Packers in Paris Blog 84
– Oct 14th – Oct 20th, 2019
TEMPLE
TUESDAY
On
our way to the temple, we stopped at the large outdoor market in Versailles! Whenever
we attend the temple we rarely stop at the market, as we are not able to
purchase food to bring inside the temple, but nevertheless it was enjoyable to
walk through seeing the wide assortment of beautiful vegetables, fruits, fish
and meats.
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| Market Day in Versailles |
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| Market Day in Versailles - Dates - one of my favorites! |
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| Market Day in Versailles |
We
were grateful that Alan was able to join us at the Paris Temple to share in the
beauty of this inspiring and sacred building! He thoroughly enjoyed the physical
and spiritual beauty inside and outside on the temple grounds.
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| Elder and Sister Packer and my brother Alan Wood |
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| These two Temple Visitor Center Sisters are doing a tour of the Center through video chat! |
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| Video Chat Tour of Visitor Center |
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| Paris Temple - What a blessing it is! |
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| Evening after the temple with my brother Alan and Steve |
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| Ok, so we went and bought chocolate (very dark that is) |
The
dedication of an LDS temple is a very special event and we love how frequent
these happen throughout the world. This past weekend was the dedication of the
Frankfurt, Germany Temple, after concluding a two-week Open House with over
29,000 people who toured the temple. You may enjoy the brief video that shares
a small portion of the history you might find interesting.
THURSDAY
REPAIRS AND STEVE WATCHING THE CENTER
Last
Thursday, we were finally able to have the repairmen stop by to get two needed
repairs done! We never know how long it will take, but it was important to be
here during the repairs. Meanwhile, Charlotte had come over to pick up something
and that gave us a chance to visit during their lengthy repairs.
Gratefully
Steve is such a champ to stay in the center while I’ve had to be home more times
this week than normal with varied needs to get done, but I am grateful that Heidi
is around to help if needed.
ALAN OFF TO
LYON, FRANCE
My brother Alan took off this
morning for Lyon, France. Steve made sure that he had all the necessary directions
and tickets and such to get there! He made it like a pro!
Alan went to visit friends of his and my sister, Janine. Freddy and his brother
were exchange students many, many years ago living with my sister, Janine and
her family. They have loved them and their parents for many years. Alan grew to
love them as well and took the time to spend a few days there. They treated him
like a King and Alan even called Janine so that they could speak with her. Alan
said that Janine’s French was fabulous! Now to have someone confirm that she is
fluent in Chinese would be cool!
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| Freddy and his family living just out of Lyon, France |
FRIDAY
DISTRICT COUNCIL AND EVENING DINNER WITH OUR DISTRICT
Steve
went to District Council in the morning, while I stayed home to prepare the
meal for everyone that same night. In my little kitchen, cooking for 10 plus
people is not that easy if I want to do something that is enjoyable, other than
order out for pizza (we’ve not done that
one yet). It’s a full day process to get ready! It’s always so much fun having
them in our home, knowing that most likely one or more of them will be
transferred this coming week!
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| Our precious district before exchanges at District Council! It never stays the same! My dear husband is there, but not me! |
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| Our whole district before it changes! This was taken in our apartment after our evening dinner! We love you all! |
MISSIONARY CONTACTING
FOR THE CENTER
Last
Saturday, we had two sets of Elders contacting in front of the center. Some
days it goes very well, and other days, people want nothing to do with stopping
to learn about the resources we offer! We are finding though that Saturday is
their day to run errands and fewer want to stop. Once in a while, there will be
a random person stop by, look at the sign, walk in and want to know more about how
we can help them.
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| Elders Paxman and Hicken |
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| Elders Poulin and Jones |
LA FÊTE DES
A.O.P. IN PARIS
On
our way home Saturday from the Center, we frequently pass by Hotel de Ville. There’s
always some type of event going on in the plaza. This day was a Fête des A.O.P.
(which is free tasting of all types of cheeses from France). It was a huge
enormous tent and free to enter, but the lines to taste the varied cheeses were
much too long.
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| Holing up their favorite cheese (not the smile)! |
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| This was just a small sample of the huge array of cheeses featured! |
BAPTISM OF
FRÈRE PINEAU
Last
Saturday was the baptism of Frère Pineau, who is such a kind and gentle man and
of very small physical stature! We don’t know his story very well, but no doubt
he was looking forward to his baptism for some time. I stayed at the center
this time, while Steve attended the baptism to honor him. The support of the
ward is always strengthening to those being baptized!
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| Brother Pineau |
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| Elders Sun and Nelson with Brother Pineau |
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| These wonderful supportive friends and ward members are so awesome! |
SUNDAY
BLESSINGS
Don’t
be shocked that I did not capture one single photo on this day, but we were grateful
for the blessings that occurred nevertheless!
During
Sacrament meeting, Frère Deng, our fairly new convert, has been playing the
piano lately for our services and he has such a beautiful gift to not only play
well, but even more so, to play with emotion and the a very inspiring spirit! As
I listened to him play this last Sunday, I was caught off guard with my
emotions and thinking about all that I will miss once again! It led to one
thing after another. Everything I see reminds me that we are leaving this all fairly
soon! My parents did this 7 times!!! I never really knew how much it truly felt
as a missionary until it happens to you! You love people so much that to think
of leaving them, the sweet work we do and the home that we’ve grown to love!
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| This is the best you'll get of Brother Deng, our piano player! |
Charlotte came to church empty handed!
It’s
always a happy day when Charlotte comes to church. It was a bit strange this
time though, because she came alone! Max was with his dad. We are all so enamored
with this sweet boy that when she came empty handed, I felt empty myself. Good
thing we love her! 😉
The lesson that taught all of us!
During
Sunday School, Ophelie Munier gave a remarkable lesson on the Old Man and the
New Man. She asked the class to list what characteristics would be those of the
Old Man and another list of those that would signify the New Man (when we
change our life to follow Christ).
With
each of these lists, it was quite apparent that one brings us selfishness,
greed and ultimate misery and the other brings us eternal joy! Just prior,
Charlotte had shared with me something that her mother had shared with her the
day before. She told Charlotte that she needed to walk the walk, and not just
the talk. She mentioned that while the Apostles were on the earth during Christ’s
ministry they had Christ to teach them, but once he died on the cross they no
longer could count on his personal direction, but had to rely on following the
promptings of the Holy Ghost and walk each day as the Savior would have them
walk. She then decided to share with the class what her mother had just taught
her the day before, which was a great blessing for Charlotte!
Family Resource Center Advisory/Support
Committee
Sunday
afternoon, we held our first meeting for specifically invited members to assist
us in our several plans for the center, and to begin a new implementation of
member involvement with the center and helping to invite their friends. Though a
few of the committee members were unable to attend, it was recorded so the
others could hear. They were each very enthused and very willing to move
forward with our desires and to help in anyway that they can. We look forward
to getting this moving forward efficiently as we have little time before we
leave our mission, and if this can begin to work smoothly before we go we’ll feel
much better! Your prayers are appreciated!
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| Our Family Resource Center Advisory/Support Committee |
Speaking with my parents
Each
time I have a chance to visit with my parents, it is a treat! It’s rarely over
a video chat, but it’s ok if I can only hear their voices and hopefully gladden
their hearts with a phone call. My sister Ann or her daughter, Angie, often have
them over for dinner on Sunday, which they thoroughly enjoy! How I look forward
to seeing them in a month. It can’t come soon enough! But I am grateful we’ll
still have two more months when we return! We are NOT ready to say goodbye to our
work here and all that goes with our mission.
BECCA’S
ENGAGEMENT VIDEO
I
keep forgetting to post this sweet video of Becca and Brian from their engagement!
I cry each time I watch it, but basically when Brian asked her what she would
like her engagement to be like when the time he got around to ask her, she didn’t
have any ideas except that she wanted her family there! That melted my heart
more than anything. All but two of our children were able to join them, one of
them flying from CO just for this event. Our family has been so filled with joy
for this occasion, that everyone has jumped in with both feet to assist and
celebrate.
Secretly
the family had helped Brian by placing Go Pro video cameras in several areas of
his backyard and then Brian’s parents brought the vase of flowers with another
camera. His parents brought the place settings, which didn’t startle her at
all, but when one after another of our family members started to bring part of
the dinner out, then a special letter, then the ring with the brother from CO,
Becca was not only suspicious, she knew that the time had finally come! Thanks to Jordan, our son from CO who put this together and made me cry many happy tears! Get your tissues out!
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If our sharing any of
our personal and poignant stories, videos and photos causes you any sense of wishing
you could do the same, maybe you too need to start writing, gathering and
sharing your experiences, and not waiting till you go off for some adventure, a
mission, or some trip. Start writing now, record your stories, and share them
with family and friends (we would love to receive them), or if you feel you
want them more private, but start writing! You may think you have nothing to
share, but I can assure as you begin to write on the everyday happenings of
your week or those things you would be sad to lose track of, start by taking
more photos, or jotting down notes of special memories and begin writing your
tales to savor for the future.
Nous aimons ta maison
(We Love Thy House O God),
Elder et Sœur 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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