Packers France Paris Mission Blog 62

Packers in Paris Blog 62 – May 15th – May 19th, 2019

WEDNESDAY – BACK IN THE SADDLE AGAIN

Last week’s blog was a 9-day blog, because of our daughter and her husband being with us. They then took off Wednesday morning for 5 days of travel before they’ll come back our way this next Monday evening in time for us to all take off with them for 4 more days. We’re looking forward to our time with them and getting away!

They have had such an amazing time traveling throughout Italy and Germany, via the Alps in Switzerland! Camille’s photos have been incredible! Here's just a snip of their time in Italy and Germany and one in Switzerland!
Photo by Camille Duckworth

Photo by Camille Duckworth

Photo by Camille Duckworth

Photo by Camille Duckworth

Photo by Camille Duckworth

Photo by Camille Duckworth
WELCOME HEIDI SUGDEN – OUR FAMILYSEARCH SPECIALIST

Last Wednesday we were thrilled to welcome Heidi Sugden, who will be with us for a couple of months, and maybe again after some family travels. She has come from Salt Lake City, having worked with FamilySearch for over 20 years as a French Family History research consultant. We have been looking forward to her coming for several months now. Her expertise will be most helpful, and hopefully we’ll learn from her as we go.
Heidi Sugden - first day in our center

Heidi Sugden with a patron 

OFII WITH ELDER PACKER

Awesome Steve took the missionaries again to OFII this last Thursday! He had a great group of young missionaries and one senior couple, the Frogley’s (they left prior to the photo). All went well and he remembered again to take a photo of the group. He’s so good with them and is a great navigator to get these groups on and off the metro system and walk the rest of the way! The missionaries love his company and he enjoys getting to know them better! There’s a lot of time to visit with each of them!

After OFII, Steve took the time to explain the new discovery activities on the big screen, as most had not been in our center.
Elder Packer with his OFII missionaries
ELDER PLACER FROM MANILA, PHILLIPINES

One of the new missionaries at OFII was Elder Placer, who by the way is the first Elder from the Philippines sent to France. He holds the record of indexing the most names in one month in the Philippines, totaling 50,000! His grandmother works in the temple in Manila and our friend, Linda Ford who is serving with her husband at the temple, had taken this picture of her!
Elder Placer from Manila, Phillipines
CONTACTING AT THE CENTER

Most weeks we have the missionaries do contacting outside of the center and now with our district having the online registration form on their phones, they are now contacting people elsewhere! It has been a positive first step in helping others learn more of all of the resources we offer at the center, as free resources to the community!

When the weather is nice it really helps to have meaningful conversations with those passing by who are able to stop and visit more easily! Our tattoo shop owner across the street from us, is very happy with what we are doing and thinks it’s a great idea! We have a great relationship with him and his employees.  


OUR 1ST LESSON WITH MING

Thursday, Ming came for her very first lesson with me and the Sister Training Sisters. This dear Young Single Adult has been so genuine in her search for religion, not having much background, but is very open in believing there is a God and a Savior, that of Jesus Christ.

During our lesson she was like a sponge, yet the language at times eluded her, so thankfully the Mandarin Elders were just outside our teaching room for them to help us if we needed them. The lesson was all taught in English, as her French is lacking (and the sister missionaries don’t speak Mandarin!).

As we explained about God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost, we asked her if she had ever felt the presence of a loving spirit where she felt God’s love! She answered, yes, when she had been back in the church courtyard a few weeks ago, when she first met us. She felt a great deal of love and knew that it was something she had not experienced before.

At the end we taught her how to pray and she then offered a beautiful and simple prayer and said that she would pray each day and read portions of the Book of Mormon. We look forward to meeting with her again after she finishes her exams. She and I keep in touch during the week and she is always so receptive and loving. She calls me at times, Packer! It’s endearing!

SELF-RELIANCE IS COMING ALIVE AT SAINT-MERRI

This last Thursday, Momo Djemai (over all of Self Reliance in French-speaking Europe) and the Bellessas from the Lyon, France mission who are missionaries working for Momo, came to the first Self Reliance course at Saint-Merri. They had a great group show up. The Bellessas are the ones making daily phone calls to follow up on all those interested in Self-Reliance for Saint-Merri. The Bellessas will not be coming again, but Momo comes from a good distance, so I’m sure he’ll be looking for someone to take his place for Saint-Merri. He certainly can’t teach all Self-Reliance classes throughout Europe, but he wanted to get this going and was willing to teach this class till a facilitator is found for this area. We have many being taught in the Paris area, but a new one at Saint-Merri needed to be formed.

Momo is amazing! He has the kindest and most energetic soul here in France! He has an ability to encourage and engage anyone in these great efforts! He lives by train 3.5 hours away and 2.5 hours by car. He drives in his car weekly to work in the temple in Paris (Versailles).
Elder and Sister Bellessa from the Lyon, France Mission

Elder and Sister Bellessa with Momo Djemai from Tours, France
FRIDAY WAS BURSTING AT THE SEAMS

Friday was a busy and somewhat crazy day, Steve reported. I was home on this day still struggling with my vertigo and missed out on all the fun! He reported that visitors were coming the contacting outside the center and also those who came to receive help with Family History and as usual missionaries teaching in the center. We may not have more photos to share, but it's a great day when it's busy!

Sister Missionaries helping patrons, along with Heidi Sugden
EIFFEL TOWER 13OTH CELEBEATION

Just two days prior to the 130th Anniversary of the Eiffel Tower, we had a wonderful evening with Camille and Duck exploring and capturing the Eiffel Tower in pictures.

Some friends (the Sherinians) of ours who have lived here just over a year, are moving back to the states and happened to attend the first night of the celebration. Below are photos they took the evening of the big celebration that was repeated for two more evenings! He stated there were only about 3 gazillion people in attendance to celebrate with! We’re glad we went two days earlier with a very mild crowd! I’ll also post a video of part of the celebration!



Photo credit - Aaron Sherinian - the man spoken of in the post
SATURDAY PACKER GATHERING IN HYDE PARK

This last Saturday, each of our 6 Utah children and their families gathered in Hyde Park, near Logan at the home of our daughter, Janine Hunsaker. They had such a great time playing games, running outside, enjoying Adam’s delicious smoked ribs and eating one of Janine’s new cakes, Almond Joy, topped with chocolate covered macarons! It quickly became everyone’s favorite of her specialty desserts! It was fun to receive videos and watch the grandkids play with one another! All of our posterity (minus us) will be gathering in July for the bi-annual family reunion! We plan on skyping with them hopefully at least once if not more! This brings us so much joy seeing them gather together! We love it!
Some of the grandchildren, children and a 'friend' of 30 individuals who were there (missing 14 of all of the rest of us)!
Almond Joy Cake - by Janine Hunsaker (Jane's Cakes)

BEAUTIFUL LESSONS FROM THE PRODIGAL SON!

I recently read a beautiful perspective of the story of the Prodigal Son. This reading touched me deeply, giving me much reflection on all our dealings with those of our loved ones and others who need to never doubt that they are loved! Showing and giving love to all is such a powerful indicator of our hearts! The reading below is well worth the read!
Artwork by Dan Burr  “The Sepulchre“

When the prodigal son returned home,

Emaciated, penniless, and humiliated,

His father “saw him, and had compassion, and ran” to him. 

The fact that he ran is significant.

In this time period and culture, elderly men never ran.

It was both unusual and humiliating for the father,

A wealthy man with a high social status and many servants,

Someone who was esteemed in his community,

To run to his wayward son.

A son who had demanded his inheritance while his father was still healthy,

Essentially telling his father, “You’re dead to me,”

As he left the Holy Land to gamble and waste the money in a pagan country.

So why would the father run to meet his son?

Why not just wait for his son to come to his door?

There was a ceremony in ancient Jewish culture called the kezazah

Or the “cutting off.”

It was performed when a Jewish man left his community

lived with Gentiles,

and lost his wealth.

When he returns to his hometown,

The wayward man would go to the city gates

And the villagers would gather

And break a pot at his feet

Symbolizing the broken relationship between the community and the sinner.

The man would be officially cut off from his faith,

His community,

His family.

So when the father ran to his son while the boy was still “yet a great way off,”

He ran to save his son

From the shame of the kezazah,

And from being symbolically broken off from his people and God.

His father put him the best robe, 

Put a ring on his finger,

Fed him the fatted calf, 

And threw him a feast.

The whole village would have gathered for the event

And the son would have been publicly restored.

Jesus Christ does not wait for us to come to the gate. 

He runs out to us. 

He saves us from being broken away from our families.

He brings us in,

And covers us with His matchless Grace,

However undeserving we may be.

***Written by Sarah Keenan

SYLVAIN WU’S BAPTISM AND CONFIRMATION

A week ago, Sylvain Wu was baptized at the Paris Lilas building and confirmed this last Sunday at Saint-Merri! I did not know much of him, until the Mandarin Elders shared briefly his story. Sylvain is bright, diligent and a very kind young single adult.

Sylvain had been a long time Atheist. As shared by Elder Sun, Sylvain started last year as a curious person new to France and the language. Elders Patrick and Cheng offered to help him with his French and continued meeting after their first contact. Since November, he’s only missed church twice and he’s worked very hard to try to find his relationship with Heavenly Father and to improve himself. Little by little he has built his own testimony and put himself on a better path. These past couple of months he’s been taught by Elders Sun and Jones.

We were unable to attend his baptism because of other plans we had with our daughter and her husband, but his confirmation last Sunday was beautifully given by Fred Tan and was grateful to be in attendance.
Elders Jones and Sun with Sylvain Wu - Sylvain's baptism day!
NOTRE DAME – STILL PULLING AT MY HEART STRINGS

Still remembering Notre Dame as it once was! A little video my IPhone put together from 1 week prior when our daughter was here! Just had to share! It still pulls at my heart strings! 

The second video is two days after that my iPhone had made from photos! They both are keepsakes for this time in our lives! 

SUNDAY WORSHIP THOUGHTS

As we began our first French meeting this last Sunday, we wondered how everyone would fit in the two rooms (one for French people, or visitors who spoke French and in the overflow for those who receive a live feed translated in English)! It was packed in both rooms (about 240 people) and then about 68 in the English-speaking meeting at 12:30. We love seeing our church house bustling with so many visitors and members!

We’re always humbled though by the sacrifice it takes for everyone to attend no matter their circumstance! For one, we’re always impressed by the church members who some travel from a good distance to attend church each week, to the visitors who come for the first time as investigators, to the tourists, taking time to come to a meeting solely to partake of the sacrament and renew their covenants with the Lord.

For those who are visiting Paris, perhaps they are missing out on sites they might have seen during those two hours, but instead they come to a very old building, in the middle of Paris to honor and glorify God, by keeping and renewing their covenants. May each know where your hearts belong and where your devotion is and try to give your best!

 May each of you feel of our love and gratitude for your support, prayers and love!


Dan nos foyers tout est beau, quand fleurit l’amour (There is beauty all around, when there’s love at home),

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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