A little excitement at Church; an extra busy week; variety of towns

Our Church week—busier than normal. It all seemed to hit in one week—an emergency move, a broken wrist, health concerns (one in the hospital; 2 with Drs appointments tomorrow to determine surgery), meetings, last minute substitute for Primary and Pianist, a few other a sundry items that popped up and filled each day.

Bernard—It was Bernard who slipped, fell and broke his wrist at Church last week. The Relief Society asked him to turn off the heat which in the Church is mounted very high up. So he stepped up on a chair but the chair has a rounded edge and his foot slipped off just as he was hefting himself up. He stepped backwards to try to absorb the now backward momentum and caught himself with his left hand to try to brace the fall; but the force broke his wrist. Unfortunately it required surgery….3 pins and an overnight stay in the hospital. Fortunately it was the left wrist that was broken and he is right-handed.

This will be challenging in and of itself; but he also helps quite a bit around the house since Michèle is still healing from a broken collar bone earlier this year. She’s over the hump, but still needs help with some dressing as her range of motion is tight and still limited. And she can’t drive for several more months. Unfortunately, by French law, he can’t drive for 1 ½ months either. Ug. Fortunately, there is family in the area—his twin brother, 2 sisters and their spouses. Unfortunately Patrick picks up Martine and Chevez now that Michel passed on only a few weeks ago now. Probably Christine, his other sister will pick them up; it’s a bit more out of the way but do-able.

Patrick, Bernard’s twin brother, was the one who took Bernard to the hospital and kept us informed how he was faring. It was 99% certain it was a break. Meg was in the kitchen at the sink when Bernard ran over to run cold water on his hand; we didn’t have any ice. He was grimacing with pain; it’s hard to see anyone in so much pain and that image seems graved in one’s mind.

We waited to see Bernard and Michèle until Wednesday. He’s got a great attitude and knows this too shall pass. We helped organize some rides for Michel for her Physical Therapy sessions twice a week.

Maria—Because Gilles could be released very soon, we spent several hours Sunday and again Monday working with Maria to procure an apartment in Tarbes. It’s been trying as so much is unknown about his release and he doesn’t have Internet in the Rehab Center. France is a modern country but they have challenges in older buildings--Middle Ages type for sure; but also 18^th and 19^th century buildings are SOLID!!! They’ve been using thick walls for centuries and no one thought to accommodate for technology. It’s an on-going challenge, hotels aren’t exempt.

Gilles will take leave from the hospital to sign the papers Monday. Then everyone waits for the Doctor's release.

And, it’s hard not to go through an agency here for apartments and houses (which requires a hefty percentage of the first month’s rent). Along with the deposit it’s always an expensive first month no matter where in the world. They also needed a ground floor entry or elevator to accommodate Gilles’ needs. Fortunately it was a very mild stroke, as strokes go. No stroke seems to leave you free of therapy, and lots of it. But he was looking really good and getting around well. Wednesday marked 3 months of them not being together.

Marc has also been helping Maria set up her smart phone and get familiar with it. We told Patrick we’d take his place cleaning the Church this week since his week would be busier than normal helping with getting Bernard settled and home from the hospital. They are still helping Martine with the paperwork end of Michel’s passing. It’s more complicated as he was not born in France. France may have the USA beat on bureaucracy. Maria came to the Church and she and Meg cleaned the Church while Marc worked with Gilles at the Rehab Center on the apartment situation.

Phone update—it appears she has a “lemon.” Marc contacted the company and they asked for the return of her phone as the out-going audio is not working. Bad timing when they most need a phone. Challenging; but we are making head-way.

Young Adult Dinner at Anne’s—Monday we were invited to Anne’s, as we often are. She knew we’d be tired Sunday just coming in from Carcassonne late Saturday night. Monday is also Siobhan’s night off so she had a friend over for dinner. Anthony, our young investigator, was also there. If Siobhan is there, it’s going to be fun and lively….no matter where you are!

We’re helping Siobhan and Anne navigate higher learning institutions in the USA as she is heading to BYU-Idaho this fall. It is a frightening undertaking for the French to study outside France. Higher education in France is free and the idea of a loan and/or scholarships are new concepts. Of course, just paying is new….and for tuition, books and non-subsidized housing is really off the charts. But Siobhan is adventuresome, brave and knows how to take on a challenge.

So we gave them a list to start with of scholarship websites….along with explaining the need for scholarships/grants to off-set tuition costs. If you’re willing to do your homework, it’s surprising what’s available. With Visa regulations she has work restrictions but can work on campus.

Elders over for a meeting—The Elders came over to our apartment Tuesday. Elder Church has only been here a month and is still navigating French. So we went over our list of names and filled them in on who was being taught. It’s always amazing to see fun-loving and energetic 20-years olds at as young adults in a dinner situation then see them the next day leading out in teaching situations, goal setting and planning. They seem (and areJ) so young and carefree one minute; then really go to work taking on a maturity well beyond their years as they pray, organizing and network people and ideas the next.

We also inspected their apartment and found out they have quite a leak from their hot water heater. So we are working with the Mission Office and trying to track down the proprietor to repair the leak. It’s a newly remodeled apartment—we actually helped them move into it several moons ago now. Water damage can grow serious overnight and sometimes the younger missionaries don’t always understand how damaging it can be—preventively or on the repair end. This is number one on our list when we visit apartments.

The Zone Leaders also came in this week to be with the young Missionaries.

Pau—We took our day off in Pau. Meg has been wanting to go there by train as the train follows the river and mountains so it’s a bit more scenic. It’s already scenic from the road. It was a gorgeously warm and beautiful day so that really made it a nice get-away. By train it’s a mere 40 mins and passes through beautiful Lourdes. We always see the front side of Lourdes now we could see the mountainous backdrop of the Cathedral and fort in world-famous Lourdes.

The trains (Intercity) here are very new and smooth as silk. It was so surprising to not feel any click-clack over the rail joints. Train travel is big and widely used all over Europe, has been for decades reaching into the centuries. The network of trains are very adequate and to Pau, a train passes every hour or less. Public transportation has always been far superior in Europe. With the newer electricity-powered trains, train travel is very nice—a smoother and quieter ride for the passengers and for towns along the way. You barely hear the train pass by. Impressively nice indeed!

We ran into Rikani just as we got off the train. He works in Pau and eventually will move to Pau. He was very glad to see us and we him. He is the friend of someone that is interested in our church.

Chevez—Since the French University (and education) is State-run, you are accepted into a program by aptitude; but much of your acceptance is based on availability of space and the needs of the State for that particular field. Just as the USA process for Siobhan navigating the US higher learning institutions, we are learning through Chevez, that we feel like fish out of water in the French system. The positive is that the Universities he applied to all get back to you on the same day since it’s centralized. Chevez was accepted to his first choice in Pau and signed up for the English and Spanish program. He’s natively fluent in English and French. He’s good with children and wants to teach. Today, Sunday is a year ago that he was baptized. We are so proud of him and his progress. He goes it alone so all the more.

We got special permission last year to take him to Pau to the Young Adult Institute Program there and we think that really influenced his applying to Pau. There are young adults there and a full program and we wanted him to see beyond our small Branch and their larger Ward.

Town of the Week--The pictures for the week are of several towns that we passed through coming back from Paris, some around our area.

A la prochaine.