Journal October 25, 1962
October 25—If last weekend was very pleasant, the following week brought more mixed joys. First, we learned that Elder Perry Spice,1 who has been in Nantes 17 days longer than I’ve been in Rennes, mostly as branch president, and who’s therefore the only French missionary “older” in his city than I am, was transferred on October 20 to Charleroi in Belgium, having spent precisely one year and 17 days in Nantes.

Which means that I need only stick it out in Rennes until the 7th of November to beat his record of [212] longevity in Bretagne. We’ll see.

After Sacrament Meeting at Rennes, we went to the Leroys’. Sister Leroy had invited us to come celebrate my anniversary there. This was one of the most touching experiences of my life. Each family member gave me a gift: a beautiful leather cover that just fits my Doctrine et Alliances, a key-chain engraved with a message of love and congratulation, some bonbons (chocolate, of course). and then we sat down to the most magnificent dinner I’d had in France. Unfortunately, I was getting sicker and sicker—not because of the meal, but in spite of it—and I fear that I didn’t do it the honor that it deserved. I did my best to cover up [213] my difficulty, and I hope the family was pleased with our evening.…More, next page…

Another segment of the same gang: Elder Peterson, Elder Mitton’s companion, Sister Stevens, Elder Aldridge, and Sister Keele, on a medieval stone staircase on the Mont.
1“Petit pépère Épice / Qui n’ s’en va pas à Nice / Mais qui s’en va / au Canada / Assis sur ses valises!” I was somewhat crestfallen that he didn’t enjoy this little sally of mine. Limericks are scarce in France and in French, especially set to the tune of “Petit Papa Noël/Quand tu descendras du ciel…,” a popular children’s ditty around Christmas. Hope he knew I wasn’t really accusing him of trunkiness; he was a splendid branch president (as missionaries go–one would always prefer a local member in the calling) for a rather long time.
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