So, I'm going to divide this up into 3 categories: Zone Leader News, Europe Area Assignment News, and Personal News.
Zone Leader News: As Zone Leaders we have been personally visiting the other missionary couples. We have noticed a common thread from each of our visits. Even though some of these couples appear to do their job in the office and then spend the rest of their time sightseeing and enjoying themselves, we have found that not to be accurate. We are amazed at all the things they are doing behind the scenes. To give you some examples, one sister has a goal to appropriately give out pass-along cards. She searches for potential people to give them to and contemplates hard to find the right words to say. She does this everywhere she goes. She admitted to us that doing this is way out of her comfort zone.
There is a couple who oversee the missionary couples in Europe that organize and teach Self-Reliance. They are working hard and after normal hours to arrange classes where they can teach those in nearby units. Another couple is serving in primary and they are dealing with challenging children. They have been seeking through diligent prayer how best to help these kids. There are others who are struggling with family issues back home or health issues of their own.
What we have learned, too, is the faith that these missionaries have had to develop in order to be here on their missions. It's a far cry from just having a fun time.
We have also initiated a "Find the Lost Sheep" program and ministering within our zone. I was really impressed at how quickly the senior couples took to ministering. Within days of receiving their assignments from us, they were contacting the missionary couple they were to minister to. We've even heard of them learning that they had common interests that they hadn't realized.
As for the "Find the Lost Sheep," Sister van Hoff and I were given a list of about 20 members that could not be found. We asked if any couples would like to participate in helping to find these people. Five couples stepped forward. Each is very excited to begin.
See what I mean about these missionaries? They are wonderful and amazing.
Europe Area Assignment News: We are so excited about how our pilot program is going. Again, it is too early to tell you the details, but we can tell you this much--the response from those involved have been overwhelmingly positive. We have prepared our presentation to give the Europe Area Presidency the results of the pilot. The DTA has approved the presentation and we are now on the schedule to give that presentation to the Presidency later this month.
Once the Presidency makes a decision on this pilot, we will share that with you and describe in more detail what we are trying to do.
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| Skoubyes and us in front of the Temple in Bern |
Personal News: Yesterday we got back from Switzerland. We and Elder and Sister Skoubye spent a couple of days there. Our main purpose was to spend a day at the temple in Bern. What a great experience that was. We were able to do a lot of temple work and that was great, but even greater was the strong spirit we basked in during our time in the temple and the couple of miracles we experienced.
In the Celestial Room, while quietly praying, I asked the Lord to convey to me what He wanted me to know. I did my best to clear my mind to receive whatever message He had. Without going into detail, suffice it to say, his message to me was unexpected but touching. The strength of the Spirit I felt during this was overwhelming.
The miracles had mostly to do with the Skoubyes. Again, I can't get into much detail here, but there has been a situation that has weighed heavy on them for a long time now. Temple prayers were offered up that day regarding that situation. Before we left the temple, they received confirmation in the form of a text, that things were changing for the good. It was clear from the information they received that the Lord was intimately involved in making that change.
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| A cloudy day at the temple |
Another small miracle happened upon our return from the temple. Diane and I were fixing dinner and the Skoubyes came in from getting a few things from the store. As they entered, she informed us that somehow she lost her wallet and passport. They had searched the car completely. Their only thought is that she might have lost it at the temple.
We tried to call the temple, but no one answered. As tired and hungry as they were (it was about 7:30 PM), they decided they needed to drive back to the temple and hope to get in before it closed. To get there and back would take well over an hour.
We had a prayer. During the prayer the Spirit witnessed to me and to Sister Skoubye that the items would be found.
They went out to the car. I tried to call the temple once more to see if I could save them the long trip. Someone answered and then hung up. I immediately ran out to the car to tell them that we should call again. While I was dialing, Sister Skoubye once again searched the car and this time found the items. Miracle? Maybe, maybe not, but it certainly was an answer to a prayer.
We were able to do a little sightseeing while we there and on the way back. We stopped in a tiny town to take a picture of the main street. A man walked up to us and, in German, told us that there is a castle up the hill on this side street. We took off up the hill. It wasn't an old castle, but the things we saw were awesome. Here are several pictures.
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| Cathedral in Bern |
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| House down the street in Gampelen from where we stayed. |
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| Front entrance and dining room of the place we stayed. |
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| Erlach Main Street |
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| Overlooking Erlach |
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| What we found on top of the hill. |
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| Bern, Switzwerland |
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On top of the hill. These are all residents. Kids were playing
in the streets and there were no tourists.
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On our way home we stopped at this covered bridge. It was huge.
That is Diane and Sister Skoubye is way down there.
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