LETTRE SIX POUR LE 8 AVRIL 2012

Le Léman, Lac de Genève; Jet d'Eau far away in the background

What is the Jet d'Eau?  It is a Jet of Water that is located in Le Léman, Lac de Genève in downtown Genève.  It shoots 7 tons of water  469 feet into the air with a force of 124 miles an hour.  It operates from early March until early October.  It is the world's largest fountain!  On Jeudi, we enjoyed an unexpected opportunity to have lunch by the lake which is only about three minutes away from the mission home.  We could see the Jet d'Eau in the distance since the mission home is located in the suburbs of Genève.  We had traveled from our office location in Thoiry to the Mission Home in Genève to attend our District Meeting and expected to have lunch as part of the meeting.  However, lunch was not provided so we picked up a sandwich and found a nice location for an unexpected picnic in cool overcast weather. 

Five new missionaries are now in our Geneva South District:  Elder Escamilla from New York City is being trained to be the Legal Secretary in the Mission Office.  Elder Soares from Belgium and Elder Moore from Houston, Texas are new zone leaders of the Geneva Zone.  Elder Clafin from Utah is the new assistant, and Sister Bichierri is a new missionary from Italy that just arrived.  We continue to be uplifted by the spirit and the testimonies of the missionaries that participate in this meeting.   Sister Jeppson also contributed some insightful  comments.

We enjoyed a wonderful Paques de Dimanche (Easter Sunday).  We again traveled to our branch meeting in Annecy, about 29 miles away through picturesque country side that will only become more beautiful as the leaves come to the trees and the flowers bloom.  It was heartwarming and inspiring to spend Easter Sunday with the members of this small branch.  Frère Colignon delivers thoughtful priesthood lessons from the President George Albert Smith manual and Soeur Demeure, the branch president's wife is always well prepared and presents uplifting lessons about the Book of Mormon.  Because of the small number of priesthood holders, I have the opportunity every Sunday to either bless or pass the sacrament.  It was especially an inspiring opportunity to pass the sacrament on Easter when we think of the symbols of the sacrament and the importance of remembering the Savior.

Sister Fairchild, a newly arrived sister missionary from Idaho that was assigned to Annecy, bore her testimony for the first time in a French sacrament meeting and did a nice job.  A woman from Nigeria   who is being taught by the sister missionaries and her six month old son attended the meeting along with a young man from the Netherlands who served a mission in Bulgaria.  He speaks English and Dutch and Bulgarian but not French.  He told me that he came to Annecy to spend a week with Emily who was also a missionary in Bulgaria, but now teaches English at a school in Annecy.  Three young women from two of the families in the branch showed their courage and talent by playing the piano and leading the singing in Sacrament Meeting.  Four members of the branch talked about the significance of Easter and bore their testimonies.

Betty, the housekeeper of the mission home

Sister Murdock invited us to Easter Dinner on Dimanche afternoon at the Mission Home.  We enjoyed a delicious meal with President and Sister Murdock, the four office missionaries, Betty, the mission home housekeeper from the Philippines, another senior couple serving in the Geneva Young Adults Center, the Chatterlys and two guests.  The office missionaries were excited for us to participate in an Easter Egg Hunt after dinner.  They had colored 28 boiled eggs and had hidden them outside around the mission home.  We all had fun looking for them and finally located all of the 28 eggs.  Thanks again, Matt and Jessie for hosting our family for Easter.

 Nos Petits-Enfants

We drive through six tunnels on our way to attending church meetings in Annecy, France and while driving to the office in Thoiry.  French and Swiss road builders like to build tunnels.  If you ever come to France or Switzerland, It would be a challenge for you to hold your breaths through these tunnels.  The longest one, the Mont Sion Tunnel  is about two miles long.  We also traveled across four viaducts that stretch across large deep valleys.  During the drive to Annecy, we leave our apartment and cross over the border from France into Switzerland, travel for a few miles and then cross over the border again from Switzerland into France driving the rest of the way to Annecy.  We also pass through toll booths to pay money for the privilege of driving faster on part of the freeway.

Zachary, when I passed the sacrament today, I thought about you.  You will be a deacon in four months and will have that same opportunity.  Prepare diligently for this wonderful opportunity to have the Aaronic Priesthood conferred upon you and be ordained to the office of a deacon.  We love and miss all of you and know that you had a wonderful Easter.