Packers France Paris Mission Blog 64

Packers in Paris Blog 64 – May 27^th – June 4^th, 2019

ACCIDENT, AMBULANCE AND BLESSINGS

What a title to begin this blog! I will not start this blog though with the details of this above title! Just a fair warning, this was not in our plans!

GETTING LOST IN PARIS ON MY WAY TO THE CHIROPRACTOR!

Because of my vertigo still hanging on, I was told that going to a Chiropractor could possibly help my vertigo problem. I found a good reliable chiropractor and headed on my way. Even though I’m usually with my husband and do not have a French phone with the ability to always get Wi-Fi, I thought I would still be fine! Yes, I got lost and ended up taking a taxi so I wouldn’t be later than I was. 

These were my simple directions that I took a photo of from Steve's phone! Looks simple enough, right? 

This was more of a consultation appointment, with him asking me a ton of questions, one of which was if I had ever had a serious hit on the head before! I told him not at all! I kind of thought it a strange question, till later on at the end of this week, I thought again about it (will explain later)! He asked that I get x-rays of my neck and spine the following 2 days later at a lab nearby! I would not have a follow up with him till June 11^th, as he would be out of town.  

TEMPLE AND VERSAILLES WITH ELDERS LAYTON AND OVARD

We were grateful to meet up with Elders Layton and Ovard at the temple and do a session with them and then meet up with some Temple sister missionaries for a little lunch they brought. After the session at the temple, we met a couple who knew Steve’s sister and husband who lived in Belgium which is where they knew them from their few years living there. Bryan and Pam Meiling were their names.

Elders Layton and Ovard

Bryan and Pam Meiling, new friends we just met!

The Elders really wanted our company to go to the Versailles Chateaux, so we then took off with the Elders to go to the  Chateaux next. Those who are either students and or younger than 26 with a passport get into the Chateaux for free! Since we have a one year pass it was a great time to be there with them! They had not gone back to the gardens before and thoroughly loved where we took them.

Though we had much to do back home, we have found that it’s important to let them know how much we appreciate them and give of our time with them!

A small section of the Versailles Chateaux

Ladies in the Kimonos coming out of the Marie Antoinette Village

DISTRICT COUNCIL

This morning Steve and I had a presentation to give to the District concerning contacting using the Family Resource center in their regular sectors! We know that it will take some good training to help guide them in how to contact more efficiently, but the key word is genuine love and taking time! The needs are there and people no doubt are grateful once they hear about the center and what we offer at no cost!

Fabulous District!

X-RAYS AND A LOVELY VIEW OF THE EIFFEL TOWER

No problem finding the appointment for x-rays. I wonder if having Steve with me had something to do with it😉!

As we waited in the waiting room before leaving, I spotted the Eiffel Tower from the waiting room! I’m a sucker for taking pictures of this tower!

ELDEN AND PICOLA WOOD - 70 YEARS OF MARRIAGE JUNE 6^TH, 1949

My parents will be celebrating their 70^th wedding anniversary this Thursday, June 6^th. This is the same day as the 75^th anniversary honoring D-Day on June 6^th, 1944!

I will be paying a tribute for my parents on my next blog! Thinking of them though, has caused my heart to be filled with emotions of gratitude thinking of all they have done in our behalf, for countless others and especially for the Lord!

My sister, Janine, in China and I will be Facetiming with our family in Burley this next Thursday for this special small celebration. It will be wonderful to all be together at one time from different countries!

SIMPLE BUT NEEDED DATE NIGHT!

It doesn’t matter what we do, but just taking a break from the daily tasks and being with one another is always appreciated! It is truly a joy and great blessing to serve with Steve every single day and so dinner out and spending time laughing about, n’importe quoi (whatever) is sometimes all we need!

YSA SERVICE MORNING

This last Saturday morning the Young Single Adults of the three Paris Stakes met at Saint-Merri for Paris Service morning. They first met at the church and then split up into varied groups to do service projects. We had one activity right at our center with learning how to do Indexing! Our group may have been small, but it was wonderful to see how they caught on and flourished!

Heidi Sugden in the green top

At least one YSA that this helped was Johnathan! Johnathan has suffered with Dyslexia, and other disorders, making his life a challenge socially, especially.

Johnathan

After a brief introduction, purpose and explanation, they each got onto a computer and were taught how to begin the process. Heidi Sugden was helping Johnathan and though she had a difficult time getting him signed in, it finally worked! Heidi didn’t know anything about Johnathan and his social fears, but she was amazing with him. On his own, he decided to go out of his comfort zone and work on American Military records. He got so excited at one point that he couldn’t believe how much he enjoyed doing this!

This is what we hope for, what we desire every person to feel, that this great service brings a sense of sweet and tender joy and elation to continue! 

Sister Bonny and others at the computer doing Indexing

LIVING THE HIGHER LAW – LESSON TAUGHT BY THE SISTER MISSIONARIES!

Last Saturday afternoon, I met with Sisters Mattice and Scofield asking how things were going with contacting for the center out in their regular sector. They had been on exchanges with their roommates, Sisters Tabiliran and Doughman the day before! What they shared next was a beautiful lesson that touched me deeply!

As we began conversing, they spoke of the example of how to contact for the center by what they learned from doing exchanges with Sisters Tabiliran and Doughman. I have known for a little while now that Sister Doughman loves contacting for the center. It’s always her first approach because it’s so natural and there’s always someone who has a need for our center. But what Sister Scofield shared next was beautiful! She told me that Sister Doughman taught her that it takes living the higher law (how Christ would live) in order to truly contact properly for the center. It takes genuine love, time and caring personally for a person. She said that Christ was not in a hurry, but always took the time to genuinely get to know someone and what their needs were and showed immense love for them. Even though I knew this was a great principle, I had not realized that the reason Sister Doughman was so successful was because of living the higher law and how important it is that we learn this emphatically in our lives no matter!

Then Sister Mattice said that she knows that Sister Doughman was rubbing off on shy, Sister Tabiliran! She noticed that Sister Tabiliran also was contacting in this same fashion with genuine love and time and noticing people more, and by making more personal contacts with them.

These Christ-like principles aren’t new, but it’s easy to forget what we are here for and how important people genuinely are! These missionaries are amazing and how marvelous for them to be so teachable! Yet, when I shared this with Sister Doughman and Tabiliran, they turned around and shared the most genuine and amazing stories about Sisters Mattice and Scofield! We can’t help but love and adore these missionaries!

CONTACTING AT THE CENTER

We had some good contacts in front of the center, which is not quite the same as one would contact away from the center as you walk around meeting and greeting people, because at the center we literally have seconds to help people see what we have to offer in the center! Amazingly though, people still do stop and want to know and then we have a chance to spend more quality time with them. We had a whole family stop in and register for some of our services who only live right down the street!

Sisters Ackroyd and Tulieva

Elders Luth and Whorlton

ACCIDENT, AMBULANCE, HOSPITAL, LESSONS MY MOTHER TAUGHT ME, PRAYERS AND BLESSINGS

On our way walking home, we stopped by a mini grocery store and shortly after that were getting ready to cross the street at a very busy intersection. Once it was time for us to cross we entered the crosswalk and before we knew it a fast-moving electronic scooter came quickly around the corner, knocking me down hard! I first hit my tail bone area and then my head ricocheted onto the pavement. I can now profess to the chiropractor that I have had a hard hit to my head! I have all the excuses I need now when my brain doesn’t work well! Has it ever?

With the help of Steve, the man who knocked me down and a woman, I was brought to the sidewalk to sit on one of the chairs from the nearby restaurant. My whole derrière hurt terribly, but my head concerned me the most! They kept asking me what I thought we should do. I finally felt that calling the ambulance was the best thing to do, since we didn’t know what shape I was in! Hindsight, I probably wouldn’t have gone to the hospital because of what happened there, but nevertheless the Lord knew there was a reason to be there!  

     The faith of my parents!

While sitting all alone for three hours at the hospital prior to them letting Steve join me, I had a lot of time to think about my parents, especially my mother who suffered many health challenges right before or during their several missions with injuries and accidents. What I learned at that time was the tremendous stubborn faith my mom had that she would be ok. She mustered up the strength to soldier on and was tremendously blessed. It was quite amazing what we witnessed how she was cared for because of her desire to serve! It strengthened my faith then, and it still strengthens my faith now!

     Prayers of family and missionaries

Steve made sure and text our children and our district and our Mission Doctor/Elder to let them know and ask for their prayers! I could literally feel a tangible feeling of love and peace from each of them!

     Sparing all the details…

Not wanting to give a detailed outline of this event, I’ll only say it seemed to take forever for so little. I was grateful for the tender blessing when they finally allowed Steve in and received a blessing from him! There were several tender mercies that confirmed to me that all will be well and that the Lord was very much aware of my condition. After a visit from a doctor, x-rays and the doctor explaining the X-rays, I was discharged around 1:30 a.m., Sunday morning.

While Steve called an Uber, I began to ask the security guards a question about the Uber pick up place (which, of course, that’s not how it works), after which one of the security guards asked me if I believed in Joseph Smith! I told him that I did and wondered how he knew about Joseph Smith. He proceeded to tell me that he had been baptized 20 years ago in the Congos. He asked me how Joseph Smith was called, and I told him that he was called by God! I asked him if he was still going to church and he shook his head, no. I then put my hand on his arm and shared my testimony with him and that he needed to return. There was a feeling of genuine love and I could feel he sincerely wanted to know. I had no doubt that he felt of my sincere love and care for him!

STEVE IS AN AMAZING CARE GIVER AND ALWAYS HAS BEEN!

Nothing is more comforting than the love of your spouse helping you through ordeals of any kind, but especially when one is down and out! He is and has always been there for me with all of our children’s births and other minor health challenges, but not just when I’m in a bad state, he’s just always ready to bless his family! He cares for his family, shows love to others and helps those in need! He has always been faithful in all he does, but he does it with sincere and genuine love! How I love and appreciate him more than words can ever express!

SUNDAY WORSHIP, WARD CONFERENCE AND BISHOPRIC CHANGE

Steve went to church while I was still in bed sleeping! I slept quite well, thankfully! I can’t remember the last time I missed church! I just don’t! But, of all times to miss, this wasn’t one I would’ve wanted to!

It was Ward Conference and also the Bishopric was being changed. I knew that this was going to happen sometime in the next few weeks, as Bishop Hall and his family will be moving back to the states after 19 years of living in Paris and the last 7 of them as Bishop of the Paris Ward. It is not an easy thing to be a bishop of a ward in Paris! We love the Halls and will miss them dearly!

John and Renee Hall - at the Versailles Chapel - Not sure who took this photo!

I was thrilled with the call of the new bishop, Scott Stonehocker! He and his wife, Becky, are an amazing couple and he will be an amazing bishop! He served a mission here quite a while ago and both of them speak French very well (they are from the United States)!

Parents of Bishop Stonehocker - not sure who took the photos here and below!

Renee and John Hall (former bishop( and Scott and Becky Stonehocker (newest bishop)

Scott Stonehocker was the Ex. Secretary to our Area Seventy, Elder Bennasar

Steve said it’s the largest crowd we’ve had in a very long time! Steve said that they were bursting at the seams and even then, people were outside because there was no room in the inn! The English-speaking meeting was also the fullest it’s ever been so far this year!

VISIT WITH FLOWERS TO BRING US CHEER!

Our dear sisters I spoke of earlier, all came to visit this last Monday night! Their love and consolation was such a blessing to both of us! They are so compassionate and loving! We love you!

Sisters Tabiliran, Mattice, Scofield, and Doughman

MORE XRAYS AND DOCTOR VISITS!

We were asked by our mission insurance to go back this last Tuesday for more x-rays and a follow up with an orthopedic doctor. We’re not quite sure why the Insurance asked us to have these follow up appointments for my tailbone, but now we’re glad we did. It confirmed that I did not have a fractured tailbone as first thought from the hospital and so I was grateful that it was just a bad bruised tailbone! I have other visits to go to for other issues from the accident, but hopefully I’m on the mend!

Makes me think of an old Primary song, Genealogy, I am doing it! 

La gratitude vient de l’amour de Dieu (Gratitude comes from the love of God),\

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