*note: From
this point onward the writers of entries will be identified by either
M=Elder Geddes or C=Sœur Geddes.
(M) We have really jumped into a completely new life. The past two weeks have been nothing
like anything we have previously know, and it is both challenging and
exciting! But to be honest, I kind
of like to stir things up.
Our week in the MTC was an intensive dive into the
"Preach My Gospel" program that all missionaries study. I have to admit that I was a little
skeptical about the "roll playing" I had heard about before leaving
home. Volunteers from the Provo
area come to the MTC and do 45 minute practice sessions or "roll
plays" with the new missionaries.
Anyone who knows me knows that this just isn't my thing! But I was really amazed at how real
these meeting were and this old skeptic has to admit that I really ended up
enjoying the MTC, including these meetings. It was especially fun to have meals with the young
missionaries and take the opportunity to just talk with them as they prepare to
go all over the world.
Our second week of training was on the 26th floor of the
Church Office Building where we and five other senior couples were trained
specifically on our Self Reliance callings. The other couples were going to places like Fiji, Australia,
Brazil, Guyana and of course France.
It was very revealing to learn that the Self Reliance Initiative, unlike
so many other Church programs, was first started outside of North America about
three years ago and is only now starting in the US and Canada. In fact, when we first received the
call or told others what our calling is we got lots of rather confused
looks. All of you back home will soon
be hearing about Self Reliance in your home wards and stakes so get ready.
Finally the time to fly to our mission arrived. We were so happy to see that we were
booked on Delta #88 that goes directly from SLC to Paris and then just a simple
one-hour connection to Lyon. What
could be easier? Well having to
wear a tie did complicate it a bit.
Ties and airplanes just do not belong together! As it turned out the tie was the least
of our problems. Our flight to
Paris took off late and then had to follow a more northern route due to weather
conditions and we arrived in Paris about the same time that our connection
departed. There was another flight
to Lyon later that day but from the Orly airport on the south of Paris and we
were at DeGaulle on the north. So
rather than try to shuttle between airports with a massive amount of carry-on
luggage including a guitar, we opted for a flight from DeGaulle to Toulouse and
then an EasyJet flight (easy in name only) from Toulouse to Lyon. So rather than arriving in Lyon at 1:00
pm we got there after dark...with no luggage! Fortunately we were able to make contact with the mission
home to let them know that we were delayed. And by the next evening our luggage arrived.
Today we went to the Lyon Confluence Ward. People could not have been more
welcoming. When we were set apart
as missionaries before leaving home I was so grateful that the blessing I
received through President Hunt included a gift of language. When we entered the ward we were offered headsets for
English translation and Chris of course didn't need it and I decided to go
without. I probably got more out
of this Sacrament Meeting that I typically do because I had to stay focused and
work at listening. But I
understood virtually everything.
After Sacrament Meeting we spent the next two hours with
Momo Djmai, our self-reliance manager and President Léporé, president of the
Lyon Stake where we discussed their vision of Self Reliance and what some of
our duties might be. This wasn't
as easy to understand, but it wasn't just because of the language. There is so much flexibility and so
many different kinds of needs out there that we will have to discover the
specifics as we go. As they told
us in the Church Office training, we are building an airplane and flying it at
the same time!
