Ascension Day

So, we did wind up naming our pigeons.  The one with the rainbow neck is Hans and the other is Anna.  How do we know one is a girl?  Well, last Tuesday morning we found all the evidence in the world.  I went out one morning onto the balcony to find an egg in our empty flower pot.  We have seen both birds brooding on the egg.  Diane just read that the male will sit on the egg during the day and the female at night (the night shift).  This picture was taken this evening.  It is Anna. It takes about 17-19 days to hatch the egg.  Hopefully we can start using our balcony again in a few weeks.

Today was “Ascension Day." Our offices, like everywhere else in Germany, were closed.  It was a day off for us.  Ascension Day is a German holiday in recognition of Christ ascending to heaven after tarrying with His apostles for several days and then going up to His father.  I was told that today is also “Vater Tag” (Father’s Day).  It was explained to us that Mother’s Day is an official day of recognition and that as an afterthought they decided to squeeze a day of recognition to fathers.  So it was combined with Ascension Day, without having to create a new holiday.

We went to Dom-Rӧmer.  It is the historical part of town.  What a wonderful time we had looking at centuries-old-looking architecture and walking in some of the old churches.  Most of the buildings in the area were destroyed in WWII and were rebuilt to look original. One cathedral and one building survived--we saw both of them. One church we went in was having a service.  It was Ascension Day, after all.  The priest and his assistance's were waving a smoking thurible around an alter to incense the holy sacrament and the congregation.   I found it fascinating, but the organ had a very eerie, almost scary, sound to it.

Outside there was music and entertainment.  We were warned to be careful today because a lot of people get drunk and are very rowdy.   We didn’t see much of that until later in the day.  I must admit the rowdy people didn’t appear dangerous.  They appeared very happy.

This evening we stayed in.  We arranged to have the sister missionaries over to teach a young man they have been working with.  It was a great visit.  He even stayed for a while longer after the Sisters left, just to talk.

It's been a great Ascension/Father's Day.

Settling Into Our Assignment

We’ve been here for 1- ½ weeks.  Our offices are in the Europe Area Office, in the Information and Communications Services Department (ICS).

Early in the mornings we’ve been taking walks to get to know our way around a bit.  Here in Frankfurt, first light begins about 4:30 AM and it doesn't get dark until 10:00 PM.   We haven't even gotten to the longest day of the year yet. 

This past Wednesday we were shown, by Sis. Orlowski (a senior missionary), how to use the rail and other related public transportation systems.  She took us on a trip to the center of Frankfurt.  It was surprisingly busy for a Wednesday afternoon.  Foot traffic is the accepted mode of transportation in the middle of town.

We have been visited over the past few days by these two pigeons.  I am amazed how fat they look. They're obviously well fed, but not by us.  Since they are showing up so frequently on our 7th story balcony, I guess we'll have to give them names. (Our apartment is on the right.)

   

I want to share something personal.  Thursday afternoon, I was feeling low.  Since coming on our mission, I just couldn't see the spiritual side of what we were doing.  Since receiving this assignment to serve, the Lord has revealed to me a number of times, in a number of ways, that He really wants me here at this time to work for ICS.  However, that day I felt I was swimming in a sea of the nuts and bolds of technology.  I just couldn’t see the spiritual focus of what I was doing. 

Friday morning, before work, I earnestly prayed to Heavenly Father to help me to find a spiritual purpose in what I was doing.  Before the end of the day, the Lord was able to convey the relationship my job has to His work.  The day before, Diane and I had sent out a Letter of Introduction to all the Stake Technology Specialists (STSs) in Europe.  Friday we received several replies.   I had the opportunity to talk to an STS in England and another in Ireland.  I had back and forth communications with an STS in Portugal, another in France, and another in Hungary.  I learned that some of the STSs in Europe are doing a great job and are happy, but there are others who are struggling.  I heard stories of lack of leadership support or understanding, places where there is such a lack of membership because the church doesn’t have a stronghold there yet.  One STS called and told me how hard it was in his area.  He told me of the sacrifice he and his wife are making.  He is  holding down 6 major callings and is trying to start his own business.  My heart went out to those who are trying so hard to do what is right, but are fighting against difficult odds.

I learned that day that what I am doing is not just training.  It’s not just helping communications to reach new horizons.  Though all of that is important. I am here as a support, a listening hear, a connection to others so that they can know that they are not alone in the work.   Friday, for the 1^st time since I arrived, I feel like I actually accomplished something--something good.  Those I talked to were happy to know I was there and personally interested in them.

Lost

Today, Saturday, we had our first outing.  We walked to the grocery store, Rewe.  According to the Google GPS, it was a 26 minute walk.  Two and half hours later we made it to the store.  Strangely enough it only took us 26 minutes to get back home.

We got lost, do you think?  We thought we knew for ourselves which direction to take without using the Google Maps.  When we realized we had walked for a half hour and still were 28 minutes away, it suddenly occurred to us that we were going in the wrong direction.  We then turned on Google Maps.

On the way, we passed by a cemetery and decided to take a shortcut through that.  Little did Google Maps know that a stone wall had been built where it was telling us to go.  Like mice in a maze, we walked around and around for probably a half hour. 

Were we sorry we got lost?  Not really.  First of all the cemetery was fascinating.  Here are a couple of pictures I took.  Every grave was so beautifully done with flowers or ivy.  We're not sure if this is unique to this cemetery or if all German cemeteries are done this way.  We asked a woman for directions and she told us that she had just taken care of 3 graves and was tired.  Second of all, it was a great day for walking.  It was an absolutely beautiful day.  Thirdly, we got to practice our German.  We said "Hallo" or "Guten Tag" to everyone we passed.  We even stopped some people to ask for directions; even though we were using Google Maps.  It was just an excuse to actually talk to people.  One more reason getting lost was worth it, Diane found her favorite grocery store -- Aldi!

Our 1st Week

We arrived on Tuesday and were introduced to a lot of people in our office building.  (There are 4 floors.)  A lot of faces and a lot of names.  Now we have to work on putting them together.

We have been so excited about being here, jetlag didn't not affect us.  Of course, our Zone Leader made sure we didn't go to sleep the first day until evening.  That certainly helped.

End of Missionary Training

Yesterday we finished our missionary training at the MTC.  What a wonderful experience it has been.  We have learned so much in this short week.  We have been taught how to help others come unto Christ and that "others" means anyone other than ourselves.  We learned how to trust on the Spirit to direct us in helping those "others" and not simply to rely on our own understanding.  This was a huge lesson to learn.

Living here this past week was like being at the temple.  Everyone smiles and says hello.  Everyone dresses similarly.  There are no social or economic differences.  From the cafeteria staff to the President of the MTC, all are very friendly and personally interested in each of us.  Our teachers are quick to compliment and encourage us even when we make mistakes.

Elder and Sister West and ourselves

We got to know the other senior
couples.  Each couple we met
(and we met nearly every one of
them) are so humble and loving. 

On day 1 we were assigned to get
to know a specific couple.  Later in
the week we were put in a situation
to teach them to come closer to
Christ.  We were blessed to be
assigned to Elder and Sister West.
What a special couple they are. 
From the first moment we met them,
we mutually felt a close friendship.  Diane and I will be following their blog.  We expect to hear great and exciting things coming from their service in Portugal. 

They were also assigned to teach us to come closer to Christ.  They taught us twice and each time, they taught with the Spirit.  How did we know?  They taught of things that only we knew about.   We had not shared those personal things with anyone.  Only with the promptings of the Spirit could they have known.

Well, we leave here on Monday.  We wish we could take this place with us.

Day 1 at the Missionary Training Center (MTC)

We met so many wonderful
couples who are going to
different parts of the world,
serving in a variety of assignments. 

We have been spiritually fed by the
MTC presidency, their wives, other
speakers and through a video of
Elder Bednar.

One of the most spiritual events of
the day was listening to a young
Elder sing.  The song spoke of the
uncertainty one feels having
committed himself to serve the Lord.
As scary as it may seem, one
knows that the Lord will be with him.