February 1, 2026

It has been a relatively quiet week - and we are happy to see the end of January.  The weather has not been bad compared to the storms that we see crossing North America, but we don’t like the cold with rain.  The forecasts seem to be about 10F degrees warmer in the week ahead and that is very welcome.

Monday evening I went with a newer member to give a blessing to one of the older members of the branch who lives close.  It was a moment of teaching and learning and expressions of love and support for this ailing brother who is so faithful.  On Friday afternoon I accompanied another brother to visit, with her aunt, a young adult who is in a psychiatric hospital for treatment of her hallucinations.  She was happy to receive us and a blessing.  She was obviously sedated and somewhat subdued.  The good news was that she will start some day visits at home in the coming week.

A couple of weeks ago we received a letter from Pres. Schow about the near future for couples currently serving here.  Because of the 55 new missions opening in July and the current senior positions requested being filled at 55-60%, it is likely that most of the couples currently serving with release dates in the spring and summer will not be replaced.  He invited us to contact any French-speaking couples who might consider serving here and let him know of their potential availability and interest.  

We were aware late last year that our replacement had been called and had two conversations with them.  Then about a month ago their information was removed from our incoming missionary information.  We learned that they had been called to serve as mission leaders in Halifax Nova Scotia.  Great news for them; not so good for us, perhaps.  After some prayer and thought and information gathering, we have decided to extend our mission.  The Missionary Department allows seniors to go home and then return, at their own expense, for any reason the seniors think is important.  We have a granddaughter graduating from high school in May and a planned family reunion the end of June.  Our plan is to fly home mid-May and return mid-July.  I will continue to respond to missionary health needs.  The time differences should be manageable.  We’ll possibly be assigned to a different church unit when we return, and we’ll stay to mid-April of ’27, the maximum time (30 months) approved for senior missions.  We hope others (you, dear reader) already or nearly retired will feel inclined and be able to join us.  Send us a note if you have questions!

We visited the Autun Cathedral yesterday and during our walk around inside we were approached by a young handsome man who wondered what our name tags meant.  He was an ardent recent convert to Catholicism and seemed to want to talk more than listen.  We found some agreement and a lot of things we differed on and parted amicably.  It was a good lesson about being prepared to testify rather than discuss.

Srs. Cardon and Bell

Autun Cathedral, started in 900 AD

Old Roman gate to the city

A tower on the old city wall

Lunch at Catogni's

January 25, 2026

We were blessed to zoom the ground breaking of the Jacksonville Florida Temple yesterday. Our friends, Gene and Sara Patch, were the organizers.  Impressive that two youth speakers were included with an adult woman and a man giving the history of the church in the area. Jacksonville Stake was organized in 1947, the 1st stake in the South, and 4th stake east of the Mississippi after New York City, Washington DC, and Chicago.  When the Jacksonville East and West Stakes were divided in 2009, Elder Teixeira of the Seventy sat with the three new stake presidencies and challenged them to do all they could to prepare for a temple within five years.  It has taken 17 years, but the Lord's timetable is not ours.  

Elder Eric Bednar conducted (seemed nervous to me because he spoke so quickly) and Elder De Feo of the Area Presidency gave the sacred dedicatory prayer.  His humility before God and his sensitivity to his assignment were very touching.  I hope the prayer will be in print some day where we can read it.

We took Srs. Cardon and Bell to Cluny on p-day.  Through the influence of its order, Cluny Abbey is considered the greatest monastery of its time.  Founded in the 10th century, the order of Cluny restored the rule of Saint Benedict, benefited from the protection of the papacy and extended its influence across Europe to the point that it was the mother house of nearly a thousand other monasteries at the end of the 13th century.  The huge church was completed in 1130 and was the largest in Christianity until St. Peters in Rome was built 500 years later.  At it's height Cluny exerted central control over those other monasteries and became very rich.  Starting in the mid 1400's, the Abbot was appointed by the King rather than being elected by the monks, which coincided with the beginning of the decline of its influence and power.  Most of it was destroyed during the French Revolution but part has been restored and the bell tower is original as is the wall surrounding the once huge structure.

The church went from where we are to 650 feet away, by the huge bell tower

Standing beneath the bell tower, of which there were three

Soeurs Bell and Cardon with the huge walls of the Abbey in the background

When we visited Sr. Navarro this week, she was out of bed and sitting in her chair for the first time in weeks.  Happy day!  We helped Sr. Bergeron organize her storeroom by building three sets of shelves and stacking all her daughter’s stuff on them. She can now get in to it.  

We met a new branch member from Spain who has recently moved to Beaune.  Her husband has an 18 month work assignment there. They have a daughter serving an Italian mission.  Had a surprise visit with the Berubes from Alberta.  They are the senior couple in Lyon over young singles and are doing a marvelous job.  They were supposed to drop off new smoke detectors, then head to Dijon for a day with a companion from her mission to Paris years ago.  At last minute, that day was postponed but they came with their delivery anyway.  We invited them up to our apartment, fed them fresh fruit, hot baguettes from our wonderful boulangerie next door, and truffle cheese.  We enjoyed a delightful couple of hours getting to know each other.  They are very interesting people and much more fun than we are.  Also a lot younger. 

I found out that our next zone conference is 36 hours after we get home from Nice.  I was anxious about how I could have that prepared. The idea of hot pulled pork with homemade bbq sauce came to mind.  Most could be done in advance and the rest could be assembled at the mission home the day before.  I now have pulled pork for 32 in my freezer( about half of what is needed) and the recipe for the bbq sauce from Sr. Hemming, who we lived by in Nairobi.  The Berubes offered to make all the coleslaw and Sr. Lande and Tom will help with potato salad.  All will go well.

January 18, 2026

Sue: January is the month that the French celebrate the Epiphany. The celebration honors the coming of the wise men although we know it probably took 18-24 months for them to find the ‘young child’ in his house.  They had come to worship Him and bring him gifts for they had seen his star and had most likely travelled from Persia and Greece.  From them we can learn the importance of prophecy and carefully watching for signs of the Savior but the  French are now a little more secular.  They celebrate the wisemen with a Kings' Cake, a puff pastry filled with almond paste.  We have seen hundreds of these in grocery stores, bakeries, and specialty shops ranging in price from 6 to 35 euros. Inside each cake is one fève - a prize made of plastic or porcelain.  If it is in your piece, you wear a crown, and depending on the circumstances, buy everyone another round of drinks, host the celebration next year, or have good luck.  At one time the fève was to remind us of searching for the Savior but I have seen everything from dinosaur disks to the winged victory.  I have collected second hand a donkey, a sheep, Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus in a manger all in porcelain. These are one of the few purchases I am bringing from France.  I am hoping to start a new tradition at home.

Creche fèves (about an inch in length)

It has been a good week peeling 80 apples for apple crisp, baking 75 potatoes for a potato bar and making chili for 55 hungry missionaries in the Lyon zone.  I had great help and everything was devoured except some butter and some humus which we donated to the Young Singles leaders.  I always just stare at the wall the day after as I recover but am grateful to contribute to the health and happiness of those dedicating their energy, time, talents, and all to serving the Lord.

I was invited to assist the young sisters on Friday evening.  They are working with a family of 5 from Nigeria who are English-speaking. I was able to answer some of the mother’s questions, share some of the history of Joseph Smith and the coming forth of the  Book of Mormon - Another Testament of Jesus Christ, and testify of it leading us to Christ and clarifying his gospel.  It was a marvelous experience for me as I felt the Spirit guiding me.  I rarely share my feelings in French for lack of vocabulary.

Tom: One of my least favorite responsibilities here is the oversight of a few missionary apartments. When something isn't right we become first contact.  This week the soeurs in Chalon had a mishap requiring the need for a new mattress, and they also decided they would like a vacuum cleaner - a standard apartment item but previously not wanted.  Fortunately we've been here long enough to know how to do this.  Ikea in Dijon carries a standard single bed mattress, so I made a quick trip to pick one up.  Also, Amazon has a Basics vacuum cleaner that does the job for a small apartment and it was delivered Friday.  It really wasn't that difficult!

                            Scenes from a recent walk:

Tour boats (7!) lined up for their winter refurbishment

Swans browsing

An empty German-flagged boat headed downriver

Happy New Year 2026

We had a wonderful time with Ben and Christy in the Dordogne region in the waning days of December, staying in a rural farm loft with beautiful views over the valley down to the river.  The weather was very nice for the first few days, even permitting lunch on the balcony outside one day.  

We visited several chateaux: Beynac, so full of history, Castelnaud with its medieval weapons museum and trebuchets, and Chateau des Milandes, the home of Josephine Baker, heroic/tragic black American entertainer who was beloved in France. Her life reminded us of the need for stability in life.  We also found some lovely patisseries and went for walks in the hilly woods.  It was a good break from the routine.  

The gardens at Chateau Milandes

A view of Beynac from Domme

On our way home we stopped at Vichy for a drink from the municipal fountain - bubbly water!

Ben taught Sunday School - Intro to the OT

We returned to a transfer week, sending off Sr. Rasmussen to Clermont - Ferrand and receiving Sr. Cardon.  In testimony meeting Sunday we heard from Sr. Schuling, our mariner who lives on her boat in the marina.  She told of how she had met a couple while boating on the Saône in the fall.  They invited her to dine on their boat and she went.  Before the meal, feeling prompted, she asked if she could offer a prayer before they ate.  The wife accepted with enthusiasm and it led to discussions about religion and life.  Sr. Schuling has stayed in touch with the couple, who live in Clermont-Ferrand not far from the LDS chapel, and a week prior had mentioned sending two books about the Church, but had no way to send them.  When she heard Sr. Rasmussen would be transferred there this week she was overjoyed at this answer to her prayer, and gave the books to be delivered by hand.  That has happened already, with photos of the sister missionaries enjoying a meal with the couple.  We don’t know the outcome of this yet, but God certainly moves in mysterious ways.

Kitchen helpers after the arrival dinner

We had snow in Lyon during the arrival day, enough to make it slippery driving the next morning until the temperature warmed above freezing.  We also learned some things.  The couple that were to replace us in April had their assignment changed.  They will now serve as mission leaders in Halifax, NS starting in July.  We also heard that with so many new missions opening, it is unlikely that our mission will be able to replace many seniors currently serving - too many needs elsewhere.  Isn’t that a wonderful problem to have?  We are excited at the new missions opening in the Africa Central Area, and even more so with the new Paris South Mission, which will likely take the Bordeaux and Toulouse Stakes out of the Lyon Mission.  Big changes.

This week is the start of another round of zone conferences, beginning in Lyon.  The last series produced a lot of viral illnesses - colds, etc. - among the missionaries.  This time we will require the missionaries to use hand sanitizer before they eat the lunch meal.  Hand washing is one of the best things we can do to prevent the spread of these winter illnesses.

The branch had 10 friends in church this morning.  Not many seats left, and several members absent.  It's an exciting time to be here.  

December 28, 2025

It’s a most wonderful time of the year!  I listened to a stimulating podcast by Sharon Eubanks: ‘What has changed my life?’ These five ideas are her continuing catalysts:  

The ability to believe that God is real

The ability to start over again (fix my mistakes)

The ability to find comfort in my covenants

The ability to find new solutions

Practice the connecting love of Jesus Christ, helping each other.

These have nothing to do with money, mentorship or even experience.  In different words these are called the Doctrine of Christ. Faith, Repentance, Ordinances, and  Covenants,  Gift of the Holy Ghost, Enduring and helping others endure to the end. These have made the difference.  Such possibilities for a new year!

We picked up Ben and Christy on Dec. 16 and spent the next three days captivated by the  sights of the Strasbourg area Christmas markets.  Strasbourg was the first city that Ben served in as a missionary in the early ‘90s.  We got to sample some traditional Alsatian dishes, wonder at the 50 foot live singing Christmas tree which switched colors, and a multitude of extravagant but tasteful storefront decorations.  Wow!  We were charmed by the little town of Riquewihr as well.

The great tree in Strasbourg

Shop decrorations! Can you see the bubbles falling?

The cathedral

Riquewihr

In Chalon, we prepared for Christmas Eve with 5 invited guests from our branch - all single between 45-70, three of them joining the Church in the last year and two joining in the ‘90s. Each of us would share our conversion story in between singing carols.  I planned the soirée to be focussed on Christ so Christy and I decided to do a Palestinian meal with salads, pomegranates, humus, nuts, dates, fresh pita bread, and a scrumptious orange fennel baked chicken.  Our guests brought a variety of desserts.  We had enough to send them home with food bags.  A great feeling prevailed all evening!

Christmas day we were served a traditional French dinner on a beautifully set table, with individual gifts.  Great drinks and conversation, 3 bûches de Noël, and carol singing in front of the fire concluded our afternoon with our Branch President’s family and the young missionaries.  We felt appropriately Christmased.  

The setting for Christmas Day dinner

The cheese board

Thursday we Spackmans left for the Dordogne Valley, one of our favorite spots in France.  We are visiting castles and museums and learning lots of French history before we return home for New Years Eve.  What a lovely way to end 2025! 

December 14, 2025

This week has had its ups and downs. Eric, a convert of one year, with an unreliable car, found an apartment just four km from the church and even closer to his job. We made 3 trips to his old apartment 40 km away on Tues. and  Wed. to help pack, load and begin cleaning.  Unfortunately, by Thursday Tom was coughing and aching and by Friday, my nose was running and I was coughing and without energy.  Needless to say, we have had an isolated hot-lemonade-and-honey weekend with a few Christmas movies thrown in between the naps and lots of vitamin C.  We are hoping to have conquered this before Ben and Christy arrive Tuesday evening.

Sunrise over Le Creusot from La Marrolle

I was so impressed with the experiences shared in the First Presidency Christmas Devotional.  I will always think of Sister Porter when I sing the line of O Little Town of Bethlehem - Yet in the dark street shineth the everlasting light.  She has known the dark streets and the light.  I will remember how the General YM President learned about sacrifice on his first Christmas in the mission field in Brazil.  Eight children, their mom, and grandma  watching  him and his companion eat the dinner joyously  prepared just for them and likening this to the Saviors gift of the atonement.  Am I receiving the gift that he willingly gave?  Pres. Holland's plea to be a family to someone who is alone, who needs to feel accepted, to feel at home.  Mary, Joseph,  and Jesus all knew what it felt like to be away. I loved Pres. Eyring's words, carved into bread boards….J’aime et J’espere…..because of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, we can feel of his love and have hope in his words.  As we think of gift giving, let us give simple acts of kindness. Be gentle and loving in deed and in thought, for these are the things Jesus taught. Let us partner with him.

Sometimes we learn lessons in strange places.  I was forced into a comparison of two participants on My Lottery Dream Home (HGTV). One a successful seller of a computer company, who was buying a 2.5 million dollar vacation home with a pool, hot tub, several bedrooms, bathrooms etc. and the other, a very modest couple who had little but said they always had a bowl of rice for anyone who needed it. They had won 5 million dollars on a scratch off ticket.  Their budget for their dream house was 250 thousand dollars.  It needed a kitchen big enough to cook for a large group and a large yard so people could gather and feel at home.  The host made a comment that he could tell that they were givers not takers.  The last clip of the show was the man cooking a huge pot of soup and many people being welcomed in the back yard.  Interesting fact, as we age, the most significant characteristic for a happy life is relationships.

Our boulanger's window

Community tree at Place de l'Hotel de Ville

We have had a busy few days. Zone Conference was changed from Dec. 8 to Dec. 3 (less than 5 days after exit and intake ended) because of complications with Sr. Schow’s eye appointments   We found this out on Nov. 28 but did not have time to think about it except to plan to do soups for the main course.  I was speaking in church on the 30th and needed to finish and practice my talk in French.  We spent all of Monday and Tuesday preparing, and Wednesday preparing and setting up. The church was so cold that everyone enjoyed the potato corn, lasagne, ginger carrot, and chicken tortilla soups with thick crusty bread.  We had fresh pineapple, kiwi, persimmon,  banana and pomegranate salad,  and for dessert 5 inch chocolate chip cookies (only 464 calories each).  We had great help setting and cleaning up and left Lyon about 3:30, making it home before dark. You all know what exhaustion feels like.

Our elite soup servers: Elders Spackman, Later, Delbar, and Berube

Sr. Peterson on the L, Sr. Lewis on the right with her new companion 

Planks during the break

I took the time on Friday to teach our soeurs how to make pomanders so their apartment would small nice. Neither had even heard of one. 

Srs. Bell and Rasmussen

Last night was the branch Christmas party. Our few primary kids had a great time acting out the nativity.  Then we learned about the symbols of Christmas, played charades with one word clues, sang, and ate finger food.  Janine, one of the Tahitian members made a scrumptious Bûche de Noël. 

A funny story with a picture included. Bro. Landré (our 86 year old war hero and spy extraordinaire) was on the planning committee for the celebration. He wanted to be Père Noël and hand out toys to the children.   Pres. Catogni vetoed the idea, saying they wanted the  focus to be on Jesus. This did not make Bro. Landré happy.  So guess who showed up at the party?  Two wise men!  One had a beard and hair similar to a different Christmas character but wore a crown and a robe. The two of them gave presents to the children just like the wisemen brought gifts to Jesus.

The 2 Magi, aka Père Noël and his elf

Today we delivered gift baskets to some members, for the bishop. It is always a revelation to see how middle aged single men live. At first Tom thought he might be remodeling until he realized that there was nowhere to sit down, even on the floor.  It was covered with papers and junk, with a horizontal palm tree in the middle.  I had to remind myself that we came here to visit him not to judge his house keeping skills.

Sister Navarro was lying in bed in a dark room. She has had severe back pain the last few days and could not move.  We showed her pictures of zone conference and played a bit of everyone singing “Angels We Have Heard on High”.  Then we talked about the ward party and the wisemen which made her smile.  Tom blessed and passed the Sacrament in her bedroom. It is always a sacred experience with the three of us.