Around Frankfurt

One holiday when there wasn't much traffic, I jogged downtown.  

Cities on rivers are so picturesque.

Especially when summer comes. This is one of the first blue-sky days. 

Look at everybody enjoying themselves.

Within walking distance of us is this house with a moat - right near the city!

Here's one of many fun sculptures in a wading pool

And Preungesheim Prison, right in a residential area. They even have a section for mothers of children aged 3 and under. They like to keep them together.

 

Some of us went to the Monet exhibit downtown. Jack and Vonnie Sharpe, June Smith and I loved it.

Wonderful!

Brother Blacoe gave us his last tour of downtown Frankfurt.  Born in Ireland, married to a German woman, he has educated missionaries and others for years.  Nickname  "Blacoe-pedia."

He showed us where the original Jewish synagogue was downtown. When it was burned down, after the war, young men salvaged the bricks and walked them out to our cemetery to build these walls around their Jewish section.

Cute Bella and Mia (via Rachel) sent us these "hugs" for Mother's and Father's Day.

We love thinking of their hugs when we go to bed every night.

 Here's our address. You can send us letters using a US stamp through the pouch anytime.  (hint hint)

Accustomed

Our previous stage of  Adjustments is progressing to "Accustomed"

Some of the things we're getting used to are:

1 - wearing church clothes everyday

even when we're playing silly FHE games                      and feeding cute young adults

2 - junk piles on the street 

When a tenant moves out of an
apartment, the whole place is gutted.                           Although Sister Matheson and I hauled this
Don't ask me why a country who is                              chair up to her apartment from the junk pile.
meticulous about recycling doesn't have a
Habitat for Humanity or something for
used household furnishings.

3 - shelf toilet

Somehow my nose shuts off when I go into the bathroom so it doesn't bother me anymore. Miracles!

4 - cigarettes galore

Cigarettes are sold in vending machines on the streets. 

But most smokers are respectful and stay outside.

5 +  We're also becoming used to apartment living with neighbor noises, the gray weather (thanks to a light box and upcoming spring), German frankness (last week at our place when a German friend cooked a typical meal for us and another missionary didn't eat much, the German said "I'll never cook for you again."), We're also enjoying a simpler life, not feeling pressure to buy stuff for our home and clothes, more prayers and scripture study, time at the temple, walks, reading, (two great books)

and my overall favorite: Facetime, Photo Stream and Hanging Out!

(Nick's usually between classes so we just talk and don't get him on camera much.)

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.

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