Bonjour, and have a beautiful brand new day to enjoy being alive! As for us, it's getting dark as the sun has set, and we're almost ready to hit the hay after another interesting day in Angouleme.
We finally were called in to pick up our new Recepisse's, to keep us legally here in France three more months, until Aug. 6. We tried for a week before the old one became out of date to see somebody about it at the City Offices. When time after time we were sent away because the lady in charge had the day off, or the office was closed on the day we came, etc.; we were finally informed that May is crazy month for getting anything done in France, so just don't worry about it! So, sounds good to us, but I do like the security of having that small document in my purse.
Little Sister Chaveau was sick on our regular meeting day of Wednesday, but called us to come see her on Saturday. The poor soul was x-rayed and they found calcium deposits in her sore shoulder, so that's why she's been having pain there. She had two prescriptions and needed Jack to interpret them again for her. One horse pill was scored so as to be broken in half and to be taken morning and night. She had taken the whole thing in the morning; so he broke a week's worth in half for her. The older we get, the more confusing "stuff" becomes, so it was nice to aid her, and she trusts him so. We've been reading in Alma about Ammon and King Lamoni, and she hung onto every word and laughed when some of the people thought Ammon was a "monster." I massaged her shoulder while he put the screws we bought into one of her shutter hinges that had come loose. He gave her the sacrament, and then I brought out the letter from the ex-Soeur Wylie (now Bradshaw) of Queen Creek, Az.
It was a beautiful letter, written with much love and regard to a special friend such as you meet in the mission field. In it, she told of naming her second daughter, (her third child) after Soeur Madeleine! Madeline gasped at this news, saying, "Nobody has ever been so kind to me!" Soeur Bradshaw told her of the special place she has in her heart for Soeur Madeline, and how she hopes to see her again, if not in this life, "I know I will see you in the next. We are sisters!" Then in an addition to me, she said she had used an Internet program to translate her letter into French, "since after 15 years my skills are not as great as they once were." She used large black print for the letter, and I had hoped that Soeur Madeleine would be able to discern it with her magnifying glass. Sadly, her eyes just could not handle the task, or make out the faces in the family picture that was included. But, the thought that she is remembered fondly by others makes her very happy, and we love seeing that.
So many members have interesting backgrounds. One of the strongest member here was raised by godless communists, where religion was not even mentioned. He became a Muslim to marry a girl when he was very young and in the French Peace Corps, serving in Madagascar. They divorced (such an easy solution) when she did not want to live in France with him. He found the Arab Muslims too militant, and drifted from that into seeking answers. The TJ's turned him off, and then one day two Elders "in ties" knocked on his door. He was baptized one month later, and I love hearing his testimony and his take on gospel subjects. Life is trying him right now, because of another divorce, which I really wish they could have avoided (but what do I know), except that two children are in the middle of a mess and it is sad. I hope Jean-Pierre Mazaleyrat, and his ex-wife Veronique, and their children Marion and Clemont find some peace in their lives. Pray for us all!
Thanks Jo, for the music, we are into recycling Christmas tunes now, and I'm not sure if I'm coming or going at times. I think of you, friends and family, and you make me smile.
Love, Sister Mom (Joanne) Grandma
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