Bonjour, to you all . . . you are all family, and I miss you a lot right now especially.
Last Wednesday was the anniversary of the day we went into the MTC last year (is it still called "HUMP DAY," as in "over the . . ."), man, oh man, how these last few months have galloped by. I can't even remember Summer, it went so fast. I think the big difference is the added responsibility of Jack being called as Branch President; it really takes time and effort to keep things moving along smoothly for the members. Just last Sunday, the speakers he had lined up for Sacrament meeting didn't show, so he called on his 2nd counselor, Patrick Humblot, and the two missionaries, and he finished things off, and it went well; but no one saw all the sweating and fretting that preceded the meeting! All of our little elderly sisters are doing well, and we still see them often. Sister Adele, our Sunday night visit, is deep into the Book of Mormon (2Nephi), wading through the Isaiah chapters, and underlining things for Jack to explain to her; sometimes he just says, "Uhhhhhhh," and smiles weakly at the prospect of picking apart some of those image-filled verses. He used to do most of the reading, but now she won't let him, and buts right in if he forgets. She is such a hoot. Also, from not even trying to pray aloud, she has gone to offering a short, slightly jumbled, but sweet prayer by herself (Jack used to guide her through it each time she would try, because she would get so flustered that she'd open and then close without any in-the-middle stuff!). Last week she touched us by thanking Heavenly Father that we could be a family. I was blown away when he told me all she'd said; her own family is totally fractured and absent from her life. Anyway, it's moments like this that I treasure and hold to myself, and know why we'll be here our whole mission.
Now, lest you think all is smooth sailing with us, let me tell you the rest of the story. Sister Bouchard, our 81-year-old Relief Society President, (now Jack has to find a new one in a branch of 3 active sisters) got her call to the Genealogy Library in SLC, and has to be there Jan. 5, 2009. She asked us to move into her home while she is away, so we went to our landlady, Mme. Labadie, to give her our one months notice. "Is someone coming in your place?" No. "It's in your contract to give me two months notice." French law requires one month. "Well, you used much more water than was your share, and I'll have to be paid for that!" Hmmmmmmm.
This is the first we've heard of any water restrictions in France. We wash clothes to be clean, and bedding occasionally, and even ourselves several times a week. Is this excessive? Then, when she made mention of us paying for the extra maintenance it took to get our heater to fire up right, I thought WOW, this is crazy. This is the woman who, as we sat down to take this apt. with Sister Bouchard at our side (she was the one who noticed the "for rent" ad and called us immediately to go see it), slyly said, "Now, the rent will be $600 Euros a month." We didn't catch that, but Sister B. did! "No, no, madame, the ad said it rents for $560!" and looked at her steadily until she conceded that was right, and wrote it that way. This is the woman who actually clapped her hands for joy when Jack told her he had bought a replacement toilet seat for the flimsy, thin plastic thing that had just finally broken a bolt (and didn't charge her for it). This is the woman we heard yelling at someone through our connecting wall, and him shouting at her that there NO prophets in the world now! This was shortly after Jack gave her the wonderful Easter Liahona which was all about Christ and the prophets of the restoration. Maybe she's just gonna miss us when we're gone! Well, we will see what happens next, life is a kick isn't it?
We have an appointment, so talk to you later, take care,
Love,
Sister Mom (Joanne)
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