BLOG 26 - APR 3 - APR 9, 2023
SIX MONTHS ON OUR MISSION ON 4-3-2022
This last Monday marks
six months since we entered the MTC on October 3, 2022. How time has flown, as
will the next 12 months! Our next few months are going to be filled with travel
to all the wards in the Lyon Stake and to the rest of the Stake council member’s
homes and to travel to Toulouse to start training the Stake Council there.
DUCKWORTH VISITORS
Tuesday, we picked up
Camille Duckworth, our oldest daughter and her oldest son, Kyson, at the train
station here in Lyon. They’ve been in
the Paris, France area for the last week. It was wonderful to finally see them,
our family!
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| Kyson said that we were a Mint Orio Cookie! |
Their time in the Paris area was amazing. They were blessed to stay with a former exchange student they had and also visit an exchange student, Alexis Carlier, which our family hosted in 1997.
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| Kyson's Senior trip to Paris, (he paid for) with his mom, the week before. |
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| Eiffel Tower - all photos of Paris by Camille Duckworth |
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| Kyson in La Defence |
ZOOM MEETINGS
On Wednesday we held two vital
zoom meetings that helped to update our efforts here. Just like any kind of business
venture or special projects, it takes ongoing communication, updates and ways
to improve. We were grateful to meet again
with Paul Obrecht and Johann Chupin of the Lyon Stake. We then met with
President and Sister Léporé to give them an update and a major request. It was exactly
what was needed.
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| Paul Obrecht and Johann Chupin meeting |
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| President and Sister Léporé meeting |
Sunday, it was very necessary that President and Sister Lepore meet with us and their Lyon Zone Council to put into place the very things discussed in our personal meeting with them. It was amazing how these missionaries responded.
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| Zone Leadership Council on Easter Sunday - no other time |
WEDNESDAY DUCKWORTH ACTIVITES
We kept our activities for
this day a bit calmer, for which Camille and Kyson were glad since they have
had so little time to relax after their full Paris week.
We made a fun Mongolian
dish that put a smile on Kyson’s face. Then, we took a nice walk to the park,
where Camille took photos of Kyson on the way, since he had not yet had his senior
photos. It was a lovely and relaxing evening.
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| Kyson eating his Bobun and Nems - he was in heaven! |
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| Kyson getting a few Senior Shots |
THURSDAY OUTING IN LYON
We looked forward to sharing
some of the prominent sites in Lyon and spending more time with them. We first
started in Old Town Lyon, where we first walked into the Cathedral Saint Jean and
then meandered throughout the streets, with Kyson buying more of his favorite gelato,
and then we walked into varied touristy stores.
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| Kyson and Camille with us at Saint Jean Chapelle in Old Town |
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| Kyson and his favorite dessert - gelato! |
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| Making Crêpes |
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| Austin Packer told us that this is a Viol or Viola da Gamba - old baroque style instrument. |
Afterwards we drove to the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fournier. The sites of that cathedral, from its endless mosaic art to the beauty of the amazing art, its sculptures, architecture and so on is always fascinating.
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| The walk to the Basilica was beautiful! Below are photos of our walk up the backpass. |
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| We teased our family to say that this was where Ether (in the Book of Mormon) hid himself in a rock! |
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These ribbons were hung for each donation to help with the grounds. |
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| Kyson and his mom inside the Basilica of Notre-Dame |
After visiting the cathedral, we then walked to the fascinating Roman Theaters. It was a beautiful day!
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| Roman Theater |
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| We kept seeing these flowers all up and down the stairs of the theater. |
FRIDAY OUTINGS
Friday took us to more
sites. We drove to the first area of our mission in Croix Rousse, where there
is a well-known 3-D Mural that is a definite stop to visit and even interact
with. We have driven past it so many times, but this was our first time to
actually stop and see the painting up close. and take interactive photos with
Kyson.
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| 3-D Mural in Croix Rousse |
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| Kyson playing along with the 3-D images - photo by Camille. |
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| It looks real, but then it's flat! |
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| This is FLAT! |
We then drove to Bellecour, a popular gathering area, where there are upper end stores and a lovely carless street to walk through. Kyson had fun buying more Gelato and we even stopped into a 5 Guys.
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| The sun was much too bright to look at me for photos. |
SATURDAY OUTING
Early today we first met with the
Social Media team at the Mission Office to finally get their help to start
promoting our Resources for a Better Life with a Facebook ad. We have needed
their help for some time, but finally it’s happening. Even at that, it’s a
procedure that takes time. Your prayers for this to happen sooner than later are
appreciated.
Afterwards, we took a walk to Les Halles indoor shopping market. As I’ve mentioned previously, it’s definitely high end, but it’s so much fun to walk through and see their meats, breads, dishes and desserts, that are definitely expensive, but beautiful.
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| Goose eggs |
We then walked to the train station so that Camille could more easily retrieve her return tickets. She had already booked and paid for them, but needed to get reserved seating, which was not working so well on the computer versus being in person. We then walked to the mall for a little more shopping for the weekend and for next week’s activities.
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| Kyson enjoyed taking the cart up the ramp, hands free, as the wheels attach themselves to the metal grid. |
PHOTOS AND VIDEOS FROM HOME
Once and a while we see on Instagram or Facebook videos or images from our children or even friends that we feel like sharing.
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| Austina and Emma's kids having a fun Spring break in the eternal Utah Snow! |
Becca singing to her boys; Pudding in the Moon by Marjorie Nelson Lowder
CLICK HERE TO WATCH THIS ADORABLE VIDEO OF BECCA SINGING TO HER BOYS
EASTER SUNDAY
We wanted this Sabbath/Easter
Sunday to be a memorable one. Being with family, the members, missionaries and
both wards combined was so beautiful to us and definitely one to feel of His
love.
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| Chilin' after church! |
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| Elder Keiser and new companion, Elder Lauener from Switzerland |
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| Sister Zumbach and new companion, Sister Buysse from Gent Belgium |
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| My true, blue companion! |
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| How we love these two and will surely miss them when they leave! |
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| President and Sister Léporé Family after church |
To contemplate on the countless blessings we have received from our dear Savior through his redeeming love is far more than we can ever give back, but He asks us to give all we can to honor His life, death and resurrection. We are humbled by the feelings we feel as we honor Him, our Savior and Redeemer.
Elder Stevenson’s, Greatest Easter Story Ever Told:
CLICK HERE TO WATCH, BEHOLD YOUR LITTLE ONES
CLICK HERE TO WATCH REDEEMER AND EASTER CELEBRATION
We pray that each of you have felt the Lord’s love imprinted in your soul, your mind and heart. And that you never doubt that He is real, He lives, He is there eternally for each of us through our darkest and most joyous of moments in our lives. We bear testimony that our Savior has risen, that He is beckoning us to return to Him. We are filled with gratitude for Him.
With all our love,
Elder et Sœur
Packer Grandpère et Mémé
801-336-6153
(Steve’s)
801-564-1332
(Renée’s)
New Address below:
Please
include the name and address as stated
Les Missionaires –
PACKERS
59 rue Bossuet
69006 Lyon FRANCE
PHOTO DUMP HERE
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