Sunday May 10, 2026

Our last week in Chalon has been an emotionally draining and physically exhausting adventure. Like the ancient Inca tribes, I have enough faith in an afterlife that rather than finalize a goodbye, say au revoir - until we meet again. We have learned that distance does not negate love of our brothers and sisters - not in Edmonton, Cardston, Pocatello, Rochester, Accra, Daloa, or Nairobi. Chalon sur Saône will be the same.

We had some interesting experiences these last few days. Thursday we made a trip to Lyon to the mission home to store a load of stuff for Avignon. We left cooking pots and bowls for large groups at the office. I was supposed to get a crown on a tooth that afternoon but the dentist had to remeasure for the lab. She was quite surprised that we were leaving the country for two months on Friday. We figured out that next Tuesday is the only possible day for this to happen.

Friday, May 8 is the day the war ended in Europe. We were at the cenotaph for that remembrance. Afterward the mayor presented Bro. Landré with a medal and certificate honoring his service to the community.

We met his sister and a couple of nephews and he received lots of attention. We were supposed to smooze but excused ourselves to meet the branch president and wife for lunch. They took us to their favorite restaurant, a quaint little open air place among the trees next to a stream. It was quite heavenly listening to the birds and such a pleasant three hour meal.

What a lovely last hurrah with them - at least until August when they are coming to visit in Avignon.

Saturday we attended a baptism for 8 year old twins in our branch.  We do not have a font so must travel to Dijon where there is an actual chapel. It is about a seventy minute drive north and is the border of our mission. I lead the singing. Tom accompanied me, also the Soeurs singing a duet, and was on the program to bear his testimony. It was heartfelt and the little girls listened intently. My favorite part was a member from the Dijon Ward playing ‘When Jesus Comes Again’ on her harp.

When all was finished, a woman about my age approached me and said Larry Spackman was her first bishop in Calgary when she joined the church at age 17. She served a mission in France and Belgium in her twenties and was so impressed with the commitment of the members that she wanted to live around them. After her mission, she used to pray that she could help build Zion in France. She ended up marrying a Frenchman who joined the church at 35 and her prayer became a reality. Her husband now has some severe health problems and he is her mission at the moment. What a sweet lady.

From there we headed to see our widow who had just arrived home from the hospital after having surgery on Thursday. We had already said our goodbyes but wanted to cheer her with some flowers and see how she was doing. I said to her ‘The next time we see each other we will be younger and more beautiful.’ She promptly replied ‘And I will have my teeth.’ With that we all laughed, gave hugs and left.

For the next two months we will be blogging occasionally, not weekly. We will be in Florida, Utah, and Alberta, then returning to France on July 15. Au revoir Burgundy. We will miss your stunningly green hills and hedgerows, your historic chateaux, your vineyards, your river, and most of all your people. We will remember your beauty.  

Sunday May 3, 2026

Our last morning in Berlin we ate whole cardamom buns for breakfast and Christy got us on the train to the airport. We had our carry ons checked, compliments of Air France and have learned how we can get on the plane with group one. We tell them our age and they say ‘Welcome  aboard’. It was a late night arriving home  at 11:30 

Tuesday was an unpack, do laundry, get groceries, make granola day. I cleaned the freezer and planned our meals using what we have for our last 2 weeks in Chalon. The next three days we cleaned windows, kitchen cupboards, wallpaper, the oven, and the wooden dining chairs. Also helped the elders start cleaning their cupboards. I threw out three frying pans, chipped dishes, spices from 2021 and many things they have never used.

I have been thinking about 3 different things this week. Who are we going to include in our visit to Utah? What is going to Avignon (packed separately) via the mission home, what are we taking to Florida that stays there and what  activities are we planning  for the family reunions in Canada? We have started packing. Third, how do we best support those who are dealing with heartbreaking challenges? 

Today was one of my hardest goodbyes with the widow I have loved since the first time Tom took her the sacrament. For ten years she has only left  her house in an ambulance. She speaks French and mine is very limited but somehow we connected. She actually stood up so we could hug and weep on on each others shoulders. I will miss our visits and the sacred times we shared spirit to spirit. It reminded me of saying goodbye to the couples in Rochester who stayed to clean up after our going away party. I could not speak, only hug and cry. We had invested 30 years of our lives there and raised our children there and were leaving it behind. How we love and remember those dear friends.  That was 17 years ago and Tom and I have lived several different lifetimes since. 

Sunday April 26, 2026 Berlin

It is so strange hearing German spoken with smiling eyes or hearing the words of the Sacrament prayers in that language. Until visiting Berlin this week, most of the German I had heard were words from movies or documentaries on World War Two. It requires a paradigm shift.

Berlin is on a plain, with forests (we walked and ran in them), lakes, and beautiful treed streets, and a horrific history.  The plan was 1000 years of glorious reign by a superior race instigated by a Viennese immigrant adopted by a country humiliated by the their defeat politically and economically by the First World War.  It is a beautiful city now, mostly new, with 3 1/2 million people thriving under democratic government.

Ben and Christy have been so accommodating since we arrived. (I have  walked  29.9 miles).  We travelled to Potsdam, unspoiled by the war, to see the Dutch Quarter from the 1700s and the King of Prussia’s Summer Palace.  We have visited the Brandenburg gate, Jewish Museum, the Stasi Museum and the Topographies of Terror, Checkpoint Charlie, and the Berlin Wall. Sobering.  I was especially aware of the personal stories recorded - one father had written a poem about living, to his young child headed to England on a kindertransport and another asking when he could come visit his 5 yr. old epileptic daughter at the hospital for undesirables.  You know the end to both stories.

We delighted in two concerts: two solo violinists with piano at the Berlin Philharmonic performing Beethoven, Mozart, Ravel, and a medley from Carmen, and an outstanding Orgelvesper  at Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church with readings from Mathew plus the Lord’s Prayer and selections from Buxtehude, Bohn, Bach, and Mendelssohn on the organ.  I must mention the  bonus couple on the train playing harmonica, guitar and bass.

At the same time, a sixty year old women came on with her bike.  That may not sound amazing to you but she was also carrying a 5’ blossoming fruit tree.  I could not quit giggling. How was she going to get that to her house? 

We have eaten sour cherry and tonka bean (outlawed in the US) ice cream at Jones, Turkish kabob, rhubarb squares from Markthalle Neun, manti, and could easily develop an addiction to cardamom buns.  Christy taught me how to cook leeks in potato soup or include them in roasted vegetables.  We found blueberries like you have never tasted, 2 euros for 1200 grams, mandarins 1 euro a kilo and green grapes for 2 euros a kilo.  We really hit the jackpot at the outdoor market.  Everything was delicious.

We had a most unusual meal after ward conference today. There were lots of salads and desserts but also two pizza ovens with two bakers making and cooking fresh pizza.  Christy was cutting them as they came out.  There were fresh flowers on the tables and a pour your own drink stand.  This was all outside on the lawn in the trees behind the red brick church built in 1950.  This raised the anti for meet-and-greet in the future.

We thank Ben and Christy for a week of new experiences, and expanded perspective, but mostly for their time, their conversation and their goodness.  We may never visit Berlin again but we have memories for a lifetime.

Brandenburg Gate

Walking in the forest

Sculpture in Sans Souci Palace garden

Buying rhubarb squares at Markthalle Neun

Section of the original Wall at Topography of Terror exhibit 

The organ in the new Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church

Checking out Checkpoint Charlie

Saturday April 18, 2026

There is excitement and then there is excitement.  Last Sunday, the branch had a little surprise going away party for us.  Kate was included as well since it was her last Sunday in Chalon, being here for 7 months.  Lots of finger foods and fresh fruit and presents.  I am taking the gifts to the U.S. in May adding to what I bought months ago for myself - black and white polka dot cutlery.  Pres. Catogni was effusive with his praise and the branch was very generous.  Fortunately, we did not receive any live Guinea hens that we need be concerned about (sometimes given in Africa).  

Pres. Catogni

We have invested nineteen months of our lives here and have learned so much from them.  I am brought to tears thinking about leaving this place but know it is time for a new assignment.  Jacob 4:10 "Wherefore brethren,  seek not to counsel the Lord, but to take counsel from his hand. For behold, ye yourselves know that he he counseleth in wisdom, in justice and in great mercy over all his works."

Sr. Landré, Kate, Sue, Bro, Landré, Tom

We found a new couple who just moved from Tahiti and need both our beds .  I cleaned out the kitchen and the balcony and they took everything from dishes to planters this morning and will come back for the rest on May 11 when we move.  Our stuff will reside in the mission home in Lyon until we return in July.  

We talked to both Elder Later and Elder Delbar about the place we had found to live.  Each suggested that we ask the owner if he would be interested in a long term rental.  He was.  We said we would need to see it first.  He suggested we come yesterday so Thursday we drove to Lyon to get my tooth checked again and then travelled south to an adorable hotel in Villeneuve called La Magnanerais for the night.  Absolutely charming; rock walls, climbing ivy, shutters, marble bathrooms, beautiful gardens, and glorious birds chirping in the evening sunlight.  I was in heaven.  I hope there are chirping birds in Heaven.  

Our room at upper right

The hotel garden

The next morning we prayed that the Lord would confirm that this was where He wanted us to be and headed off.  The place was spotless and quaint.  As soon as I walked through the door, I became very excited.  This spontaneous energy can’t be conjured up and almost can’t be contained. Tom was talking about serious things like reliable internet while I was looking through cupboards etc.  The owner was very accommodating about rearranging furniture, bringing in a table or desk for a work area, updating to a faster speed if needed etc.  We each knew this was the right place.  It looked and felt like France.  The owners’ great grandfather had built the house and attached barn about 1840 surrounded then by grape vines and olive groves.  Now it was surrounded by a ten foot rock wall in the middle of a village.  We would be living in the remodeled barn. We were delighted to be part of it and it would become a part of us.

Interior view of the new apartment

Unfortunately when we arrived home and read our mail, we were slammed with a multi- thousand dollar special assessment on our condo In Florida.  Such is life.  Opposition in all things.  We will work it out.  We know God is still in control.

 We hope life is good at your house and that Spring has come.

April 12, 2026

We have learned much in the last two weeks. The days leading up to Easter were more meaningful than in past years because we tried to make it a Holy Week instead of a holy day.  There were some excellent articles and lectures online discussing the fig tree, the cleansing of the temple, and the last supper (according to John not being a Passover meal), Christ carrying the crossbar, the history and methods of crucifixion, and the idea that the crucified were at street level so that they could not be ignored.  I would guess that was much harder on his mother.  From our Easter service at the church, I was reminded that the purpose of Sacrament meeting talks is not to bestow knowledge but to inspire, through personal experience, ratified by the Holy Ghost, a testimony of the greatness of God and the infinite atonement of his Son, Jesus Christ.

Some favorite studies of the past week from Mosiah 25 & 26: 

‘…because of their unbelief, they could not understand the word of God and their hearts were hardened’

‘As often as my people repent, will I forgive them their trespasses against me’.

On Mar. 30, April 1& 2, we were in Lyon feeding 10 departing missionaries including Sr. Peterson, 20 new arriving, and 60 at the assignment meeting.  It was pretty exhausting. We were grateful to have Friday as a down day to prepare for the marvelous General Conference and Solemn Assembly on the weekend.  During those meetings, I received a sobering personal  revelation about softening my own heart instead of praying for someone else to soften theirs.  Kate joined us at 6pm both evenings for the direct broadcasts.  She listened in French on her earphones while we listened in English.  One of the French translators is in our Stake Presidency.  

The Saturday afternoon session was shown Sunday morning at the church and the new Elders joined us for a roast pork dinner afterwards.  My favorite part was a spinach, strawberry and mango salad.  That was a new experience for them.  In response to my question ‘Why did you decide to serve a mission?’ Elder Scrivens answered that for several years as a teenager he did not feel the Spirit.  As he got older and learned to recognize it, he realized that it had been there all along.  Perhaps his  experience could help someone else.  Elder Cowden responded that it was an answer to his prayer plus his two older brothers had served. We are  enjoying  getting to know these two elders better.

Monday evening Tom conducted the First Monday meeting zoomed to the complete mission.  Four senior couples shared info that all missionaries need to know: electricity and circuit breakers, financial receipts, nutrition, health and budget, and emergency preparedness.  It was well received and all are hoping for a review sheet.  I cooked chili most of the day for zone conference on Friday.  Tuesday and Wednesday we cleaned veggies, cooked another batch of chili and 7 double packages of lardons (precut tiny pieces of bacon) for the sour cream, bacon & chives.  By Thursday when we left for Lyon, everything was ready except chopping onions and scrubbing, poking and wrapping 42 potatoes for baking.  Another senior couple was bringing 20 more.

Zone conference, especially Pres. Schows’ talk, was exceptional.  What matters, using Mark 6, and 7, being a missionary.  You matter (referring to friends), our message matters, I care about you, BE where you are.  

He showed a clip of Elder Bednar teaching at the MTC four months after his call as an apostle.  He spoke about two young missionaries who had come to his home on a Saturday morning when he was in graduate school. They played with his two little kids, had breakfast and after an hour, asked if the Bednar's had anyone they could refer to the missionaries to teach.  He replied, “We will not refer any of our friends to you. You are like two boys not two missionaries.  Missionaries would not waste a Saturday morning visiting members when it is the only day most people are home.  Missionaries would knock on my door and say something like ‘May we share something we have learned from the Book of Mormon this week with you and your family if you have a few minutes?’  Then my two year old could get his copy and make this a family experience. Missionaries would bear their testimonies of Jesus Christ and his church and conclude with the question about teaching our friends. They would leave within a few minutes and go to work.”  The next week the missionaries came back and did just that. 

Pres. Schow also quoted Elder Uchtdorf from October 2014 conference. “Over the course of my life, I have had the opportunity to rub shoulders with some of the most competent and intelligent men and women the world has to offer.  When I was younger, I was impressed by those who were educated, accomplished, successful, and those applauded by the world.  But over the years, I have come to the realization that I am far more impressed by those wonderful and blessed souls who are truly good and without guile.”  The gospel is good news and it helps us become good.

The lunch was well received and we were too tired to talk on the way home. We love helping where we can.

Srs. Tew, Cardon, and Bell at Zone Conference

The exuberant wisteria thinks spring is here

March 29, 2026

I have listened to some excellent research this week about the corruption of the High Priests and the financial gouging of the thousands of people in the temple courts by the lower Priests.  The pilgrims came to Jerusalem to celebrate the Passover by paying their tithes and taxes, and offering their appropriate sacrifice in the temple.  Why did Christ clear the Temple courtyard?  Was it the commotion,  the manipulation, and the mockery of his Father’s house?  Was it that the animals, which symbolized the offering that He would make, had become a very successful commercial business? The meaning of the sacrifice had been replaced by greed.  Did not the sacrifice which He would make mean so much more?  Tom and I are listening to Handel’s Messiah as we prepare for Easter. 

Last weekend, we confirmed with Pres. Schow that we would be happy to serve for another year.  When we heard that  there would be no replacement for us, and wondered how to help, we were told that we could return to America for a graduation and a family reunion, and then return to France until April of 2027.  Tom will still carry the medical phone so he can be contacted by any who are sick and we will still wear our badges but have no other restrictions.  Seniors can serve for up to 30 months without re-applying for another mission.  On our return, Pres. Schow would like us to serve in the Avignon Branch.

Tuesday we got a call from Elder Delbar in charge of housing. He wondered if we would like to participate in finding our housing for Avignon, then we could live where we want.  We thought that a great idea.  He suggested that we book an Airbnb or VRBO for the first two months after we come back which would give us time to search.  We spent several hours that same day looking at what was available.  I was captivated with a two bedroom rental in a little village of 8000, in the countryside, about 20 minutes from the church.  We thought about it overnight and texted Sr. Delbar the next day to see if it was within the budget.  When she saw the price, she texted back "It’s a steal! Book it now."  So we did. We are very happy to know where we are coming back to.

Our two young sister missionaries in Chalon, Srs. Bell and Cardon, are being transferred to St.Etienne and Valence on Wednesday.  Each will  be training  one of the new arrivals from Brazil, the Provo MTC, or the Preston MTC.   We get really attached after spending three or four months with them.  We will miss them but we will be in the same mission until they go home.  Elders are coming to Chalon!  We will work with Elder Crowder and his new companion for one transfer before leaving in May.  We love serving in the mission field.

 

March 22, 2026

The weeks pass very quickly.  Sunday we went to church in Avignon.  It is a branch about the same size as Chalon with a very young branch presidency and half the population older than we are.  Some members were from Tahiti and some from the Caribbean - not quite as diverse as ours now.  There is a nice two story building but a piano rather than an organ.  We were surprised to see the Elder and Sr. Hansen there.  He served in Avignon 50 years ago and shared his testimony of being there with a total of 4 people.  They are now serving in Angoulême. 
 
Monday I purchased all the supplies for the mission tour meal except the pork which was already pulled and frozen. I made 5 litres of bbq sauce which took most of the day and hard boiled 40 eggs.  Tuesday we headed to the mission home and peeled 20 of the 32 pounds of potatoes and cut up cut up 3 stalks of celery.  We had a conversation with Pres. Schow about where we will serve our last 9 months. 

Wednesday we cooked all the potatoes and sprinkled them with vinegar, cut up the pickles and eggs.  I made all the salad dressing.  It took 3 hours to assemble potato salad for 120 missionaries with 4 of us working.  It was a relief to have that done. Sr. Berube made the cole slaw because she has a food processor.  Tom and I went to Promocash for paper plates that would not collapse, spring colored napkins, and plastic folks that would not break.  We were ready.  We zoomed Elder McConkie’s talk in Marseilles on the language of personal revelation and had a quiet evening.  Hopefully everything needing to go to the Church would fit in our car.

Thursday was a bright sunny day.  All the food did indeed fit into the car.  We considered setting up tables in the grassy area outside the church, but the ground was too soft.  Fortunately the space inside was adequate for 120 place settings.  The lunch was very well received by all and there was enough food for seconds for many.  

Elder and Sr. McConkie were a marvel to observe in their teaching and interactions with the missionaries.  Elder McConkie taught from Luke 5 - the calling of Peter.  How did Christ invite?  What did he promise?  What can we learn from that experience in our invitations to others to follow Him?  He also shared the experience he had in his training as a general authority observing Elder Cook as he matched missionaries to their assigned missions.  At one point Elder Cook didn't feel right about assigning a missionary to any of the missions that would have vacancies, so he asked to see all the missions.  He assigned the missionary to one of those.  When the attending member of the missionary committee said that mission was full, Elder Cook said "I don't care.  That's where this missionary is called to serve!"  Later on, he was struggling to find the right match and asked to see the mission leaders in the missions under consideration.  That gave him the answer.  Calls come under inspiration!

The McConkie's met with the senior missionaries separately for a short meeting after the others, to thank us for our service, and then asked what we were learning.  We responded that mission leaders make all the difference in the spirit in a mission, and that we knew we were supposed to be here.  Many times it isn't what we do that makes the difference, but just being there.  When we are willing and try, the Lord uses our individual talents to bring about good things.  Possibly the greatest thing we have seen is the resolution of a long-standing feud which had divided the branch for years.  We served as a catalyst and the Lord took care of the details.  Sr. Later also contributed that she has sent in the past year from the office by request copies of the Book of Mormon in 37 different languages!

Yesterday we drove to meet Neal and spend a few hours together.  He was in Switzerland for the week to give several talks at a convention in a beautiful mountain retreat.  We met in Geneva and visited the Bastions Park with the Reformation Wall - statues recognizing the great Protestant reformers.  Their work also paved the way for the independence of Geneva as a canton.  Carved into the wall behind the statues are the words "POST TENEBRAS LVX".  It took a bit to realize that the Latin LVX wasn't a number, but that the V was a Latin U.  Loose translation, "After darkness, light".  That is Geneva's motto.  

Reformation Wall

Geneva Coat of Arms