December 8, 2024

Unfortunately there are times when one must relearn things you have known for years. We were asked to be in charge of Primary last week. We were given an outline of who and what should happen. Little did we know that our five students were used to lounging in bean bag chairs, wandering around the room and drawing on the blackboard while trying to learn a new song.  After 10 disastrous minutes of going through the lines of ‘La Foi’, we changed course, telling a story of my childhood. This was more captivating and between mine and Sr. Mollinet’s story about horseback riding in the mountains and getting lost for 6 hours, we ended up with some semblance of a gospel principle.  I have taught for many years that we do not teach lessons, we teach people and must adapt accordingly if we desire to be effective. 

This week, perhaps for the first time, I met a man without hope. His wife had left him. He was in a terrible accident resulting in symptoms of cerebral palsy. His daughter married but did not invite him to the wedding. He no longer believed that Jesus Christ was the son of God and our Savior.  He asked what happens to people who commit suicide.  The young missionaries left that question for Tom who had the knowledge and background to answer it correctly.  I felt devastated for this man. He did not understand where joy comes from.  We did leave him on a more positive note after the sisters played some music and we assured him that God loves us all.

Rêves de Noel began Dec. 8 near the Hotel de Ville. It will run until Jan.4. Workers have been setting up for weeks and I was anticipating a great celebration. There are multiple decorated trees and thousands of lights and midway rides and live entertainment ( New Orleans style) and food booths and Père Noel and reindeer and giant dancing frog puppets. This is not my kind of Christmas. NO WHERE, even in front of the Cathedral, was there any sign of Joseph, Mary, the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, shepherds to hasten, or angels to testify, or even good will towards men. It was blatant evidence of the sacred becoming secular.

Today at church we visited for a few minutes with the Stake president so he could get  to know us. We shared a few experiences and found out that he was originally from Rennes, where Tom served for 3 months in 1970.  He was young, perhaps early 50’s, but I shared that my brother Jack Hicken and his wife Fern had served as senior missionaries in his city perhaps 30 years ago.  Did he by chance remember them?  He thought a few seconds and his face lit up and he said he ‘remembered them well and with great joy.’ Just like that, we were bound together.  

Last summer, when preparing clothes to bring to France, and anticipating a different climate, I kept my eyes open for deals on wool skirts and sweaters and blazers. For you who know me well, a good deal is an article that looks new, is good quality, and costs less than five dollars.  Florida is a great place to shop and I literally filled my suitcases with $3 skirts and turtle necks and long sleeved shirts, etc.  Most were from Talbots or Ann Taylor or Chicos.  Moving from MN 15 years ago, I had collected a drawer full of socks, panty hose and tights and thought those might be useful too. A few days ago, I got the following note from Sister Soulier:  “I’m wondering if you can get some warm clothes for Sister ________?  I know she doesn’t want charity but could you get her some warm tights and maybe a couple of sweaters, a scarf,  and whatever else she needs? I don’t know how you want to tell her.

I sent a note back to Sister Soulier a day later. "She now has 4 new pairs of socks, 4 pairs of panty hose, a pair of tights, 2 t-neck sweaters, a warm vest, a wool skirt, a second skirt, two long sleeved shirts and a blazer. She is very grateful for all of them and even excited about some."  The Lord works in mysterious ways.

We met a couple visiting from Tahiti in church today.  They remembered Pres. and Sr. Graham who served as mission leaders in Tahiti many years ago and were our temple president in the Accra Temple.  They also have a daughter-in-law from Vancouver, BC.   There is a large Tahitian community here, and many are members but fewer are active.  We find the most amazing connections wherever we serve, but we are feeling that we are meant to be here.

Entrance to the square

The dancing frog puppets

Bro. and Sr. Utahia from Tahiti