October 5 , 2025

I was so proud to be a member of the same church as the Bishop of the Grand Blanc Ward as I listened to and later read his statement about the tragedy in his congregation.  He  exemplified the true spirit of the gospel of Jesus Christ by emphasizing the quick response of the police, and the kindness and generosity of so many in their community.  He also expressed gratitude for all the good there is in the world.  I was also impressed with the GoFundMe for the family of the perpetrator of the crime and how many dollars had been raised —a modern day application of turning the other cheek. 

On Tuesday we were invited to visit the vineyard managed by the newest member of our little branch.  Alban takes care of several hectares of Grand Cru vines, some very expensive grapes (50 euros/bunch).  He taught us about quality, trimming, shaping the foot, fertilizing, etc.  They have one plant every meter, and November will be trimming time to cut back to 5-7 shoots per foot (root).  One bottle of Chardonnay wine made from his grapes (labeled Corton-Charlemagne) costs 50 euros or more.  The fields were probably planted originally by, or before, the Romans and were owned at one time by Charlemagne.  They were extensively developed and cultivated by Cistercian monks in the middle ages.  The vines have been in the same families for generations (hundreds of years) and will never be sold.  He says all of them are millionaires but you would never know it.  Their villages and homes are modest but very neat and clean.

A farmer outstanding in his field!

Le vignes de Burgogne

It has been impressive to hear the tribunes to Pres. Nelson —brilliance  evidenced  in music, medicine, family,  leadership, faith in Jesus Christ and  personal ministry.  Tom and I were blessed to have a FHE with him and Wendy in Rochester shortly after they were married.  They had two grandchildren training at Mayo and Tom was their Stake President.  Wendy was a good friend from my high school.  Another time they sent us a private note after visiting the church in Mongolia where Tal was serving his mission.  He was playing the music in the meeting they attended.

General Conference starts in France at 6 pm.  We watched the first session last night and the other Saturday sessions this morning.  So many excellent talks. We were so moved by the conviction of Elder Brown of Jamaica, the story of Elder Cziesla’s grand mother, Elder Gong’s one liner- No one sits alone emotionally or spiritually- Elder Jaggis’ understanding of alters.  We are anticipating what will be said this evening.  Have a great Sabbath.

September 28, 2025

The week has ended with the news of the passing of Pres. Nelson.  He was so many things to so many people!  He brought many needed changes - 2 hour meetings, priesthood quorum changes, age-related and other changes to youth programs, Come Follow Me emphasis on learning in the home, temple ceremony streamlining, and on and on.  The announcing and building of 200 new temples will bring needed blessings to millions around the world.  His teachings, personal kindness, and invitation to walk with and become like the Savior, make it difficult to imagine a more comprehensive mouthpiece for God.  His age was part of his wisdom in all of this.  We will mourn his absence and then welcome new leadership and more change.

We had a small miracle this week.  We are responsible to help 5 missionary teams maintain their apartments.  One had a microwave oven surfing on it’s last micro-wave, so I ordered a new one online.  It seemed like a good deal - Samsung, 800 watts, etc. for a good price.  It was to be delivered on Sept 15 - and it had arrived in Chalon.  Then came the messages that their delivery system was overloaded, didn’t know when, etc. etc.  It came through Carrefour (generally reliable) to be delivered by the postal system (often reliable). I wondered if I had been caught up in a scam.  Finally I wrote and said if it hadn’t arrived by Friday the 26th we could cancel the credit card payment.  Friday we were doing some needed grocery shopping when I received a call without any warning - the delivery man was at our door.  I asked if he could wait 10 minutes while I rushed home.  No, but I could meet him at another store.  I rushed there as fast as the traffic would allow and was able to show the special code to receive the oven  and now the sisters have a new microwave oven for their apartment.

Yesterday was the baptism in Dijon of Alban, our newest member.  He is a middle aged man originally from Kosovo who arrived in France about 15 years ago.  He found the Church through social medial and has been attending for about 3 months, and was all smiles for the day.  He was baptized by Bro. Landré who turned 86 today.

Today was the primary program in the branch.  We had 3 girls (ages 8, 5, and 2) and their fathers and leaders participate with lots of music, solos and duets.  One father played the guitar and sang with his daughter.  It was a beautiful program!  

September 21, 2025

We had needed miracles happen as we prepared food for zone conference last Wednesday and Thursday.  We were working in a kitchen that had a small oven, a fridge with no freezer, and very little cupboard space.  Our menu was Mexican. I  wanted to serve avocado with the fajitas but figured they would cost 50 euros so had given up on the idea.  Then I saw a promotion from Aldi which advertised avocados for 0.65 beginning Tuesday morning, the day we were headed for Lyon, the day before the conference.  The first thing that came to mind was that the Lord was truly aware of my desires.  Would they be green and hard?  I was there shortly after the store opened and found 18 avocados perfectly ripe.  Those I could afford and we could all have a taste.  What a great blessing!  Miracle number one.

Tom had made his 10 lbs of black beans from scratch and they were heating in two large crockpots.  The cooked rice, 3 pans (12" by 18”) were being rotated in the oven to keep warm.  The 33 pounds of chicken were in four other crockpots - two heating slowly and two not at all.  We transferred half the chicken to a large pot we found, miracle number two, turned on a burner and stirred it every 10 minutes so it wouldn’t scorch. The onions and peppers were in the last functional crock pot. We organized two serving stations plus a microwave in the hallway.  Each missionary could pick up two warm  tortillas on a plate and head for the chicken, the veggies, the rice, the black beans, the salsa, guacamole, avocados, olives, fresh tomatoes and sour cream.  Their dessert, water and fork and spoon were already set at the table.  The 92 missionaries loved it! They rarely have homemade food.  Thanks to Laters, Dinkelmans, Sr. Letendre, and Elder Herzog for your excellent help!

Pres. Alliaud of the Europe Central Area was visiting for a mission tour.  The Area comprises 37 countries.  When he first arrived in 2020 he thought he might want to learn French, but one of the apostles told him that in the Area there are 34 languages spoken, and that he would probably be better served if he worked on his English.  The President emphasized that we are living in Jacob 5 (the parable of the olive tree, especially the latter part). He quoted Elder Bednar that the world is in co-motion, the purpose being to bring many people to where they can hear the gospel message and come to know Christ.  The gathering (of Israel) is the most important thing happening today.  In our Area in 2020 when he arrived in Frankfurt, there were about 1000 baptisms annually.  This year the total will be around 5 or 6000.  A similar growth is occurring in our mission: 4 years ago we were reporting 1-2 baptisms weekly and now it is usually 6-8.  He and Sr. Alliaud spent several hours answering questions and training the missionaries.

The next day, we did a baked potato bar at the church for  Mission Leadership Council.  Only 34 missionaries. Got up at 6 am to bake the potatoes in the mission home ovens and then hauled them to the church where we prepared the rest of the food.  We  assembled and cooked the chili, but it tasted bitter and needed a little sugar.  Of course there was none to be found.  However we  did discover a half bottle of apple juice  and decided to add 1/2 cup of it for sweetener.  It worked. Tasted delicious!  Thanks to whoever left their juice.  It must have been inspiration because you saved the chili.  Small miracle number three. Each missionary picked their size of potato and loaded it with their choice of butter, salt, pepper, chili, cheddar cheese, sour cream, lardons (chopped bacon), chives, cooked broccoli, cauliflower, and cheese sauce.  We  served a large fruit tray and carrot sticks on the side plus a frozen dessert.  Everyone was happy and satisfied and there was not a bean left.  Tom started cleaning the kitchen with the help of Elder Olsen.   A dear boy.  It was a quiet ride during the 90 minutes home.  We were too tired to talk.

Breaking through the fog          

Sept 14, 2025

What do I want to remember about this week of highs and lows?  

I celebrated my 76th birthday with multiple greetings from people, in past lives and this one.  Perhaps my favorite was from an older homebound French widow who said "There are those who make a mark upon our lives.  You are one of them."  I bought myself two new pillows and a cashmere throw for our grey couch.  It changes the look of the whole room.  

I want to remember a short poem quoted by Malinda Gates in her latest book ‘The Next Day': 

I hope 

when you come home to yourself 

there are flowers lining the front porch 

that were left from all the women 

You were before. 

Perhaps you, as I, are struggling with the senseless murder of Charlie Kirk. He was a 31 year old father trying to share conservative alternatives and an invitation to Jesus Christ with those on college campuses where 90% of their professors are liberals.  I have absorbed all the info about that assassination just as I did JFKs during the week of November 22, 1963.  We pray for the Kirk family. 

Today we drove the sister missionaries to Montceau to meet a friend who was interested in learning more about the Church but was hesitant to come to a meeting before seeing them for a discussion in person.  He had many questions, which they answered well.  We learned after the meeting that his wife was Ivoirienne, and visiting family at their home in Côte d'Ivoire.  We'll have to wait to find out where their home is located, but there is a good chance that she has already heard about the Church, especially with the recent dedication of the temple in Abidjan.  

Tom and I are cooking and serving meals to 130 missionaries this week.  One is zone conference with the Lyon, Geneva, and Lausanne zones on Wednesday.  We are having chicken fajitas, rice, and Tom’s savory black beans (all 8 lbs from scratch, enough for 1/2 cup each for 100 people).  Thursday we have only 36 which will be a baked potato bar with chili/cheese, sour cream/bacon/chives or broccoli/cheese sauce.  I think on Friday we may go out for dinner.

Waiting patiently for his master

Paella for sale at the Wednesday marché

Balcony decorations

In the local botanical garden

Raclette at the Catogni's with Soeur Rasmussen

The family Maraiti

September 6, 2025

It has been a marvelous few days.  We spent Monday through Thursday preparing for and participating in an exit dinner, the entry of 22 new exhausted missionaries via the Preston and Provo MTCs, and a mission wide conference with Elder James McConkie presiding.  Our special guests were Amy Wright, 1st councilor in the General Primary Presidency and Emily Belle Freeman, General Young Women President and over 200 missionaries serving in southern France.

Pres. McConkie began his talk this way.  "Some chapters in Preach My Gospel focus on what we need to do.  Just as vital as what we do, is who we are and who we are becoming.  What are you doing to become that disciple of Jesus Christ that He wants and needs you to be?"  He then took us to Luke 29 and used Zacheus as an example.  He exhorted us to learn from our own experience and the scriptures.  "Your mission is personal to you. It is between you and your Heavenly Father.  We are the loaves and fishes."

Sr. Wright spoke with such a great spirit.  She talked about an interview with Pres. Nelson referring to eyes that could see her soul.  One of her colleagues also referred to his eyes saying there was no part of the natural man in them.  The President  told her that she would serve as the 1st councilor in the General Primary.  As she got up to leave he said to Elder Uchtdorf,  "I don’t believe Amy said yes to the calling."  "Excuse me President but I don’t believe we asked her."  Sr. Wright responded "It is a privilege to serve here with you."  Pres. Nelson responded "I am simply doing what I have been told". 

I found her interpretation of the wisemen finding the child Jesus thought provoking. Mathew 2:11,12 …..they departed into their own country another way.  After having experiences with Jesus Christ, you will depart to your own country a higher and holier way.

Sr. Freeman talked about being blessed with a spiritual gift during your setting apart.  It may not be the gift you want but it will be the gift you need which you may not recognize until you really need it.  She gave two examples. Moses 1:25: ...thou shalt be made stronger than many waters; for they shall obey thy command as if thou wert God.  (Consider he was most likely in a desert when this was given).  What a gift when the armies of Pharaoh were bearing down on the Israelites at the Red Sea.  The second example was her son Josh.  She started worrying about his mission health when he was seven and diabetic.  Will there be someone there who would know how to take care of him?  When he was set apart, he was blessed that he would be able to work every day on his mission.  Shortly after arriving in the field, while riding his bike, he was hit by a car.  He was badly scraped and one knee hurt, but remembering the gift, crawled off the pavement.  He decided his knee would be okay and he could continue.

Sr. Freeman sits on the Church Missionary Committee with Elder Cook, Elder Rasband, Sr. Wright, and others.  Every time they meet together they talk about the Lord hastening his work. D&C 88:73 She testified to over 200 young missionaries that this is your time. "We do not know why you were called during the great hastening, but He does.  You labor with your might, He will be with you."

We had an interesting medical case this week the day after the conference ended.  A missionary became ill quite suddenly with neck pain just below his ear on one side, decreased hearing on that side, and increasingly severe vertigo with nausea and vomiting.  Of course it happened on a Friday evening.  He went to a hospital emergency department, was sent to a second hospital, and finally a third where he was diagnosed with an ear canal infection.  They sent him home with a prescription for ear drops.  He kept vomiting hourly and was taken back to that hospital by a senior missionary who was keeping track of him.  Finally he was given an IV and some medications to treat his nausea and vomiting and vertigo.  It was a long night for all of us involved.  Saturday morning he saw an ENT doctor who thought he had an inner ear problem, prescribed some medications, and discharged him from the ER with an appointment for followup on Tuesday.  He is feeling much better but we don’t have a clear picture yet. 

Srs. rehearsing a song before the conference

Pres. and Sr. Schow arriving

Sr. Freeman

Sr. Wright

Bro. Wright followed by Sr. and Pres. McConkie

August 31, 2025

Already the end of August. Where has the summer gone?  If I open my journal, I can tell you. Some weeks are very busy, and some give quiet gems of experience.  All have been worthwhile.  We are so grateful for the opportunity to live in Chalon-sur-Saône in Burgundy, France. 

It is time for the grape harvest. We have driven through miles of vineyards.  We have seen several acres being picked by hand and learned that the grapes need hot dry weather now for peak sugar levels.  Alban, a friend of the church, says he will not see us until the end of the month because he is so busy working, but has set a baptismal date for September 27.  He has received his own tearful confirmation that the Book of Mormon is a second witness of Jesus Christ.

Monday we visited a couple in the branch whose 62-year-old daughter passed away recently.  She had pancreatic cancer and was being treated, but it had spread.  She was found unexpectedly in the morning sitting in her chair facing the television as if she had sat down the night before to watch a program, but had fallen asleep and died.  Her father was distraught and inconsolable.  That night he had a dream where the daughter came to him and said, “Don’t be sad, because I am very happy here.  I’m with (my husband who died not long ago) and my grandmother; it’s beautiful.  You should be happy for me!”  And when he woke from that dream his sorrow had passed.

Interestingly, she had asked her father the day before she died, “If I go away on a trip for a few days would you watch my dog?”  The couple had a faithful German Shepherd who had recently had been put down and the daughter had a German Shepherd also.  After she died, they adopted her dog and when he arrived in their house, made himself right at home.  He actually sleeps on their bed sometimes.  So they were consoled by his dream and had regained another faithful companion to fill the void of their loss.

The next day we went with the sister missionaries to visit Beaune and the Hôtel Dieu, also known as the Beaune Hospice.  It was built as a hospital for the indigent in 1443 by Nicolas Rolin, chancellor of Burgundy, funded by a wealthy benefactor, Phillip the Good, and was used as such until 1971.  It is now a stelar architectural museum and a major relic of the middle ages.  Andre would love it.

Later we drove to Besançon to check a water leak in the Elder’s apartment there.  We were not able to fix it but we did find the water cutoff  so that it would only leak when the elders turned on the water briefly to collect fresh water for their needs.  Interestingly, the senior companion asked us if we had visited Cameroon in our previous mission, which we had.  We found a photo of one of the zone conferences we attended which included his older brother who was serving there at the time. We love that the world is such a small place.

A favorite street in old town

Beautifully decorated sign for a Tea Shop

Pastry temptations

First rainbow in a while

Back side of Hospice de Beaune

Colorful clay tiles of the Hospice

A sickbed

The main hall of the Hospice, founded 1443.

August 24, 2025

Sue: This week I have been studying Zeniff, King Noah, Abinadi, and Alma establishing the church at the waters of Mormon.  Two verses grabbed my attention:

Mosiah 12:27 Abinadi speaking  ‘Ye have not applied your heart to understanding; therefore ye have not been wise.’

Mosiah 18:12 Alma speaking ‘O Lord, pour out thy Spirit upon thy servant, that he may do this work with holiness of heart.'

These made me think about how I spend my time, and analyze my motives for serving.

We made two trips to Dijon this week. The first was to pay the person who hauled away the furniture off the balcony. He only took cash. The next was to deliver and replace 20 new casters on 4 desk chairs, a new vacuum cleaner and a standing fan. The sisters were delighted.  Perhaps it will inspire them to clean.  Since returning we have learned that Dijon is a UNESCO world heritage site. We will go another day en touristes.

Yesterday, I was excited to send  93 pages of stories about my life to the Storyworth publisher.  One of my sons, for Mother’s Day, composed a set of questions which I have answered. Some were in detail but others only 6 or 7 lines.  All have now been recorded in my own words and will be hardcover bound with one for each of our children.  This writing experience has reaffirmed that LIFE is GOOD.  I will also admit to weeping through some parts.  I hope this will help my grandchildren, and great grandchildren who I will never know, feel like they can relate to me in some way.

I tried walking and jogging this week. It is much more difficult than just walking. I made over 19.4 miles in 5 days. I hope I can keep this up.

Tom: I had the assignment to teach the priesthood lesson today about Pres. Oaks’ talk from April conference: Divine Helps for Mortality.  At first read it seems straightforward, but on studying there is a great deal of meat there.

He describes in perfect simplicity the Plan of Salvation.  However, in his justification for why God had to create the earth for us, he uses the analogy of our muscles not growing unless they have resistance - gravity - to work against.  That made me think that we needed to come to earth for our spiritual growth because there was no “resistance” in the pre-existence - no temptation to bring about a strengthening of our spirit.  We were like astronauts floating in zero gravity and needed to be born in a material world to grow.  

Pres. Oaks gives us examples of many divine helps in mortality, the most important being a Savior who dies for us.  I will skip most of the talk.  However, the part about distinguishing between the manifestations of the spirit and the Gift of the Holy Ghost led to several men telling about the manifestations of the spirt which gave them a testimony.  The most interesting was a man who plans on being baptized in late September.  He described his experience while reading the Book of Mormon: he felt a sudden warmth in the back of his head which slowly descended into his back and chest and filled him with such a wonderful feeling that he was moved to tears.  Others had similar but unique experiences for them which were manifestations of the Holy Ghost.

There is an interesting section in paragraph 15.  In English it talks about how those who obtain a remission of sins and who regularly renew their cleansing by daily repentance and living according to the covenants they make through the sacrament - qualify for the Holy Ghost to always be with them.  In French the word used for cleansing is purification.  A class member also used the word sanctification.  

My final comment is about paragraph 17 where Pres. Oaks talks about his disappointment that so many remain unprepared for our appointed meeting with the Savior despite all these helps provided to bring us home.  The translation in French is rendez-vous.  We never know when that rendezvous is scheduled.  However, if we are having meaningful personal prayers every morning, and then die mid-day, our rendezvous might be quite short.  We might be tempted to say” Hello again!  How are things since this morning?”  We can have a rendezvous with the Savior at will or whenever we need, but a regular rendezvous will help keep us on the path of happiness.

A beautiful building in Lyon

Sunrise over the Saône