Packers France Paris Mission Blog 70

Packers in Paris Blog 70 – July 8^th – July 14^th, 2019

CATHEDRAL OF THE MADELEINE 350 VOICE CHOIR AND ORCHESTRA

Last Monday evening we attended the performance of the Festival Choral de Paris 2019 Performance at the Cathedral of the Madeleine! The Artistic Director was Gary Schwarzhoff, and the academic orchestral conductor was our Stake President here in Paris, Frederic Loisel.  

The choir of 350 were made up of choral singers from all over the US, singing songs of Joshua Rist, Dan Forrest and Mack Wilberg. It was a stunning performance in a beautiful cathedral with remarkable acoustics. We both were thrilled to be there!

Cathedral of the Madeleine

Cathedral of the Madeleine

Cathedral of the Madeleine - Concert 

Cathedral of the Madeleine - Concert 

Program for 350 voice choir and orchestra 

LEGALITY

We finally were able to go to Saint Germaine-en-Laye to pick up our legality card for our second year. It went as smooth as silk and we enjoyed a walk in the castle gardens nearby!  

We're still legal!

Chateaux de St Germain en Laye gardens

Chateaux de St Germain en Laye gardens

Chateaux de St Germain en Laye facing from gardens

SURESNES AMERICAN MILITARY CEMETERY – STANFORD HINCKLEY

After getting our legality cards, we took off to visit Suresnes American Military Cemetery. Last time we made the trek it was closed, as it was New Year’s Day! They only close two days a year, New Years and Christmas! It’s a beautiful site on top of a hill overseeing Paris!

We were so impressed with the Memorial Building and Visitor Center. We met a sweet family who both serve in the Military and enjoyed a lovely visit with them. We also enjoyed the Visitor Center and the men who helped us find Stanford Hinckley’s grave site. As soon as we mentioned his name, they knew exactly where his site was located. With 1,541 graves from WWI, and only 24 unknown soldiers from WWII, they probably get the members of our church asking often to know where Stanford Hinckley’s grave is located. Stanford Hinckley is the brother to our former prophet, Gordon B. Hinckley. We were told that most tourists that visit are French who come out of curiosity and others from the States and throughout the world! Afterwards, our helper took us back to the VC and printed a formal document for us!

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE

Family we met in the Memorial

Visitor Center of the Suresnes American Cemetery 

Grave of Stanford Hinckley WWI

Grave of Stanford Hinckley WWI

Carl Matthew took us to the gravesite 

Document they printed for us of Stanford Hinckley - WWI

DISTRICT COUNCIL – LEARNING THE LANGUAGE OF THE CENTER

What does it take for missionaries to learn a new language? It’s not easy, as it’s takes a lot of practice, patience and knowledgeable instructors/tutors and daily immersing yourself in the new language before you begin to feel more confident. In time with continued practice it can become second nature.

Since we have the support and blessing of our Mission President to move forward with our unofficial pilot with the center, learning how to use and speak the language of the center may be a challenge initially. As they immerse themselves in this new language of seeing how they can truly help others they meet, by speaking of the FREE services of the Family Resource Center, they begin to see how quickly they can gain the skills and ability to serve with the gifts of the resources we offer.

This morning we attended our weekly District Council and it was wonderful as usual, but what happened during the last half hour was a beautiful and remarkable thing. After last Sunday’s training on July 7^th, our District Leader was inspired by the quotes and what we shared with them. From that point on, he started to realize how important it was to show more support and to inspire the whole district. He asked Sister Doughman to share how she contacts for the center and she is an expert, and it is so natural and amazing how she genuinely shows loves to others as she speaks with them. She inspired all of us! These particular services, all given for free, are having an amazing effort in our missionary work, more than ever expected!

TEACHING WITH THE SISTERS

In the afternoon I went about 30 minutes away to a park to help teach a man! His name is Mehdi! He’s married with two daughters. His story is remarkable and taught us a brilliant analogy that had happened to him that morning that made him realize the importance of not being stagnant and spreading his wings and not being fearful to learn and be the best he can be! This is a very petite portion of his incredible story. We met his wife near the end of the visit! They are both such good and honorable people.

Park where we taught Mehdi

MANDARIN ELDERS FEELING THE LOVE OF THE CENTER

Today our Mandarin Elders contacted outside the center and had amazing experiences. It really helped them get excited about what they have been learning and putting into practice.

MONGOLIAN WOMAN’S PLIGHT

The Mongolian woman, who has come many times before, needed our help with her phone and Steve and I spent a few hours going places with her to find what she needed to no avail. Finally, on Saturday Steve was able to go with her again and help her and it made all the difference. Bless this woman who speaks no English or French! She was so happy that she was able to finally call home to Mongolia! Thankfully we were able to get her in touch with people who spoke her language to help translate for us, and using Google Translate sometimes works!

ELDER AND SISTER LYNN’S VISIT TO THE CENTER

We love it when other senior couples come by to visit the Center, as most of them live far away and don’t make it in, unless they are in the area for Zone Conference! The Lynns came to visit after their Zone Conference.  They have only a couple of months left and we will miss them terribly. What amazing people they are and have helped run the finances and other vital needs in the office like a tight ship! 

Elder and Sister Lynn - office couple extraordinaire! 

SISTER HEIDI SUGDEN IS LEAVING SOON

Heidi Sugden will be leaving this week and we are praying that all works out for her to return in two months. She has been such a life saver and an amazing blessing to patrons, to us and the missionaries have loved her! Everyone that meets her is so grateful for her great service here in Paris. We have so much still to learn from her!  Thank you, Heidi, for all your love, your kindness, your generosity and amazing blessing to us in the Center. Best to you in all your travels!

Heidi Sugden - Family History France Expert 

Sisters Tabiliran and Doughman with Heidi Sugden

Me standing with Heidi Sugden

DATE NIGHT REPRIEVE

Habits are hard to break, and hopefully good habits are really hard to break! I’m so grateful for the habit of our weekly dates that have been going on for nearly 41 years! We may not do much on these nights while here in Paris, but going out for dinner and playing a game, or watching one of the few church movies we brought, is enough after a long day!

We have learned through the years how essential it is to not only spend time together but to appreciate that we have one another, need one another and deeply love one another!

CHINESE EXPERIENCE ON THE BIG SCREEN!

Salt Lake has been working hard to finish getting the Chinese Discovery experience up and running on our big screen. It happened over the weekend and we’re so grateful, as it’s a wonderful program that can serve a large community of Chinese people. Our Mandarin Elders will love this as well as our Chinese members and those not of our faith!

Chinese Discovery Experience 

Chinese Discovery Experience 

APARTMENT DEEP CLEAN AND CELESTIAL SUGAR COOKIES

Saturday, I did some spring cleaning and organizing and then made my Celestial Sugar Cookies for our training on Sunday. I’ve learned that if you feed them they will come! Actually, they would come anyway! 

 SORRY NO PHOTOS OF THE CELESTIAL COOKIES! 

FRANCE’S BASTILLE (INDEPENDENCE) DAY

July 14^th is France’s Independence Day, called Bastille Day! Saturday there were events throughout and a big firework display at the Eiffel Tower. We did not attend, not that we would we try with the massive crowds and late hours, but we appreciate how the French love their holidays, about like we do!

Pompidou Center

DISTRICT TRAINING FOR THE CENTER

Our meeting this last Sunday was wonderful as we more directly spoke of each of the specific resource offered and how their conversations can bless others as they become more knowledgeable about what is being offered.

They were in ‘Celestial’ heaven with the cookies we shared with them!

THOUGHTS FROM SISTER MIRIAM HALL - YPM IN NAUVOO ILLINOIS

Sister Miriam Hall is a Young Performing Missionary in Nauvoo, Illinois, who regularly writes home to her family. Her mother is a good friend of mine, and recently shared some of her emails with me. I was so touched by her ‘gems’ that I got permission to share with you!  

“I learned some amazing things in sacrament meeting from an elder who spoke in our ward, and my mission president. (Our ward is made of only missionaries! It's SO amazing!!!!)

Sacred music, beautifully presented, can thin the veil and bring us closer to God, the Spirit, and our family and kindred. So why is it that hymns are often sung so mindlessly?

You could say that there are 4 levels of singing sacred music:

1. Singing in a rote, mindless way. Could be called a vain repetition.

2. Realizing that there is truth in the hymns as you sing, and finding meaning in them.

3. Singing as though the lyrics are your own original thoughts.

4. Singing as though the lyrics are your own original thoughts, and then feeling that confirmed by the Spirit.

Sister Hall continues to say: This week, I am going to do my very best to sing with a level 4 mentality. I'm also going to apply these principles to prayer and partaking the sacrament. I invite you to do the same! It's incredible how different prayer, singing, and the sacrament feel when we choose to find personal meaning behind them. The Lord will pour His spirit down upon you as you do so.”

Young Performing Missionaries - Miriam Hall is on far left! 

SABBATH BLESSINGS

Our French and English meetings were wonderful as always. There were fewer people than normal in church, both in the French and visitors’ meetings, most likely because of the holiday!

We were so grateful to have Amadou Fall attend church this last Sunday. Not only did he come, but he borrowed a white shirt and tie from the missionaries. He wanted to come to church looking appropriate! He was contacted through the center and wanted to also learn more about the church. This brought us so much joy to see him so happy! 

Elder Ballard with Amadou Fall

Charlotte and Max!

Steve and Sisters Doughman and Tabiliran were helping a man, Gordon Gurr from Los Angeles, who was on his way to our ward, but on his way his wallet was stolen. He would be leaving that Sunday night on a plane for Ukraine for knee surgery. This broke our hearts to see his plight! Somehow with calling his wife, she helped him on her end and they took care of his eventual financial needs. Between Steve and the sisters, they helped him figure out what he needed to do to get himself back to his hotel and the airport. He was a bit shaken but knew he had to be faithful to get where he needed to go and not lose focus. 

Gordon Gurr with Sisters D and T and Steve - His angels in disguise!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Thank you for any who have made it this it far in this blog and for any of our weekly blogs during our mission. It’s not easy summing up experiences that are just a brief synopsis of little tid bits, but they will trigger sweet memories for us with very real and tender times! We appreciate all of our family and friends who have been such a great blessing in our lives and especially during this time as we are away during many trials in the lives of our family. We have witnessed their being lifted and blessed incredibly! We know that time flies when you are busy and having fun and so watch out, we’ll be home soon! We have a little less than 7 months remaining of our 23 month mission.

Aimez Votre Famille (Love Your Family),

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