Sights around Sion, Switzerland

We went to Sion, Switzerland on Saturday, May 30th. We saw a cathedral and a magnificent fortress. All around Sion are vineyards that occupy most of the sides of the surrounding mountains.

Lac Souterrain -Underground Lake at St. Leonard

On Saturday, May 30th, we went with President and Sister Peterson, Elder and Sister Doyle and Elder and Sister Jones to St. Leonard, Swizerland where there is the largest underground lake in Europe. The top picture shows the area above the lake. It was not discovered until 1943.

We descended down a long metal stairway to the waiting boats. We were rowed the length of the lake by a young man who explained facts about the lake in French, German and English.

We were all surprised that there were fish in the lake. The lake is lighted at intervals so you can see the depth.

The Cathedral and Fortress by Sion

After visiting the underground lake, we drove to the area above Sion where there is a huge fortress on one hill and a large cathedral on the other. As we climbed up to the cathedral, we passed a charming little stone church, so Elder and Sister Jones and I thought we would go porte-a-porte there. No one answered our knock.












Sister Jones, Sister Peterson and I are on our way up to the cathedral. The organ in the cathedral was built before the time of Christopher Columbus in the 1400's.

Farewell barbecue for the Jarvises

On May 30, 2009, we met at the mission home for a farewell barbecue for Elder and Sister Jarvis, who will be leaving next week for home. President Peterson cooked the hamburgers on the grill and President Bonny (Geneva Stake President) made three different flavors of homemade ice cream. We each brought different salads, drinks, etc.
This is the group that attended the special dinner for Elder and Sister Jarvis. Starting from the left is President and Sister Peterson, Elder and Sister Fulcrand (physical facilities), Elder and Sister Harvey (Family History), President and Sister Bonny(Stake President), Elder and Sister Jarvis (past UN couple), Elder and Sister Jones (Outreach couple in Geneva), Elder and Sister Hansen (UN couple), Elder and Sister Badger (proselyting and Outreach couple in Lyon), Elder and Sister Hinman (Proselyting and Outreach Couple in Yverdon) and Elder and Sister Doyle (office couple).

Lunch with Elder and Sister Menge

On Thursday, May 28, 2009, Elder and Sister Menge drove to Geneva from Frankfurt, Germany to train Elder and Sister Jones and us as Outreach missionary couples. The training was well done. We walked from the Geneva Institute up the hill to the old city of Geneva and had lunch at the Restaurant les Armures.
I had the plat de jour, which was lamb and potatoes. It was delicious.
This is a plaque on the wall of the restaurant, which is a letter from President Bill Clinton, telling the restaurant owner thanks for sending him photos of them taken at the restaurant. The owner came over to our table and said that they had had Bill Clinton and now they had representatives of Jesus Christ.

Rive Droit Ward Ascension Day Picnic

On May 21, 2009, Ascension Day in Switzerland and France, the Rive Droit Ward held a barbecue and picnic at a wooded picnic place in Versoix.
Elder and Soeur Jones brought Fleur Obama and we brought Lam Ouattara. Fleur and Lam are new members of the church.
There was plenty to eat since everyone shared.








Brother Muller, a member of the bishopric, is blind. He is amazing! He is the one in the cap.
At this table is the Gaag Family and Brother and Sister Chiesa.

May 20, 2009

We planted a garden on our balcony on April 3. This is what our plants look like after six weeks. We have some small green cherry tomatoes that are starting to appear on the tomato plants. We have enjoyed the lettuce, radishes and parsley already.
Our balcony is like another room. We eat our meals outside on the little table. We have a lovely view of trees and the mountains.

Lunch in the beautiful resort town of Chamonix, France

These are pictures of Chamonix. It is a lovely little resort village situated below Mt. Blanc. It is a favorite tourist site. It was not too crowded the day we were there. It was very warm by the time we descended the mountain and found a sidewalk restaurant for our lunch.
We strolled through the village looking in the shops. I bought a little bell and a placemat with a picture of Mt. Blanc on it. We have decided to buy placemats at each spot we visit.
This is our group. Standing out in front are the Hinmans and the Hansens. Seated by them are Eder Doyle and Sister Badger. In the shade we have the Jarvises, Petersons and Joneses.
The Badgers sat with the Doyles in the sun and got sunburned. We had soup and sandwiches but the Doyles had fondue.

Mt. Blanc in France-May 16, 2009

On Saturday, May 16, 2009, the senior couples drove to Chamonix, France and took the cable car up the mountain to the 12,000 ft. level called the Needle. These are some of the views as we were ascending the mountain.
This is a view of Mt. Blanc as we were going up.
We ascended in two different cable cars. Each took us up quickly in about 8 minutes to the next station.
Here we are on top of the world. That is Mt. Blanc in the background. It is the highest mountain in Europe.
It was in the high 70's in the valley, but below freezing up on top. Sister Jarvis is admiring the view with Sister and Elder Badger.

Family Home Evening in Lyon-May 11, 2009

These are our special young adults in Lyon. From the left is Comfort, Benoit, Katie and Charline.


Here we have the Badgers with Veronique down in front, then Comfort, Benoit, Katie and Charline. Tonight we showed the Aba Temple Trip video to the group.

Geneva Stake Women's Conference-May 9, 2009

The Geneva Stake held their Women's Conference on Saturday, May 9, 2009. I was surprised at the large attendance. We had an opening exercise and then were excused to classes that lasted until noon. The classes were offered in English, French, and Spanish.
Sister Jones taught a wonderful class on Creating a Christ Centered Home. She even had homemade oatmeal raisin cookies. Each teacher received a certificate afterward.
After the luncheon, there was a talent show with each ward taking part in some way. This is a picture of the Gex Ward doing a disco dance. Below is the Saleve Ward dancing to "There is Sunshine in My Soul Today." It was a jazzy version of the hymn.
After the talent show, we adjourned to the chapel to hear the temple president and his wife speak. President Castellani spoke in Italian with a French interpreter. The Rive Droit Relief Society Choir sang. I accompanied them but also was asked to play the opening and closing hymns for the conference. This was a big first for me.

Sights by the Rhone River in Lyon, France

Here are some of the beautiful sights by the Rhone River in Lyon. There are some very beautiful churches and cathedrals.
One day we will walk up the hill to see this fantastic catherdral up close.
I loved this flower sculpture and the fountains in the background.
Here I am on the bridge over the Rhone River. It is called the Pont de la Guillotiere.