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PASTOR GENERAL'S REPORT, AUGUST 14, 1981
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On Tuesday, August 4, we traveled to Geneva. Mr. Armstrong and Mr. Apartian
had established the office there in the summer of 1963. HWA had picked the
space before the partitions were up and selected the furnishings just over
18 years ago. After passport and customs formalities at the airport, we
drove directly to the office which is on the fifth floor of 91 Rue de la
Servette, Geneva.
The office staffers were very excited about Mr. Armstrong's visit. He had
not visited the office for six or seven years. Larry Omasta and his crew
were there to record the event. When Mr. Armstrong entered the office he
commented on how the furniture arrangement had changed since his previous
visit.
He asked Mr. Apartian what became of a particular chair that he
picked out for the office! Mr. Apartian explained that the chair had become
worn and had been replaced. But Dibar was amazed at how accurately Mr. Arm
strong remembered so many details of purchases 18 years ago.
Almost none of the office personnel speak English so communication was a
problem. But HWA greeted everyone as he entered each office. The tour ended
in a large work area where we all gathered to hear Mr. Apartian explain how
the office serves that part of the world. Mr. Armstrong asked questions
about the operation and began to discuss Switzerland and its place in
Europe. He said he knew that Geneva was the international capital with many
international organizations having their headquarters there. Zurich is the
financial capital, Berne is the political capital and Lugano is the tourist
capital. He discussed the recen.
t history and the present situation. Mr.
Apartian translated Mr. Armstrong's comments for the office staff.
After the office tour, the seven of us (Mr. and Mrs. HWA, the Apartians, Ruth
Nestor and Evelyn and �) had lunch at the Beau Rivage Hotel beside Lake
Geneva.
We spent the afternoon shopping, mostly window-shopping. I did take a good
look at a desk clock that I thought was pretty special. I wanted to think it
over for a while, but after leaving the shop never got the chance to get back
to make the purchase.
We flew back to Paris that evening. On the flight back, Mr. Armstrong came
to where Ev and I were sitting on the plane. Mrs. Armstrong also came over.
Mr. Armstrong put a box in front of me and said, "Mrs. Armstrong and I want
you to have this to help you remember your trip to Geneva." I was absolutely
stunned. I just sat there for a time, looking at Mr. Armstrong in disbelief.
Evelyn and I opened the box to find that beautiful desk clock! While the
Apartians and we had gone into a department store so I could pick up a gift
for one of my kids, the Armstrongs decided to slip around to that shop to buy
the clock as a present for us. Had I bought the clock myself, it would have
been a pleasant reminder of the trip.
But the fact that the Armstrongs
bought it for us makes it 100 times more special. I'm sure you all under-
stand.
Mr. Armstrong spent the morning of Wednesday, August 5th, writing an article
for The PLAIN TRUTH. In the afternoon, he had an appointment with King
Leopold of Belgium who happened to be in Paris that day. They spent one hour
and forty-five minutes in private discussion. The King is president of the
King Leopold III Foundation and Mr. Armstrong is vice-president. Later I
mentioned to Mr. Armstrong that the Leopold Foundation is the only thing of
which he is vice-president!
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