We finally received nice enough weather to walk the
cobblestone streets of Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon) during our preparation day on
Saturday. According to the travel books
of Rick Steves, Vieux Lyon offers the
best concentration of well-preserved Renaissance buildings in France. These are buildings in pastel colors that are
connected to the three main streets by unique doors opening to traboules
(passageways) leading through courtyards. There are plaques at some of the outside
entrances that describe the history of the building or who lived there during
the 15th century such as a lawyers, doctors and printers. The pastries displayed in the windows of one
of those buildings constructed in 1498 lured us inside to sit down for a minute
and enjoy the most delicious éclairs that we have eaten since we arrived in
France. These traboules were hiding
places from the Nazi soldiers for Lyon’s French resistance fighters during
World War II.
We helped two couples through a changing of the guard. The
Johnstons stored some of their luggage in our apartment while traveling to
Italy before returning home to Lacey, Washington last Friday. Earlier that week, the Millers (from Rawlins,
Wyoming) arrived to stay with us and then travel by car to Mont de Marsan, a
small city near Bordeaux. They will only
stay there for two weeks and then move to Chalon which is north of Lyon to
support the branch there. Two young
sister missionaries will likely take their place in Mont de Marsan. There will be a similar experience later this
month when the Brias come from Virginia to replace the Perrys who will return
home to Utah after serving in the Nice Stake Young Single Adults Program. Elder Bria served in Nice as a young
missionary.
I am impressed with our leaders in the Lyon stake. President Bennasar, our stake president, is a
strong dynamic leader who always inspires us when he speaks. We were blessed with his inspired words
during our last sacrament meeting and then earlier in the week during the Lyon
Zone Conference. He talked about the
Lord not necessarily always calming the storms of life but calming and
supporting us during the storms that we encounter. He also taught us that the Lord’s ways to
bless our lives may not always be the logical ways that we map out for
ourselves. President Bennasar is in his
forties and he describes “Why he is a Mormon” on Mormon.org.
President Roney, Sister Roney and the assistants also
provided edifying messages during zone conference about the power of prayer,
setting standards, and the importance of planning. Four missionaries who will depart for home in
two weeks bore their testimonies for the last time in a Zone Conference. A couple from the Ecully Ward in Lyon
prepared and served lunch. We and they
were touched when all of the missionaries sang “As I Have Loved You’ to thank
them for their service.
Nos Petits-Enfants
You will notice in the pictures that are part of this letter
that there are unique doors that require a special touch to open. When opened they reveal dark passageways that
lead to the light. Our prayers of faith
are the special touch that can open doors that lead us from the darkness of
difficult and troubled times to the light of the Savior’s love, example and
guidance. Prayers of faith can be
enlightening and powerful and produce miracles in our lives. Please strive to receive the blessings of
prayer in your lives. 