BLOG 17 - JAN 30 - FEB 5, 2023

LET THE MOVING PREPS BEGIN

We really haven’t started to move quite yet, but Monday we met up with Elder Gannaway at the office. We were first invited to look through all the used kitchen stash from other apartments, such as dishes or pans that we might be able to use in our new apartment. We also went to the mission storage units as well with Elder Gannaway to see what furniture we might use, before they order anything else.

We went to the Carrefour store for cleaning supplies and then we went to the apartment and started with painting, and parquet floor cleaning and somewhat, kind of, but not really revitalizing.

Cleaning robot for kids and adults alike

DISTRICT COUNCIL VIA ZOOM – THE WORK MUST GO ON

Tuesday was yet another busy day, but we felt we should still attend District Council, and as always, it was wonderful, and we continue to be amazed at the maturity of these Young Adult Missionaries and their enthusiasm.

Our Awesome District!

MORE PAINTING AND CLEANING

Steve put one more coat of paint in the WC (Water Closet) the next day, to hopefully lighten up the dark orange that was previously there before. It looks and feels so much better. We still have so much more work to do, to start filling this empty apartment with a somewhat life sustaining environment.

The Halloween WC!

That looks so amazing! Yes, we're changing out the black seat to white, it's broken anyway!

This is how Steve likes to look when he's lounging around painting. I refused to have him paint on his only good jeans. He's the abominable black sack man. 

IKEA AND LEROY MERLIN (LIKE HOME DEPOT)

On Wednesday, we took the trip to Ikea and Leroy Merlin with our little car and wondered if our load that we purchased would even fit in our car, even with the seats down. Steve is a true Packer, always has been and better than ever. It all fit like a glove. You could say his packing skills could win a Tetras game. With so little time to get things done, we knew we needed to make as few trips to these stores that are further away. As we were coming out of Ikea pushing our two carts to the parking garage, one of the wheels on each cart locked (part of their security system), not allowing us to go more than a few feet past the store. Our parking wasn’t too far, but Steve hefted all that was purchased one heavy load at a time, such as two large area rugs and so on, to the car.

Ikea, you love it and yet, you don't.

Notice the red security wheels. Steve was already on his way caring a heavy load.

Once we got to the apartment to unload, we met a man, Mr. Bringeon, who lives on the 3^rd floor (Étage), and found out that he is the President of the Association of the apartment building. He was so kind and willing to help move along certain things needed for us to move in, that normally would take much longer. He gave us his phone number and asked us not to hesitate if there was ever anything he could help us with.

Mr. Bringeon. These are the name plates on the mailboxes. I believe the second name is a roommate. 

ST. ÉTIENNE WARD COUNCIL PRESENTATION VIA ZOOM

We enjoyed a wonderful presentation from the St. Étienne ward Wednesday evening, where one of the counselors in the bishopric shared the presentation and led a discussion with the Ward Council. He did a beautiful job and helped the council better understand and then we answered questions, added a few things to help them know what is yet to come and how they can help the ward members learn more and share with their friends who could use some of the resources of the church.

St. Étienne Ward Council on SCR

PRESIDENT OBRECHT VIA ZOOM

Keeping tabs with President Obrecht is so important to keep things going, so that we aren’t lagging and taking longer than needed. He’s on top of things and is appreciative for any insights we can share with him. We are blessed having him oversee these great efforts for the Lyon Stake and his important follow up emails to the bishops.

     Put the Lord FIRST!

President Obrecht and his wife both are interpreters with documents for the church and have been so blessed with great opportunities in their work. Pres. Obrecht shared that he recently learned a valuable lesson. He realized that when he gave more to the Lord in his personal devotion to Him, he received much more in return with his time and needed blessings. Amazing blessings started to flow, and shortly after that, just a few months ago, he was called into the Stake Presidency. He has a firm testimony of the principle of putting the Lord first. Steve and I both can sincerely testify of this same truth.

Paul Obrecht, a man with many talents.

STORAGE UNIT PICK UP AND RENÉE’S FALL

On Friday, 4 sets of missionaries met us at the Mission Office, where we all loaded up and drove to the storage unit to load some furniture into the large van and bring it to the new apartment. It was a lot of hard work, but the missionaries never complained, and never even broke a sweat. 

The loading crew before starting!

Sister McNevin, in her office, always greeting, smiling and working so hard. She'll be released from these duties with her replacement this coming week. This was temporary for her, as they still have 8 more months. 

We had to make two trips, but the second trip was a much lighter load. In between the two trips, there was a woman in the storage area who needed help and saw all of these missionaries and wondered if they could help her. Our one set of sister missionaries helped this woman, until we came back for the second load. They were so happy to have helped her out for a service she was actually giving to someone else. The woman could not have done it on her own and was so grateful that these young people would help her. 

While two sets of missionaries came to help on the second pick up, another set of Elders picked up Domino’s pizza that wasn’t far from our apartment. This was a bit of a reward for their hard work. We were so grateful all their incredible help.

Amazing missionaries who helped us lift our load, literally.

RENÉE’S EMBARRASSING FALL

In between the two loads, I was waiting for Steve to come out of the garage and quickly turned around to tell the van driver where Steve was. Without any warning as I turned around, I tripped, not so gracefully, over a cement block right behind me, falling hard on my right knee first, right pinky finger next and head last getting a lovely little goose egg. Needless to say I was a bit shaken up, but all in all I’m fine and actually feeling grateful for the Lord’s help that it was not worse.  

The infamous cement block, never to be forgotten.

The large mission van!

STAKE JUSTSERVE COMMITTEE MEETING

Saturday morning, we attended an introductory meeting for the Stake JustServe committee to learn more about JustServe. This introduction was made by Brother and Sister Membre. They were so filled with enthusiasm for this work but stated that they hadn’t really seen the vision of its importance until they attended the first Stake Council meeting of Sharing Church Resources where the presentation was given. It all became so clear to them that this truly is all one work and should work together, not independently. It was glorious that they and everyone understood this. They even used several of the quotes and slides from our SCR presentation because it fit so well, which helped unite its purpose with everyone involved. President Obrecht had been initially asked to oversee Sharing Church Resources, FamilySearch, and JustServe, and had been feeling a bit overwhelmed until after this meeting, when he realized it really is all one work. It was beautiful!

Brother and Sister Membre

President Paul Obrecht with Brother and Sister Membre and committee for JustServe

SUNDAY WORSHIP, BLESSINGS AND MIRACLES

We are so overwhelmed by the tender miracles that continue to happen. Today in Sacrament meeting, Brother Faria blessed his twins with a name and a blessing. They had invited in the prayer circle more men that we have ever seen. In fact, we’re not sure if all of them could even touch the babies each time. It was a beautiful site to see all the love, support and family that were in attendance. These sweet girls have blessed our whole ward with their presence every week. We’ve been so impressed by this sweet family of 5 children, the oldest being maybe 8.

It was a wonderful meeting where we renewed our covenants and then many shared sweet testimonies, especially the youth about their temple trip yesterday. The bishop had asked the youth to stand and share their testimony from their experience at the Swiss temple yesterday. It was pretty awesome to hear these faithful youth speak of the tender experiences they had. One of the youth spoke of how he was able to baptize a sister, who was proxy for his great grandma. It was a tender time for him. These youth are so strong!

After Sunday School, we met several new people visiting for the blessing and were amazed at who we met. One of them was the sister-in-law to Bro. Faria, who happens to be Momo Djemai’s daughter (Momo, our dear friend who is the WSR Manager for all of France and the Netherlands).

Daughter of Momo Djemai, who is also sister-in-law of Brother Faria

Sisters Connors and Diatel

Then, we met another couple who are friends of the Faria’s, who come from the Paris East Stake, and he is the Stake President there. He was not the Stake President we knew when we were serving in Paris, and so we just wanted to know if he had heard yet about Sharing Church Resources. Sadly, he had not, so we knew we had to share a little. He perked up and was enthusiastic. We quickly showed him several things on Gospel Library, a little about the PowerPoint, all the tools and QuickReg. This was exactly what he was needing but didn’t know existed. He’s so excited to learn more. After Covid, it just hadn’t been reintroduced in his stake. I know there are stakes who have, but since he’s so new, it hadn’t yet. He is a very young Stake President. His wife kept telling me that I looked familiar and most likely it was from our mission in Paris. This truly was a miracle, one that doesn’t happen by coincidence. The Lord is in the very details of our work, and we are most grateful that He’s moving it along for us, no matter what part of the globe.

Stake President Jonathan Judas and his wife Helene and two of their three children, from the Paris East Stake

Sweet blessing day with Brother and Sister Faria, of their twin girls and grandparents.

COME FOLLOW ME STUDY THOUGHTS

Random thoughts of our study from Matt 4 and Luke 4-5.

• We can learn from Christ, to go to higher ground, and seek for help from above. We can withstand anything when we do. By so doing, we can overcome our temptations, as He did by example.
• Christ often went to places of solitude “to be with God.” It causes us to think, what are we doing to be closer to God? Where are our “places of solitude?”
• When you know Him, you will recognize Him when he comes.
• We can receive all that the Father has in store for us.
• Trust in the Lord and He will help me reach my divine potential, which He knows what that is.
• Always turn heavenward, just as Joseph Smith, to break free from any of Satan’s evil influences. This is the Lord’s desire for each of us.
• The faith of those who desired to be healed was so beautiful and humbling and yet, shouldn’t we all have that same faith?
• Are we willing to leave our boat to follow Christ? This was, in part, the message I gave at our first farewell when going to our Paris mission. This was not so easy to do for these fishermen, but they went straight way!

With all our love,

Elder et Sœur Packer                                  

Grandpère et Mémé

801-336-6153 (Steve’s)

801-564-1332 (Renée’s)

ALERT! New Address below: Please include the name and address as stated 

Les Missionaires – PACKERS

59 rue Bossuet

69006 Lyon FRANCE