Double Trouble

    Yesterday Paul received his Canadian passport.  He can now avoid the draft by coming back the motherland.  We are not sure how useful this will be but it is kind of nice to have duel citizenship. At least now, if we are stopped, he won't have to explain why he doesn't have a visa.

     We have spent quite a bit of time in the apartment this week, working on missionary things. We assembled the branch area book, similar to what each companionship of missionaries has in their apartment.  We met with the branch president and his counselors to encourage them to work with their ward council and create a branch mission plan. Paul worked some more on the small brochure to hand out to members to help them in their missionary efforts. We also made two trips to Costco (an hour away) to get supplies for a father's and sons activity on Saturday. While necessary, this kind of missionary work isn't as fulfilling as doing missionary work with people. (But I will take it over knocking on doors anytime!)  We have heard from several sources that an assignment of "member and leader support", as ours is,  can be difficult.  Mostly this is true, as I have commented about previously, because there are no guidelines about what to do.  We have to decide how to keep ourselves effectively busy, and one constantly worries that his/her choices aren't the inspired ones.  Many times senior couples are assigned to more than one ward in this assignment, but here we are in a small branch.  I know this is where we are supposed to be, but some days are harder than others.  Just like every other missionary experience, I guess!
    On Monday, our preparation day, we drove to Montreal to the mission office.  Courtney had mailed us a package with 2 pairs of Paul's shoes that he forgot, and a ratty old skirt that is my favorite.  I like to wear it on Sundays and have been missing the old thing.  Anyway, while in Montreal we spent a couple  of hours in the old part of the city.  Hardly old as compared to Europe, but definitely has an old world feel to it.  I forgot to take pictures! But since we plan to return more than once I wasn't too upset about it.
     Yesterday was District training meeting.  The mission president recently asked that these be held in English, so I was looking forward to it.  However, a senior couple from this stake recently started their mission and since they speak only French, it was all in that language.  Another 90 minutes of straining to understand the gist of what was being said. I know, I know, this is good for me.  

Meaningful visits and other Activities

    We spent some time on the road this week.  Tuesday we traveled to Trois Rivieres (3 rivers), a city about an hour from here, for District Teaching (the old District Meeting).  Of course we took the Elders with us and enjoyed the Subway sandwich Elder Peterson bought for them afterwards (insert smiley face here).
    Yesterday after collecting the delivering the food boxes all morning, we drove to the stake center for a stake priesthood meeting.  We took a nice little (he is really short) man with us who speaks only French.  You all know how chatty Paul is , so it was a silent 90 minute ride each way.  My companion thought I should go and read in the car rather than stay at home. Not sure I needed to, but I did have some time to relax during the two-hour meeting.  The stake center is next door to the temple, and I would have gone if there had been a session--it closes at 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Paul said the meeting was very, very inspiring.  The stake has a goal of 1000 converts in the next two years.
   
    This week was highlighted by a wonderful visit we had with a a woman who hasn't been to church for some time (I am not sure just how long).  She has had some absolutely terrible health problems which have made her life a challenge. In the process of having brain surgery, facial paralysis and diabetes, to name a few, she has fallen away.  When I hear these stories I wonder if I would be strong enough in the same circumstances?  Her conversion story is nothing less than miraculous but I don't want to write about it until I have her permission. We spent an hour or so one evening at her home.  Perhaps the best part of it for me was that she wants to practice her english, which she speaks rather well (another tender mercy form Heavenly Father).   She came to church today and was warmly welcomed by the branch members.  She had a concern about not being able to stay for the full 3 hour block, and we assured her that we would take her home whenever she felt too ill to stay.  She lives about 25 minutes from the church and another member brought her; we took her home after Sunday School, then returned to the church.
    Paul was given a new calling today--he was called as the Branch Mission Leader.  The branch clerk had some challenges in entering the calling into "the system"  because we are not officially part of the branch--our records are still in our Virginia ward. This afternoon we went to try to visit a lady who had been taught back in 2010.  Malheureusement (it means 'sadly'--but I love this word!)  she had passed away.  We then spent several hours brainstorming on how to help the branch members become more successful in their missionary work.  Here is our fabulous white board:
       

      And here is the brochure which my talented husband compiled for the members.  Inside it has lists of ways to accomplish what Elder Eyring says in the quote on the front.  If you want to know what he says in English, you can go to the September 2012 issue of the Ensign. (I would put a link but I don't have Jaclyn here to tell me how to do that). And yes, I know it is out of focus.

    That's it for my entry for this week.  It might be a little boring for some, but hey, this is a record mostly for us, so sorry....  

Just when I had some hope

   Last Tuesday we were invited to dine at a member's home.  We have learned that here in Quebec (pronounced 'Kay-beck', by the way)  the term "souper" (pronounced 'soupay") is often used for dinner.  I think this is because, unlike France and other parts of Europe, the dinner meal is eaten early , around 5:30 or 6:00, and it does not take 3 hours.  This is helpful to our young missionaries who are asked to follow a strict time schedule.
   The dinner was very nice although they gave us portions fit for a 19-20 year old young man.  And, just as I was garnering some hope in my language progress, we were totally immersed in a family of fast-talking Quebecois speakers.  They had a son and daughter there as well as a boyfriend (or husband).  These dominated the conversation, which was fine, but I felt that I had dropped into some country where a completely unknown language was used.  I literally did not understand two words in the hour-long discourse.  Paul was little help.  Afterwards I asked him what he got out of what had been said and he determined they had lived in their house since 1864 (boy, they looked great !) and that this daughter may or may not be married to the young man who showed up half-way through the meal.  Another huge dose of humble pie.
   On Wednesday night we drove to Quebec City for a zone conference the following morning.  We took the two elders from our city with us and dropped them off at another missionary apartment.  Unfortunately, there was little communication ahead of time (surprise, surprise) between these two groups and we ended up waiting in the car for 40 minutes for the hosting missionaries to get home.
As they in French "Ca va."   We did enjoy the zone conference and the instruction given by the mission president.  So nice to be a listener and learner instead of a speaker and teacher!  President Patrick mentioned something in his teaching and then looked at Paul and said, "Elder Peterson, you have been a mission president, did you do it this way?"  So, the cat is now out of the bag, as they say.  We had hoped to keep this information quiet because of increased expectations, etc. etc.  Afterwards, in the car, the elders from our town said "So, Elder Peterson, in telling what you have done in the past, you conveniently forgot an important part."  He told them he didn't think that it was pertinent to what we are now doing.
    Today we went to a member's house and gathered several boxes of food to distribute to some of the more needy members of the branch. I can't remember if I wrote of this before, but the father of one of our members (the father is not a member) owns a grocery store in town.  Each week he allows someone from the branch to go and get boxes of food with expiring 'sell by' dates, which are then divided and distributed. Another branch member has been picking up the food for a long time now, and he has asked us to take over this responsibility.  What a nice service from the store owner and the member who has done all this for so long!
    Paul has designed a flyer for English class, which we are putting up around town wherever we can find a bulletin board.  I think it looks quite professional.  We are hoping for a good turnout when class begins in Sept.  Here is the flyer:

  We found that one business which had a bulletin board was none other than our favorite spot to get  ice cream.  We felt obligated this afternoon to purchase a couple of ice cream cones as a thank you for providing the bulletin board.

Poutine and other blessings

   Today we took the Elders to do their shopping and drop off their laundry.  Not sure if I wrote about this already, but there is a family who takes the laundry every Monday and does it for the young missionaries.  What a great act of service!  It is something I would never have thought of, but it saves the Elders time and money.  We then took them to the grocery store, and lunch.  Their car was impounded over a month ago because they were stopped for speeding ( only a few miles over the limit) but neither had an international driver's license.  Now they jokingly told us they are the only missionaries with an attorney.  Anyway, we provide rides for them when the weather is bad or time is an issue.  Today they asked to have us go eat at a famous little cafe where they sell Poutine. This is a dish unique to Quebec.  It consists of french fries, placed in a bowl with large chunks of soft, mild cheese, and a special gravy-like sauce poured over the top.  Paul and I ordered the "small" size to share and you can see below that it was huge--we didn't finish it.  It was quite tasty, but given the calories involved I am not sure we will eat it again.  I would prefer to enjoy my extra calories (as if I have any!) at the ice cream shop I mentioned earlier.

        ( Not sure what's up with my hair-it was windy outside and Paul's hairspray obviously works better than mine)

      Friday we attended a baptism at the branch.  It was a beautiful young woman who has been attending off and on for the last 8 years.  The branch turned out in great support, and it was a lovely event.  Afterwards  there was a pot luck (pronounced 'pote-look').  These people like to eat!  The next day was a fete called Le Ble D'Inde which literally means the 'wheat of Indian' where we had fresh corn on the cob (tons of it) along with hot dogs and fixings.  Then, yesterday, was branch conference and after the 3 hour block there was yet another pote-luck.  I brought two quiche but I don't know if they were any good because neither Paul nor I had a bite to eat until two hours later and by then only a bit of salad was left.  I decided that if I can't talk to anyone I can at least serve them by doing dishes, cleaning up, etc.  This community prides itself (almost to a fault) in being environmentally responsible which means no paper products--every dish and glass and all silverware must be washed and dried. By the end of the three days I am sure I washed or dried 400 dishes or more, but I am NOT complaining because at least I felt useful.
   Yesterday in Relief Society I nearly lost it, and by that I mean I nearly burst into tears because I could not understand anything that was being said. I was so frustrated and I allowed many negative thoughts to creep into my mind about why we were here.  And then, just at the end of the afternoon,  to reassure me, Heavenly Father prompted the stake president to ask us to talk with him privately.  He asked us about our church callings and leadership experience (Paul admitted he had been a mission president-something we had hoped to keep quiet). He then gave us the vision for this area and told us how grateful he was that we had been assigned here.  I again knew we were sent because we are needed; and I also know I must have lots to learn while here.  Now, we must figure out the "how"...

Innovative

    Here a couple of things that we have found different and probably better than at home in the U.S.  They sell milk in plastic bags, not cartons.  At first glance, this might sound really weird, but it actually is ingenious.  The sealed plastic bags fit nicely on the door of the refrigerator and you can fit triple the number in the same space.  To open, you place the bag in a smallish pitcher (easily available in the grocery stores), cut one end and then it can be poured out when you use it.  I will attach a picture.  One slight problem is that you must make sure the bag is completely inside the pitcher or the milk can come spilling out, as Dad found one morning.

    I already mentioned the motorized wheel chairs.  We believe most people use these instead of cars because they are electric and thus have less impact on the environment.  They also use bikes and roller blades.  Recycling is huge here--everything is recycled, and I even saw a large container inside the front door of a grocery store where one could bring there items.  We could learn to be better on this.

   Last night we discovered what may become the bane of my existence here-- a drive-through creamery with the best ice cream I have ever tasted!   I thought of you, Baylor, and how much you would enjoy this. The worst part is that it is only a minute away from our apartment, and since it is a drive-through and they offer sandwiches and soup as well as ice cream, we are assuming it is open even in the winter.
   Today I saw Paul using an innovative way to study the scriptures, so he wouldn't fall asleep.  As you young people may not realize, older individuals can fall asleep instantly when sitting, regardless of how much sleep they got the night before.  Here is solution to the problem:  

    Yesterday we visited with a member who was originally from France.  He is quite lonely as he is divorced and lives alone. He is older and is an artist.  He showed us some of his work, and he has some real talent.   Because he is French, Paul had little trouble conversing with him.  He talks fast so it was still difficult for me.  Then last night, we received a nice tender mercy when we went to visit a single sister who moved to the branch last month--she spoke very good English and we could visit with out restraint for 45 minutes!  

Tuesday again!

  We arrived in the mission one week ago today.  I carefully recorded this evening what we have done thus far to fulfill our assignment of growing the branch so it can become a ward.  It is going to be slow-going, I am afraid, but nothing worthwhile happens without effort.
    For preparation day, we thoroughly cleaned the apartment. It had been left very clean by the previous couple, but because it sat empty for two months it needed some attention.  I was happily surprised at the capabilities of my companion; he provided some elbow grease which made the job easier.  He's been holding out on me all these years!
   After completing our household tasks we went on a lovely walk part way around a little lake here in Victoriaville.  It was about 64 degrees with a slight breeze, which made for perfect walking weather.

     In the evening we went to the apartment of a sweet sister who is confined to a wheelchair.  Another single man attends, and mostly we read a chapter from the Book of Mormon and discuss it.  He is originally from France, and doesn't speak much English, but Sister Levesque speaks it quite well. When we first met her last week she spoke English to us.  At FHE, however, much of what she said was in the strongest Quebecois accent I have yet to hear.  I could barely discern a single word! Paul was of little help because there was a fan going in the room and that background noise was a disaster with his hearing deficit.  Despite all this, it was a nice evening and the Spirit was there.

   Today after studies we set out to try to see some less actives.  This entailed quite a bit of driving, and no one answered the door.  In the evening, however, we stopped by a member's home to drop off cookies, and they were very nice.  We also met with a man who was the former Young Men's president, but who has become less active.  The Elders had told us he had moved, but we confirmed he is still here. We can pass this on to the branch president so their records can be accurate. We didn't get into his home, but he was nice enough as he told us he wasn't interested. I think we will send him a note with a spiritual thought for the next few months.
  We then went on another walk, on another path through town.  There is a "fete" (a celebration) going on for a couple of weeks and a concert was in progress. Along the path we saw many of these:

    I think the government must pay for these for nearly everyone who wants one, handicapped or not, for we see them all over town.  They are legal on the sidewalks and people use them as transportation to the store, etc.  We find it a little humorous to see these tearing down the sidewalks and paths at break-neck speed.  

A silent Sabbath

     Yesterday we attended our first church meetings in the Victoriaville Branch.  There were about 65 people in attendance, so this is a substantial branch.  Interestingly, in France or Switzerland it would probably be a ward.  Perspective, perspective, I guess.
   Paul and I each bore our testimonies.  Mine was short, his was a bit longer for obvious reasons.  And speaking of my language deficit, I might as well admit that I understood at most 10% of what was said during the three hours.  I am beginning to recognize, however, the accent which is famous here.  I would have to say that it isn't pretty--the normally melodic French words are more sharp and have a definite "twang" to them.  However, most everyone was extremely friendly and welcoming.  Apparently the wife of the senior couple who preceded us did not speak any French when they arrived and by the time she left she was communicating quite understandably.  I needed to hear that because yesterday I felt very isolated; the term "warm body only" came to mind. My scripture app which shows me both the French and English side by side was a life saver during Sunday School, but I don't have anything similar for Relief Society. I tried to see which pictures were on the page in the manual which the teacher was using and turn to that page.  Didn't help me much, but at least I looked like I knew what was going on.
    In the afternoon Paul gave a plate of cookies to our upstairs neighbor.  When he answered his door, and Paul told them these were for him, he asked, "Why?"  Paul told him it was just because we are now neighbors. He looked pleasantly surprised.  Our thoughts are that we will not bring up anything about the church (Paul did tell him we were for 18 months to support the members of our church), and then later, when they are comfortable with us we will introduce some doctrine.  Now that I've used my signature chocolate chip cookie recipe, I will need to be more creative.
     We then drove out to the first counselor's home.  He and his wife live on a beautiful, small lake which is 30 minutes from town.  We had a nice visit (I mostly smiled silently) and then, just so we would remember we "aren't in Kansas anymore", the brother reminded us to look carefully for moose on the roads!
    Today is Preparation Day so I will try to write about it tonight.  Hopefully I will remember to take some pictures!

Our new digs

    We spent a nice evening at the mission home in Montreal with President and Sister Patrick and 5 of their 8 children.  One daughter leaves next week for the French Lyon Mission (our old mission!)  I can't imagine trying to do all the things mission president's wives need to do as well as manage a young family, but she is doing it, and doing it well, it seems.
    While meeting with the president, we learned more of where we would be living, and serving.  We have been assigned to Victoriaville, Quebec Province, a city of about 43,000, two hours drive north east of Montreal.  There is a small branch here and one set of Elders.  I must admit that for a few minutes I was disappointed that we will separated from the other senior couples;  we really are isolated enough that we probably won't be included in any preparation day activities.  We will have to drive to Quebec City to see anything of note for Victoriaville does not have much to offer culturally. It is a clean little town surrounded by farmland.   However, I know we have work to do and hopefully can strengthen the branch so that it can eventually become a ward.  We spent one depressing afternoon wondering what we could do with our time--then we decided that we should make cookies and deliver a plate to all the members of the ward council before Sunday.  I made about 80-90 chocolate chip cookies and we spent a day or so driving around to meet people.  Not many were home (because it is summer and a Saturday)  but those we met were just as nice as could be.  We also gave a plate to one of our neighbors who moved in the day after we did.
   The apartment is very, very nice and we can't complain about that.  Everyone we have met in stores, and other places has been friendly and helpful. And so far (since Wednesday) we have only had 2 torrential rainstorms.  I was told, however, that it is not unheard of to have  -50 degree temps a few times in the winter, which I cannot even fathom.  We went on a lovely walk this evening and it was coolish, but pleasant.  Of course, it is only August 3rd.
   Paul got his wish of being completely immersed in the French language.  For me it is a huge challenge.  I do not understand more than 3 words in any conversation so I have become the silent partner- not a role I take to easily. I know it is good for me in that I will eventually learn to speak some French, but so frustrating to have someone trying to carry on a conversation with me and me just standing there like a lump.  Tomorrow at church will be an adventure....