Gratitude

In an earlier blog we predicted that when we were released as seminary teachers and were asked to become the next zone leaders, we would be moving from being very busy to being much more busy. Well, that prediction could not have been more true. Now, not only are we busy in the evenings and weekends taking care of zone issues, but much of that has crept into our time at the office, when we should be working on our ATS (area Technology Specialist) assignment.

Since we have become zone leaders, we have dealt with

• water contamination in the apartment complex where most of the missionaries live.
• a government agency informing us of three apartments in our complex had devices that emit non-compliant frequency signals.  Each of those apartments were occupied by missionary couples.

These two issues have been talked about in previous blogs. None have been definitively resolved, but enough time has transpired that we know (assume?) that everything is alright now.

Then we have had to deal with some policy changes and other issues where we felt we would get some negative feed back.

• We decided in consultation with the housing people that when there is overlap between missionaries coming and those leaving, it will be the departing missionaries who will have to go to temporary housing instead of the newly arriving couple.
• We asked all missionaries to inform us when and where they are traveling, whether for business or pleasure.
• Fleet asked us to inform the senior missionaries that black boxes will be installed in their cars.  The black boxes would report traffic violations and GPS locations to fleet managers.
• Just yesterday there was a temporary power outage at the apartment building - meaning no elevator to the 11th floor or anywhere in between.  Fortunately that lasted less than two hours.

When we accepted this assignment as zone leaders, we were told that we needed to wear thick skins and that senior missionaries will do what they want and will not always comply and that they are not shy to express their opinions. However, we are seeing just the opposite.

As for the policy issues, we did our best to explain to the missionaries in emails why there would be changes and waited for the feedback. We were surprisingly happy over the responses. There were a number of missionaries who questioned how the change would directly apply to them. They weren't complaint, but concerns. We addressed each one privately. Then came comments of support and recognition that these changes made a lot of sense and gratitude that we were implementing them. Even one of the missionaries who express a concern earlier, later wrote and told us that they supported us and that the change made sense.

Senior missionaries are a wonderful breed of saints. They really have a heart and a desire to serve. That really makes them special. We feel so grateful to be able to rub shoulders with them.

We would love to tell you all the exciting things going on with our technology group pilot program. Not only have we seen the hand of the Lord involved, but it is overwhelmingly exciting to see and hear the responses of those participating in the pilot. They are truly grateful for what we are doing.Unfortunately, it is too early to tell you any of the details. Hopefully, in a couple of months, we will be able to report our experiences in one of our blogs.

Can't publish a blog without a picture! 

Sister van Hoff on an early morning walk 

in the Hauptfriedhof (Main Cemetery).

We love you all and miss you dearly. May God continue to bless you and watch over you.

A Normal but Tasty Week

This past week was pretty much a normal week; trying to keep up with email and still being swamped with responsibilities of being Zone Leaders.

Being tech people, we did something that we've not heard done before. We met some of the senior missionary couples who will be arriving soon. We arranged a time to video conference with them. They seemed to be appreciative to see us, so that they will recognize someone when they arrive. They also had a lot of questions that we were able to answer.

During our early morning walks during the week we managed to pick a kilo of blackberries. This morning, Saturday, we picked another kilo and later in the morning I made blackberry jam.  In Germany they have Gelierzucker (sugar/pectin combo) made for putting up jams. You just need to know if it is a 2-to-1 or 1-to-1 ratio on the bag of sugar.

Here is a picture showing the amount of jam I was able to make. With the Gelierzucker, it's a lot simpler to make than in the States. The jam also has cinnamon and vanilla in it.

The zucchini was given to us by Sister Enger. Yes, it is huge. We meet each week during the summer at her Kleingarten for our German Culture Class.  I will be making, and sharing with her, a chocolate zucchini cake.

Jam on peanut butter on rice cake.

By lunch time the jam was cool enough to taste.  Ohhh, yeahhhhh!!!! Pretty good.

Next week we are meeting with our newest pilot group from Hungary and Romania. We are so excited about how the Lord has blessed us in this effort.

Timing

It has been an interesting couple of weeks.  We told you in the last blog that we were asked to be the new Zone Leaders and on the very day we officially functioned as such, we had a report of Legionelle bacteria found in the apartment complex we and most of the other missionary couples live in.

Even though we have not yet received notification that the bacteria is all gone, yet another event happened.  Last week, a satellite truck positioned itself in the Europe Area Office's parking lot.  It was trying to find what was causing frequency interference.  They eventually narrowed it down to our apartment complex.  Taking in portable frequency detectors they found three apartments that supposedly have non-compliant devices.

Yep, the three apartments turned out to be three of our missionary couples.

Evidently, some devices built in America that emit a frequency signal interfere with the emergency and telephone signals here in Germany.  We scrambled to notify all missionaries that this government agency might be returning the next day to test again and that, if anything was found, a fine of thousands of euros could be issued.

The devices are typically phone bases for cordless phones, but it could also be things like baby monitors, wireless headphones, and remote control toys.  Interestingly enough, one device that was found had been in the missionaries' apartment before they arrived.  Evidently brought by a missionary who had once served.

A comment was mentioned to us the other day that the Lord waited for us to become Zone Leaders because of our background.  That does make sense.  Who better to understand and handle contaminated water than a wastewater treatment guy?  Who better to understand technology issues than two missionaries who are assigned to work with technology?  Sister van Hoff and I each have organizational skills, although hers is better developed than mine.

We could ask, "Why did the Lord have to put these events on us and especially so quickly in our assignment?" But, instead, we are grateful that the Lord trusted us enough to handle those situations for his missionaries.

For Independence Day, we gathered together as senior missionaries for a cookout.  The senior couple responsible for the event did an outstanding job: patriotic music, games, talks, etc.  A lot of the missionaries remarked how wonderful it was.

The Sisters at the cookout.

The elders at the cookout.  I'm in dress clothes because

 of a video conference scheduled for later that evening.

Yesterday, Elder Skoubye and I took a one-hour bicycle ride.  He showed me a place which was a huge park and some wooded areas.  It was a great ride, but in getting lost coming back the one-hour ride took 2-1/2 hours.  Other than being exhausted all day, I've not seen any ill effects.  Yet!!!

Elder Skoubye under an artistic bridge.

Here is a beautiful landscaped section of river we biked. On our bike ride.
We had an exciting week this week with the events of our pilot program.  I'd share them with you, but I think I'll keep the details until later. (Guess you'll just have to continue to read our blogs to find out.)  I will say this much, we received spiritual direction on forming a third pilot group.  It wasn't until we met with the facilitator for that group that we realized how inspired that spiritual direction was.