Friday, August 26, 2016

Salutations Nos Amis!

(C)  So hoping all is going well for you.  Our entry into France was as romantic and glamorous as you can imagine.  First of all, our flight to Paris was late due to bad weather, so we missed our connecting flight to Lyon.  We had to catch an out- of- the- way flight to Toulouse and another later flight to Lyon.  Thus, we didn’t arrive until night, and the guy who was picking us up had to wait at the airport for us for five hours.  Needless to say, our baggage was not there.  We went for a walk since we had been sitting on airplanes for 24 hours when it began to rain.  We both got soaked and didn’t have any other clothes to change into until the next evening. At first we had no hot water.  We tried to use the stove top but couldn’t because it is an “induction” stove and can only use magnetic pans.  (who knew?) We tried to use the dish washer and couldn’t get the water to come on so we turned some valves (the wrong ones) and flooded the apartment.  We didn’t know where the water valve was, so I had to run down to try and find the manager.  It was the wrong apartment, and I scared some little lady half to death talking about “inondations” floods, but finally found the manager who came running up to show was where the main water valve was.  Fortunately, it was the cold water or Elder Geddes would have been severely burned instead of just severely drowned!  We called the mission office and got some more towels.  So now the apartment has been “baptized.”
But alas!  Lest you think we are not happy, I have to express that we couldn’t be more grateful! The flights over were miraculous for me.  Very peaceful just as President Hunt promised me when he set us apart.  Thank you for your prayers!  The apartment was beautifully furnished by the office missionaries and our Self-Reliance manager complete with beautiful fresh flowers and French macaroons and enough food for 3 days! Momo, our manager took us to dinner at an amazing steak/frites place that we will not soon forget!  We were warmly greeted and welcomed at the Confluence ward and felt like returning family.  We got our hot water working, the stove and oven working (I even made chocolate chip cookies for the office missionaries) the dish washer and washing machine working, a new mattress so Elder Geddes’ back won’t hurt, the carpet never got wet, and la vie est belle! We are very spoiled too because we are some of the very few that have a little air conditioning unit in the living room (its 97 degrees outside with very high humidity) and a recliner chair that is sheer heaven.
We met with the Stake President of the Lyon stake who is a kind, powerful man as well as President and Sister Brown who are so amazing and radiate goodness.  We know this is the Lord’s work and feel so blessed to be able to participate in it.  
May the Lord keep you and bless you!


Our brilliant office Elders



Elder & Sister Mahaffey with us in the Mission Office


    A few more pics from the Marché

3 comments:

  1. Nate loves Lardons. They used them all the time on his mission. You've had quite the experience, but at least you haven't been bored!☺ I'm glad everything is finally working. And of course you already made cookies for the missionaries. They're ask going to love you both so much. We miss you, but you're such a wonderful example to all of us. Love you!

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  2. Hey guys! Tonight we thought we'd video chat with you, and then we realized that there's no way you're still awake! We'll have to try again when it's morning for us and evening for you. Love you and miss you, -J

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  3. You are such cute missionaries! Love to the Mahaffeys!!!

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