AUGUST 8 - AUGUST 15, 2017 - FREIBERG, GERMANY

THE PEACE AND SERENITY OF ORDINARY DAYS:

     For the past couple of weeks, life has been pretty ordinary, without exciting visits to new and interesting places.  We have had a normal routine of temple service, and have enjoyed the pleasant days of Summer.

BILL READING  JAMES MICHENER WHILE I GO WALKING

     Temple visitors have come from all over Europe.  August 5th a group of about 15 church members from Persia came to the temple to do baptisms.  By Persia, I mean Afghanistan and Iraq.  These people arrived in Berlin as refugees.  They were taught the gospel by young missionaries who have learned to speak "Farsi."   It was interesting to see their missionary name tags written in Farsi. For the most part, these 15 members were young adult age.  The Berlin Mission President, President Fingerli, was very pleased with their progress in the gospel.
          The Vienna, Austria Stake arrived the second week of August, to spend the whole week doing temple work.  Two of our three temple presidency members are from Austria, and personally knew many of these people.  It was so fun for them to meet with these fellow church members here in the temple.  Their own children were some of the church leaders in the Vienna Stake.  Many youth from Vienna came and did baptisms.  Records for baptisms, endowments, sealings and other ordinances were broken on several days.  It was a great week!

THE GERMAN COUNTRYSIDE - JUST LIKE IDAHO

     Bill has been having a problem with his foot.  He limped around for about ten days before I could convince him to go to the doctor.  I thought maybe he had a heel spur, or plantar fascitis.  Finally he went to the doctor and had an x-ray.  It showed no spur.  The doctor has given him 3 cortisone shots, and as the days have gone by his foot is gradually starting to feel better.  I have really missed him as a walking partner.  Some days he drives me to the forest where I like to walk in the cool shade, and he sits on the side of the path, by the car, and reads a book by James Michener.  I walk around for 30-40 minutes and then walk back to the car and we drive home.  I told him I'd give him one more week to get the foot better, then he should try walking again.  We both need the exercise.


     One afternoon, we took a drive into the countryside around Freiberg.  Germany really is a beautiful country.  Once you get outside the city, the rolling hills, and hidden villages in the valleys are so picturesque.

FISHING IN THE RESERVOIR - JUST LIKE ISLAND PARK

 We saw a reservoir with a fellow fishing, flowing streams in most unlikely places,  and horses, sheep and cattle.  Wind turbines dot the countryside, just like they do in America.  They also have solar panel farms for power generation.



     Old smokestacks stick up all over the place, designating where factories used to exist.  It kind of reminds me of the old Sugar City Sugar Factory, back in the day!  I felt right at home when I saw the bales of straw out in the field, just like Bill used to bale out on his family's Sugar City farm.

THE SMOKESTACK

STRAW BALES

 













   No Malls exist in Freiberg, but Dresden has a huge mall.  It is called Elbe Park.  It got its name from the Elbe River that flows close by.  I love to shop at this mall, because I can get cosmetics and hair products similar to the ones I used in America.

ROADSIDE VILLAGES - LOVE THE RED ROOFS

 This mall has over 70 stores, and a delicious food court with yummy hazel nut ice cream.  IKEA has a gigantic store here, as well.  We probably shop here about once a month.  It reminds me of driving from Rexburg to Idaho Falls to shop.

     For our P-Day yesterday, we took Elder Colmere and Elder Drake out for pizza at a shop in downtown Freiberg.  It was tasty, but offered choices that I have never heard of being served on pizza.  I refer to egg plant, boiled eggs, asparagus, tuna fish, potatoes, shrimp,& zucchini squash.  I settled for a Hawaiian ham and pineapple pizza.

WIND TURBINES - LIKE THE HILLS OF IDAHO

 Bill had shrimp, mushroom, zucchini squash and eggs.  The Elders had potatoes, salami and other choices.  They are great young men, and we enjoy them immensely.
     I think I relate to these missionaries so well, because I think of our grandchildren who are now entering the mission field.  Jakob Moss, entered the MTC in Mexico City last Tuesday to start learning Spanish.  Our Granddaughter, Rachel Kump, enters the Mexico City MTC August 22nd to start learning Spanish. Eli Moss will enter the MTC Provo October 18 to learn Italian.  We pray for their success and happiness.










 

ELBE PARK MALL - DRESDEN

 

PIZZA WITH ELDER DRAKE & ELDER COLMERE

WARD MEETINGHOUSE (GEMIENDE) BEING REPAIRED

 What a blessing to be able to serve the Lord here.   It is a great privilege, which we appreciate and cherish.  THE GOSPEL IS WUNDERBAR!