Arrival and right to Work

 After ten hours in the same airplane seat, we were thrilled to be vertical and greeted by Elder and Sister Bourroux, the temple visitor center directors.  They are delightful, experienced in the Church as a former bishop and worked in the Computer field.  His sense of humor cannot be beat!!  The long ride encircled Paris and so didn't include any sites associated with the city.  We were both jet lagged and so had a hard time staying awake even though we had tried to eat and sleep on France time for the two days previous.

They took us to our apartment where we finally met Elder and Sister Campbell, who we replace.  They graciously moved out and let us take over their apartment.  Things were well prepared for us including some food, clean linens, etc.  They even put a new memory foam mattress topper on our bed for us.  The apartment has a kitchen, living room, office, and one bedroom.  We will be sufficiently comfortable here for 18 months.

From the living room  balcony looking northward

Kitchen Balcony also looking north

After unpacking and getting somewhat settled we were to be at the center for orientation.  A bit bleary eyed but anxious to learn we arrived and met some of the Sister missionaries that cycle through the center.

Friday we slept, or tried to.  Then we went shopping for some necessities.  The walk around Chesnay (pronounced shenay) was delightful and in the 60's.  Spring is in the air so trees and budding and flowering...the tulips and daffodils are even up.  We found most of what we wanted at Monoprix, a large store somewhat like Walmart or Target, but in the mall.  The Campbells also took us to the little health food store and neighborhood markets but we have yet to have time to explore them.










 Then Saturday morning came...it was to be our first big visitor's center adventure.  That morning the Rennes stake brought about 150 people to the temple with youth and children.  The visitor's center planned presentations for the 75 youth.  Elder Meunier...a very talented speaker and presenter...spoke to three different groups as they cycled through their baptism sessions.  We have also fallen in love with the Meunier's and look so forward to developing close ties with them and the Bourrouxs.  Unfortunately, the Meuniers leave in September.  I have been asked to take over the presentations as we work to make the center a tool for the wards and branches to bring their members to Christ and His temple.

While the youth and their parents and leaders were being both entertained and instructed, the sisters worked to entertain the 40 Primary children by helping them love Christ and His representations around the center gardens.  Sister Frogley fit right in and loved being with them...children are precious in any language.

As the families left, other guests came to explore the center...most from Paris and suburbs.  One woman came for her second visit.  I was asked to show her around and answer her questions.  She was from African and eastern European descent with ties to past nobility.

She asked as we stood in front of the Christus, "Will He come back?"  I assured her that He had promised to come back.  After listening and talking for almost an hour, she was about to reveal her true nature.  She almost erupted with, "No, He cannot! He brought nothing to this world!  He was but a poor fisherman!  He developed nothing, He invented nothing, He organized nothing....But we have invented, organized, ruled... He said that God is in us.  We have done all that because God is in us...I am god!!  I am god!! So He cannot return, you see?"  I said, "You have said that since God said that He is in us and you and your royal ancestry have done so much for mankind, then you are god?"  Said, "Yes, so He cannot come back!"  I said, "Well, I can see the logic of your story.  We all have a story, don't we?"  She agreed so I continued.  "Since He said that He was coming back, then, as often is the case, two stories contradict each other, so both cannot be true, or perhaps both are false."  She agreed so I went on... "What if we were to find life on a distant planet that also believed in Jesus Christ from our world?"  She agreed that would be solid evidence that He is real and is who He says He is. I suggested that back at the time of Christ, the American continent, or new world was as separated from the old world as planets are.  So what if the Biblical Christ were show up in the new world some time after His resurrection?  She agreed that would be amazing.  I then explained the Book of Mormon and then leafed through the pages and paintings with her.  We talked about some of the differing doctrines about what God is like, and what Christ taught and then showed her how everybody's stories, though contradictory can find some support in the Bible like drawing lines through a single point.  I then asked how many lines cold be drawn if we had a second point.  She agreed that only one line could pass through both points.  That I suggested is why the Book of Mormon is so important in determining what doctrines and stories are true, more than logical.
 She asked if the missionaries could visit her and teach her more....

I have been overwhelmed with the difference 50 years has made for the church in France.  We have met so many very well anchored and doctrinally sound saints that take initiative and sustain those new to the faith.  We are so grateful to be working with the Meunier's and the Bourroux's as well as others we will yet get to know in our new ward in Versailles....

March 18-27 MTC Week

We have finished our MTC training and wait to fly to Paris.  The MTC experience was filled with great insight, wonderful relationships, and good solid preparation for our assignment in the Visitor's Center.  

We started our training with a devotional on Video from Elder Bednar on the Attributes of Christ.  He use several powerful scriptural examples to show that His focus, even in the most extreme of circumstances, was on the welfare of others.  One example was His temptation experience as He went into the Deseret to be with God and then was "afterwards" tempted of satan with three episodes of "If you really are..." language to goad Him into self-focus.
Yet in each circumstance, whether with stones to bread, an angelic descent into the worshippers at the temple, or the wealth of the world, Christ was consistent in His response to glorify His Father.  Then when He should have been ready to accept the well-deserved ministering of angels to recover and prepare, He instead sent those angels to minister to John the Baptist newly in prison.  Even on the cross, after enduring Gethsemane, scourging, and the nails, His loving character was sufficiently deeply rooted that He was repeatedly concerned with others: Romans doing the cruxifixction, His mother, the thief suffering next to Him, etc.  We spent the week working to see everything through the character of Christ.

Jensens, Dellapiana, S. Eams, Kukua, Shakleford, Frogleys 

The young missionary trainers have been so well trained and served as very effective instruments in teaching us how to "Invite others to come to Christ."
Our district was marvelous and so much fun.  From such different walks of life we were thrown together to discuss, wonder, study, laugh, and learn together.  Sister Dellapiana, Sister Kakua from the Big Island, Sister Shakleford from Lehi, Elder and Sister Jensen from Hooper along with us made of our district.  We wended our way through writing lessons that would meet real needs first, with another couple from outside our district, Elder and Sister Klaas from St. George, and then our teacher, then another teacher, and finally a church member volunteer from Highland.  Each of us has needs to which we must learn to be sensitive and then through relationships, truth-thoughts from scripture or discourses, invitations to apply, promises concerning results, and finally a follow-through that enables and supports the individual we found ourselves bonding with each other as we sought to be divine instruments.  As companions we discussed, prayed, studied, and wrote together as we sought unity as "two by two" instruments.

The other couple from outside our district became our meal companions as well while we enjoyed living together climbing beyond our vastly different lives and backgrounds. As we each worked to bring each other closer to Christ we grew closer together.

THE DOCTRINE OF CHRIST

 One of our favorite things was the pondering time with the large murals depicting missionary moments through out time.  We spent most of the Sabbath sitting and pondering all twelve murals.

Nephi, Not knowing before hand what he should do...Following the Spirit

Ester, Perhaps for just a time such as this were you born...

My priesthood quorum all stood on our last Sunday and shouted together..."Hurrah for Israel" as we left to go gather them

His question to each of us, "Do you love me more than these?"

 On our final days we went to the Salt Lake Visitor's Center to experience a tour as if we were the visitors.  The two sisters, one from Being China and the other from the Phillipines bore such a humble and spirit filled testimony with personal conversion experiences that moved us to tears.  They were so cute as they demonstrated the acoustics of the Tabernacle.

As we close this chapter I have to to give thanks for my companion from whom I never will have a transfer to a new one.  I love her...she completes me!!  We are off into the world to gather Israel before that last great and terrible day!!

 The Book of Mormon is our trumpet to call all that will hear and know the voice of the Master.  It furnishes answers to the great questions that occupy the thoughts of all men and women.

BYU-Hawaii Students are Wonderful!!

Brigham Young University–Hawaii is a small, academically challenging university that offers courses leading to the undergraduate degrees of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Social Work.
Representing over 70 countries, our students are fulfilling a phenomenon envisioned by David O. McKay, ninth president of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In 1955, standing in an isolated field that would evolve into the beautiful campus of today, McKay declared: “From this school, I’ll tell you, will go men and women whose influence will be felt for good towards the establishment of peace internationally.” 

It is such an honor to work with these fine students.  They do come from all over, speaking so many different languages, but are all trying to learn English.

Elder Cornum and Elder Boudesque

Sister Richardson and Sister Kim

 As a part of the PreMTC training, the students get to schedule a time with the full-time missionaries from the Honolulu Mission to go out to have missionary experiences.  These two companionships are dynamic!  

During winter semester, we had 81 student eligible for the PreMTC training that we administrate at BYUH.  The students get their calls randomly and so they cycle into the PreMTC training and then cycle out as they leave to go straight to an MTC or home for a month or two before they actually leave.

Here are a few of them in the PreMTC class.

Sister Konno has been called to the Japan Nagoya Mission.  Sister Zhong, holding her call, will be leaving Sept. 1 to go to serve in the California Oakland Mission, Visitor Center, Cantonese Speaking.  Sister Takahashi has been called to the Japan Tokyo Mission.  All three of these Sisters are also my EIL (English as an International Language) Students.  We just love strengthening their understanding of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and strengthening their English!

Sister Ellgen has been an explosion of light from the moment we met her.  She is currently in the MTC preparing to go to Argentina!

Almost every student at BYUH works 19 hours a week at the Polynesian Cultural Center.  Sister Pullicar (center) is a wonderful singer and ukelele player.  She entertains in the Prime Dining area.  She is preparing to serve her mission in Singapore.

Speaking of the Polynesian Cultural Center,  this gives you an idea of some of the student actors colorful costuming.

Elder Chu also just entered the MTC Provo.  He was raised in the mainland east coast.  He is a native English speaker but has been called to the land of his mother's origin, Hong Kong, China.

This is wonderful Sister Fong.  She is a native Mandarin Speaker but will leave in about a month to go to the SLC Visitor's Center, English speaking!  She is so excited!!

This is Elder Zhang who is a PreMTC student just awaiting his call and also one of my EIL students.
His parents are not members.  He joined the church a year ago.  He said that before he found the church, he was lost.  His life had no meaning.  Now that he has a testimony of Jesus Christ and His Gospel, he is anxious to serve!  What a great young man!

This is Zoe Chang.  I love her!  She is from Taiwan.  Her English is really improving and I love tutoring her.  She works as a Security Guard at the PCC.

This is Sister Choi!  She was one of my EIL students but is currently in the MTC  Provo, preparing to serve her mission in  the Korea Daejeon Mission.

This is Sooyeong!  She is an EIL student from South Korea!  I love her!

This is "Sally", her chosen American name (because her real Chinese name is so difficult to say).   She was sent by her government to learn English.  She goes back to China in a week and I will miss her terribly.  She is a wife and a mother of a nine year old daughter, Angela. She is also a seasoned Japanese History teacher.  She has been investigating the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. She has asked so many questions and listens intently.  I love her!

This is Joyce from Tahiti, French Polynesia. French is her native language. She is speaking at a Tahitian Form.  She has already served her mission in the SLC Visitor Center.  She is currently serving as one of the Young Single Adult Ward Relief Society Presidents.

This is Hyejeong!  She is an EIL student from South Korea.  She is creative and fun.  She is picking up English amazingly fast.

This is Sister Huang, with her current companion. She was a PreMTC student.  I just received an email from her.  She is in her mission now for one week,  Australia Sydney Mission!

On the right is our Sister Moromi with her new MTC companion in this picture. Sister Moromi is from Japan.  Her Mother was not happy with her joining The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and would not answer her calls or Skype, either for months.  She wanted to tell her mother that she was going to serve a mission but her mother would not answer her calls, so she put in her papers anyway.  When I asked Sister Moromi on Mother's Day if she had contacted her mother, she sadly said that her Mother had not answered when she tried.  The next class, Sister Moromi came in so joyously happy.  I asked her what had happened.  She said that she had asked for her mission papers to be mailed to her BYUH address and NOT her Japan Home address because she was afraid her mother would tear them up.  Her Mother called her unexpectedly and said, "There is a large white envelope that arrived from your church."  Sister Moromi said, "Oh, Mother, would you please open it and read the front page to me?'  Her Mother agreed and open it and read down to where she would be serving (which was Philipines Cavite Mission).  Then Sister Moromi said, "Please, Mother could you finish reading the entire letter to me?"  Her mother began reading it slowly and Sister Moromi said that her voice changed as she read.  When her Mother finished saying the words, "President Thomas S. Monson", she went quiet.  Her mother didn't say anything for a few seconds.  Neither did Sister Moromi.  Then her mother said, "Daughter, I am okay with you serving this mission for your church."  Needless to say, Sister Moromi was thrilled.  She called it "her miracle".

This is Sister Pitt.  When we first met Sister Pitt, in February, she had been sent home from her Ogden Utah mission because of medical reasons.  She had some major medical procedures and had to wait for complete clearance.  It took months.  She was so very thankful for the PreMTC class which kept her focused for months until she could go back on her mission.  This is the picture she sent us as she returned to her mission.  She is standing in front of the temple she loves.  She, too, is a powerhouse of joy, with a great understanding of the gospel!! It is our honor to know her and love her!

~~~

"Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost; Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you:  and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world."  Matthew 28:19-20

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