28 Nov 1928
John Griffin to Mother / Grenoble, France

Things seem to be going along quite well here now we have found some new friends and our visits with them turn out very well. That after all is the best mark of progress, to fiend new friends. We just got back from a new visit tonight. It was quite successful. The old man and woman are old and perhaps there is no hope with them, but they have some more or less young boys that seem to take quite an interest. We have another new visit arranged for next week and all in all, things are quite encouraging. There doesn't seem to be much more trouble in the branch and there is no reason why we can't make some real progress.

I suppose you've read about the terrible storms that have been raging over Europe and England. We got our share out here. It has rained continually here since Friday night and is still going at it. By morning it will be snow if it keeps up. Sunday and Monday I thought the house was going to blow down. The papers say that it is the worst sort Europe has ever experienced. It has practically wrecked shipping in the coast towns. Because of the storm we only had 11 out Sunday but considering the storm, that is quite a few. Two of them were some new friends and we were able to arrange a visit. We should look for some results. The are intelligent people - a mother and her daughter.

All the mountains are covered right down to the bottom with snow and already we see skiing partys going and coming from the higher snowier (). One of these days we'll rent a pair of skis and try and break our necks. This year with the snow on all the mountains around it seems more Christmas-like, more like at home. I am glad I am here up in the tops of the mountains even if it isn't the Rockies. For Christmas we are going to have a little party, a Christmas tree, decorations and a program with refreshments. Right now I am worrying about the program. It is hard to get the people to take part. I hope, though that it will go off all right and stir up a little interest among our friends.

Well, tomorrow is "le jour de remerciement". I suppose you will have one of those gorgeous dinners like only Mother can prepare. Well, this time in two years I'll be home to eat my big share, and two years isn't long. Eat my share for me and when you see the football game, take a look for me, because I would surely like to be there. We are celebrating Thanksgiving Friday instead of Thursday. All of the Missionaries of the Lyons district are getting together in Lyons and one of the sisters there is going to cook the turkey we have purchased, and prepare a dinner to go along with it. We will stay in Lyon Friday and Saturday and probably go to the opera Saturday night. All we need to make it a real old Thanksgiving is a football game and maybe if it stops raining long enough, we'll have that. At any rate we will have a good time and a chance to see one of the best operas in the world.

Chuck informs me that two packages arrived at Geneva with the missionaries. Since then the missionaries have been sent down to Lyon; they put two more missionaries there. I suppose they will have my things down there when I go Friday. I don't think I shall wait until Christmas to open them. I am too much afraid that the candy and cake would be hard.

I was glad to receive your letter of the 6,7,8 and 9th. I was suite surprised to find out I was important enough to get my name in the paper like that. I have posted it in my scrap book and will keep it. I was glad to hear that wall was going well at home and at the store. I will try to get things off to you and Dotta, because I have received so much from you two. I realize that Dad and all of the kids deserve a lot of credit - Dad more than the rest, but you all make sacrifices, but I don't feel able to send things to you all this year. So accept my love and when I return I'll try to bring some little thing for you all...

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