Journal January 28 - February 2, 1962

January 28 (continued)—And another trial for my faith and diligence: Claude Nosland, the smart, sincere one, doesn’t want us to teach him any more. He says he’ll continue studying and reading the Book of Mormon, but he’s afraid we’ll entrap him with psychology and by our personalities(!). I’m afraid, though, that he hasn’t yet absorbed enough to complete the job. We can only hope that he’ll follow through with the Book of Mormon. Otherwise…

February 1—Several weeks ago, I suggested to President Renaud that the branch members didn’t know enough about administering to the sick. He agreed, and we started teaching about it, and they’ve received this doctrine with joy. This evening, we anointed (I anointed, and Elder Higley sealed) Sister Alfreda Perrot, who suffers from a kidney condition. We’ll see the results as they develop.

February 2—A cute, slangy expression: instead of saying, “cela me tracasse, ou ennuie” (that bothers or annoys me), they say “cela me chiffonne” (that wrinkles me).

The Rennes Branch in these days was very special, and much of the credit belongs to the Renaud family. Like the American pioneers of the 1830s and 1840s, Marcel Renaud was new in the Church when he was called as branch president, an assignment which he filled humbly, sweetly, and very effectively. I succeeded Elder Higley as President Renaud’s counselor; so, I know what I’m talking about. My first dinner in Rennes was at their home. As the “petit bleu” guest of honor, I was served, ceremoniously, the choice morsel from Sister Renaud’s excellent civet de lapin: the rabbit’s head. Everybody watched as I dutifully smacked my lips over it. It only reveals, I fear, my shortcomings as a chronicler that the photos I took there include no suitable shots of these dear folks. Lots of their daughter Elisabeth (Michel Delétang’s buddy), but only these two really inadequate images of the parents. He’s attending an outdoor baptismal service, by the way, and she (back to the camera) is jumping rope at a branch outing… I’ve even forgotten her first name, but then we didn’t use those, much.

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