The Book of Jon

It has been an interesting week.  Sister van Hoff and I have been learning how to webcast.  We wanted to do it on our own, so that we get the full effect of how it must be for other Technology Specialists to set things up and begin webcasting for the first time.  For those unfamiliar with webcasting, it is the technology used to broadcast Stake Conference or other events to other Ward or branch buildings.

Our 1st attempt

Well, the first time setting up the equipment it took us nearly an hour.  We unpacked the equipment and had set it up just fine.  Then we realized it would not work with the camera only five rows back into the pews.  Nearly all the equipment had to be taken down and moved. But, that provided us with great practice is setting it up again.

2nd attempt

Success.  The equipment worked great; sound and camera.  However, trying to connect to the web portal did not work. The web portal allows others connecting to a designated web page with the right code number to view the webcast.

2nd attempt as viewed from the pulpit

Sister van Hoff and I experienced the frustration that many others might have experienced.  Through the rest of the week we tried a few more times to see if we could figure out what went wrong.  Next week we will get some help from more experienced people. We still haven't been able to do a successful test broadcast.
It was a good learning experience and through our failures we will be able to help others who find themselves struggling.  "And thus we see" the Lord allows us to go through trials that we might be there to help make the paths of others easier to travel. (The Book of Jon 1:1)

This week we both had the opportunity to talk and help people from different countries.  There were brothers from Hungary, Italy, Germany, Norway, and a Sister from Serbia.  Some calls were initiated and others came to us.  In each case we were able to help them or, if nothing else, let them know that they were not alone; that they were individually thought about and that someone cared about them.  "Now I say unto you" the Lord uses His servants to do those things He would do if He were walking on the earth. (The Book of Jon 2:8)

Snowman and bunny

Sister Enger's class was fun this week.  With fall around the corner, she talked about chestnuts and the different parts of the tree in German.  At the end of the class she gave us the supplies to create something using chestnuts and wooden matchsticks. For those who can't figure out our chestnut characters, I labeled them.  "And it came to past" that we found enjoyment with the simple things of nature which God has graciously provided. (The Book of Jon 3:10)

For those reading this blog, we love you.  Many of you are in our prayers daily.  It is so wonderful to be on a mission and to serve the Lord the best way we know how; and to meet people and do things we never would have been able to do back home.  The Lord has truly blessed us in our lives and we pray that he blesses you in yours.  Until next time...

Busy

Time on our mission seems to be moving more rapidly.  This past couple of weeks have been very busy, let alone what is going on in the world.

From the world's perspective, the forest fires on the west coast of the US continue to rage.  The southern part of US has been bombarded with one hurricane after another.  Now Jose poses a threat.  India experienced heavy flooding which resulted in a lot of people dying. Pres. Trump and Chairman Kim Jong-in are verbally battling out threats against each other.  Both are capable of sending off nuclear missiles.

For us, it is not so catastrophic, just busy.

Our Cones

Sis. Enger teaching us.

Over a week ago in our German Culture class, Sis. Enger taught us what Germans do for the first day of school.  This is for all children attending their very first day of school.  They receive a decorated cone.  The whole family walks to school together, with the child carrying the cone. Once in the classroom and at a specific time, all the children open their cones.  They can be filled with school supplies, treats, small toys, etc.  She told us that some stores are selling these cones that are over 3 feet high.  I can just imagine a small child dragging theirs into the classroom.  The stores also sell much smaller cones for the younger siblings who also accompany the family on the trek to the first day of school. As you can see, we all got one. Then she proceeded to pretend like we were in school with a normal 1st year schedule of classes. We had to guess what the subjects were. Then she gave us a quiz on matching words in German.

With regard to missionary work, I am continuing to stay in contact with the gentleman the sisters are teaching.  This past couple of weeks he has become quite sick with a cold.  Last week I talked to him on the phone and he sounded terribly congested.  However, I talked to him yesterday and he told me how much he wants to get baptized.  

You know, for someone who is struggling with a lot on his shoulders and knowing that joining God's church may make things much more difficult for him, he knows in his heart it is the right thing to do.  He wants to show the Lord how serious he is in his commitment.  

Let me tell you what has really kept us busy.  It is seminary.  Last Monday was our first day.  Preparing the lessons have been hard, because we don't fully know what will work for these youth, but I suspect it will get easier as we learn more about them.

One thing we did learn.  They are much more spiritual and better versed in the doctrine and scriptures than other youth we've taught before.  Something else different is the number of kids we have.  It is a large class of 11 youth.

Foolishly, I have agreed to continue to teach Gospel Essentials class until they get a teacher.  I find myself continuing to prepare lessons and that has cut down on my ability to study driving.  As for studying German, that is temporarily stopped.

At work, we have noticed how the Lord is waiting for us to learn things so that we can help others.  After the first month of being here, Diane and I delved into Personal Video Conferencing (PVC).  It took about a month to really develop a good understanding of the features in the program.  To be honest we are still learning more about it, like trouble shooting problems and such.  After we had the basic understanding, we suddenly got emails from stakes in Europe needing our help in using PVC.  We even had requests for help within our own building.

One of 5 persons.

5 Persons or 992 lbs.

Just a week ago we started to learn how to do webcasting.  Last Tuesday Diane and I, by ourselves, set up the equipment for a webcast in the church chapel.  A couple of days later I received a phone request from Hungary to help someone to set up their webcasting equipment.

Before we learned these things, we received no such requests, yet no sooner do we learn about them, then our help is needed.  I can't believe that the Lord isn't involved.  He is just waiting for us to do our part so that we can bless others.

Starting tomorrow I'm going to start on a sugar-free diet.  The only sweeteners I will be taking in are from natural fruit.  Since coming on this mission, I went gluten-free.  I lost 5 lbs.  So I'm wondering what will happen when I exclude sugar from my food intake.  Maybe I'll be able to be the 5th person in our apartment elevator.  It is so small.  It is barely able to hold four people without touching the other person.  Yet it is supposed to be able to hold 5 persons. It looks much bigger in the picture than it actually is.   

Well, I gotta go.  Diane and I have to prepare for seminary next week.

Life in Frankfurt

Earlier this week Sister van Hoff spent hours in front of her computer.  She noticed that the lines in the Excel spreadsheet she was using looked a little strange.  When it came time to go to lunch, she noticed that vertical lines such as edges of door frames looked odd.  They were not straight lines.

We made an appointment to see an eye doctor.  The appointment was arranged for a couple of days later.  The morning of the appointment, Sister van Hoff asked for a blessing.  In the blessing the Lord conveyed that the doctor would be able to diagnose the problem as best he could and that Sister van Hoff would feel comfortable and at peace with what she heard.

When we got in to see the doctor, our initial reaction was, how can this blessing be fulfilled?  The doctor appeared to be much older than we are.  He looked frail.  His voice was soft and raspy.  He asked a lot of questions, often repeating himself.  I was wondering if he understood what the problem was, let alone remember what Sister van Hoff was telling him. He did write down everything she said, though.

I noticed that his equipment looked not as modern and extensive as we see in the States.

He didn't say much as he checked her eyes.  He performed several tests on her eyes, using all four of the machines in the room.  Finally after being there for nearly an hour, he straightened up in his chair, which transformed him into a different individual.  He informed us that he used to be an eye surgeon.  He believed to the best of his knowledge and with the equipment he had that what Sister van Hoff has is dry macular degeneration. He also said there is a possibility that the distortion is due to a small bleed in the eye.  He requested that we go to a hospital to have them verify the diagnosis, since their equipment is much more sophisticated.

Though we don't have comfort in the fact that the diagnosis could be correct, we did leave knowing that he is very professional and wise to request us to get a confirmation.

Thursday we got registered to get our driver licenses.  No, we don't have German licenses yet.  We are only registered to be able to take the driver's test.  Here in Germany, it seems you have to register for everything you do.

Thursday we got word that a bomb was found in the middle of Frankfurt.  It was a World War II British Allied bomb.  We heard that another one was found in another town close by last week.  We also heard that they are often found as digging occurs for new construction sites.

The map here shows the northern part of the evacuation area.  It is outlined in red.  We live next to the church -- labeled Porthstrasse Chapel.

Supposedly, this is the biggest evacuation of people since WWII  in Germany.  Today, Sunday, they have evacuated the part of the city within a 1.5 Km radius of the bomb location, so that the 2-man disarmament team can disarm the bomb.  The evacuation included 70,000 people, which included 2 hospitals and 20 nursing homes.  Can you imagine?  We live on the outer perimeter of the evacuated area.  Our sister missionaries live within, so another senior couple is opening their place for the sisters to go for the day.  Our stake center which is a half a block away is being used for evacuees.

Ritz Hotel

We just returned from a walk and the police barricades are still up.  This is less than a block away.  It is 6:00 PM.  They started at 1:00 PM.

On a happier note, Saturday was a great day.  We started out by joining 14 other senior missionaries for a Frankfurt tour given by a church employee who works in our office building.  He is Irish, but has lived here for many years.  The tour lasted for about 2-1/2 hours and was full of interesting information about Frankfurt.  Just to share a couple of things: one of the first hotels built by Cesar Ritz is in Frankfurt.  That's right, it was one of the first Ritz hotels.  This is also where many of the people stayed the night before boarding the fatal flight of the Hindenburg.  This hotel is now owned by a different company as you can see from the picture.

Our group in the distance.  Names on the cemetery wall.

Anne Frank

Another interesting fact.  There is a Jewish cemetery in town.  During the Nazi regime they tore down the headstones and put them in a pile.  Today the cemetery is still there, surrounded by a brick wall.  There are bricks facing outward and on the end of each brick there is the name, date of birth and death of all the know Jews who died during the holocaust.  Anne Frank and her family are listed there, among 11,146 other names.  Notice the stones on top of the brick.  People place them on top and say mentally, "[name of person], I remember you."

Later that day we had another appointment with the investigator we talked about last week.  It was in a park closer to where he lives.  What a great discussion we had with the sister missionaries.  Interestingly enough, unbeknownst to him, I have learned probably more from him than he has from me.

It is now 7:30 PM and we just got word that the bomb was successfully disarmed.  There is honking and sirens heard from all around us.

The bomb and the 2 guys who disarmed it.