C & C in France Paris Mission
Craig Richard and Carla Rae Cook Jorgensen
This is my first experience at blogging. I am excited to learn how they work and keep a written record of many of our activities, people we meet, places we go, photos, and all the new adventures that we will have. We will be sharing this blog with family and close friends.
Craig and I put our papers in to serve a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints on December 13, 2022. We have wanted to go on a mission for some time, but decided to wait until COVID was less challenging and when life had become a little more normal. Most of us, including us, are now vaccinated and have had mild cases, and our immunity systems are somewhat stronger.
We received a call to serve in the France Paris Mission on January 13, 2023. We were so happy to receive this calling. Since then, for four months, we have been busy preparing documents, getting our home ready, sorting through closets, shelves, cleaning in every nick and cranny, studying scriptures, French, and now preparing our yard.
We were flown to San Francisco to get our France Visa (no French Consulate in Salt Lake City) on March 29th, and had to prepare for three months by gathering necessary documents that were required. Craig finished his ski/ teaching season and was given an award at Solitude Mountain Resort for doing such a terrific job for the last five years. I finished up with my private voice students with a studio recital and invited Mandi Barrus to assist me with my students while I am gone (I will be in touch with them periodically to see how they are doing).
April 9, 2023 Easter
What a beautiful spring day it is this Easter morning! The sun is bright and warm, blue bird skies, and lots of snow in the mountains. The buds are starting to come on the trees and bushes and tulips and daffodils are coming up out of the ground. It's been a long winter but Spring has now begun.
Craig and I went to our Parleys 3rd Ward Sacrament Meeting, and sat in our usual third row seat. There were many people there to celebrate our Savior and His resurrection. We feel great joy and love as we meet together. How good it is to be able to meet again - after years of not meeting due to Covid.
After the Sacrament, a men's chorus which Craig sang Bass in, sang "Come Unto Jesus". It was a beautiful arrangement and the wonderful singing brought tears to many eyes- including mine. Brother and Sister Hales gave talks on the Savior and His resurrection. After, another musical number with eight young women playing violins, presented "I Know That My Redeemer Lives", with Liz Conde at the piano. It was beautifully done. The spirit was very strong and more tears fell upon hearing this moving hymn.
The meeting ended joyously. Everyone went outside for light refreshments of home-made cookies and milk. They were delicious.
Craig and I came home, went for a walk, and prepared our Easter feast of asparagus, barbequed hamburgers, potatoes, and home-made chocolate cake. We had a leisurely day and enjoyed the beautiful sunshine and time relaxing in our back yard. Oh, how we needed a day like this. We have been so busy getting everything ready to leave for the MTC tomorrow morning.
We visited with family and friends on the phone, and met with a few neighbors, and said our good-byes. It is hard to say good-bye to our loved one, but we know they will be blessed, watched over and protected by Heavenly Father and angels - here and above - while we are gone.
This evening, we were set apart in our home by President Matt Wirthlin. President Tim Conde and Bishop Jacob Munns joined in the circle (as did Craig for me). It was a very special and spiritually touching experience. The feelings of true joy and gratefulness filled our hearts.
We have now officially been called to serve in the France Paris Mission. We are ready now (an Ephraim Hanks saying that we treasure) and will enter the Mission Training Center in Provo, Utah tomorrow morning.
Our hearts are full with gratitude for our family, friends and all those who have been there for us and helped us prepare for this very special moment and time in our lives.
President Matt Wirthlin, Jorgensen's, President Tim Conde
Week One
April 10-14, 2023 Mission Training Center (MTC)
We woke up early and drove to the Mission Training Center (MTC) in Provo, Utah. What a beautiful place to be! We were greeted in our car and given directions where to park, where to go, and had a sister missionary by our side to go with us inside.
What a beautiful place this is! The spirit is so strong! It is right across the street from the Provo Temple and we feel the Lord's presence here. We began the registration process, meeting fellow senior missionaries, and feeling right at home already. Because the MTC was so full of missionaries, we were asked to stay at the Marriott SpringHill Hotel off campus. We have been grateful for the comfortable suite and bed, good breakfast, and work-out room and swimming pool.
During the week, we participated in many different kinds of classes. The first week, Preach My Gospel was the main theme. Our teachers were excellent - all returned missionaries themselves - and all shared their expertise and experiences to learn from. Meals were delicious and cafeteria style - lots of choices. We toured the beautiful campus, saw murals that were inspiring along with scripture references. Everywhere we went, we felt the spirit and the joy and love of being with missionaries from all over the world!
What a surprise to learn that President Calderwood (Carla's former VA Stake President) is now the President of the MTC! He and his wife greeted us with great big hugs, happy smiles, and tears of joy!
Tuesday evening, Craig and I sang in the MTC Missionary Choir. We sang "Come Unto Jesus"/Wilberg arrangement for a world-wide Devotional broadcast. It was broadcast to MTC's all over the world. Elder Neil L. Anderson was the guest speaker. It was a wonderful experience. After the devotional, Elder Anderson went into the audience and shook hands. When he saw me and then Craig, he came over and shook our hands, called us by name, and said to the missionaries all around us, " Craig and I went to high school together." "I guess you can't guess which one of us played basket ball?!" and then Craig responded by saying, " And I guess you can't guess which one of us had all the brains?" We all laughed together. This is a memory that we will treasure - being personal friends, shaking hands, and laughing with Elder Anderson and the missionaries, and being in the presence of an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ.
During our first week at the MTC we were taught by returned missionaries that were excellent! We learned more about Preach My Gospel and how this is done through personal revelation and listening to the spirit for promptings. Craig and I really enjoyed hearing their testimonies, hearing about their missions and learning from their examples. We had some excellent technology classes, and we even had a relationships class - both excellent. It was really very very good. It’s been a very busy and full first week full of spiritual experiences, making new friends getting into the swing of being a missionary, eating in the cafeteria, meeting young and older missionaries and enjoying this beautiful MTC. We’re grateful to have this opportunity to serve, to learn, to grow, and meet our our brothers and sisters in France. We know that Heavenly Father has opened this door for our mission, and we are grateful to have this opportunity.
Sunday April 16 - Friday 21, 2023
The MTC is a very special place. The spirit of love, kindness, and service here is very strong. We have felt such positive momentum and energy from all of the missionaries here. We are enjoying the opportunity to learn from one another - particularly through the spirit. We are being taught in our minds, in our hearts, and in our souls. It really is incredible to experience this.
All of the missionaries - including us - are excited about their upcoming missions. There are thousands of young and senior missionaries here from all over the world - and so many languages are spoken and are being taught here! It really is amazing how so much good is being done here - excellent classes that are well organized, teachers teaching so many different topics of study, experienced as well as new teachers sharing their knowledge and spiritual knowledge - how to touch and soften hearts, and how to teach by the spirit and receive inspiration through the spirit and follow what you have been inspired to say and do. Everyone here feels the Lord's hand in missionary work. Serving others really is also about serving our Heavenly Father. How we love God and one another! We are literally gathering Israel together, learning, growing, and then being sent out again all over the world to serve our brothers and sisters and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Week Two
MTC April 17- 22, 2023, then home for final preparations
President Mackey, 2nd Counselor in the MTC Presidency, gave an excellent fireside talk Sunday evening. He discussed this |"gathering of Israel" that has begun in preparation for the Savior's second coming. It really is the most important event happening in our world right now.
Can't wait to read more! You're there! How exciting, I know you both will have amazing experiences. 🇫🇷
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! It is a life-changing experience for us! Love you!
DeleteHope to see an update soon! I can't wait to hear about your lives in Paris!
DeleteWe’re excited to hear about your first experiences. We’re praying for you daily. 🙂
ReplyDeleteThank you! We so much appreciate and feel your prayers. Love you!
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