It has been four weeks since we last wrote a formal letter. Elder and Sister Jeppson are beginning to achieve a slight level of recovery from our memorable adventure of moving to Lyon. Almost every day we have encountered new experiences and sometimes unexpected challenges that have tested us and helped us to establish a new office and maintain our heavy work load; while staying in hotels for two weeks until our apartment was ready for occupancy.
When I wrote our last letter, a week before we moved, we
were still uncertain of finding an apartment in time. The next day, our last two apartment
possibilities floundered and we were starting over. That Thursday, President and Sister Murdock
recommended that we join them and the office elders in fasting and praying to
find an apartment. The next day, an
apartment showed up in the advertised computer listings. Elder Headrick, one of the office elders
scheduled to finish his mission on the 21st of June visited the
apartment and made an offer. The offer
was accepted the following Tuesday, the day before we moved. Amazingly, the apartment building was just
across the street from our office building, about three minutes away. Even though our faith and confidence in that
blessing was still to be tested, we have felt the Lord’s hand in answering our
prayers and providing this apartment.
We stayed in hotels near Lyon’s large and bustling railroad
station for almost two weeks until our apartment was ready for occupancy. We stayed for two nights in a building called
the tower. The Radisson hotel occupies
the top floors. This is the large
building that you can see in the background of the blog. It is the highest hotel in Europe. The hotels were a little over one half of a
mile from the office. We either walked
or took the metro (subway) to get to the office each day. During this time we began to encounter one
challenge after another with getting our apartment ready.
The apartment was completely unfurnished. It needed a kitchen full of appliances
including a fridge, stove, microwave, washer and dryer that were eventually
delivered. It is customary with new
apartments to furnish them with Ikea products and assemble them. Over time, our apartment became an Ikea
showroom as Elder Headrick, President and Sister Murdock, Sister Jeppson and
I and the other two office elders worked
together to assemble a couch, living room cabinet, kitchen cart with shelves, a
bed, chest of drawers, two night stands, and two desks. Elder Headrick literally spent most of the
day on Thursday, Friday and Saturday picking out and assembling the
furniture. He then returned home to Ohio
the following Monday. We will never
forget his service in helping us survive.
Although the apartment looked quite presentable on the
surface, we soon learned that there were some unexpected problems. The toilet leaked and needed to be
replaced. The hot water heater didn’t
work, and major repairs eventually brought hot water needed for daily
activities and for radiator heating in the winter. An electrician will hopefully come soon to
upgrade the number of working electrical outlets. There are three that work outside of those in
the kitchen. A few days ago, we
discovered water leaking into a bucket that we had fortunately put under the
drain pipe under the sink.
As mentioned earlier in the letter, in spite of the various
problems we strongly feel the Lord’s hand in placing us here. The location has already proven and will
continue to prove to be an important blessing.
Parking and driving during rush hour in Lyon is a challenge. We can walk to work in three minutes no
matter what the weather conditions are. We
are 5 minutes away from a nice grocery store with almost everything we need and
20 minutes from one of the largest shopping malls in France near the railroad
station. The mission office has two
parking spots. We were able to park our
car in a narrow spot in a garage under the office building. We are only a quarter of a mile from the
Garibaldi metro stop which will connect us to the metro trains, above ground
train lines, buses and other public transportation. We have purchased a monthly pass for seniors
that will give us reasonably priced access to the public transportation system. We have been on the metro several times. It is well run and maintained. We have traveled to our Villerbaune ward building
three times which is about a 40 to 50 minute metro ride and walk. I will discuss the ward members and friends
of the church that are being taught by the missionaries in another letter.
NOS PETITS-ENFANTS
Heavenly Father has answered our prayers while he has guided
us through small and large challenges including finding a place to live. Always remember to say your prayers every
morning and evening. Pray for your parents and for your Grandma and
Grandpa. We need those blessings. I know
that he will bless and guide you in your challenges also.