Lyndi-lou and Eddie too...

Lyndi-lou and Eddie too...

Sunday, April 24, 2016

Here, There and Everywhere

Sunday, April 24, 2016

Between travels and missionary work on the home front in Charleville we have had an incredibly busy week.

Ed started off the week by looking for a spot for a Scout Camp for the stake.  He had been asked to look into spots in the Semoy Valley where our stake's scouts might do a camp this summer.  This was a pleasant task.  He took our Elders along for the drive as it was their P-Day and this gave them the chance to see some new country.  They visited 5 campgrounds in France and Belgium and recommended one to the Stake.  On the way home they stopped at the Animal Park to look at the sangliers.  There were at least 21 babies that we saw.  In French they are called "marcassins" and have the colouring of a baby fawn.  Ed thinks the word cute is over used but even he had to admit that they were cute little goobers.
Two Canadians holding a Canada Dry standing in France in front of a Belgian sign.  Taken by an American.
The Semoy Valley's beautiful.
Elder Gagnon climbed a tree to get some Mistletoe. It grows as a parasite in trees here.
On Tuesday of this week we had our district Consecration Day in Charleville-Mézières.  This is a day when all the missionaries from our district along with willing and available Branch members consecrate the whole day to missionary work.  Lynn manned the chapel and helped prepare a lunch along with one of our members.  Ed and a "Friend of the Church" manned a table out front of the chapel with pamphlets, Books of Mormon and invitations.  The Elders pounded the pavement with the help of two members who showed up.

Getting back to Ed's part in this day.  He was able to hand out 4 Books of Mormon and several invitations to passersby who were interested.  However, one passerby got a little heated in a discussion where he questioned why we were there and the value of any religion.  Ed told him that he had the right to choose what he believed in just as we do.  He left on amicable terms but he must have complained to the local police because not much later a member of the local constabulary came along in plain clothes.  He asked what we were doing.  Ed explained that he was the Branch President and that we were in front of our church sharing a message about Jesus.  He was quite interested in our church.  He had lots of questions and had a great discussion about religion.  He said he saw no harm in what we were doing and gladly accepted a Book of Mormon and an invitation to our Open House that we were going to have in the near future.  He also gave Ed his card and said that if ever anyone hassles us to give him a call.  That was one of the highlights of the day.
Our friend Lionel stayed all day with Ed.  He's an amazing guy.
Wednesday was a pause that refreshes in a busy week.  We had one missionary lesson.  We had a meeting and an Institute class and we ended the day with a great Family Home Evening at the church.

On Thursday we started on a four day road trip throughout the Alsace-Lorraine area in eastern France.  We visited eight cities, ten apartments and 21 missionaries.  We offered cleaning tips and delivered things that different apartments needed.  We did an inspection of each apartment and went over this with the missionaries.  It was a whirlwind trip that was quite tiring but very important for making connections with the younger missionaries and in providing support for them.
The wonderful Sister in Mulhouse.
On the drive home we saw a garage with a lot of VW Beetles in it so naturally we had to stop to take pictures.
We got back on Friday night and then on Saturday we headed west for two days of Stake meetings.  We were able to squeeze in some shopping in Hirson and Villeneuve-d'Ascq.  Lynn had a Relief Society meeting on Saturday and Ed had a Priesthood meeting.  We stayed at our usual hotel and then Ed had a meeting Sunday morning.  Lynn attended church at the Stake Centre during Ed's meeting.  
Cool butterflypretzel bread at a shop in Villeneuve D'Ascq
We got home at 4:00 p.m. just in time for supper with the Elders and a DMB meeting.  They shared some pictures with us and told us that this is what they do while we're away!  They were kidding.  They work hard but also play hard when they have 5 minutes.
We had a full week.  We are not complaining but we will sleep well tonight.

One more funny picture.  People in France L O V E their dogs!  They take them everywhere.

Au revoir de la France,
Lyndi-lou and Eddie, too.

Sunday, April 17, 2016

Celebrations

Sunday, April 17, 2016

This week was a little less hectic than most weeks because Lynn was sick all week and we had to slow down a bit.  However, instead of going 300 kilometres an hour we slowed down to 250.

We started the week off with a bang.  Last Sunday in our blog we mentioned that our grandson, Sam, was baptised.  It was also his sister Ady's birthday.  We were able to FaceTime the baptism.  It took place in the Sheep River near Okotoks.  There were lots of family and friends there.  It all went real well right up until Dustin and Sam went into the river and all of a sudden Spencer's phone went dead and we missed the rest.  We didn't get to see Sam's facial expression when he came out of the icy spring water of the Sheep River but we did reconnect in time for the confirmation.

Ady also turned 3 that day.  She was so excited.  We face timed her, as well.  She showed us the decorations they had put up, the balloons and some of the gifts she had received.  She is a little lacking in her face timing skills.  We see things upside down, backwards and we rarely see her face but she loves spending time with us and chattering.  We love it. 

As we have mentioned before we have the great blessing of teaching Institute.  Our students are great.  They have a love of the gospel and they are faithful in their attendance at class.  We cover some great topics that they really get involved in and that helps us all to grow together.  What a great way to learn. We are both loving it.

We had two cancellations this week.  On Tuesday we were supposed to visit a member in Belgium to help her with some yard work.  We had to cancel because Lynn and her weren't feeling well and the weather wasn't cooperating 100%.  We will re-schedule this activity.  Secondly we were supposed to go into Paris for a District conference.  This was cancelled because our Mission President was sick.  We had to exchange our train tickets for a future date.  This was quite a rigamarole.  It took us about half an hour.  I am sure the people in line behind us weren't too appreciative either as all four of us missionaries here were changing our tickets.

We are working on a couple of bigger missionary efforts that are coming up shortly.  We are having a District Consecration Day on April 19.  This involves all of the missionaries along with member participation helping to find people interested in hearing about the Gospel.  We talked this up at our Branch Council meeting today.  It will be a great activity.  We will have teams out contacting, an Open House at the church and materials available for anyone who is interested.  We are also planning a fireside for May 4.  We will have tours of the chapel, a video, testimonies and snacks.  Members will be available to help out and to answer any questions people may have about the church.

A great celebration took place on Saturday.  It was the annual Relief Society party to commemorate the founding of the Relief Society in 1842.  All of the sisters congregated at the chapel.  Everyone brought a little something to eat to share with the others.  They each displayed a talent that they had.  They played games, danced, sang and had great visits.  It was a great activity and lasted all afternoon.  And a wonderful surprise was that the Elders came and did all the clean up for us.  What great guys they are!

The skilful art of making Foofoo

Traditional African Gospel Dance

Sharon singing Gospel Music with an African twist.
French accordeon
Let the games begin!
Thanks to Ed this was wrapped tight!!!  But Claire had the great idea to use her teeth!
Quick!  Roll a six to switch!
What?? Another one??
Voila!  The prized Reims cookies!
While the women were doing that Ed and brother Dampt drove out to Stenay to see if we could find a member who we haven't seen for quite sometime.  Unfortunately we were unsuccessful but we had a great time and a lovely visit with each other.

After the Relief Society party we went to a car shown in Place Ducal.  There were a few old volkswagens.  There was a beetle, 3 vans and a Karman Ghia.  Early in the day there was an additional beetle and a VW truck.  There were some other older North American cars and an old Peugeot, all in good shape.  It was fun to see them despite the rain.
Of course church went well today.  We had 24 people out.  we had great lessons, talks and visits.  What a great day.
So pretty to see the blooming spring.
May God bless you all!

Au revoir de la France,
Lyndi-lou and Eddie, too.