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.

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.