BLOG 7 – NOV 21st – NOV 27th, 202

THANKSGIVING PREPS EXPERIMENTATIONS

While serving in Paris, we realized that baking in France has its learning curve but eventually all went well. It’s just a bit tricky in France with ingredients and the oven temps, so I knew I had to go through that learning curve all over again here in Lyon, so that our Thanksgiving gathering on Thursday with the office Senior Couples wouldn’t be a total flop. With their working in the office all day, each day, I offered to prepare a bigger portion of the meal.

With all my experimentation earlier in the week, I gave some rolls I made to the sister missionaries, only 20-25 minutes away, and knew they would be happy to receive them.

What we didn’t know is that they had 4 extra sisters with them overnight for their legality appointments the next day. They were thrilled to get our rolls and Celestial Sugar Cookies, imperfect as the rolls may have been.

The Sisters in the Écully area, with 4 visiting Sisters

ZOOM WITH ELDER AND SISTER RILEY

We had a wonderful training meeting with Elder and Sister Riley on Monday as well, who live in Corsica. Their situation there is not easy, though you can’t beat the beauty.

They work in a small branch that has two groups on the island. They live 20 hours away from the mission home, by boat and car. It is shorter during the summer tourist season when flights are available.  

Elder and Sister Riely in Corsica

IN PERSON WITH MOMO DJEMAI

We were thrilled to finally meet up with Momo Djemai, a long-time friend from Paris, and also the Welfare Self Reliance Manager for France, Switzerland, Belgium and the Netherlands. He lives outside of Paris in the Loire Valley, and we worked with him a lot while in Paris.

He works from his car and is always on the go, generously driving to personally meet with you, when possible. We have met several times via zoom, but we last saw him in person just over 2 ½ years ago right before we returned home from Paris, during the filming of our efforts there in the Family Resource Center, which the Church produced.

We first met at the Mission Office and had a wonderful 2-hour meeting. We shared back and forth about what we're doing and how he's able to support our efforts.

Packers with Momo Djemai

He took us out to lunch, where we continued our discussion. He took us to Restaurant L’Enctrecôte (which is interpreted, Restaurant Ribeye). It’s quite famous and you have to go early to get in line before it opens, or you won’t get in. This was lunch time, and the same applies for dinner, and the lines are always long he says. We had to park in an underground parking garage 7 min away and hopefully find it ok. We made it in time, and all was well. Ribeye steak in France is not what we are used to in the US. But it was very tender and good.

Momo treating us at an amazing restaurant

We had such a wonderful time with him, and we felt he understood things well by the end of our visit. He’s still waiting to get some training from the Europe Area Welfare Self-Reliance Director (his boss’ boss, who received it from Church headquarters in Salt Lake).

VISIT IN THE HOME OF PRESIDENT AND SISTER LÉPORÉ

Later that same evening, after our visit with Momo, we traveled for a meeting with President and Sister Léporé in their home, in Écully, no more than 10 minutes from the church building we attend.

It was so enjoyable to visit in their lovely home. We feel so much genuine love from them and for their mission. We loved our brief visit with their children, whom we adore. It was all such a treat for us.

During our meeting, we gave them an update of our efforts and discussed our upcoming meeting with them and with President Jubault, the Stake President on Friday. President Jubault took President Lepore’s place 4 years ago. He is so grateful to finally be able to get Sharing Church Resources started in his stake.

Our visit was very helpful and needed and much better in person (whenever possible). They have stresses we can’t begin to imagine, yet they keep smiles on their faces, love in their hearts and a firm conviction of their work on this earth at this time.  

The amazing Léporé Family - we forgot to take a photo inside their home

WEDNESDAY, THE DAY BEFORE THANKSGIVING – CORRELATIING TO A FUN PRIMARY SONG

The day before Thanksgiving is as big a deal as the day of, because of all the preps that goes into it. For most of the day we are cooking and preparing up a storm, so that on Thanksgiving Day there is hopefully minimal work, and also so that we aren’t caught needing our little oven for two items at the same time.

The day before Thanksgiving, or even Christmas Day, reminds me of a well-known LDS Primary song that always touches my heart, since I remember singing this song as a little girl.

Saturday day is a special day, it’s the day we get ready for Sunday. We wash our clothes, and we shampoo our hair, so we don’t have to till Monday.

It reminds me of the importance of doing all we can in advance, so that the Sabbath is a sacred day to honor God, His son, Jesus Christ, and to listen to the still small voice, the Holy Ghost, for the things that really matter to the Lord.

I can honestly testify that when our family carefully and consistently followed this advice, we had so much more peace on the sabbath and time to do important and personal things with family, loved ones, a needed rest, visit family, shut ins, etc.., which helped secure a much better week because of our honoring the Lord on the Sabbath.

DISTRICT MEETING THANKSGIVING DAY MORNING

This morning Steve and I were asked to present to our district our presentation on Sharing Church Resources. They’ve heard much about it from their Mission President but had not heard all that was shared. They were very excited to see it get started in the mission, one stake at a time.

Our Fabulous District

THANKSGIVING DAY AND THE LOVE OF FAMILY

Since we were all meeting (us and 3 office Senior Couples) at the Sans Soucy building for Thanksgiving Day, we hauled all of our food in our little car and drove 30 minutes to the building. It was a wonderful enjoyable meal. But more importantly, the company was extraordinary. We love these dear friends.

We enjoyed getting to know them better, as they each shared their story of how they met one another. They were each so unique and fun.

The McNevins, Packers, Sister Ovard, Ganaways and Elder Ovard

But in the end, it’s our family that we think of most of all, that we are grateful for and that we pray daily for and that they always know how dear and precious they are to us. 

2021 Packer Family - minus 2 grandchildren below

Austina and Emma Family with their latest Leo not in the above photo

Becca and Brian's family with Mason not in the above family photo

ZOOM WITH SMITHS AND SUMNERS

We enjoyed another meeting this morning with Elder and Sister Smith in Mont de Marsan and followed that with a meeting with Elder and Sister Sumner in Rodez. These couples are so devoted and doing so much good. We love working with them, as they are energetic and visionary missionaries, ready to go and do. We hope in the next several months we will have the opportunity to go and visit each of their areas. 

Elder and Sister Smith in Mont de Marsan

Elder and Sister Sumner in Rodez

FRIDAY PREPARATION FOR 2^ND THANKSGIVING WITH YOUNG MISSIONARIES’ TOMORROW

Friday, we continued preparing for our 2nd Thanksgiving meal with 7 other missionaries in our District. They didn’t have plans, and our hearts went out to them, to honor and bless them with the love of home through this Thanksgiving dinner. We’ll meet the missionaries at the church building we attend in Écully. 

My apple pie finally turned out here in France

MIRACLE IN THE MAKING - FRIDAY ZOOM MEETING WITH PRESIDENT JUBAULT AND PRESIDENT AND SISTER LÉPORÉ AND OTHERS

Friday was a long-awaited meeting with President Jubault, the Stake President here in Lyon, along with President and Sister Léporé, Johann Chupin (on the High Council) and Paul Obrecht (counselor in the Stake Presidency). We can just see the miracle that is unfolding here in Lyon.

This meeting was quite historic in nature because the concept of Sharing Church Resources began with President Léporé when they lived in Lyon some 5-6 years ago, as he was not only the Stake President, but also over Family Search for all of French speaking Europe.

With the help of Momo Djemai, President Léporé began this concept by offering a few resources to those coming off the streets in the old Family History Center associated with the Young Adult building, that my parents knew very well. The experiment only lasted a couple of months because the building was closed down, causing the great experiment to stop. The foundation had not been yet organized, more than a small pilot, but that idea was planted in his heart and stayed there till the Lord brought it back to his mind, to share with us when we were in Paris, at the right time and the right place.

As we discussed and then gave them the presentation, there was almost a quiet hush of, THIS IS IT! This is how it’s done.  This is what we’ve been waiting for, and it’s all organized so that we’ll have the help we need to get it going.

It’s honestly based on the two great commandments, to love God and love our neighbors and when inspired and see a need, we can share the resources of the church with those who have a need to help them. There’s so much more, that hopefully in time we’ll be able to share as things progress, of what the Lord has in mind. Our hearts were humbled and in awe of what we are seeing transform.  

President Jubault, President and Sister Léporé, Packers, and Paul Obrecht (counselor in the Stake Presidency) and Johann Chupin (High Council)

2^nd THANKSGIVING FOR THE YOUNG MISSIONARIES

I’m sure it’s natural for each of you to prepare a full-on Thanksgiving meal for a second time in one week, and yes, you can say we’re crazy, but it all worked out and these missionaries were so grateful that they could enjoy a bit of home in the mission field.

During our meal, we asked each of the missionaries to talk about what inspired them to serve a full-time mission. Each story was so unique and so personal, and it filled the room with such love for each of them and the story they shared with us.  

These amazing young missionaries blessed our day with radiant smiles and love

Banana pie seemed to hit the spot with the missionaries

As we cleaned up, I taught Elder Gibby, our departing Assistant to the President, the importance of scrubbing out a sink when all the dishes are washed, so that someday he can let us future wife, know how much he truly loves her. There is something about a sink being thoroughly cleaned out and scrubbed after washing the dishes, that turns a women’s heart soft and full of love, when they see their spouse doing that. He loved it and began practicing right away. 😉 My dear husband is very good at this and symbolically, we can all do similarly in so many ways, to show others how much we love them when we go the extra mile. 

Elder Gibby learning the great lesson of scrubbing out the kitchen sink after washing all the dishes, which will please his future wife someday. :)

FAREWELL TO SISTER HALL AND ELDER OGOSE

We said goodbye to Sister Hall today! Sister Hall’s 18-month mission has come to an end, and she’ll be returning home this Tuesday. She has served magnificently and gave a beautiful farewell testimony today before the primary program began. We love her and the beautiful footprint she left in France and in this ward. Next week we will meet Sister Diatel’s new companion and have no doubt we will love her, as we do them all. Sister Diatel has been here as long as we have and is such a wonderful missionary from Germany. We also said goodbye to Elder Ogose

Sister Hall - departing this Tuesday. We're so grateful for her.

Elder Ogose on the left, was our District Leader. He may have been small in stature, but a giant in his love for missionary work and leading. We will miss him as he goes on to another area.

SABBATH WORKSHOP – PRIMARY CHILDREN’S PROGRAM

This Sunday was the Primary Children’s Primary Program, which we love watching. These programs occur once a year and the children and their parents and all those in the congregation love this time of year, as they have learned so much through the year, with lessons and songs to share. Their sweet and beautiful voices touched us deeply as they sang the very songs we hear in America, but with that beautiful French language. One of the songs they sang, which we have all fallen in love with, is, “I Will Walk with Jesus.” I will attach it in English.

CLICK HERE TO A BEAUTIFUL VIDEO OF THIS SONG IN ENGLISH

These three boys usually sit near us in church, but today they were up singing. They are so adorable, sweet and fun and their dad has his hands full. Their mother is on full bed rest, as she awaits the delivery of their twins any time now. Luckily their Gma comes each week to be with them, as their dad sits on the stand, as a member of the Bishopric.

Jared, Ephraim and Gabriel - waiting patiently for their twin siblings to be born any time now.

LESSONS FROM OUR COME FOLLOW ME STUDY

Each week in Come Follow Me, we are taught beautiful lessons from the Old Testament. As we conclude our study of Jonah and Micah this week, there were some insightful lessons from this study. Here are just a few.

• The Lord is merciful even when we have chosen poorly, but when we are humble, repent and turn to the Lord, He can make great things out of us.
• The gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone.
• What am I offering to the Lord as my sacrifice to Him?
• Is my service to God just an outward appearance, or is it from the depths of my heart?
• My daily devotion to the Lord will allow me to receive much needed blessings to serve Him.
• The Lord loves to infuse hope in us.
• The Lord uses prophets in our modern days to teach us.
• The two great commandments are of greatest importance, to love God and our neighbors.
• The story of Jonah teaches us how we can come out of hard things, and be saved from the most dire circumstances, such as being saved from the belly of a whale.

A PARENT’S LOVE FOR THEIR CHILDREN REACHES FROM ABOVE

As this picture of my parent surfaced in my photos, I think of how much they are continually inspiring me and their children and posterity, more than ever before, to go about doing good. France and Europe in general is a land they deeply loved, but they also love when their posterity is serving, no matter where that may be. I see my siblings and each of our posterity, going about doing good and I have my parents to thank for their profound example.  

Picola and Elden Wood - my dearest departed parents continually blessing their posterity with their example of going about doing good.

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