Packers France Paris Mission Blog 48
Packers in Paris Blog 48 – February 4th
– February 11th, 2019
OUR VISIT
WITH CHARLOTTE AND BABY MAX & SCRIPTURE STUDY WITH HER
Last
Tuesday on our PDay we were able to finally go to Charlotte’s apartment to
visit her and baby Max. You would’ve thought it was my own baby. My heart was
stolen! What a precious baby he is and an adorable and very able mother she is.
We loved
that what she wanted to do when we arrived, while Max slept, was to discuss the
study of scripture she had just read that morning from the Book of Mormon. She
has grown so much in her love and understanding of the gospel, as she has not
forgotten what has helped her thus far to find peace and comfort and a greater
love of God because of her improved choices.
Prayer
and scripture study and the love of friends from church has lifted her through
all these challenging and diverse experiences. It’s no different in our own
lives, no matter what level we are at in our religious convictions.
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| Charlotte and Max |
FAMILY HISTORY TRAINING FOR THE
DISTRICT FROM PARIS LILAS
In
December Steve taught all of the Zone Leaders (ZL) at Mission Council how to
set up FamilySearch accounts. Then each ZL is to train the District Leaders in
their Zone and the District Leaders are to train each missionary in their
District. The Paris Lilas District thought though that it would be so much
easier if they made a trip to the center and have Steve train them instead.
They were extremely grateful for his time and efforts and enthusiasm for this
great work. However it happens, the knowledge is what is most important.
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| Paris Lilas District getting trained on FamilySearch |
GUESTS FROM THE MISSIONARY
DEPARTMENT
Jason
and Amy Zander may not have realized that their visit with us last Wednesday
was a wonderful blessing, but it was as we shared with them what we have been
up to!
Brother
Zander works for the Missionary Department with Visitor Centers of the church.
I apologize for not knowing his exact title, but their visit was a sweet boost
to the Family History Center.
He
previously had been aware of and involved with the fact that our center, at one
point, was in the planning stages of becoming an official visitor center until
the Paris Temple Visitor Center was announced and then the plans for our center
were cancelled. After the last couple left in 2017, the center wasn’t managed
well and didn’t produce the results they were hoping for.
Having
been assigned to visit the Rome & Paris Temple, he was curious how the
Saint-Merri center was doing and what it looked like now. He and his wife were
pleased with what they saw and could see that much good is happening and that
it will continue to produce fruitful results.
For
those new to our blog
With
the change of our mission assignment just two weeks prior to departing, from being
originally called to work with Young Single Adults to then accepting the
assignment to oversee the design, remodel and managing of this center to become
a new Family History ‘discovery type’ Center, was a quite a surprise, overwhelming,
and humbling to say the least. Little did we know what really was in store but we
are so grateful for this great opportunity.
As
we shared with the Zanders not only what took place this past year, but also
some of the upcoming plans that we have that are near production, we were
grateful for their enthusiasm and great support.
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| Enjoying a lovely visit with Jason and Amy Zander |
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| Zanders from Utah |
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| Packers and Zanders |
DINNER FAREWELL FOR SISTER BELL AND
POSSIBLY OTHERS
Knowing
that Sister Bell was going home this following week, we shared an evening with
her and Sister Jensen, the Mandarin Elders and Zone Leaders to honor her and
possibly any other changes that could occur with upcoming transfers. (We later
found out that we didn’t lose any of the others in Paris, for which we are
grateful.)
We
shared our favorite Thai Green Curry dish and other delectables. They are
always so grateful and gracious about being fed, but especially when we feed
them something out of the norm.
We
will miss Sister Bell and know that her returning home after 18 months of faithful
service will allow her to continue to bless her family and friends with new-found
knowledge and energy to continue being a light of Christ.
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| Our dinner guests! A set of Elders were on exchanges, so we got to have even more join us! |
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| Sisters Bell and Jensen at our farewell dinner for Sister Bell |
IBRAHIMA’S STORY AND FAMILYSEARCH
Ibrahim
is a refugee from some country in Africa, whose life was turned upside down
when he was forced to leave his country and was shipped to Paris. Our wonderful
friend, Georgette quickly embraced this man so that he could begin to feel peace,
direction and help in his life. His story is much like many others, but often
there aren’t those who are able to help them quick enough before they get
discouraged and lose hope.
Ibrahima
was blessed to land in the hands of Georgette and her family to give him needed
direction and start him on the Self Reliance courses. He even started the
missionary discussions and will be baptized on March 9th. He came
into the center last Thursday where I helped him start a FamilySearch account. There
is no doubt that he is a bright man with a great future, receiving needed
skills for his life here in this new country.
He
took to FamilySearch like fish to water. I could tell that he was a learned man
and that his circumstances have humbled him to where he is now. He knew many of
the names of his ancestors and began putting them in his family tree. He still
has dates and places of birth or death to find but he’s excited to continue to
grow his tree. There’s no doubt he will succeed.
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| Ibrahima and Sister Packer |
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| Ibrahima |
FROM IUI TO IVF – AUSTIN AND EMMA’S
STORY
This
last week we found out that Austin (our 5th son, and 7th
child) and his wife Emma were needing to make an important decision in order
for them to have the chance to have another child.
We
decided as a family to start a fundraiser for them. Our oldest daughter created
a blog with their story, images and ways that family and friends could purchase
items or donate funds to go towards their goal. It was a humbling thing for
them to have this started but they are very grateful. They have felt strong not to put off their family.
Keeping
them in your thoughts and prayers would be greatly appreciated. For those interested below is the information to the blog, and other links. Please do not feel any obligation!
Venmo
is now an option for donating through the account:
Austin_Emma_IVF
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| Emma, Bowen and Austin Packer Family |
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| Emma and Austin at one of their IUI appointments |
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| Bowen with his mom, Emma Packer looking at the Salt Lake Temple - where families are sealed together forever! |
FRIDAY VISIT WITH PRESIDENT MOMO DJEMAI
Last
Friday we were grateful for the visit from the area leader over Self Reliance
for 49 countries. Momo Djemai is from Tours, France and took a 2-hour car ride
to meet with us. Family History Centers throughout the world have the option of
becoming also a resource for Self Reliance, not necessarily to teach the
classes, but mainly to share facilities and resources for the two groups in
their area. We were grateful to share with him our upcoming vision which would
also include being a resource to direct people where they can go for the
various Self Reliance classes. He was thrilled by these plans. He is the Branch President in Tours and a fireball at
that.
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| President Djemai and the Packers |
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| President Momo Djemai |
LAST DISTRICT COUNCIL
FOR THIS TRANSFER
We were unable to attend most of the council meeting because of our
meeting with President Djemai, but we were able to mingle with them afterwards
and grab a quick photo of this great District.
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| Elder and Sister Bonny and the rest of the District |
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| Elders Keine, Sun, Ovard, Hill, Patrick, and Ludwig |
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| Sisters Jensen, Bell, Oules and Amott |
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| Elder Hill will also be leaving for home next week! A big farewell to him! |
BUSY CENTER – JUST THE
WAY WE LIKE IT!
Once the meetings were done, I went to the center for a little while,
and was grateful when I saw that Elder Ludwig was helping their recent convert
with with preparing names for the temple on FamilySearch. Giving these converts
a purpose to look to their ancestors and connect with them has been such an
amazing blessing in their lives.
Shortly after this I left to go back to the apartment as I was feeling
sick with cold/flue type signs and felt it was best to rest. I had not slept
most of the night before and the rest was very much needed as well. Steve took
over and was so grateful for the busy center with every computer in the main
room occupied.
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| Sisters Jensen and Bell |
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| Elder Ludwig and Valentine - a member getting names ready to take to the temple |
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| Regular and new visitors to the FHC |
SATURDAY AT THE
CENTER
Though we didn’t have many who came into the center, there were some that
came in as a result of the brief time the Elders were outside. Two men came in
to sign up for a FamilySearch account and though didn’t stay long, it was gratifying
that they were started in this direction. I was not there to take any pictures.
ELDER MICHAEL WATSON,
SABBATH BLESSINGS AND NEW FRIENDSHIPS
This last Sunday I was determined to go to church no matter what. I may
not have felt great, but I was so glad I went. Our meeting was beautiful, but
little did we know that we would have a special visitor that would close our
meeting with his amazing testimony. Lessons learned were innumerable.
Elder Michael Watson (Emeritus member of the Quorum of the Seventy) and
his dear wife were in our meeting today. He was the Executive Secretary to 7
prophets and a sealer in the Bountiful Temple (we remember him as a sealer when
we’ve attended the temple in Bountiful).
He was told by the last prophet he worked with to bear his testimony
wherever he would go. He made mention of that to our Bishop and was on the program.
He quietly stood up at the end, with a translator ready, and shared the most powerful
testimony with us. We learned so much from him and I will share just a few. The
spirit he brought with him was so peaceful, loving and powerful. His
dear wife is just as sweet. Everyone there was so grateful to be in attendance.
Brief lessons learned
-
Know the prophet loves us
-
When the Savior was on earth, he served the people so
they knew that He loved them
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He showed us the way
-
Stay on the covenant path and attend the temple
frequently
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We can receive personal revelation when we attend the
temple
-
We have the holy scriptures; the Bible, the Book of
Mormon, the Pearl of Great Price, and Doctrine and Covenants, in the which is
the fulness of the gospel
-
We have Apostles and Prophets, and that if we listen to
them they will help us keep on the covenant path
-
When we listen to them as often as we can, we will feel
of their love, just as if the Savior himself was here
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| Us with Sister and Elder Michael Watson |
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| The security guard and driver for the Watsons |
New friends/visitors at church and a visit at Saint-Merri FHC.
Once in a while, ok more than once and a while, we meet people at church
that come while visiting Paris, and at times we just connect with them. Lee and
Tracy Moak from Kettle Falls, WA are just such people.
After church we invited them to come and visit our Family History
Center. They are filled with such enthusiasm for the good things that matter
most. They were interested to hear what we do here at the center and were so
happy to hear about our upcoming plans. We wish them the best and are grateful
they took the time to visit with us.
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| Lee and Tracy Moak from Kettle Falls, WA |
DANIELLE KERYEL –
BORN AND RAISED IN PARIS
Several weeks ago, I met a woman who had been brought in by the sister missionaries,
who then was taught about FamilySearch
by the Elders. I then helped get her set up on FamilySearch and we discovered our
birthdays are almost identical. She and I quickly connected, partly because of
our birthdays, but also she felt a light that she felt safe. She had no desire at
first to learn about Family History, but later felt compelled to connect with
her ancestors.
One day she returned to the center when I happened to not be in at that
time. Though she was disappointed she left a picture of the Osmond’s with the Eiffel
Tower in the back ground from 1972 for me.
This last Sunday she came in again and was grateful I was present. I
feel bad I never took a photo of her this time. We ended up talking for about
90 minutes. Half of it was all in French as I had not remembered she spoke English
and then she made it known that she would be happy to practice her English.
What transpired in that brief visit was very sweet. She mentioned to me
why she was so drawn to the Osmond’s, not because of their fame and glory but
because they radiated a light of goodness. She is attracted to goodness and has
struggled finding that here in France.
Though Danielle was born and raised in Paris, as were her parents, she
has never felt very French. She feels that the desire for honesty, goodness and
integrity is lacking and she is seeking where she can find it. She felt it in
me and that’s what has kept her coming. We spoke of many things and plan on
meeting again and also taking a trip to the Paris Temple Visitor Center. More
than anything she desires a good friend she can trust, but I believe there is
more she will gain from our visit to the temple and learning more about our
beliefs.
Near the end of our visit I pulled out my phone and showed her the new feature
on the Family Tree App. We typed in her mother’s name and date of birth, where
she was from and her death date. It quickly showed her that we not only found
her mother, but her grandparent’s information was there. She did not know that
she could find this anywhere. I told her we had more work for her to do here
and that she would love connecting with her ancestors this way.
PRAYERS FOR MADDIE
PACKER
We would like to ask for your prayers for our 2nd grandchild,
Maddie Packer, who is 14. She will be having her 2nd surgery of 3
today and she could use our love and specific prayers that this surgery goes
well with no complications.
She wasn’t necessarily pleased with the timing of it all, as she had just
been accepted for District Vocal Solo Ensemble and it falls just 8 days after
surgery. She is being positive and hoping she’ll be up to feeling well enough
to sing.
These procedures and the long experience of pain has taught her much in
life. We are so proud of her fortitude, love and example. We love you Maddie!
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| Maddie and Grandma on one of our many monthly temple trips! We always looked forward to this time together! |
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| This photo of Maddie was taken from a video her dad took noting that her small frame didn't even register that she was in the seat to set off the car seat alarm. She's 14! |
Avec gratitude et amour (With gratitude and love),
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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