Russell and Eileen's Church Missions: PARIS TEMPLE

May has been a month of change for us. It was the first month this year in which we did not get on a plane. Almost all of our missionary assignment related travel revolves around training new Welfare couples. During the first half of our mission we traveled five times. During the first four months of this year we traveled ten times. And during the last four months of our mission we have another five trips scheduled. So we have really enjoyed being home this month.

Earlier this month Daniel Kopischke joined the Welfare Department as a part-time accounting employee. Daniel is taking care of paying bills and writing journal entries for the Department. This change will bring consistency to the payment process role which in the past has been handled by senior missionaries. Perhaps those most pleased that Daniel is now with us are our replacements Elder James and Sister Marlene Lindsay. Hearing how much of my (Russell) time was previously taken up with accounting work was not a great recruiting line.

Last Sunday the Paris temple was dedicated. Since Thursday of this week was a holiday in Germany (Ascension Day), we decided to take the opportunity to attend the Paris temple on Friday. It took longer than we expected to drive there and back consuming most of Thursday and Saturday but Friday made it all worth it.

It is interesting how God answers my prayers. Recently I have been asking for patience – with a lot of things. Those who know me best are aware of just how much I love driving in large cities during rush hour. Our drive to Paris on Thursday was rather uneventful. But on the short drive Friday morning to the temple I experienced one of those patience building experiences; a test I once again did not pass without challenge. On our way home on Saturday, somewhere between Rheims and the German border in beautiful rural France, I glanced down at the gas meter and discovered our car was near empty. By the time we finally found a gas station in a little town we were riding on fumes. In France many gas stations are totally automated with no personnel there. The machines do not take cash or any credit cards which require a signature. I had both cash and a credit card but not the prepaid gas cards the French use. Eileen, speaking in French, found a woman who was willing to help us. We paid her 50 Euros for 40 Euros worth of gas and never felt better about it! For me it was a lesson in both patience and humility, in appreciation for my good wife and her patience with me, and in gratitude for a French woman who was willing to help us. Afterwards both Eileen and I were saying prayers of thanks to God for helping us get out of that mess of my own making.