BLOG 4 - OCT 31st - NOV 6th, 2022
LA TOUSSAINT or ALL SAINTS DAY - NOVEMBER 1ST
Even though Halloween is
observed in France, in a minimal way, what is most cherished is La Toussaint or
All Saints Day, the following day!
It is known as the second
most celebrated holiday in France. So, what is All Saints Day? It’s a Catholic
holy day, and also a public holiday, where people remember their deceased loved
ones and honor them. If you’ve seen the movie, Coco, you’ll understand that it’s
similar.
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| Internet photo - LA TOUSSAINT or ALL SAINTS DAY |
ANOTHER MIRACLE - HOT AND HOTTER
When we moved into our apartment,
the tub/shower faucet would not run cold water, but only warm, and each day, it
got hotter and hotter, to the point, that it was almost scalding.
This last Monday, we
tried calling 5 suggested plumbers, left messages and that they would have to
be willing to take an electric payment from the mission office. The only one
who answered only accepted cash, and no one else answered though we left
messages to most. Because of the holiday on Tuesday, we would not be able to
call anyone again till Wednesday. We prayed that we could get ahold of someone
who would respond.
From our experience
during our Paris mission, the chances of getting ahold of a plumber and to get them
to fix your needs on the same day you called would be zero to none! We were
told that it would most likely be the same here, meaning maybe weeks before they
could come to repair.
On Wednesday morning, I began
calling at 9:00 a.m., and the first place I called answered and I told them our
urgent need and that it could only be paid electronically. They responded to
say they’d be here in 1 hour. We were dumbfounded and knew this was another
miracle. The mission office agreed it just doesn’t happen like that!
As promised, they came in
an hour, replaced the defective faucet and made sure that the hot and cold water
worked perfectly. We thanked them profusely and that we were overjoyed and
grateful for their great efforts to help us and so quickly. They seemed very pleased
by our gratitude.
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| The new and working robinet de baignoire (bathtub faucet) - to the Wood/Packer clan, notice the pink, just like Gma Wood's. |
SHOPPING AT THE OUTDOOR MARKET
Only a few minutes away from our apartment is the outdoor market that comes about 3 times per week. We’re always intrigued to see what is being sold, how delicious everything looks and also what non-food items they have and what do we really need to buy. We came away pleased with our purchases.
ZOOM WITH ELDER AND SISTER SMITH
Elder and Sister Smith
are another couple who serve in the Bordeaux Stake, in the Mont de Marsan
Branch. It was very helpful to understand their situation there which is not
too different than the other areas with Branches, but still having its own
unique challenges or special qualities that should work well for them with some
great effort. We had given them prior training on SCR while they were in the
MTC, via zoom. They are going to be a fabulous couple in their area. They both
speak French well, having served missions together some 40+ years ago, in the
Geneva Mission.
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| Elder and Sister Smith |
WALKS IN THE PARK
We are enjoying our walks
in the nearby park, which is only an 8-minute walk away. It’s beautiful,
peaceful and also has some challenging slopes and hills, which is always helpful
for endurance.
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| Entrance - Parc de la Cerisaie designed by Edouard André in 1913 |
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| Map of the park and its resources |
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| In the middle of the park is this home, which is vacant, but may have been a summer vacation home. |
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| A man-made Totem Pole of wasp nests, that are all closed up |
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| Beautiful stairs in the park |
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| The Park has miscellaneous art sculptures - figure this one out... |
TWO TRIPS TO THE MALL IN ONE WEEK
What it takes for us to
get to the mall in our vehicle is not so easy nor enticing, but to go twice in one
week was a bit insane, but for varied reasons it was needed.
Since the mall is within
walking distance from the Mission Office, we knew the second time we could
leave our car under the garage at the Mission Office and get what was needed
without driving through the maze of traffic.
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| The many floors in the mall |
It’s rather crucial that
we have available internet in our apartment for our assignment and
communication with family and mission needs, but this last week it was very
sketchy and would often be impossible to get through. We finally decided to go to
the Mission Office on Friday for a scheduled zoom meeting. We also ordered a
new router in hopes that it will solve the problem. If this blog goes through,
it’s because we were lucky/blessed or we got a new working router.
ZOOM WITH MATTHEW MATHIAS
Early Friday afternoon we
headed to the Mission Office for a zoom meeting with Matthew Mathias. Since our
internet has been so unstable, we couldn’t afford to have it dropped again.
Matthew Mathias is a Welfare
Self Reliance Manager (WSRM) for Germany and the Eastern Europe Area but lives
in Geneva, Switzerland. We had been told by the Elder & Sister Rellaford
that it would be so helpful for us to meet with him. We wished we had had time
last weekend while in Geneva. Even though he’ll be retired by the
end of January, he’ll be a great support for this cause.
It was so delightful to
visit with him with what is going on with Sharing Church Resources. He was
thrilled to hear about it and that the WSRM will be so directly involved. He had
many positive things he shared and personal experiences where he felt strongly
this was a positive move in the right direction.
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| Brother and Sister Mathias from Geneva, Switzerland |
While at the office, we
picked up our mattress topper. Our bed was so terribly hard, that sleep was
much more difficult than it should’ve been. Our mattress topper finally came
and so we were able to bring that back with us.
The difference was night and day! I slept better than I have in the last two weeks and beyond. Comfortable sleep on a mission is essential, at least for seniors!
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| Not our bed, or topper, but you get the idea! |
BRINGING MY DAD BACK TO FRANCE
As we headed out for our
morning walk on Saturday, with it being a little more chilly than other
mornings, I grabbed my dad’s scarf that I brought from the states that is very
tender to me. It’s a brand-new scarf from France, that I figure he bought sometime
while serving in France from 1952-2002, and I could tell it had never been worn.
I don’t mind that it’s a man’s scarf, but it means so much to me to wear his
scarf around my neck, keeping me not only physically warm, but also to feel his
presence near me. I will treasure his scarf for a very long time, but more
importantly I treasure my love for him and my dear mother and the tender
feelings I feel from both of them from the other side of the veil in this area
that is so dear to them. I have no doubt they are with me, as they served in
this same mission 20-22 years ago.
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| The scarf during our walk |
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| The scarf on our date night |
45TH ANNIVERSARY FOR WHEN WE
FIRST MET
November 5th
marks the 45th anniversary of the day that Steve and I met (1977) in
Burley, Idaho at a local HS dance half time show. I just happened to be there at
the same time, where Bonnie Beck and a few of her folk-dance friends came for
the weekend (Steve being one of them) as they would be giving a fireside the next
day in Bonnie Beck’s ward. Steve and Bonnie were dance partners with BYU Folk
Dancers. After meeting Steve that evening I knew I wanted to attend the
fireside, especially since I would be heading off to Paris for 6 months for BYU
Study Abroad and they would be sharing a fireside on their recent Folk Dance
Tour to Europe, including, France, Spain, Italy and Poland.
It’s history from that
point on, and even though I still went to Paris for 6 months, all while Steve graduated
from BYU, moved to San Diego, and bought a house. But my experiences in Paris helped
prepare us for our future mission to Paris 40 years later.
We made sure to go out on
the town, well only a few minutes' walk from our apartment and hit a restaurant
that actually was open, as most of them open much too late for us. We enjoyed
our sweet celebration that evening.
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| Inside the restaurant, with only two tables being used, because we were much earlier than the normal crowd. In Paris, they are open all day because of the immense tourists every single day. |
DAILY LESSONS FROM COME FOLLOW ME
Along with the Church’s
Come Follow Me lessons, Steve and I also follow along with the Book of Mormon
Central for Come Follow Me videos with Tyler Griffin and Tayler Halverson (BYU ancient
scripture scholars) with their periodic special guests, which has given us
beautiful insights that we have enjoyed tremendously to study each day, along
with our Come Follow Me study.
We’ve been so touched by
what we’ve learned from Daniel 1-6 and their additional insights. This week
they shared quotes that really spoke to my heart, and I wanted to share some of
them with you. Amazing examples are exemplified in these scripture heroes we are
learning about, like Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.
SUNDAY WORSHIP BLESSING AND SURPRISE
We have increasingly enjoyed
the ward we attend each Sunday, as we get to know more and more individuals. Today
we heard from many members who stood to bear their testimony of Jesus Christ.
There was a beautiful spirit from each. They respectfully kept to the request
from the Bishopric, to speak of Jesus Christ, and not wander.
One sweet blessing and surprise,
as we met with the members afterwards, is that I found out from Patience and
Wilson Omorodion (who knew my parents well) that this very chapel was the ward
building that my parents attended while living in Lyon on their mission. My
parents must be enjoying these experiences we’re having, while busily serving
in their heavenly home and periodically checking in on us. It
suddenly made this place even more sacred to me.
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| The Wilson and Patience OMORODION family. These parents knew and loved my parents very well and who told me that this was the ward and chapel my parents always attended. |
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| Picturing my parents in this very place. Very sacred to me! |
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER FAMILY CELEBRATION SHOUTOUTS
I’m hoping to be more conscious
of sharing these birthday shoutouts monthly to our family. Each of them deserves
a generous and joyful hooray and a big fat kiss from their Mémé!! 😘 We love them
with all our hearts!
October
8th – Camille Duckworth
11th – Dixie
Packer
13th – Brian
Lattin
30th – Aaliyah
Packer (6)
November
6th – Austin Packer
14th –
Jayden Duckworth (15)
15th –
Allen Packer (11)
23rd – Maliyah
Duckworth (19)
26th –
Brian and Becca Lattin 3rd Anniversary
May God be with each of you!
With all our love,
Elder et Soeur
Packer Grandpère et Mémé
801-336-6153
(Steve’s)
801-564-1332 (Renée’s)
Address: Please include the
name and address as stated
Les Missionaires – PACKERS
17 rue Philibert
Roussy
69004 Lyon FRANCE
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