten Free crêpes for us, though we do not eat them much at that,
nor do we really like eating that late, but we couldn’t disappoint! We kept
ours very simple, but they were delicious!
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| Crêpes Night with the YSA |
REMEMBERING SEPTEMBER 11TH
Who doesn’t
feel something deeply about this day! The memories are quite significant no
matter what one was doing at the time. I happened to be ironing! Several years
prior to this time, our family took a 3.5 week American and Church History
trip. It was quite a life changing experience for many reasons, but the NY photos
from that trip will always be so tender!
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| Our 8 children in 1996 |
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| He's a keeper! |
WE ARE GRAEFUL FOR MIRACLES LARGE AND SMALL
How often
do we let the small happenings and blessings in our life pass by us as just a
normal occurrence in our lives, often forgetting how significant they really
are? If we take for granted every day incidences as mere coincidences, we are
losing a beautiful opportunity to recognize God’s hand in our daily lives. It
may even be receiving extra comfort during a most difficult time as I will
explain further down.
When the
more recognizable miracles happen, we tend to magnify their grandeur, perhaps
forgetting some of what God has done on a daily basis, no matter the nature of
their size.
If we
could only pay more attention to the everyday blessings perhaps we will
recognize the hand of God in our lives more frequently, and that His desire is
solely to bless and lift us if we only pay close attention, AND give thanks!
We have come to appreciate this more and more
while serving our mission. These tender miracles happen so subtly,
with no fanfare, and yet they appear to come when you least expect, manifesting
God’s love in the most glorious and loving manner. We have seen this happen
repeatedly throughout our lives, but realizing it even more on our mission, and especially as we
approach our Open House and the efforts to get ready to open our Center.
DISTRICT COUNCIL MESSAGE
We are so grateful
for our great District! These young Elders and Sisters are incredible, so
motivated to be obedient and full of energy to be ambassadors of the Lord,
Jesus Christ! They are always so cheerful and willing to help in any way they
can. We plan on putting them to work for our Open House in a month.
This week we were taught about the importance
of being diligent! This word has such purpose and meaning, but Elder Phair taught us more
of what this word really means. It left us all with a much greater personal
desire to be more diligent. I take this as a much needed reminder in my own
life!
One way we
can be more diligent is found in this beautiful scripture that Elder Phair
shared with us. Doctrine and Covenants
84: 85…treasure
up in your minds continually the words of life, and it shall be given you
in the very hour that portion that shall be meted unto every man. I testify
that this is true, that when we partake of His words continually He will pour
down help and blessings we are in need of.
IKEA FAMILY HISTORY CENTER FURNITURE HUNT
After our
district council, we left for Ikea to begin our final decisions with furniture
for our center. Most things we were given the leeway to choose, which made it
easier on one hand, and maybe a bit harder because we weren’t sure where our
boundaries were. By the end of our Ikea visit we had decided on most of our
needed items. Because our center is designated as meetinghouse space we were
more limited, but it will be lovely no matter! Everything was approved by Brother
Vienne and so we were grateful!
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| Our rug for the center! Yes, it's light, but the choices were grim! |
OFII
This last
Thursday we had another OFII trip with 4 new missionaries. Two of them were
accompanied by their companions. We had such a wonderful time getting to know
them, but I especially enjoyed my time with our dear Sister Peterson from our
old Layton Stake and her awesome companion, Sister Dorton. These two women are
such an incredible team. I got to see first hand how they work, as we talked to
those in the waiting room at OFII. Sister Dorton engaged in conversation with a
kind man in the waiting room, as he waited for his wife. It didn’t take very
long before we were all engaged in conversation with him, and he was helping
with some French pronunciations. Little by little we began to ask him if he had
gone to see the ‘other’ castle in Versailles, the Paris Temple & Visitor
Center. He had not, yet he doesn’t live very far from it. One of the Elders in
his vicinity was with us, began to talk to him, and before long Stephen, our
new friend, was willing to talk to him. I also invited him to our Open House.
He shared more with us about his dear wife and family. He was the most gracious
and amiable person.
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| Sister Dorton and Sister Peterson |
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| Elder Wood - Elder Poulson - Sister Peterson - Sister Dorton |
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| These Elders serve in Charleroi, Belgium, and Elder Wood on the right is often asked if he is related to Elder Wood who built the Charleroi Chapel. So, he finally asked me today if I was related to the man who built the chapel. And I answered enthusiastically, YES! |
COMPLETION OF THE CENTER’S REMODEL IS
FINISHED INSIDE
This last
Thursday we stopped in to the center to see that things were finished and the
workers clearing out the final debris. It was a beautiful site, seeing the
lighting finished, the new flooring uncovered from its plastic and the workers having
finished the final details.
With that
said, the FM’s handy man will come and finalize the outside and other little
items, but it was a beautiful site.
As we
walked in and thanked the main man on the project, we invited him to come to
our Open House to see what was to come of it all! He said he would come with
his wife.
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| With our main contractor man (sorry we didn't get his name, YET) |
There is
still much work to be done to finish the outside, and other final things inside
the center and then furnishing it! Who has time for sleep?
AMAZING ANCESTRY CONNECTIONS WITH SISTER
MARTEENY
This remarkable
story was shared by our friends who serve at the Paris Temple Visitor Center.
In 1850 Apostle John Taylor dedicated France for the preaching
of the Restored Gospel in the company of the first missionary to France,
William Howells who was from Wales, and Curtis Bolton, who participated in the
first translation of the Book of Mormon into French.
I took this picture of Sister Marteeny, one of our sister
missionaries, and a family of a mom and her three daughters, all descendants of
two of the three brethren depicted in a scene from the video we have in the
Center on the history of the Church in France.
The mom first came to France as a sister missionary in 1958. Her
husband and daughters are direct descendants of Curtis Bolton. William Howells
is Sister Marteeny’s 4th great-grandfather. Also interesting is the fact that
Brother Howells brought his nine-year old daughter with him on his second
mission, making her basically the first sister missionary in France where her
third great-granddaughter is now serving. — written by Elder William and Sister
Annie Dupuy Bush
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| Sister Marteeny is third from the left! She is so fabulous! |
SADNESS AND LOSS AMIDST ETERNAL BLESSINGS
After several weeks of
hearing about much sadness with major illness with extended family and the loss
of life with friends of our family, it really causes us to take a second look of
what is most important, to hug a little tighter, and slow down a little more and
just remember life is too short to forget about what is most important. As we have
witnessed these sadness’s, we also witnessed the beauty that comes from love,
service, heart wrenching strength, courage and faith! I’m grateful for what we observed
from our children and our in-law children, for their amazing fortitude and
giving hearts. They are warriors in our minds and grateful for how they are
blessing others with their sacred offerings! As we look at difficult yet temporary
loss, we know that we will see our loved ones again after this life and are reminded
of eternal blessings that are yet to come. We must always continue to live by
faith.
These images were given
to the wife of one of the diseased.
BUSSY-SAINT-GEORGES CHAPEL WIND ENSEMBLE - ITALIAN
CULTURAL HERITAGE CONCERT
This past Saturday,
we felt a need to take the time to go and support one of our Young Single
Adults. Jonathan Tomassini is a vocalist and was performing in
Bussy-Saint-Georges Chapel as the only vocalist, singing an Italian solo. The main
concert was a wind ensemble performing favorite Italian cultural heritage pieces.
It was quite enchanting.
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| Jonathan Tomasini and the director who accompanied him on the keyboard |
So many of
our YSA’s don’t have family that live close by and showing our support means
the world to them. We don’t have time to attend very many of these types of
events, but this one was a must! The large ensemble performed in a small
cathedral/chapel with remarkable acoustics. We’re so proud of Jonathan as if he
was our own son!
As we were
leaving the chapel, we suddenly heard the bells chime, as it was noon (it was a
10:00 a.m. performance). It was so beautiful, and picturesque image and sound was
perfect!
SAINT MERRI WARD WORLD WIDE CULTURAL HERITAGE
NIGHT CELEBRATION
Our Paris
Ward was also having a cultural night with people from all over the world. We
had many countries represented with foods, traditions, dancing and so on. There
was an amazing turn out! We were so grateful for the new and wonderful people
we met.
SUNDAY AT SAINT MERRI
As the visitors
wind down in Paris, so do our numbers in our English-speaking Sacrament meeting,
but not in spirit. We are so grateful for those who come to visit and stand up
to the microphone to share the most beautiful and heart-warming testimonies! We
only wish they could stay as full-time members in our ward.
Lessons
from Sunday
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Where do you find happiness?
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Remember whose work we’re doing!
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Miriam (age 17) just wants to be a missionary now! She shared her
amazing missionary moment!
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Charlotte - 5 months pregnant and just coming back to activity, wants
her unborn child to know of her deep testimony of truth!
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Tammy from Bakersville, CA loves the happiness she feels when she has
the Holy Ghost with her
So much
more, but will leave it at this!
Our hearts
are so full at this time and there is so much more we could’ve shared, but at
that, it was longer than perhaps any of you have time for. We are feeling very
humbled each day for the outpouring of love we feel from our family and all our
loved ones. We appreciate your prayers more than we can say. Each day is filled with a great need and reliance
on the Lord. I believe it is meant to be that way, so to never forget whose we
are!
Just a quick peak at our
publicity for our Open House! Feeling blessed for those who produced and
printed it! It will be going to the three Paris Stakes at church and to friends of Paris!
Pense toujours è prier
(Always think to pray),
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
I’m just getting caught up after getting behind because of the road trip. But that’s for the beautiful post! I enjoyed it
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