CAJAF conference

We spent all last week at a YSA conference in the mountains about 1 hour from our place .Of course, it took us over 2 hours so we got a good tour of the Jura Mountian range. This week included between 300-400 franophiles (french speaking)YSA. including a grand bus from Paris, Belgium, and Switzerland. The cultures included were just as vast. The rooms were about the size of cruise rooms and the food about the same, so we had nothing to complain about. In fact I even tried Pigs in a blanket (although it is not called that here). Ratatuille, many fish dishes and tons of fresh abricots. Their salads were mostly cucumber slices, plickels,tomatoes,radishes, some green leaves. One day at the salads there was a hard boiled egg in a jelly, in little salty, but healthy. The desserts were always custards or open tarts and of course fruit, bread and cheese.We had spiritual groups in the mornings and stations in the afternoons.. Since I was the Yoga instructor we never got to take the classes. Some classes were choir, theatre, Escalade (climbing wall). le football (soccer), tia chi, choreographe (dance),cuisine, tir a L'arc (archery) Each class was one hour and there were 8m sessons, so, that means 8 hours of yoga! The last day, we closed the doors early,on the yoga. In the evening two dances, first theme , the Lettre L ( we came as a leaf, which worked out well because it was very hot and we could fan our selve) other dressed like fairies, knights,all very creatvie. There was also a grand bal,(dressy dance), talent show, and a fireside with Elder Texiera (spelling?) from the area seventies. He was the highlight as he spoke in ENGLISH, with a translator , He speakes many languages, but he could hear and see the influence of Pres. Monson in hie passion, And his wife was my favorite, ,lover her!. Loveed our time to serve. Loved our new friends, but most of all Love and miss you

Chateau de Gruyeres de Cailler

Yes, this is hard work, but someone has to do it! This week we had our last week of summer session, Preach my Gospel, which meets during either friday or Saturday and then an activity after. This gave us a free day after our district meeting to go exploring. We were lucky to "write it off" as work (you know how much Jim loves to stay on task) because we went with two familes with kids, one who will be moving to Hollywood. USA . The other family boards their children in school in England while the parents are living in Geneva. This mom's relatives were from Russia and fled during the Jewish persecution , so we are a great time visitng with both families and learning their history. We drove about 1 1/2 hour North and east around Lac Leman and into Switzerland. inland from the Castle Chillion. There is the Chocolait factory/Cailler et Nestle (yes, it all started here) and a little further Chateau de Gruyeres. This has a cheese factory and a delightful cobble stone ville with art, history and romance. We just have to pinch ourselves every week and say how blessed we are as we ended this week with 3 baptisms, one Sp, sister, one Mogolian Sister, and one Africian Man. Oh, yes, we did get some hiking in too!.

another Wedding,another fete!

This entry has alot of photos, because of the Fete Nationale (just like our July 4th only is lasts 2 weeks beginning and ending with fireworks.) So, on our blog are alot of famous Geneva sights,, Jet d'eau, St. Peters Cathedral from Lac Leman, Mt. Blanc, old buildings, museums ,and an old school we found on a morning walk. We bought a new camera for Jim's birthday and have been practicing with it! I just cant find the best way angle for my nose and the lighting to remove wrinkle ,so what you see is what you get!..Life goes on, And life together for eternity for another YSA and we served at the reception and then went to the Bern Temple the next day, The french government doesn't recognize the temple ceremony so they need to get married at the Mairie first.. SO, just like in the states, it makes for long days,, first the Mairie where the city says their names and they say OUI and exchange rings, then photos, while we rush to reception centre and get out tables, food and drinks etc ,( we had decorated and organized the night before), then the wedding reception begins, this time at 4:00. The reception went until 7:30 ish, after is the sit down dinner with 5 courses. This starts after 8: and ends 11ish then there is a dance which they say ended at 3am then next morning. In the mean time we went home and met those YSA at 7:30am ( not really close friends of the wedding ) and drove the the temple. By the time I was in the ladies changing room, after the 11 O Clock session, there was the bride who had just been sealed (it was now 12:50pm 24 hours later!!) BUT she still looked radiant!!!! . Oh, well, C'est l'amour...C'est La vie

Chillon, Switzerland on the east end of LacLeman

Finally a visit to Chillon, Switzerland !!! over 1,000 years old , originally the cross roads of North and South Europe, doorman of the Alps during the Savoy era . The castle's first records date from 1150 as a fortress for the Savoy family After that the Swiss- Bernese conquered and occupied Chillon and it continued to be a fortress,arsenal, and prison Two famous prisoner were Bonivard and English poet Lord Byron, (1816) who wrote the tale THE Prisoner of Chillon . We learned many interesting facts of life, travel, eating, and family life, like they did take baths! They had a large wooden bath which they covered with a sheet so you wouldn't get splinters (looked like a pretty cool Jacuzzi) They got rid of their wastes by dropping them right outside as ammunition on the enemy (ugh!) or just right into the lac One more important fact, they used chests for storage and travel for all their belongings, which had many creative decorations to make them unique Of course, they were swords and tales of battles, of Lords and Ladies, set in the shadow of the Alps. What a great way to spend a day learning more about how our opportunity to share the gospel, to have the gospel restored, started with the reformation, with people who wanted freedom to worship