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.

Refugees

Here's an article that Public Affairs posted somewhere.  

Senior Missionaries Expand Their Areas of Service
30 Mar 2016

Over thirty Senior Missionaries currently serving in the Frankfurt Europe Area have discovered an additional way to magnify their calling of serving the Lord and His children: When they can squeeze in a couple of hours each week, they brighten the day of people in need.

Within an hour’s drive from Frankfurt is the city of Limburg, Germany, which is currently housing a camp for refugees. During the morning, the refugees leave the boredom of their cramped quarters and congregate in one large facility. As the adults are diligently studying German, very little has been provided there for the children’s diversion or entertainment. Upon visiting this facility, senior sister missionaries recognized that they could do something to improve the situation.

As they put their heads together, the sisters came up with numerous ideas they could share with the people--crafts, games, stories, music, practicing German, etc. Supplies and generous donations have poured in from missionaries and ward members. Church funds allocated to the refugee situation have been requested to help with this project as well. And in some cases, miracles have provided the supplies: One sister found over 18 pair of knitting needles for almost nothing at a bazaar, and the missionaries located a store which donated kits for two sandboxes because the wood was too old and weathered to be sold. The refugees, themselves, were then able to assemble and waterproof the sandboxes—much to the children’s delight.
Children and their mothers—and even the men-- have enjoyed learning to knit and crochet. Necklaces made by stringing noodles on yarn have been very popular. Of course, providing the standard play things—crayons & paper, balloons, play dough, bean bags, and pick-up sticks—never fails to delight the children. Even the adults have been coaxed into learning new songs since they provide a way to learn German.

These visits--being made three to four times a week--may be a short two hours in length, but their effect on the refugees is timeless!

I made some playdough:

Learning German.  Wish I could help with that!

I brought Pete and Robyn last week

Portrait of me (including striped shirt and glasses on my head) drawn by cute Iraqi girl.

I finally found a man from Syria.  He drew me a picture of his home. 

Posters are found in the subways  "Overcome boundaries. Prevent death. Provide safe escape routes."

About a dozen Iranians have been coming to our English-speaking ward, thanks to Hassan, this bald man. They come consistently, traveling for at least an hour each way and some have desired baptism. It has been tricky for missionaries and our bishop (in the grey suit) to be reassured that they understand the commitment some are making at baptism.  I wish we all spoke the same language.

No matter what, we follow the admonition, "I was a stranger and ye took me in." Matthew 25:36-36.

The Leimers, our fellow ward members are presenting at a fireside next week in Ogden.

24 Hours of Verschlingen

Christmas Eve and Day were a marathon of wonderfully nice people and food.

Melissa, Randall and Luc Bradford invited us, Janice and the young sisters  for Christmas Eve dinner, laughter and relaxing.

They are an amazing couple who raised their four children all over the world.  They have such credentials that Melissa wrote a book and has a blog "Global Mom"

While we stretched out and watched "Polar Express", Melissa and Randall did all the dishes! It felt like being with family since Janice would make us laugh with her one-liners "Eddie has ADD"  "Billy's house looks like mine without the porch" and more. Luc laughed at us and Sisters Parker and Bokker as well.

 And they sent us out the door with gifts of Belgian chocolate and The Body Shop boxes of pampering oils. Are they the nicest?!

Christmas morning the senior missionaries, mission president Stoddards and others had a brunch together.  Diane Hacking arrived on their mission just in time to decorate our tables in high style. Yvonne Bausman always gives us direction.

I was in charge of the program so we just did the Ryser family Christmas program - taking turns reading Luke 2, 3Nephi 1 and singing carols. (Same green sweater - missionary wardrobe only includes one holiday color sweater)

Jim Hacking reading his part: 

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace

After filling up at brunch, we gathered Janice and the sisters and went to Luca, Isabella and Silvia Pelucchi's home for an incredible Italian dinner!  Remember Silvia is the one who made us the best lasagna I've ever eaten last summer.

They prepare the food for days and spread it out all over the house.  This is the tray of homemade ravioli in their bedroom:

Can you tell we're with Italians?

Pandoro di Verona for dessert

Our kind neighbors, the Fafflocks, invited us for dessert and "crackers". It seems that whenever they see something written in English, they buy it for us - so nice!

The "feast" of the day was doing Google Hangout with all the kids - from Utah to Boise to Vancouver, WA.  The best gift besides the Savior is family!

Frohe Weihnachten

German traditions include the Nativity,

advent calendars (chocolate is certainly our preference but they also sell advent calendars with cosmetics, toys and beer that you can enjoy for 24 days)

visits from friends (Ashley Wilkinson and our former student ward member, Megan Hodun),

Frankfurt's Christmas Market, 

including Potato Pancakes, 

 (clever decorations at My Zeil. See the deer jumping into the "inward trumpet formed deformation" - architectural term for a funnel to the sky) 

Ward Christmas Party included sweet Primary Nativity scene. 

 Brother Tom gave us tickets to "Dickens' By Candlelight" at the International Theater.  Wonderful performance including mostly American actors. (we were early for a change)

Rachel and her girls sent us this personalized decoration, including "Love, Bella", "We miss you" etc written on the stars. I put it up for a good 3 months.

One day we were Facetiming with Condies and our neighbors, the Larsens, visited and performed Christmas carols on their instruments.  Wow how they've grown!

Thankfulness

Niece Jenny Nicholas joined us for a few days in November.  We loved visiting Colmar, France's Christmas Market. (Notice who bought things)

There are St Nicholas shops everywhere in Europe - great name! 

(Now look whose arms are the most full)

Lovely temple visit

Experience of a lifetime - the Matterhorn!

The earth's beauty truly glorifies His name 

Thanksgiving traditions of turkey (enchiladas, that is)...

 and a movie. 

1950's dramatized version of climbing the Matterhorn

We parted ways in Geneva.  Jenny is a delightful traveling companion and very patient, as I vowed to make a video of all our photos and haven't begun.