MISSION HAPPENINGS

This week was a relatively slow and easy one here in Frankfurt (we need a few of those once in a while).  We did some catch up in the office and visited the Center here in Frankfurt.  The couple serving here left 2 weeks ago and we were pleased to announce that a new couple would be coming this week.  They are a great group of YSAs and are anxious to welcome them.

Last week we had our monthly cultural trip with the couples.  We went to the town, Wartburg, where Bach went to school and studied and lived during his younger years.  We saw his school, home and museum.  We also went to the castle where  Martin Luther went into hiding and where he lived in one small room for 12 years as he translated the Bible.  It was all quite interesting and a beautiful place.

 Note the size of the doors along this street.  Not sure of the significance but it was quite funny.

My knight in his "not so shining "armour.

This week we were downtown Frankfurt at a famous "woodcarver" shop.  There were some amazing creations there, but the most interesting was to find Moroni and the gold plates.  Obviously the missionaries do ALOT of shopping in there.

The city of Frankfurt is really unique in that they have preserved the old and added the new and they are pleasently intermixed.  There are many sky scrapers downtown where  the postwar restored historical buildings are located.  This is an example of such.

We are truly delighted to be serving in such an interesting and beautiful country.

Working in Portugal

Last week we travelled to Lisbon Portugal.  We have 7 Centers for Young Adults in Portugal so we went to do some training with 3 new Centers.  We met some wonderful leaders and young single adults there.  Many of the members are originally from Angola--thus dark skin.  We met with 2 Stake Presidents, 3 Center couples and many of the YSA leaders from those Centers.  They are wonderful committed members.

Another primary purpose for going was to film in the Centers as we have been asked to make a DVD for training and promotional purposes.  (of course we are not the camermen)  We have filmed in several Centers in Germany, one in Barcelona and 2 in Portugal.  More will be filmed in England and then the video production department will edit and make the DVD.  It is so fun and interesting to visit these Centers and meet these wonderful young saints and learn their conversion and life stories. 

We had some time during the mornings to see the sights of Portugal.  Of course there are beautiful beaches as well as old churches, castles and fortresses.  There is a huge bridge in Lisbon that is much like the Golden Gate.

We attended church at a small Branch outside of Lisbon with about  10 members who were all so friendly and jabbered to us in Portuguese like we could understand !

Two weeks ago we were able to meet Helena (our former exchange student from Sweden) and her family as they passed through Frankfurt.  It was so grand to see her again and she is the same beautiful and sweet person with 2 adorable children and a super nice husband.

And so our busy, exciting, rewarding and interesting mission moves on.  It is so impossible to think we have been here 5 months but yet we have learned so much and had such varied and rewarding experiences.  Our lives are so blessed and enriched as we meet wonderful people from so many corners of the world who all share in a common testimony of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  How honored we feel to be a part of  His work.