Dinner at Soeur George's home

Soeur George invited us to join with her, her huband, sister missionaries, friends from the ward and a mother and duaghter that she met on the bus for a special Noel dinner.
It took all afternoon to eat the food she had prepared. We started out with stuffed avocadoes, shrimp, salad and bread. Then we had escargot (snails), which are an expensive delicacy. The main course was turkey cooked with chestnuts and mushrooms in a sweet sauce. After the entree, we had the cheese course. We had a choice of five different kinds. I personally like brie and goat cheese. For dessert, she served ice cream rolls. One was creme brulee and the other was raspberry. Soeur Favel had made a chocolate Yule log. I had brought snicker doodle cookies. We ended the meal with a toast of sparkling cider. It was a once in a lifetime meal.

Experiencing Escargot

Part of the fun of the wonderful dinner was being able to try escargot (snails). Each person who had not eaten them before was given the chance to try. I ate one and that was enough. Actually, if the critters were not such an ugly color gray, they just tasted like chewy garlic and butter. Elder Badger had five or six. A usual portion is twelve per person. Sister George had special tongs and a special little fork to pry the meat out of the shell. She even gave us a shell for a souvenir.

Baptism of De Hamdami Nejad (Joseph)

On Sunday, December 27th, Joseph was baptized at the Ecully Ward chapel. He is from Iran and has been searching for the truth. He has been Muslim, Catholic and Protestant beore meeting the missionaries. He was baptized by Marc Pommier, the ward mission leader.

Tony Conesa's Birthday Party

On Saturday, December 26th, we were invited to Elizabeth and Tony Conesa's home for Tony's birthday party. Brother and Sister Roux and Brother and Sister Venet were also invited. All three couples work in the Zollikofen Temple together. We had a delicious Mediterranean meal which included calamar (squid) stuffed with ground meat, saffron rice and a salad made with hearts of palm and endive. We are having some new food experiences. It was a delightful evening.

Continuation of Christmas Day

Some of the missionaries left for a luncheon date with members but most stayed and spent the afternoon with us.
They used our computers to call their families on skype or our land line phone. Jessica Rodriguez, one of our young adults from Mexico City, called and asked if she could spend the day with us also. We sat around visiting and eating goodies until six of them left for a dinner appointment. The remaining five of us had a nice meal together here in our home. The elder in the crazy hat is Elder Nelson. The juggler is Sister Sudar. Jessica is with Sister Gardner in the bottom picture.

Christmas Day 2009 Breakfast with the missionaries

On Christmas morning, the missionaries in Lyon came to our apartment for breakfast. Elder Badger made pancakes and scrambled and fried eggs and we served different juices, cocoa, sausage, ham and even oatmeal mush. They brought lots of chocolate, cake and other goodies to share.

December 23, 2009 Christmas musical program for Villeurbanne Ward

On December 23rd, the missionaries from Villeurbanne organized a Christmas musical program with a buffet afterward.

They did not expect many to come or to bring food. To their great surprise, there were many more than they had planned and there was an abundance of good food. Sister Jordan and Sister Sudar are in the second picture preparing the tables of food. It was an opportunity for members of the ward to visit and get to know each other. I met Sister Medina and got to hold her two-week old baby girl.

December 22, 2009 Zone Conference in Lyon

On Tuesday, December 22nd, we had our zone conference in Lyon. The elders and sisters from Luxembourg, Nancy, Metz, Dijon and other cities were invited. It was a large gathering of outstanding young men and women. At lunch time, President Bennasar, our Lyon stake president, came and spoke to us. He is in the first picture. It was great to see elders and sisters that we had served with previously. The Ecully Ward put on the lunch and it was African. The elders and sisters received their letters and packages from home.

December 19, 2009- Caroling Party at the Center

On Saturday evening, December 19th, the young adults gathered at the Center to go to Place Bellecour to sing Christmas carols. They bundled up against the bitter cold because it was in the teens that night. Then they donned Santa hats and caught the Metro to Bellecour. They sang and invited passersby to join them. In the third picture, Elder Wiser is singing with some new found friends. After enduring the cold, they returned to the center for hot chocolate and Texas cake. They are an outstanding group of young adults and missionaries.

Young Adult Raclette Party on Dec. 18th

On December 18th, the young adults had a Raclette party. You heat special Raclette cheese in little cups on a Raclette cooker and then pour the cheese on potatoes and slices of ham and other meats. We had over 30 in attendance with 4 or 5 investigators, who were invited by their friends. We had French apple pie with vanilla ice cream for dessert. It was a fun evening for all who were there.

The animals at Parc Tete D'Or in winter

We love the Parc Tête D'Or and try to walk there every chance possible. These are pictures of the animals in the park in December. They are doing okay. The lion and tigers just peer out from their dens but the bear was not afraid of the cold with his heavy fur. The elephants had no choice bcause the doors to their warm homes were closed. The swans and geese must be staying for the winter.