LettresdeLyon: Nov. 11th Ceremony and New Arrivals

Since childhood, I have been aware of the war, WWII. Perhaps it was because my father took me to movies about it, or I heard stories about it, or read books about it. My favorite author for years was Chaim Potok who wrote about the repercussions of that war. Since, I have been influenced by ‘All The Light I Cannot See’ and ‘The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society.’ When I came to France for the first time in 1978, what affected me most was the top floor of Les Invalides which is a war museum, mostly newspaper clippings, documenting the atrocities committed in this country. It was at that time, that that war became reality to me invoking some intense feelings.

I was anxious to attend the memorial service for their war dead, this week on Nov.11 at 6 pm. Tom and I live around the corner from the cenotaph (bathed in light of red, white, and blue for the evening) in our little city of Chalon-Sur-Saône. It was sobering and inspiring at the same time and very formal. It included Gendarmes, Cadets, and Veterans (mostly from the Algerian War) carrying 25 French flags, a military band, Firemen, First Responders, Politicians and 4 school children. Each was paying tribute to their country and to those who had gone before. I was so grateful to be there. I pray that none of my grand children will have to participate in a physical war.

Tuesday I learned how to bear my testimony in one sentence without concluding "in the name of Jesus Christ, amen". “This afternoon, in the country of France, I heard an apostle of Jesus Christ testify of the joy His gospel brings.” Elder Soares was in Paris and zooming to the Lyon Mission. He connected joy in Jesus Christ with power, allowing the Holy Ghost to work through us. He talked about dealing with rejection and adversity and shared a personal gut-wrenching story. His first son was born prematurely and he and his wife were told he would not live but through many struggles he did. Their second child, a son, was also born prematurely. They were told he could not survive and he did not. While his wife was sick in the hospital, he picked out a little white casket, got his baby out of the fridge, and alone took him to be buried. He cried unto the Lord over and over “How can I do this?…. How can I do this by myself?” He testified that he heard the voice of the Lord saying “Do not lose your joy. Everything will work out well.” That was the mission theme as he and his wife served as Mission Leaders in Portugal.

I was moved to tears by some of the lyrics of hymn #1008:

Now I come before the altar

Offering Him my broken heart.

Seeking for the precious gifts

His atonement can impart.

Bread of life, living water

Feed my soul, fill my heart.

Lord, give me new life in Thee

And make me whole

Complete and holy

Bound to Thee eternally.

We had a delightful supper with the Landrés and the young Elders who were transferring the next day. Bro. Landré is an 85 year old war veteran in our little branch. He was in charge of the Remembrance Day program. Each wall in their home is covered with artifacts from as early as 1740 to the wax statues he sculpts out of the red wax that the cheese comes in. It was a real experience not made for people with claustrophobia. Lovely people and a lovely evening.

Tom and I spent 36 hours with Pres. & Sr. Soulier welcoming in 16 new elders and sisters from Réunion, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Tahiti, Canada, and the US. They came from MTCs in Provo and Preston England. We fed them a lasagne dinner while the Pres. and Tom (medically) interviewed each person individually. The Pres. oriented them to lives focused on Jesus Christ and his restored gospel. He also debunked all that they had heard about France - eating well but not teaching and baptizing. He testified that the Lord will move the work forward if we do our part. Later in his office, we were invited to give our impressions about individuals and personalities as the president confirmed feelings about first companions. These were announced the next day in an energy-filled meeting of hugs and back slapping and clapping and receiving train tickets and leaving for your first area. It was exciting and exhausting to see the process of how the Lord directs his missionary work here. We now have two sisters, one in her first area and one in her last.