MAY14-20,2017 FREIBERG, GERMANY

OUR BEAUTIFUL YARD IN REXBURG

     As I start this blog, I want to thank all of the wonderful neighbors in our neighborhood who have volunteered to mow our lawn for us, and keep the yard looking beautiful.  It is really  appreciated, and we are so grateful.  Lanette took a picture of the yard and sent it to us, and it looks WUNDERBAR!

     Mother's Day, May 14th, was a beautiful day.  We went to church, where the Branch, during Sunday School time,had a special Mother's Day program.  The ten children in our Primary recited poems and sang special songs about Mother from the Primary songbook.  You wouldn't think that ten children could make much noise, but they sang so beautifully that we were all delighted.  Our Branch President is a young man in his 30's, and he has a beautiful voice, which he shared in a special solo about mothers.  At the conclusion of the meeting, all of the Primary children handed out beautiful gerber daisies with fern to each woman.  
     Later that day, we had visitors to our apartment for dinner. The Sister Missionaries in our Branch, and our next door neighbors, Kent and Marlis Freeman, from Aaurora, Utah, came.  Marlis picked the menu, and she chose waffles with strawberries and whipped cream and nutella.  This is one of her favorite meals, and the sister missionaries said that they hadn't had waffles in so long, that they would love it, too.  We added ham and German sausages to the menu, and it was very tasty.  

SISTER DARTON & SISTER WACKER

 
     Sister Darton, from Utah, has been out about 6 months, and Sister Wacker, from Washington State is brand new.  
     The Freeman's were so kind to drive us around in their car when we first arrived.  They took us downtown and showed us where to shop, showed us where to register, where to lease our car, and over all just introduced us to the city of Freiberg.  We needed their help so badly, and their kindness was so appreciated.
     We talked with three of our children on Whatsapp, and email, and spoke to the others the day after Mother's Day , or a few days later.
     All in all, it was a great day, and we had a lot of fun!     

KENT AND MARLIS FREEMAN

                                                                               I have been trying to learn a little German by studying a language program recommended to me by Sister Packer who 
serves in the Rexburg Temple.  It is a great program and is helping me learn some of the basics.  After I finished the first lesson, Duolingo informed me that I was now fluent in 1% of the German language.  IT FELT SO GOOD!


     Monday, May 15th we had our first haircuts since arriving.  Angela Froebel, our Branch Relief Society President, was our hair dresser.  She did a beautiful job on me, but was a bit more challenged trying to give Bill an bulldog like he is used to getting in Rexburg.  She has a beautiful shop in the basement of her home, located a block from the temple.  We are so grateful for her.

TWO OF THE MISSIONARIES HERE FOR ZONE CONFERENCE

     On Tuesday, May 16, we headed to the county offices to apply for Visa's.  While we were gone, much to everyone's surprise 15-20 missionaries from the Berlin Germany Mission arrived to do baptisms and endowments.  Since Bill and I are in charge of the baptistry, their was a bit of a panic when we were not available.  The missionaries had not scheduled any baptisms,  so they were not expected, and we were gone.  A counselor in the temple presidency , President Wadosch, took over and did a tremendous job.  We found out later, that there was a zone conference being held in the chapel right next to the temple, and 80 or so missionaries were there.  It was a beautiful sight to see so many young men and women so excited and eager to serve the Lord.
                                                                                                                              This week in the baptistry we have had people come from a place called Kaliningrad.  It is a part of Russia, but used to be called East Prussia.  These people spoke good English, which was a blessing.  We, also, had people from Hohestein, Augsburg, Mittweida, Zwicau, Unna, Munich, Friedrichdorf, and Coburg.  All of these places have Wards in different cities in Germany.  It is great to see the Church growing in so many parts of Germany.

HALF OF THE YOUTH CHOIR SINGING IN THE STAKE CONFERENC SESSION

     On Sunday, May 21st, we had Stake Conference in Dresden.  This was our first trip to Dresden, which is about a 45 minute drive from Freiberg.  Our Stake Conference visitor was an area authority seventy from Norway.  He does not speak German, so he had a German interpreter, while he spoke in English.  It gave me a good chance to take out my earbuds, from listening to our German interpreter, for the rest of the meeting.  This Area Seventy Brother, ( I didn't get his name) was such an inspiring speaker and it was easy to feel The Spirit as he spoke(brought me to tears a few times.)  We, also, had a beautiful youth choir singing for the session, as well as a choir of Primary children who sang a special number.  It did my heart good to see so many youth who are growing up in Germany, who can help to strengthen The Church here.

      At the close of the conference we took pictures of some of our Temple Missionary couples.  Elder & Sister Schnebly,( in the red dress) , are returning to Arizona, and we welcome Elder and Sister Ashby, from Draper, Utah, and  Brother and Sister Glomb, from Germany.  We, also, took a picture of our Temple President and his wife, President and Sister Erlacher.  The Glombs are at the far left, Ashbys are in the purple jacket, and President and Sister Wagner, from the Temple Presidency are in the white jacket, with spouses standing behind.  President Erlacher is in the center back row.                                                                                                 President Erlacher and his wife have been gone from their home for the past six years.

PRESIDENT AND SISTER ERLACHER

 They were temple missionaries for several years before coming to serve for three years as President of the Freiberg Temple.  They will be released in October, and their children can't wait to get them back home.  We just love working with them.
     Because the Schnebly's were leaving on Tuesday, we drove into Dresden so that they could visit a special cathedral that they really wanted to see before they left.  It was called "The Frauenkirche."  President Uchtdorf referred to this church in one of his talks.  It was destroyed by the Allies in the II World War, when most of the city of Dresden was bombed out.  Over a ten year period, and with many donations, the church was rebuilt, using some of the original sandstone blocks.  In the picture of the church, they appear as a very dark color.  It is considered the most important stone dome construction north of the Alps.  Sorry about the fire engines in the center of the picture.  The Dresden Fire Department was having a display in the town square, showing their preparation to fight any fires that may arise in the city.  

THE FRAUENKIRCHE IN DRESDEN

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THE CHANCEL, ALTAR AND ORGAN IN THE FRAUENKIRCHE

     It has been a great week.  To see the faith of these members, who, sometimes, give almost all that they have to come to the temple for a few days, up to a week, is inspiring. We are grateful for their faith and love of the Lord.  Because the Frankfurt Temple is closed for remodeling, we get visitors, and temple workers from all over Germany, here in Freiberg. It is a blessing to work with these good people.