Packers France Paris Mission Blog 85

Packers in Paris Blog 85 – Oct 21st – Oct 27^th, 2019

MORNING WALK PARALLEL

Morning walks are such a great time to talk in a more relaxed setting (obviously we are not race walking), but to also enjoy the scenery and maybe notice something we hadn’t before. If we had nothing else to do, we could easily just walk and walk and walk, as no matter where you walk there is something fascinating to see and we never tire of it. Mainly it’s old historic buildings, museums, iconic sites and beautiful scenery of the Seine, or the different times of the year that is always ever changing anywhere you walk. Maybe it’s fascinating people watching, musicians on the street, you name it, it’s everywhere and all quite captivating.

It’s kind of like reading your scriptures, or General Conference talks, or a great read, each time you read (walk) past its pages you catch something new or different that captures new lessons, new conversations, as if it’s the first time you’ve read that passage before. Maybe, it’s coming across a very familiar passage, story, message or so on, that is a great reminder that this is why you love these reads. Similarly, like walking down a comfortable, familiar road that helps you to feel you are home and safe!  

But then, what happens when you are in a hurry to get somewhere, it’s hard to really appreciate what is before you, just like rushing through your scripture study, not letting it sink deep to replenish your soul.

We most often walk everywhere, unless we need to take a metro or bus for a longer distance, and often find ourselves in a hurry with our very fast missionary walk. But when we can slow down there is a feeling that we can conquer what lies ahead and all is well.

Lesson learned – stop or slow down and smell the physical and spiritual roses in life! You might just find something new, exhilarating and even inspiring!

Palais de Justice - the front side, which is on the back side of the street we always walk on!

It says, "In memory of many Algerians killed during the bloody repression of peaceful protest on October 17th, 1961"

This new plaque was just erected right outside our apartment and across the street on the side of the Seine, to honor those killed!

Notre Dame in the Fall

Take the time to stroll through your scriptures instead of racing through them!

FALL CLEANING

With our upcoming brief return in November for our daughter’s wedding, and then the eventual end of our mission in a little over 3 months, it was time to go through our closets and purge things we didn’t need or use, and especially in our food pantry. We found a host of food items which I was wondering where they were and realized we are too busy to even think of using some items, so we bagged those to give away to missionaries or members.

It felt good, though we still have much to do to get ready to go, we will be bringing items home to lighten our load when we come home in February.

ZOOM MEETING WITH ROLAND LÉPORÉ

Things are moving quite swiftly with the One Work Committee in Salt Lake City, thanks to Brother Léporé, though it often feels that our efforts here never seem to happen quite as quickly as we wish. We’re kind of on the bottom of the totem poll as far as getting requests done. It often takes someone on top to really get the attention needed, but once in a while, we seem to move things faster than we thought and with Roland Lepore’s help, be it through the Area Seventy and other key people, it seems to rattle the right cages and then more miracles happen on his end and ours.

His effort working with not only the One Work Committee (the priesthood department, the missionary department, temple department and Family History department), but also the Area Seventies overseeing these four divisions, is making great strides. 

WEDNESDAY’S NEW ARRIVALS, DEPARTURES AND TRANSFERS

Every time this day rolls around, my heart skips a beat of how fast time is flying. Part of me is once again not ready to say goodbye, but then knowing we too will be going home soon, we must prepare more than just physically. Missionaries move 2-4 times during their 18-24 month mission, but Seniors do not. Most of us stay put the whole time. We are grateful this has been the case for us (though there have been several Seniors who have had to, because of special needs). It has been a blessing to integrate with all the missionaries who pass by Saint-Merri as new and departing missionaries, and for at least 3 of the Zone Conferences that take place or mission wide conferences happening at Versailles, and other mission wide training that takes place at Saint-Merri, these have allowed us the sweet blessings of meeting so many missionaries during our total of 23 month mission. We have been extremely blessed to be central to get to know so many of these amazing missionaries and the Senior Couples when we can. We are among giant men and women and leaders who have blessed us in countless ways. 

New Arrival Missionaries 

Departing Missionaries 😥

ROOTSTECH - ZOOM MEETING WITH FRÈRE CALMELS AND ROLAND LÉPORÉ

This last weekend was RootsTech London, and though it was all in English we are trying to have a special showing here in Paris several weeks later to broadcast what we can with those who are interested and speak English. We’re working with Salt Lake to help make this work for our benefit. This will be announced through all of our genealogy partners of FamilySearch that are going to be assisting us. We are still not quite certain of the date, but it will be so wonderful to be able to watch this and share it with any who wish to come this way who were not able to attend in London.

ZOOM MEETING WITH MOMO DJEMAI AND ALAIN KHEEROO

Zoom meetings have become one of our best friends in being able to meet up with and talk with those who live further away, which many do live far away even if they live in the Saint-Merri Ward. We can’t all be everywhere all the time, but through the blessings of technology we can Zoom, Facetime or Messenger, WhatsApp and so on! Would our forefathers ever have imagined this?  

Momo Djemai is our dear friend who is over Self-Reliance for all of French-speaking Europe. He is here in Paris each Thursday as he works in the temple and is willing to meet with us when needed. This time we had a conference call with Alain Kheeroo about starting a Self-Reliance course at Saint-Merri. Momo is such an exuberant and faithful man and we feel blessed having his help to guide us in a multitude of ways with these programs. We know we can always count on him.

He actually lives in the Loire Valley, just out of Tours France right close to Châteaux de Chambord. We visited the Chateaux in the Loire Valley for our 40^th Wedding Anniversary, August of 2018. So memorable!

Steve and Momo Djemai

EARLY SHIFT FRIDAYS

Since usually our District meetings are on Fridays, we asked the Maxwells if they would be ok to come regularly for the second shift on Fridays, so that we can go directly from our District meeting to the Center, and then have a little more time after the early shift. They were very kind and willing, even though last minute the district changed the plans for the council last week, we were most grateful to come home earlier and not get back and eat late. 

It has been wonderful to have the Maxwells here with us and knowing especially as we return home briefly for the wedding of Becca and Brian and then once we are home, they will be able to manager the Center.

     Date night

It was nice to start a little earlier for our date as well. After fixing a meal, we tried to find the movie, Coco, in English, as it is such a perfect Halloween, Family History and amazing movie! To no avail, we could not find it in English. For another time!

SATURDAY DISTRICT MEETING AND SISTER MORRISON

Because of conflicts, our District Meeting was rescheduled for last Saturday. Because we also had a meeting with our bishop during the middle of it, we weren’t as present as we could’ve been. Also, a dear former missionary, Mattie Morrison and her mom and sister stopped by to say hello during the meeting. 

Sister Morrison was one of our dearest sister missionaries, though never served in our Zone, never served in our district, but, she did serve in our Family Resource Center where she was one of our most abundant missionaries for the center as they stood outside to invite people to learn more about what we offer. She was remarkable and she loved it as well. Through this, she and I became very close and it was such a shock and joy to see her. Her family lives in the Philippines.

Sister Morrison is next to me, with her sister and mother on her other side. 

ZOOM MEETING WITH BISHOP SCOTT STONEHOCKER

This was the week for Zoom meetings, and grateful for this time with our Bishop. Since he has been gone so much of the time since his call as Bishop last June, we knew that it was crucial for us to give him a heads-up of what was going on at the Saint-Merri Family Resource Center. He knew some, but it was apparent that what we had to share with him made a huge difference in his ability to really start moving things faster for the needs of the Center, since we have so little time left and we are striving to get things moving smoothly with our new project, prior to our leaving, for when the Maxwell’s take over.

He is such a remarkable and caring man and is thrilled with the direction we are taking which will help and bless his ward members, as well as others not of our faith. We will press onward and forward!

SUNDAY BLESSINGS – THE LITTLE TRAIN THAT COULD

If I could bottle up the many feelings, emotions, expressions and a multitude of lessons that Dior Martin gave this last Sunday in her talk, I would be so grateful to capture this.

I’ll do my best, but it won’t even come close. As soon as she stood up to give her talk I quickly pulled out my phone to record it, as I knew my brother alone would want to hear it, as they have become great friends (he’s like a grandpa to her kids and he’s like a father to her).

Dior is a single mother of two young children and has lived here in Paris for several years. She served a mission in the Brussels area, but part of her mission was actually right in the Charleroi Ward where our family used to live and my dad built the chapel. She is 39, so it’s been a while since she’s been there.

She stood up and began to share the story of the Little Engine That Could! She had the English book opened to the pages, translating the story from English to French, summarizing the story in her animated and brilliant voice. She had the whole audience’s captive ears and hearts as she shared this beautiful story and then spoke of the hard and fearful things she has gone through. Her faithful journey through all of these hard things were summarized by her faith and her trust in the Lord and how He is there to help us get over the top of the mountain and to get to the other side, in a sense. 

We were all in awe of the spirit she spoke with, her ability to speak so beautifully and with great conviction. Afterwards, a young single mother with three small children, who comes week after week along with her mother, went up to Dior and thanked her and told her that she was about ready to stop coming to church because it was just too hard as a single mother and other challenges she faced. This woman then told her that she knew she could continue now after this talk and that she will make it. She was truly inspired by Dior’s sincere and genuine message of hope. Because this woman was late, Steve had motioned to her that there were empty seats on the front row, so she went up to the front, thankfully, because not only was she blessed to hear Dior’s talk up close and personal, but her children were glued to this animated woman as she started with her perfect story-time. Dior mentioned to her how perfectly her kids sat during the talk, as she had noticed. The woman assured her that they were never this quiet, but that it was her talk and story that engaged them throughout.

I could not stop thinking about the story she shared with me about this dear woman from Dior’s message. We all go through challenging times, but just as the little engine that could, we can overcome through hard work and optimism and faith and love for one another, and most importantly the Savior’s atoning sacrifice. 

Me with Dior Martin after her special talk! 

     Charlotte and Max

Yay for Max! We love seeing Charlotte and she always brings a smile to our faces, but there is nothing like face of a little child, and especially Max’s. He has a gift to make anyone happy. His gigantic smile is so contagious and filled with so much love that everyone wants a piece of him. She knows he is a special gift from above! I think he really loves me too! 😉 Ok, so he’s asleep here, but there will be more posts another time with his contagious smile again! Can you tell I’m a bit grandchild hungry!!!

Max fast asleep with his dear mother's hand! Charlotte is such an amazing mother and is reflected in how dear and calm and sweet Max is! 

CONNECTIONS AFTER CHURCH

This story is much too long to share any details, but there’s no doubt that the Lord puts two people who have once met and live fairly close to each other in Utah and our sweet purpose of our meeting was revealed in the end. The Toone couple were such a delightful couple and we had a tender visit. 

Kara Toone visiting Europe with her husband and then we made an awesome connection!

TRAINING FOR OUR FAMILY RESORUCE CENTER ADVISORY COMMITTEE

We were happy to finally give the training for this great committee on how to proceed in going into the homes of members to start offering the great blessings of the resources the church offers (via the Family Resource Center), and then for the members to be able to share names of their friends who would be interested as well. We role-played an experience with them after the training and it was such a joy to see their faces light up with an understanding of how this works for these services. They are so excited to get started. They will each be paired up and go on splits with our missionaries.   

OCTOBER 15, 2019 - 1 YEAR ANNIVERSARY – BELATED!

I didn’t want to forget to put this in, since I forgot last week. The opening of what started as the Family History Center, his was a memorable event that took place a year ago. We started with a fun and eventful Open House on a Saturday, the 13^th of October (starting at the church building and coming over to the center). Two days later, on October 15^th, 2018, we opened our doors. We had no idea really what we were doing, but how we’ve grown in more ways than one. Without recounting our faux pas, we learned much about listening to the Lord and doing what He deems best! It always turns out better when we do. Our Open House video below started in the church and then lastly into our center, which has changed at that. 

CLICK HERE TO SEE BRIEF VIDEO OF LAST YEAR'S OPEN HOUSE

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

We pray that each one of you are feeling well and keeping warm and know that we love you! We think of you often and that we are anxious to see many of you when we return! Meanwhile, we would love to hear from more of you on how life in the States is going. Please send photos, updates and know that it would bring a smile to our faces! Also, look out for those you can help over to the other side of the mountain, just as the Little Engine That Could.

Le petit train qui pouvait (The Little Engine That Could),

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