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Show Pacific Missions Call French Girls e From Fi ance to Tahiti halfway around the m 01 Id. That is the mission trail of four young lady missionaries from their French homeland, who stopped over in the Missionary Home in Sal Lake City before heading for the French Polynesian Mis' sion in the South Seas. All of them ate converts to the Church. They are Maryse P. Iai Negro fiom Nice, who joined the Church four years ago. Andree M. Beysson from St. Etienne, l1 year convert; Michele Debaere of Lille. convert, and Damle Pehn, Roubaix, converted 7 years ago. As they could only speak French, iuier-pieteis assisted them in making their wants known. Through Nancy Lou Jones, intei prefer and secretary to Elder A Theodore Tuttle, of the First Council of the Seventy, they said that from the moment they ai rived, they weie able to communicate by spirit. "There has been no homesickness. We felt light at home, although not able to understand oui English campanions. and it has helped very much to come to the home and see the headquarters of the Chuich." said Miss Bcyson M is Debane said, "1 am happy th.it we aie going to meet different people and leaiti to adjust to new ways and customs hy pleaching the Gospel." "I think it is a marvelous piivilege to go to Tahiti, teach the truth we have learned and bt mg the same spirit we have said Miss Ia in the Gospel to others, mis-siona- iy Negi o. Four of these young ladies from France are bound for missions in the French Polynesian (I to r front), Maryse P. Lo Negro, Andree M. Beysson, Michele Debaere, (rear) Daniele Delin, Darlene Ray, Salt Lake hostess, and Nancy Lou Jones, interpreter. "I'm really happy," said Miss Delin. "We have heard that the people in the .South Pacific are wann hearted and willing to accept the Gospel." They explained that many joined forces to help them finance their mission. They individually saved money, family mein-bei- s assisted, branch and mission members contributed to funds that helped them on their way. America Looks Good To AAideast Residents Young John Van Wagoner flew miles to be ordained a- - Teacher Aaronic Priesthood. 12,000 in the, That unusual experience came to John from Beirut. Lebanon, when hostilities between Israel and Egypt forced him to leave school in the Middle East. after being evacuated himself from Beirut to be with relatives in Salt Lake City while waiting for his father and mother, Dr. and Mrs. Merrill Y. Van Wagoner, to come from Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, where Dr. Van Wagoner is senior linguist with the He flew bv Arabian-America- ters in n Oil Co., with headquar- Dhahran. John, who was ordained a Deacon in Saudi Arabia in 1964, was ordained a Teacher in East Stratford Ward, Highland Stake, Salt Lake City, shortly after his ar- rival. He is attending an American community school in Beirut where he was born. When he is 21. if still in the Middle East, he will have to decide whether to be Lebanese or an American citizen. The latter, he says, certainly will be his choice. John studied the Arabic language but is happy to have American companions who speak English. They play all kinds of spoils from Yankee football to tennis. Many Arabs s)oak English very well. Il is not difficult for American students to get along in that country. "It was wonderful to come to Utah, ride hoises. work on farms, and enjoy WEEK home life before I go back to start school on Sept. 27. I will be in the 10th grade, John said. Dr. Van Wagoner said their family had been in- the Middle East from 1931 to 1953 at and in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, from 1953 to the present. - Sidon-Lebano- n "We have returned to the United States every two years during that time to visit our relatives in New Yotk and Utah," said Dr. Van Wagoner. The Church, though small in numlvrs. has been persistent in its work since 19G0 when President David O. McKay set Roland T. Corry of Ogden, Utah, apart as presiding elder of the Saudi Arabia area. He served until 1963 when ho returned to Ogden. Melvin J Stanford of Logan, Utah, replaced him as presiding elder until he returned to the U.S.r.wilh his family to attend school last May. Then Dr. Van Wagoner was set apart as presiding elder. LDS members working for the oil company since 1948 have hold sei vices in Dhahran, RasTanura and Abqniq. all company communities in Saudi Arabia within a radius of 75 miles. "At one time we held conference at which we had 40 members present from the three groups. It was, an occasion to remember," Dr. Van Wagoner said. Missionary work has not been peimit-teup to the present by the Saudi Aiabian Protestant government. Catholic and groups aKo hold set vices in the aiea. ENDING SEPTEMBER 16, 1967 d Father and son meet in Salt Lake City after long flights from Middle East, Dr. Merrill Y. Van Wagoner, sob, John. |