The first of the fifteen handwritten journal pages that turned up in November, 2010, in an isolated letter. It may help you to appreciate (I surely do!) Valerie’s loving labor of transcription.
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January 23—It’s this evening that we’re supposed to give the Castre family the sixth discussion; Elder Hart will come from Le Mans tomorrow to interview them, and their baptism will follow on Saturday, if all goes well. In any case, it isn’t his return to the hospital that will hinder Brother Castre’s baptism on Saturday, for that won’t happen until the week after. He really is trying to get ready, and we hope and pray he’ll succeed.
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January 26 (Sunday)—The baptism of Sister Castre (Hélène Grihault Castre) went very well, yesterday morning, and she seems altogether happy to have taken this important decision. Elder Parker baptized her, and I confirmed her. The service took place at our meeting-hall, and we spent the whole afternoon cleaning the hall so that it could be ready for the Sabbath meetings.
Last evening, we visited the Boutellier family. Jacques—the 15-year-old boy who had read the article about the Mormons in “Lectures Pour Tous” and who had come to our group meeting on the 17th—wasn’t as positive as before, and he didn’t seem to be strongly committed to his baptism date. His family, on the other hand, showed an increasingly welcoming spirit, and we set an appointment to teach the whole family next Saturday. Pity that Jacques wasn’t sharper, or we’d have asked his father for written baptismal permission.
The Dubois family has just lost a relative and will be in Paris for a few days.
Called President Hinckley to get his permission to see the mayor and to ask his help in finding a building lot. He gave us his permission, as well as an assignment to find a place to hold a youth conference here in July. We'll send, tonight, the letter requesting an audience.
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