Packers France Paris Mission Blog 88

Packers in Paris Blog 88 –Nov 12th – Nov 18th, 2019

ANTICIPATION FOR A WEDDING!

There is something about a wedding that makes anyone close to the bride and groom giddy, but when it’s your child, your last and youngest child, there’s much more excitement in coming home after being away for 20 months to see your whole family. We are a bit stoked! 

The Wedding Invitation!  
We leave here on Wednesday, November 20th, and will fly back on November 29th!

The joy of what lies ahead is helping to ease the stress of our preparation and we only hope and pray we can sleep the nights prior.

     Our Homecoming - Save the date! 


A heads up for any who wish, our homecoming report is on Sunday, February 9th at 9 a.m. in Syracuse. More details will be forthcoming. We would love to see you for any who might be able to come!

MISSION WIDE CONFERENCE IN VERSAILLES WITH ELDER DE FEO

We have anticipated this mission wide conference with Elder De Feo for some time and no matter what stresses there may be, we put our stresses aside and soaked in the magnificence of the conference.

Tuesday evening, we took the RER to Versailles to then catch a bus to the Versailles chapel, and spent the late afternoon/evening helping put together lunches for 120 missionaries for the next day with other senior couples. On Thursday other seniors put together approximately 90 lunches and everything went well from what I heard.

After our evening’s efforts most of the Senior Missionary couples met at a local Chinese Buffet for dinner. It was delightful evening to finally get to meet some of these couples we had not yet met, and especially Elder and Sister Kim from Springville, UT who had just arrived the Saturday prior and will have spent a week in a hotel with all of their luggage and no way to transport it until their vehicle arrived. We all felt for them!
Some of the senior couples gathering for dinner!
Afterwards we went to the hotel for the night and then got up early for the conference the next day. To witness the sea of the three Paris Zones all together plus about 30 extra who came from other Zones, who would be attending OFII the next day with Steve, was a beautiful sight! We love these missionaries who radiate such enthusiasm for this work.

Elder Massimo De Feo, serving as first counselor in the Europe West Area Presidency in Frankfurt, Germany, was our visiting authority. We were asked to listen to his talk from April 2018 conference (Pure Love: The True Sign of Every True Disciple of Jesus Christ) before the conference. He is such a beautiful example of the principles spoken in this talk and that which he spoke of and taught on Wednesday, the 13th. Our hearts were riveted on his messages and those of President and Sister Sorensen.  





Elder De Feo spoke first of his conversion story when he was 10 years old, 50 years ago. He spoke of the importance of planting seeds of love, and our light will make all the difference. He said that a plan is a divine way and that it will bring about miracles. He was the first Stake President in Rome, Italy.

Below are just a few of my many thoughts from his many inspired messages.

o   Plant seeds of love
o   Planning is a divine pattern and will bring about miracles
o   Develop Christlike attributes
o   Loving others is not enough, first love the Lord
o   Minister with a purpose
o   Don’t compare, instead praise, invite and encourage
o   Sacrifice all on the alter
o   Have the courage to change
o   Use the Atonement on your mission every day
o   It’s not what we say, instead we should become the message
o   Connect on common ground
o   Speak to the hearts of others
o   Teach according to the needs of others

     Commitment Matrix
Elder De Feo drew on the white board a Commitment Matrix and taught a powerful message for all of us! Here’s one thought from this matrix.

·       When you heighten your expectations and your love, that’s when miracles happen.
Elder De Feo teaching his Matrix concept

The conference lasted until 4:00 p.m. and though we may have been tired, you would not see it in the countenances of these missionaries. They also LOVED seeing one another!
These three awesome missionaries all served at one time or another in Charleroi, Belgium (the town we all love!)

Elder and Sister Packer at the Mission Wide Conference 

The first row are the Elders in our District

The first row are the Sisters in our District

Sister Sorensen

President Sorensen and Elder De Feo meeting every missionary

On our way back from Versailles, is the Hotel de Ville with the honor given for Armistice Day!
 Because of OFII the next day on Thursday, we returned home Wednesday evening! It was nice to be back in our apartment and our own beds.

OFII AND CENTER WATCH

On Thursday, Steve took off early to take the missionaries to OFII (legalities). He took 15 missionaries including a senior couple and then came back earlier than normal. All went as smooth as silk this time! That means no missionaries came late, forgot their passport, missed a train, etc… I’m so grateful that he is so willing to take these missionaries every 6 weeks for this adventure. I actually enjoy going myself but would not care to do it on my own. I would hate to lose one of them or get all of them lost! 😉 What would I do without Steve’s wonderful skills in so may areas, but his navigations skills has saved us and others multiple times. He is my constant inspiration and navigator! 
OFII Missionaries minus the senior couple who had left already!
Meanwhile, I was in the center with Heidi, as the Maxwells were at the conference in Versailles. We enjoyed a wonderful day in the Center. I had documents to write up and also had a great discussion with Elder Vincenzi and his companion Elder Hopuu, about the things we learned from Elder De Feo. 
William - a regular patron from American! He has a good heart to help others and knows the sacredness of the Book of Mormon as an original copy was found in the library he worked in somewhere in Chicago. To this day, they keep it safe and yet allow anyone who would like to come and view it and touch it! He's not a member of our faith, but has great respect for our religion. 

Elders Hopuu and Vincenzi with their new ami , Youssoupha Toure

PERSONAL MEETING WITH ELDER DE FEO AND PRESIDENT AND SISTER SORENSEN

We have known for several weeks that we would be having a personal meeting with Elder De Feo and our mission president and his wife Friday morning at the Family Resource Center.

We did all we could to prepare for this meeting but were very grateful that it was Elder De Feo who had requested the meeting to come and visit with us regarding the center. There is a lot of talk in the Area Office in Frankfurt, and in Salt Lake with the One Work Committee as to what is happening here, but we were most grateful to share an interchange of our thoughts with him during our brief 45 minutes.

What a gentle, kind and inspired man he is, and we were so grateful for his ability to see the vision of our efforts and his desire to see it continue and thrive. We had his undivided support and attention and so it meant so much to make a few requests to the Area Office level for particular needs that are urgent before we leave our mission.

We mentioned of some of our plans with the Paris Ward that are starting in the next week, about which they were very enthused. Then we also mentioned our plans to expand our Resource Center contacting with the neighboring district and requested to our President if we could go ahead with this trial experiment starting on Monday the 18th. President Sorensen wholeheartedly supported our plans and asked that we write up the procedures and plans for his final approval.

There was more that took place in our brief 45 minutes, but those precious 45 minutes meant the world to us, to be heard, acknowledged and responded to. Our discussion fell on loving and grateful hearts from all those in the room. We were humbled for our opportunity to receive this support and are planning to move forward. We thanked him again for being a second witness to some of the very things we’ve been trying to help the missionaries understand the power of love and meeting people where they are at!
Elder and Sister Packer with Elder De Feo and President and Sister Sorensen

Heidi working at the computer just after our meeting above and showing me the miraculous work she has found for Marie Claude, the woman she is staying with! What a special gift!
After we were finished, we went home to prepare to leave for Le Vesinet, where the Mission Home is located for a special dinner with the President and his wife and all Senior couples. They expected this to be a late evening and since it’s an hour and half away, they booked another hotel for us for Friday evening.

EVENING WITH PRESIDENT AND SISTER SORENSEN

We both enjoyed going to the Mission Home! They have a large table (all one piece) in their large dining room that seats 28 people. We were all together in one room, not wanting this evening to end. We thoroughly enjoyed the company of each couple and loved getting to know them. We have been on our mission the longest, so this group is fairly new compared to when we first came out. Most missionaries serve 18 months, but we felt very prompted to serve for 23 months and now we are so grateful we did. If we could, we’d extend a little longer just to get a bit more done. It will all work out!



President Sorensen is the one on the top left standing and his head got cut off and his wife is the one standing on the bottom photo! 
SATURDAY – 1 ANNIVERSARY FOR THE YELLOW VESTS – HAVOC BROKE OUT!

Saturday was a day to prepare for our upcoming experiment with the missionaries starting on Monday, the 18th. There was much to do and with the center, but it was a bit disheartening to see all the noise and violence that was going on that day because of the 1-year anniversary of the yellow vest protestors. Yes, we were seeing some of the rampage, but nothing compared to what was on the Champs Élysée and Eiffel Tower and elsewhere, but the police vans and cars were streaming into that area from our neighborhood since this is where the main police station is located right next door to us.   

As we heard about more of the violence that had erupted, our hearts were sickened as there are some that are trying to resolve their differences more peacefully. We felt safe in our center and yet our walk home felt a bit sketchy. 
Saturday night massive sirens and police right by Notre Dame!
SUNDAY BLESSINGS

While taking a bus to church, we witnessed some of the aftermath in that neighborhood by the Pompidou Center. It was truly disheartening though to see the major havoc near Champs Élysée on the internet.

Our first blessing is that we were arrived at church with no danger. We could see that the police protection was still on alert and we heard noises of concern and helicopters looming above us, but Saturday was much, much worse!
Seeing this as we got off the bus to go to church! 
 Other blessings would be with the beautiful talks we heard, new people we met, great discussions with ward members and visitors. We received an update on our requests from Kévin Gauthier (second counselor in the bishopric) who is always so supportive of everything we are doing and is ready to see things happen. He is on our committee and is a great liaison to the bishop for varied requests as we engage the ward with the Family Resource Center so that they may receive help in all the classes that we offer so that they can also invite their friends of other faiths to join us.  

A couple that spoke in church this last Sunday, who are new in the ward and from the States, seemed to us as a perfect couple to help with our Ward Ministering Project for the Center. Even though they would be ideal, Kévin notified us that they are taken elsewhere and another name was suggested, and they would be wonderful as well. We need help, we also need those who can carry on with various projects while we are gone and finished with our mission.
Ryan and Camille Wight - friends of our future son in law, Brian Lattin

Kandi, Phaedra and Amie and myself! I didn't know them before, but our sweet conversation was so sweet and spirit filled! The two on the left came together and met Amie and they connected! Great women!
 MONDAY EPIC MEETING WITH TWO DISTRICTS

The Paris Lilas District joined our Paris District this morning in a joint meeting to discuss the new plans that President Sorensen has given permission to pilot. After much preparation this last weekend, we felt ready to launch this with them and they were so receptive and amazing to jump right in. We have been given only 3 weeks to test out our little pilot, but if all goes well we are in hopes to continue to do more with these two districts. It’s never easy as transfers are in two weeks, right after we return, nevertheless we have given them the tools to be successful even while we are in Utah.  

They were grateful to have the support of the President and his very clear printed document to show his support of our direction.
Paris District

Paris Lilas District

Combined Paris Lilas and Paris Districts

One of the four other groups where they were practicing what we taught them! They were amazing! 
After our meeting, they carried on for their District P-day and I came home to start this blog and to start getting ready for our trip to Utah.

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

We pray for each of you and especially as our family gathers together this coming week for the wedding of Becca and Brian. We are grateful for the many sacrifices being made to drive long distances, help out in so many areas and to join us for this great celebration. May you all find joy in your own thanksgiving celebrations on the 28th or thereabout.

I’m sure no one will complain if I put the blog off for an extra week till after we return on the 30th! Happy Thanksgiving to all from the Packers in Paris and Utah! 


Que Dieu vous bénisse et vous garde (May God Bless You and Keep You),

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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