Packers in Paris Blog 54 –March 18th – March 24th,
2019
TENDER
LESSONS FROM THIS LAST WEEK
Lessons in life seem to come in waves, maybe
when you least expect it, and often when you need it the most. If I were to share
with you all these lessons of life we’ve gained from being on this mission, it would
probably take up a largest portion of everything I write. I’d like to share
a few from this past week that have taught us much!
THE
LESSONS FROM THE DISTRICT AND OUR AMAZING MISSIONARIES
We are always saying goodbye it seems to these
beloved missionaries when transfers come around, but what we have gained from
being with them and the lessons we learn is most valuable.
What we have witnessed is that these very young
men and women have amazing power and gifts to lead, to learn, to listen, to
lift and to love one another and others in such mature and magnificent ways!
We see this often, but this last week we saw it in most amazing and powerful
ways. When one is down, they know how to lift and do it with no thought of
their own trials. They reach out with genuine and caring hearts! They know how
to bless and comfort and listen and truly love with such depth and compassion. Most
often these are 19-20 years olds! Who would’ve thought this compassion was in
them, and that the children we say goodbye to at the MTC or airport would
evolve into such remarkable beings.
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| Our beloved Paris District |
FAMILY
FROM FLORIDA – THE HOWES
We were so thrilled to see family from Saint Cloud,
Florida! Our daughter-in -aw, Emma Packer’s parents (Dan and Wende Howes) and
youngest son (Gardner), have been traveling to England and France. We were so
grateful to spend an evening with them.
They stopped to see the center first and then afterwards
they were so generous to take us out to eat! Gardner loves Pizza, so one of the
waiters went to the restaurant next door and ordered a pizza and brought it over
to Gardner. What service!
We enjoyed our visit with them and didn’t want the
evening to come to an end, but it was so delightful to spend time with them and
follow their travel journeys!
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| Wende, Dan and Gardner Howes |
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| The full moon was right over Notre Dame! This is the best you get with my iPhone! |
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| Gardner eating his own hand delivered pizza from the restaurant next door! |
LESSONS
FROM THE OFII MIRACLES
Steve witnessed remarkable miracles this last
Thursday during OFII (legality procedures for new missionaries). The goal is
for all missionaries to meet at the church just next to our center so that they
can all leave together for OFII (they come from all over the mission).
This last week, one sister missionary came without
her passport, which you can’t start your OFII papers without! They had come
from Arras, just a little over an hour away. They purchased train tickets again
and made the trek back to their apartment to retrieve the passport. The OFII
office said the latest they could come through was 2:00 p.m. Long story short,
it wasn’t until 3:15 before they made it back because of train schedules and the
office kindly still let them in! The other tender miracle is what happened
because of having to go back. Lest we think they had made a grand error in
forgetting, the Lord had other plans. It’s all about timing, His timing!
Because of having to go back, they met someone on the train, someone they were
meant to meet who wanted to learn what they had to offer! Their faith and
diligence produced a wonderful outcome!
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| OFII group with the miracle couple! |
LESSONS
FROM WHEN THINGS GET HARDER
There are varied forms of hard and all of them have
purpose! We learn from them, we are humbled by them and we certainly either
choose to rise above them, or shrink because of them!
One of the greatest things we can do, though, is to
seek for greater strength from increased prayer and a special fast. This last week
we were at a point with our project that we needed an extra boost of the spirit,
comfort, guidance and help from above. When we are in great need of His help, there
is no doubt that it truly does humble us and we are more fervent in our prayers
and give more thoughtful intent during a special fast. As we strived to do so,
we could see one of the greatest blessings was a sense of intense peace and
joy! I was not expecting such a blessing right away!
During this time of increased fast and prayer, Steve
was at OFII and I was at the center. Though we were apart during these increased
efforts, we could feel His help in our separate places, helping us to increase
our faith and guidance and blessings and as mentioned intense peace and joy!
What we could visibly see is that the Lord was telling
us that we are on the right path, to take courage and move forward! It was
actually such a joy-filled day bustling with much action!
ONLINE
REGISTRATION – AWESOME BLESSINGS!
Prior to this last Thursday, we had people signing
up for the classes by filling out a registration form! As most of you know, not
everyone has perfect and readable penmanship and we would have many forms that
weren’t readable.
We realized we needed an online registration form that
would simplify the process and clarify information and put it automatically
into a spreadsheet.
Elder Pickard was right on the sport to formulate this
for us and it has been amazing since, how it’s been going.
Now the goal is to keep up with what is happening from
all of these changes! We even have a spot at the end of the form for people who
are interested to know more about our church to mark that box. It has actually blown
us away how this is all going. Now, to keep up with it all!
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| Elder Pickard sitting at the computer with my husband finalizing the form for online registration! |
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| Elder Pickard doing what he does best! Computers! |
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| Elders Horchler and Pickard |
FRIENDS
OF FRIENDS VISITING THE CENTER
It was fun meeting a family from Willington, Massachusetts
who are friends of our friends, The Rogers from the MTC. They were so kind and
thoughtful to come and see us and visit the center. Thank you Cindy and Renny
for sending them our way!
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| Judy Dickson (friend of our friend Cindy Renny Rogers) and family and friends who came to visit the center and us! |
AN
EVENING TO THANK OUR DEAR MISSIONARIES
When transfers are around the corner, most likely
someone will get transferred and our way of thanking the missionaries is by
having them over for dinner, which we did last Friday! At present we have 7
missionaries in our ward and I was intent on preparing our special Strawberry
Cream Pie for them. And between preparing the rest of the dinner and the pies,
it ended up taking the whole day! They were thrilled for the pie and dinner and
we were thrilled to have this sweet time with them. They have become like our
own children!
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| Our dear sister trio - Sisters Tabila, Jensen and Schofield |
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| Elders Kiene and Ludwig |
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| Elders Patrick and Sun (Mandarin speaking missionaries) |
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| Our Strawberry Cream Pie that only had one layer of strawberries! Usually I like pilling it really high! |
JAYDEN GOES
TO THE TEMPLE FOR BAPTISM FOR THE FIRST TIME
Our grandson, Jayden had the privilege of going to
the temple in Portland, OR this last week for the first time! He looked so
happy, wearing his suit and tie! What a blessing the temple is for these young
people to start such great service!
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| Jayden Duckworth singing, "I Love to See the Temple, I'm Going There Right Now," with these slightly revised words! |
ALL
COURSES ARE FREE - DRAMA CLASS BEGINS WITH CHARLOTTE
Though certain classes for the Family Resource Center
have been up and running for a while, there are others that are just starting
or about to start! This last Saturday, Charlotte came to her first official
drama class that she was teaching! With a 7-week-old baby in tow and traveling
40 minutes to get to Saint Merri, it’s not an easy thing, but she was excited
to begin.
I was privileged to watch baby Max while I watched
her work her magic. It was incredible watching her work with 10 students,
though there are many others who have expressed interest but have not yet been
notified. She was magnificent. This is her field of expertise and she was
brilliant. She later told me, though, that she was receiving personal direction
from the Lord as she was conducting the class. She could feel His involvement with
her and it was so clear that she was, because I was blown away by her manner of
directing this class. There were those who were shy and others more bold, but each
was learning from one another. I learned much by watching her and the students.
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| Laura (assistant) and Charlotte (on right) |
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| Charlotte giving a high five to the youngest member of the class for winning the game! |
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| Ibrahima was really getting into the action! (I think he was proposing, or something!) |
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| Gma Packer with Max |
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| He is always happy! |
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| He loves his mom best and then maybe I come in second! ;) |
WHAT
IS OUR BIGGEST HURDLE?
When you have an organization like the new Family Resource
Center, where we provide free resources to help and bless others, you also need
help in contacting everyone who has signed up! This has proved to be our
biggest hurdle. We have a lot of volunteers, but for some, Google Docs are a
new thing and trying to get them to see the importance of follow through has
been difficult. We are still working on how to expedite this with more ease!
We have been amazed at the willingness of those
wanting to volunteer, yet it’s also not an easy thing for them to realize what
it really means and what dedication it takes to even do simple follow up. Somehow
this is all part of what we are about, that we didn’t realize we would be doing.
We can make this work, and what we learn will be used elsewhere!
LESSONS
FROM MY GRANDMOTHER – STELLA SUDWEEKS WOOD
Last week, my sister Lucie, found this amazing published
writing that included three women who were early twentieth century
missionaries, back then called, Lady Missionaries.
My grandmother, Stella (Sudweeks) Wood, was one of the
three Lady Missionaries. The only story any of us knew from this writing was one
of her experiences that I would like to share below. It has been one I have shared
for many years and would like my posterity to remember this as well!
“…While working in St. Joseph,
Missouri, Stella had a companion, Sister Bone, who could not sing, “except in a
monotone.” Stella wrote, “I could sing
enough to follow the alto with some one or maybe follow the soprano but not
carry either by myself let alone keep on the tune with some one singing
monotone.” The two missionaries decided
their only solution was to read the words of the hymns in their meetings
instead of disgrace themselves with their attempts at singing. However, one day they called upon an elderly
couple, both crippled with arthritis.
Stella continued, “Their faces lighted up when we went in and told them
who we were. Neither of us had been
there before, Sister Critchfield and Mecham use to go along time ago [sic] and
they sang songs to them. The lady smiled and said ‘Oh, I’m so glad you have
come, now you can sing ‘O, My Father,’ to us.’”
The fact this couple so quickly associated Lady Missionaries with music
and singing further suggests this was an essential aspect of their role and
image. Debating how best to handle the situation, Stella finally concluded, “I
had the urge we must try, this was the Lord’s work…and we started to sing…I was
amazed at the beauty, it was not our voices but some heavenly voices that were
coming from our throats…We sang all the verses and to my knowledge did not miss
a note.” With tears in their eyes, the
couple said, “It was the most beautiful song we have ever heard,” and Stella
added, “We were very grateful and humble that the Lord had come to our aid that
day.” Though Stella stressed her
experience years later as faith-promoting, perhaps even a miracle, the fact
that she was put in this situation emphasizes what was expected of her as a
Lady Missionary.”
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| Roy and Stella "Sudweeks" Wood family - my father, Elden the only living brother |
SUNDAY’S
VENEZ ET VOYEZ & LUNCHEON FROM THE ASIAN WOMEN
About twice a year, the church here in Europe holds
a Venez et Voyez (Come and See). This is a way for members and missionaries to
invite their friends to come and see what our Sunday meetings are like. I was
very happy when Danielle decided to join us this last Sunday. She was hoping to
also meet other women. I believe she enjoyed it very much and was delighted to
meet new people. She is a very kind and generous woman with a good and
thoughtful heart! She has asked that I join her for some of her sewing classes
she is taking. I’ll have to see when they are, but I told her I would do my
best to join her on some of them. She is hoping to also bring some of what she
has learned to some of our Relief Society evenings with our ward.
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| Danielle Keryel and Me at Venez et Voyez |
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| Sisters Jensen, Schofield, Tabi and Charlotte! |
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| Sister Packer and Abby Christensen (Abby will be leaving soon and requested for us to have a picture together! She is a talented French speaker, has a beautiful voice and the kindness heart! |
Asian heaven
luncheon
After church a group of Asian women brought an array
of foods from their country specific for all of the missionaries at Saint Merri!
Though more continued to join us, it was like the loaves and fishes, there was
plenty. It was so delicious and so kind of them to honor us! They are truly the
angels among us who love and serve so selflessly.
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| More came to eat than in this photo! It was wonderful even if we couldn't eat everything served! |
THE
RUSSIAN CONNECTION
A while back we had a friend enter our center wanting
help with his family history. We connected with our former Sister missionary,
who served in Ukraine, Nicole Pettit. Today, Nicole accidently ran into Oleksandr
and then he found us at the center later. Meanwhile, two people came in the
center, one from Russia and the other Paris. They met through an online site
and met here. Then, Oleksander came into the center and it was like a big
reunion. The two from Russia had mutual connections and were so pleased to
meet. And Oleksander also indicated he wants to learn more about our church and
has set up a meeting with the missionaries.
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| Janathan Hager - from Paris for the last 20 years, but from America! His family were members, but he was never baptized! I told him it was never too late! ;) |
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| Lana M. came with Johnathan and then Oleksandr
came to the center and they spoke and made so many connections from Russia |
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| Johnathan, Oleksandr and Lana |
IVF
TREATMENT IS HAPPENING!
For those who are following our son, Austin and his
wife, Emma, their IVF treatments have begun. They have received countless blessings
and miracles to help strengthen their faith during these procedures. It’s quite
a miraculous thing and they are most grateful for all those who have loved and
supported them through this journey! Thanks to all of you for your prayers and
great support.
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| Emma and Austin at the treatment center for IVF (In Vitro Fertilisation) |
HOW
WE LOVE OUR PARENTS
Last weekend while my brother was visiting my parents,
he took this very candid photo of them as he walked into the kitchen and here
they were, just loving each other (Picola Hatch Wood nearly 89 and Elden Wood nearly 94). It causes my heart to ache for them, but
rejoice that I still have both my parents here, and Steve has his dear mother at nearly age 96! Sorry no recent photo of Audrey Taylor Packer (her deceased husband was Allen Packer).
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| Picola and Elden Wood |
Tout notre amour (All our 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)
OTHER EXTRA PHOTOS!
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| Heidi S., our new assistant who will be joining us in a little over a month! We love you already! |
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| Sisters Johnson and Packard - contacting outside the center! We love their smiles! |
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This man was brought in my the sisters and he was very interested in Family History!
a very kind and honorable man who appreciates what is offered here!
|
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| This man spoke with the Elders during contacting for quite some time! It seemed to be quite a positive experience! |
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| This is the Kothari family from Chicago! They are originally from Singapore! They were so delightful! We carried on a much longer conversation than they had thought would happen in the center! We showed them some of the fun discovery experiences and they are hoping to find more in their town! We are connected through Facebook and will send them links! |
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| Hotel de Ville by the center (Town Hall)! This square is always changing, publicizing various events! This is a "green" event! |
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| More of Hotel de Ville |
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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