BLOG 45, AUG 14-20, 2023
WHAT LIGHTS UP YOUR DAY?
Each of us has things that
light up our day or our life in general. For me, it’s the love of God, His
word, our dear family, getting to know people and nature’s beauty. It seems
this week has been filled with each of these areas, and not necessarily in the
order I shared. I don’t know if I can give it all justice, but our hearts are
filled with so much gratitude for what we’ve experienced this week.
Family
Whenever I have a phone
conversation, a video chat, or a letter from family back home, and my daily spending
time with my dear husband, my heart wants to sing!
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| This sweet letter came from our granddaughter, Micaela Hunsaker last week. |
Love of God and His word
I can testify that I feel
the Lord’s love for me in so many ways, but the greatest are the blessings that
are derived from and during our daily prayer and gospel study, and seeing His
hand bless us throughout the day. Even when things don’t always go smooth, we can feel peace, a reassurance that He is
there, mindful of our desires, our efforts and a need for His love and mercy.
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| This is so true! |
The love of nature’s beauty
Even though there’s much
more to be shared on this, I am in love with nature and all its splendor, which
we saw a lot of this week. Our garden walk on Monday showed us how much others
love caring for God’s nature. Going up in the mountains, and seeing a Chateau were
a few of the things that brought us joy this week!
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| This beautiful arrangement was from our Monday walk at the park. The care they give reminds me of the LDS temples all over the world. |
Getting to know you, getting to know all about you!
What we have found
throughout our mission is the lovely opportunity to meet people, either for the
first time, or those we meet each week at church, or people we just say thank
you or hello to, or stop to take the time to help, those on zoom calls, those
we serve, and many, many others. During these times something profound happens.
We begin to know people at a deeper level, feel God’s love and make someone
else’s life a little brighter and able to feel His love as well.
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| My friend from our Paris ward, Christine Chang attending the conference. |
MONDAY WOOD SIB ZOOM
Monday night we enjoyed a
wonderful zoom visit with my siblings, where we shared memories of our parents.
It warmed our hearts to reminisce from many years ago, or more recent in the
last few years. We miss them more than we can say, but we know they are close
to us and probably joining us in these meetings from above. I love each of
these dear siblings of mine.
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| Claire, me, Alan, Lucie, Ann, and Janine |
TUESDAY SOCIAL MEDIA TEAM ZOOM
After we left for the Single
Adult conference, we had to get on Zoom for a meeting in the afternoon. We used
our cell phone and were grateful to have joined in on this meeting.
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| Social Media Team meeting |
SINGLE ADULT CONFERENCE IN LA CHAISE-DIEU
This last week we had a wonderful
opportunity to attend a Single Adult Conference (30-70+) in La Village de Chaise-Dieu
(2 hours away from Lyon). It was hosted by our stake but invites went out to all
Single Adults throughout all of French-speaking Europe. There were about 60 participants.
We were invited by Elder
Ed and Sister Vickie Austin serving from the Area office but stationed in Paris.
Steve and Ed were in the BYU Folk Dance team in 1976-1977 and traveled together
in Europe in 1977. They needed our help in driving them from Lyon to the
location and thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to join them for a
couple of days. The conference itself was a 4 day event, but we were there for only
2 days. Ed and Vickie Austin travel throughout Europe giving Dance conferences
for special groups. They are incredible!
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| Vickie Austin in the front in black, Ed right behind her with Steve on the right. They had the group in the palm of their hands. |
Tuesday’s orientation
Once everyone arrived at La
Village de Chaise-Dieu, we were assigned to our small bungalow, where the four
of us would be staying in one Bungalow. It all worked out! It was much better
than camping for sure!
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| Valerie was in charge of this event. She lives in our Stake. She has been amazing! |
Before the game night began,
I had a most wonderful visit with two women, Edhina and Nancy. Their stories
inspired me as I got to know them better. I have found out that everyone has a
story to be listened to and learned from. I love meeting people and getting to
know them!
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| I loved getting to know these dear women. Edhina on the left, has four children, two of them on missions, with the third getting ready to leave for a mission. Nancy on the right, has been caring for her parents, till her dad passed last year and her mother is now in her full-time care. Amazing women! |
For the game night, they played a very long game. We’ve all heard the game where you tell a truth and you tell a lie, and guess which one is what. Well, with this game, you only share one thing, and we have to guess if it was a lie or a truth and vote. We laughed and were fooled many times.
Wednesday’s
morning devotional
We enjoyed an inspiring morning
devotional, where some of the members of our Stake Presidency presented. It was
mostly from President and Sister Simonet, where they spoke on emotional strength
through the Lord.
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| Stake President Jubault, giving them a special message of hope and love. |
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| President and Sister Simonet, 1st Counselor. |
Dance instruction
In the dance class by the
Austins, they taught everyone line dancing, and other fun dance steps taught
with engaging music, specific for this age group. They usually work mainly with
Young Single Adults, and so with the wide age group they needed a different
twist on music and dance moves not quite as hard to learn. The single adults
loved the dancing so much. We were amazed how everyone joined in.
Gospel & Local Area Scavenger Hike
There were about 7 groups
of 7 divided to go on this Gospel & Local Area Scavenger Hike (about
5 kilometers), through a beautiful hike, lake, sometime hard terrain,
making a full circle back, having retrieved specific answers to the many
questions asked at about 25 posts.
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| Here is the group we hiked with. |
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| It wasn't always this easy, as some paths were extremely narrow, very hard to walk on, but very beautiful. |
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| Reading the questions to answer. |
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| This beautiful lake was halfway through our hike. |
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| This is what we had to keep our eyes peeled for, to make sure we were on the right path. It wasn't always easy to find. |
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| The mossy green was everywhere! |
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| This is a Borne - think of the game, Mille Bornes, it's a kilometer marker. |
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| This was our fun group with Eve on the back left, our new friend! |
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| This is our friend, Eve that caught up with us half way. We never knew her, and was not with the SA group, but she fit in so well. |
The Ball
Everyone joined that
evening for the ball and had a wonderful time. I was so pleased that my newfound
friend, Eve, came just as we had invited her to. She loved it and the group was
amazing to include her, dance with her and love her.
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| Eve, our new friend, came to the ball that evening and loved her experience. |
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| This was not the whole group, but those who joined us for the ball. |
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| Eve happy with her new friends. |
Thursday’s personal concert by Alexis Defranchi and departure!
After getting ready to leave
Thursday morning, we were informed that Alexi Defranchi, a professional Opera
singer from Bordeaux France and part of this SA group, would be singing a few
numbers (a cappella). We were more than delighted to stay a little longer. It
was a private concert with the Austins and us. The power and beauty of his
voice was absolutely superb.
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| Shortly after the private concert by Alexis Defranchi, a professional Opera singer from Bordeaux, France. |
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| Just before leaving, we thanked Valerie for all her hard work! |
FRIDAY TRIP TO GRENOBLE
Another great trip to
Grenoble to leave the sisters with the Resource Banner this time, as they had
used the EnglishConnect banner for the last couple of weeks. We wish them the
very best!
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| Sisters Paschal and Stone in Grenoble. |
Thanks to Elder and
Sister Reneer for putting together a little senior missionary outing to visit a
Chateau Fortress and then a lunch outing.
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| (Internet photo) Aerial view of the FORTERESSE DE BERZÉ-LE CHÂTEL - 900 AD |
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| This was our tour guide. |
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| This was a livery stable that has been used in movies. |
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| Elders and Sisters McNevin, Packers, Gannaways, Reneers and Hardys |
This was a lovely day,
refreshing to always attend church and partake of the emblems of the Sacrament
and meet with the members.
The Stake held a joint online
meeting with all Elder’s Quorum Presidents, and RS Presidents or counselor(s),
where they were given specific instruction on a special joint meeting next
Sunday for these people to encourage all the members to register for one of the
courses for Self-Reliance that is on QuickReg and help every member to choose a
course and register. No matter, we need members in these courses and then to invite
those not of our faith who desire to join us.
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| Sunday evening zoom meeting bringing all the ward's Elders Quorum and RS Presidents together for training for Sharing Church Resources registration for next week. |
CHILDREN/GRAND CHILDREN/FAMILY MOMENTS
& BIRTHDAYS
Jacob’s bike race of the century!
This story is incredible! Please read the entire italicized
part below if you want to be inspired! Our 9th grandchild, Jacob Packer, is the
oldest of 5 children in his family. He’ll be 15 in a month. He has a rare condition
called MPS6, that has been reason for a lot of surgeries, shortness in stature
and weekly 6 hour hospital infusions for the rest of his life. But, this boy has
shown so much tenacity and grit and poise, that we are so proud of him.
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| Here is Jacob on the Pennies by the Inch pamphlet, not sure what year though. We are so grateful for Primary Children's Hospital for all the help they continue to give Jacob every week. |
Besides getting on the HS golf team, he is a
remarkable cyclist and has shown absolutely incredible determination to succeed
with his physical challenges and limitations. Here is the text we received from
Jaron, his dad, this morning.
“Good morning! I just wanted to let you know that
Jacob had his first Mountain Bike Race of this season. He is now participating
in the Freshman B group which is much
bigger and faster than last year. (There are 3 or 4 categories in each grade,
A, B, C, and D, A being the most advanced.) He was told that if he wanted a
chance to get on the podium this year, he should ride in the C group, like last
year. But only the A and B groups have a chance to qualify for state, so he
chose to ride in the B group. You have to average in the top 20 over 4 races to
make it to state, so that is his goal this year. He went into this season
ranked 45th in that category, out of 65 riders. His coaches told him that his
top 20 goal was high, but attainable. He’d really have to train hard this
season. And he has.
At the race he started with 45 people in
front of him. (They line them up according to rank). He took off knowing that
he would need to pass 25 riders (all of which are bigger than him mind you) over
a distance of 10 miles in order to get his goal. It was anticipated that it
would take him about 1 hour and 5 minutes to complete the race. There was about
a 10-12 minute segment where we would not be able to see Jacob after the
starting line. When riders from his group started coming through, we started
counting placements. We hoped that by this point he would be at least in 30th
place. We all freaked out when he came around the corner in 7th place!!! We
were in tears and were screaming for him at the top of our lungs! He finished
the race in 5th place! This means he made it to podium again! And he had so
much fun! He had no idea until he crossed the finish line that he did so well.
He figured he was still hunting down the top 20 the whole race!
You should have seen his smile during the
whole race! He loved every bit of it and worked so hard! So proud of this boy!
And so thankful that God has blessed him to continue to do what he loves!”
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| Jacob getting ready for his race. Worth reading his story! |
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| Jacob Packer with his super excited family! |
I had a fun video chat with
Becca this week, with the boys just waking up, as she took her phone around the
rooms, getting one up, with the other in her arms, changing diapers, and just
catching me up, which helps me feel connected with their daily life! Those boys
are growing up way too fast and they are so adorable. It did my momma/grama
heart so good.
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| Mason and Henry with their super strong mom. They love their mom and their dad! |
Birthday
Lucie Gibbons, my youngest
sister, celebrated her birthday this week. She’s an amazing and beautiful woman,
inside and out and so grateful for the sweet memories and relationship I hold
with her. I know I have not been consistent in honoring birthdays of all our
kids or siblings here. Please forgive me!
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| My sister, Lucie (birthday girl) on the right with her husband, Barry. They also just celebrated their 40th Wedding Anniversary. |
Bowen Packer’s first day of school in Florida
It can be a bit scary moving
to a new state, being somewhat shy and not quite sure if he was going to like
it. It took Bowen all of a minute once in class and he did great and loved his first
day of first grade. We’re so proud of sweet Bowen!
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| Bowen Packer |
Video chat with Austin and Emma Packer
We had a fun video chat
with Austin, Emma and the two younger kids as Bowen is still a bit camera shy,
but he’s still doing great in school, once he finally gets inside the school
class. Emma is handling his shyness in such a thoughtful way.
They were supposed to be
in their home, but their pod with all their belongings got delayed and
will end up being 10 days late. Gratefully they have Emma’s parents’ home to
live in the meantime. Oh, how we miss them!
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| Emma, Rose and Austin Packer. This was the best of who we could get in the photo! |
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| Austin and Emma Packer family. They shot this photo just before going into church. |
Sister Maliyah Duckworth
“This last week was
really good! Had a couple harder days and moments, but they just make the good
ones seem THAT much better! "... all these things shall give thee experience
and shall be for thy good." ... "thine adversity and thine
afflictions shall be but a small moment; .. and then, if thou endure it well,
God shall exalt thee on high" are both excerpts from D+C 121/122 and carry
me through all my hard moments! I love that I get to testify of those precious
truths and words of God so often. I invite you make time to go study those two
chapters if you haven't any time recently!
Last week we had
transfers (last one in Missouri!!!), so I'm now living in an apartment in
Independence with my new companion Sister Tew! She's also gonna be going to San
José with me and I absolutely LOVE her!!!! She's the most humble, selfless,
kind, Christlike person I've ever met, and she brightens my every day! I strive
to be like her.”
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| Maliyah on the left! |
“I learned something
really cool this past week that I thought was really interesting and gave some
more meaning to my missionary purpose/calling. It was from the devotional Elder
Mark Pace gave on last Tuesday about prayer and personal study, it was kind of
an out-of-pocket comment, but it later tied in with what he was getting at. He
said that we need to not take our calling lightly and enjoy it every second of
every day. Our calling is the closest calling you can get to being an Apostle
in the 70 or quorum of the 12 without actually being one. We are set apart, full
time, as Elders (and Sisters) for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day
Saints to serve, Preach the gospel and bring the light of Christ to all the
world through the power of the Holy Ghost and authority of the priesthood. And
that really hit hard for me and just screamed "oh well you don't think
your calling is important? Well check this out!!" I was so inspired by it
and it has completely changed my perspective on this calling and assignment
I've been given.
He talked about the first
few versus of Alma 13 talk a lot about the significance of it as well
(specifically 1, 3-4) so if you get the chance, I'd suggest reading that.”
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| Kyson on the right middle! |
GOSPEL STUDY REVIEW
Book of Mormon
- Be steady, faithful and diligent in keeping the commandments of God and set an example to others.
- Tend to what I’ve been entrusted with.
- We reap what we have sown, in the end, so choose to sow seeds of righteousness.
- The Lord works with order, justice, mercy, love and knows our hearts.
- The Lord has given us a perfect plan as we repent and we are justified by His mercy.
- Moroni was only 25 when called as commander and chief of the armies of the Nephites. We can all do hard things for the Lord! They fought for the right of freedom.
- Pride stops us from receiving the spirit in our lives.
Come Follow Me
- We came to earth not because we are perfect, but because we need to go through trials to perfect ourselves.
- Our trials are the refining agent to help qualify us for a joyful and rewarding life after this.
- I do not want to fail and I do not want to let the Lord down! I will make mistakes, I am not perfect, but I am here in this life to do the Lord’s work and be His hands and I will keep picking myself up if I fall.
- It is important to put the things and desires of the flesh always second, and behind, the things of the Spirit. All things will work together for the good of those that love God.
- Be kindly affectionate * Be not slothful * Be fervent in spirit * Rejoice and weep with others * Live peaceably with all men * Be not overcome of evil but overcome evil with good * Glory through Jesus Christ in those things which pertain to God.
Summary:
The heat and humidity may
at times seem almost unbearable, but how can we complain? We have a roof over
our heads, fans and a simple AC unit in our apartment, AC in our car, food in
our cupboards and fridge, we have each other and our precious family, who are
all safe as of today! Our town is not all up in flames as of today, we have the
gospel, we have our Savior, Jesus Christ, and so much more. We can’t and must
not complain. We have so much to be thankful for and we pray for the Lord’s choicest
blessings and comfort for those who suffered the tremendous loss in Maui and for
others throughout the world who may be suffering.
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
PHOTO DUMP
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