We had the first of our rather large family visit this week. Anika Davis, Catherine’s granddaughter and her husband, Brigham.
At the Part Dieu train station
Theirs was the quickest trip possible. They took a train from Paris on a Thursday, spent the night with us and then took a train back to Paris Friday morning. When I saw my Anika I screamed, “SHNIKES!!” when I saw her on the walkway coming down to meet us! She said, “only my Nana calls me that!” We picked them up from the train station at around 9:30 am and brought them to our apartment to drop their suitcases off and then we headed out using the metro and a walking tour of Old Lyon.
Catherine and Anika at the Basilica Notre Dame de Fourviere * Our apartment is near those tall buildings in the background.
The city was founded before the time of Christ, and for many centuries was the capital of France. It was a major shipping and transportation hub in France and had a thriving silk industry.
It’s a bit of a jar to pop out of the metro to some Roman ruins in the middle of the city. The amphitheater and the theater were built at around the time of Christ, and early Christians were persecuted here.
Anika and Brigham at the Fountaine Bartholdi
We took the Metro to the Basilica and walked from there through the old city to the Fountaine Bartholdi. The fountain was designed by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, who also designed the Statue of Liberty in New York.
Brigham in heavenTour of a silk workshop in Old Lyon
We walked around Old Lyon and ate lunch there. One of the highlights for Brigham was the candy shop! haha! We had a wonderful time and beautiful weather.
It was hard to see them go the next morning. Way too short of a visit but made my heart happy!
Miller family at Basilica Notre Dame de Fourviere
Two days later, Elise and her family drove in from their visit in Normandy. We took them on the same walking tour.
Mya, Elise, Michael and Lydia at lunch near the Cathédrale Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Lyon
Walking through old Lyon, Elise stumbled on the cobblestones, and twisted her ankle.
At the Roman theatre
We were all to drive to Chamonix where the Millers wanted to ski in the Alpes. Michael took the girls with him to ski. Elise, Catherine and I came later to enjoy the sights.
On the streets of Chamonix
Nestled in the Alpes and a stones throw from Mount Blanc, the views in and around Chamonix are breathtaking. We spent just one night, plenty for missionaries taking a break with family.
Standing in the “Void”Looking towards Mount Blanc
We love family. We are missing so many family events; baptisms, graduations, marriages and more. We are delighted when family comes to visit, and though we are missing much, there is no place we would rather be than here in France on the Lord’s errand.
Welfare Self-Reliance (WSR) missionaries do not work as closely with the mission as do mission couples in the office, or those working as MLS (Member, Leader Support) missionaries, so we go out of our way to make time and energy available to the mission. Several weeks ago, we assisted the mission with transfers. For those not familiar with mission service in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, young men, 18 years old or older are asked, as part of their priesthood responsibility, to serve a 2 year mission for the church. Where they go is completely dependent on the church. Young women, 19 years old or older may also serve and are called for 18 months.
New Missionary Arrival
These young missionaries serve two by two. Two young elders or two young sisters work together. About every 6 weeks, the mission goes through a “transfer” where some of the missionaries are moved to a difference city or with a different companion. Not everybody is shuffled, thank goodness, only about one third of those serving in the mission. Transfer day is a hectic one indeed. Along with shuffling the existing missionaries, there are those who complete their mission and are headed home, plus new missionaries entering the mission. Those going home come to Lyon for interviews and then a trip to the airport. Seasoned missionaries, called as trainers, come to Lyon to meet with their fresh new companions coming from one of the Mission Training Centers.
Transfer meeting screen capture, one of five
The couple in the office in charge of transportation must purchase train and bus tickets for all the missionaries who are moving, plus coordinate with Salt Lake City concerning flights for those arriving and those leaving. All of this mayhem transpires over two days. In volunteering to help, we were assigned the task of picking up new missionaries at the airport and transporting them to the mission home on the other side of the city. With flight delays and cancellations, we have to be flexible. This last transfer was impacted by strikes in Germany, so connecting flights had to be rescheduled and arrival times changed. Through all of this flows a stream of tiny miracles. Connections, luggage, assignments, it all comes together.
Elders Cannon and Sumsion with Dorothee Cannon our MTC instructor, on the screen. Elder Cannon was in town for a transfer or training activity and ‘happened’ to stop by while his mother was on line with us
Our part this last transfer was to pick up one of the mission vans at the mission home, drive across the city to the airport and pick a group of missionaries arriving late due to flight cancellations, drive them back to the mission home and then deliver a group of Elders to the apartments they would be staying in that evening before traveling to their destinations the next morning. The mission president likes to meet with the newly arriving missionaries for the day to interview them and get to know them before assigning them a trainer. They have dinner that evening and then send them all to local apartments for the night. We arrived with the late batch of missionaries just in time for dinner, which President Léporé, invited us to share.
The Lausanne Zone
The love, care and concern that the Léporés pour out on these young missionaries defies description. I stood with Sister Aimee Léporé as she said goodbye to the departing Elders and Sisters. Her description was like having your heart ripped out, thrown to the ground and stomped on every six weeks. They have given their lives in the service of these young emissaries of our Savior.
Before the transfer confusion begins, the president holds a mission-wide zoom meeting for all missionaries in the mission. In this meeting, Sister Léporé talked about Joy in the Savior. We know that He pleads our cause and joy is a gift as we bind ourselves to Him. President Léporé talked about “Look” moments. In Nephi’s vision (1 Nephi 11 – 14), he was invited many times by his attending angel to “Look”. As Nephi “Looked”, he beheld many events that had unfolded before and that for him would take place in the future. Each time he “Looked”, the angel showed him more of the future of the world and the role of the Savior in all that transpires. President Léporé invited each of us to “Look”; be aware of the events transpiring around us. Be aware that all of this is the fulfillment of Scripture. Nephi was invited to “Look”, and he saw the very events swirling around us. President Léporé described the results of acting in faith from the challenges given at the last Zone conference. Though the numbers tell only a small part of the story, indicators in the mission are doubling and doubling again.
President and Sister Léporé
Each of the missionaries who are returning home have a few minutes to render testimony. Again, we can feel the love and devotion they have for their Savior, and the friendship and trust they have for the Léporés. Again and again, I am reminded of the strength of the rising generation. We are loosing many who listen to the jeers and mocking from those in the great and spacious building (1 Nephi 8 in the Book of Mormon) and drift away from the church, but those who remain are stronger still.
We love being here. We love being a small part of his work and witnessing the strength and testimony of the many who stand beside us in His service. We have taken to heart these last weeks to “Look”. Look at the people who surround us through the Savior’s eyes. “Look” at the work we are trying to accomplish, the events unfolding around us, the care, protection and love God extends to His children; all through the Savior’s eyes. We invite each of you to take the time to “Look”. The evil raging in the hearts of men around us can be discouraging, but “Look” at the events transpiring as did Nephi, with an angel beside us to guide and interpret. “Look” at the care the Savior has taken in creating and guiding this mortal experience. “Look” at where He has placed us, the talents He has given us, and the weaknesses He has given us to help make us strong.
In our call as Welfare, Self-Reliance missionaries, our responsibilities include all of French speaking Europe as well as the Netherlands. Because of this, we don’t work as closely with the local members and missionaries are those called as Member-Leader Services (MLS) missionaries. We put in extra effort into our relationships with the local missionaries and members of the church to build a comradery and feel of their testimony and enthusiasm.
Feeding 14 Elders on a Monday morning
Catherine and I talked about this for some time and decided that one thing we would do is periodically offer a waffle breakfast for the missionaries on their preparation day. Catherine contacted the Zone leaders to pick a time and to notify all of the Elders in the zone and within easy traveling distance of our apartment. What to serve was a no-brainer. We love waffles, and I have been tweaking a recipe for years. It has whole wheat flour, rolled oats, butter milk, chia, and if I can find it, ground flax seed and a dash of Zantham gum for a little bit of crunch. It’s a staple for us, we will make up a batch for breakfast and then freeze the rest for meals to come. If we’re having waffles, we have to have homemade buttermilk syrup. Nothing healthy to see there . . .
I was skeptical that even a handful of Elders would show up, they are busy and their schedules are tight. P-Day time is precious. All 14 available Elders showed up and filled our tiny apartment. We mixed up four double batches of waffles and used every drop. Mingling with these Elders always restores my faith in the future of the church. They exude a spirit of faith, testimony and enthusiasm. After breakfast, we gathered in our living room for a group picture. In a spontaneous yet powerful gesture, the Elders linked arms and began to sing a hymn. Afterwards, one of the Elders asked to say a prayer before they departed. The faith and spirit in that room could have moved mountains.
The next Monday, we extended the same invitation to the Sisters serving in Lyon. Though the zone takes in a large area of Southern France, there are many missionaries serving here who have access to the Lyon metro system and our apartment is two short blocks from a stop on one of the major city lines. I had more faith this time, and indeed, all of the available sisters showed up for breakfast.
Catherine was in here element. She has been around youth most of her life, and taught seminary for many years. To be with groups of stalwart young men and women who have dedicated themselves to His service is for her, pure joy.
This was too good not to be a reoccurring event, the question is how often? Once a transfer, about once every 6 weeks is our current thought. We are working on other activities to draw closer to the members and missionaries here, but that is for another blog.
This week, we have talked at length about our mission service here. Yes, there were a thousand reasons to stay at home. We will miss the wedding of my first grandson, too many baptisms, high school graduations and the list continues. If one waits for the perfect time to serve a mission, if we have done family right, that time will never come. Of one thing we are sure, in choosing to serve the Lord, all of the other reasons fade in the perspective of His service. Miracles happen while we are away.
Thus far, I think Zone Conference is my favorite part of serving a senior mission. In order to serve a mission in France, the young elders and sisters have to have completed seminary, which they need in order to get a minister’s license here in France. In part, because of that requirement, the missionaries here are incredibly faithful and motivated. Zone conferences are run mostly by the young missionaries, with the assistants to the president, the zone leaders and sister missionary leaders making the presentations. The theme was chapter 10 of Preach My Gospel. “How can I improve my teaching skills” but they spent a lot of time on finding as well.
Sister Missionaries of the Lyon Zone
Elders of the Lyon Zone
Sister Liz Hardy (Office Sister) with Catherine
President Léporé spoke at the end of the conference for nearly an hour. He encouraged us to “bind our selves to Christ”, and to seek those “look moments”, referring to the admonition of the angel that led Nephi through is vision, encouraging him to “Look”.
Our contribution to the conference, green salad and a large container of ranch dressing. It was the dressing that was a hit, Ranch is simply not available in France. (Some of the missionaries have eaten at our home and they know Elder Frodsham makes a mean green salad with so many goodies in it. When we brought the beautiful salad, the missionaries said “that’s an Elder Frodsham salad!!”)
Frodshams and SnydersDelys and Catherine
Saturday morning we were up before dawn and driving to Paris. We wanted to make the 11:15 session at the temple and meet another couple serving as Welfare Self-Reliance missionaries in the Paris mission. Using headphones, I have listened to the ordinance session many times in French, but this was the first time I have attended a session entirely in French. I have been studying French for several years now, and it surprised me how much I understood as we progressed through the ceremony. (Cathy again…I had headphones to hear it in English but they didn’t work so I listened in French and knew what was going on. At the veil I had Bro and Sis. Allen from the US who was called to be a new sealer there.)The Paris temple is within walking distance of The Palace of Versailles. It does not have a huge front entrance and we didn’t get a picture of the front. We will have to do that another time. It is beautiful, and is the only temple in France. Many of the workers drive from all over France to get to the temple to work their shifts. We are very blessed to have temples close to us in California.)
From the temple we drove to the town of Évry to assist with a Welfare Self-Reliance devotional Saturday evening. It was a small ward, but there were nearly 80 people in attendance and many of them signed up for one of the self-reliance courses. Momo Djamai, our manager here in France gave the presentation. He had the baptism of a young lad in his branch a few hours before, was in a hurry to get to the Évry ward building and forgot his bag with computer and sign up materials. He borrowed a laptop from the Bishop of the local ward and gave a stellar presentation on the fly. He later admitted that the presentation he gave that night was far better than the one he had prepared.
WSR devotional in Évry
At the end of the devotional, Catherine and I stayed during the potluck meal just to chat with the members. One young woman took a liking to Catherine and came to our table several times to converse. Catherine asked her genuine questions about her life and goals, to which she answered honestly. I think she enjoyed that someone cared. We realized we were very late getting out and excused ourselves quickly to leave. The ward had music playing in the background, the the number playing at that time was perfect for a Hustle so we danced for a few minutes in the middle of the floor. I do not like to be the center of attention in normal circumstances, but I felt that we should show the members there that senior missionaries have a life as well and we can enjoy it.
We drove to Amboise to spend the night with our manager here in France, Momo Djamai and his wive Pascale. It was a 2 and a half hour drive and we did not want to arrive after 22:00. We were late, but not by much.
The Frodshams and the Snyders with Momo and Pascale Djamai
Pascale was an incredible hostess. She was born on the Island of Jersey in the English Channel, and was educated in Scotland. She welcomed us into her home with grace, charm and humor. The next morning, we traveled to Tours to attend Sacrament Meeting where the four of us spoke, all in French. Again, Catherine mingled with the sisters there with such ease, making fast friends.
Catherine with a young woman scheduled to be baptized on the 3rd of March
We spent several hours back at the Djamai’s home, eating dinner and conversing around the dinner table. I love the French custom of lingering over a meal to talk. Laughter binds us together and we made many bonds that day.
We lingered a bit too long at the Djamai’s home and knew we would not arrive back in Lyon until after nightfall. In addition, there was rain and high winds most of the way home. During the calm stretches, I went with the flow of traffic, and the tattle-tale electronics let the mission president know that I exceeded the speed limit of 130 kph (80 mph). I must tell you in all honesty I did not exceed 160 kph (100 mph) at any time . .(One would expect this of me…not of Tim ;-))
We do have a life in Lyon. Catherine celebrated her birthday the day after Valentine’s day and decided to made a cake to celebrate. Yes, I should have made the cake, but I was busily putting together a major presentation our manager requested at the last minute, and wanted us to present that evening to church leaders in Central Europe.
The best German Chocolate cake I have ever eaten
We enjoyed several slices and then shared with missionaries and investigators alike as they wended their way through our home.
We are also working on a humanitarian project, putting together the supplies for homeless kits the missionaries will use in their work. They will assemble the kits during zone conferences, add a card and personal note, and then distribute these kits as they travel through their areas.
Catherine enjoying a KabobA shot just for Tim
No, Nutella is not part of our humanitarian project, but I am addicted to the stuff, and during our visit to a local “PromoCash”, a store somewhere between “cash and carry” and “Costco”, searching for homeless supplies, I couldn’t help taking a picture of the two things I love most. The other picture? Out on a walk, we discovered a tiny restaurant serving Kabobs. It’s sort of like a falafel, but with a French twist.
There are a lot of things going on at home and we are missing out on so many events in the lives of our children and grandchildren. There are always reasons to delay a senior mission, but my advise is to go. Go now. We miss our families terribly, but we can see the blessings our mission is having in their lives as well as our own. We love our Savior and have placed ourselves in His care as we serve as His hands.
First and foremost, Happy Birthday to Catherine. Her birthday is the day after Valentines Day, which makes it easy to remember.
This will be more of a photo blog of the people who have touched our lives in the first three months of our mission. When I was young and foolish, age having solved one of those issues, I loved to take scenery pictures. On walk-abouts with my children, I would focus on the scenery and take the occasional people picture. The people pictures are the only ones I look at anymore, so no, this is not going to be a travelogue.
These family pictures were taken when we were set apart to serve this mission the 4th of November, 2023. We entered the Missionary Training Center (MTC) on Sunday the 5th.
Zane Shaeffer FamilyAri Shaeffer Family
Family
Catherine’s MomFamily dinnerAdam Shaeffer Family at the MTC
We flew from Sacramento to the Salt Lake City airport, and Adam Shaeffer and his family picked us up there and drove us to the MTC.
We met several young elders we knew while at the MTC. Tim was the home teacher, then ministering brother for the Istook family. The Rodriguez family were good friends in the Oregon ward as well. Gabby and Ella were Catherine’s seminary students, attending school at BYU. Sheila is a long time friend of Catherine.
Catherine is a magnet for friendship. At times, I step back in awe and watch her magic as complete strangers become lifelong friends. We worked with the Hatfelds in the MTC and the rest in training in Frankfurt, Germany. She still converses with her friends in Frankfurt, even though we were there only a few days.
HatfeldSister LewisCeliaSimpsonsLorena
Missionary couples we are working with in France. The Gannaways and the Hardys work in the mission office, taking care of the auto fleet, apartments, visas and finances for the mission. There jobs are much more defined than ours, which is a good thing. At times, we struggle a bit with the ambiguity of our mission call, but we love following the spirit to define many of our contributions to the saints in France
The McBrides serve as the mission medical for both the Lyon and the Paris mission. Bernadette McBride was right there to help when we arrived in Lyon, sick with COVID. They are stationed in Chalon, but we get together every time they come to the mission office in Lyon. We traveled to the Chalon branch the 2nd week in February to speak in Sacrament Meeting and to present the self-reliance courses the second hour.
Trish GannawayLiz and David HardyJoe and Trish GannawayBernadette and Kelly McBrideThe Gannaways
Youth missionaries we work with in Lyon. Elders Guiernot, Dane and Last are Chinese speaking elders in the area (Yes, there was a transfer between photos). We spent a day with them, cleaning an apartment which had been locked up for months. Unfortunately, the last elders there turned off the refrigerator before leaving . . . We picked up Sister Nash at the airport, flying in from the Provo MTC. Her arrival was delayed so she was the last missionary to fly in for that transfer and there was no one in the mission available to pick her up. We remember our arrival in France, so we were delighted to welcome her to her mission.
Elders Guiernot and Last
Sister NashSister Ariiotima
Sisters Mollinet, Fraga and Ariiotima wht Munesha and Muchilo
Elders Dane and Guiernot
The sister missionary trio are media specialists for the mission. They are teaching Machilo once a week in our apartment.
Most of all, are the friends we have made in the ward, or should I say, the friends Catherine has made in the ward.
Soeur Martine MeyerSoeur Lisabeth ConesaSoeur Cecilia Opoku-MensahSoeur Theresah AckessonShopkeeper in the silk districtStreet MusicianStreet musician outside the Basilica Notre Dame
After she bore her testimony in Relief Society, Soeur Meyer came up to her and exclaimed ” You have to learn French, and you have to do it now!” Yes, I used an exclamation point. For those keeping track, It has been at least a decade. She wanted so much for Catherine to push through the language barrier and testify to the people here in their native language.
In the collection, I had to add the shop keeper in the silk district who was Catherine’s best friend from the instant we walked into the shop. Also included is the street musician she befriended outside the Basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière in Lyon. He was a charming, articulate gentlemen and they did their best to converse in between numbers he played for her.
Last of all, I am including some photos of us as we have worked and traveled in our mission. We are not here as tourists, we are here foremost to push forward the work of our Savior in France. During our assignments, we have a goal to visit Lausanne, Switzerland where my grandmother was born, Marseilles, France where Catherine spent some months as a youth, and Normandy, which has so much history for us as Americans.
The Frodshams at the Basilica Notre Dame, overlooking Lyon
Frodshams in OigntOigntOigntAmphitheater in LugdunumOur tiny elevatorBasilica Notre DameOigntTim on Pont Morand
Catherine at the Lugdunum Roman Ruins
Every day we grow to love our mission and the people of France. We miss our children and grandchildren terribly, baptisms, ordinations and as we just heard, the first wedding of one of Tim’s grandchildren. If we were to wait till there is nothing to miss at home, we would be waiting forever. We know that innumerable blessings will come to our family because of our service here, we have seen His hand already.
For this week’s blog, we bring you excerpts of an exclusive interview by Sheri Damp, close associate of the famous CEO of Dessert Books, a publishing organization specializing in uplifting snacks for Latter-Day Saint readers for whom issues of the day weigh heavily on their souls, as well as their hips and thighs. In light of the release of a recent photo by renowned photographer, emergency medicine specialist and budding comedian, Ari Shaeffer, Ms. Damp flew to France to interview the famous Frodsham couple, Olympic Hopefuls for the 2024 Olympics in Paris, France.
Image leaked to the press by photographer and comedian Ari Shaeffer
Catherine and Tim Frodsham are serving undercover as Missionaries for The Church of Jesus-Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Lyon France, teaching principles of Self-Reliance to leaders and members of the Church in France and surrounding countries. These former Olympic champions are planning an ambitions repertoire of events at the Paris games. Even before competition begins, the Frodshams will spearhead the ‘Opening Exercises’ ceremony to usher in the games.
According to Ms. Damp, the Olympic Duo are heavy favorites for the gold as they head to the coast for their first competition ‘Preach Volleyball’. In a stunning display of stamina, they will simultaneously compete in the ‘Title of Liberty Flag Football’ scrimmages. Their chances here are perilous, but with the support of their 2000 stripling warrior fans, they are hopeful for the gold in this match as well.
Elder Frodsham in rigorous training for the academic marathon events
In day two of the games, the Frodshams will compete in the ‘Iron Rod’ competition. Their participation in this event sent shockwaves through the Olympic community, given Elder Frodsham’s dismal performance in last years ‘Idita-rod’ dog sled race where he choked on the final night of the run, staring at the stars and babbling ‘Pleiades, Pleiades’. According to Ms. Damp, ‘holding fast to the rod’ will be a winning strategy for this intrepid couple as they not only compete for the gold in this cornerstone event but vie to break the record in the ‘race to the tree’, set by Father Lehi, a record which has stood unchallenged for 2600 years. The Frodshams are undeterred in their quest for gold as they will also participate in ‘Promised Land Sailing’, ‘Trampoline out Sin’, ‘Wrestling with the Spirit’ and the ‘Roller Derby Meet and Greet’ events the same day.
Soeur Frodsham in training for the Curling Competition
Day three of the Olympics will be no ‘day of rest’ for the Frodshams as they move to the ‘Tract and Field (white and ready to harvest)‘ events to be held in the country’s largest stadium, Stade de France. They will start the day with three events, the ‘Scripture Marathon’ and the lesser-known Trial-athalon and Pentateuch-athalon events, new to the Olympics this year.
Due to intense criticism for specializing only in LDS centered events, the Frodshams will participate in several mainstream tournaments as well. Catherine Frodsham is a heavy favorite for the Curling event, spending hours each day in an intense training regimen. Competition is tight for ‘Synchronized Snoring’, but Team Captain Catherine, with years of training and outstanding performance in this event, should lead her team to the gold in this culminating rivalry.
Soeur Frodsham demonstrating her winning Curling ensemble
It was a great disappointment to learn the Frodshams were disqualified from the ‘Uneven Bars’ due to their height difference, a ruling bewildering to event organizers and experts alike.
Thanks for Alamy for providing a wide angle lens capable of capturing the moment
News of this disqualification was devastating to Sister Frodsham, and she is determined to dominate the newest Olympic competition, ‘Amazon Shopping’ where she has vowed to ‘Fill the Immensity of Space’.
Elder Frodsham in a ‘Shopping Assist’ while recalling his ‘Pleiades’ moment
We thank Ms. Damp for her hours of interviews and observation of this enigmatic couple, bringing to light their fortitude, rising victorious in all trials and competitions they encounter while they serve the Lord in Lyon, France.
We are learning not only the Welfare Self-Reliance programs that the church offers to the world, but also how the French people understand and accept these programs. The pace of the French in society and in the church is different. Not better or worse, just different. We love how our ward ends Sacrament meeting. After the closing prayer, everyone remains in their seats for several minutes. No one talks, we just sit in reverent silence. Once the bishop gets up, everyone gets up and begins to socialize. It may take 10 to 20 minutes before people move from the chapel to their respective meetings. After church, the saints linger and talk. One Sabbath, an hour after church, people were still chatting.
Dinner with our boss (second from left) and the WSR leaders in Clermont-Ferrand
In a recent Area devotional, the Area manager spoke about the expanding work in Central Europe. One of their desires is to cultivate native workers in the Area office and native missionaries; both senior couples and young missionaries in the field. It reminded me of a discourse given by President Kimball on how missionary work would spread throughout the world. Countries that depend on American missionaries would become self-sufficient and in turn, export missionaries to others. That is the goal of the European people. Local missionaries to fulfill their needs and an excess to export to other countries. Right now, many French missionaries are sent to the US. Some stay or return to the US because of the opportunities here. The saints and the leadership of the church here in Europe want to open opportunities for their missionaries as incentive to stay.
Catherine and I discussed this after the devotional and concluded that saints from the US look at the French culture through the lens of our own culture and experience. We remembered a conversation with a Senior couple in the Area office while we were there for training. They were rather upset at an affiliate organization that had received humanitarian funds from the church. Rather than using them as agreed, they gave them to another organization in country and then publicly took credit for the donation. The funds were not necessarily misused, but credit was not given as we would expect in our US culture.
Outside the Cathedral in Clermont-Ferrand
A big question we ask ourselves is if the work we are doing here is sustainable. Are we just blowing hard on the coals? As soon as we leave, will the fire die back down? We have seen couples so excited about pushing the work forward that they push local WSR specialists out of the way in order to do it ‘the right way’. The work glows brightly for a while, but when they leave, the local saints called to this work are not prepared to take over. Our goal is to build a strong, sustainable source of heat and light by training, and more important, sustaining the local leadership in the responsibilities to which they were called. President Kimball delivered a landmark discourse in 1974 on how the world will be converted. In that discourse, he quoted a discourse by Brigham Young in the April, 1852 General Conference:
The Cathedral of Clermont-Ferrand
“This kingdom will continue to increase and to grow, to spread and to prosper more and more. Every time its enemies undertake to overthrow it, it will become more extensive and powerful; instead of decreasing it will continue to increase; it will spread the more, become more wonderful and conspicuous to the nations, until it fills the whole earth.” We are moved to be a part of that work.
Catherine in the Cathedral, surrounded by stars made by the local children
We recently met with a couple in Clermont Ferrand, called as Welfare Self-Reliance specialists for their stake. I watched with awe as Catherine embraced these fine people, both figuratively and literally. She adores and is adored by all she meets. Catherine speaks little French, and the sister spoke little English, but they instantly became lifelong friends and communicated in ways far beyond mere spoken language. Catherine worries about how little of the French language she commands, but she communicates far beyond anything I can do. This couple is excited about the work and have a testimony of the Church’s Self-Reliance programs. Catherine and I pray continually for the inspiration and revelation necessary to sustain them.
It is a joy for us to work as WSR (Welfare, Self-Reliance) missionaries. the MLS (Member Leader Support) missionaries in our mission have somewhat well-defined responsibilities, particularly those that work in the office. Our job is nebulous. We are left to figure out what we should do and how to do it. We would enjoy the more defined MLS responsibilities if that were our call, but we are embracing the lack of definition in our current callings. We find opportunities to learn and to serve wherever we can.
With the Sister Missionaries and acouple being taught in our apartment
We are learning how the church works with the French government. It is not better or worse, just different. An integral part of the French Revolutions was throwing off the suppressive yoke of the Catholic church. I don’t know enough about French history to make any kind of judgement here, but that is certainly the perception of the French people. Because of this, as a culture, they are very suspicious of religious organizations. The church understands not to fight it, but to work with it. For example, EnglishConnect classes can be taught in some church buildings but not in others. It seems arbitrary, but it depends on ownership of the buildings. The church cannot directly own buildings in France, not even the temple. They are owned by subsidiary or affiliate organizations. The way the church owns each building dictates if EnglishConnect classes are seen as competition with local public universities. Some buildings in our Stake can host EnglishConnect classes, some cannot. We work with that. Where we cannot hold physical classes, we do so online.
On the Streets of Clermont-Ferrand
While serving here in France, we are re-learning how to pray. I was reminded recently of a discourse on Prayers of Gratitude. Sometimes our prayers turn into a list of “monotonous pleadings”. Rather than a long list of requests for our work and our families, even though these requests may have the best of intentions, we have been offering prayers of gratitude for all the blessings poured out on us. We thank the Lord for his help as he blesses us the way he blessed the People of Alma. He did not remove their burdens, but he made them light. In the coming weeks and months, I will try to describe the answers to our prayers, most particularly our prayers of gratitude for the support He gives our families while we are in His service.
We are settling into our mission, learning the ropes and learning to love the people around us. There are several shops that we frequent, some of them recognize us from missionaries past, some are new friends. Even with my French language background, it is Catherine that communicates the best. They feel her friendship, her love and her enthusiasm and brighten each time she enters the shop. Our favorite is a small bakery just around the corner. When we shop, we hold off our bread purchases until we pass the shop the way home. At times, Catherine goes in for a baguette while I pop up to the apartment to unload groceries. She usually follows me in with an armful of bread, quiche and a sandwich or two.
There is a Saturday market at the corner that sells all manner of fruit, vegetables, meat and fish. I used to love the Saturday’s Market in Portland, but in recent years, it has become so commercialized with tourist trinkets and the like. I have yet to find a trinket at this market.
There is always a down side no matter where one ends up, and Catherine found an Ikea. I think the picture says it all.
Catherine has discovered the joy of French cooking and French meals. She found a Raclette on sale at the local Carrefour and we have fed investigators and missionaries alike. We cannot eat in true French style, taking three hours for a meal, but we have learned to slow down and enjoy the conversation around the table as watch those hungry missionaries devour Catherine’s cooking. Don’t worry, I am in the kitchen as well. I haven’t started up bread making, the bread here is too good and so inexpensive, but I do enjoy bouncing about our tiny kitchen with Catherine.
Next week, we are off to our first in person meeting with self-reliant specialists in Clermont-Ferrand. We are meeting with our ‘boss’ first, Momo Djemai, to go over training materials we are developing, then with the Membre’s to help plan some new self-reliance classes. As I study these programs and put together presentations to help leaders and specialists understand the courses the Church has developed, I can feel the power of the spirit that went into crafting these programs. The Lord is hastening his work in the last days, preparing his saints and seeking out the watchful.
In our last zone conference, the missionaries based their theme around the people of Alma; that the Lord did not lift their burdens when they covenanted to follow Him, but He lifted their hearts and their capacity to bear up under their ever increasing burdens with faith and joy. The missionaries have been teaching a young couple in our apartment, and after the last lesson, they had to scoot to their next appointment. This couple is going through some hardships at this time that seem to have no end. I turned to Mosiah to recount to them the faith of the People of Alma and we could see the Spirit bare powerful testimony to them that in spite of, and perhaps even because of their troubles, the Lord is mindful of every detail of their lives.
The story of the People of Alma is one of my favorite passages in the Book of Mormon. As I was reading it some years ago, I realized that in these passages, the Lord had set up, by modern standards, an excellent qualitative case study about how the Lord deals with his people based on their righteousness. I even wrote an article about it, which I posted on my website.
We attended our first Zone Conference during the week between Christmas and New Years. The Mission President gave an opening testimony and then had the Assistants to the President and the Zone Leaders present most of the material for the day. I was impressed at how well these young leaders taught and testified with faith and power. The Elders taught about testifying and extending invitations to those investigating the church. It is important to understand that as they embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ and His restored Church, trials and hardship will not be taken away. In fact, the adversary will exert even more effort to dissuade and disrupt our lives.
Break time at Zone Conference
They gave as an example the People of Alma and what they had to endure. The Lord did not lift their burdens, but he strengthened them so that they could not feel them (Mosiah 24:13,14). When we strive to follow Him, the adversary has no power over us (Helaman 5:12). Several years ago, I wrote an article about the People of Alma and Limhi and how the Lord interacts and helps His people based on their faith and obedience. The presentations of these stalwart missionaries reminded me again that the future of the Church is in good hands.
Sister missionaries at the Zone Conference
President Lepore concluded the conference with a testimony about the work in Europe. He cited President Nelson in a recent address to the Europe Area. “The Church has an unparalleled future in Europe!” The wars raging around Europe are bad, but the Lord is using these events for His own purpose. People are being displaced to areas where they can hear the gospel. There are twenty missionaries called to the people of Turkey. All of them reside in Germany and extend the invitations of gospel learning online. When someone from Turkey is converted, missionaries along with appropriate leadership as prescribed by law, fly to Turkey to perform the baptisms and then return to Germany.
Lyon from the river near our apartment
Pres. Nelson also said of the missionaries called to serve here, and I paraphrase: “You were born to do this. Europe has an unparalleled future because of you. You have access to the power-God’s power- that will literally change the future of Europe. As you keep your covenants with increasing precision, you are the hope of Europe, and you are the hope of Israel. You are the ‘children of the promised day’ “. Great things are happening in Europe. Among other indicators, baptisms are up 60 % in the mission as compared to last year. Our contribution to the conference was bowls of fruit and a large batch of cinnamon rolls.
At the Tete d’Or park
We spent New Years with several families. The faithful members here are generous to a fault and treated us to magnificent multi-course meals in their tiny apartments. At our New Year’s Eve dinner invitation, the wife got a call to go into work later that evening. She is a PA for a local hospital and was needed to assist in a multiple transplant surgery. Her married and engaged children were there, all intelligent and conversant in both French and English.
Prettiest thing in the park
On New Years Day, we took a long walk around the city. From our apartment, it is a comfortable walk to the river, to the Tete D’Or park, the mall and several shopping areas. We are still exploring the richness of the city around us.
The new year, we will start traveling in our assigned area to train stake leadership and self-reliance specialists in the church programs. Catherine has been bringing me up to speed on these wonderful programs and the power they can bring to wards and stakes in binding their people together and extending a hand of gospel fellowship to others.
We have been in France for nearly a month now. We are mostly over COVID although Catherine has some residual dizziness and balance problems. We walk a lot here. The mission office is just over a mile away, shopping is close with many bakeries, butcheries and markets surrounding our small apartment. When we go out, Catherine holds tight to my arm to keep her balance. The clinging to my arm is not a problem at all. We pray that her dizziness will abate.
After our home bound COVID experience, we traveled to Frankfurt, Germany to train on the tools and processes used in self-reliance and humanitarian projects. There were two other new humanitarian couples there, assigned to Spain and Poland. Several couples newly assigned to the area office also attended, both to train and to be trained.
Lobby of the Central Europe Area office
The staff in the area office are knowledgeable, gracious and faithful saints. While there, we spent an evening at the Frankfurt Christmas Market. I haven’t seen crowds like these since I was in China visiting my brother. Ether, the man on the right in the picture above and yes, that is his name, came from Italy to help with the training and chauffeured us around in a van owned by the area.
Frankfurt Christmas market
The integrated programs of welfare and self-reliance are taking off in Europe, with programs open not only to the Saints but the community as well. Humanitarian efforts in Eastern Europe are expanding as the Church learns how to manage projects in these foreign cultures.
Murals in the Central Europe Area office
The church is moving forward at a dizzying pace, reaching out with all it’s resources to lift as many people as possible.
We returned from Frankfurt just in time to attend a gathering of senior couples from the France Lyon mission. Once a year, they come from all over the mission to share a day of testimony and an evening at the Lyon festival of lights.
Smorgasbord set out for the couple missionaries
The spread awaiting us as we arrived the the mission home, assembled by the mission president’s very talented daughter.
In 1643, the city of Lyon was struck by plague and municipal Councillors promised the city would pay tribute to Mary each year if the town was spared. It is a celebration with homes throughout Lyon placing candles in the windows and an entire city celebrating light.
Cathedrale St John
The crowds were even larger than the Frankfurt Christmas market but were orderly and respectful.
Cathedrale St John
In several of the plazas, light shows were projected on the buildings, surrounding us with image and sound.
Lyon Fetes des Lumieres
The pictures from my phone camera do not begin to do this justice.
Catherine in front of Catedrale Notre Dame
It is not without it’s temptations here. A French patisserie on every corner, not to mention the chocolate shops, we passed at least six on our walk last night. Chocolate Christmas trees, chocolate nativity scenes, exquisite Yule logs on almost every corner.
Chhoooollllooooccatttttee
It has been quite a welcome to France. We are now settling into our apartment, gathering materials both printed and online concerning the responsibilities. The more we study, the more it is apparent to us that the Church is not standing still. The prophets and apostles are leading the Church forward as fast as the saints and the world can keep up. The programs and materials are inspired. They understand and work according the principle taught by Boyd K Packer:
‘The study of the doctrines of the gospel will improve behavior quicker than a study of behavior will improve behavior. . . . That is why we stress so forcefully the study of the doctrines of the gospel.’ (“Little Children,” Ensign, November 1986)
We love our mission. We miss our families, we miss them terribly. Birthdays and baptisms and other events will pass us by, but we are on the Lord’s errand and our families will be blessed. We pray for them each day, both collectively and individually.
Latter-Day Saints 