We learned during the last three weeks to appreciate more
deeply the light of freedom, the light of electricity, the light that shines
from missionaries and the light of the gospel.
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| Twisted Gun. Sculpture outside of the Resistance Museum |
The brave resistance fighters of Lyon fought for the light
of freedom to return to their country during the 2nd World War. We visited the Resistance and Deportation
History Center at a location that was at one time the headquarters of the Nazis
and their leader Klaus Barbie where many French people were tortured and interrogated
and then sent to prison or deported because they resisted the Nazis or because
they were Jews. Klaus Barbie was
extradited from Bolivia and tried and convicted of war crimes by a court in
Lyon in 1987. We learned about the
heroic stories of Resistance fighters and leaders in Lyon who helped to unite
various resistance groups in France to be more effective in their
desperate fight against the Nazi
soldiers. Pictures, memorabilia,
commentary and listening to recordings of people who lived through the
experience reminded us of the value of freedom.
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| Old Building in the Resistance Museum Complex |
Our office elder apartment manager waged his own resistance of
numerous telephone calls against the bureaucratic nonsense of the government
run electric company (EDF) after the electricity was shut off at our apartment
due to one side of the business who set up our account when we moved two months
earlier not notifying the other group
that they needed to read our meter numbers.
After overcoming the obstacles of a strike and a three day holiday
weekend, a worker finally came for the five minute reading of our meter and
pushing of a button in our electric box. Voila, our electric power and lights
resumed after being off for a week from March 27th to April 3rd. Our little adventure occurred right at the
time that a Young Single Adult couple came to town from the U.S.A. and was
supposed to stay in our apartment with us from the 29th of March to
the 3rd of April before traveling to Nice. It also came at a time when 19 new missionaries
arrived on the 2nd of April.
We used a camping lantern and blankets to keep warm, and quick cold
showers. The Bria couple changed their
plans and stayed in a hotel. (This is
how we celebrated Easter Weekend. Doug
treated Nancy to Saturday and Sunday in
a Hotel so she could have a warm shower and be in a heated room. It made us really appreciate our Savior and
all he has done for us to help us return to the light and peace and warmth of
our Heavenly Home.)
Nineteen missionaries and their lighted countenances arrived
at 6:30 p.m. on the 2nd of April instead of 11:15 a.m. due to
technical difficulties with their airplane in Salt Lake City. This problem led to a change of our best laid
plans and an extra night in Lyon and a few extra meals to plan for. On Monday the 2nd of April, we ate
dinner at a pizza restaurant with the Roneys,
thirteen departing missionaries (that we have come to know quite well),
and a departing Young Single Adult couple, the Perrys, who had served in Nice. From the 2nd of April to the 4th
of April, we enjoyed getting acquainted with nine elders and ten sister
missionaries who spent time at the office during their legal, orientation and
training activities. The missionaries
came from a variety of places and backgrounds including some 19 year old sister
missionaries as well as one with a graduate degree and another who had
completed a law degree and passed the bar exam.
One elder is from Spain and another missionary, Elder Costa, is the son
of a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy, he is from Argentina.
We were uplifted and inspired by the light of the gospel
emanating from our prophet, apostles and other general authorities while we
watched general conference with the missionaries and some members and friends
of the church from the Lyon area at the Ecully chapel this past weekend. You may remember that our location results in
an interesting schedule of watching general conference: Young Womens Session at 4:00 p.m. and Saturday
morning session at 6:00 p.m. Saturday evening.
Priesthood session at 11:00 a.m.
on Sunday morning, Saturday afternoon session at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday afternoon,
Sunday morning session at 6:00 p.m. on Sunday evening. We watched the final, Sunday afternoon
session at 10:00 p.m. on Sunday evening through the internet at home). Three men from Nigeria who just arrived in
France a month ago to look for work watched one session with us on Sunday
afternoon. One of them is a less than
active member whose family is in Spain.
The other two men are not yet members.
Nos Petits-Enfants
Our conference weekend began with one of our favorite
talks. Through Skype on Friday evening,
Kiera presented her first Primary talk that she gave in primary a few weeks
ago. She was amazing as she remembered
it so well, as she spoke about Jesus while her mother held up pictures. It reminded us of a painting hanging by
Grandma’s desk at the office and the scripture in Matthew in the Bible: “And Jesus called a little child unto him,
and set him in the midst of them, And said, Verily I say unto you, except ye be
converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom
of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall
humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of
heaven.” (Matthew 18: 2-4)
