Bonjour everyone, hope all is well in your neck of the world.
This has been a busy week in Angouleme because of the annual cartoon festival held here every year. We not only were dodging cars but also people who were about their business of dashing here and there untroubled about the prospect that we might possibly run them over. My warning to Jack is, "We're not in down-town Cokeville anymore!" Last week was hard for me because of my looming doom (my talk). I thought Pres. Ashpole was kidding when he asked me to do that. He wasn't.
So, with the help of a year old Ensign, and the 93 Sect. of the Doctrine & Covenants, I wrote it out and Jack helped translate it into French. Then, so I could give it and be understood, I translated it again phonically, and practiced it again and again. And the rest of the story is that it went slow, but well, and that crazy Pres. Ashpole is now sure I can handle "anything" I'm asked to do: teach a class, visit teach, cook a 10 course meal, fly a plane . . . I don't know what all! I'd like to duck him from now on, but that's hard to do in a branch where if the missionaries (4), and the Branch Pres. and lovely wife, Margaret (2), and the Stake Missionaries called to be the first counselor and wife from Bordeaux (2), didn't show up, there would only be 12 members in attendance. There's no place to hide!
Not that I could bear to turn down a chance to help Pres. Ashpole, he is the nicest proper but droll Englishman you could ever hope to meet. He felt drawn to this city and actually offered his services to the Stake President after chancing to drop by the Branch last summer. I love them both so much; they drive 4 hours to be here every weekend. He was a helicopter pilot for British Airlines and his conversion story is inspiring. He's been a Bishop and several other high profile positions and retired here because of heart trouble, and the prospect of a quieter lifestyle. His French is adequate to be understood, if a bit fractured (according to Jack), but he gets by with good humor and a genuine love for "his Branch" that the members can't help but feel.
Our "little mother" might turn out to be a test case for the church. We went back to see Sister Louise, and the director of the rest home said we could not because they did not allow proselyting there. Jack told him we were just visiting a member, but he wouldn't listen. Anyway, he said he'd talk to her to see if she wanted to see us, and would call us back. We waited a week, on advise of the Church lawyer in Frankfort, Germany, and then returned. He wasn't there at 4 PM, but the Head nurse (who tossed us out the last time) was, and said we could catch him at 9 the next morning. (I thought, all I have to do is walk up those stairs, turn right and down the hall 2 doors and I could see that lonely little 93 year old woman again. I wanted to so badly.)
We showed up at 8:45, and he let us into his office, and he read us a letter that said the Mormon 'sect' had no right to visit her. Jack told him the name Mormon was a nickname others had given us, and gave him the true name. The director then read a letter from her doctor stating that she was incapable of making decisions about who she could see. Jack was writing all this down; and furthermore, he stated, "You didn't even have the courtesy of calling for an appointment." Hmmmmm Sorry, but you stepped into that one! "We waited a week for your return call, and on returning, your Head nurse told us to come at 9 AM this morning; didn't she inform you of this?" Nooo, he was not informed. Bad Head Nurse! So we left, and to tell you the truth I was almost in tears . . . it's all so stupid and wrongheaded and uncaring . . . what about what Sister Meslier wants?
Well, we e-mailed Germany all the details that very day (Fri), and got a telephone call from there early Mon. morning. She began with news of the death of President Hinckley and then talked to Jack about how to handle the case. We have several options to work with, and will keep you informed. Oops . . . I'm long winded tonight, time to wind it up.
Love to you all, Soeur Mom
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Driving in France
We have quite an experience driving in France. We have a car from the mission and it is a Renault Clio. It is a 4 door and seats 4. It is small with a hatch back and a small trunk. I am worried that when we leave Angouleme that we will have to become expert packers because we have more stuff since we have had to buy some bedding and other necessities when we moved into our small home.
The city of Angouleme is built on a plateau and has a wall around it. The streets in the city center are very small, but the city fathers think that any street that is ten feet wide ought to be a two way street. It is no small feat to get through the streets without getting your side view mirrors taken off. The parking spaces are just big enough for a car our size, and it is good that I worked with so many students on parallel parking because they are the only spots available in town. Now that we have contacted most of the members out of town, we are now in town and the driving experiences would make most Americans scream. Joanne has closed her eyes and almost prayed out loud many times.
The French drivers go full speed ahead without any cares for their safety and that makes the driving situation even more exciting. Europe has made a major effort to do away with signal lights and turn everything into round-abouts. They call them "round points" here, and I call them suicide experiences. The guy on the left has the right of way, but they are suppose to signal if they are getting out of the circle before they meet you. The signal usually never comes, so you have to read the eyes of the driver to see if he is coming your way. I feel like a defensive linebacker trying to read the eyes of the quarterback. There are times that the round point is so small and cars are coming from every direction that my head feels that it is on a swivel and it will come off any time.
The roads are not much different. The main highways are adequate in size, but as you get off the main roads and onto the country the roads get much smaller. If you meet a truck on one of those it is off onto the grass for me. The roads leading to the very small hamlets are even worse because there is only room for one and if there is a crazy driver who thinks its his road we better find some where to zip off before we get smooshed.
For the most part though, there are many drivers who are very polite and we do alright. I am pleased that most on the road are very well aware of the need to help in tight situations, but there are the few that think the road is all theirs that give too much spice in my life. I was blessed to have patience before coming on this mission, and I sure need it when it comes to the few.
We are striving with some good people and we are seeing some success. The branch faithful are very strong and they make it all worth while to work with them and be a part of the work here. Our branch president is one of the celestial people you hope to meet in your life. He was praying one night for the influence of the Lord to help the branch and received an answer that the shoots were coming and would sprout. I feel that the day is coming soon that we will see that the labors will come to fruition. We have some inactives coming next week; we have a French return missionary who just moved to Angouleme coming to Church next week; a recent covert moved back to Angouleme and will come to next week's meeting with his new girl friend. With all that addition we will hit an all time high of the high 20's. We have two of the Lord's most hard working missionaries here. Elder Kelley is from South Jordan, and Elder Clyde is from Alaska--he is from Palmer and he knows the Fiscus family. By the way, will someone give Wade Fiscus our email address so we can get his and add his family to our list. These two missionaries work hard and are seeing some success.
We are becoming a way that the missionaries can show their investigators what a husband and wife look like that have not been divorced. The divorce rate here is outrageous. We are going to have a dinner with the missionaries and a couple next week. We will have this couple to our place and feed them American food and give the Elders a chance to teach a lesson. If the young people of Cokeville could go out with these two missionaries they would get a whole new look at the work and how dedicated one must be to be involved in the Lord's service. The members go out with the missionaries on a regular basis and that is great.
The Mission President made Angouleme a district of missionaries and we are having our first district meeting in Angouleme next week and there will be two missionary teams from out of town that will come. After our meeting we will hit the neighborhoods with 4 teams of missionaries, including Sister Mom and I and as many members we can get to go door to door for 4 hours.
We know that we are about the Lord's work and that the Holy Ghost is testifying through us so much more than at home. Couples need to come and experience this and know that being in the service all the time is like no other special experience one can have.
I love you all and wish you were here to experience the missionary spirit.
Elder Dad
The city of Angouleme is built on a plateau and has a wall around it. The streets in the city center are very small, but the city fathers think that any street that is ten feet wide ought to be a two way street. It is no small feat to get through the streets without getting your side view mirrors taken off. The parking spaces are just big enough for a car our size, and it is good that I worked with so many students on parallel parking because they are the only spots available in town. Now that we have contacted most of the members out of town, we are now in town and the driving experiences would make most Americans scream. Joanne has closed her eyes and almost prayed out loud many times.
The French drivers go full speed ahead without any cares for their safety and that makes the driving situation even more exciting. Europe has made a major effort to do away with signal lights and turn everything into round-abouts. They call them "round points" here, and I call them suicide experiences. The guy on the left has the right of way, but they are suppose to signal if they are getting out of the circle before they meet you. The signal usually never comes, so you have to read the eyes of the driver to see if he is coming your way. I feel like a defensive linebacker trying to read the eyes of the quarterback. There are times that the round point is so small and cars are coming from every direction that my head feels that it is on a swivel and it will come off any time.
The roads are not much different. The main highways are adequate in size, but as you get off the main roads and onto the country the roads get much smaller. If you meet a truck on one of those it is off onto the grass for me. The roads leading to the very small hamlets are even worse because there is only room for one and if there is a crazy driver who thinks its his road we better find some where to zip off before we get smooshed.
For the most part though, there are many drivers who are very polite and we do alright. I am pleased that most on the road are very well aware of the need to help in tight situations, but there are the few that think the road is all theirs that give too much spice in my life. I was blessed to have patience before coming on this mission, and I sure need it when it comes to the few.
We are striving with some good people and we are seeing some success. The branch faithful are very strong and they make it all worth while to work with them and be a part of the work here. Our branch president is one of the celestial people you hope to meet in your life. He was praying one night for the influence of the Lord to help the branch and received an answer that the shoots were coming and would sprout. I feel that the day is coming soon that we will see that the labors will come to fruition. We have some inactives coming next week; we have a French return missionary who just moved to Angouleme coming to Church next week; a recent covert moved back to Angouleme and will come to next week's meeting with his new girl friend. With all that addition we will hit an all time high of the high 20's. We have two of the Lord's most hard working missionaries here. Elder Kelley is from South Jordan, and Elder Clyde is from Alaska--he is from Palmer and he knows the Fiscus family. By the way, will someone give Wade Fiscus our email address so we can get his and add his family to our list. These two missionaries work hard and are seeing some success.
We are becoming a way that the missionaries can show their investigators what a husband and wife look like that have not been divorced. The divorce rate here is outrageous. We are going to have a dinner with the missionaries and a couple next week. We will have this couple to our place and feed them American food and give the Elders a chance to teach a lesson. If the young people of Cokeville could go out with these two missionaries they would get a whole new look at the work and how dedicated one must be to be involved in the Lord's service. The members go out with the missionaries on a regular basis and that is great.
The Mission President made Angouleme a district of missionaries and we are having our first district meeting in Angouleme next week and there will be two missionary teams from out of town that will come. After our meeting we will hit the neighborhoods with 4 teams of missionaries, including Sister Mom and I and as many members we can get to go door to door for 4 hours.
We know that we are about the Lord's work and that the Holy Ghost is testifying through us so much more than at home. Couples need to come and experience this and know that being in the service all the time is like no other special experience one can have.
I love you all and wish you were here to experience the missionary spirit.
Elder Dad
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Last Week's Work
Bonjour everyone!
It's a beautiful, cool, bright, sunny day here, and they are tending to the flower beds, gearing up for spring all ready (I know, I know, you are knee deep in snow, and this is cruel talk, but I am amazed by it all too!). Dad told you about our fun day with the Elders. It was fun to see those two hard workers let their hair down a bit . . . and 'turn' back into exuberant teens for a few hours. We had a tailgate picnic in a farmer's field, and he actually drove by and shouted, "Bon appitite!" to us.
We had a great experience last week. We decided to visit an inactive lady, Sister Chagot, who lives right in the heart of the city. We walked down the cobblestone to the end of a wall that opened up abruptly into a skinny alleyway. We turned there and suddenly, in the wall, was a door with a number on it . . . her apartment. She answered our knock, and welcomed us into her place, about the size of a small bedroom. I loved her smile and her face seemed bright with happiness that we had come to visit her. The word was that she had told others that she was never coming back to church, but she had the latest copy of the Liahona so I knew there was hope.
She is disabled from a bad accident that broke bones in her hip years ago, but copes with it all, and gets around fairly well. She is going to the hospital next week, and asked Jack for a blessing; he said he would gather together more Priesthood and do it up right. When asked about church, she said she doesn't have the proper clothes, and would come in May when she could get some dresses to wear. Jack told her that the Lord doesn't care what she wears, that she could even come in those slacks she was wearing now. She laughed at that. We left her with a prayer not long after, really glad for such a good visit.
On Sunday, the first person we saw as we entered the chapel was Sister Chagot, sitting there with a big smile on her face in those very slacks. Everyone made a point to welcome her and she seemed very happy. The Priesthood blessing was given to her after church, and to Sister Denny as well--she is a 90'ish year old, tiny mite of a woman, who is an 'unbaptized' member. She has been coming to the Branch faithfully for about 10 years, and has a testimony of the gospel, but she thinks that God wants her to remain Catholic. She was having trouble swallowing and asked for a blessing, and so they gave her one.
This was the Sunday everyone brings food and they feast together after church. I sat across from Sister Denny during dinner, and she was packing it away like a healthy horse! People here have been very accepting of me and my stumbling and bumbling with their language . . . the real test is coming this next Sunday with my talk in Sacrament meeting. I'm already sweating and it's only Wednesday. Thanks for all you do for us, in keeping in touch and your encouraging letters and e-mail. I love you all so much.
Love, Sister Mom, Grandma, Joanne Metcalfe :)
It's a beautiful, cool, bright, sunny day here, and they are tending to the flower beds, gearing up for spring all ready (I know, I know, you are knee deep in snow, and this is cruel talk, but I am amazed by it all too!). Dad told you about our fun day with the Elders. It was fun to see those two hard workers let their hair down a bit . . . and 'turn' back into exuberant teens for a few hours. We had a tailgate picnic in a farmer's field, and he actually drove by and shouted, "Bon appitite!" to us.
We had a great experience last week. We decided to visit an inactive lady, Sister Chagot, who lives right in the heart of the city. We walked down the cobblestone to the end of a wall that opened up abruptly into a skinny alleyway. We turned there and suddenly, in the wall, was a door with a number on it . . . her apartment. She answered our knock, and welcomed us into her place, about the size of a small bedroom. I loved her smile and her face seemed bright with happiness that we had come to visit her. The word was that she had told others that she was never coming back to church, but she had the latest copy of the Liahona so I knew there was hope.
She is disabled from a bad accident that broke bones in her hip years ago, but copes with it all, and gets around fairly well. She is going to the hospital next week, and asked Jack for a blessing; he said he would gather together more Priesthood and do it up right. When asked about church, she said she doesn't have the proper clothes, and would come in May when she could get some dresses to wear. Jack told her that the Lord doesn't care what she wears, that she could even come in those slacks she was wearing now. She laughed at that. We left her with a prayer not long after, really glad for such a good visit.
On Sunday, the first person we saw as we entered the chapel was Sister Chagot, sitting there with a big smile on her face in those very slacks. Everyone made a point to welcome her and she seemed very happy. The Priesthood blessing was given to her after church, and to Sister Denny as well--she is a 90'ish year old, tiny mite of a woman, who is an 'unbaptized' member. She has been coming to the Branch faithfully for about 10 years, and has a testimony of the gospel, but she thinks that God wants her to remain Catholic. She was having trouble swallowing and asked for a blessing, and so they gave her one.
This was the Sunday everyone brings food and they feast together after church. I sat across from Sister Denny during dinner, and she was packing it away like a healthy horse! People here have been very accepting of me and my stumbling and bumbling with their language . . . the real test is coming this next Sunday with my talk in Sacrament meeting. I'm already sweating and it's only Wednesday. Thanks for all you do for us, in keeping in touch and your encouraging letters and e-mail. I love you all so much.
Love, Sister Mom, Grandma, Joanne Metcalfe :)
P-Day
We had a P-Day with the Elders yesterday. We picked them up at 10:30 in the morning and when they came down from their apartment they were dressed in white shirts and ties. When they saw us in our jeans and sweat shirts, they smiled and went back up to change into their regular P-Day clothes.
We went hunting for chateaus and water mills. We were able to get in our fair share of both as we headed south from Angouleme. It was good to see the Elders relax because they are so much into the work that a half a day to relax is good for all of us and since they don't have any way to get around except the bus, we were able to let them see some of the country and the sights.
We are still working hard at bringing families into activity. We went to see a family, Jean-Luc and Patrica Renaudet, that have been inactive. We heard at the single adult family home evening Monday that she was sick, so we went by to see how she is doing. We have a dinner date with them on Sat. and because Mom has her talk in Sacrament meeting this Sunday we hope that will be the touch to get them to church.
We are feeling better, but the weather is so off and on here (one day it is raining and the next the sun comes out) that our systems have not adapted to this. We like our 50's and close to 60 degree weather than what we hear you are getting.
Love Sister Mom and Elder Dad
We went hunting for chateaus and water mills. We were able to get in our fair share of both as we headed south from Angouleme. It was good to see the Elders relax because they are so much into the work that a half a day to relax is good for all of us and since they don't have any way to get around except the bus, we were able to let them see some of the country and the sights.
We are still working hard at bringing families into activity. We went to see a family, Jean-Luc and Patrica Renaudet, that have been inactive. We heard at the single adult family home evening Monday that she was sick, so we went by to see how she is doing. We have a dinner date with them on Sat. and because Mom has her talk in Sacrament meeting this Sunday we hope that will be the touch to get them to church.
We are feeling better, but the weather is so off and on here (one day it is raining and the next the sun comes out) that our systems have not adapted to this. We like our 50's and close to 60 degree weather than what we hear you are getting.
Love Sister Mom and Elder Dad
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Seek
Hello to all back home,
We are doing fine and working hard. There are some days that we come home and go right to bed. We are still in the work of trying to find the inactives but now we are in the city of Angouleme and not riding out in the country. We are using less gas and that is good. The finding is just as hard in the city as we look for streets and numbers.
This city was built on a plateau and there are walls all around the ancient city. We will send you pictures when the weather gets better. The city was built in the 15th century and so the streets are small. They are so small in the center of the old town that there is only walking traffic. We have had no time to explore but we will. The town then was expanded down the ramparts with streets going down in switch backs so again the way is narrow however the planners of today want two way traffic so there is very little room for two way traffic. The town then spread out on to the flat land below but all this was still done before modern cars so once again the streets are narrow. Only out in the surrounding towns are there fairly wide streets but there is no city planning so every street goes every which way with no rhyme or reason. I am just getting the hang of the way around but Joanne doesn't want to take the wheel just yet.
It has been raining a lot over the past two weeks so we never got over the colds we got in the zone meeting in Bordeaux. We kept on going and I got soaked one day looking for a brother who had moved from a small hamlet to a place unknown. I came down with a good cold and had to stay in bed to be able to do the work with some vestige of health.
We found a sister yesterday who was touched by our visit and appreciated the prayer given on her behalf. We are succeeding with another inactive family and are helping them understand what the role of a member of Christ's Gospel should be like. We had a good visit with the Bennett's, our English couple, and will give them another week before we go out again.
I have become more dependent on the Holy Ghost here than ever before. There are times when I am seeking for the right words in a language I am not yet totally comfortable with, and the words tumble out and the right thought for the right occasion comes rushing forth. I love the feeling.
We are thankful for McDonald's. It has a WIFI connection so every P-Day we come here and read your emails and send ours for no cost except some fries for the both of us and a small Sunday for Joanne. She eats my fries but I don't get any of her Sunday.
We are doing fine and working hard. There are some days that we come home and go right to bed. We are still in the work of trying to find the inactives but now we are in the city of Angouleme and not riding out in the country. We are using less gas and that is good. The finding is just as hard in the city as we look for streets and numbers.
This city was built on a plateau and there are walls all around the ancient city. We will send you pictures when the weather gets better. The city was built in the 15th century and so the streets are small. They are so small in the center of the old town that there is only walking traffic. We have had no time to explore but we will. The town then was expanded down the ramparts with streets going down in switch backs so again the way is narrow however the planners of today want two way traffic so there is very little room for two way traffic. The town then spread out on to the flat land below but all this was still done before modern cars so once again the streets are narrow. Only out in the surrounding towns are there fairly wide streets but there is no city planning so every street goes every which way with no rhyme or reason. I am just getting the hang of the way around but Joanne doesn't want to take the wheel just yet.
It has been raining a lot over the past two weeks so we never got over the colds we got in the zone meeting in Bordeaux. We kept on going and I got soaked one day looking for a brother who had moved from a small hamlet to a place unknown. I came down with a good cold and had to stay in bed to be able to do the work with some vestige of health.
We found a sister yesterday who was touched by our visit and appreciated the prayer given on her behalf. We are succeeding with another inactive family and are helping them understand what the role of a member of Christ's Gospel should be like. We had a good visit with the Bennett's, our English couple, and will give them another week before we go out again.
I have become more dependent on the Holy Ghost here than ever before. There are times when I am seeking for the right words in a language I am not yet totally comfortable with, and the words tumble out and the right thought for the right occasion comes rushing forth. I love the feeling.
We are thankful for McDonald's. It has a WIFI connection so every P-Day we come here and read your emails and send ours for no cost except some fries for the both of us and a small Sunday for Joanne. She eats my fries but I don't get any of her Sunday.
Hanging Out at McDonald's
Hello from Angouleme-Another real blustery, winter's day we are experiencing here today. If you all were to get the moisture we've been getting for the past 10 days, you'd be slogging through waist high snow for sure! So much for being in the south of France! But, we go out and take our chances, because the sun does peek out at the odd moment here and there.
Our apartment is a dream come true for us. It has lovely, old fashioned wall paper everywhere, tile throughout each room (which is pretty standard) on the floors, and shutters on the three windows and the heavy glass house door. We can close out the world when we close the shutters at night. I have a gas range with oven, smaller than mine at home, but not tiny. I can take out my pyro-maniac urges every time I cook, and am trying to be careful and not go up in smoke over a pan of lemon bars! (Which by the way is the way to many a French heart!) The fact that the apt. came furnished was such a blessing. The mission usually shells out quite a bit to make a place habitable for their missionaries, but they only helped with our mattress and washing machine here, and that made things so much easier for us all. We have a real W C (water closet) . . . a walk-in broom closet with toilet, with just room enough to turn around and face front! Then, off our little bedroom is the shower stall and sink area, closed in by a curtain. The stall can't be any bigger than 24 by 24 inches. It was hilarious when Jack took his first shower; he got in OK, and got himself all wet OK, but he just couldn't get the arm movements going that he needed to lather up. So he turned off the water, opened the two little doors and hung his upper body out to wash himself. He came out later to warn me what it was going to be like, and I thought, "well, that sounds like a lot of fun." But, I had no problems at all with showering, other than how to keep the hot water coming steadily from the water heater that fires up on demand over the kitchen sink.
The differences from here to home are what make things interesting. Like when we first bought fruit and vegetables at the Giant Casino and didn't realize we were to weigh and label your own produce. The check-out lady looked at our naked bags and said, "Where are the tags?" She sent Jack running back for them with his arms full, while holding up the whole line of shoppers behind us. I was sure we'd have a riot on our hands, but French people are strangely placid when in lines--as if that is their lot in life. After 3 or 4 minutes of me, trying to look innocent of the crime, he got back, and we were happy, the checker was happy, the customers in line were happy, (about ready to break into applause) and Jack sang out as we paid, "Merci, bo-coup, pour votre patience!" Everyone smiled.
We had a fun Family Home Eve. last night . . . our inactive family came; the Elders gave a good, short lesson, and we had the activity which was charades of scriptural events, and some fun was had by all. Hope all of you are happy and well, that's all for now from me . . . sure do enjoy hearing from you, write when you can.
Love, Sister Mom Metcalfe
Thursday, January 3, 2008
Christmas Tale
Hi everyone...I miss you all so much, when I have a moment to think about it! We have been hot tailing it up and down the country side, curling our way through small villages, seeking out the lost and the hiders. We have been told that, 'we're not members of your church, we've never heard of you'; to, 'Go away, we're atheists and proud of it!', to 'come in, come in, sit right down and let's talk.' People you ask directions from couldn't be nicer, or more helpful; I have been amazed by that, and if you try to speak their language they are all forgiving of any mistakes.
I truly can say that I love the French people, but they are very anti-religion right now, so getting anyone to listen is quite difficult. When Jack's cold was the worst, I was prompted to steer us into a pharmacy inside of a big store (instead of picking up Tylenol on the shelf), and the Pharmacist was interested enough in our tags to begin a conversation. Come to find out that he had been to Salt Lake City and was impressed, and knew something about the Mormons. Jack asked what he knew, and he said that they live what they teach. Jack then asked if he would be interested to hear more and he said 'yes, come back when you are all better.' So yesterday we did and he is still interested and we should be able to talk to him soon. We have had several contacts off the cuff like that, but even though it is tedious to downright frustrating (and costly since a tank of gasoline, factoring in the conversion rate from dollars to Euros, costs us around $80 each fill up!), that is what we have been asked to do.
We found the undertaker who had buried one member on our list 10 years ago...high time to scratch his name off. Many people just were way too far out from the church, and simply have moved on to parts unknown. But this is what our Branch Pres. needs to know so we're doing it, and the scenery is great.
Sandra-thanks for your letter about Christmas..it was fun to read and I'm glad you didn't quit trying to get it to us.
I truly can say that I love the French people, but they are very anti-religion right now, so getting anyone to listen is quite difficult. When Jack's cold was the worst, I was prompted to steer us into a pharmacy inside of a big store (instead of picking up Tylenol on the shelf), and the Pharmacist was interested enough in our tags to begin a conversation. Come to find out that he had been to Salt Lake City and was impressed, and knew something about the Mormons. Jack asked what he knew, and he said that they live what they teach. Jack then asked if he would be interested to hear more and he said 'yes, come back when you are all better.' So yesterday we did and he is still interested and we should be able to talk to him soon. We have had several contacts off the cuff like that, but even though it is tedious to downright frustrating (and costly since a tank of gasoline, factoring in the conversion rate from dollars to Euros, costs us around $80 each fill up!), that is what we have been asked to do.
We found the undertaker who had buried one member on our list 10 years ago...high time to scratch his name off. Many people just were way too far out from the church, and simply have moved on to parts unknown. But this is what our Branch Pres. needs to know so we're doing it, and the scenery is great.
Sandra-thanks for your letter about Christmas..it was fun to read and I'm glad you didn't quit trying to get it to us.
- Jo-we're getting yours ok, you are a trooper! Maybe cooking lessons is the next step.
- Jeaninne-It was great to hear from you, life is keeping you hopping!
- Chris and Jen and the boys-We love your letters, thanks for remembering us each week.
- Jay and Sayei- You've been engaged in the best of all projects, and did it magnificently.
- Jaime-Hope you got our last e-mail with our address in it, and I'll start checking the mailbox soon.
- Laraine-we'll open your mail with our own computer set up soon, I hope. Is Gary's e-mail address still his old one?
- Heather-Let us know the rest of the story, love you.
- Aaron-hope your holidays were great.
- Andrea, Josh, Sam,and Kirt-Are you hearing from us? Let us know.
Love you,
Madame Metcalfe
A word from me as your mother gets ready and we hit the road. Yesterday we met a 93 year old member who lives in a rest home. She was so excited to see us and wouldn't let your Mom go when we got ready to leave after a 45 minute visit. We promised to return next week and will make her a weekly opportunity to show love. The visit made our day. We also had a meeting with an inactive sister. Our Relief Society President, Seour Bouchard came with us and we know in time she will come back. Without a car we would be out of luck in getting to all these members who are in every village and hamlet miles from the chapel.
We love the work. We were out knocking on doors with the Elders last Sunday night and covered twice the ground. They got two call backs and I talked to a man about the restoration of the Gospel and gave him a Book of Mormon pass along card.
Life is great and the Gospel is true. Elder Dad
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
Happy New Year
It's a beautiful new day for a brand new year here in France! We are so happy to hear that our new granddaughter has arrived safely. Born the last day of the year? Happy tax deduction Jay! Let us know the details, and is Sayei's mom and grandmother still there to help? This is just a quick note to let you know we're still alive and kicking even after driving these roads in heavy fog during the last few days. I think they're trying to fatten us up here! We just got home from a 6 course meal (well, actually all the meals are 5 to 6 or more courses), which really means that you eat your food in categories, and that dinner can last 2 and a half to 3 hours or more. I think I'll 'splain (as Lucy's husband Ricky used to say) more about that in the Scribbler. We can't e-mail as much as we'd like right now because we are using our host's laptop setup, but this coming Sat. (with all good luck) we should be in our apartment, and this is the address:
Brother and Sister John Metcalfe
188 rue des Mesniers
16710 ST. YRIEIX , FRANCE
Our mission cellphone number is: 06 76 16 58 26 (you also start with code #'s 1 and France-33)
(Dad says try that, & if it doesn't work drop the first 0 and try again.) Our landlady lives right nearby and her tel. # is: 05 45 68 42 37. Her name is Madame LABADIE Anny...same address, except #194.
We are getting your e-mail from everyone although our host's computer is very troublesome about working all the time. We will both add to the scribbler because we have had some outstanding events and have seen some fantastic country looking for the members of the branch.
Love Sister Mom and Elder Dad
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