Haßmersheim

Marsha organized an overnighter to a town that hosts a festive song, eating and drinking night once a month.

Sterling and Jan Piepgrass and Janet and Jon Jensen joined right in.

Dancing concluded the evening.

And the next day we explored Bad Wimpfen where we bumped into Mitch and Yvonne Bausman and Jensens again,

also Denis and Jackie Hawkins and Carlene and Gordon Walker.

Several performers played German music

and some American favorites as well.

Überreste

Leftover photos:

Janice had Sisters Bakker, Parker and us over for pizza one Monday.  We played our Loaded Questions game afterwards (including church questions such as "After your mission, what calling do you want?" or "What hymn helps you get through life?"). The girls liked it so much that they borrowed it for their zone meeting. Unfortunately they left it at the ward and somehow it was gone when they returned to look for it.  BUT blessing in disguise. As they dejectedly got on the train to their apartment, they met a woman who was interested in their gospel message... for her daughter.

Long story short, the daughter, Johanna, was baptized! Thanks to our Loaded Questions game... indirectly.  (Sister Bakker, Johann and Sister Brough)

Alex, Claudia, Katharina Faflock and Claudia's mother, who was visiting. They are THE NICEST neighbors. Alex is from Serbia and sells antiques (their home is full of them). Claudia teaches elementary school. Katharina, 16, attends a Christian school and let me correct her English paper.  Most of our mission they lived right next to us but recently moved to the 12th floor penthouse. 

They invited us for Easter dinner. 

What better place for Easter decorations than next to tombstones!

Liz Edmunds, The Food Nanny, and Steve invited us to dinner. Her favorite phrase is "It's to die for!"  And her dinner definitely was!

Here's her show

Happy Fool's Day was low key - I put saran wrap on the toilet.  When I returned from the office, Rand had done this.  Only works in a shelf toilet!

I also told the kids and a few other people that I had won a lottery and didn't know whether to keep it and/or tell Rand because he doesn't approve of gambling.  Hardly anybody fell for it.

This year's Primary class (6-year-olds)  has two Spanish speakers, one only-French (fun for me).  We read and mark a Book of Mormon scripture each week in their own copies. Here they are looking like missionaries. (better Rand and me because oftentimes we're too tired to read our scriptures at night.) 

Google Translate doesn't work perfectly.  I didn't order the "messy business" hamburger.

Speaking of, here's a sketch you might like:

Studio C's Google Translate

"Ill stay in Germany if we can live in a castle" - Karen Della Corte

We visited Dennis and Karen Della Corte, who moved to Cologne, have a new baby and he's starting a new job with Bayer.  Dennis joked that the only way he could get Karen to keep living in Germany is to live in a castle - here it is! The front:

It has a moat

and back

Truly a royal family deserves to live here.  Adrian, Jade and Karen. They are remarkable, brilliant and faithful. 

Copenhagen

Lovely January visit to neighbors and friends Janet and Jim Williams, the temple presidents in Copenhagen.  They have served 8 of their last 10 years out of the country - great leaders!

Their temple is very inviting and has unique Scandinavian touches.

Area Presidency member Tim and Jill Dyches' daughter helped paint the murals in the Baptistry. They're amazing and truly reflect Danish artistry.

The Little Mermaid

  Bertel Thorvaldsen's Christus statue, located in the Church of Our Lady.

Our new Canon Rebel camera makes everything look good.

Danish pastry - the real thing

One of many Hans Christian Andersen statues. This one looks toward fun in Tivoli Gardens.

Here's the statue of Kristina that LDS sculptor Dennis Smith created. She represents the many saints who left Europe. Between 1850 and 1900, over eighteen thousand Danes joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and immigrated to Utah.  Dennis wrote: "I  wondered about birth and death and the more-mysterious thoughts we all harbor about crossing over—like Kristina must have wondered—and of the hopes we all hold dear of maybe going home someday to a place we struggle here to even comprehend, let alone remember."

More German food - Süßigkeiten

Sweets are rampant in Germany, just as everywhere else in the world.

Schneebälle (snowballs) in Rothenburg ob der Tauber  (Pete calls them cannon balls). Deep fried strips of batter, rolled in whatever you want.

Chocolate comes in golf club shapes, chess sets, with and without alcohol, etc

Hotels put Gummy bears on pillows

Rose shaped apple strudel

My favorite - Schokoladencroissant, pain au chocolat, chocolate croissant.

Fritz Kola with more caffeine than Coke made in Hamburg.

But I still love a package from home - thanks Longs!

Germans Love their Food and Mechanical Inventions

Food:

 Rand likes everything German. His favorites are wurst and sauerkraut (Würzburg),

Rouladen (Colmberg)

Sauerbraten (Haßmersheim)

How many ways can meat, potatoes, gravy and rot kol be served?  (Dresden)

When in doubt, which is almost always, I order schnitzel

or a salad. This is one of the best from Spreewald

Now for German ingenuity.

One stop hand-washing

 Making hot chocolate just became easier!

Here is why we pay 70 cents to use restrooms.

Mouthwash available in the restroom

Brussels Bombing

A week ago we were in our 10am Medical/Mental Health team meeting and the In-Field Representative calmly announced "You've probably all heard about the bombings in Brussels. Some of our missionaries were involved." Our hearts sank as Jim Hacking told us all he knew (just 2 hours afterwards). Four missionaries from the Paris mission were at the airport - 3 elders, 1 sister. They're at different hospitals. One was a senior missionary.  I'll never forget the dismay on Rand's face as he realized Elder Norby, the Paris mission nurse's husband, was hit.

We have offered many prayers for the Norbys, Wells, Claims and Empeys. A man who lives in our building saw the badge of one of the senior missionaries and offered sympathy.  These interviews show their strong faith.

Sister "The Rock" Norbys interview
If you have facebook, try this:
https://www.facebook.com/ksltv/videos/10154348693998676/

She said "I'm grateful for all the prayers and well-wishes from people everywhere. My heart goes out to those who are suffering and maybe don't have a faith in God... They need to have someone who can help them have that -  to have hope."

Sister Claim's interview

Elder Mason Wells' interview

Our prayers are also extended to those who've lost loved ones and the survivors. Rand heard that there are 66 injured people in Intensive Care Units. He wonders how many cities could have facilities for that many critical patients.

As the medical professionals help them and Elder Biddulph, the mental health advisor and others counsel with the Paris missionaries, healing continues.

Most importantly, during this Easter season, we acknowledge the great Healer, Jesus Christ. He provides eternal comfort from this world's pain and sorrow.