Vielen dank an Condies

    I have been amiss in not recognizing who is back home holding things together, calling us when we receive mail, sending us a copy of our marriage license (why would Germany care about that but they do?), petting and walking Millie, housing and feeding our children over the Christmas holidays, shoveling our walks, and so on. All this from my wonderful older sister who I admired and followed around as we were growing up.
    Cheri and John have been house hunting in SLC for years without success so staying at our house was a step to facilitate looking from Utah instead of Idaho. At least that's what they say. So until they find something, they're taking better care of our house than we did. Thank you very much! We love you more than we can say.

In appreciation, I made them a little video:

Thank you Condies!

Merry Christmas/Happy New Year.

Germans can be creative too. We buy some of these things, especially the Maggi mixes.

Clever clerks

Staying busy

Sister Enger's culture class had a surprise last week. Rand made the first craft of his life. It was a beaded star. Neither one of us made a masterpiece - Rand's holding the teacher's.

A little skiff of snow

 We turned on the TV once and saw something familiar

We went to the Alte Oper with the medical and mental health team. They're amazing people who care much about the European missionaries.

Here's a video of some of the

performers

More walks in the cemetery. This was a recent gravesite.

Ate dinner with the Fiels. Cravens took these photos and left them in the apartment - nice!

The highlight of the week was caroling on the Zeil with some ward members. It's a 14-year old tradition. Passerbys would take pictures, listen and some even sang with us. One German couple was very friendly with Rand and me and invited us to their apartment which isn't too far from us.

Went to a zone conference in Offenbach. Rand's great at finding our way on public transport since it wasn't our day for the car.

Our loved ones are staying busy where they are too - Julian's not quite sure about this Santa stuff.

Afton and her shark-fin hair in our basement. 

Adjustment

Going on a mission before Christmas is not smart. Everything reminds me of home and that families try to be together for this holiday. When I see children dressed up for a Nativity, I think of Rachel and Dave's cute daughters and how I'm missing seeing them dress up in Elizabeth's nativity costumes. Or that I could be babysitting while she scrambles around preparing a magical Christmas for their new family. And all the babies! I see a boy at church starting to walk and think of Julian. Or a ponytailed girl and wish I could hold Afton. Not to mention hug our own kids. Almost all of them are together in SLC this week (Ted's doing interviews) and I'm not there.

As each of our children left on their missions, I wondered why the church encourages families to be together and then rips them away from each other. But I see the faith, independence and growth they developed over their 18 or 24 months away. And what would I do without Rand here with me and Facetime? I am staying busy and will eventually adjust. Mentally I know it's good... but hard.

So again I read "he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me" Matthew10:37.  And "For he shall give his angels charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways" Psalms 91:11, praying that our children will be watched over in our absence. And lastly a verse that another woman in Frankfurt mentioned "... for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11

On the rainy days I think of Mia's favorite Annie song "Tomorrow" and realize that although the sun may not come out in Frankfurt tomorrow, it's shining somewhere. And as we sing of the Savior, I know that He is always near me, even when family and friends aren't.

Merry Christmas videos

We feel the importance of proclaiming our faith in Jesus Christ especially at Christmas time. We love Him and worship Him. 

He Is The Gift video

and another video:

Angels We Have Heard On High

Drei

When we talked to Maggie and Al last week, Al boldly asked "So what do you do all day?"

In the office we've been known to:
- field questions about missionaries' health, answer emails, phone calls, make notes of what was discussed with whom, fill out reports
- review health histories on missionary applications
- update lists of medications in various European countries and other one-time projects
- go to meetings, devotionals, study group, culture class

Obviously this is an internet photo because we have yet to see this much blue sky. Although one day the sun shined for a few hours.  Deserving of a picture:

Outside the office, we spend our time:

- finding a way to keep our shelf toilet from smelling. Any suggestions? I thought Germans were good an engineering. This one is a big mistake.

- figuring out Germany's recycling system

- We also buy groceries, cleaning supplies, etc. which takes forever. Good thing Rand can translate. One store is for us seniors - they have magnifiers on their grocery carts

- try not to miss a store's opening hours. Is this Spain and they have siestas?

- bump into a cute elder whose sister we know - Yea Diederichs! 

- happen upon Alois Alzheimer's grave  at the cemetery
   The Cravens planted Forget-Me-Not's at the grave. :)

- take a city tour

- and answer more phone calls because missionaries don't just get sick during office hours.

Does it sound like we're not doing a lot? Well we're not young missionaries anymore so this is plenty for us!

Good thing I took pictures because the first week was a blur

Here are some photos and captions thus far.

Missionaries love to get together. The Johansens fed us in grand style the first day we were in Frankfurt. How fun that Rand and I knew both Julie and Armand in our college years. Here are just a few of the other amazingly skilled, talented, faithful couples - 

we're humbled and honored to be here with them.

Greenwoods are next to us - our kind, patient, wise mentors who share the AMA assignment for the other half of Europe. Harrisons do real estate and natural resources in Europe, Hawkins help with Mental Health (she) and auditing (he), Smiths (see below), and Julie (Area Presidency office). Frankfurt is the European center for the church.

 All of the senior couples have an office. The Fiels help with Public Affairs 

(does this look familiar, Cravens?)

Rand's and my office. I tried to give one of the four monitors back but they said I'd need it. 

Max is a wonderful IT guy who helped us get set up.  (Now if I can remember how to use PCs instead of Macs.)

The Greenwoods have this sign on their wall. Dale took it to Iraq when he was stationed there.

We're recognizing it applies in Frankfurt as well.

Sister Enger teaches a German culture class every week. 

 The cemetery is the best place to jog. Except when I get lost and run 6 miles just to get out and back to the apartment. It's huge!

The office had a Christmas party including authentic German Wienerschnitzel, rot kohl, kloese, spetzle, brot...

Thanks, Tom and Shirley, for the shopping bag. The stores charge if you don't bring yours.

Frankfurt Temple with the Smiths - another incredible couple. He is the In Field Representative who handles anything that 30 mission presidents throw at him. Talk about stress.

 People come from all over the world to Germany's Christmas markets.

Yesterday there was some blue sky!

Here's how you can reach us. 

Or just email  2Rysers@gmail.com

Goodbyes Part 2

"God keeps our goodbyes painful," Bonhoeffer said, "in order to highlight how vital our past togetherness was."

And painful it was.  But before the pain, we enjoyed being together in Maggie and Al's town, Richmond, Virginia.  We had fun at the motel pool where the kids met Afton for the first time.

Julian loves the water (of course, what doesn't make that cherub smile?)

 Afton and her folks set up for our Thanksgiving feast 

Al made his mom's pies

Rand and the youngest grandchildren

The next two pictures have Rachel and Dave's girls in them but I blurred them out because legally we still can't show them off (but when we can, just you wait!). So excuse the creepy ghost look.

Williamsburg's Busch Gardens got people in the festive Christmas mood.

We took this at the motel right before leaving for the airport.

I can't look at it without shedding a tear (or 10). I love these people so much

Looks like Nick has extra appendages - my novice blurring skills

Good-byes part 1

"It's time to say goodbye, but I think goodbyes are sad and I'd much rather say hello. Hello to a new adventure."  Ernie Harwell

Carlesons in Cayucos

Friends at our farewell

More friends

Niece Heather and her family (they liked Boom Boom Balloon too).