Home Teachers, Misc

Elders Bertrand and Carpenter came to home teach us because we don't have home teachers and they wanted to do something nice for us. We had a really great visit. We chatted, laughed and ate together. I made a yummy breakfast for dinner for them. Both of these young men are smart, kind and diligent. We just love them. They gave us a really good message too.

Last week Florian was baptized by his grandpa. The baptism was so nice and as part of the program, Florian and his Mom sang a duet. It was really beautiful. He has a nice soprano voice and Emmanuelle has a rich, beautiful voice.

After the baptism, the missionaries all came to our apartment for a party. They had previously asked if they could come over since transfers were coming up. Of course we were happy to have them. Here are 3 of them collapsing on the floor after eating so much. I fixed pate on little bread rounds, lasagna, and jello salad. They brought the rest of the food; french bread, salad, and desserts. We played some games and we all laughed a lot. We all had a wonderful time. It is so nice to be with the missionaries. We really enjoy spending time with these awesome young people.

Elder Schaunig always volunteers to help clean up in the kitchen.

Here is a photo of what lots of socks and tights look like after miles and miles of walking.

Our last group shot as a district. Four of our missionaries have been transferred. We are soooo sad to see them go. Elder Harper is going near Versailles. Elder Carpenter is leaving for Normandy and Elder Paoli is going to Brussels. My dear Soeur Gappmaier is going to Normandy. I will miss them all a lot. Elder Paoli was especially sad to leave. He told me that I remind him a lot of his Mom and that he loved me a lot. Soeu Gappmaier is really sad too. She has become like a daughter to me and I will miss her a lot as well. It is amazing the love and connection that develops between the missionaries. They just love each other and us and we feel the same about them.

On the day before transfers, we all stayed after district meeting to have lunch together. I fixed Lepyoshki for everyone and they enjoyed them a lot. It was also Elder Carpenter and Soeur Gappmaiers birthday, so the other missionaries baked a cake for them and I got each one a little gift from all of us.

These last pictures were taken at one of the large stores here. Baguettes are sold everywhere and these bins do not stay filled very long. They are refilled very often during the day.

Other varieties of breads.

I am always amazed at how many different yogurts they sell.

More yogurts.

And even more yogurts.

You can have your choice of tomatoes.

Varieties of salads.

I had also taken pictures of the fish and cheese and meat departments but a security guy came up and made me erase them. He would'nt let me take any more pictures. Not really sure why. Personally, I thought it was quite strange.

Last interviews and last zone conf for Belgian Mission

Well we have had our last interview with Pres. Brubaker. He and Sister Brubaker are wonderful people. We have really enjoyed serving and working with them. They gave us some great words to live by. They were both a bit sad to be losing the french speaking missionaries, but are ready to go forth with the Dutch speakers. I know they will do a fantastic job.
We, all the missionaries, have a bit of mixed feelings. We are excited to be in the Paris Mission and are looking forward to the new adventure and we are also a bit sad to be leaving the people that we love on the Dutch speaking side. We had a great time at the interviews. We love spending time with the young missionaries and they are always soooooo good to us.


Elders Dungan, Shaunig, Porter and Rutman



Soeurs Brubaker and Gappmaier

Our zone leaders Elders Carptenter and Bertrand.

Our concert pianist, Elder Shaunig.

District leader Elder Harper.

The Frenchies, Elders Darguence and Paoli.

Elders Rogers and Rutman from Calais.

Soeurs Carson and Nielsen

Soeur Kohler.

We had the best zone conference again. We got to meet our new mission President and his wife, President and Sister Staheli. They both seem to be so nice and are very knowledgeable. I know we will enjoy working with them. Our new mission, the Paris Mission, boundaries are north to Brussels, including all of the francophones, Brest to the west and Reims to the east. It will extend south all the way to Limoges. Our next conf will be in 2 weeks and we will have to (did you read the right? "have to") go to Versailles. I can hardly wait. It will be so much fun.

At each zone conf, the assistants have a time set aside for them to teach. This time we began with a tour guide from Auzzieland. Dingo Wallabe came all the way to France to teach us to be good "tour guides" otherwise known as teaching the gospel and leading them to Christ. Oh my gosh, we laughed so hard when he came in with all of his paraphernalia hanging from his belt and his great accent. What a fun learning time was had by all. Ha.

Everyone listened so intently.

The other assistants took over and finished the lesson when Dingo had to leave for his other appts.

It is always so amazing to me to see these fine young men give such good instruction. You would think they were well trained professors of religion. Yes, when the spirit of the Lord is with you, you can do mighty things.







Several sets of missionaries did role plays.

Following are several thoughts and words that I got from the conf:

Our theme for life: My purpose is to invite people to come unto Christ by helping them.

Look at D&C117:13 ....his sacrifice shall be more sacred to me than his increase...

From the book Good to Great, we get Passion (for missionaries it is to baptize), Engine which is love, and Be The Best, which is spiritual.

Every moment of my life must be holiness to the Lord.

We must learn to be guided by the Holy Ghost and by careful practice through the application of correct principles.

Joseph Smith said to John Taylor-- Brother Taylor, you have received the Holy Ghost. Now follow the influence of the spirit. Every morning rise and bow to the Lord and dedicate yourself to Him. Dedicate the day to the Lord.

Exercise faith and learn how to be led by the spirit. It's a struggle.

2Nephi 32:2,3

"Do ye not remember that I said unto you that after ye had received the Holy Ghost ye could speak with the tongue of angels? And now how could ye speak with the tongue of angels save it were by the Holy Ghost?

Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ. Wherefore, I said unto you, feast upon the words of Christ; for behold, the words of Christ will tell you all things what ye should do."

We have tasted the spirit and we want to share it with others.

Baptism with the proper authority gives us the cleansing power, not only membership into a church.

We were discussing mercy and justice. One last quote which I loved is from Alma 41:14
"Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren; deal justly, judge righteously, and do good continually; and if ye do all these things then shall ye receive your reward; yea, ye shall have mercy restored unto you again; ye shall have justice restored unto you again; ye shall have a righteous judgement restored unto you again; and ye shall have good rewarded unto you again."

President Brubaker's last words to the elders and sisters at the close of conference was a story about his Mom. He loved his Mom a lot. She and his Dad were old and were very lively for their age. However when she was 87 years old, they were in a very bad accident. The car was hit on the passenger side where his Mom was sitting. She had over 20 bones broken in her body. She spent about 3 months in the hospital and was not doing very well. She was not healing. Finally she was in and out of consciousness. Towards the end, President took her hand in his and through tears he said to her, "Mom, I love you. I don't want to lose you." She opened her eyes and looked straight into his eyes. She took out the respirator and said very clearly, "We will always be together."

And, so shall we. I say this to you my beloved family, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and friends irl and bloggyfriends. We have a bond that cannot be broken. We will always be together. I love you.