19 September, 2016
New news
A surprising announcement from Spencer! Things can be hard, and life can be good ...
(Respect and best wishes to Spencer's home-going companion, by the way!)
September 17, 2016
Surprise!
(Respect and best wishes to Spencer's home-going companion, by the way!)
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| This in case you weren't sure he was still in France. |
September 17, 2016
Surprise!
I'm actually no longer
in Lormont and no longer with Elder __. And, because I'm now an office elder
my p-days for the next little while are going to be on Saturday. Hooray!
I guess you probably deserve an explanation for the changes. On Tuesday, after weeks of worrisome behavior on Elder __'s part, I called President Brown. We decided together that it was probably better for Elder __ to go back home to Tahiti to get some psychological treatment. So, after an exchange with the Bordeaux zone leaders on Tuesday and a trip to a little place called Tulle to get my titre de sejour (legality) on Wednesday, Elder __ and I took the train into Lyon on Thursday. President Brown interviewed him and then asked me to join the office elders. Thursday night Elder __ called lots of the Lormont members to tell them what was happening and they showed an incredible amount of love for him. They encouraged him in all sorts of ways, telling him that there were things meant for him to do back home and to not forget that life continues. They encouraged him to stick with the Lord. I was really impressed by them. We're definitely going to visit them after. I'm sad I was only able to spend six weeks with them and that I didn't even have time to say goodbye. But it was all for the best.
On Friday morning we woke up at 4 to take Elder __ to the airport. We checked him in and sent him off through security. It was an interesting moment. There I was at 5:45 in the morning, sending off the most challenging person I've ever met in my life. And yet, I have never learned more from a single person in such a short amount of time. I wouldn't give back that experience for anything, but I'm also glad that I don't have to go through six more weeks of it.
My companions are Elder Wiberg, who's district leader I was for a transfer when I was back in Saint Étienne, and Elder Johnson. What great fellas. They're funny, nice, hard working despite the limits of the office. They like classical music (!) and I'm really excited to work with them. And I'm surrounded by nice old people all the time. We even spent our p-day with the senior couples.
I'm excited for this next transfer. I didn't ever expect to live six weeks with a mentally ill Tahitian (whom I dearly love mind you), but I just did it. I didn't expect to be in the office, but here I am. I'd say that most of the things that have happened to me on my mission weren't really expected. But when I look back on them they were all perfect. I've learned so much and I've come so far. If we'll trust in the Lord He'll take care of us. It's always His desire, but we have to choose to accept it. And there's no better choice.
I love the Lord, and I love all of you.
Spencer
I guess you probably deserve an explanation for the changes. On Tuesday, after weeks of worrisome behavior on Elder __'s part, I called President Brown. We decided together that it was probably better for Elder __ to go back home to Tahiti to get some psychological treatment. So, after an exchange with the Bordeaux zone leaders on Tuesday and a trip to a little place called Tulle to get my titre de sejour (legality) on Wednesday, Elder __ and I took the train into Lyon on Thursday. President Brown interviewed him and then asked me to join the office elders. Thursday night Elder __ called lots of the Lormont members to tell them what was happening and they showed an incredible amount of love for him. They encouraged him in all sorts of ways, telling him that there were things meant for him to do back home and to not forget that life continues. They encouraged him to stick with the Lord. I was really impressed by them. We're definitely going to visit them after. I'm sad I was only able to spend six weeks with them and that I didn't even have time to say goodbye. But it was all for the best.
On Friday morning we woke up at 4 to take Elder __ to the airport. We checked him in and sent him off through security. It was an interesting moment. There I was at 5:45 in the morning, sending off the most challenging person I've ever met in my life. And yet, I have never learned more from a single person in such a short amount of time. I wouldn't give back that experience for anything, but I'm also glad that I don't have to go through six more weeks of it.
My companions are Elder Wiberg, who's district leader I was for a transfer when I was back in Saint Étienne, and Elder Johnson. What great fellas. They're funny, nice, hard working despite the limits of the office. They like classical music (!) and I'm really excited to work with them. And I'm surrounded by nice old people all the time. We even spent our p-day with the senior couples.
I'm excited for this next transfer. I didn't ever expect to live six weeks with a mentally ill Tahitian (whom I dearly love mind you), but I just did it. I didn't expect to be in the office, but here I am. I'd say that most of the things that have happened to me on my mission weren't really expected. But when I look back on them they were all perfect. I've learned so much and I've come so far. If we'll trust in the Lord He'll take care of us. It's always His desire, but we have to choose to accept it. And there's no better choice.
I love the Lord, and I love all of you.
Spencer
Anthropological artifacts
Here's some of Claire, participating in the quaint and curious American custom of a high school Homecoming week.
16 September, 2016
Bordeaux, France
Another very nice Spencer-taken photograph, of P-day missionaries recreating at the Miroir d'eau, here at the blistering end of a long, hot summer.
This succulent bias continues on apace
The latest, from Sharon. At the same time Claire produced a similar number, but then gave them all to her buddies.
Violence
Matt, at the precise culminating moment of another successful martial arts test. (Photo credit, Omega.)
12 September, 2016
Sarah, back in the art saddle
Here's the semester's first printmaking assignment, featuring some more of Sarah's wonderful angels, which so sweetly combine holiness with happiness and good humour. Similarly, the work's title, not to mention the work itself, evokes tremendous kindness and simplicity and optimism. Bravo! Brava, we mean!
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| How we find answers |
05 September, 2016
Dispatches from France
Spencer is doing well! He's in Lormont, which is somewhat or sort of a suburb of Bordeaux. He's companions with a new missionary from Tahiti, which is cool. He's glad to find himself with a native French-speaker.
Spencer has had a few baptisms in the last few weeks. He would be anxious to credit the work of the missionaries that came before him. Definitely! And also, congratulations/commendations to him.
(This sister manages bravely and very successfully with a couple of physical disabilities.)
La jeunesse!
Here's a zone conference. Front and centre! (Elder Utia, front and right ...)
Missionaries often do strange and inexplicable things.
This next isn't making us morbid, or causing us to pine, or anything. It's a bit amazing. Already?! But it's also natural, and really nice. We're really glad about what's gone before, and happy for what follows.
Spencer is coming up on being out on his mission 15 months.
He's got less than nine months to go ...
Spencer has had a few baptisms in the last few weeks. He would be anxious to credit the work of the missionaries that came before him. Definitely! And also, congratulations/commendations to him.
(This sister manages bravely and very successfully with a couple of physical disabilities.)
La jeunesse!
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| There's the subject, and the composing, and the lighting. Nice photo! |
Here's a zone conference. Front and centre! (Elder Utia, front and right ...)
Missionaries often do strange and inexplicable things.
This next isn't making us morbid, or causing us to pine, or anything. It's a bit amazing. Already?! But it's also natural, and really nice. We're really glad about what's gone before, and happy for what follows.
Spencer is coming up on being out on his mission 15 months.
He's got less than nine months to go ...
03 September, 2016
02 September, 2016
Sarah's new house
Roomies with Bryce and Nykelle in this nice little place in the Mill Creek area of Salt Lake City, just off 33rd South, and just below 2000 East.
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