The Snyders in the France-Paris Mission

  We are called as Welfare and Self-Reliance missionaries for the French and Dutch speaking areas of Europe: Luxembourg, Switzerland, France, Belgium, and the Netherlands. Welfare, in this context, means humanitarian work. The Church’s humanitarian efforts are now focused on helping mostly women and young children. In teaching Global Women’s Studies, Delys learned that if countries want peace and prosperity, the key is with the women. Money that the women control goes to help families. If the women are doing well (have enough food, education, good health, good pregnancies, etc.) the families will thrive, and the country will have more peace. We humanitarian missionaries are looking for projects that will help women and children (and refugees and homeless) become more self-reliant. We want to partner with others, especially members of the Church and established charities, who can help in these projects. We are working with first-world countries:  The Netherlands, France, Belgiu...

  When people walk into many of the urban chapels of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they first shake hands with members, missionaries, leaders, and, at least in Torcy two weeks ago, all the Young Women! Next we pass by the translation headphones, and many choose the English headsets.  We always try to listen to everything in French (although I miss a lot). Church in France is more than bilingual with French and English. The Nogent Ward translates into Spanish and English. There is a Spanish/Portuguese branch in Luxembourg.  The Paris St. Merri Ward translates into English and Chinese. In Brussels there is a Flemish stake and a French stake. The Brussels chapel has hymn books in 4 languages and a place for 3 different numbers for each hymn! Each ward has its defining characteristics. Many of the ones in Paris are full of immigrants, mostly from Central Africa (Congo, Cameroon, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana), Northern Africa (Morocco, Tunisia, Algeria), Reunion and...