LettresdeLyon: Branch Changes

I forgot to mention last week that we had several improvements in the apartments that we watch over. The sisters’ electrician came and fixed their three non-functioning outlets. Our plumber came and replaced the very leaky shower control knobs. The elders in Dijon replaced their defective kitchen chairs, and the gas man came to inspect our gas heater which heats the apartment (through radiators) and the hot water for the kitchen and bathroom. It is an annual requirement to have it inspected. Improving our environment is good for the spirit!

We didn’t travel much this week. The weather has been relatively cold, with temps from about 25F into the low 30s. There have been numerous minor ailments among the missionaries, mostly related to the winter: chest colds, head colds, and also a couple of ingrown toenails - fortunately nothing too serious.

Today was our branch conference, and it was a joyful meeting. Our faithful branch president from Lyon, Pres. Pascaud, was released, along with his two counselors. The new branch president is Pres. Catogni, who we talked about in our last post. Bro. Maraiti was sustained as 1st counselor and Bro. Kugler was kept as 2nd counselor. Bro. Faria, who had been the 1st counselor, was sustained as the new Elders President.

Pres. Cantogni told of his visit to the temple 3 weeks ago, where he had a strong impression that he would be called (this is his 3rd time to serve as branch president) and how he saw in his mind each member of the branch and how they could be called to serve. He will be an inspirational and energetic leader. We have been in a limbo of disorganization for almost 2 months since the Elders Quorum president released himself to “take a break”. This will be a wonderful change to engage each person and their talents. Of course the choir sang as part of the service and it went well (although we’re not ready for any competitions, if you understand). Everyone loves to sing. I hit a resonant note a few weeks ago when I said at the end of a choir rehearsal that we aren’t the branch’s choir, rather it is the choir’s branch.

Bro. Maraiti, (new 2nd C) who is a faithful Tahitian member with his wife and two children, shaved his beard and his head and was almost unrecognizable were it not for his massive size. He looked like a new man. I could say the same about our middle-aged friend, Erich, who has been coming to church now for about 3 weeks. He was quite pessimistic about life when we first met him but the gospel message and associating with the members (and a haircut last week) have really brightened his look! Sometimes these externalities get in the way of others (and maybe ourselves) feeling the presence of our/the spirit. Certainly the gospel has a way of making us optimists and altruists despite the challenges we face.

Pres. Jubault spoke at the end of the meeting and invited us to do what we can to prepare for a temple in Lyon. For us it will take 3 1/4 hours to drive to Berne to visit the temple, and just under 3 1/2 hours to get to Versailles, so going to the temple is a planned activity. But having a temple that is much closer is a stretch goal; one worthy of our time and energy, because of the blessings that come when we focus our lives on Jesus Christ. We will miss this charismatic stake president - he will be released in March because he has been unemployed for a year and found a job elsewhere. Sometimes the Lord has to use uncomfortable measures to move us where he wants us to serve.

And finally some amazing news this week from Côte d’Ivoire. I received a text mid-week from a man who, when we met 5 years ago, was the leader of a small group of members in Zakaria, just 10 miles north of Daloa where we lived, and part of the Daloa Stake. We worked with the Zone Leaders (it was their area) and helped teach some leadership principles and also had the privilege of helping the group leader, his wife, and the counselor prepare to go to the temple in Ghana. It was a beautiful thing to see them after their return - the light really emanated from their faces and they were so happy! They met in an open air pavilion with rented chairs each week, and attendance was spotty. If it was over 20 it was because of the village children who liked to come. A couple of weeks after their temple experience, the group became a branch in the stake. The message this week was that now he was Bishop Digbeu, bishop of the newly created ward. To have that much growth is very meaningful - they have worked diligently to spread the gospel message and live it, and it is blessing many more people. Such is the great work in which we are all engaged. We have a lot of work to do in Chalon to see a ward created here, but the branch is on a good path.