Packers in Paris Blog 61 – May 6th – May 14th,
2019
MONDAY FAREWELLS
Monday at the center were several set of
missionaries who were being transferred. I don’t typically go in on Monday’s as
it’s PDay for the all the missionaries (excepting us as ours is on Tuesday) and
we’re only open for 2 hours and so I typically write my blog on Mondays.
On this Monday though, there was a tender
reason to come in later in the afternoon. The Elders and Sisters that we serve
with become like our own children. No doubt they feel of our love for them as
we feel from them. As several of them were being transferred or departing, they
came into the center to say farewell. When they saw I wasn’t there, Steve said
that they were sad that they couldn’t say goodbye to me as well. He encouraged
me to come to the center to say goodbye to those who were still there.
I find myself, as naturally any parent
would, giving them advice and encouragement and hopefully leaving them with
hope in the future after their mission. They seem to be pleased to receive the
counsel and to move on to conquer! Inside, my heart aches to see them go and
wonder if I have done enough, if I have not been lax in showing forth more
loving advice along the way. As Senior missionaries we have a great influence
for good with these missionaries, and the opportunity for other districts to have
a senior couple is rare!
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| Elder Ballard (remaining as a Zone Leader) and Elder Kiene transferring |
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| Elder Pickard - transferred! Amazing Zone Leader and our great computer tech! |
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Elder Kiene transferred! He was a great Zone Leader
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THE MONGOL WOMEN IN NEED BUT ALWAYS WEARING A SMILE!
For about a month we have been trying to
help two dear women (mother/daughter) who have been waiting here in Paris from
Mongolia, for medical help prior to their going to Spain for brain surgery for
the elderly mother. Their doctor appointments were here but the surgery is in
Spain. They are members of our church and staying in a foreign land where no
one speaks their language, nor do they speak ours, French or English.
Communication, to the say the least, has been more difficult than we thought it
would be. We were in contact periodically with her bishop in Mongolia, who does
speak English and then used other former missionaries in the states that we
found out spoke their language.
One day, we found out they did not have
a place to stay again (though we had reached out for help to our Ward) and so
we walked a distance and via the metro to get them to a homeless shelter for
women. Once we got there, it was closed on Mondays. All through Google
Translate they mentioned that they were fine to go to another place that they
thought might work. We offered to walk with them and they refused. We found out
the next day, they had slept outside. My heart was breaking. Steve even offered
to pay for an AirBnB for a few days till they worked things out, but they still
refused. They should hopefully be on their way to Spain now for the medical procedures.
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| Sister Awarzed - suddenly seeing the photo on our banner of her bishop in Mongolia |
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Sister Awarzed and her mother Sister Nina
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TUESDAY PDAY – MISSION HOME VISIT AND THE CATACOMBS
First thing Tuesday morning we headed
off for the mission home to visit with Sister Cornette, to give her directions
on how she’ll be helping us with follow-up on Gathered into the Garners phone
calls. Steve has been doing this all along, which is quite time-consuming. Her
help will be extremely valuable to us. Her heart is about serving wherever she
is able!
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| Sister Cornette |
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| Elders Durant (transferred) and McDougal (last day as Assistant to the President) |
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| Myself with Sisters Smith and Lynn - office couple! |
Later in the afternoon we took off for
the Paris Catacombs. I was always curious what it would be like, but it wasn’t
too bad and quite educational. Visitors are only allowed to visit about a
mile’s worth, of what are 200 miles of tunnels of bones and skulls, to the
ceiling, holding about 6-7 million people in the under ground catacombs.
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| Catacombs - someone was having fun hundreds of years ago! |
WEDNESDAY’S NEW AND DEPARTING MISSIONARIES
Here we go again
saying hello with open arms to the new missionaries and goodbye to the
departing. After 11 months of being with Sister Jensen, she too had to leave
us! When you’ve had a missionary for that long, they really do begin to feel
like your child! Sister Jensen was one of the most dedicated, hardworking and
joyous sisters in the mission! She touched so many lives and made a difference
to all she met. For those of us who saw her on almost a daily basis, we will
miss her deeply!
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| Sister Jensen was an amazing trainer for Sister Tabiliran |
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| Sister Packer and Sister Jensen (a few tears were shed saying goodbye to her) |
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| New Missionaries |
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| Elder Durant - transferring |
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| President and Sister Sorensen |
TAMI AND LAMAR CREAMER
I was delighted to spend some time with
my dear friend, Tami Creamer and her husband, Lamar. I have known Tami for at
least 9 years, but very well for the past 7 years. She is known most
importantly for writing the song, “I Know That My Heavenly Father Loves Me!” She
and I collaborated on a special project that was such a wonderful experience!
She was going to be in Paris for all of
one day and wondered if I would help them get to places or show them around.
The first place I took them was Notre
Dame! It may not have taken a long time, but if you’re going to be here, you
need to see Notre Dame to show honor to this historical landmark and sacred
building.
Next, I took them to the Eiffel Tower! Since
we were right by our apartment I knew that the fastest way to the tower was a
10 minute ride on the RER and then a 5 minute walk. But, since the RER was
closed for a minor repair, they gave us directions for a very long route (over
an hour) through the metro system! It ended up being a bit comical, or else you
would cry, because of the crazy time we had getting there! We ended up seeing
the tower in rain, wind and a hailstorm! Nevertheless, Tami and Lamar were
great sports and we got through this fun experience!
We had such a fun and memorable
experience together. One they will not forget because the whole day seemed to have
similar eventful experiences, even once they returned to their hotel near the
airport!
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| Lamar and Tami Creamer |
LESSON WITH CLOTILDE
Clotilde
received her second lesson with the sisters last Thursday! I reminded her that
since the sisters had such a wonderful and powerful lesson to give her, that
she would learn so much more if she would really be attentive and listen more
than talk! She was amazing! She not only listened and comprehended, she then
was asked to give the closing prayer and said the most beautiful and rich
prayer. She had just learned last week how to pray!
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| Sister Mattice and Scofield with Clotilde |
ZOOM CONFERENCE WITH KEN PACKER AND
ROLAND LÉPORÉ
This
last Friday evening, we held a Zoom Conference with Ken Packer (Area Manager
for Europe for the Missionary Department) and Roland Léporé
concerning the advancement and wonderful changes going on with the Family
Resource Center. We are witnessing miracles through this new process and trying
to do all we can to move things along! He was so thrilled with what we shared
with him, and much more is going on in Salt Lake to learn more about what is
happening here through Roland Léporé.
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| Ken Packer (Area Manager
for Europe for the Missionary Department) |
1ST MEETING WITH DISTRICT
LEADER/MANDARIN ELDERS
Friday we met with our Mandarin Elders and Elder Sun as our District Leader to discuss how we would like them to proceed to
use the registration link for contacting people outside of the center
throughout the Paris area. This officially launched this project outside of the
center through missionaries!
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| Elders Sun and Jones just finishing up our planning on meeting |
JOELLE AND STEVE HUMPHRIES
We’ve
been doubly blessed having friends from home come our way! We have been long
time friends to the Jenkins Family. Joelle is the daughter of Ryan and Melissa Jenkins,
and married Steve Humphries during the time of our mission. We had not yet met
him and were delighted to spend a couple of hours with them. I took them around
Notre Dame to show them good places to take photos and to share with them how
Ashes to Beauty works in this instance. It becomes more and more clear to me
what the Lord is allowing to have happen and it’s beautifully hard and yet very
symbolic! Steve later met us for dinner not far from our apartment! They are
such a dear and wonderful couple!
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| Joelle and Steve Humphries |
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| The Packers and Humphries |
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| The Packers and Humphries |
OUR DAUGHTER, CAMILLE AND HER HUSBAND BRANDON DUCKWORTH
Our
second child, Camille and her husband, Brandon Duckworth (from Portland), came
in on the Eurostar train this last Saturday evening from London, and stayed
with us through Wednesday morning. For this reason, I am writing this blog up till
Tuesday evening. It’s been 14 months since we saw them last and such a glorious
experience to see one of our children! Their arrival was an hour late and no
doubt they were tired, but it was heaven seeing them!
When
they unpacked, having also brought us a luggage bag full of things we needed
(THANK YOU!). They also pulled out a gift from their family! It was a large
banner that they had each drawn on! This one will go on the wall for sure!
Bless you little Ducks!
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| Poster the Duckworth children made for us! |
USA MOTHER’S DAY WITH DUCKWORTHS,
SACRÉ COEUR AND NOTRE DAME AND PHONE CALLS WITH ALL OUR CHILDREN AND MY MOTHER
I
love when our children visit our ward, no matter where we live, but especially
since it was Mother’s Day here in Paris!
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| Duck and Camille in our center |
After
church we went to Sacré Coeur and then Notre Dame. It was so wonderful to share
these sacred sites with them! It was a lovely day outside and made it so
enjoyable!
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| Sacré Coeur |
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| Sacré Coeur |
Steve
didn’t go to Notre Dame so that he could come home to finalize our Mother’s Day meal! It was wonderful and so
nice not to have to cook it all!
By
evening time, I had spoken with each of our children and most of their families
for Mother’s Day! My heart was full to the brim! How I love and cherish each of
them! I was unable to call my mother till the next day! After calling our
children, she had already left and was not reachable! How I love and honor my dear
mother! What she has offered to us as her family and to the Lord is
unmeasurable! I love you Mom!
MONDAY VERTIGO, SAINT CHAPEL, ARC DE TRIOMPHE, DOWN THE
STREET I ONCED LIVED, LUXEMBOURG GARDENS AND EIFFEL TOWER
Having
dealt with a bad case of Vertigo early Monday morning, Camille and Duck spent
time on their own at Saint Chapelle and Arc De Triomphe. They did well finding their
way through the metro system!
After
doing a specific Vertigo maneuver and getting some rest, I was able to finally
get up by the afternoon. I was determined to get up and do something while our
guests were here. Camille and I first went to the Luxembourg Gardens and I was
able to show her where I used to live 41 years ago. It was so enjoyable and
relaxing to have this time with her!
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| Flowers from Luxembourg Gardens |
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| Luxembourg Gardens |
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| Luxembourg Gardens |
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| Camille and I standing in front of the door I lived at 41 years ago! |
By
evening, we all went to see the Eiffel Tower at sunset! It was getting a bit
chilly, but we we stayed till the lights blinged at 10:00 p.m.
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| Photo credit by Camille Duckworth |
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Eiffel Tower at night with the blinging going on!
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VERSAILLES CHATEAUX AND THE PARIS TEMPLE VISITOR CENTER
I
never seem to tire going to Versailles Chateaux, especially the gardens. Tuesday
morning, we took off early to Versailles Chateaux! It was a beautiful day and
so enjoyable to share these sites with our family guests.
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| Camille and Duck in the Hall of Mirrors |
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Tapestry wall rug in the newly renovated pat of Versailles Chateaux
|
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| Witnessing the cleaning of the statues, one by one! The process looks so tedious! |
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| Part of the 1,900 Sq. + Acres of Versailles Gardens |
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| Light House in the village of Marie Antoinette |
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| Camille and Duck! |
After
a full day at Versailles, we took off for the Paris Temple, which is only 15
minutes away via bus! On the brief bus ride, I met a lovely older woman. We
began to converse and found out she lived very near the temple! In fact, her apartment
is around the compound of the temple. She was one who witnessed along with all
her other neighbors, the 4 years of construction. The committee over the Open House
invited all the neighbors for a special night of thank you and a special tour! She
told me that they treated them like royalty! Her opinion of our religion was so
positive! She and I enjoyed such an intimate conversation all in French and
then at the end, I found out she spoke perfect English. I’m glad I didn’t know!
We
loved sharing the sacred Temple site with Camille and Duck. While Steve was
sharing a video with them, I found myself talking with the sister missionaries!
One of the sisters is very new and struggling. I felt impressed to talk with
her specifically and it came to me what she needed. She had no doubt that the
Lord had intervened to have our sweet conversation.
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| Sister Costa |
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| Sister Montalvo and Costa |
Camille
and Duck will be leaving in the morning for Rome and other beautiful sites before
we see them again in 6 days and leave with them for a few days. We were not ready to say goodbye to them yet
anyway!
Je Sais Que Mon Sauveur M’Aime! (I Know That My Savior Loves Me),
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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