BLOG 29 - APR 24 - APR 30, 2023

 STEVE PACKER SIB CHAT

Every other month Steve has his Sib chat. We’re sad when one of them can’t make it, but we hope next time they all will be there.

This time they each shared what their earliest memory they had of one another. It was rather comical to say the least as I sat back and enjoyed listening to memories I had not heard before. There were some tender stories shared as well.

Steve Packer Sib chat!

MISSIONARIES FOR DINNER

Though I started on Monday to do as many preps as I could, it’s always more work than I really have time for, but Steve is always happy, because he knows that it will be a treat. Time nor health allows this to happen very often.

Since we had the Zone Leaders coming to work through a presentation we needed to prepare together, adding a dinner is always a huge deal for them. I also decided to invite a companionship who had not yet come for dinner with us, the Social Media Elders. Though they weren’t part of our meeting, they were thrilled to be invited for dinner. We loved getting to know both more personally. They are all so awesome!

So, they loved the Nems, Turkey Masala with Rice and for dessert, Gluten Free/Sugar Free Strawberry Cream Pie! They absolutely loved it and especially was a surprise to Steve, he was thrilled!

My Strawberry Cream Pie - It may look funky, but once you cut into it, it's filled with mounds of fresh strawberries inside!

Elders Johnson, Karlinsey, Candland and Mueller

Elders Johnson and Candland

Elders Mueller and Karlinsey

ZOOM WITH GEORGETTE AND SANDY

Our sweet connection with Georgette Laulas and Sandy Newman from Paris is always so fun to hear the inspired things they are always involved in to help the distressed. They are amazing examples of disciples of Christ. They wanted to receive a brief training of our Sharing Church Resources, though Georgette is a prominent face in the Paris videos, she still needed an update on what this looks like from the correlated presentations.


Georgette Laulas and Sandy Newman - great women of faith!

WALKS IN THE PARK

I can’t help myself sharing a few photos of the rich green foliage growth in the park. What also captured us was the mirror lake reflection and the vibrant colorful flowers. The weather is reflecting so many vivid changes.

My quiet walk in the garden, where the lake was so still!



THREE YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF ELDEN WOOD’S PASSING

This last Thursday was the 3rd anniversary of my father’s passing. This June will be the 1st anniversary of my mother’s passing. Time has flown so quickly, but there isn’t a day I don’t think of them and am grateful for the countless blessings of love and incredible goodness they shared with their posterity. They touched so many lives throughout the world and it is always an honor to call them my parents.

Some of Brent’s family went to visit their gravesite and Ayden also said, that Gma wood gave him the best memories. And he attributes his love for instruments comes from her and Uncle Alan. We love that they love in the same city as my parents. 

Elden Wood - Left this earth on April 27, 2020

Brent, Ayden and Allen Packer, took the time to honor my dad's gravesite. We love that they live in the same city. 

ZOOM WITH ELDER AND SISTER HANSEN

After a day filled with trying to get on top of our projects, we had a wonderful zoom meeting with a new couple coming to our mission in July. We had been asked by the mission President to get with them to begin training them for their new area assignment. Our first meeting was more to get to know them. We loved our hour with them and look forward to beginning our training with them. We assured them that they will love their assignment and location. They are from Charlotte, NC, but recently moved to Highland, UT.

Later in the week, we made many amazing connections with Thayne’s family, his town of Rupert, Idaho, we were rivals, and friends and family in Burley, Idaho. 

Thayne and Laurie Hansen - getting ready to serve in France Lyon Mission. We had such a wonderful connection with them.

Thayne and Laurie Hansen - such lovely people!

FRIDAY’S DISTRICT COUNCIL AND SCR PRESENTATION

Friday was a very full day, leaving us very little time for much, but grateful for our opportunity to meet with the district at a wonderful council meeting. Not all of them could attend, but the lessons taught, learned, shared and felt, were immeasurable. We love each of them.

Our awesome District!

     Méjean family

We then drove to Vaux en Beaujolais, where we shared a SCR presentation with a father and son, Denis and Néphi Méjean, both having Stake leadership callings.

Vaux en Beaujolais Ville while driving to the Méjean home.

Denis and Néphi Méjean

This was Méjean home, they built 4 years ago. 

Just outside their door, was this beautiful scenery.

TOM HOLDMAN STAIN GLASS MURAL TO BE IN PARIS

I’ll never forget going into Tom Holdman’s stained glass art studio at Thanksgiving Point in Lehi, UT several years ago. When they heard that we had served our first mission in Paris, we were quickly escorted into a back room, where two replicas of the Christus in stained glass was made for the Paris Temple. I’ve been amazed with their work and their attention to detail. So, when my dear friend Georgette from Paris sent me this link, I was immediately drawn to wanting to go back to Paris in June to see this stained glass mural by Tom Holdman, and especially because it will be in the church building where we attended in Paris, which is where the center we served in is at. You’ll see the resource center in this video (older photo, before we got our door sign up, but still at the time we were serving there).

Utah stained glass artist tributes Jesus Christ's Easter week (ksltv.com)

Tom Holdman's masterful stained-glass mural.

SATURDAY’S FINAL EFFORTS FOR NEW POWERPOINT

We’ve been asked to put together a presentation for the missionaries to give to the members when they eat at the member's homes. This doesn’t happen as much as we wished for these young missionaries, because members live so far away, and most of the missionaries don’t have cars.

The whole topic is on how members can Love, Share and Invite by interacting in normal and natural ways with their neighbors and friends and when prompted, knowing the needs of their neighbors, offer help through the many resources of the church.

We need members to be willing to befriend, invite and share whatever it might be they can help them with that the church offers, such as Family Search, Self-Reliance, Addiction Recovery, JustServe, join in community service projects, etc. Most importantly, it starts with loving everyone they meet, getting to know their friends and neighbors more genuinely, taking time to have them over and showing sincere love. This genuine love builds true relationships of trust.

SUNDAY WORSHIP, SPEAKING IN TWO WARDS ON LOVE, SHARE AND INVITE

As we made the early departure for the 2-hour drive to speak at the Clermont-Ferrand Ward and then 2 hours to drive back to barely make it in time to speak in our ward in Lyon, we were grateful for the Lord’s safety and timing. Our talks are all on the Love, Share and Invite, focusing on how we can all reach out with more love to our friends and neighbors at a deeper level and then when the needs arise, be able and ready to share the blessings and benefits of any and all of the resources of the church.

We had a beautiful experience meeting with the members in the Clermont-Ferrand Ward. It was a short time there but very sweet.

Such a great ward and sweet visit in Clermont Ferrand.

Clermont Ferrand Church Building

We also felt a grateful reception from our talks in our Ward here in Lyon. After which was the 5th Sunday 2nd hour meeting to introduce this to the Ward members in Lyon. As daunting as it is each time we speak, we have felt the Lord’s blessings sustaining us each time.

The smiles on our faces, is a relief that we've finished another round of speaking. ;)

Bishop Coudret giving the SCR presentation during Sunday School. Here we are seeing one of the Paris videos. Below are our pass along cards for members and missionaries to share with their friends. 


SUNDAY ZOOM MEETINGS

     Joshua Boswell

We were so blessed to finally meet with Joshua Boswell (we’ve only been trying for almost 4 months), foremost for help on Social Media with Love, Share and Invite. We had been in several meetings previously in Nauvoo and Utah, but we needed his help again now. He helped us tremendously with all his great experience with stakes and missions working together in this effort of sharing the resources of the church to the community. His help, if followed by the Stakes and Mission here could be truly remarkable. His stats, knowledge and experience were just what we needed. He’s working with a mission president in Brazil, who was His stake president in Houston on this effort and is helping train his Social Media missionaries. We are in hopes of this same effort.

Our whole conversation was with only Joshua, but Margie consented to join us for the photo at the end. 

Margie and Joshua Boswell

    The Duckworth Family

Before Maliyah leaves next Tuesday for the MTC, we had a special facetime call with the whole family, but mainly to say goodbye to Maliyah. She’s had a great week with home MTC, prior to heading off to Provo MTC for 3 weeks, with the last week learning what she needs to know to be a tour guide with all the Missouri Historic Sites. 

Photo shoot for these missionary siblings!

Sister Duckworth! We loved hearing her share of her experiences with home MTC and seeing her wear her tag!

Maliyah had such a fun, crazy and amazing week at her home MTC week prior to leaving next Tuesday for the MTC.

Kyson, starting to learn Portuguese.

Austin with his big brother, Kyson.

Austin, the boy with a tender singing voice and the kindest heart!

Savannah the reader and story writer!

Emma with her fun and cheerful personality!

Duckworth Family - last family photo prior to their two missionaries leaving.

GOSPEL STUDY BRIEF THOUGHTS

This week’s study from Come Follow Me and my Book of Mormon study continually blesses me and my dear husband. I love it when we discuss the lessons that we’ve gained, which strengthens and commits us with our Savior, as husband and wife, and with our dear prophet and love for our family.

I Love this painting of Jesus Christ, but am not aware who the artist is...If any of you know, please let me know, as I wish to give her/him credit. 

     Book of Mormon –

I am on the Lord’s side when I stand up and bear witness with my actions and my voice.

Listen carefully to the warnings of the Lord for me personally and through the voice of the prophets.

My challenges throughout my life have always benefited me for my gain.

Trust the Lord to bless our seed as we devote ourselves to Him.

Trust in the Lord and never hesitate to ask Him.

The Lord is manifesting Himself throughout each day; take note of how and when and what I can learn.

     Come Follow Me –

We learn by doing, by listening to the Spirit, by seeking and desiring to know truth and a desire to share it with others.

We cannot deny the power that comes from our love towards others and helping others feel the Lord’s love and mercy.

If we have faith, God can manifest Himself in our afflictions.

We must  never leave the classroom where we are the students of the gospel and life. The more I learn, the more I can become and know the truth!

I know the Lord personally knows and cares about all of His sheep; and as His sheep, He is the only way through which we will find peace, happiness, and eternal life.

 

Another amazing week for us, though maybe not apparent in this blog, showing tons of photos and exciting stories, but nevertheless full for us, and simply because we have felt the Lord’s help, comfort, guidance, faith, hope, direction, peace, and a myriad of blessings that quietly go unshared, more felt and sacred, and filled with the Lord reassuring us that all is well. There is daily stress in these efforts, but we know He is here with us, and He is with our family back home. We are so grateful for our family who love us, who support us and for the Lord’s ultimate blessings.

 

With all our love,

Elder et Sœur Packer                                                                                            Grandpère et Mémé

801-336-6153 (Steve’s)

801-564-1332 (Renée’s)

Address below: Please include the name and address as stated

Les Missionaires – PACKERS

59 rue Bossuet

69006 Lyon FRANCE



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