BLOG 13 - JAN 2nd - 9th, 2023

January 08, 2023

BLOG 13 - JAN 2nd - 9th, 2023

MALIYAH DUCKWORTH’S TEMPLE AND MISSION PREPS

We are so grateful for our oldest grandchild, who is preparing to serve a mission. She’ll be submitting her papers in the next week or two and we’re so proud of her and her amazing determination and efforts to prepare in many ways, most importantly her preparation to enter the temple. It has been her desire to serve a mission for a long time and grateful that it’s not too far off now. For years she has gone to the temple to do proxy baptisms and yet she has been looking forward to going to the temple to receive her live endowment in the Portland, OR temple, with her parents and friends for a long time and it finally happened this week.

Maliyah Duckworth, special Portland, OR Temple Day

Camille (our daughter), Maliyah and Brandon (Duck) Duckworth

Maliyah with parents and friends

Maliyah, photos by Camille Duckworth

VISION DOCUMENT

We’ve been putting together a vision document for Sharing Church Resources for the Stakes in this Mission, and also for President and Sister Léporé, which will help them as they make a proposal to the Area for a center in Old Town Lyon. Most places we’ve worked with throughout the world do not have centers, which is not necessary, but mainly use their church buildings for classes (be it in person or online). Sometimes the church building can house a special room for a center. But there can be a great blessing in certain locations, as in Paris, for a center to be a front face of the church, showing others our love and sharing resources to help them.

We’re grateful for our dear friends, the Adams, who are looking at our document to polish it up for us. They have a multitude of talents, and this is one of their many gifts.

Marci and Eric Adams - dear, amazing and talented friends

BLESSINGS OF ZOOM MEETINGS

Because we’re able to meet via zoom more easily, we have gained a greater relationship with these couples and missionaries.

Meeting with couples in the mission or in Utah, missionaries in District Council, or the Social Media team, we are grateful for our interaction with each of them so that when we do meet in person, we feel even more connected than ever with them.

District Meeting - last one of this transfer

Social Media Team - helping us with our project

Elder and Sister Smith in Mont de Marsan

THE ANCIENT ROMAN THEATER

On Saturday we visited another sight in Lyon. The Ancient Roman Theater, which is over 2,000 years old and started construction in 15 BC. The largest of the two theaters held 10,000 and the other one built in 150 AD held 3,000 and they are right next to each other. The theater is now used mostly as a tourist site, but still used as a cultural venue sometimes. Much of these two theaters are in ruins, but such a powerful tribute of how important the people loved theater and the arts.

Beside the Ancient Roman Theaters is a modern museum that houses thousands of artifacts that date back BC. It was fascinating to read the varied histories, all unearthed here in Lyon.

CLICK HERE TO SEE A BRIEF VIDEO SIMULATION OF THE THEATERS

View of Lyon from the Stage of the theater - Mont Blanc is one of those mountain peaks - highest peak of Europe on the French/Italian border and reaches into Switzerland

This is a burial container and each of them are so different

Bronze large wall size tablet

A few of hundreds of stones, many dated before Christ

Example of weights for scales

This coin is dated before Christ

Mosaic flooring, looks like carpet

Burial container with lid, most didn't have lids, probably because they would break when opening

Basilica that we visited last week, just outside of the Museum, and Roman Theaters

SABBATH WORSHIP

Grateful each week to partake of the Sacrament and then hear beautiful testimonies on this day from several members and also two of our missionaries who have been transferred. In Relief Society we had a wonderful lesson/discussion on President Ballard’s conference talk, from this last October conference, Follow Jesus Christ with Footsteps of Faith.

COME FOLLOW ME STUDY

During this week in our Come Follow Me, we formally started our study in the New Testament. Here are a few of the things we gleaned from our study.

The New Testament is to convince others that Jesus is the Christ.
Christ was called Emmanuel (meaning God with us), and we are blessed that He chose to come to this earth to fulfill His mission.
Beautiful testimonies of Mary’s divine qualities and attributes and reading her beautiful and yet difficult story, testifies that she was
Grateful for a loving Father in Heaven who gave us His only begotten Son, to atone for our sins and relieve our sorrows. Christ knows every one of our sorrows and heartaches and will not leave us, as we especially reach out to Him.
Hardships are the very thing that turn our hearts to God with increased faith and patience.
The Lord expects much of us as we wait on Him.
Joseph was chosen to be the righteous earthly father on earth, adopting Christ, giving Christ a lineage from King David.
With God, all things are possible, as we put our trust in Him and stay patient to allow His plan to unfold in His time.

RESOURCE CENTER FOR A BETTER LIFE IN WA DC

We have worked with and seen the beautiful efforts happening in the Washington DC area for some time now, with the preparation and recent opening of the Resource Center for a Better Life. Their desire was to have it opened around the same time as the Open House of the Washington DC Temple last year, 2022. The building used for this center is an immense church building with several floors, which was perfect for their needs.

They are helping many refugees coming to these courses, even though it’s for everyone in the community. It has been well attended and has been a blessing to a large Muslim community who are seeking help. Courses are being taught weekly in large numbers. These photos make us so happy to see what they are doing.

This is one of similar banners being used throughout this work, and the logo at the top is one that we all are using, but in French.

Graduates here and below

MUSLIMS AND LATTER-DAY SAINTS

We love the recent videos and pamphlets the church has put out to help us better understand the culture and religion of the Muslim people so that we can relate with and understand and connect with them. They have so much to offer and great worth and as we show our love and understanding, we can work together.

Elders Bednar and Gong

Read the New Pamphlet, “Muslims and Latter-day Saints” (churchofjesuschrist.org)

Pamphlet

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/study/manual/muslims-and-latter-day-saints?lang=eng

ROSE PACKER’S 3^rd BIRTHDAY PARTY IN SYRACUSE, UT

We are always happy when we can join in on one of our family’s celebration events. We loved being able to celebrate Rose’s 3^rd birthday. She is such a joyful and sweet girl, number 2 of 3 children of Austin and Emma Packer.

Sweet Rosie and her family, Emma, Leo, Bowen, Rose and Austin Packer - Happy 3rd Birthday!

These were taken from our cell phone during our video chat with them.

Aunt Dixie and cousin Maddie Packer, and cousin Ellie was there as well.

TRANSFERS THIS WEEK – WE’LL MISS YOU VALE DE SAÔNE MISSIONARIES

Transfers have rolled around again and this time we sadly are losing Sister Davison and Elder Voisin. These are amazing missionaries, who will serve very well in their new area. Sister Diatel will be training a new missionary and Elder Steffensen will get a new companion next Tuesday as well.