From my map calculations and my host's comments, it appeared that the church was only about a 15-minute walk from my apartment. But there is an extra iota for this journey. I met a missionary while in Paris who is from Nice. He is also an amazing concert pianist. Anyways, he asked me to take a suitcase back for him to his family in Nice when I moved from Paris to Nice. He had entertained me thoroughly with his piano talents, so this was an easy way to pay him back. (-: Or so I thought. When I received the suitcase, it was in fact, but it was not, in fact, shall we say "light". It was and is one of the heaviest objects I have ever encountered. Somehow, I managed to enclose this beast in my suitcase and successfully brought it to Nice.
Well, as I made my along the route, it quickly became apparent that my route would involve climbing up a mountain (the map had given no indication of this and I of course had not thought of this). In shirt and tie, I started to monte (climb) up the streets. The morning heat and humidity quickly drenched me in sweat. When I reached the summit, I could not find an identifying street and I wandered aimlessly for a little while to search for the right street. I also noticed that the handle of the monstrously-weighted suitcase was disengaging, due to the onerous burden that I was exerting on it taking it up that mountain. Being close to Italy, I was reminded of my time living in Italy, and how the Italians are so generous in matters of helping for directions. I was hoping that the French here would be the same. I asked a passerby if I was going the right way, and she politely informed me that I was somewhat off course. She told me to climb up a set of stairs and that would put me close to the church. I said, "Up?!" You have got to be kidding me. She could tell I was desperate. And so I started my climb up the steps....
At the end of the steps, I realized that the suitcase handle had completely come off of the suitcase. I yelled a few choice words, and thought of the pioneers from my church's early history who had suffered immeasurably in their journey to the Salt Lake valley. I thought of the many people throughout the world who walk to church each week, many at much greater distances than I was doing. This helped calm me down enough to seek out the help of another local. She, true to southern European nature, said that she would take me in her car to the church (at that point, we were not far from the long-sought after destination). And a short few minutes later, my Shangri-la appeared (see picture below). I entered the sacred edifice and was greeted with one of the greatest feelings known to mankind - the perfect sentiment when the human body is aware of the presence of air-conditioning. I had not expected it, but I embraced it with all my being. My door-to-door journey ended up being 1 hour and a half instead of 15 minutes.
A few minutes after entering the Sunday school class, I looked down and noticed that the front part of my pants were a different color than the rest of my pants. It very much looked like I had peed my pants (the perspiration). A nice way to greet new friends. I was able to recover, though, and I even put my tie back on before the Sacrament Meeting (Communion). I really enjoyed the meeting - there is something absolutely wonderful about listening to the gospel in a foreign language and understanding the messages, singing the hymns, etc. The bishop discussed a recent period of struggle that he had in feeling close to God - where he didn't feel that he knew how he could receive revelation from God. He then listened to a recent speech from Elder David A. Bednar, an Apostle in the church. Elder Bednar said that if you have doubts about revelation, about feeling close to God, you are perfectly.....normal. He said that the Lord speaks to us here a little, there a little, but that He does speak to us. This counsel really helped this good Bishop and it has helped me as well. Here is a link to this speech:
http://lds.org/general-conference/2011/04/the-spirit-of-revelation?lang=eng
What an adventure church was today - and I am very happy that I managed to make it there and to unload that suitcase! (By the way, the missionary's family forgot to take the suitcase home with them. You had better believe that I am never touching that thing again. (-: ).
