If at First You Don't Succeed, Trier Trier Again

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This has been a good week. I borrowed a bike from a friend and Scott Waterfall borrowed a bike from another friend and we rode bikes to the office most days. The ride took us through town and farmland, along rivers and rows of apartment buildings, on cobblestone roads and paved bike paths, down some slopes and up some slopes, and eventually to office or home where we sat in front of fans to cool off. It felt good on my knees to ride.

Nancy is speaking in church today. She has prepared well and will do a good job. She is a wonderful missionary who knows how to bring people together. I'm sure she will get several hugs from several people after church.

She is still suffering from plantar fasciitis, but is working hard to help it improve. She wears a foot brace to bed at night, stretches every morning, and rolls her foot on a specially designed ball. Although it hurts, she continues to play pickle ball, walk, and be active. We are praying that it will improve soon so she can continue doing what she likes to do without so much pain.

A missionary friend (Mark Tanner) who was in Paris this week called to tell me that he had met Trish Ganaway who is serving in the mission office there, and she said hello. Trish worked at BYU-Idaho with me and helped me understand the ins and outs of giving a devotional at BYU-Idaho. It was good to be reminded that she and her husband Joe were serving in Paris. A little connection to home.

Our work as assistant zone leaders continues to grow. I think it's going to take more time than expected, but that's okay. It's an opportunity to interact, make friends, and learn from more people. Our work with Self-Reliance and JustServe is also engaging us, so we keep pretty busy, but we still find time for pickle ball, dinner with the young missionaries, and cultural outings with friends.

One activity this week was with our office assistant, Celia. She invited us and the Waterfalls to her house for dinner on Monday night. We ate on the outside porch in the garden and talked late into the night. We laughed, told stories, and got to know each other better. Her husband, Johannes, made much of the dinner. He and Celia were wonderful host and hostess. It's interesting, but I feel like I've known many of the people I've met here for a long time . . . even if it's the first time I've met them.

Yesterday, Saturday, we went to Trier with The Watsons, Clawsons, and Waterfalls. We took two cars. One of my favorite places in Germany is the Mosul River Valley. Trier is on one end of the Mosul River Valley and has a lot of old Roman ruins. We attended an organ concert in the cathedral, walked a lot to see the sites, and ate lunch on the square outside. Different couples have different paces so we adjusted along the way. There were some tour groups because river cruise ships stop here. We were glad that we could see all of the same things, but at our own pace. I have to admit that sometimes I would stand close enough to a group to listen to their guide, but when it started to drag on, I could just leave. The best of both worlds.

It was a beautiful day weather-wise. The sun was out, but there was a soft, cool breeze blowing. It was a very nice combination. As always is the case, the sites were fun, but the real enjoyment came from being with Nancy and good friends.

Tier Germany with friends. Rennee Watson, Cherie Clawson, Nancy Hazard, Nancy Waterfall, Kirk Clawson, Greg Hazard, Scott Waterfall, Paul Watson (not pictured)

Greg and Nancy at Trier, Germany. The weather was perfect. Glad we had our dark glasses.

Porta Nigra, Trier. Built around 180 AD by the Romans.

Scattered throughout Europe, these brass plaques eternalize the lives that were lost in the Holocaust. They are called Stolpersteine (stumbling stones in English). They have names and messages on them. One message reads, "escaped to heaven."