May 11, 2025

Spring has sprung. We do not recognize what we thought were familiar roads for all the trees and forests and grape vines with leaves growing out the top. Monday we were invited to our Branch President’s home for a farewell dinner for Sr. Hammond.  They are such delightful people and the drive through the countryside invigorating.  On our way home we stopped in a village to connect to an unscheduled Zoom meeting with Pres. Schow, a missionary, parents, and home stake president.  The missionary has been dealing with strange symptoms from two different body systems, and all agreed that it will be much faster for them to transfer home to a service assignment while sorting this out.

With Srs. Hammond and Peterson at Catogni's

Tuesday we drove to Lyon to the Mission Home.  We helped with preparations for the evening farewell meal for the 12 departing missionaries.  They played sports outside (pickleball, trampoline, etc.) and then enjoyed, as did we, the meal of raclette (melted cheese over charcuterie, potatoes, bread, etc.).  Following that they were given a few words of council from the Schows about going home and being accountable for their own spirituality.  Then they wanted to sing together.  It was a very happy time.  We were joined by two sets of parents who had come to accompany their daughters home from the mission and then, all were gone.

The next morning we were working on food preparations to welcome the 22 new missionaries arriving that afternoon.  Most were coming from the Provo MTC; 2 came from the Brazil MTC.  Overnight flights for all.  A snack bag awaited them when they got off the plane, and  a lasagna dinner  at one of the chapels when they arrived  in Lyon - there wasn’t enough space in the Mission Home.  Of course their planes were late, so they didn’t get to the chapel until after 6:30 PM.  Even so, dinner was delicious!  We accommodated a new sister with celiac disease with chicken cacciatore.  While they ate, Pres. Schow started his interviews with each missionary to help decide their initial assignment.  Sr. Schow also visited with each one and I asked about their health history individually and explained the system for their medical care here .  It was a long evening, but very rewarding.  This seems to be a strong group - keen to work and with few issues to hold them back.  They were clearly more tired than the interviewers.

Thursday was assignment day.  We went back to the chapel to finish the sack lunches they would take on the train.  Meanwhile, the Assistants and Sr.Schow took them on a historic  walking tour of old Lyon, and Pres. Schow did a training session with the new trainers.  The schedule  for the intake  meeting was tight.  Each missionary is invited to come to the front, open their letter and read in French their first area of service and the name of their first companion.  Each trainer in their turn runs to the front, gives them a big hug, gets the companionship picture taken pointing on a map to their area, and then they sit  back down together.  No one knows ahead of time  where they are going or with whom.  Pres. Schow was able to get through all the assignments with a little time left for an inspiring orientation about expectations and goals and was done before 1:30 PM.  Those with the first trains at 2:15 were hustled out with their luggage to the station.  It is truly a momentous day in the life of every missionary.

Overall we felt like the process for this large group of missionaries went according to plan and that it was a good experience for all.  We confess to being dog-tired at the end!  On our 75 minute drive back to Chalon I had to stop and nap for 15 minutes to make it safely home.  Shortly after arriving we were able to get to the VE Day 80th Anniversary ceremonies taking place at the Cenotaph just around the corner from our apartment.  Some of the speeches talked about the necessity of preparing for war to preserve the peace, and the threat to peace in Europe by the neighbor to the east.  We live in interesting times.

Lower right with his red beret, Bro. Landré, stalwart member and veteran

 We have now recovered somewhat and are getting ready for the next two weeks - stay tuned!  Sr. Lewis was the new missionary assigned to Chalon.  She is a bright, energetic bleue (greenie) with a good accent already.  Both sisters spoke in Church, followed by me, on the topic of Priesthood and keys.  It isn’t Mother’s Day here for another two weeks.