BLOG 8 - NOV 28th - DEC 4th, 2022
LIGHT THE WORLD WITH OUR LOVE
Every year, throughout the
world at Christmas time, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints presents
their inspiring campaign, Light
the World. As missionaries we are surrounded by wonderful
efforts to let our light shine with our love, our service, and ways we can
spread more joy in the world. It starts as one, opening a door full of light to
everyone that is in our sphere of influence to receive that light and then
share it with others.
We loved this brief and beautiful
video that helps us know how we can so simply spread our light and love at this
Christmas time and honestly throughout the year.
Click here to watch - The World Needs Your Light
The beauty is that we can
each do something small each day to Light the World,
no matter where we live there is someone who needs our love. I had fun taking
the 50 small ideas the church published and placing it in this tree image.
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| I turned the church's "50 ideas to light the world," into this tree design. 🎄 |
ZOOM GATHERING STARTED OUR WEEK
Early in the week, we met
with Elder and Sister Rellaford to discuss how things are going for them in Geneva
with Sharing Church Resources. They are such a great example of how we Light
the World.
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| Elder and Sister Rellaford |
WEDNESDAY BRIEF OUTING TO OLD TOWN LYON
We finally took the time to visit Old Town Lyon. Our first time in Old Town Lyon was with President and Sister Léporé on our first evening in Lyon.
On Wednesday we only spent a couple of hours in a portion
of historic Old Town Lyon, it definitely intrigued us to come back. We enjoyed
a cold and brisk walk on familiar French cobble stone streets and walking through
the beautiful main square where St
John Cathedral (Cathedral Saint-Jean) is situated.
The building of this cathedral began in 1180 on the ruins of a 6th
century church and was completed in 1476. The cathedral is beautiful inside and
out.
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| Those cobble stones are beautiful but so hard to walk on. |
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| Town Square facing the cathedral. |
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| Just inside the cathedral |
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| The organ and pipes in this cathedral are so beautiful! |
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| The sundial of the astronomical clock - Underneath the clock, you can see the astrolabe with the moon, the sun, and the 24-hour numbers. |
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| An all-English restaurant. |
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| Place de la Trinité and Rue Saint-George |
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| There are many cathedrals in close proximity even in Old Town Lyon, but especially throughout Lyon. |
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| Café 203, our first restaurant our first night in Lyon in Old Town |
We have had artificial
trees for over 30 years, and we finally bought a real tree on Thursday, as they
were easier to find than any fake one. We were told it would stay alive through
the Christmas season without water. Our apartment can only fit a small tree
anyway, but it will help to bring another portion of the tender Spirit of Christmas
in our midst. We bought a few bulbs and lights to put on our tree and is very
simply done. Luckily, we’re not trying to win any apartment tree decorating
contest (thankfully there is no contest).😉
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| It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, yes, it's getting cold! |
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| Even a small tree can bring us joy! |
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| This tree may be small, but the light it shares can bring the Light of Christ in your life. |
There are always countless people on our list of those
who need prayers in great measure, but if we could make a special request for
you to pray for Stephanie and her family (from Utah). This is someone most of
you would not know, but nevertheless, Stephanie needs our prayers most
desperately.
Know that these prayers in her behalf and her family, will mean more than we can ever say. No matter the outcome, prayers are a way to also give comfort, peace, and a reassurance that God knows them, God loves them, and that God can carry them through their difficult trials with enduring comfort. Thank you so much!
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| Prayers for Stephanie please! |
FRIDAY ZOOM ZONE SOCIAL MEDIA &
DISTRICT MEETING
We were so happy to be able to sit in on this meeting to learn how we can more effectively share Light the World on social media. Social media is not our forte, but we love learning what we can from these young missionaries.
Later in the afternoon we
had our first district meet with our new district and district leader. It was
such a fun group right off that we are thrilled again to be working with some
new and returning missionaries.
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| Social media training with the zone. |
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| Our new District, with new and returning missionaries. |
SATURDAY STAKE COUNCIL – SHARING CHURCH
RESOURCES
We were so grateful for
this opportunity to meet via zoom with the Lyon Stake Council to discuss
Sharing Church Resources via our presentation. They’ve heard the Stake
President’s vision of this direction, but now they have a fuller scope of what
it is all about. We’ve encouraged every Ward and Stake to use the resources
they have already in place and invite their members to participate and to then
ask members to invite their neighbors and friends, who may have needs of these offerings.
We still have much to do to get it all in place. The Stake President made sure everyone knew that we are here as a resource to help guide this effort, but not to carry it out. It will be their efforts to help launch this, so that when we depart it will continue as it should without a senior missionary couple. There was a wonderful and enthusiastic response to our presentation, in spite of our French, and they caught the vision and are ready to move forward. We look forward working with the committee they will be putting together to help guide things along.
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| Our wonderful Stake Council that we gave training on Sharing Church Resources. |
HIGHLIGHT OF WEEK - VIDEO CALLS WITH
FAMILY
The highlight of our week
is when we have phone or video calls with our children. We don’t always get
photos but this time we did.
We spoke with Jaron and
Vanesa Packer’s family and when we call, it’s their early Saturday morning.
They were chipper and so fun to talk with. Jaron’s family is always full of fun
things to share, and we can’t get enough of their stories.
We also had a fun video
chat with Jordan and Larissa Packer’s family and of course catching them in
their morning. We even got to talk to Marble, their cat, but he’s camera shy,
so no photo there. Their children are also full of fun stories and the awesome
things they are progressing in.
How we love each of them and all our precious family that we adore!!!
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| Jaron and Vanesa Packer family - minus Aaliyah and Ben |
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| Joshoua, Aaliyah, Jacob, John and missing Ben (he's at gymn) |
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| Lydia with the gingerbread house they made at their Ward Christmas Party! |
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| Lincoln besides the gingerbread house he helped make as well |
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| Jordan and Larissa Packer's family, getting snuggles! |
SABBATH WORSHIP
We come away so enriched each 1st Sunday of the month, wherever we are in the world for Sacrament meeting, when members stand and testify of their love of the Savior and the blessings, they’ve received through living the gospel. They are such good people here and their faith is very evident. Each may have their trials, and usually it’s during these trials that our faith grows, and we become more and more dependent upon the Lord.
NEW YOUNG SINGLE ADULT DIRECTIVE
We were so grateful to
read a recent directive for Young Single Adults (YSA) from the Priesthood and
Family Department of the church. For a long time, the Church has had adult
leaders helping guide and serve the YSA needs with activities and such, instead
of helping them to lead on their own.
The youth in our stake are
doing just that and it will be amazing how they will be prepared to lead out as
Young Single Adults and then as Adults in their own respective wards, stakes,
workforce and families.
If you recall, we had
been asked by a YSA to help organize a Young Adult activity. We were happy to
do it, but very quickly realized we were not equipped to help them the way they
needed from someone who had better “French” connections, and for many other reasons.
Then I heard of this new directive for Young Single Adults. It was exactly what
is needed to help them become leaders in their community, church and their
families.
As I spoke with a couple
of YA about this, they may not have been pleased initially, as we know they are
so busy. But it is with this direction in mind that we best guide them by encouraging
them to form a small committee, make a simple plan, give out assignments and
then invite friends to join you and then carry it out.
If we are going to make
for great leaders down the road, this is a perfect way. We each are so busy, but
we know that many hands make for much easier work and that the very act of
planning is a wonderful way to encourage relationships and learn and grow in
the planning and doing.
By that evening, the YSA representative
in our ward, had already sent out a text group and added me on it, so to be in
the loop of their planning. Hooray for them!
We are all learning, and we are growing and very humbled to be in the midst of this phase of our lives.
Click here to watch this brief but powerful video of Angels from the Realms of Glory
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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