A Walk in the Cemetary

If you want a more detailed look at this week, you can read Nancy's weekly email.  Here's my digest version with pictures!!

We took a walk in the cemetery early this morning.  It is like walking in a park, and spring is on the horizon.  White, yellow, and pink blossoms are beginning to pop out on a few trees.  We saw the famous red squirrels on our walk today.  Another sign of the coming spring.  There were a few and they were active.  They are the coolest squirrels I've ever seen.  Mostly because of their ears.  They have distinctive triangled ears that stick up.  

It was Susan and Fred's farewell in church today, and we were able to watch it on broadcast.  Some nice things have come from the Covid pandemic.  One of them being the ability to attend sacrament meetings in geographically and chronologically different areas.  For example, across the ocean and across time zones.  I'm sure they will be awesome missionaries in Hawaii.  They spoke about improving by 1% every day.  Their talks were great.  After the meeting, they all went to Susan and Fred's house for something to eat.  They "marco poloed' us. Griffin and his family and Courtney and her family were there along with Nancy's siblings.  It looked fun.

Yesterday I did taxes.  Not too exciting for the blog, but I spent so much time doing them that I wanted to mention it.  The federal forms I could fill out and submit online, but the Idaho forms require that you mail them in.  That's a bit of a hassle, but we'll get it done.

We were able to have a long talk with Bart and Natalie on the phone this morning.  It was fun to hear their voices and to learn about the good things they are doing.

This week we had an office dinner with all the people we serve with.  Some just got here, others are leaving, and our boss is getting married. So, there were lots of things to celebrate.  It was a little chilly, but we still ate outside.  It was a cool restaurant up a little cobble stoned alley.  We are loving Germany more and more by the day.

A couple of young missionaries have been referred to me to talk about going to college.  Basically, they have no social capital when it comes to college and are afraid to try the college experience, but they are bright and would do well in college.  After talking with them and giving them some information and some confidence, they are going to apply and give it a shot.  I connect them with friends at BYU-Idaho for which they are also grateful.

We woke up to a broken washing machine on Friday morning.  I sent an email, then we went to work.  When we got home there was a brand new washing machine hooked up and waiting for us.  Talk about quick service.  The church takes very good care of its senior missionaries.

I continue to spend most of my time working with the "Emergency Response Council" (ERC) coordinating help for refugees from Ukraine.  Our focus (Welfare and Self-Reliance) is on members of the church and their family and friends.  The Humanitarian arm of the church focuses on all refugees.  We are in the same office, so much of what we do intersects.  Nancy has been spending her time taking care of the Welfare and Self-Reliance missionary couples and working on JustServe.  These are two big assignments and she is doing an awesome job.  We are both learning a lot every day, and we are getting better at what we are doing.  We still have a lot to learn, but learning is fun.

There are lots of stories from the border of Ukraine.  One of my take aways is that if I'm ever in a disaster situation and need help . . . find the church and they will take care of you.

We miss everybody, but are glad we can be here.

Dinner celebration: Christian on the left is getting married in two weeks, and Peter on the right has been called from Switzerland to come help with the refugee crisis (he has lots of experience).

Nancy, Peter, and Christian.  Three great people, but the greatest is Nancy (by far)

Office party.  From left to right: Rocio, Valerie, Stan, Celia, Ralene, Don, Mark, Nancy, Greg, Liz, Kalleen, Frank, and Christian.  (Peter took the picture)

Pickleball is alive and well in Frankfurt.  Don Bills, Greg, Nancy, and Ann Tanner

Party some more!  We ate outside.  A little chilly, but loved the atmosphere. Mark and Liz Rencher from Gilbert Arizona, Don Bills from Dallas Texas, Nancy from Rexburg Idaho, and Peter Huber from Switzerland.

Celia, Valerie, Rocio, Frank, and Kalleen

Have a great week!



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