We've been noticed

March 18, 2018

Shorter picture version at the bottom.

This week—We’ve been noticed; there’s no other way to put it.  We got many a look at the typically French markets with our business attire and black name tags moving through throngs of shoppers and vendors.  Poussard being a VERY French name and our American look but the Church name on our name tags in French puzzled quite a few.  They expect English and out pours our broken French.  And they seem delighted.  It’s quite the conversation piece and conversation starter.  We even got a serenade with Elder Poussard carrying a few swigs of fragrant Magnolia branches through the French Market.  Apparently there is a French song about magnolias and as we passed by, the vendor sang it…..for all the world to hear.  She was quite uninhibited; and well, we’ve been noticed. 

Then Friday, we spent the day moving the Elders across town with our little Toyota Yaris hybrid. If we counted correctly, 12 trips.  It’s surprising what did fit—dryer, refrigerator, several bookcases, wall unit, desks and chairs.  But it was quite the sight watching the young Elders walking down the street with what didn’t fit—larger, heavier items that just couldn’t squeeze in no matter what angle we tried.   We pulled in 2 extra Elders to help from a neighboring town 45-minutes away so it was a four-some parade.  There they were—walking down the street with their missionary name tags and their apartment furnishings, smiling all the while greeting any passerby.  Couldn’t miss them, they were noticed.

And the winning spectacle of the week?  Marc in his suit, tie and black leather shoes standing in the snow at the mountain ski resort on our way back from looking for some new members of our congregation.  Meg’s dress and boots suddenly didn’t seem quite so “out-of-place” compared to a dark suit against the freshly-falling white snow on the already mounded snow from the winter….it was a bit hard to hide.  Skiers on skis and others with that “ski-boot walk” finishing for the day swished by us doing a double take trying to figure out “what’s wrong with this picture?”  The looks were worth their weight in gold; we chuckle as we write.  Families with children winding down their day of skiing headed toward the parking lot jostling ski gloves, ski hats and poles all the while trying to nonchalantly read our name tags and register the meaning of this very out of sorts spectacle.  Experienced skiers turning so far around they almost fell.   Why were we there?  We still had an hour’s drive and the ski resort was the only restroom we saw for a whileJ    

Open-air Markets—A less-active member of our Church took us underwing and has been showing us around town, especially the open-air markets in Tarbes and the free town shuttle buses that take us there and back if we choose to ride.  She’s a kind, kind and generous soul who feeds the missionaries twice a week and then some.  We walked to the market together then rode back with our “French” shopping cart.  Everyone has one; and what is more, everyone needs one!  It’s impossible to carry heavy items up and down the streets for several blocks then up our apartment stairs.  A wheeled cart/bag is the only way to go.  And each cart has its own personality and makes a fashion statement….another VERY culturally French necessity.  Prices are significantly cheaper at the market, much is organically grown, it’s fresh—picked that morning, it supports the local economy and….well, it’s very culturally French.  Neighbors and friends chat.  French berets and poodles abound.  The Thursday market is HUGE with well over 150 vendors selling food products—vegetable/fruit growers, fish, meats, sausages, olives galore, cheeses, spices, etc.  Then there are clothing vendors that also come in—racks and racks of sweaters, skirts, shoes, scarves, pants, purses, etc.  The food was no surprise; but the almost whole department store outside was.  And very miscellaneous vendors selling rugs, music, wooden toys, plants, anything that doesn’t fit into any other category.  Saturday market is just food mostly....and cut flowers.  Have to have fresh cut flowers. 

Our missionary work this week—building relationships.  French culture requires it.  None of this hello, how’s it going, see you tomorrow.  Dinners are minimally 2 hour events of conversation and food, several courses worth.  On one bus ride of about 40 minutes we struck up a conversation with the only other passenger for most of the ride home.  We explained we were missionaries.  She saw our magnolia blossoms and we talked about our magnolia sprig and where to find black beans in France.  That was 40 minutes of all the aspects of magnolia branches and all varieties of beans, except for black beans (which we still cannot find).  We shared some of our magnolia blossoms and we parted as if we have been friends for life.  And that black name tag was noticed.

After church, the members stay for 1-2 hours talking.  That’s not just occasionally.  It’s part of the culture, at least in Tarbes.  Today it was 2 ½ hours.  We sit down with each individual and in groups making rounds.  Of course we don’t understand it all, but they don’t seem to run out of things to say from week to week.  And they make sure we are right in there with the essence of the conversation.  The friendships are deepening and we can tell already….this is going to be hard to say good-bye to.  What rich, full and deep communicating!  What a lost art in our fast-paced American lifestyle.  These are conversation artists and they savor a sentence just as much as their gastronomic and culinary fame.

We taught 2 lessons this week with an investigator in her home reading the Book of Mormon together.  She’s been doing quite a bit of reading on her own:  the envy of all, a prize pupil.  Then we discussed the Plan of Salvation later in the week.  She loved hearing about life’s 3 questions:  Where did we come from? Why are we here and Where do we go after this life?  And we’ve taught another investigator in our home about Temples and the importance of baptism through proper Priesthood Authority.  Of all the things we do in a week, this is the crème de le crème!  Oh, and that’s French…how fitting!

We’ve visited a part-member family, Meg has been visiting teaching this week and Saturday we drove an hour to invite a newly transferred family to church on Sunday.  As you can imagine, we have some built-in challenges, namely distance to Church.  Our branch boundary is large and goes all the way to the Spanish border to the south.  We drove that boundary this week.  We’ve been to visit a member to the farthest eastern side last week and have been west, just not the whole distance.  The north remains to visit.

Meg said 2 prayers in church last Sunday, 1 today and a few during the week at different lessons and visits we have been on.  So we are able to participate in the spiritual feast.  Understanding full talks at Church still remains a challenge.  We know it will come; but of course we’d prefer sooner than later.

We imagine you are read out for this week :)

A la prochaine.

 

Fragrant magnolia blossom

Market 

Beautiful fresh fruits, vegetables

Olives of every variety and marinade

Our missionaries, Elder Poussard with an investigator at our home

Not our normal teaching environment

Incredible fast-moving clouds with eery colors changing every second

The mountain at the end of our street, usually cloud covered

We didn't even know it was there the first 3 weeks

Spring is arriving

Multi-colored flowers on one stalk; mountain flower

The next minute, winter is back

Part of a large park near our apartment

Relief Society President

BEAUTIFUL voice, FUN personality