Not Something I Like To Do

Hello to all of you;

We are doing fine and the weather has been great, but we need some rain or the farmers here are going to be in a world of hurt. It is interesting that everyone who isn't a farmer loves the sun everyday, but we who have worked Mother Earth know that too much of a good thing for everyone else doesn't feed the population.

We have planted a small garden with beans and peas and hope to put in a little lettuce, spinach (for Joanne), and some tomatoes. The Corga family has been helping with the yard and spring cleaning. We have finally found a way to make their stay permanent and legal according to the confusing laws of France and the European Union. The two entities do not match up with their laws and the French demand that they meet both rules. We have a member who is a plumber. He will hire Joao and we will have them work for us the first month (which they have), and then he has work for them at his home and in his business. They only have to work 15 hours a week for 200 hours total to qualify for assistance and medical benefits.

With a work contract, Sandra Corga, is going to march triumphantly to each office she has been fighting for the past year and win one for her family. Sandra is a real fighter and this will be a great victory for her as she can now meet all the crazy laws here. The problem is that the laws conflict and counter act one another, but victory is in sight.

We went to the funeral of the son of a member last week and as most of you know this is one of the least enjoyable things for me to do. I have almost decided to not show up for my own funeral. We traveled to the small village where the service was to take place and the day was cloudy and windy. The member, Sister Demolombe, was so happy to see us. I, as the branch president, get to do things that the rest of the missionaries can't do and that was to give her the traditional kiss on both cheeks. This is a very important symbol of love and close relationship especially for the older people of France. It was a privilege for Joanne and I to be counted as family. Remi, the husband is not a member of the church, so he had a Catholic service for his son.

The service took place in the small Catholic church in the village. The churches of France are very cold inside, even on the hottest days, but the love of the villagers made up for the cold temperature.

France has lost many clergy and so the service was taken care of by the villagers. I feel that their display of love for the family made the service have a more of a caring feeling. The other thing I noticed was that all the villagers who took part in the service were older than me. The youth of France has given up on most religions and the Catholic church is suffering from a lack of young members. I thought of what is going to happen when these good people of the village die and there is no one to perform their services.

My thoughts went back to our last Stake Conference here in the Bordeaux Stake and the youth choir that sang. There was a marked difference in the number of members in the choir and the ages of the members. Although the people at the funeral had good voices, there were only 9 of them and they were all aged. In contrast, the youth choir at conference came from the Bordeaux area and numbered 45 and showed the vibrant future of the church here in southwest France. I marvel at the Saturday meeting held at stake conference here. The members out number those of my home stake and these members come from places often a 100 miles away. The singing during the priesthood leadership session always gives me goose bumps.

The other thing that is very noticeable in the service held here, was that it was not on a personal note. Everything was scripted and done from rote memory. The personal touch for the family was lacking and, for me, I think the service is for the living more than for those who died. In that aspect, the service was cold as far as remembering the son and the love that was shared by the family. We were given a place of respect in the walking procession to the cemetery as we were placed in the third row behind the wife and children and the parents and sisters. Holding an office in the branch or wards of France is a very respected position and it is very humbling to me to be in that position.

The only personal note was made by one of Francise's two sisters that are members of the church. Marie Lore is married and formerly lived in Minn. but now lives in San Antonio, Texas and Marie France lives in Thaiti. They both flew from their respective homes to be with their Mother and Dad and show their love to their brother. Marie France took the opportunity to take the microphone provided at the grave site service to pay her respects to her brother and give a short testimony on the Resurrection and the importance of Jesus in our lives.

We met with the extended family in an open roofed area of the local elementary school in the village. It now serves 29 small villages in what is now called a commune. France has had to do that because the number of children per French natives is one child per family. As we snacked on cookies and orange juice, I thought that this was so different from the Relief Society providing a meal after the service in a warm chapel. Joanne made soup for the family and we took it to the Demolombe's home the next day, along with two loafs of bread and some cheese. Marie Lore had to explain that this was the way it was done in the church back in the states and elsewhere. They were grateful for our show of love to them. I have found out even more that this it is what it is all about, LOVE.

Well, we have many new amis to teach and the Elders are keeping busy as well as ourselves. We will keep you up to date on the progress in Angouleme.

Love,

Elder Dad

Baptism in Angouleme

Bonjour everyone -

I sure hope all is well in your lives, as we think of you often, but we have had plenty to occupy our time and energies here, especially lately in our small Branch of the church.

The 58-year-old son of one of the most faithful members I've ever met died last week, and it has been hard on her to lose him, because, of her three children, he was the one who didn't become involved in the church when she was converted and baptized, some 40 years ago. He became a doctor, but when he began to develop the symptoms of diabetes, he went into denial and would not seek treatment until it became too late; loosing first his sight, and then just recently his life. His two younger sisters, both temple married, with active families, flew in from Tahiti and Minnesota for the funeral; and Jacqueline clung to them, as well as to us, for the support she needed. She considered us as family too, (her LDS family), and insisted that we be by her side as we attended the Catholic funeral in the small village where she was born. It was a very interesting experience, in an ancient building made of stone, on a cold, blustery, sad, rainy day; and when Jacqueline's youngest daughter leaned over to tell Jack how glad she was that a priesthood holder was there with them, we were especially glad we were there too.

Bro. Bourdicheux has had some amazing experiences as he got closer to his baptismal date. Because he is living on his pension, Elder Green thought that he'd not have to pay tithing on that money, but that was not true. Then also, Bro. B had staged a mini protest against the French government for taxing his retirement, by not paying his taxes! They came after him for it, so a chunk of his monthly check goes to repay the government until this Oct., making things tight for him, and making him question how he could handle the payment of tithing? When Bro. B. dreamed at all, they were usually terrible nightmares that woke him up and left him shaken. But, last Sunday night, after he prayed to Heavenly Father long and hard for an answer to his question, he dreamed a dream. He said, if someone had been in the room with him, they would have heard him talking out loud to a voice that came to him. "Who are you?" he asked the voice. "I am the voice of Him who is on high; I live on a planet far from yours, but I am always near; your life has been spared 4 times, and that is the end of your blessings." Bro. B. asked, "Should I pay my tithing?" And the voice answered, "Yes." Then the dream vanished. He never remembers dreams, but this one is embedded into his memory, and just thinking about it makes him light as a feather!

He got a call from the son of his deceased best friend in Paris, and told him about the dream; to which the man said, "That's just a figment of your imagination!" Then, Bro. B. told him that he was going to even pay tithing, and the man shouted, "See, all they want is your money!" to which he sadly shook his head and said, "You will never understand, my friend." He related this all to Jack on Monday afternoon, while it was still fresh in his mind.

On Wednesday, we went to his apartment with white shirts and pants for him to try on, and they were all too small, until we had him try on the one temple baptismal, zip-up front suit we had. Finally, they got that zipper up over his belly (he can't suck it in) and it is going to work! The only other thing he needed was some white underwear, so we will pick some up for him. Bro. B. closed our little visit with the nicest prayer (just a simple conversation with his Heavenly Father) that I've heard in a long time; it was great.

Jack went to pick up Bro. B. on Saturday, and made the mistake of asking how he was feeling; which set him off onto a recital of all his many maladies! "I got my hair cut yesterday for my baptism, and it was hot in the salon. Then, I came outside, and caught a chill; I've been sneezing all morning, and have the sniffles and I feel terrible. Maybe I should wait and be baptized in April?" "No." said Jack, "you need to be baptized today." "Even if I'm sick?" "You will be fine." "Are you sure?" "I'm sure you'll feel better after you are baptized." "Really?" "Yes." "OK, if you say so." He came, and changed into all white clothes. We somehow got through the slowest filling of a font ever (first it was too cold, then it was steaming hot), but when the moment arrived, lo and behold, it was suddenly perfect, and we all breathed out a sigh of relief.

Bro. B. carefully followed Elder Green down into the warm water, with a big smile on his face, as he looked up into the happy faces of all his new friends. They spoke together for a moment, and then the Elder raised his right arm to the square and said those simple, but significant few words of the baptismal prayer. We all held our breath as Bro. B. didn't hold his nose as he was immersed--would he come up sputtering? No! He came up smiling wider than before, and looking back at Elder Green, he asked if he could go under again! We all laughed, as he was told that one time was enough since it was perfect. After dressing, they came back into the chapel, and Jack asked Bro. B. if he would bear his testimony to us. He told how, for a split second as he came up out of the water, he saw a symbol of two things that he really loves: birds, and to dance. He saw a bird dancing, so that is why he wanted to go under the water again. He thanked the Elders who taught him the gospel, Elders Gibbs, Green and Gunter, for making him realize that Jesus Christ is not just a pretty story to help children get to sleep at night, but that He is his Savior, and that he needed to be baptized into His church. We had some refreshments, and he told me of the 4 times in his life that he almost died, and how he knew that he had been preserved for a purpose. We drove him home, and he thanked us with a smile for his new underwear, and said he'd always remember us each time he puts them on.

We came home and crashed and slept hard, and the next day Brother Bourdicheux was confirmed a member of the church, and it is a real good feeling to have him with us. It was all worth it. Take care!

Love,

Sister Mom (Joanne) Grandma

Oh, What a Beautiful Morning

Hello from France;

We are experiencing some great weather here in Angouleme and we are loving every minute of it. In the last 10 days or so, we have had only one bad day. We have been out in the yard taking care of all the work that was pretty well neglected by Sister Bouchard. The Corga family have been coming over and giving us a hand. We have been digging out all the weeds around the rose bushes, cutting the grass, and getting our little garden area ready for planting.

Two things that I have a hard time with when it comes to France is the pruning the trees and bushes and the grass. Sister Bouchard had Remi Demolombe come over and prune the bushes, roses, and small trees. He, like all other Frenchmen hack away at the bushes and trees until they look like nude sticks, but they seem to always come back in the spring. We will work on Sister Bouchard's dying hedge out front by pruning all the dead branches and then planting some new hedge bushes. The hedges last about 15 years and they get trimmed every fall to keep them square and neat.

The grass here would make an American go around the bend and off the deep end. The French let everything grow in the grass. Just as long as they plant flowers it is allowed to grow in the grass. Once the flower has died it is time to cut the grass. No such thing as getting all the weeds out and grooming your lawn to look like a carpet. The nearest thing to a carpet lawn here is a patchwork quilt.

We spent a great time with our 99-year-old sister, Madeleine Chauveau. Joanne prepared a meal and a birthday cake for us to share with her. Since we had a late meeting in Bordeaux, we brought the Elders with us and she really enjoyed the time spent. I told her that the firemen said it was against fire regulations to put 99 candles on the cake, but she blew out the nine that were on the cake. She is a great sister and has a strong testimony of the Gospel. The members called and sent flowers and even our past 1st counselor from Bordeaux came with his good wife to visit not long after we left.

We had a change in the Stake Presidency here and so we got to go to Bordeaux for Saturday and Sunday meetings. We rented a mini-bus and Joanne took the car because we had so many amis that came with us. I have a to say that Elder Kerr, our regional seventy from Scotland, has become one of my favorite speakers. I love his accent and the powerful messages he gave to all of us. He speaks with authority and power. His testimony rocks the world.

We will have a baptism the 21st of March. Our 78-year-old brother, Jean Bordicheux, is one of a kind. In the 7 months since the Elders met him, he has grown in faith and love. He has changed before our very eyes and he feels the difference in his approach to life. He is someone who thinks things through, prays for guidance and then puts the principles of the Gospel into practice to see how they work in his life. He says that all his practice has been true to the scriptures and the lessons received.

We hope to have all our amis and members there so the amis can feel the spirit and the members to realize that the missionary work is going forward. This is not a church for sissies. It is put up or shut up. I like the scripture where it says that Jesus would rather have us hot, but not lukewarm, for if we are lukewarm, He will spew us from His mouth [Rev. 3:15-16]. We need to recognize that we have made promises and it is up to us to keep the promises made. We often forget those promises and lapse into being lukewarm. It is like the coals of a fire, as long as they are in the mist of the hot burning fire they stay red hot, but once they get away from the heat of the Gospel light they go black. All we need is to be nudged back into the heat of the light of Christ and into active participation and we light up again.

We love you all and we realize that we must do all we can to help others wile we are here. There is still plenty to do on our part and with those we are working with.

Love to you all,

Elder Dad

Moments to Remember

Bonjour!

I hear you are on daylight savings now, but we won't be until the end of the month (I think). I'm looking out the back window at the blooming yellow, white and pink blossomed bushes and trees, and I like it! It's trying to be spring around here, but it is still cold and cloudy, and hovering in the 40's temperature wise, so I'm not officially 'crowing' about all this yet. I made crepes in my new pan this morning, and they turned out just right. Sister Bouchard's 3 pans are all too clunky and heavy for me, so I went out and found one that I could handle, lightweight with a nice round bottom and high sides. That for breakfast, and the fact that he had a good night's sleep, got Jack's day started off right. He spent the morning helping the Corga's with their car problems, and said that Joao finally realized that his prayers for help WERE being answered by Heavenly Father. "Can He come down to earth and help you Himself?" Jack asked him. "Well, no, He doesn't do that!" "Then, how does he help you?" "He helps us by sending you and your wife to us!" blurted out Sandra! They looked at each other, and knew it was true, and that was a breakthrough moment.

I've mentioned Sister Trillaud (tree-oh) before, she is the home bound member whose heart problems have caused her body to swell up with retained water to monumental proportions. Even though she must weigh close to 400 pounds, she can get around fairly well, but cannot get too far from her oxygen tank. We visited her with the Elders to give her the sacrament, and had a testimony sharing meeting with her that was wonderful. When her turn came, she told what the gospel means to her, and how she knows she can't make it to the temple, but that it comforts her to know that she could hold a recommend. It's what Jack told her last week, and she's been pondering the idea since then, so he set up a meeting with her the following Thursday. When that day arrived, I sat in her kitchen reading while he interviewed her in the living room, and everything went smoothly until they came to tithing. It would be $54 a month, and she says everything is such a tight squeeze all ready (her oxygen unit sucks up electricity madly), she doesn't know how she could possibly do it. They went over her expenses, and it would not be easy, so he asked her to pray about it, and they will talk about it again soon. As we left, I found out that we and the Elders had been invited to lunch with her the next day, (Yikes! she doesn't need to feed us - that would be money saved right there!) and she asked if we would bring her some parsley from the store.

In the evening, on our way to genealogy, we stopped by her apt. with the nice bunch of french parsley we got for her, and I jumped out of the car to take it in. I pushed her ringer button and rehearsed a few words to dazzle her with; and heard the door unlock. I pulled on the door, but the dumb thing wouldn't open, so I kept on pulling (mumbling under my breath), all the while getting more and more frustrated. I heard her high pitched voice calling to me, but I couldn't understand any of it! "Pousser, pousser!" she shouted, as I continued to pull and pull, and I could have cried as I watched her heave herself down those stairs little by little, until we were face to face through the glass, and she opened the door, that just needed a little PUSH. (Another singular 'senior' moment in my life). I lowered my head in despair, and she lowered hers, and our foreheads met; I said, 'sorry', and she was gracious and kind and smiled that all was well.

The next day at lunch, she told us that as a young married woman with two children, she and her husband lived in Paris, and were very happy together. He was a postal worker, and all was well until he "allowed" his mother to make job changes for him, and they moved down here to where she lived. They began to argue and fight, and then they split up and were divorced. She became suicidal, once overdosing on pills and waking up a week later in a hospital, and one time leaping from the top of a 6 floor building, and only fracturing her arm! But, it was here in this area, where she came into contact with members of the church, and now at least she has the gospel. The food was too much, as usual, but it means something to her to reciprocate a little of what she feels she receives, so we ate! For dessert, she brought out 2 (two!) identical timisu cream cakes (a first for all of us), which have a thin layer of cake topped with cream, whipped firm, and sprinkled with cocoa. We each had a piece, but the other one was untouched, so she insisted that we take it and share it between us. As we cleaned up in the kitchen, Elder Gunter checked the package label, and the thing had some coffee and some alcohol listed in the ingredients . . . oops! I'm sure she had no idea about that stuff, so we had to repent that night and try to stop our misbehaving ways! When we picked up Sandra later for her daughter's eye appointment, Jack saw a busy street worker, so he got out of the car and took the 2nd timisu over to him, "For all your hard work!" The surprised man thanked him, and now has a story to tell about the moment that he was thanked for being a street sweeper.

Well, that's all for now, you take care of yourselves until we see you again.

Love, Sister Mom (Joanne)

Fun Times

Bonjour to everyone -

I miss you guys, and hope you are all well, and that your days are filled with joy in your lives, and happiness for those you love. It's so good to hear from you in letters, email and the occasional phone call, and we thank you for taking time for us.

We seem to be sliding into Spring, and actually got out into the yard and (with Bro. Demolombe's help) got things more ship-shape around here. We were instructed to call him for the rose pruning ritual, and then, with a pair of clippers in his hands, he was virtually unstoppable (the French love to clip and chop and train their vegetation!). But, don't think our surroundings have been a dull brown or gray all winter long; things here stay amazingly green the whole year around.

We had a great fast Sunday this week, because Kola (the Nigerian man whom we have been sitting in the teaching of with the Elders) actually came to church with his wife, and their 3 (well-behaved) children, just like he promised he would. He and Chantal are as alike in manner and looks as two peas from the same pod, and she is very intelligent and nice. They are beginning to drink in the Gospel, and grow in their understanding of how the Book of Mormon is a second witness of Jesus Christ, and tells about God and His plan for us. They had the notion that WE were prophets because we were out and about preaching about God; so it's interesting to find out where people are in their heads, and their experiences, and to begin to teach them correct principles. She also took a giant leap forward when she was sick in bed last week, and decided to seriously read the Book of Mormon this time; and said that she felt the Spirit, and was anxious to learn more. We are feeling more at ease with one another in their home, and when he called on "our mother" to give a prayer, I had to smile about my new title. Have you ever sat through the blessing and passing part of a Sacrament meeting that only took 3 minutes from start to finish? That leaves an awful big chunk of time to fill for testimony bearing, and very few members to draw from; but, as always, with the prompting of the Spirit, things worked out just fine and the time was soon gone. Afterward, what made us happiest, was that Chantal said that she would be coming every Sunday from now on, even though her husband will be working in England for a month.

As for me, I was all ready to give my long awaited debut lesson on "I Am A Child Of God," and, once again, no one showed up for Primary. (However, that could change now that Chantal knows what church is all about!) Last week, I did have eight-year-old Clement, and we read 1Nephi 12, about the interpretation of Lehi's dream. We then spent time creating a mural of the dream in full living color, that he seemed quite pleased with. I could tell, because he kept it "straight," without his usual skull and cross-bones, or long-bodied creature-men that he likes to put on his papers. Later, after we had fed the Elders and Bro. Bourdicheux, a man wearing army fatigues walked down the hall, and the Elders recognized him as the Armenian political refugee who had hailed them on the street and asked if they were the Mormons? We invited him to stay for dessert, and the Elders showed him the First Vision video (in Russian) since he really knows nothing about the church. He's brand new in France, and is probably lonely for one thing, but he wants us to "teach" him English (he has a smattering right now), so we will gather together for that with the Elders on Thursday, and see where it goes.

Our new P-day is on Monday, and we decided to go to the newest circus to hit town because neither of us has been to one in at least 40 years! The tents are huge and brilliantly colored, and lots of people were streaming toward the entrance, probably between 6 and 700 at least. There was one center ring, with a loud band situated up high off the floor, over the opening where the performers would be coming in. The atmosphere was all dark, bright, misty, and loud, with the hum of the voices of excited children filling the air. (I was just as wide-eyed as any of them--my 2nd childhood coming on!)

It started out with 2 men in 2 separate man-sized cylinders that swung in a wide arch, over and over, and they kept their balance both inside the 24 inch wide base, and on top of it! Then came 2 Bali girls who about turned themselves inside out; it hurt to watch them! Next 3 white horses ran around the ring, along with 3 mini-ponies that were small enough to run under the horses bellies! Then came a troop of Chinese acrobats with a hoops act! Then a blond woman, working magic hanging and twirling from long lengths of material in a dazzling outfit! Next, out came the 2 elephants, with their simple tricks, and then it was intermission, where (for 5 Euros) children could get rides on their backs. We figured they made at least 200 Euros extra by getting 5 on each animal for a quick tour of the ring. The lead elephant was clever, and swept its trunk out over the front row seats as it passed by, and snatched up someones whole blob of white cotton candy and had it stuffed into its mouth in the blink of an eye.

The second half started with 6 angry looking tigers in their nice large cage! Then, the Chinese acrobats came back with a bungee jumping act from up high this time! Then in roared a tiny brightly lit train, with two box cars that were full of little dogs that were so fun to watch; and ended with 30 dogs in all! There was a comedy team of clowns that was very good and the one I really enjoyed was the quick change artists. It was a couple in fancy clothes, and she would step into flat looking hoops and he would pull up a column of material over her head, and 2 seconds later, Voila! a brand new costume! The best was last when he poured out a bucket of large pieces of sparkling gold confetti over her head, and by the time it hit the ground, she was in a sparkly golden dress to match! I guess you can tell that I loved every minute of the circus!

Take good care of yourselves!

Love, Sister Mom Joanne