BLOG 20 - FEB 20-26, 2023

A FULL AND BUSY WEEK – BRING IT ON!

This week included another trip to IKEA (you’d think we loved shopping there, NOT!), and lots of zoom calls, dinner with a potential future senior couple, dinner here with missionaries, attendance at the Stake Bishop’s Council and a host of good things to keep this work going! We are feeling so blessed to have these varied opportunities each and every week that keep us hoping to stay on course, and we feel the Lord guiding this work every step. Our most ardent prayer is to keep up with what the Lord wishes us to do.

A much-needed update, with Paul Obrecht, of our joint efforts with SCR.

We met with Brother and Sister Chupin, who are over Welfare and Self Reliance in the Stake. 

TUESDAY TRANSFER DAY – MEETING OUR NEW MISSIONARIES

Transfer day is always a hectic day as missionaries meet at the train station to find their new companion and sometimes the unexpected happens. We knew that the new Val de Saône Sisters were being moved into our old apartment and we were willing to help them with explaining the building, the apartment and where shopping is. Sister Zumbach is now companions with Sister Connors. We had met Sister Zumbach once before at our last Zone Conference and were thrilled to have her in the ward, district and Zone.

Their exchange took forever at the train station, as the hardest part was getting a bus to go to their new area during rush hour, fitting them and their luggage onto a bus when the busses were packed already with people going home during rush hour. These two had to wait it out till it slowed down. Walking in the dark, with all their heavy luggage, from the bus, which should have been a 5 min walk, took 15 minutes. How I wish we could’ve been closer to have helped them.

We began to worry that there weren’t any sheets, since the AP’s placed bunkbeds in that apartment. Before they arrived, we found out that none of these things were in the apartment, as the missionaries are supposed to bring their own bedding, towels and such, but often they don’t because they just use what is already in the apartment. Since this was a new young missionary apartment for this companionship, they were lacking towels, blankets, and bedding and hadn’t thought about it.

At this point, I had already washed my face, getting ready to put on my PJ’s, when the office couple gave us the go ahead to purchase what was needed for them. We quickly got ready and drove to the mall, getting there 1 minute before Carrefour closed and rushed to buy everything that was needed in 15 minutes. They were so grateful once we arrived at their apartment and made the delivery!            

We drove them to the nearest grocery store, but it had just closed. Since they were both very hungry, we took them to the nearest restaurant for Kebabs (French spelling). This was all they needed and would be fine!

I had already eaten, so it was a hamburger patty for me, but these sweet sisters were ready for a meal to hold them over! 

TUESDAY WEATHER IN UTAH AND WASHINGTON STATE

Most of you know about the horrific snow in Utah, hitting massive records. My brother in Tooele got some of the worst of it, with 2 ft of snow in a 24-hour period. Then our daughter, in Amboy, WA, just out of Vancouver, got 12 inches in a day. This is highly unusual in that part of WA, and it literally closed everything. We can’t complain about our weather here.

Duckworth children, "Do you want build a snowman?"

Maliyah with Austin - she's building memories with family before leaving for her mission!

Neighbor friend and Savannah, Maliyah and Emma Duckworth

RYAN AND HEATHER MUNNS ZOOM CALL

Last week during our Senior Couples retreat, we were encouraged by President Léporé and Jacqueline and Rulon Munns to reach out to Rulon’s nephew and his wife, Ryan and Heather Munns, who will be the next France Paris Mission Leaders, and share with them about Sharing Church Resources. We have a fun connection with them as well. Our daughter-in-law, Emma Packer’s dad was a counselor in the Stake Presidency with Ryan Munns, and they are also in the same ward as Emma’s parents in Saint Cloud, Florida.

We had a wonderful visit with both of them on Zoom and loved seeing their wonderful personalities, and how amazing they will be as Mission Leaders.

Though Sharing Church Resources is Stake driven, it’s always helpful to have the understanding and support of Mission Leaders, if they choose to be involved when Stakes are. We wish them the very best and know they will be a great blessing to that mission, which we dearly love.

Ryan and Heather Munns from Saint Cloud, Florida. They will be the next Mission Leaders in the France Paris Mission.

JIM AND ANN BARKER VISIT

Thursday, we had the privilege of meeting with Jim and Ann Barker from Washington DC, who are getting ready to send their mission papers in very soon. He served a mission to the Franco Belgium mission around the same time my brother Alan served in that mission. Jim is a retiring lawyer and they both are desirous to give back to the Lord. We’ll see where they end up serving. They have both been involved with Welfare and Self Reliance in their callings.

They spent a couple of hours with us in our apartment as we went through our presentation, answering questions and then afterwards they treated us to a lovely dinner at our favorite restaurant in Old Town.

They would be a great addition to our mission and our prayers are with their whole process. Thankfully the Lord knows.

A lovely lunch with Jim and Ann Barker

Jim and Ann Barker in our apartment
SCR COMMITTEE MEETING

President Paul Obrecht, the second counselor in the Stake Presidency and the coordinator for Sharing Church Resources (SCR) in the stake, held another committee meeting to coordinate continued steps in moving things forward. He is so driven by this effort and is doing an amazing job in getting everyone on this committee involved. We have a launch date of March 7th and pray we can see it happen on or around that time, where all courses will be ready on line for members and missionaries to share more easily. We are so grateful for the great enthusiasm and support for this great effort.

Stake SCR Committee Meeting

PARIS EAST STAKE COUNCIL MEETING

We had been invited by the Paris East Stake President (President Judas) to share a little about Sharing Church Resources to his Stake Council. We also invited Paul Obrecht to join this meeting, so that he could much more easily share this vision in French. It was a wonderful meeting with each of these groups and it is up to them if they want to pursue it. We are happy to share with them all the information that we have, and it’s up to them if they want to move forward.  

Paul Obrecht shared with the Paris East Stake Council all about Sharing Church Resources. We were there to answer questions. They had requested an introduction to SCR.

DISTRICT COUNCIL

We had a great meeting with our new district. They are so pumped to get started with this new district! They just keep getting better!

Newest District Council!

ZONE LEADERS DINNER AND TRAINING

We invited Elders Whitney and Candland over for dinner last Friday and also for brief training on Sharing Church Resources. They were so grateful for dinner first of all.

We then went through all of our training with them so that they had a better idea what they may be sharing once this is to be shared with the zone, which we don’t know yet when that will be.

As I was in the kitchen, while Steve was talking to them, I had this very distinct impression that these two, our new Zone Leaders, were called for such a time as this for this very effort. As I later shared it with them, Elder Whitney said that he had felt the very same thing. They are on fire and love what they are seeing and know that there will be amazing blessings to members and to the community as this is shared.

As they were ready to go back to their apartment, we realized they were walking 25 minutes to get to their apartment, as there wasn’t a good public transportation to get home. They would be ok unless it was raining. I looked on my phone and it said it was raining, and then looked outside and it was raining pretty good. We drove them home, as they were not dressed for rainy weather at that. I was not going to let them walk in the rain, nor did I want them walking that late anyway. Grateful for rain! 😉 Bless these amazing missionaries.

Elders Whitney and Candland - Zone Leaders

STEVE’S WALK IN THE PARK OF TÊTE D’OR

Steve has been going to the park near us even though it’s been rather cold on the morning, and especially too cold for me. As he does, he keeps seeing new portions of the gardens at Tête d’Or. This time, he went over by the flamingos, looking like they were dancing in the water, while flying in and out of the water. I can’t wait to go with him once it gets a little warmer. I’ve been trying to do our stairs in our apartment building for exercise. I’m working on being consistent, but not quite there. If often depends on my night before. This is kind of a crazy video taken from live photos looped. 

PINK FLAMINGOS DANCING - STEVE'S WALK IN THE PARK

SATURDAY STAKE BISHOP’S COUNCIL

President Paul Obrecht invited us to attend the Stake Bishop’s Council on Saturday to answer any further questions about Sharing Church Resources, since we are close to launching this effort in the Stake on March 7th.

Steve and I were both filled with gratitude for the beautiful discussion and tender spirit that was present in this meeting, as they first discussed about Family History and Temple. Some of the very principles they were talking about on that topic, to help members and their friends learn more about Family History and encourage the members to take their names to the temple using FamilySearch, were some of the very principles we use in our efforts. These are all portable principles that we can use in so many areas of the gospel and our lives.

President Obrecht showed them the newly developed WebPage, and the Stake President kept saying that this is a miracle, and honestly it really is, that in a matter of 3 weeks we not only got the Area to create this for us, but to have it completed and translated. It was a remarkable effort, and a miracle from the Lord. We were grateful to personally meet each of the bishops, and for their support in this effort of SCR.

Stake Bishops Council, preparing to discuss SCR and showing the new WebPage, which they loved!


Just left the Stake Bishop's Council and feeling absolutely blessed by the incredible support and love shown.

SABBATH SUNDAY

Today was so cold and super windy. It got so bad that we heard loud noises from the roof during our two meetings, thinking the roof could fly right off and we could end up in Oz!

Other than that, they were both wonderful meetings. I loved hearing a large choir of Priesthood brethren sing, Ye Elders of Israel.

Brethren singing, Ye Elders of Israel. It was powerful!

We loved having our new companionships for their first Sunday. They are an awesome and magnificent pair of missionaries, and we hope we keep them for a long time here!

Sisters Zumbach and Conners - amazing and loving women!

I love these dear women!

Elders Loisel and Whitney
These two were the first people to register for English Connect from this ward. The scary thing is that we are teaching it, starting this Thursday. The first few months we'll have to use some French, to explain as they learn to speak English. 

DINNER WITH ELDER AND SISTER HARDY

We were so grateful to have some time with Elder and Sister Hardy, Sunday afternoon, as they invited us over for dinner. They are such a delightful, kind, and gracious couple and are doing so much good in the mission office as Elder handy is over finances and Sister Hardy over the daily office secretarial needs. They served a former mission in Tahiti doing the same kind of mission. We surely need them here and pray that they will enjoy their experience.

Elder David and Sister Liz Hardy - wonderful and devoted missionaries. We sure enjoyed getting to know them.

AWESOME VIDEO VISIT WITH AUSTIN AND KIDS

We enjoyed a brief update with Austin and his two youngest. Emma was still resting from having worked last night and then again tonight at the hospital. They are making some life changing decisions that we pray for them and their darling family. We love them so much!

Austin and Rose - who we adore!

Austin, Rose and Leo (such a happy and adorable baby). Bowen is always in hiding when it comes to video chatting!

COME FOLLOW ME STUDY

Here are just a few random thoughts of the beautiful things that I have learned this last week in my Come Follow Me Study. Steve and I love discussing these thoughts throughout the week.

  • Making righteous judgments is of great importance to help guide our efforts on this earth. We should make righteous ‘intermediate’ judgments, and final judgments are left to the Lord. Show mercy and forgiveness to all.
  • We come to know Jesus Christ by doing His will. Our lives will be enhanced as we come to know Him. We should make this our quest!
  • Create a firm foundation for our lives by obeying His teachings.
  • Depending on how we live, how we glorify God, and how we devote our lives to Him will determine how we respond to everything and everyone in our lives.
  • Let our light so shine before men, not for our own credit, but looking outward and shining His light for others to see.
  • Our service to others and to the Lord is not for any personal reward, but only to serve and glorify Him. This is the basis for one of our treasured family mottos, to “give more, and expect less.” We should always give ourselves in service, with no expectation of recognition.
  • If the Lord cares for the smallest of sparrows, He will care even more for us!
  • Don’t live below your privileges, instead have more meaningful and genuine prayers, scripture study and sweeter relationships.
  • ASK = Ask, Seek, Knock – We can apply the ASK formula in all our righteous desires.
  • The Sermon on the Mount teaches countless truths, the one that stood out so beautifully was the lesson of building our foundation on the rock of Jesus Christ. If we do not have a firm foundation, our foundation will crumble and have nothing to stand on when the winds blow, and the challenges of life get too heavy.

 

As we conclude with this summary of our awesome and full week, we always have in our thoughts, the love of our family and friends. If we could, we would have two lives, the one that we are doing right now and then being with our family more than ever. We miss our children and their families most of all and pray for them daily that they may be blessed and protected and always know of our love for them.  

 

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

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