BLOG 5 - Nov 7th – Nov 13th, 2022

WALKS IN THE PARK LIFTS OUR SPIRITS

We love our walks in the morning, be it in the fog, warm or cool, leaves changing colors, steep hills to keep our hearts pumping, but most of all we appreciate this quiet time with one another in the morning.

Nursery for the Park

Fog is so mystical and beautiful

So lush at this time of year

These vines are everywhere

MORE ZOOM MEETINGS WITH SENIOR COUPLES

Between our continued internet struggles, we still were able to somehow have several zoom meetings this last week, be it in our apartment or in the office, depending on our Wi-Fi. We enjoy every opportunity to meet with several of the senior couples here in the France Lyon Mission and even the couple in Paris, who periodically asks us questions, since they are running the center in Paris and need a little help.

Every area is a unique situation, and each of these Senior couples are working around whatever it is they can do in their sphere of influence to serve with their respective stakes in the community.

Elder and Sister Cichoski - Welfare and Self Reliance Missionaries for all of France, living in Paris

Elder and Sister Rellaford in Geneva, Switzerland

Elder and Sister Scheuermann in Paris, France

Elder and Sister Sumner in Rodez, France

Elder and Sister Riley in Ajaccio, France on the Island of Corsica

DINNER WITH THE CUCHE FAMILY IN LUCENAY

A week ago, on Sunday, we were invited by Brother Denis-Pierre and Sister Veronique Cuche for dinner at their home the following Wednesday. We were thrilled to be invited to their home, not having a clue what to expect and how long it would take to get there. We were excited to get to know their family. What a lovely evening we had.

Veronique and Denis-Pierre have 5 children, with two left at home, Lucie and Marie Elise. They live in an old village outside of Lyon, Lucenay, about 25 Kilometers (15 miles) away from where we live in Lyon, which, by the way, took us 1 hour to drive there because of traffic, but only 35 minutes to return. Where they live is known for the hundreds of vineyards.

They built their beautiful and spacious home almost 20 years ago. Once we arrived, Denis-Pierre and Lucie, took us for a little drive in his Tesla, to show us some of the historic sites and also to show us how fast his Tesla could go, oh my! At one point, he drove down a narrow road so extremely fast that I was holding on for my dear life.

Even though it was dark during our brief tour, he drove us down many winding roads, and through little villages. It was beautiful and such amazing landscapes, I really couldn’t capture. The photos aren’t great because it was so dark, except the ones I grabbed from the internet to share.

We were amazed at the history he shared with us, and how old some of the villages were, dating back to the 11^th Century.  

Village of Charnay with these photos below 

Winery

Internet photo by CHABERT Louis - Village of Charnay

The dinner that Veronique provided was wonderful and so thoughtfully prepared. There was such a peaceful and loving feeling in their home.

Veronique grew up in Lille, France in a family of 9 children, who were all active members of the church and Denis-Pierre joined the church as a Young Adult and served a mission in Canada. They have raised such a beautiful family. Lucie served in the France Paris Mission, arriving in Paris just a few weeks after we left to come home from our mission there. Lucie’s and Denis-Pierre’s English is amazing. Marie Elise is in her last year of High School and plans to serve a full-time mission. They are both such beautiful and fun women. We hope to return during daylight hours to view the villages more easily.

Marie-Elise, Veronique, Denis-Pierre, Lucie Cuche Family

“YOU CHOOSE” ROUNDABOUT ANALOGY

On our drive to and back from the home of the Cuche family, an analogy began to materialize in my mind.

Perhaps some of you have heard of the children’s adventures books, “You Choose.” They are, in a sense, gamebooks, where you can choose where you will go. Depending on the choices you make, it takes you to different pages and destinations.

As we drove to the Cuche’s home, we went through countless small roundabouts, but each with at least 3-4 outlets. It could almost make one dizzy, constantly going around each roundabout, praying you were taking the right exit for your destination.

Internet photo - large roundabout, unlike the constant small ones we went through that evening

Thankfully we had our GPS guiding us, even though still a very stressful experience, to say the least. Roundabouts are everywhere in this part of France. It started to remind me of the gamebook I mentioned above, “You Choose.”

The choices we make will determine the outcome of our destination. How different our evening might’ve been if we had taken the wrong exit in even one roundabout. Who knows how long our rerouting might’ve taken to arrive for a very late dinner appointment.

This parallel could be a very familiar one in each of our lives if we so choose. Roundabouts are everywhere in life. Just like road trips we may take, we are also needing to make choices that can determine our destination in life. Our choice might be impulsive or from self-gratification, not thinking about the outcome and how far off course we might end up.

When taking a journey, I love knowing where I’m going, how long it will take, and I always look forward to finally arriving to my desired location. That doesn’t mean there won’t be challenges along the way, but I know my GPS will continue to guide me.

If we travel without a GPS and go on a whim, we may never know our ultimate destination, and certainly not be thinking about the harder and longer path to reroute to the more desired final destination, which is always of greater worth and value.

I love knowing that we each have our own personal GPS navigational system, one we can trust, and one that we can easily learn the more we follow its promptings. The perfect GPS is God, through the guidance of the Holy Ghost. We also have a living and true Prophet, guiding us to look to the Savior in all we do and warning us of dangers ahead and how abiding by the precepts God has outlined for us (following our GPS), will help bring us back safely and with less wrong turns.

Because of a loving and merciful Savior, if perhaps we have taken a wrong exit or many wrong exits, all is not lost. We can reroute, get back on track and receive the guidance of our loving Savior through His atonement. We know that He is there for us if we will just look up and turn our hearts to Him.

PROPHETS ARE CALLED OF GOD

I am so grateful for living Prophets and Apostles! As Steve and I continually review this last conference from October 2022, we are in awe of how perfectly it fits for our time. We are grateful for President Nelson, his counselors, and the Quorum of the Twelve and their inspired direction.

President Russell M Nelson - our beloved prophet

FIRST DISTRICT MEETING IN LYON

This morning we met at the Sans Souci building in Lyon, for our first District Meeting. We love these amazing missionaries. There were 3 sets of sister companionships and 3 sets of Elders, with one of them having 3 Elders and then us. Sweet Elder Ogose, our District leader and the quietest and shortest of all of them, was incredible. He brought this district together wonderfully and had them sharing their experiences and thoughts and desires so thoughtfully. We’ve always loved being a part of the district and they seemed to be cool having a senior couple with them.

They are so excited to learn more about Sharing Church Resources and to begin using these great tools as they reach out and help and serve those they meet.

Our dear District

They are always smiling and lifting others

Afterwards, Elder Zarbock, one of the Zone Leaders, approached Steve to tell him that his mother was a Packer. As they began to discuss, we found out that his grandfather is Rand Packer who is the grandson to Willard and Rebecca Bean, son of Palmyra Bean Packer. We knew who Rand Packer was, having read his book, A Lion and A Lamb, and seen his movie, “The Fighting Preacher,” (one of our most favorite movies). They both got out their Family Search with, Relative Around Me, and found that they were 2^nd cousins. 

Elder Zarbock and Steve - 2nd Cousins - cool story

LETTER FROM THE STATES

Even though we requested this document letter to be sent to us from our son in CO and we knew we couldn’t get too excited, it was still fun to finally get something in our mailbox. 

We invite any of you, who wish, to send our way, a snail mail or even an email, letting us know how each of you are doing.

Look at his happy face getting mail - first one!

PREPATION DAY SIGHT-SEEING WITH MY DEAR STEVE

We finally took time today, after being here for three weeks, to visit a couple of sites, all planned by Steve. In only 15-20 minutes’ walk from our apartment, we were able to witness an incredible site of old and modern Lyon, standing in the Jardin des Chartreux – Clos St Benoît. There’s so much more to see up close, but it was remarkably beautiful from a distance. We have so much more to see on our Pdays, when we take them.

Our own Eiffel Tower also built by Gustave Eiffel with the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière 

Saône River in Old Town Lyon

Saône River and new and old Town in Lyon

After a short walk again, we then visited the Amphitheater of the Three Gauls, built in 12 BC. It eventually was able to hold up to 20,000 people. What is seen in these photos, is only a small portion of what is left. It was built for gathering the representatives of sixty-four Nations of the three Gauls. It was also the place where, in 177 AD, the first Christians martyrs of Gaul were tortured and killed, one of which was Sainte Blandine. It is used even now for musical concerts on the main ground floor.

Amphitheater of the Three Gauls built in 12 BC

We thoroughly enjoyed a leisurely walk through the backroads, finding ourselves not that far again from our apartment. Who knew…?

Beautiful climbing vines are everywhere

Finishing the day with over 13,500 steps

MOMMA WOOD’S SABBATH INSPIRATION FOR THE YA’s

We absolutely love coming to this ward and the people we are meeting, and also to partake of the emblems of the sacrament, to renew our covenants with the Lord. We love Sundays!

Last week as I was speaking with Lucie Cuche at their home, she asked if we could help their ward get a Young Adult (YA) activity going. Even if that’s not our specific assignment, I was so happy to follow through with this. I just had no idea what that would look like and how to go forward with it, being so new.

During our Sacrament meeting, I felt a distinct urge and inspiration from my mother, of what we needed to do to get a YA activity going.

After church, I met up with Lucie, and told her that next Sunday, I would like all YA’s, including all married YA to meet in the cultural hall after church for 15 minutes to plan a “Light the World” service activity or two, by getting their ideas and plans. I also told her that I would bring my Celestial Sugar Cookies that would entice anyone to want to serve.

Sweet Lucie Cuche - willing to help with the YA Activities

After following through with the planned activities, we would gather in a few weeks for a joint dinner at the church. She was thrilled with the idea and said she would send out a message on WhatsApp to the already existing YA group chat. Thanks, mom, for your inspiration!

My dear and inspiring mother helping me from the other side of the veil

Serving with this man brings me so much joy each and every day!

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