Packers France Paris Mission Blog 38
Packers in Paris Blog 38 – November 26th – December 2nd of 2018
MISSION WIDE CONFERENCE SPIRITUAL FEAST
After such a full and grateful week of celebrating Thanksgiving last week, came yet another type of feast that filled our spirits.
Once a year, the mission holds a mission-wide conference, where half of the mission attends one day and the other half the next day. The Senior couples take turns serving the noon meal one day and the other day we attend the conference. Our mission president and his wife desired to make this festive and filled with the Christmas spirit. It was just that!
It was held in the Versailles Chapel with President Paul V. Johnson (Europe Area President) and his wife, along with our mission President, Paul Sorensen and his wife. They are such inspired leaders. We were blessed to hear from all four of them and other missionaries and beautiful music!
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| Sister and President Johnson - shaking the hand of every missionary |
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| President and Sister Sorensen |
The inspiration felt and the lessons gained last Wednesday (our day to attend), were so energizing. I will only share a few of my numerous notes.
Lessons learned – not scratching the surface
- Sacred music helps to receive revelatory experiences and to feel joy!
- Also use the scriptures to receive revelation
- Set daily goals
- Stretch not stress!
- What brings you peace?
- Earth is a road to repentance and forgiveness
- Acquire a Christlike attribute of patience
o Patience is the capacity to endure delay, trouble, opposition, or suffering without becoming angry, frustrated, or anxious. It is the ability to do God’s will and accept His timing. When you are patient, you hold up under pressure and are able to face adversity calmly and hopefully. Patience is related to hope and faith—you must wait for the Lord’s promised blessings to be fulfilled. PMG Chapter 6
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| Elder Keine - is this what you call a photo bom? I thought photo bombs were in the back? |
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| Anticipating sisters and elders for the conference to start |
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| There's always a smile on their faces! |
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| Elder Ballard and Elder Poulson |
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| Sister Johnson & Sister Johnson hugged all the sisters |
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| Elder Durant and Elder Wallace - our beloved Assistants to the President |
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| Beautiful musical number |
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| Festive table decor |
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| Food Glorious Food! |
Temple blessings
After the conference, we walked about 25 minutes to the temple and attended another meeting in the visitor center, given beautifully by Elder and Sœur Woods.
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| The temple garden during the holidays |
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| Visitor Center of the Paris Temple |
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| Sister Nduwumana |
We then had planned on doing initiatory in the temple, but the temple workers needed another couple in the sealing room. We were happy to do so. As we went in, we were pleased to know we were in the same sealing session as President and Sister Johnson. We had earlier spoken with the Johnsons at the conference and mentioned our connection with Sister Johnson’s sister Stephanie Chapman, who is our daughter Janine’s old neighbor in Monticello, and also their mother who also lived across the street from Janine. We also mentioned our connection with Scott and Geri Conlin from Layton, UT. Elder Conlin is President Johnson’s new Executive Secretary.
I was humbled by our tender conversation and the trials they’ve been asked to bear, obviously with faith and perseverance while serving the Lord. We’ve all witnessed this same faith with many we know and love.
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| Evening time in the garden |
Preparation and serving the luncheon on Thursday
Thursday as we attended the next day of the conference, it was our turn to prepare and serve the luncheon to the other half of the mission. Our dear Sister Fitt had purchased all the necessities, baked all the potatoes, and made it fairly easy for us to follow. But to still prepare and feed 107, including all of the senior missionaries, was not an easy task. The missionaries were so filled with joy and gratitude! You can’t help but feel an abundance of joy when being among them!
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| Sister Johnson came up to me for a selfie to send to her sister in Monticello, UT |
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| President and Sister Johnson |
Steve and I are not highly affected in a negative way by dreary weather, but we are both highly affected in a positive way by the warm and blue-sky weather. This past Friday, as we took a walk later in the morning, the weather was perfect! These warm and lustrous days are rare in Paris in the colder months!
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| These are the kind of blue walks we enjoy in the wintertime! |
Some have asked us if we have been affected by the protesters in Paris. For the most part, no, but we did capture them going down our street in front of the center (we were asked to lock our doors just in case there was any trouble, but there wasn’t). The biggest activity happened by the Champs Elysees and the Arc de Triomphe. The images that I retrieved from Google are not lovely. It’s hard to see the great damage that has been done and know we are so close and how long will it last! Our bishop’s family lives close to the Champs Elysees and had one of their windows damaged. From what we understand the demonstrations are because the government is raising the price of fuel, utilities, and many other things controlled by the government.
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| This is the only photo that I took that was just outside out door of the center. We were told to lock our doors. I took this from inside obviously. The rest of the photos below are from the internet! We're only a couple of miles away from this! |
THE INSPIRING MORPHIS FAMILY
Last Saturday, we attended an inspiring concert at Paris Lilas of a family of 10, 6 boys, 2 girls from Cardston Alberta, Canada. Their son, Elder Gabriel Morphis had just returned from his mission here in Paris just 9 days prior, and then turned around to come to Paris to perform for two weeks. Their family, ages 7-22, are all musically trained in the strings, piano and vocal. They came to Paris at their own expense to delight audiences everywhere, ALL FOR FREE, to bring the light of Christ and Christmas cheer by their outstanding music and inspiring testimonies of Jesus Christ. They were magnificent in every way! We are planning on hosting them in Utah once we return and give them ample opportunities to perform as well.
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| The Morphis Family |
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| Elder George and Sister Joy Baty - they attended the concert - Their mission is to work at the National Archives in Paris, scanning documents all day long for the church! Joy also knows well Tom and Anita Herway and Suzanne Stott, both Steve's sisters. |
SUNDAY SABBATH AND FAREWELLS
We enjoyed a beautiful sabbath being with friends we’ve missed seeing for a while, and saying goodbye to the BYU Study Abroad students who have been here for a few months. Jaren and Jane Hinckley, one of the directors of the BYU Study Abroad program, have been in our ward during their stay here. They have been wonderful to be with and we were grateful for their great offerings while here. Jaron Hinckley is a professional clarinetist and wowed us with one of his own arrangement of, Lead Kindly Light. On the last day they were with us we found a fun connection we had with them, besides that my sister Janine knew them from BYU and Orchestra at Temple Square. Jaren’s nephew is married to Joelle Jenkins Humphries, the daughter of our dear friends, the Jenkins that used to live in the 37th ward. Have we ever told you how much we love connections?
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| Jaren and Jane Hinckley |
If we were to share one small Christmas thought it would be to ponder more carefully on how we move into this Christmas season. The hurried, bustling lives we live normally, seem to escalate during this season to make sure everything is done just so! In the end, the decorations won’t matter, nor will the Christmas party with its elaborate decor, nor will the perfectly wrapped gifts make or break your Christmas. But what will make all the difference is how we include the lonely, wrap our arms around those who need our love, take time to read to a child(ren), listen to a neighbor who needs our time, and give more generously, and so on. This is how we can honor and glorify the Prince of Peace, by being His hands!
Light the World
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints launched the Light the World campaign last year and is continuing to do so this year, to inspire our efforts to look outwardly and give and serve more frequently. By doing so we can more easily focus on the things that matter most.
We pray that this Christmas season we may each slow down a little more, find peace and joy each day, no matter how difficult it may seem, and recognize the joy and love He has given us so freely!
Avec beaucoup d’amour à tous (With much love to all),
Elder et Soeur Packer
Grandpère et Mémé Packer (Please be sure and use the last name on any mail, or it will get returned)
Our Address:
4 quai du Marché Neuf
75004 PARIS
FRANCE
Email address: Renée: srpacker10@gmail.com
Steve: wf-packer@hotmail.com
You may still text or FaceTime Renée at 801-564-1332
We are 8 hours ahead of Mountain Standard Time
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