Packers in Paris Blog
65 – June 5th – June 10th, 2019
WHAT DO WE GAIN
FROM EXPERIENCING TRIALS?
Each of us have gone through trials of all varied levels
in our lives and often come away humbled, having learned lessons we could have not
learned otherwise! We also see that our personal trials are just that, personal,
seemingly almost tailor- made. We certainly don’t see this though at the beginning
of a trial, and perhaps not in the middle or maybe not even at the end (if
there is an end), but maybe at some point we hope to see more clearly when we
are ready to learn, to accept, and to give back love, instead of shrinking! I know,
though, from all other trials that I have personally gone through or been eyewitness
to, either from my loved ones or friends or those I have learned from, that
they are a part of life on this earth, part of the Lord’s plan and part of
knowing who I am!
Let’s just say that my own little personal trial this
past week or so has taught me AGAIN that He is in charge and that I must not
shrink or give in to self-pity.
Update: I am most grateful that my vertigo is behind me!!! I
also had no hearing in my left ear for nearly a month, and this too is all
cleared up, and my head and tailbone injuries are doing much better. Just when I
thought I was on the mend, my rib injury has increased this last Friday to pleurisy and put me
down to let that heal! Prescribed pain management meds were a necessary for this
one and finally the only way to even write the blog! Steve has been amazing
to be there during all of this and doing so many other things as well! He’s
incredible to say the least!!!
CHARLOTTE AND MAX VISIT SAINT MERRI
It’s
been a little while since we’ve seen these two and since they’ve been
traveling, she too missed us and came to see us! These two always brings us so much
joy!
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| Charlotte and Max's visit to Saint-Merri |
CONTACTING AT THE CENTER MEETS NEW FRIEND
It
was fun meeting Azid who was contacted by the missionaries to know more of what
we do! He was so happy to let me take his photo and hope to see him again!
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| Azid and Elders Ripley and Carrillo |
HAPPY 70TH ANNIVERSARY TO MY PARENTS – JUNE 6TH,
2019 – BURLEY, IDAHO
We
wish to honor my parents, by sharing this brief video of my dad singing to my
mother and their two children (for Christmas) while he was serving a 2.5-year
mission in Paris, France in 1952-1954. Hearing his beautiful tenor voice
singing the song, “Forgotten,” brings sweet emotions of longing for these two
while so far away! Thanks to our son, Jordan Packer, for creating this brief
video and to Barry Gibbons for his mastering of this very old recording.
On
Thursday, June 6th, 2019, all of their 6 children gathered together
in Burley, Idaho (2 of us via Facetime) to honor them from three different
Countries – China, France and USA – Alan from Tooele, UT, Ann in Burley, ID,
Janine in Nanjing, China, Renée in Paris, France, Claire, from Syracuse, UT and
Lucie from Bountiful, UT.
My
sister Ann held a wonderful dinner at her home and later went to my parents
home to watch the video and have photos taken! Thanks to each of my siblings
who made the effort to gather together and honor them with so much love! We
pray that the time will come we can all gather again for a family photo with
all of us together!
Their
remarkable lives of service have blessed 5 generations and all those who have
been touched by their lives in one way or another, be it through many years of
service in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, their 7 French
speaking missions, or through their wide service of music in varied communities
they’ve lived in, and more importantly through their devotion to the Lord. It
was a tender time to see this day come to pass and for the honoring that took
place. We love you Mom and Dad more than my simple words can express!
I had asked our son, Jordan Packer,
to put together a video of photos shadowing their lives from pre marriage life,
marriage, their own parents, my dad’s mission in Paris, their musical careers,
their family mission in Belgium, and their many other missions and their
family!
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| Photo credit: Alan Wood - Elden and Picola on June 6th, 2019 - 75th Wedding Anniversary! |
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| Photo credit: Alan Wood - Elden and Picola holding the Mission/Service Board - created by Janine Green |
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| Elden and Picola Wood - June 6th, 1949 |
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| Elden and Picola Wood - June 6th, 1949 |
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| Facetime with my parents as they watch the video to honor them! My father was crying and mouthing the words of the very song he had sung 67 years ago in Paris, France for my mother and two siblings! |
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| My connection with them on their special day through Facetime! |
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| Elden and Picola Wood in July of 2015 for their 85th and 90th Birthdays and returning from their last mission celebration! |
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| Elder Wood with other missionaries while serving in Paris, France - 1952-1954 |
75TH ANNIVERSARY OF D-DAY JUNE 6TH, 2019
HELD IN NORMANDY, FRANCE
Just
two weeks ago on this day, my husband, and our oldest daughter, Camille and her
husband, Duck walked the sacred grounds of Normandy, France and Utah Beach! You
are never the same once you walk these roads, the ocean side and walk in the
shoes, so to speak, of those who fought for our freedom! It changes your
hearts, and your appreciation for the miracle of this incredible event that
took place on this day 75 years ago here in France.
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| Photo Credit - Google! ;) |
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| Photo Credit - Google! ;) |
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| Photo Credit - Google! ;) |
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| Photo credit: Camille Duckworth - Steve and Renee on Utah Beach - 5-23-19 - 2 weeks exactly prior to DDAY 75th Anniversary |
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| Utah Beach Museum in the background while we were there! |
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One of the photos I took while we visited two weeks prior
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PARIS ZONE CONFERENCE
Zone
Conference is one of our favorite meetings to attend each transfer. The preparation
and inspiration that goes into these conferences is always evident. Mentioning the
honoring of the 75th Anniversary of D-Day, President Sorensen stated
that we too are in a battle, in a sense, for good and evil! It caused me think how
much we can’t fight the battle on our own. We need followers of Christ, those
of our neighbors, church members, missionaries and each other to be on the battlefield,
as well as the help of our Savior.
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| Paris Zone Conference - June 2019 |
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| Elder and Sister Smith, having to leave early to care for their daughter with cancer! We will miss them! They were recently put in as our new office couple! |
FAREWELL “CHINESE DINNER” TO HONOR ELDER AND SISTER BONNY
Last
Friday we gathered at John and Renee Hall’s home to honor and say goodbye to
Elder and Sister Bonny! They have been here for 18 months, serving the Young
Single Adults (YSA) in the three Paris Stakes. They will be missed and will leave
big shoes to fill! Their replacement won’t be here till the end of July we’ve
been told.
Two
of our dear Chinese sisters in the ward prepared a wonderful Chinese meal to
show their thanks and love! They are amazing and the most compassionate women!
They LOVE to serve and do it with such grateful hearts! We had the whole Paris District
there, plus other recent Chinese converts and a few other friends. We came away
stuffed!
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| Sister Ding and her dear friend from the Paris Ward who cooked the whole meal! |
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| About half of the crew! |
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| Elder and Sister Bonny - the honorees! |
THE BOOK OF MORMON EXPERIMENT TRAINING!
Last
Saturday morning, we attended a Book of Mormon Experiment training conference
to get ready for the project this coming week! It was put on by a BYU class and
their teacher, Professor Sheets, who created this project.
In
short, there would be stations set up in 2-3 different areas of the city with
banners, where people come and are asked to read 1 random page of the Book of
Mormon and to have them mark any references to God and Jesus Christ that they
find on that page. They are then asked to write what they learned or felt, and
then have their photos taken. It was amazing to hear about thousands of those
who have done this experiment throughout the English-speaking world, to see
their thoughts and reaction to what they had read. Paris is the first non-English
area where they have done the Experiment, so this will be really fun to see it happening
here!
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| Professor Gary Sheets - BYU Professor over the Book of Mormon Project! |
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| Elders Connors and Wood |
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| Reading a page of the Book of Mormon and marking their references to God and Jesus Christ! |
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| President Sorensen greeting one of the sister missionaries! |
BLESSINGS OF LITTLE CHILDREN
We
don’t often get little children in our center, though we are prepared for them!
When we do, they always bring a cheer and unselfish love! We were thrilled to
receive this sweet family who actually has come from Frankfurt, Germany, as the
father works in the area office for the church in finance. Their mother was off
shopping or something hopefully fun, while dad cared for the sweet children!
They were so loving and I enjoyed getting a little bit of substituting as
Grandma!
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| Dear children from Frankfurt, Germany! |
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| These are our other daughters we've adopted! WE love Sisters, Mattice, Doughman, Tabiliran and Scofield! |
SABBATH WORSHIP AND THE DEVOTION OF MEMBERS AND VISITORS
Our
Paris Ward is a rather large ward, but made up of very few families, and more
single people, old and young. We love the Paris Ward and the members who are
devoted and so loving one with another.
Because
of Ward Conference last Sunday, this Sunday was our Testimony Meeting. I was
sitting next to Ophelie Munier and she stood up and bore her testimony as her
final item on her list, just a few days prior to having her first child. She is
a French television presenter and former model. She is married to Matthieu
Vergne. She is a remarkable person who is looking forward to becoming a mother
for the first time. I told her that the birth of her child will be a very
spiritual experience for her and her husband. Her husband, Matthieu, is in the
process of taking the missionary discussions.
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| Ophelie Munier and her husband Matthieu Vergne |
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| Elder Bonny says goodbye to Ophelie and Matthieu |
We
receive so many visitors each Sunday that we like them to feel that they are
part of our ward and we are one big family! We
love the example from the visitors when they take the time on their vacation to
attend church and to renew their covenants with the Lord. This is true
devotion! We feel so much love for them, especially when we take time to meet
them and find out their story and where they are from.
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| Dennis and Jo Newmeyer - Gilbert, AZ |
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| The Bonny's and Packer's - Farewell Photo |
SISTER HEIDI SUGDEN AND HER GRANDAUGHTER, KEELY!
Our
dear Family History Specialist had her granddaughter come in from London
Saturday night! After church I met up with her and had a lovely visit with her.
Her name is Keely and she participates in the Hammer Throw in Track and Field.
She’s working towards the 2024 Olympics here in Paris!
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| Heidi Sugden and her granddaughter, Keely |
A WALK AROUND NOTRE DAME!
Finally,
all streets have been opened around Notre Dame! Our street and all others
surrounding Notre Dame are finally accessible. Now that that the wall around
the cathedral and security cameras are up, they are allowing the public to walk
the perimeters of Notre Dame freely. It was a breath of fresh air to take a
lovely walk around Notre Dame after nearly two months and see all sides of their
reconstruction efforts from the outside.
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| Notice the wall, it's is all around Notre Dame! We're grateful the roads are finally opened! |
BOOK OF MORMON EXPERIMENT - FIRST DAY!
Though
I was planning on coming to help today (6-10-19) and Thursday, I had a set back
with one of my minor injuries turning much worse! So, I had no choice but to
rest, which could take much longer to heal than planned.
The
project went very well! There were three areas, but the ones closest to our
center were quite busy all day long from 10-7 p.m. Steve had his turn at a spot
just a 2-minute walk from our apartment.
It
will be fun to see the results after this week, but after the first day, they
nearly ran out of the pages of the Book of Mormon for people to write on! They
see that as a very positive sign of its success!
How
we love our missionaries that we serve with that were out and about with this
project!
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| Elders Nelson, Jones, Sun and Ballard and Sisters, Tabiliran, Doughman, Mattice and Scofield! Our lovely District! |
As
we finish another week here in Paris and see our number of months continually decreasing, we know that our work here is far from over, and it sometimes
feels that it’s just beginning. We can’t let little set-backs of health or
whatever stop us. They may slow us down, but we have no doubt that the Lord is
very aware of all of our desires and efforts! We are most grateful for your
prayers of faith, support, healing and love! We feel them strongly and we love you
all! We love our work for the Lord, no matter where we would be serving!
Laisse ta Lumière Briller (Let your Light so Shine)!,
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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