Sunday was our Christmas Program. Our choir sang four songs and we sounded fabulous if I must say so myself. Half of the members of the choir are Senior missionaries. We try to be very supportive of our ward. The Bishop called Elder Walters and I to work in the Primary, teaching the 8-11 year old Valient boys and girls. We will be teaching as a team with another missionary couple. We are looking forward to preparing them for Baptism. Teaching them the things they need to know before taking that most important step in their lives. You can see a picture of our chapel and one of Gene after church. Also notice the picture of the cute Sister Missionary who is wearing her newly acquired German dress. She is going home soon and she is so sad. Like I said Germany does get into your blood. The country as well as the people.
After church we just had to take a drive around Frankfurt to see how much snow the last storm had dropped and to view the winter wonder land of Germany. Some of the pictures are of Bad Vilbel and our car that was covered with snow. Every morning Elder Walters has to get out and shovel snow. He still hasn't found a pair of gloves that keep his hands warm. We spotted a huge park that had been converted into a place for sledding. Kids were building snowmen and families were all having fun together. It reminded me of life in the 40's and 50's, when it was a lot less complicated and hectic.
We were invited that night, to another Senior Missionary couples house, for dinner and a movie. The Hermann's are from Centerville, UT and he is a professional photographer on the side. Their mission assignment is to travel all over Europe and gather histories of Wards and individuals, to be sent to Salt Lake City and kept in their archives. They told us some very interesting stories of people who experienced life during WWII. One lady from Czechoslovakia was 11 years old when they took her family away to a concentration camp. She said her father and brother were separated from her and her aunt and they never saw them again. Some day these stories will be put into a volume so that we can see what really happened in Germany. How the church and its members were able to survive all the atrocities.
Bro and Sis Hermann have been on 4 missions back to back and three have been to Germany. The church just kept calling them. They say there mission now will be to go back home and be good grandparents. I guess once you get Germany into your blood, you can't get it out, but why would you want to? Bro. Hermann was asked by Salt Lake to take photographs of different objects associated with Church history when they were in Salt Lake City on a mission. He went to the Prophet's office and someone escorted him to a vault that is near the office and a white handkerchief was removed that was in cased in glass. He took it to a room in the temple and there he took the photographs. He didn't know the history behind it but later found out that it belonged to the Prophet Joseph Smith. During the terrible epidemic in Nauvoo when so many people fell ill. This is when the Prophet administered to almost everyone, even bringing one brother back to life. Someone from Montrose, which is across the river from Nauvoo, came to the Prophet and asked if he could come there to administer to his daughter who he felt would die soon. Joseph said he could not go because he was too ill himself but he would give him his handkerchief and he could give the blessing. It would be the same as if Joseph were there giving the blessing. That was accomplished and his daughter revived. That handkerchief was passed down through the family until it was given to the church and has only been on display once. It is always kept in the vault. Just a little story of wonderment to me and another testimony that Joseph Smith was a true Prophet of God.
We are making so many great friends here, ones we will have throughout Eternity. Hope everyone has a wonderful holiday season.
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