24 Jan 1929
John Griffin to Mother / Grenoble, France
Things here seem to be going mighty slow right now. And this isn't the only place either. It seems like they are having trouble in every branch. Tonight I went to hold the Book of Mormon class and only one person showed up. I don't know whether the others are sick or just don't care. There is a nasty blizzard blowing outside and no doubt that kept some away. It is surely discouraging though when you prepare a lesson and go to give it and have no one come out to meeting.
No doubt the bad weather has something to do with it, and there is quite a bit of sickness around. And speaking of sickness, the flu has hit Europe. There were 76 deaths from it in Liverpool yesterday. It hasn't got this far yet, but I suppose it won't be long now. Several of the missionaries are ill; two of them at Lyon. My cold has just about passed now and I am feeling most all right again.
As I said, the work here is going rather slow. We only had 14 out to meeting last time and again, they about froze. Our stove just won't heat the hall sufficiently. However it was a good meeting, much better than the last one. Among all our difficulties there is a little "bonheure" anyway. We have some investigators that are coming along very well. One lady in particular, a more or less new one. The other day we visited her and much to my surprise she told me all about herself, her life, etc. and then asked me about what she should do in the future. I surely didn't know what to tell her. Her husband ran away last May and left her alone. Now he wishes to come back and she wants to know whether she should take him back or not. She is one of the sweetest ladies I've every met, and it seems to me that any man that would leave her should never be taken back. However, I didn't tell her that. I surely seems wonderful that a person would place so much confidence in us. She wishes to become a member of the church, but if her husband comes back that would be impossible. We held a wonderful Bible class every Friday night with her and two other very interesting investigators. It is one class that makes mission life worth while.
Last Monday I went skiing with the frere here in the branch. We decided to go Sunday night, at which time it was so cold we couldn't heat the hall. When we got up there Monday morning a worm wind came up and after about an hour the snow was all wet and the skiing spoiled. So we came back home. We didn't get much skiing in, but we got a lot of exercise and I supposed that's the thing that counts. Tuesday I received a telegram saying there would be a conference in Lyon Wednesday morning. Thus, we left for Lyon early Wednesday morning. We had a very good conference and Wednesday nigh we made fudge and played checkers. We had a good time and wished it could have lasted longer.
Last Monday I received the registered letter and the letter you wrote in Logan. That surely must have been a keen time up there in Logan, New Years Day... I wish you would thank Aunt Effie for the $4.00. I shall write here right soon now. I am glad you received your bag. It is too bad that he didn't get it to you for Christmas. I don't know whether it is in vogue at home, but it is the very latest thing here in France.
You asked about the address of frere Caldwell. He lives in Los Angeles so I don't suppose you will see him. It seems the missionaries forget the mission just as soon as they get home. I wonder if it will be that way with me. I am enclosing a few snapshots. I am not sending them to Dot because I told her I would not send her any more until she sent me some.
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