A Christmas Baptism

I would like to express a good reason to come and enjoy the blessings of a mission. We have a wonderful friend in France, Carole Serard, who was very close to being baptized before we left to come home from our first mission. She stayed close to the church and the members while we were at home. We phoned her to tell her that we were privileged to be called back to France in the Paris Mission. She immediately said she was coming to Paris so that I could baptize her. I told her to wait and we would come to Angouleme because we had the permission from our mission president to come and witness her baptism with the members of her branch.

We traveled by train to Angouleme and stayed with Sister Bouchard. On the evening of the 24th of December we went to the branch for the baptism. I wish I had a camera handy when we walked into the familiar chapel with the members gathered for the event. There were so many surprised faces that turned to see who had just come through the door. These wonderful brothers and sisters whom we love were shocked to see us. It was a reunion that gave me a glimpse of what it will be like when we meet again in the spirit world after this life. Hugs and kisses (one for each cheek) were exchanged with all the friends we know and love. We also met the two great missionaries who had continued the efforts with Carole to get her to the point of having a desire to be a member of the Church. Carole was baptized by Elder Hemsley.

I was asked to be a witness to this blessed event and the tears of joy almost made it impossible to fulfill my calling. To see Carole's smile before and after was a sight worth all the riches of the world. She had grown to a point where she was ready to embrace fully the Gospel of Christ. The following day was Christmas and she was confirmed a member of the Church and was given the gift of the Holy Ghost. There was great joy among all the members assembled, for this had been a four year process and the rewards where so wonderful. After the meeting, before we sat down for the Christmas feast, Sister Bouchard on the piano, President Saveraux on the clarinet, and Brother Monsel on the flute, played our favorite hymn, Sovient-toi. I love these friends for thinking of us.

The rest of the day was spent in celebration with the members at a feast at the chapel. Joanne took the time to prepare her usual large dish of Italian pasta and we bought two buches de Noel as a traditional treat. What a wonderful time we had with everyone. Christmas songs were sung, stories were told and laughter was ever present. The presents of joy and friendship are the greatest gifts of all on the day we celebrate the birth of Christ.

We then went to the home of Sephora and Jean-Pierre for a traditional meal and the opening of presents. Joanne was prepared for the moment as she brought gifts from home for all the members of the family. The time we spent with this special family, Sephora we taught and baptized on our first mission to France, and Jean-Pierre we spent many a day with him through a divorce as his wife abandoned the family, brought joy to us. It was almost as if we were home and the time with this family almost took the pain of missing our own family from our hearts.

This time of great opportunity, to see Carole enter the waters of baptism and to spend time with people we love and care about, makes the scripture concerning the worth of a soul come into its true light.

Love to you all,

Mom and Dad