Disaster becomes an Adventure
Friday afternoon May 16 we had a power outage in our apartment,
and when we explored the cause, we were told
"call back Monday when the offices open!"
and when we explored the cause, we were told
"call back Monday when the offices open!"
So with the prospect of several days in a dark apartment
where we could not do any work,
we took the opportunity to travel
to more of the French wards and branches.
where we could not do any work,
we took the opportunity to travel
to more of the French wards and branches.
We stayed in a little studio apartment in Aix Les Bains,
which is in the Chambéry Branch on the banks of Lac du Bourget.
The Chambéry Branch meets in this building (close-up below)
.
The city of Grenoble is in a valley between mountains famous for skiing,
and was the site of Les Jeux Olympiques D'Hiver
(the 1968 Winter Olympic Games).
(the 1968 Winter Olympic Games).
This meetinghouse for the Grenoble Ward was completed in 2018
but was later damaged by an explosion, and repairs have taken a long time.
but was later damaged by an explosion, and repairs have taken a long time.
The Annecy Branch meets in this storefront building, see close-up below
Annecy is a spectacular location
On Sunday we traveled into Geneva to attend their Stake Conference.
The stake center is near Lac Leman.
The stake center is near Lac Leman.
who are church representatives to the UN.
The Swiss Mission was one of the first in Europe,
opened in 1850 by Lorenzo Snow
We passed through scenic Albertville on our way back.
CHURCH HISTORY MOMENT
While losing our electricity for a few days seemed a disaster to us, we are sobered to read of the trials suffered by church members in France during World War II. One sister left this story about her aunt, Eveline Kleinert.
From 1940 to 1944 the church in France was comprised mostly of women. Most men had been drafted into the army and all American church leaders had been called home to the U.S. When the president of the Paris Branch left for Utah, he asked Eveline to take care of the six older women who were left, as she had been secretary of the branch. Eveline saw to all their needs and they met together when possible.
Life was difficult under German occupation, as they often had little or no food, no fuel for heat, and no transportation. It was illegal to hold church services but every other week Eveline invited the six women to her home to read scriptures together. One Sunday the women were taking turns bearing their testimonies when the door opened and a young man in a German uniform entered and sat down. The women were all terrified of what would happen if he reported them to the Gestapo. The young man stood up and recited the 12th Article of Faith, on being subject to kings, presidents, and rulers, and then explained that was his reason for being in Paris. They realized he was a church member and was in Hitler's Army only because the government had ordered him to enlist. He left and of course did not report the women to the Gestapo.
Eveline continued to care for the women when they were sick or needy. During the winter of 1944 she made contact with Léon Fargier, the only Melchizidek Priesthood holder in France. He lived 350 miles away in Valence, and she asked him to visit their branch in Paris. He made the trip at great risk through enemy lines. He gave each sister a blessing, and administered the sacrament they had been without for four years.
Toward the end of the war, conditions worsened and Eveline advised the women of the branch to stay home. Every week she sent a letter of encouragement to each one, and asked them to respond so she would know they were well.
After the war ended they saw a note on a Red Cross bulletin board that LDS services were being held by some men in the U.S. military. Imagine their joy when they were finally able to attend an actual church meeting.
Eveline Kleinert was later honored for her service to the branch, and for caring for them without other leadership for so many years.
How insignificant our little trials/inconveniences are, compared to what the early Saints have endured!
Story Source:
Pincock, G. (2016). Eveline Kleinert Charlet: "Et qui sait si ce n'est pas pour un temps comme celui-ci?" ( "And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this?"). Chapter 6 in Ulrich-Bichierri, O. and Euvrard, C. (2023). « Vous êtes
les femmes qu’il a vues ! » Portraits de femmes de l’Église de
Jésus-Christ des Saints des Derniers Jours en Europe francophone. (
To read other posts in our Mission Blog,
click on the arrow or 3 lines to the left of NEVILLES IN FRANCE
then click on ARCHIVE to see a list of all posts.
click on the arrow or 3 lines to the left of NEVILLES IN FRANCE
then click on ARCHIVE to see a list of all posts.
