Tis the season

The irony of this photo says it all..our home was vandalized! Why would someone smash our living room window? So here are some thoughts we have had since then, talking to our neighbors, the super, the police, a friend/neighbor security guard at the UN, and the mission leaders. The super said he has worked and lived here for 30 years and has never seen anything like it. Our neighbors say it is one of the safer places to live. At first I thought, oh no. they dont like us, The police and the mission say, it is a random. act Another neighbor says we should close the blinds when ever we are not home. We were closing the bedroom (but many of you know how I love to look out and we have a beautiful view),but rarely the living room because we have two flower boxes outside ( and you all know how I love flowers ) and the way Jim "balanced" the flower boxes the blinds could not go all the way down. These are outside blinds that block out all the light and are metal and strong. So, now it looks like we will be closing up tight every time we go, A few more details before I leave this pleasant subject, It was 9:30pm or 21 et demi h, We had just finished watching, "By the light of the Silvery Moon", (we are never home on Thursday evening as that is our busy night at Institute, but it was Holiday). And then BOOM. very loud crash, broken glass everywhere. We thought alcohol but the glass that was hurled through our 1/4 inch glass window was a peach fruit drink. which traveled about 20 feet into the room at ground level. This already wasnt good night for me. Besides my crutches that I keep tripping over, I had just taken a homeopathic medicine for urinary infection that had me in a different state (confusion, very flushed and very cold). But. of course, the need for a french speaker was TOTALY necessary. Jim stayed up until after midnight "talking" to the super, the police, and, neighbors, while I tried to figure out the french. So. what did we learn? This is a heck of a way to do missionary work, but it works! We have a rendez-vous with our neighbors and everyone (except the perpetrators) have been delightful and helpful So, much for door to door. how about windows!

Joyeux Noel

Today is the day we celebrate the birth of Jesus. We have been blessed with many rendez vous with many friends here, We prepared dinner for two couples using our never-fail recipe with egg/tofu, we traveled to Annesy to buy Santon Creches made in Marseilles and then had our Institute Noel Soiree, we shared quiche with our adopted family the Herrs, and then, we had a Swiss Christmas Eve with the Stake Pres with fondu, But, the highlight for me was the Scripture reading and sharing the Nativity by Skype at Midnight (our time)
Today we continue to give thanks for all your love and prayers. for health, and for our opportunisty to share the Gospel here in the Geneva Switzerland area. As I sat in Church this morning and looked around at all of our new dear friends, I was even more filled with love.. And especially grateful for this day for continued chance to say.< Je saie que le Livre de Mormon est vrai. Je sais que Dieu aimes toutes le mond,> ( I could type more but would have to look up the spelling of some of the words!) I love the gospel and the celebration of Jesus's birth on this day.

Tis our second winter in Ferney Voltaire

TIS OUR SECOND WINTER LIVING IN FERENY VOLTAIRE
On our mission to serve people from here to there.
Thanks to good shoes our feet have no pain
and the words francais are filling our brain.
Love to all our grandchildren we wish we could see,
New ones; Peter, Mia, Milo, Kallie, and Erik. yippee!
Our work is with young single adults, from everywhere;
They dream of finding fun, jobs, and someone who cares,---

Jim and Pat are keeping fit with yoga and walking,
While he gives out cards and she does the talking.
Chocolate , yogurt and produce really are the best,
Also hors d ‘oeuvres and entrees and all of the rest.
Beret , warm coat, and scarf are worn every day
Walking with bread under arm is the French way.
On kidney stones and broken nose,
On shingles, bad knees and bloody toes
... Go away, far away, dash away all!
And then in a twinkling…….. I heard on the roof…..
A YSA choir, a fiddler, and Mongolian music to boot
These musical events were fun , as I recall
A lot of work for some, but for most ... a ball!
To all the world over, to our dear new and old friends,
To you we now send a greeting of great joy
A perfect brightness of hope; his light he sends.
And you'll hear us exclaim after many translations:
Love to you all, and enjoy the celebration!

I have written the Noel poem but we are having trouble finding a good photo. Do I really want crutches or a wheelchair in the Christmas photo? This week there was alot of rain and now there is a BIG snow storm so we are settling down for the holiday . We celebrated ESCALADE in Geneva again this year. We didnt go down town to see all the celebration (crutches ) but we did have soup and chocolate which is really the best part of the holiday.!There is a photo at the Instute showing the chocolate soup pot which represents the soup which won the war between Geneva and the French in the 1600's The happy times of the week were shopping ( which for me could be everyweek) and getting more info from the MRI and the physiotherapy, but the highlight was going to the Bern Temple. This time the new Temple President ,. Pres. Sperling, is a close friend of my cousin Elaine Henrikson. After we went to one of our favs. Heil Armee (salvation army) I purchased a red faux leather coat, a bunch of wooden games for Jim and a beautiful piece of art depicting a humble girl preparing dinner. We also bought fabric for our next adventure which will be teaching them how to quilt. We sang carols with the Missionaries but didnt go downtown this year(crutches).The best thing about being on crutches is that I will be about to complete my extra scripture study ,In Romans 15:4.....that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. It is my hope and prayer for us all to be ..ONE in the SAVIOR.

I walk by Faith

After xrays and MRI, this week was a long challenge with wheelchair and sticks (crutches).The other challenge was to get an apartment in Annesy (1 hour away) ready for the Sister missionaries to live in.. For Jim, he says, Bring it on! He was gone painting, organizing and socializing while I was home pondering, praying, and trying to be patient. Luckily there was decorating at the Institute, making cookies for the Missionaries, Christmas Zone conference and many friends helping us celebrate Noel. We learned how our German friends celebrate the advent by lighting a candle 4 Sundays before Christmas. We shared dinner with our Italian friends with alot of pasta and good fun and with others from Canada with young children. And finally after waiting for 8 days we got to talk to the Orthopedic specialist. The first things I asked him (in french) Parlez-vous un peu d'anglise? So from our visit we learned that: yes I have arthritis in the knee (been there.. done that) and it looks like a cyst burst inside the back of my knee ( a Baker or poplileral fossia cyst).Never heard of that! But, I shouted for joy when I didnt hear, So next is physiotherapy, which looks like PT and a functional xray, which is one taken in motion SO good news/bad news = more pondering, more praying, and more patience. As many of you know there is always a song running through my head, little angels filled my head with the words to one morning and have continued to sing in my ear. My prayer to you this week, that you too may have sweet angels singing in your ear, Joy and brightness of hope

still giving THANKS?...yes!

All of the chatter about our Mongolian Fete has been positive, One of our YSA said it was best party she has ever been too.! And we have had many new Mongolian friends come to the Insitut and to church, Our dancers are so excited, they want to do the dance again. But, I may have danced my last for a while, .( Praying for the sanity necessary for me not to do anything for a while.) We are starting our Christmas celebration now. We found the mother lode of treasures this week and are so thankful for the fun adventure .We learned about.< Angelus of Millet>, a famous painting of two peasants gleaning the last of their potatoes ,stopping to pray to give thanks,, We bought a plate,... not the painting.. which should look good with our theme of Thanks in the dining room (if we ever get around to decorating again !) , The biggest action this week is the knee gving out 4 times on the stairs on tuesday, once one wednesday and then on thursday, it just popped, I was trying to move a large heavy table with the help of a two year old! I know, STUPID - then it popped .We await the next action after having xrays and MRI. The good news is,, I can straighten it and put weight on it after 4 days using the sticks (elbow crutches) Our friends here have been so nice to help with love and kindness,and food and DVD"s (you cant keep a good horse down) The timing is good as we ponder our lesson this week about being the Savior's hands in serving others. So often we serve but never allow others to serve us.The other part of the lesson this week reminded me of my father Gordon, who always said he was a Jack Mormon because he never wanted to be a hypocrite! At the beginning of this season we are both thankful for the example our parents gave to us in the importance of serving others.We love the gospel and need your prayers as we conquer this latest challenge to continue our mission here in the Geneva area.. We love you and miss you.:)