Packers in Paris Blog 49 – February 11th – February 17th, 2019
MADDIE’S
SURGERY WITH THREE GRANDCHILDREN AT PRIMARY CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL AGAIN
Last Monday Maddie had her second of
three surgeries! It was a long 8 hour process, longer than they expected it to
be, but everything went well and she has recovered well and returned home this
last Friday. She was grateful all went well and was grateful she will be
singing for District Solo and Ensemble this coming Tuesday.
We also at the same time, had our other
two grandchildren visiting the same hospital for their monthly cancer and weekly
MPS6 infusions. It’s a party for the Packers for sure!
THE PARIS TEMPLE HAS BEEN REOPENED AFTER 5 WEEKS!
Last Tuesday,
on our PDay, Steve and I left early in the morning to head to the Paris Temple.
We had been anxious for its reopening after a 5-week closure for some needed
construction changes inside. Putting two large doors inside a session room is
no easy or quick task. While it was closed some of the missionaries who serve
at the Paris Temple, flew to Rome to help with the Open House of that temple.
Being
back in the temple was such a welcomed blessing for us. Going through a session
and being taught by the spirit of the Lord in His house is something we always
treasure. Also, seeing familiar faces and friends are lifts our spirits as well.
Before we
entered, we took the time to see the Visitor Center and talk with the new
directors. What a beautiful treasure this temple is for all of us.
We also
were delighted to see all the flowers that were being planted in the early
chilly hours of the morning, but what a beauty it was! Spring is closer than we
think, which means more beautiful flowers, General Conference and three family
guests coming in March, April and May. So much to look forward to!
During
the session, answered prayers came and a strong direction of speeding up some
important changes that are coming up. We knew that this work is not to be taken
lightly and the Lord is in charge and will make His will known in one way or
another. For that we are most grateful! Look ahead in the next week or two
for the reveal.
 |
| It's hard to tell in this photo, but it was a very chilly morning! |
 |
| The temple always feels like home! |
TRANSFER DAY – UPCOMING NEW
CHANGES – BABY MAX VISIT!
This last
Wednesday was Transfer Day! This means a lot going on at the Paris building at
Saint-Merri! Steve is always good to go early enough to unlock the church building
to start getting everything set up and awaiting the departing missionaries who
are going home or new Blues coming with their eyes glazed as to what has just
hit them! It’s quite a morning with so much going on! Saying goodbye to Sister
Bell and Elder Hill from our District. Many others were leaving and each of
them with such
 |
| Sister Packer with her favorite sister missionaries (Jensen and Bell) |
 |
| Sisters Schofield and Martini - former companions |
 |
| The Packers with Sisters Bell and Jensen |
 |
| Elder Hill was in our district and was a powerful missionary |
 |
| Sister Bell! How we will miss her! |
 |
| Elders Hill and Danes |
 |
| President Sorensen - heading his flock! |
 |
| The New Blues! |
 |
| Departing Elders Danes, Hill Tropnas, and Leavitt |
 |
| Departing Sisters, Egan, Bell and Pischer |
 |
| Backing up the mission van into the courtyard at Saint-Merri is very tough! They did it with getting no scratches! |
Working on new changes
We are in
major planning mode for the changes coming up! We are grateful for our in-house
graphic designer, Maryn Tan, taking on the rushed task and she deserves major
blessings after this. We are so grateful for her and Bro. Léporé for his
direction and help. This will be epic!
Baby Max visit!
We were
so happy for Charlotte’s surprise visit with Max! They are both doing so well
and the outing felt good for both of them. Though Max seems to sleep through
most everything it was a good change for Charlotte! Max warms our hearts every
time we see him! Charlotte is doing incredible and looking forward to bringing
Max to church in March.
 |
| Charlotte visiting the center during an outing! |
 |
| Max, doing what he does best! Sleep! |
VALENTINE’S DAY LOVE FEST!
On Valentine’s Day we decided to try a new way of
inviting people into the center. After speaking with Roland Léporé the day
before and him giving us some great thoughts, we felt it was a brilliant idea.
This is not the epic I was mentioning.
I went to the store before coming to the center and
picked up some of the last Valentine items they had to use for our Love Fest!
Thankfully our new Sister Schofield had great
handwriting and put this phrase on the white board, Happy Valentine’s Day,
“What do you like to do most with your family?” We then hung the heart
string banner outside and placed a table with heart stickers and, last but not
least, chocolate!
 |
| Sister Schofield and Sister Jensen |
As people went by, we would invite people to answer
the question and write it on the heart sticker, take a piece of chocolate and
place their sticker on the front door. As they were writing their statement, we
would begin to tell them about our free Family History Center.
Because it was Valentine’s Day, people seemed to be
in a hurry, yet many still stopped to write their answers on the sticker and
place it on the door. Once in a while, we would get someone inside to learn
more about the center. We passed out our pass along card to all who stopped.
 |
| This must be everyone's wish, to see all our loved ones again! I know it's mine! I know it will happen! |
 |
| Heart Attack at the Family History Center |
One of the times I was outside I met a younger man
who seemed a bit intrigued at what we were doing, yet he was also quiet and
hesitant. Something inside me felt a need to reach out to him, lift his spirits
and see if he would answer our question. He was suddenly very willing, wrote
his answer and walked over to place his sticker on the door, all while my telling
him more about the center. His interest continued to escalate, though I would’ve
never known why at the time.
He accepted to come in and at this point and I then introduced
him to the missionaries. Elder Ludwig and Elder Keine began to share the
importance of connecting with family through our Family History. They began to
show him some of the discovery activities on the large screen and then took him
to the smaller discovery computers to sign up for an account with FamilySearch.
His name is Jean-Roger B. After he inserted several names including his parents
who are both deceased, the Elders shared with him why Family History is so
important. Jean-Roger began to tell his story of getting Bell’s Palsy and
feeling so down. Yet it was this health experience that brought him to believe
and accept Jesus Christ. He also had gone through many hardships, losing
parents and feeling alone. Since Jean-Roger turned the discussion more towards
a religious discussion at this point, the elders told him about our church and
a few of our beliefs. I let him know that there are thousands of members of our
church in the country where he is from (nearly 58,000). His eyes raised with
interest. I also told him that we had FREE English class if he was interested.
He was thrilled to know that we had this and many other resources so readily
available and all for free.
The missionaries told him that we had a church right
next door and wondered if he would be interested in coming this Sunday to see
what it was like. Jean-Roger without hesitation said he would love to come and
would be there! They exchanged information and said they would be in touch with
him.
The blessing of this story was to literally see a
change come over him from the beginning of our contact to the end. Once where
there was a hopeless look, he left feeling joy and excitement, but most
importantly, he felt loved! This is the most key element in all we do.
 |
| Jean-Roger and the sister missionaries on the right! |
 |
| Jean-Roger with Elders Ludwig and Keine |
 |
| This is the note that Jean-Roger wrote on the love note! (I want reconciliation in my family) |
REPORT
OF THE REST OF THE VALENTINE’S LOVE FEST!
The missionaries were excited for this new approach
in finding those off the street to invite them to come into the center. We have
found on days of holidays they aren’t so willing, but what we had happen that
day was still magnificent. They loved talking about what they love most about
spending time with their family. As each person stopped and wrote a little
message on the paper, then put it on the glass door, it caused quite a stir of
excitement as people would walk past and see what others had written. The
chocolate was helpful, but they loved the topic and the fun of putting a
sticker on the door with their answers. We would give them each a pass along
card, explaining what we do at the center.
One of the workers at the Tattoo shop, who has not
been over before, saw our sign from the Tattoo shop and came over to fill out a
sticker. We continued conversing and I invited him to come in one day to start
his Family History. He said he is planning on it. Having our front glass door
filled with hearts was such a testifier that good things happen here!
 |
| Elder Keine with a man from Spain! |
LOVE FEST CONTINUES ON FRIDAY
We
decided to try the same thing on Friday, the day after Valentine’s Day. It was
quite amazing that in a much shorter period of time we still had many people
stop, and just as many enter our doors to learn about Family History. We loved
when little children stopped to want a chocolate, so we encouraged them to
write their answer. They would repeat this several times, for more chocolate. 😊
 |
| How high can you go? This young girl tried with all she could to get it to the top! |
FRIDAY VALENTINE’S DATE NIGHT!
I always
look forward to our weekly date, but tonight was for Valentine’s. Steve, two
days earlier had bought me a bouquet of beautiful flowers to enjoy during the
week! The flowers in Paris are always so fragrant, with beautiful colors.
SATURDAY ACTIVITIES – NEW NEIGHBORS
MEETING OLD TIME NEIGHBORS
It was a
great day at the center, though slower since we didn’t do the Love Fest again!
We enjoyed meeting a woman who had not been in the center before, though she already
had an account with FamilySearch. Her initial questions were to find certain
records that, at this point, are not digitized. We then explained what the key
meant and that when she sees the key at her home, she knows she’ll be able to
view the records in the Family History Center. She ended up staying for at
least 3 hours and became very engaged in her work.
New neighbors meeting old neighbors!
We have
new neighbors in our apartment (Patrick and Laura Mathieu) who sent an invite
for all the neighbors of the apartments in our building to attend an Open House
last Saturday. Their desire was to get to know their neighbors better so that when
passing them in the street or the courtyard we would know each other! What a novel idea! 😉We were
delighted to be invited and have wanted to do something similar but were told
it wasn’t a common thing to do in Paris! Little by little we have met some of
our neighbors, but this was a wonderful opportunity to visit. We now know we
can do the same to have our neighbors over for an evening in our apartment.
The
apartment we went to overlooks the Seine river and has a beautiful view of the
Paris valley. As we walked out on to the balcony we could see in the distance
the Eiffel Tower in all its glowing beauty. Our view from our own apartment windows
are that of government offices and the apartment courtyard. We love it though!
 |
| Valentin (our guardian) and his wife and their son, Kevin |
 |
| Such a fun couple, but can't remember their names - They have been married nearly 61 years and he's nearly 90 years old! |
 |
| Jean |
 |
| Patrick and Laura Mathieu - new neighbors and host |
 |
| If you continued walking on the left to the end of the block is Notre Dame |
 |
Looking out of our neighbors balcony facing the Seine River and Eiffel Tower |
SUNDAY BLISS AND NEW FRIENDS!
The
weather this week in Paris has been beautiful, with blue skies, warmer weather
and a feeling that spring is just around the corner. It brightens everyone’s
soul! We had beautiful meetings today and were so grateful to be among new and
familiar faces.
One man
came for the first time, visiting from Provo/BYU. He’s doing a major study here
until April or May. His name is Professor Earl Fry, in the Political Science department
at BYU. Freddy Tan was in that field at BYU and knew and recognized Professor
Fry.
 |
| BYU's Professor Earl Fry from the Political Science Department & Freddy Tan who was in that department |
We also met
two lovely women and after church brought them over to the center. They were so
warm and gracious about what we do. They both live in Heber Valley, UT. My
visit with Carole found that our goals are similar with wanting to serve
missions and the effort it takes prior to a mission to put all things in order,
if that means to even downsizing. Once you step on that platform of preparing
for a mission, the Lord will certainly guide you through the steps to be ready and
you can’t help but look back and see His hand in every particular. It has been
an amazing experience, though difficult at that!
 |
| Melynda and Carole Olson from Heber City, UT |
 |
| Me standing between two great women! I hope their goodness will rub off! |
Bénédictions et amour (Blessings 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
Because it was Valentine’s Day, people seemed to be
in a hurry, yet many still stopped to write their answers on the sticker and
place it on the door. Once in a while, we would get someone inside to learn
more about the center. We passed out our pass along card to all who stopped.
Comments
Post a Comment