SEPTEMBER 30 - NOVEMBER 1, 2018 FREIBERG, GERMANY

     As Bill and I have arrived at the final weeks of our mission, we have tried to visit one last time the places that we have enjoyed the most here in Germany.  We have loved to walk around the neighborhoods near the temple, and have come to recognize the homes where members of the church live, such as the Apel's, the Schoenherrr's, & the Dzierzon's .  It's fun to wave and say "hello" as we see them, or their children, near their homes.

FREIBERG CITY PARK FOUNTAIN

     Freiberg has a beautiful city park in the downtown area.  It is full of pathways, flowers, a playgrouund, and a beautiful fountain.  Many people frequently stroll through the park, and sit on benches to enjoy the beautiful scenery.  Bill and I enjoy walking on the pathways, and seeing the flowers, and Bill enjoys "quacking" at the ducks floating on the lake, as we stroll by.



     My soul gets rejuvenated as we walk in the Freiberg Wald (or forest.)  It is a huge area, with many paths to follow that lead to neighboring towns, or to the Wald Cafe, or just to other paths.  It is always cool in the Wald, and it is frequented by bicycle riders, baby strollers, runners, and walkers.  It's easy to take a 45 - 60 minute walk in the Wald, and still not run out of forest.   I will miss this place!


     One of the great joys of our time here has been associating with the young Elders and Sister Missionaries who serve in the Freiberg area.

SISTERS BATES & STRONG; ELDERS STATEN & T

  We have met many of them, and we love their enthusiasm, kindness, and their testimonies of the gospel.  Inviting them to our apartment to dinner, gives us a chance to hear about the people they are teaching,  and to share in their joys and sorrows.  They are teaching several people from Iraq and India, usually students who are studying at the University in Freiberg.  It seems like most of the  people they are teaching are young, like in their twenties, or thirties.



     Sister Anniliese Erlacher, our Temple Matron (she hates to be called a Matron, or Oberin, as they say in German,) had a birthday recently.  All the temple missionaries attended a birthday dinner in her honor at an Italian Restaurant in Freiberg.  Kathleen Lindsay bought, and brought  several kuchen (cakes) to the restaurant for dessert.  It was actually a celebration, also, for Kathleen and her husband's wedding anniversary.  We enjoyed a delicious dinner, and a good time was had by all!

ANNELIESE'S BIRTHDAY DINNER

     Bernd Kleinert, a retired doctor, and a temple worker from Groschirma, Germany, invited Bill and Me to attend a concert in Nassau, Germany to hear an organ and violin recital in the local church there.  This church was very old, and very cold.  A local church member turned some heat on.  It was located under the pews on electric coils.  The heating system had been added, I'm sure, many years after the church was built. 
     Brother Kleinert's relatives, his niece, and a cousin, were the performers.  The cousin was a very good organist, and the niece sang, and played the violin.  They did a great job, and the organ was a magnificent instrument to listen to.  We were happy that we went to support Brother Kleinert, who is a real lover of music.  Because he is a retired doctor, he writes prescriptions, and recommends doctors in the area for the missionaries to go to if there is a need.  He has been a blessing to all of us.

BRUDER KLEINERT HIDING HIS FACE AT NASSAU CONCERT

      Because Brother Kleinert has lived in this area all his life,

EISCAFE ALBRECHT - BEST IN THE WORLD!!

he suggested a visit to an ice cream shop that makes the best ice cream in the world (in his opinion.)   Eight  of us missionaries drove about half an hour away from Freiberg. to the Eiscafe Albrecht.  The Albrecht family make their own ice cream.  We ordered sundaes, which were delicious.  On the grounds of the cafe were carvings of wood; birds, trees, & bears, which added interest to the location.  The visit provided us a pleasant afternoon outing.




     On October 18, Sister Ilona Harzt and her husband,  Dietmar, invited  us to a concert at the Nikolaikirche Freiberg.  The Mittelsachsische Philharmonic Orchestra, and the Singacademie Chemnitz, were presenting "The Elijah," by Mendelssohn.  It was a wonderful two hour concert, and I even recognized seven of the songs presented by the group.  The soloists had wonderful voices, and following the concert we were able to have our picture taken with the

ELIJAH - ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS

BARITONE, ELIAS HAN WITH ME AND BILL

RANDOM PICTURES

Baritone, Elias Han, who sang the role of Elijah!

His voice is stupendous!  The Hartz's gave us their reserved seats, which were four rows back from the front, so we had a wonderful view.   Sister Harzt invited us to the concert because she  wanted to thank us for helping with the music in our Branch while we have served here as missionaries.  She is the Branch and Ward Music Chairman.  What a special treat it was for us!

g   

ASHBYS AND PARKERS IN NASSAU CHURCH

SISTER ERLACHER - BIRTHDAY GIRL!

WOOD CARVING AT EISCAFE ALBRECHT

Our final few days in Freiberg were spent having good-bye dinners with friends.

  We had a loverly dinner with Bonner's, Linford's, Parkers and us at the Linford apartment.  Good food and visiting were enjoyed by all.  



A fast food place we enjoyed visiting in Freiberg was Aram Doener!  They serve pizza, Doerners and other items.  We have eaten there quite a few times, and have become acquainted with the owner's family.  When we ate there our last time, the day before leaving, he and his wife gave us a big hug and a box of chocolates to take home. 

We were quite surprised by his generosity and kindness.  These people were from Turkey, but they did speak good German and were very friendly.  



On October 30th, Bill and I took our last visit to the Freiberg Town Square, and had an ice cream cone.  We then went to the Wald (forest) and took our final walk.  We loved this place.  It was so peaceful and soothing, and beautiful.  I will miss walking here.  




Since a new temple presidency is taking over on November 1st, on October 30th we had a good -bye dinner for the outgoing presidency.

  President and Sister Erlacher had a catered dinner for all those missionaries, and people who helped to keep the buildings and temple grounds beautiful.  It was good to have an opportunity to say a final good-bye to these people.  We have so enjoyed getting to know these wonderful people, and welcome the new presidency.  The new presidency is composed of President and Sister Wadosch, Brother and Sister Dzierzon, and Brother and Sister Bartsch.  It was hard to say good-bye to Rosie and Lutz Wagner, because we don't know if we will ever see them again.  The Wagner's were counselors to the president.  We do have high hopes of seeing President and Sister Erlacher again in Salt Lake City in 2019.  




We left for the Dresden Airport at 4 AM on October 31st, 2018.  President and Sister Erlacher were kind enough to drive us there.

  We flew from Dresden to Frankfurt, Frankfurt to San Francisco, and San Francisco to Salt Lake.  We were pleasantly surprised to see Jeff and Deepika Black there to welcome us to Salt Lake.  They drove us to our Hotel near the airport, and visited us for about 30 minutes.  It was so good to see them and find out about their family.  We spent the night in Salt Lake and then flew to Idaho Falls the next morning.  What a special treat to be greeted in Salt Lake by Children, grandchildren, and sisters.  We all met at Chuck -a-Rama for lunch and then we headed home.

We were released from our mission by North Rexburg Stake President, John Zenger, on November 11th.  We reported our mission to the Stake High Council, and spoke in our ward sacrament meeting on Sunday, November 18th, 2018.   It was one of the most joyful days of my life to be with so many of the people I love and care about.  



To serve The Lord as a missionary in the Freiberg Temple was such a blessing in our lives.  It was the experience of a lifetime.  We love our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, and have firm testimonies that The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is the Lord's true church on the face of the earth.  The covenants made and ordinances received in the temple are essential to our salvation and exaltation, and we were privileged to be able to assist in this great work

.  President Nelson has said that this work is " The greatest cause on earth - helping to gather Israel."    We are so grateful to have been a small part in this great work."  

THE END