A very full and eventful week

This week marks 1/3 of our mission. One year left.—It’s funny how time gets marked: We’ve been through a full tube of tooth paste now, thrown out the first bottle of super-concentrated shampoo and watched our 18-month pill supply go down along with the empty hole it left in our linen supply closet. Certainly the seasons have changed and we are in full swing (spelled hot and humid) in summer. We jumped from Winter into Summer; Spring hid itself…at least temperature wise this year so there was no time to acclimate. We just took of our winter coats and scarves one day and the next day went directly to short sleeves.

But living through the months, we realize how attached we are when a missionary leaves us; how joyful life is when a member returns. We count our blessings when we are all gathered as a big happy family during the Branch meals. We feel the gratitude for all who have contributed to the branch over the years and decades. We feel an increasing and enormous sense of gratitude and respect for all the behind-the-scenes efforts of the previous Branch President who served faithfully for 3 decades. We feel sad when we sing the parting hymn to missionaries that leave us…..and we realize one day that will be us. We feel waves of nostalgia way in advance of the day we will one day leave France take off our missionary plaque and we will re-live all our memories made here.

We’ve said hello and good-bye to 3 missionaries (Elder Masters, Elder Rees and today Elder Vera) and welcomed in 3 others (Elder Vera, Elder Wolfgram and Elder Templeton by tomorrow). One by one, they will leave.

We’ve had 2 baptisms (Chavez and Jenny) and we’ve watched our Branch numbers grow as some return to the fold and new friends investigate the Church. Relationships deepen, families grow (one is expecting) and hopefully our French is continually improving.

We have a hymn, “Improve the Shining Moments”. The second verse says:

Time flies on wings of lightning;

We cannot call it back.

It comes, then passes forward

Along its onward track.

And if we are not mindful,

The chance will fade away,

For life is quick in passing.

'Tis as a single day.

If 6 months “flies on wings of lightening”, we’re not sure how we will characterize 18 months.

Bastille Day—Yesterday, July 14^th, was Bastille Day, the anniversary of the Storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789. The fortress was a hated symbol of the monarchy that held political prisoners and was a turning point of the French Revolution. Like our own 4^th of July it’s a day of picnics, parades and fireworks.

But since that means crowds gathering, mission rules state we need to be inside. But as luck would have it, when the fireworks started, we just opened our window and watched them from our apartment. The fireworks were in full view from our window—no parking problem to worry about; no need to be out in the crowds. We could hear the music from Place Verdun just a few blocks away and we felt quite a part of the celebration….all in the comfort of our own home. Lucky us.

2 Children’s Baptisms—Today we had 2 baptisms after Church, Noam and Anais. Well, that is, after our 3-hour block of meetings and then the “repas” (meal). But this is the norm. A typical Sunday here includes Church meetings and several hours of visiting afterwards; several more if there’s a “repas.” We’re not sharing the building with another ward so that makes it possible. It’s also VERY French to visit for long periods of time. We will really miss this cultural aspect.

We have permission to baptism member children in a member’s swimming pool. And we have one member with a pool. All other convert baptisms are done in Pau, about 45 minutes away from Church and 1 ½ hours for a few members living on the opposite edge of our Branch boundaries. After the “repas” we all paraded over with our cars to the pool.

The Louit family has a beautiful and spacious home just right for the occasion. And Christine is the Primary President so it was perfect for the children who felt “right at home” in their home. We all fit in their dining room for the singing, talks and ordinance of the Receiving the Gift of the Holy Ghost.

But we were a bit on pins and needles for a few days prior. One of the children’s fathers has been sick for years and has been on dialysis 3 times a week for almost 2 decades. He was taken to the hospital 2 hours north of us the latter part of this week and days before his daughter’s baptism. He was slated to have his kidney removed. So her baptism was cancelled. But there were lots of prayers, phone calls, texts, emails and family stepping in to watch the children, making meals while the adults were at the hospital. But then the surgeon determined it was not as serious as they first thought or tests were indicating. Jean-Michele was able to baptize his daughter today: A doubly happy occasion.

Elder Vera —Not only does Elder Vera leave Tarbes, he finishes his mission. Oh are we going to miss him! By the end of 2 years they are well-seasoned missionaries. They have an undeniable spiritual strength and confidence that just seems to exude from them. We just don’t want to let them go. We can only say: Well Done, Well Done. But we know his Mom, Dad and family are giddy with excitement counting the days and soon to be hours until he is safe in their arms. Tears of joy will flow in Canada.

Lourdes/Pau—This week we went to Lourdes then to Pau with the missionaries. In Lourdes, we visited with a single Sister while they visited with a single brother who lives down the street and speaks Spanish and English. Enter in Elder Vera. This Brother is learning the Sacrament Prayer in French from Elder Vera. He’s able to teach him French pronunciation with Spanish phonetics. Coincidence Elder Vera is in Tarbes? We think not. Then the 4 of us went to visit our Czech/Slovakian family who also live in Lourdes.

Then off to Pau, another 45 minutes and a beautiful drive to pick up the baptismal clothing.

Jean-Claude—We met Jean-Claude at Church during the week to show him how to give a talk at Church. We do not have a paid ministry in our church so all the work is done by volunteers. So we, as members, run all the programs and give all the talks , or "sermons" as other religions call them. He is new to the Church, less than a year. He’s nervous about giving a talk; but he is eager and very willing. We couldn’t be happier. But it IS different if you haven’t grown up since Primary age (3-12) then Youth (12-18) giving talks on a regular basis. Yes, even the 3 year olds get their turn. They get used to speaking in public and sharing their thoughts. That’s 15 years of training and “learning the ropes” by osmosis.

Jean-Claude kept confusing bearing his testimony with giving a talk. Two different things. It’s all new vocabulary, a new lingo. His friend, Patrick, a fun-loving, long-time member bleated like a sheep when he used the wrong words and we’d all laugh. That lightened the load. And Patrick is rising up as a leader. He also told him point blank: “Shirt and tie”. They train each other and we sit on the side lines and marvel.

Hearing your own voice at the microphone is different, too. It can be distracting. And using direct eye contact while following along and not losing your place takes practice. It all takes practice. But what a willing student! And he can’t WAIT for his turn.

Giséle—Giséle is another relatively new member, a willing speaker and admittedly nervous. So, we went to Giséle’s apartment to practice her future talk with her. It was 3pm and swelteringly hot with even higher humidity; she lives on the 5^th floor which probably increased the heat a few degrees. When we got there, she had already read the talk that Marc just sent out and had a full page of notes, front and back. So with her daughter, we all took turns reading a section, showing her how to use the hyperlinks, discuss the sections and come up with some personal stories.

Beside her, sat her daughter who is 12. What a learning opportunity for her. Remember how the French are conversation artists? Case in point: We discussed, discussed and discussed the points made in the article and spent time getting just the right word, just the right nuance. We’d “chew” on a concept until it was explored inside and out. That will take her far and we learned from her ability to dig deeper.

World Cup—July 15^th France made it to the finals against Croatia. My email pop-up tells me 4-2. And as we begin to write, the horns are honking on our street and people are in the streets signifying and celebrating France’s victory over Croatia for the World Cup Title. Those that aren’t in cars are leaning out their shuttered windows, French flags flying and we are waving to neighbors we’ve never met. We are allowed to stick our heads out the window! We’re plenty glad for France.

If it’s like the semi-finals, the celebrations will go on for more than 2 hours. It will calm down, somewhat. We don’t plan on getting a full night’s sleep.

But it’s Sunday and we’re missionaries right now, so we were not watching the game. All interregional missionaries were asked to be in their apartments by 5pm tonight for reasons of safety. All missionaries transferring by train today were bumped up several hours to get them to their next destination early and off the streets. That affected us this transfer.

It’s hard NOT to get caught up in the excitement that has been building for the past few weeks. Store owners and sales persons have had red, white and blue painted on their cheeks. Cars have been decorated this past week and flags are flying in windows and balconies the past few weeks.

Bringing people home today from the baptism was a combination of a “ghost town” mixed with forming crowds. A “ghost town” since most cars were off the streets already at the place where they would watch the game. It was odd not having other traffic on the roads.

Those on the streets walking to Place Marcidieu were in red, white and blue hair, shirts, pants, cars painted and flags draped around themselves, flying from their windows or hanging from their parked cars. The entire indoor market building (a huge spacious building) was converted into a big-screen viewing area; the cinema was the same. It’s been 20 years since France has won the World Cup. This is Europe and “fut” (soccer) is king. Always has been.

PS. It’s 10:15, almost 4 hours after the win. You’d think they’d just won this minute. Cars are still honking and speeding down the roads, noise-makers are going strong and there is still a lot of electricity in the air. There’s no questioning why we were asked to be inside and home.

A la prochaine.