First week in Paris, France

         The sun was shining brightly above the clouds but the weather in Paris is gray and gloomy. Some sprinkles but no down pour. The Elders met us at the front of the airport and drove us to our apartment. It is in a five story building that was built in the 1980's I believe they said. We are on the second floor and there is no elevator so we clime the stairs. We have a living room/dining room, kitchen/washroom, 2 bedrooms, and a bath. The toilet is just what they say -- a closet -- all to itself, and not conveniently located by the tub and sink. The kitchen is about 6'X15' but it has everything we need including a clothes washer and dryer for which we are grateful.  Dixie can cook anything there as soon as I figure out the Centigrade.

 

The Young Adult Center (pictured above) is located in an old mansion built in 1641 and is located close to the Notre Dame cathedral in Paris and is really beautiful on the inside. The outside looks VERY old. The church owns 2/3 of the building and it houses the Paris, St. Merri Ward as well as the Young Adult Center.  The ceiling is the original wood rails.

The Young Adult Center is located on the second floor and we get there by climbing this grand staircase.

Our office is just inside the door on the second floor of the building.

The institue Director's office located down the hall as well as a lounge and meeting room for the young adults next to a small kitchen where we will prepare a dinner for Monday night home evenings as well as refreshments for the institue classes. 

We teach an english class every Saturday with about 12 non-members attending who take the class very seriously.  We even have a pediatrician attending who treats several English speaking patients.

          Our days will be going to the Center around noon and staying until 9pm or so. Dixie will help the Young Adults plan and cook a meal for Monday Family Home Evening and treats for Institute nights Tuesday and Thursday. Friday they might have an activity so we will be there for that and sometimes on Saturdays for an activity. We will go there for our Sunday meetings so you can see we will be using the transit system a lot. We purchase a month's pass and we can use it for the trains or buses.  We traveled to the Versaille chapel, just outside of Paris, last Friday for a meeting with Elder Anderson of the Quorum of the Twelve on Friday.  It was our first mission conference and was so exciting for us. So far all the missionaries that we have met came through our MTC Branch so that is fun to see familar faces.

          We attended the baptism of a Chinese student today.  He was baptised by Elder Hadfield who, with his wife, are the visitor center directors.  The visitors center is located on the street level of Paris - St. Merri ward building.