JUNE 16 - 25, 2017 FREIBERG, GERMANY

     A MILESTONE was reached in our lives today!  Bill and I were married exactly 50 years ago!  It was a Friday 50 years ago, as well.  We knew that we wouldn't be able to celebrate on that specific day, because it is the only day of the week that the temple is open in the evening for ordinances.  Besides that, it was our turn to do "spatdienst", or late service, at the temple.  That means we had to be the last ones out of the temple.  We prepare the laundry bags to go to the laundry room, put away the scriptures, make sure the lights are out, and lock the doors of the temple.  The following morning, we have "fruehdienst," or early service.  That means we open the temple at 6 AM, put out the scriptures for the countries coming this week, or day.  We always put out German scriptures, and usually English, but we also put out Hugarian, Polish, Bulgarian, or Russian, depending on who's there.  We prepare the hymn books for prayer meeting, turn on the lights, and act as greeters as the temple workers enter the temple for prayer meeting at 7 AM.

DECORATION ON CUPBOARD OUTSIDE OUR APARTMENT DOOR!

     We decided to do our celebrating on June 19, because that is our P-Day, and our time is our own.  We wanted to go out to a nice restaurant for dinner.  One of the special, unexpected events of our celebration was a card in the mail from the Oberburgermeister of Freiberg, congratulating us on our Golden Wedding Anniversary, and wishing us Good Luck.  The Oberburgermeister is a  step above the Mayor of the city.  He knew that it was our anniversary from our registration papers when we entered the country, but it was a total surprise to receive his card.  

THE SCHWANSCHLOSSCHEN RESTAURANT

     The restaurant we went to was called the Schwanschlosschen.  It is built on the edge of the moat that used to surround the castle in Freiberg.  The castle has been removed, but the restaurant has a boat in the shape of a swan which floats around on the water.  The missionary couple that live next door to us, the Freemans, were also going to the restaurant that night, so we invited them to join us.  We had a good time visiting and eating our weinerschnitzel.  We drank raspberry lemonade, but it comes in bottles and is carbonated, instead of as it is in the States.  For dessert, we had ice cream.  They call it "Eis" here in Germany.  It was a beautiful, Summer evening, and we had a great time!  HERE'S TO ANOTHER FIFTY YEARS!!!!

ON THE DECK OF THE RESTAURANT!

CARD FROM THE OBERBURGERMEISTER

WEINERSCHNITZEL SURE IS GOOD!

         The grounds around the temple are filled with beautiful flowers.  We worried about them last week when we were blasted with thunder, lightning, and pouring rain.  However, they seem to have survived well.  Lightning hit the Angel Moroni on top of the temple, was grounded under ground, but it affected the control cables that open the gates to our gated complex, as well as the exterior phone lines.  

TEMPLE FLOWERS

     The city of Freiberg has one Ward and one Branch of the church.  We, as missionaries, belong to the Branch. Our Branch President is married to a girl from America, and they are in their 30's.  They had a Branch Grill Party ( that's what they call a Bar B Que) at their home last Saturday night.  We were so tired after our day in the temple, but decided to be supportive and join the party.  They live in the countryside  outside of Freiberg.  It really is beautiful country, very green and full of wind turbines.  After getting lost twice trying to find the place, we at last succeeded.

MORE TEMPLE FLOWERS!

     Several men were cooking Bratwurst and Kabobs on the grill, and Branch members brought side dishes.  I thought there would be hamburgers there, but not here.  Brats are the going meat!  We took watermelon and cantalope.  We got to become better acquainted with some of the Branch members. The Elders and Sister Missionaries were also there.
  While driving to the Grill Party, we passed the most beautiful field of red poppys.We decided to stop and get a picture. Notice the field of red in the top of the picture. It is all red poppys - just beautiful.

FIELD OF POPPYS.  LOOK AT FIELD OF RED AT TOP OF PICTURE!

FRANK APEL IN TURQUOISE SHIRT.  HIS WIFE BESIDE HIM!

     A member of our branch is a man named Frank Apel.  He was the first stake president of the Dresden Stake when it was part of the German Democratic Republic and a part of communist East Germany. He is probably in his early 80's. He serves as a Sealer in the temple. His wife, also, serves in the temple one night a week. Three of their four children live in our Branch. We have become acquainted with them and enjoy their friendship.

THE GRILL - BRANCH PRESIDENT IN RED SHIRT!

This past week in the baptistry, a young man from Pakistan came with his ward.  He has been a member of The Church for four months.  He was previously a Muslim, but felt that the muslim religion was so controlling that he didn't have any agency.  He went online and happened to check into LDS.org.  He read about the Church, and decided he wanted to learn more.  He looked up the nearest church building and went there the next Sunday. Because it was stake conference, no one was at the ward building.  He went back the following Sunday, and people were there.  He was taught the gospel, and decided to be baptized.  He now serves as a ward missionary.  This was his first experience  in the temple.  

     We, also, had a group of about 25 young people from Utah come to the baptistry. They belonged to a folk dance group that was performing at folk dance festivals in Prague, and other countries.  It was great to have them come, and at the conclusion of their visit, they gathered on the steps of the temple and sang two songs to us.  All the temple workers were crying, because it was so beautiful and a special experience for us.  

     We had our busiest two days at the baptistry last week.  Both days,four different groups were scheduled.  In one day, we had 93 people baptized, and did about 500 names.  The next day it was about the same.  The laundry had a hard time keeping up, and we were exhausted by the end of the two days.  I think we learned that four groups was one too many!  

     

   Two of our grandchildren had great news to report this past week.  Jakob Moss, Todd and Jen's son  received his mission call to the Salt Lake City East Mission, Spanish speaking.  He goes to the MTC in Mexico City August 15th (we think.)    Rachel Kump, Jennifer and David's daughter, received her call to the Provo Utah Mission, Spanish speaking.  She reports to the Mexico City MTC August 22nd.  Jakob's family lives in New York, and Rachel's family lives in North Carolina.  We are happy and excited for them, and know they will serve the Lord well!

     JAKOB MOSS - ABOVE

RACHEL KUMP - RIGHT

END OF POST - ALLES GUT!

MAY29 - JUNE 14, 2017 FREIBERG, GERMANY

          May and June are beautiful months around Freiberg.  Flowers are blooming everywhere.  The Spring flowers around the temple have all died (Pansys.)  The Pansys have been replaced by beautiful Summer flowers such as Geraniums, and a multitude of others that I don't remember the names to.  The temple grounds always look so beautiful, and I have mentioned to Bill that it is so nice to live in such a beautiful setting, and yet have not done any of the work.  

RHODODENDRONS IN BLOOM

     Another beautiful flower around this area is the Rhododendron.  The past few weeks they have been blooming everywhere.  I don't recall seeing this flower around Rexburg.  

     Bill and I have had our first experience with the German medical system.  Bill had to have his ears cleaned, so we went to an Ear, Nose and Throat Doctor recommended to us by a retired doctor who is now a Freiberg Temple worker.  Bill's appointment went well, and his hearing is much improved.  

NO MORE CHIROPRACTORS FOR ME!

     I, also, needed a back adjustment, so I went to a Chiropractor recommended by Bruder Kleinert, our temple worker.  My Doctor's name is Olaf Fischer.  This appointment was like no Chiropractic visit I have ever experienced.  He twisted and bent my body this way and that.  I think I yelled a couple of times.  I was accompanied to this appointment by Bill, and a Sister Temple worker who lives in the States, but was raised in Germany.  She was our medical interpreter.  I think they were both astonished at the procedure.He did work on my neck, and I think it is better, but then and there I decided THAT WAS MY LAST VISIT TO A CHIROPRACTOR WHILE WE ARE IN GERMANY.  I ached with stretched muscles for a few days, but am all healed up now!

       Grocery shopping here in Freiberg provided us with another new experience.  We love to shop at a grocery store downtown.  To get to it we have to drive up into a parking garage, get our shopping cart with a token, which you purchase with a quarter.  They use the token system because it forces you to return the cart to its rightful place to get your token back to use on your next shopping trip.  No shopping carts are left all over the parking lot this way.  We use a moving sidewalk to get up and down into the store.  The shopping carts have wheels which lock on the moving sidewalk so your cart won't roll down.  Grocery bags are not provided.  You have to bring your own, or else put things into your car loose.  We forget sometimes, and our arms are loaded, so we hurry to the car as fast as we can!  

THE PARKING GARAGE!

BILL USING THE TOKEN TO GET OUR SHOPPING CART!

ANN ON THE MOVING SIDEWALK!

     Our grandchildren's lives have been moving on as well,  Joshua Kump, our oldest grandchild, was released from the Tucson Arizona Mission on May 31st.  We are happy that he completed an honorable mission and will be returning to BYU-I in the Fall.

     Alexandra Moss, daughter of Eric and Gabriela Moss, was baptized June 3rd in Macomb, Michigan.  Thanks to modern technology, Bill and I were able to witness her baptism and confirmation on WhatsApp.  It's miraculous to me that we could be sitting on our couch in Germany and watch this moment in her life.  It was wundebar!

     

     Eli Moss, son of David and Rebekah, received his mission call on June 6th.  He was called to the Milan Italy Mission, leaving October 18th.  Eli lived in this mission boundary for 3 1/2 years with his family when he was young.  What a great experience it will be for him to serve the Lord there, and he even knows a little Italian!  This is the only picture of Eli we have with us.  He is helping his little sister carve a pumpkin for Halloween in the shot!  It's not the best!

     On P-Day last Monday, we, along with two other missionary couples, went to Lutherstadt Wittenberg, Germany.  This is the home town of Martin Luther, and they are preparing to honor him this year, because on October 31st it will have been exactly 500 years since he nailed the 95 Theses on the door of the Castle Church.  We spent 7 1/2 hours walking around Wittenberg visiting the historical sites.  We visited the Town Church, where Luther attended, the Castle Church, Luther's Home, and the homes of several of his close associates  It was a beautiful day, the company was great, and we enjoyed learning more about Martin Luther, and his contribution to The Reformation.

ARRIVING IN WITTENBERG:  LYN ASHBY, BILL, ANN, ED & JUDY FILLMORE

CASTLE CHURCH- 95 THESES DOOR!

INSIDE CASTLE CHURCH - ALSO LUTHER'S BURIAL PLACE!

PREVIOUSLY A MONASTERY, THIS PLACE BECAME LUTHER'S HOME AFTER HIS MARRIAGE.  HE AND HIS WIFE HAD SIX CHILDREN!

         Working in the baptistry the last couple of weeks, we have had a group of students from BYU who are in Europe for a Semester Abroad.  Eighteen of them did baptisms.  It was great to visit with them.  

     We, also, had a whole family, consisting of Grandpas and Grandmas, sons, daughters and grandchildren come and spend a week in the temple doing baptisms.  One sister had 200 names just by herself.  We were able to get them all done throughout the week.  The nice part for us was getting to know the family members by name, because we saw them everyday.

     Bill and I did a first for us this week.  We led an endowment session in German.  I used earbuds, and Bill conducted the session.  He did great, and even said the prayer in German.  It was a good feeling to know that we could do it and not mess up.

     It is a privilege to serve in the temple, and we feel blessed to be here.  It is a great feeling to be serving the Lord in this way!