French Experiences

Bonjour and a happy day to you all - Life is good, if you keep on smiling!

I want to tell you more about Sister Chauveau today. I made her some of Joanna's apple/cranberry crisp for her treat of the week, and we headed out in the pouring rain to her place. We found her a little dazed and confused at first, because she had suffered a fall in her kitchen just the day before, and had hit her head, as well as bruised her shoulder and arm. No one came when she pushed the alarm button on a string around her neck, so she helped herself by scootching slowly into the front room and pulling the covers off her chez-lounge to help her kneel as she pulled herself up onto it. It was tough on her, but she's doing OK.

We asked what was her favorite hymn (I Know That My Redeemer Lives), and then we sang it together. I really liked that. She's had a sad life, with a mother who told her that she hated her, and a father who beat his wife and was mean to his children. She married a Sicilian man who was nice at first, and then beat her once, and that was all he got, because she saw a doctor who certified it, and she was able to take her young son and leave.

She lived in Paris for many years, working in a bank, and when in her 80's, moved clear out to Villebois (that has the greatest ruins of a castle on a hill that you'll ever see!). A couple who lived across the street from her, the Mourier's, brought her to church with them and introduced her to the sister missionaries. She felt at home in the chapel and felt welcomed and was soon baptized. She then became Relief Society president, and had no clue of what to do, but just relied on prayer, the manual, and just trying to do her best. Isn't that awesome? Then, Hurbert Mourier went coo-coo, and became the anti-christ and tried to talk her into leaving the church also--but she had a firm testimony and told him to get lost. She had a wonderful manifestation of a bright figure of a man standing before her one night, and it made her feel that if heaven is anything like that, she is ready to go. She asked Jack if it was true we would be on our mission for two years, and when he said yes, she clapped her hands with joy and said, "O, I feel better now, I can have someone to hold my hands when I die!" (Frankly, the way she's going, she'll outlive us all.) I was able to send cards to 3 missionaries that worked with her, and it's fun to think that they will find out she's still here.

We drove to Bordeaux on Saturday for a special Priesthood meeting for the Stake with the first session 2 and a half hours long. Sister Ashpole and I thought about window shopping, but it really didn't appeal to us. Then, our very own District Leader, a red-headed dynamo named Elder Warren, showed up at loose ends with a new member to see, but lacking a third party to accompany them because it was a woman. I said, maybe we could help you? And he happily agreed, except they would have to walk, while we drove, because of mission rules. Hmmmm. Sis. Ashpole rushed into the church and talked a French sister into coming with us, and now we were legal. She didn't want to drive her husband's right side steering wheel Jaguar in the city traffic, so that left me! I didn't stop to think that this would only be my second driving experience since being here, I just gulped and said, I can do it! So with Elder Warren directing me, we drove into town to Bernadette's apt.

She is from Shri Lanka, is separated from her husband, and has a 13-year-old son who is being aggressively courted by some Temoigne Jehovah's. He says that the Book of Mormon is all lies, and wants them to be a "Happy, together family" by her dropping her new religion; and she is conflicted because she believes in the church, but her son is everything to her. Well, Elder Warren was great with her, and his three sister missionary ladies (French, British, and American) tried
to reinforce his thoughts as well as encourage her to be the mother, and be strong in her faith. It is great to be a missionary.

That's all for me this week, thanks for your letters you two, and for all your prayers and thoughts directed our way.

Love you, Sister Mom (Joanne & Granma)