Catherine and I were called to serve in Lyon, France in November of 2023. We served as WSR (Welfare, Self-Reliance) missionaries for 10 months and then were asked to transfer to Athens, Greece to replace the couple who had to return home for medical reasons. Here are our mission experiences we posted along the way.
13 June 2025. A tribute to the many friends we encountered during our mission service.
12 May 2025. Thoughts on the challenges missionaries face when returning from full time service of the Lord.
3 May 2025. Tatiana and Ilya lost everything except a packet of family photos in the flight from Ukraine.
1 May 2025. Family and friends from home who came to visit during our France and Greece service.
22 April 2025. A summary of Greece Easter Traditions. We have a lot to learn from the Eastern Orthodox religions on celebrating the resurrection of the Savior.
13 April 2025. A visit to the ancient city of Philippa and the baptismal site of Lydia.
28 March 2025. Elder Stevenson of the quorum of the 12 Apostles visited Greece in October of 2024.
14 March 2025. At one point, all three members of European Central Area presidency visited Greece.
8 March 2025. Missionary events on Mars Hill, Athens Greece.
2 March 2025. Zone Conference in Athens.
February 2025. A plea to senior couples. Serve a mission. There is no better time than now.
3 February 2025. A visit to the Lesvos refugee camp with Crisis Management Association.
28 January 2025. The marvelous difference between giving a blessing and saying a prayer.
19 January 2025. We returned to France to celebrate the baptism of a dear friend.
11 January 2025. Catherine’s niece Emily lives 15 minutes from our apartment in Athens.
5 January 2025. The quiet journey of a Syrian convert.
1 January 2025. The time is now to prepare for a temple in Greece.
29 December 2024. A tribute to the late President Jason Soulier of the France Lyon Mission.
18 December 2024. Aubrie and Ben visit to Greece.
11 December 2024. A look at the plight of refugees in Greece.
31 October 2024. An overview of the humanitarian work of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
30 September 2024. President Ronald Léporé completed his serve in the France Lyon Mission, and President Jason Soulier took the reins.
15 September 2024. A visit from Zane Shaeffer and family.
11 September 2024. Catherine’s joy in the Beauty of France.
6 September 2024. Our first week in Athens, Greece was a whirlwind.
30 August 2024. We left behind many friends as we transferred to Athens, Greece.
21 August 2024. We were asked to transfer to Athens Greece to take over the humanitarian work.
18 August 2024. A brief visit to Monet’s garden in Giverny, France.
16 August, 2024. Catherine lived in Marseille, France as a teenager.
14 August 2024. We were asked to study the parable of the prodigal son for Zone Conference. Here are my thoughts on the faithful son. Photo credit. ar.inspiredpencil.com.
12 August 2024. We met her by chance at the Swiss temple. Catherine was an answer to her prayers.
6 August 2024. Six months into our missionary service. Catherine reflects on our experiences.
17 July 2024. Read the Book of Mormon. It is written for our day.
11 July 2024, Catherine’s daughter and granddaughters come to visit.
7 July 2024. Catherine teaches Relief Society . . . In French.
30 June 2024. We met Machilo our first week in France, and he was taught in our home.
14 May 2024. We attended a self-reliance devotional in Caen France, then visited the sites of the WW II landings at Normandy.
29 April 2024. We will miss so much during our mission service, but ur service will bless the lives of our families in uncountable ways.
14 April 2024. Catherine’s extensive experience in the self-reliance program all but guaranteed our work in this astounding program.
4 April 2024. Assembling homeless kits at Zone Conference for the missionaries to distribute.
30 March 2024. The first of our large family comes to visit us in France.
27 March 2024. Incredible missionaries in His service.
14 March 2024. Waffle Breakfasts with the young missionaries of Lyon, France.
28 February 2024. After a self-reliance fireside in Évry, France, we traveled to meet with the Snyders, the Self-Reliance missionaries in Paris.
15 February 2024. A photo blog of the first three months of our mission.
31 January 2024. Catherine’s son Ari is quite an artist. We had to have a little fun with his latest letter and picture.
19 January 2024. Our Gratitude for our time in His service.
13 January 2023. Learning the ropes and learning to love the people.
2 January 2024. Our first Zone Conference in the France Lyon Mission.
26 December 2023. Our first Christmas as a couple, and on our mission.
23 December 23. Pick pockets on the metro, power and internet failures. The Lord’s tender mercies.
16 December 2023. Traveling to Frankfurt Germany for WSR training.
3 December 2023. After recovering from Covid, our first Sabbath attending Church in France.
26 November, 2023. Struggling with COVID, we finally arrived in France.
24 November 2023. In flight to our mission in France.
13 November, 2023. We completed our first week in the Missionary Training Center
6 November, 2023. Our first day in the Missionary Training Center.
4 November 2023. Set apart as missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
7 August 2023. Called as missionaries for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Latter-Day Saints 