France, Day 5, Sunday, February 24

We went to church, and tried to listen to messages in French. I got some of it, with the help of Dad interpreting a little bit. In Sunday school the teacher wrote the scriptures on the board so we could look them up, and follow along with the lesson. But we couldn’t figure out what book was “Jacque”, we tried John, and Jacob… then first John and second John. No luck. When we got home Dad told us that it was James. Peter is Pierre, John is Jean, and James is Jacque. So Peter, James & John, are Pierre, Jacque et Jean.

Even if we didn’t get the lesson, we still felt the spirit, and understood what the topic was. The sacrament topic was prophets, the Sunday school lesson was about prayer, and Relief society talked about service.

We also met the DeFranchis. Each little girl (daughter) came up to us and kissed us on the cheek on each side. Mom told us about it, but we had forgotten until this first DeFranchi girl walked right up to Susan and kissed her and said “bon jour”. One other woman in church kissed us. We figure she was a ward missionary, and wanted to be sure we could find Relief Society. She wanted us to follow her there.

It was a great experience, and so humbling to realize how much we have in the way of fellowship of the church in such large wards and stakes that we live in. There were 22 sisters in Relief Society, and Mom said it was packed. There are normally only 6. Then the lady giving the lesson said something about not getting to see general conference, and having to wait until it comes out in the magazine to read in French. And I get it sit in my living room in my pajamas with cookies and milk and watch the prophet and apostles speak. The things we take for granted are sometimes our greatest blessings.