You could have heard a pin drop; Basque Country

Our Church Week.  This week we re-traced our path right back past Lyon, where we were last week, on our way to and from Geneva, Switzerland.  We had two training sessions back to back with Elder Cook, one of the 12 Apostles of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  It was 6 hours of bliss.

With the size of The Church of Jesus Christ growing to over 16 million worldwide members, it is not often that an Apostle comes to your area. From humble beginnings, The France Lyon Mission has grown to 6 Stakes (about 60 congregations) in Southern France and French-speaking Switzerland.  In this instance, Elder Cook was coming to train those in leadership capacities in our 6 Stakes.   But.....

The added bonus was that at the last minute he invited all missionaries from the Lyon, France Mission to come for a 2-hour meeting prior to the leadership training meeting for the stakes.  Now that was an event!  Getting some 160 missionaries shuttled over to Switzerland and with little notice.  France is a large land mass and Tarbes is the farthest west-lying Branch.  For the most part, young missionaries don't have cars so they came by train, rented bus and some with Senior Missionaries who have cars.  A majority of Missionaries would have to spend the night with other closer-by Missionaries to arrive on time.  They'd have to bring their own food with them as there was no time to make stops.  It was the talk of the town.  But it was one smooth operation and all arrived safely and on time. 

The excitement had been mounting as everyone worked out the logistics.  But when all were finally seated 1/2 hour in advance; the anticipation was palpable.  We've never all been in one room before as we are spread out across France/Switzerland.  As the time neared, there was a growing hushed silence.  Finally the long-awaited time arrived--in walked Elder Cook.  All stood out of respect for the sacred office an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ holds.  95% of those in the room were aged 18, 19, 20 and 21.  They could be home in their own countries hanging out with their friends, watching football, soccer or going to the latest movie.  Instead, they were dressed in white shirts, suits and ties and dresses or skirts in Church for an extra 2 hours sitting reverently, singing hymns, sacrificing their time and their own money to be in the service of their fellowman.  It was an impressive sight.  You could have heard a pin drop......on the carpet! 

How can an average-sized man carry such a presence?  We would say it is because he is an Apostle and that sacred trust, responsibility and God-given Authority vested in him radiates.  Apostles testify of Christ and bear that special witness to the world.  

Elder Cook invited all to come shake his hand before he began his remarks.  It was very orderly and SO quiet.  You could have cut the sacred air with a knife.  Needless to say, it was a day never to be forgotten.  After those short 2 hours, the Missionaries would return--some would be in transit for 10-12 hours.  Some would split the journey into 2 days. 

His message and the one we teach as Missionaries is loud and clear.  We teach the Restored Gospel:  Prophets and Apostles lead Christ's Church and are the foundation of The Church.  That is The Way Christ set up His Church.  We listen to the entire 12 Apostles every 6 months during General Conference.  But this week, we personally heard from one of those Apostles in an intimate setting which just reconfirmed to all in the room the message we herald:  The Church has been restored as in the days of the Original Church.  That is the news, the Good News.

Elder Cook spoke of Christ.  He testified of Christ.  We sang songs. We heard truths from the Bible and Book of Mormon. We were well fed meat and potatoes....though it rather all tasted like dessert.

Several changes to our church was discussed. Our Sunday meeting schedule currently consists of three meetings. Starting next year, we will two hours of meetings at church, but add a home study program that tracks what we are studying at church. Next year we will be studying the New Testament.  In future years we will study other books that our church uses such as the Book of Mormon, Old Testament, etc. 

Our church president, President Russel M Nelson described the new approach and schedule as:

“a home-centered and Church-supported plan to learn doctrine, strengthen faith, and foster greater personal worship.” ... "a new balance and connection between gospel instruction in the home and in the Church.”

This stresses the need for parents, families, and individuals to lead gospel learning in the home, supported by the church.  The home is the center of our society and church, and much learning and instruction needs to happen at home.

Basques Country--Our blog pictures this week include some towns we visited as we returned from apartment inspections in Bayonne, France a few weeks ago.  Basque Country is north and west of Tarbes on the Atlantic Coast.  It also borders Spain.  

Each region in France has very traditionally styled houses.  And each traditional area is kept just that way: traditional.  If you want to build a home of your native heritage outside of its traditional area, you have to obtain a special, not-so-easily acquired permit.  Basque country homes are marked by distinctively accented red-timbers and white-painted stucco or mudding between the timbers. 

The Basque Language is not a Romance Language. Its origin is unknown and appears unique (not related) to any other European Language.  It is still widely spoken.

Another notable feature of Basque Country is that it is en-route to the pilgrimage site of Santiago de Compostela in Spain.  Even though the location is different, it's like Canterbury Tales in terms of the many smaller towns feeding into the larger arteries heading to Santiago de Compostela.  These routes and inns along the way date from the Middle Ages.  There is a real sense of connection to history just being on the trail or in the villages that host the many inns.  It's a way of life that bridges that past right into present day and you can't help but feel the tie.  And like Canterbury Tales come to life, fellow travelers going the whole distance or just walking through the town are met with travelers wanting to share their personal stories along the way.  It's an unrivaled experience.

Wikipedia says of the Santiago de Compostela pilgrimage route:

"The Way of St. James was one of the most important Christian pilgrimages during the Middle Ages, together with those to Rome and Jerusalem, and a pilgrimage route on which a plenary indulgence could be earned; other major pilgrimage routes include the Via Francigena to Rome and the pilgrimage to Jerusalem.

Legend holds that St. James's remains were carried by boat from Jerusalem to northern Spain, where he was buried in what is now the city of Santiago de Compostela. (The name Santiago is the local Galician evolution of Vulgar Latin Sancti Iacobi, "Saint James".)

The Way can take one of dozens of pilgrimage routes to Santiago de Compostela. Traditionally, as with most pilgrimages, the Way of Saint James began at one's home and ended at the pilgrimage site. During the Middle Ages, the route was highly traveled. However, the Black Death, the Protestant Reformation, and political unrest in 16th century Europe led to its decline. By the 1980s, only a few hundred pilgrims per year registered in the pilgrim's office in Santiago. In October 1987, the route was declared the first European Cultural Route by the Council of Europe; it was also named one of UNESCO's World Heritage Sites. Since the 1980s the route has attracted a growing number of modern-day international pilgrims." 

The pilgrimage trail is hiked now for reasons of Pilgrimage and as a hiking trail for families and individuals.  Whether it is for religious reasons or recreational, it's one of the friendliest ways to meet the sincerest of travelers from the world over.  In this case, we weren't the conversation starters.  A few flagged us down from across the way.  And we spoke to several along the way.  Many wanted to know what that black tag was.  Being that many were religious from the start and we bore the name of Jesus Christ on our tag.....

A la prochaine!

Our last District Conference

Elder Carmen/Carman is called as a
French and Mandarin speaking Missionary.  

Our new Elder and former Branch President

Marc and our Stake President visiting Tarbes this past Sunday

Basques-style houses

Traditional symbol on homes/inns of the Chemin-de-Saint-Jacques-de-Compostelle,
pilgrimage trail in France and Spain

Date: 1654

Traditional shell on walking stick by home 

signifying Pilgrimage Inn

Date:  1510

Date: 1510

Shell to wear signifying you have walked some of the Pilgrimage Trail

Pilgrimage town

Gite for hikers

Rooms for Pilgrims

Date: 1510; Inn on the Pilgrimage Trail

You can ring or knock

Basque cross

Basque Pelota (ball game)

Basque Pelota

Basque restaurant menu-part 1

Basque restaurant menu-part 2

Basques Country

Just married

Sign in both French and Basque