In the Limelight

    August 30th was our 43rd anniversary.  We had Jaclyn here for the weekend, which, in and of itself, was cause for celebration.  We have missed our family terribly and only Jaclyn has been able to come to see us while we have been here; due, in part to the fact that Quebec, and especially Victoriaville, is understandably less of a draw than Geneva, Switzerland.  But, I digress.
   Saturday, August 30th was the day of an annual branch activity- a corn-husking of sorts.  Due to the fact that Paul had mentioned the Sunday before in his talk that this was to be our anniversary, everyone in the branch knew.  We were really pressed for time that day because we had the food boxes, donated weekly, from the IGA grocery store to sort through and distribute to the 14 or more families who need food every week.  Wouldn't you know that on this particular day, the store gave us about triple what is normal?  We left the Branch activity to rush to the store, pick up the food and bring it back to our apartment to do the sorting.  The young Elders and Jaclyn helped us. We were grateful for  Jaclyn's help!   In the middle of the work, Paul was told by the counselor in the presidency that we really needed to go back to the church, so we left the young missionaries at our apartment and went back.  There we were honored by being presented with a beautiful three-layer cake, made and decorated by the wife of the other counselor.  Everyone sang to us (the same tune as Happy birthday, but in French it is, apparently, used for both birthdays and anniversaries.)  The following day we were also given a huge home-made card, signed by most families in the Branch.
After quickly eating a piece of the cake, we ran back home to finish the food box work.
    In reflecting on this event, I was overwhelmed with a feeling of both gratitude and love for these people.  They don't really know me because I can't communicate with them very well, but I hope they feel my love for them.  They are diligent, hard-working, and humble people trying to live the gospel and be an example of Latter-Day Saints in an area where most people do not share any religious beliefs.  In fact, the government here actually rewards, financially, those who choose to live together rather than marry.  But, I digress, again.  These are really nice people.
    I am truly going to miss our association with those we have come to know.  This kindness shown to us on our anniversary is but a small indication of their goodness.
    Here a couple of pictures that Jaclyn took.  Please try to focus on the cake,  not on the recipients.

The card:  (and no, I don't know how to crop or take a decent picture- remember who my mother was!)