We are doing well and are working to get our membership group in a regular visiting pattern. We have many members who can't get to church because of distance, age, illness, or other related situations. We now travel throughout the province of the Charante to give the aid and comfort needed. We take the sacrament to many members and stay with them so we can have a Sunday School lesson. This brings the Spirit into the homes of many that otherwise would not be able to have contact with the Church except by mail or phone. Tomorrow we travel to spend time with a 98 year old member who will have her birthday. She has one son and he just had a operation in Paris and might not be able to join her. We will take the sacrament to her and then prepare lunch with her and blow out a candle or two. We have some cds of church music for her to listen to during her time alone. We come once a week to her and the others who can't get to Church.
There are many things that are different and I will give you just a few. A kebab is an Arab sandwich made from Lamb. The lamb is cooked on a spit and is cut off as is needed. The sandwich is made of a great tasting warm french foot long bun. The lamb is mixed with tomatoes, lettuce, green peppers, as well as with a special sauce. The meat and fixings are loaded into the bun so that it takes all you have to get your mouth around it. The French fries
are piled on the plate and they are better than those you get at the fast food places. With a soft drink all this comes to $6.00. It is so good that Joanne wants her own foot long and does a number on the whole thing.Driving is a chore. The Europeans have gone to round-abouts every where, even in places where there is hardly enough room to paint a small circle on the pavement. The driver on my left has the right of way so Joanne as the co-pilot is always needed. Her hand flies up with a finger pointed at any on coming vehicle. They come out of nowhere and without her vigilance we would have been smooshed long ago. The other situation is that the drivers on the other side of the road want some of my side of the road. I am always waiting for my side mirror to be smashed off especially when buses are coming at me.
One good thing I have noticed is that any worker that is working near or on the road and highways wear florescent clothing. You are able to see them well before you get to them. If a driver has a flat while on the road he must carry the same color clothing that is carried in each car. So far I haven't had any problems so the clothing has stayed in the trunk.
They say that Americans are obsessed with their cars, but the French have the same problem. We can go into the poorest neighborhoods and there are the BMW's and all the other high priced cars. A lot of us drive the smaller models though. They all look alike but are made by 15 different companies. Once one company comes up with a good model that the public likes, the whole bunch jump on the band wagon. So like in the U.S., the only way to tell the company that makes the car is by the logo.
Motor cycles and motor bikes are a major problem. The drivers weave in and out of the traffic like they own the road and they surely don't know the speed limit. The only way you know that you have been passed by one is the high pitched whine that you hear and the blur before your eyes.
We come to McDonald's to do our emails and there is a major difference between home and here. The French are obsessed with their eating hours, so McDonald's only has three times in the day when they are busy. Each eating period is a massive rush on the fast food restaurant. The place is packed and the drive up windows has a mile long line at that time. We try to miss the noon to two hour lunch and the dinner time two hour feeding trough. The French that come into the restaurant still want to take their time while eating, so once the place is full it is packed for the whole time. The French eat in courses, so at McDonald's the fries go first (fifteen minutes), the hamburger is next (20 minutes), and finally the dessert (fifteen minutes). Each course is done with a great deal of talking, so the meal can be drawn out. We have not tried the burgers or other things offered because the price is so expensive. We bring our change and eat fries or small Sundaes for the privilege of using their free WI-FI connection.
While the French have their lunch time period of 2 hours, the whole city closes down. We have made the mistake and have tried to pick up a number of items needed during the 12 to 2 period and have been stymied. We are now into the swing of things and schedule our buy time before the lunch two hours. Dinner is not on the table here in France until at least 7:30. That is why it takes at least 2 and a half hours to eat the meal, so they don't go to sleep with a full stomach. The Elders have a fit with this because with the spiritual message they give and the meal, they only have one and a half hours to spend.
The other problem I am having is how to tell time in France. The time is on the same wave length as the military at home. There is no such ting as Two in the afternoon, it is 14:00 hours. Being that I was never raised like this, it is giving me fits. The branch members have noticed this and so they have made allowances for this slow American. By the time I leave I will probably have it down.
With all that to contend with, we love it here are and are enjoying the growing experiences. We wouldn't change a thing. The Gospel is true and we are opening are mouths to contact as many people as we can. Wish you were here.
Love Elder Dad, Grandpa, and friend
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