This month for our missionary "cultural" activity we went to Rottenburg, a beautiful village about 100 miles from Frankfurt. It was bursting with local charm and culture. About 20 of us went and met there for lunch and strolling around the village. It is renown for having the largest year round Christmas store in Germany. It truly was a block long on 2 levels. A child would have been convinced he was in Santa's workshop.
In the afternoon we went on the "Night Watchman Tour". He usually does this after dark but we didn't want to stay that late so he took us earlier. He walked us around the village and gave a very dramatic history of the village and what happened during the Nazi invasion and other wars. We literally felt like we were in a time lapse.
It was a bit nippy that day, or down right freezing! So amidst our other shopping some of us succumed to the cute local "head gear". Doesn't it add to the charm of the day?
We went to Prague, Czech to meet a new couple there who is working at a newly developed Center. It is in a beautiful location that was part of the former mission home and there are about 25 young adults attending. The mission President invited 3 other couples to come for the training in hopes of opening additional centers in the Czech Republic.
This last picture is of a pretty amazing situation. The cute Sisters met this Chinese young man who speaks little Czech or English but got him a Chinese B. of M. which he read twice and wanted to know more so the mission Pres. was able to hook him up via SKYPE with a mandarin speaking missionary in England who taught him. He flew to Prague on his way home from his mission and baptized the young man. Really a miracle.
We had a couple of 1/2 days to see Prague, and oh my.....it is so incredible. There is so much history still alive in the buildings, bridges, churches and stories. We could not begin to see it all but loved everything about this old and charming city. (beware of picture overload)
The church only has 5 Branches in the entire country but the missionaries work hard and the members are faithful (Karli could have done wonders here some 10 years ago). But we ran into several young people working in the city who had been exchange students to the U.S., one who joined the church while there. So once again, it was an amazing and culturally rich experience.
Last week we hosted a conference for the Area Advisors of the Centers for Young Adults. These 10 couples are called as service missionaries in various geographic regions throughout Europe to "advise and shepherd" the Centers in their local. We were very inspired and impressed with their commitment and strength of testimony, experience in church leadership and enthusiasm. They came from Sweden, Belgium, England, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Cape Verde, and Germany.
Six of the couples were newly called so we held training meetings with teaching and discussion of the Guidelines and viewing of the new CfYA training DVD . We had lunch catered both days and had a lovely dinner at a local restaurant.
As we were dealing with so many countries, we had translating going on in German, French, Portuguese and Spanish. We were a bit worried that all would understand and grasp the meaning of so many details. But at the end of the conference we were PROFOUNDLY taught that the spirit reaches the "one" in all languages. As these beautiful people bore their testimonies (sometimes being translated into English and then on into several other languages) the spirit had truly taught all of us the message that the Lord needed conveyed. It was an inspiring experience.
It will be such a blessing to serve with these magnificient leaders in Europe.
