APRIL 12-22, 2017 SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - FREIBERG, GERMANY

THE RADISSON HOTEL - SALT LAKE CITY

     Bill and I are so excited to serve this Temple Mission in Freiberg, Germany.  We left our home in Rexburg, Idaho April 12, 2017 and drove to Salt Lake for training in the Salt Lake Temple.  We missed the first two days of training because of the death of Bill's Mother, Verla Moss.  She was 95. Upon arriving in Salt Lake, we had a lovely dinner and visit with Jeff and Deepika Black, and their son, Djivan.  Also attending were Olivia and Emerson Pratt.  These great relatives of ours are the children and grandchildren of my sister, Marilyn Black, who lived with Bill and Me for 13 years.  We wanted to say good-bye to them.
     We checked into the Radisson Hotel in Salt Lake, where we stayed for two nights while attending training.  Thursday was spent in the Salt Lake Temple, where we learned much about the history of this temple.  Of special interest to us was learning about the James E. Talmage Room.  James E. Talmage wrote his classic book, Jesus The Christ, in the Salt Lake Temple, where he said he was able to complete the book  so quickly because he shut himself in the room where he was not disturbed.

We were able to go up into the towers of the temple and learn more of the construction of the building.  We also did temple sealings, and were able to associate with many other couples and single sisters leaving to serve temple missions throughout the world.  It was amazing!

OUR TEMPLE TRAINING MISSIONARY GROUP

     Friday morning, April 14, 2017, we prepared to go to the airport.  We met Ben and Lanette Carter, and their family, and went to lunch.  Later they dropped us off at the Salt Lake International Airport, with our 7 suitcases.  We made quite a sight!

SAYING GOOD-BYE AT THE AIRPORT

     We had a 10 hour flight to Amsterdam, Netherlands, with an 8 hour layover there.  We were invited to have Ebel Skivers for breakfast with another missionary couple that was on our flight.  They were going to serve in St. Petersburg, Russia.  In the afternoon, we caught our flight to Dresden, Germany.  In Dresden we were met by our Temple President and his wife, Gunther and Anneliese Erlacher.  They graciously took us to their home and fed us dinner.  They then took us to the grocery store to buy enough food to get us through the Easter Holiday weekend.  The stores here are closed the Monday after Easter Sunday, for Easter Monday.

     The apartment we live in here is very small, but adequate. Everything is quite new, and is very nice.  We had a great welcome from the other missionary couples living in our apartment complex.  There are four missionary couples from America, and five who are from Germany or Austria. Even though we have a language barrier, we manage to communicate,with the help of those around us who speak both languages.
     This past week, we have had patrons come to the temple from Hungary, Poland, Ukraine, Germany and the U.S.  Many youth have come to do baptisms from Munich, beacause it was Spring Break.   By the end of the week, I was able to communicate one of the ordinances in German.  I try to practice 1-2 hours a day learning the ordinances in German, and I am making slow, but sure, progress. Bill is doing great, and can serve in all ordinance areas.  However, his German is improving,also.We wake up each day between 5 and 5:30 A.M. to be prepared for a 7 A.M. prayer meeting.  Our day winds down about 3-3:30 P.M.,and we try to take a walk and get outside.  We often walk to the market across the street to buy needed food supplies.  We have two markets within walking distance; NETTO and REWE.
     Thus far, Bill and I have both given spiritual thoughts in prayer meeting, prayers, and shared our testimonies in Sacrament Meeting.  I have been asked to play the piano in Relief Society every other week.  This is a good job for me because it requires no speaking.
     All in all, it's been a great week!

   







STANDING OUTSIDE THE DOOR OF OUR APARTMENT!