BLOG 11 - DEC 19th - DEC 26th, 2022

THE CATHEDRAL STUCK IN THE MIDDLE

No matter one’s religion, we may find ourselves stuck in the middle of our religion and that of modern and worldly ideologies and hopefully deciding to lift where we stand, no matter what we are surrounded by. We can stand as an example of our beliefs that are rooted with foundations of firm truths and convictions and spreading our light with others. We do not have to cower or feel small, but instead look outward with love toward others.

Stand tall in the middle!

This week as I was reading in the Book of Mormon, in Mosiah chapter 5, and these words taught me how we can all stand tall in the middle of these skewed ideologies.

Mosiah 5: 15 Therefore, I would that ye should be steadfast and immovable, always abounding in good works, that Christ, the Lord God Omnipotent, may seal you his, that you may be brought to heaven, that ye may have everlasting salvation and eternal life, through the wisdom, and power, and justice, and mercy of him who created all things, in heaven and in earth, who is God above all. Amen.

APARTMENT SEARCH WITH LAURE

We are grateful to have Laure, a local realtor who has been assigned to us by a real estate agency that the church works with, to help us find an apartment. Laure had us visit one apartment, which we approved of, and she told us that there aren’t many places available that meet the mission requirements. It’s quite a process. And even if we feel good about an apartment, the process for the mission to get it approved to rent is tricky. This time it did not work. The landlord turned us down since the church is self-insured and does not work through an insurance company. Back to the drawing board.

Laure, the realtor helping to find us an apartment

A CITY OF APARTMENTS GALORE

Lyon is saturated with high rise apartments. Have you ever thought of how you would move into an apartment when there’s no room to move large items through the narrow stairway, or small elevators? There’s only one way, and that is to move the larger items with outside furniture lifts. We saw these often in Paris, but more recently on our street. I tried not to imagine what would happen if they had accidently dropped the precious China cabinet, or a piano, or whatever is heavy and of worth.

Furniture lifts are the way they move things into apartments

CHRISTMAS AT THE MALL

We love seeing all the festivities, decorations and lights that help to illuminate the sweetness of the season, and young children laughing, filled with excitement to sit with Santa Claus.

Even though our family is not near us, they mean so much to us and we look forward to our individual video time with them coming so soon.

We can clearly imagine every face of anticipation and excitement in our grandchildren on Christmas morning, and we’re not sure who is more excited, the child or the parent. But in the end it really doesn’t matter what the children receive, as long as they feel loved with one another, within their home and family, for which we are most grateful that they all do.

We’ve loved some of the video footage and photos shared with us from our children, helping us to truly feel as if we were there. It put such a huge smile on our faces. We can’t get enough of them.

WARMTH AND SUNSHINE ALL AROUND

To have a warmer week and one sunshiny day in the middle of winter was so refreshing to our souls. We took advantage of the nice weather to walk to the mall from the mission office, where we could park our car for free. Shopping in the large grocery store in the mall allows us to purchase items we can’t find elsewhere, as we were preparing to make our Christmas tradition gifts for friends (Packer Family Cheeseballs).

The warmth and sunshine lifted our spirits even higher

ZOOM MEETINGS FOR THE WEEK

Elder and Sister Foote: We were so blessed to have a wonderful visit with Elder and Sister Foote from the Area office in Frankfurt, Germany and are grateful for the sweet friendship we’ve had with them. Their time in the Area office is ending in a few months and we will miss them and all they’ve accomplished, especially with the Young Adults. They will be sorely missed.

Elder and Sister Foote in Frankfkurt, Germany

Elder and Sister Rellaford: As we met with Elder and Sister Rellaford in Geneva, we also joined up with Bishop Drugeon, one of the bishops in a ward in the Geneva Stake. Also in attendance was the ward Self Reliance representative, Sœur Bonny. Even though the bishop knows that Sharing Church Resources is in the process of getting started in the stake, he is very anxious to get it going immediately in his Ward. They were ecstatic with the presentation and are on full speed ahead. Elder and Sister Rellaford will assist, inspire and give guidance with Bishop Drugeon.

Elder and Sister Rellaford, with Sister Bonny and Bishop Drugeon

District Council: Even though I was off to the side in the kitchen during District Council on Zoom, I was still trying to listen in while preparing our goodies for a few people to deliver later that day, we were inspired by these amazing and dedicated missionaries. Next week will be in person District Council. Some of these missionaries come from a long distance and so in person is only held once per transfer (every 6 weeks).

Awesome district missionaries

Elder and Sister Sumner: This dear couple in Rodez will be leaving their mission in a few months, and whereas he is the Branch President, he’ll be giving the next Branch President all the information about Sharing Church Resources, and we can continue to help guide him afterwards from a distance.

Elder and Sister Sumner

CHRISTMAS IN ACTION

As we shared last week about meeting with Elder and Sister Poulson in Perth, Australia for a brief visit, we saw on their Facebook post a beautiful thing. They had missionaries helping them bake over 100 loaves of bread and bagged them with a Light the World sticker and will be delivering them with bottles of water to those in need.

It may be a small thing to some, but the warmth that comes from this type of Christlike love is beautiful and can last all year long, not just in this time of heightened giving. Give your light/love away!

Elder Poulson and missionaries making bread

Over 100 loaves were made

GIVE OUR LOVE AWAY

As taught in this beautiful piece, by Randy Boothe, we can do something to lift the downtrodden. We went among the streets and noticed those who were homeless and gave them a small food gift. It seems so little for all they need, but we pray they may feel of our love for them. In the end, we may have been the greater benefactor.

The streets in Lyon may not be as filled with homeless, as they were in Paris, but all are still in need of our love and help

He loved playing for us! 

Lovely day in Lyon on Christmas Eve

CHRISTMAS EVE CAROLING WITH LÉPORÉS AND OTHERS

We loved joining President and Sister Léporé and family on their annual Christmas Caroling tradition that they started back when he was a Bishop then Stake President. And now Mission President they are continuing the tradition. They invite members, missionaries and friends to join them.

This was such a beautiful experience as we gathered at a central area in Lyon on a warm winter night, walking up and down the area of Bellecour, bringing cheer and music to those who were so kind to stop and listen. We were quite amazed at how many would stop, listen and then even clap afterwards. Not that we sounded amazing, but the mere fact of hearing Christmas caroling was so appreciated, especially by mostly a group of young adults. It was evident we brought people joy at a time when the light of Christ is often suppressed with the struggles people are faced with. There is hope in Christ!

Missionaries and members caroling in Lyon

Passersby actually stopped to listen and enjoy the music

Good for Steve for continuing to sing during the photo 

PACKER FAMILY HOMEMADE GIFT EXCHANGE

For over 35 years, the Packer family has had a long-standing tradition to make homemade gifts for each family (now adult member). While on our missions, we don’t do the exchange, but we did join them at 2:30 a.m. via zoom to watch them share their homemade gifts they’ve been working on. Three children and spouses joined via zoom, and we did as well, otherwise 5 children and their spouse were in Utah, at our son’s Nate’s home.

It was a bit of heaven to be there, no matter the hour, and witness the fun, love, devotion to these amazing gifts. There’s no way, I’ll be able to share all of these and all the photos that came from it, but their gifts are so thoughtful, useful, fun, soothing, etc. We love seeing them think of the other while making their gift.  Here's a little sampling - too many to put them all!

The Packer Crew, just as we are! Love them all so much! It was only 2:30-4:30 in the morning for us. 

Jordan designed and cross stitched this for his gift for Janine

Adam Hunsaker made this for his gift for Jaron

Brent made this for Becca

Brian made this for Larissa - special messages for Larissa by her husband, Jordan

Camille had Shal and made the gift below

Painting of flowers of the months of their family

 

This is a keychain made from original granite from the Salt Lake Temple, made by Becca for Austin

This circuit board Christmas tree was made by Nate for Jordan

MERRY CHRISTMAS ~ SABBATH WORSHIP

Our Sabbath Day, being Christmas Day, helped us all focus on the real meaning of Christmas, that of Christ’s birth and His Atonement, as we partook of the sacred ordinances of the sacrament, renewing all of our covenants. This is all very sacred to us.   

Today we came together with the Val de Saône and Écully wards that meet in this building but at different times. We met for only an hour though, as was the case throughout the Church, to allow families to spend time together on this special day.

President Léporé was asked to speak first in the meeting and then Dennis-Pierre Cuche was the final speaker. Their talks were uplifting and inspiring!

President Léporé with Steve

Elders Steffensen & Voisin, Packers, Sisters Diatel & Davison

CHRISTMAS DAY WITH THE CUCHE FAMILY

After church, we drove to the Cuche family home to join them for the day. We had a most remarkable time with them. Both mothers of Veronique and Denis-Pierre were with us as well, along with the two youngest daughters, Marie-Elise and Lucie. The grandmothers were so delightful to get to know.

We have come to learn how much this family values slowing down and spending time with one another, from the two times we’ve been with them. One thing we know about French people is that dinner time is sacred and a time to be together, not rushing to finish the meal to move onto other items on their list. But to converse with one another, ask questions, laugh and enjoy the meal one course at a time, not all at once. The family is the item of relevance and importance here, and though we all believe that mealtime is not often easy to have everyone at the table the older they become.

On special occasions, they take several hours to go through an entire meal, one food item at a time, savoring each bite, while visiting with each other. Then, one by one, another item was brought out for us to eat and visit. That would take some training with little children, but it was so delightful.  Their theme was serving a variety of sea food (raw oysters, raw salmon and scallops), plus other items, which is quite traditional for this family at Christmas time. We witnessed how live oysters are shelled and then eaten from the shell with lemon juice on top.

Lovely table setting, and even lovelier dinner friends - Veronique at the head of the table and Marie Elise taking the photo

The grandma's - Renée, Michelle and Claire

Denis-Pierre Cuche and daughter, Lucie and Steve

Fresh live oysters

Oyster shucking tool

Fresh and raw oysters 

Potatoe Christmas Trees

Cooked scalloped dish

Sorbet with fruit sorbet molds on top

They waited till after dinner to open up their Christmas presents. The Cuche family does not hurt for money, but what we witnessed that day touched us deeply. There were only a few simple but heartfelt gifts for each person, as each opened and enjoyed one gift at a time. They didn’t feel rushed again but oohed and aahed over each gift with genuine gratitude. Placed on the tree were beautiful homemade cards from Veronique for each of their family members with beautiful sentiments in each. They were so thoughtful to have a couple of gifts for us as well. We had supposed their gift opening had already occurred. They are thoughtful and good people.

We loved their simplicity!

This year was extremely simple, as there was not only anything we needed, minus a couple of charging plates for our phones, we were most grateful for the beautiful photos and personal letters from each of the Duckworth family! This is what makes Christmas for us, Our Family!

FAMILY TIME VIDEO VISITS

After our return from Cuche’s, we were so excited to have video visits with three of our eight children, and the rest will be on Monday. We loved hearing and seeing what they received for Christmas. Our family is so dear to us, and these visits were the highlight of Christmas for us. We would never post all the photos we received but they are all precious to us.

Sunday Family visits: Jaron and Vanesa Packer, Camille and Brandon Duckworth, Austin and Emma Packer.

Vanesa, Jacob, Johnny, Joshua, Jaron, Aaliyah, Ben Packer - UT

Kyson, Camille, Brandon (Duck), Austin, Emma, Maliyah, Savannah and Jayden Duckworth - WA

Bowen, Emma, Rose, Austin and Leo (asleep) Packer - UT

Bowen, Leo and Rose

Monday Family visits: Nathan and Dixie Packer, Jordan and Larissa Packer, Brent and Shalamar Packer, Becca and Brian Lattin, Janine and Adam Hunsaker.

Blake, Dixie, Ellie, Ryan and Nathan Packer (Maddie, the oldest is sick in bed)

Blake Packer - entrapped in his toy

Lydia, Larissa, Jordan and Lincoln Packer - CO

Jordan, Larissa, Lincoln and Lydia Packer - Christmas Eve Whoville party

Brent, Allen, Olivia and Ayden Packer (Shal in another room) - ID

And there is Shal on the right...

Henry, Becca, Mason and Brian Lattin - UT

Brian and Becca Lattin Family 

Adam and Janine Hunsaker

Adam, Adelaide, Cooper, Janine, Adam Jr, Brigham, Micaela Hunsaker - UT

Adam & Janine Hunsaker Family

CHRISMTAS COME FOLLOW ME STUDY

After concluding our Old Testament study this year, we focused this week on the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and becoming more aware of all the symbols that surround us that testifies and glorifies of Jesus Christ. Symbols denote there is a God and Jesus Christ. Without Him, without the blessings of His birth, His life, His Atonement and His Resurrection, there would be no hope in this world. We pray that we may continue to look for all symbols that denote there is a God and our Savior. We are looking forward to an in-depth study of the New Testament this coming year. May we each make more time for Him this coming year and bend our knee continually to Him!

We pray that each have enjoyed a wonderful Christmas celebration with loved ones and that this coming year we may all be more willing to listen more intently to the Lord’s guidance in our lives, so that His will for us will become our will for us.

With all our love,

Elder et Sœur 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