Packers France Paris Mission Blog 39
Packers in Paris Blog 39 – December 3rd – December 9th, of 2018
YOU HAVE TO HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR WITH ALL THINGS!
We have learned and are still learning that when things don’t go the way you thought they were meant to go, you have to turn it around and see the bright side of things! Well, that’s just what my dear husband did this past Monday when we traveled nearly an hour to get to the mission office for our appointment with the Mission President. President Sorensen had changed the appointment online the night before, but the secretary didn’t see the change till the next morning after we were well on our way.
We had two purposes in going, one for the interview (most important reason) and the other to pick up a Christmas Tree that our secretary didn’t need anymore. This tree would work great for our apartment or the center. Steve quickly turned this unfortunate event to a positive experience, and gratefully chose to see that we still needed to come and pick up the needed tree. After a brief visit, we returned to our apartment with the tree (in a box)! His attitude allowed the experience to be a positive and uplifting one! Isn’t that the way we should approach life in general? There’s always a silver lining in situations if we look for them!
TUESDAY PDAY – ANOTHER CATCH-UP DAY & PRESIDENT’S INTERVIEW
One of these days we might just go sightseeing, but it feels so good to have a day to get needed things done. We were able to write letters, do laundry and shopping and have a little date in the evening! As I wrote my parent’s Christmas letter my heart ached with fond emotions of love and gratitude I feel for them.
We had our interview with the president in the afternoon at Saint-Merri just around the corner from our FHCenter. We were most grateful that we could have this time with him, as we had prepared for weeks to discuss our plans for the center, how to grow the numbers and our need for missionary help and how to use their help for good purposes.
He was amazing to listen to all of our ideas and was very supportive and excited. After he contemplates on a few items, he’ll get back with us on his final decisions. We are grateful for his support and know that we’ve got a lot to work ahead of us to get it all implemented! At the end of our meeting, it was mentioned that this would be a perfect time to start training all the missionaries who are coming throughout the day for their interview with the president, and for them to come over to the center and receive great training for Family Search. We decided we would start doing that the following day, as the President had two more full days of interviews.
9 MONTH MARK – HOPE FOR A WELL-OILED MACHINED
December 5th marked 9 months since we checked into the MTC in Provo, Utah for the start of our mission. We’re amazed it’s gone by this fast, yet with still 14 months till the end of our mission. As we see how fast time flies we know it will continue to do so, and with all we have yet to do it will be a rush to get this center the way it needs to be, to hand it over to the next couple. Our greatest desires are to reflect the Lord’s desires for this center and for it to run like a well-oiled machine before we are through. No doubt when it’s time to report home, we will no doubt be filled with emotions to leave our second home. We love our mission!
VISIT WITH CHARLOTTE
Charlotte is a 31-year-old woman from England but has been living here for the past couple of years. She is just coming back into activity to the church having been baptized when she was 8 years old. Charlotte is 7 months along with a baby boy. This shock and surprise spurred her to want to return to the gospel and get her life in order, as she had been living somewhat of a chaotic/wild life. She could feel the tentacles pulling her back to where she needed to be and has felt so much love and a better direction in her life.
The sister missionaries and I met at the Arc de Triomphe to then go together to Charlotte’s place, while Steve stayed at the Center until it closed. I’ll admit I don’t like walking in the dark alone, especially in places I’m not familiar with. When we left to go back home, they were able to get me much closer to our apartment, so I was good from there.
We had such a wonderful visit with Charlotte. She had many questions. She is brilliantly smart, and has a pure heart of gold for others, especially when she feels loved! It’s super easy to love her! We’ll for sure be going back.
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| Arc de Triomphe - The metro stop area to meet the sisters to go to Charlotte's |
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| Sister Jensen - Charlotte - Sister Bell - Me |
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| On our way back from Charlotte's we past this floral shop, which brought us so much joy! |
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| On our way back, we also came across this loaded car! I wonder if they could even get it off the road! |
DISCUSSION WITH BROTHER ROLAND LÉPORÉ IN SALT LAKE CITY, UT
Roland Léporé, the man behind everything we’ve been doing here, has received his assignment working with Family Search in Salt Lake City, having moved his family there after living 7 years in Lyon, France. They previously lived in the Salt Lake area for 10 years prior to Lyon.
We are forever grateful for his direction for this center, his “baby” in a sense. He continues to guide us as he works from Utah now. He has received his new work assignment to be part of an ongoing combined committee of the Family History and the Missionary Departments to help determine how those two can work together.
Last Wednesday evening we had a meeting with him to discuss how we can help each other out. He has been so instrumental in all the ongoing changes with our center, and now we can send him feedback and a lot of our experiences here in the center to help this newly formed committee. His insight continues to ignite our desire to make the most of our efforts here in Paris!
He stated that there are only 2 Family History Discover type centers in the world outside of Utah, one at the Paris Temple, and ours in downtown Paris. Our center is much larger than the Paris Temple’s FHC (which is off in another room by the visitor center). We also are able to access updates or new capabilities anytime they become available. This is not something the Paris Temple FHC will be able to do very easily or at all, from what we were told. We are unique in many ways and are grateful for our ability to receive updated information to help the many that come through our center.
VIDEO OF OUR CENTER – I MEANT TO POST LAST WEEK!
Our dear friend, Eva Antoine, was so wonderful to put together this video of our center. Sorry it’s in French, but it’s for the French people. We love the interview by Roland Léporé at the beginning, who is the expert to give the needed substance and purpose that this center is all about. He continues to be such a great resource to us all while living in Salt Lake City now.
LESSONS LEARNED FROM A NOBLE AND GRACIOUS MAN - GEORGE H. W. BUSH
We were unable to listen to the funeral services of this great man, George H. W. Bush, but through the internet listened to his son, George W Bush give a beautiful eulogy. We were inspired by what this man stood for and the example of an exemplary man we can all follow, no matter one’s beliefs or political views. Notes from the eulogy:
- He served with integrity, led with courage, and acted with love in his heart for the citizens of our country. When the history books are written, they will say that George H.W. Bush was a great president of the United States — a diplomat of unmatched skill, a commander in chief of formidable accomplishment, and a gentleman who executed the duties of his office with dignity and honor.
- None of his disappointments could compare with one of life’s greatest tragedies, the loss of a young child. Jeb and I were too young to remember the pain and agony he and Mom felt when our 3-year-old sister died. We only learned later that Dad, a man of quiet faith, prayed for her daily. He was sustained by the love of the almighty and the real and enduring love of our mom. Dad always believed that one day he would hug his precious Robin again.
- And we’re going to miss you. Your decency, sincerity, and kind soul will stay with us forever. So, through our tears, let us see the blessings of knowing and loving you — a great and noble man, and the best father a son or daughter could have. And in our grief, let us smile knowing that Dad is hugging Robin and holding Mom’s hand again.
These last two statements are ones that endeared us most of all! This is what Family History and the Gospel of Jesus Christ is all about and having faith that we will be together forever with our loved ones after this life. Connecting our families is one of the greatest gifts we can give to our ancestors so that they are never forgotten.
We thank President George H. W. Bush for his life and great legacy! We wish to remember the words spoken of him and remember that we too are living our lives to leave a legacy of hope for our future. We can best do this as we honor and glorify our own cherished parents and grandparents.
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| George H W Bush - Funeral photo from the Internet |
STEVE’S ALL-DAY FAMILY HISTORY TRAINING WITH MISSIONARIES
This last Wednesday and Thursday Steve started a Family History training with all the missionaries who were coming for their interview with the mission president. Since all the missionaries would be at Saint-Merri from the Paris South and East Zones on these two days throughout the day, we took advantage of this opportunity to help them in a more personal way.
The training went amazing! These missionaries are brilliant and learn so quickly but needed a little prodding to learn more directly how to help their amis and themselves with this great tool of Family History. There were two or more missionaries at a time as Steve showed them step by step how they can help an investigator set up a new account and to enter names to start their own tree, and then some of them even found some of their own ancestor names to print a temple card. Steve enjoyed these two all-day, exhausting, but exhilarating experiences with them and could see the great value of helping these young people gain greater confidence in being able to maneuver Family Search for themselves and their amis.
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| Elder Findlay with his awesome instructor, Elder Packer |
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| Elder Findlay found his first name! |
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| Sisters Kennington & Newsom |
Elder Drumeller told Steve that his family search has taken them back to 900 AD. We were so amazed and wanted to see this, so as he continued, he continued to go further than I had ever seen! I kept taking a capture on my phone as he continued well into the BC (AC in French) time period. Can you find from the photo how far this one went? It was hard to believe our eyes!
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| Elder Drumeller's names all the way BC - can you find a year (it will have an AC following) ? |
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| Elder Drumeller & Paxan |
Our friend, Wallace from Brazil was here last Friday, and so was our ZL, Elder Kiene, who speaks fluent Portuguese. Elder Kiene was so ecstatic that there was someone in the center that he could speak Portugues with. He went right up to our dear friend, Wallace, and spent nearly 45 minutes conversing all in Portuguese. Wallace and Elder Kiene made new friends that day!
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| Elder Kiene with Wallace - speaking up a Portuguese storm |
On Friday we got word that the rioting would intensify on Saturday and that the Mission President asked all Paris missionaries to be on lock-down in each of their apartments. As we stayed in our apartment all day trying to use our time wisely, we started hearing from our Bishop’s wife all the horrible things that were happening just on their street. Our Bishop of the Paris Ward on Saint-Merri lives near the Arc de Triomphe and was more severely affected with protesters walking up and down their street, police guarding their street, tear gas infiltrating their home and professional vandals causing major fires of many cars and motorcycles on their street. The damage was not all by protesters but was prompted by their major scare tactics. It caused fear and anxiety for all of us, though! The news still showed much chaos and turmoil and who knows what will be next. We are safe, and just praying things don’t intensify and that a peaceful resolution can be made.
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| Internet Photo - Grateful we weren't around to capture anything like this, unlike our Bishop's family who did! |
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| Internet photo |
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| Internet photo - This car was not burned, unlike many that took place |
OLIVIER'S SABBATH BAPTISM
Today after a beautiful Sabbath, I went with a group to attend Olivier’s baptism at Paris Lillas. It was such a sweet service and many attended showing him great support. Meanwhile, Steve stayed in the center until it closed.
Temple and Family History Consultant Training for Emad (pictured on left above)
Steve also had a chance today at the center to train the new Temple and Family History Consultant that was recently sustained in our ward. The new consultant is Emad, the recent convert from Egypt! He is like a sponge soaking in all the information he can, and is so excited to be able to help.
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| Elder Patrick - Olivier - Elder Cheng |
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| Emad - Fabrice - Olivier |
Temple and Family History Consultant Training for Emad (pictured on left above)
Steve also had a chance today at the center to train the new Temple and Family History Consultant that was recently sustained in our ward. The new consultant is Emad, the recent convert from Egypt! He is like a sponge soaking in all the information he can, and is so excited to be able to help.
Pouvez-vous toujours être joyeux et brillant (May you always be Merry and Bright),
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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