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.