24 Dec- Heiligabend at the Baumans

Sharing Your Talents Whatever They May Be











Bro. Bauman & Daughter









This was a free day for us because Christmas holidays in Germany are the 24th-26th. We got up early and made our special candied yams. Elder Walters spent most of the day working at the project house while I took the day to relax and wrap presents for Sister Rosendall's 4 little boys. I wanted to get them books but Elder Walters said, "They are boys, they don't want books", so we got them a hot wheel track set. Each one had two cars each. We also got Arial a scarf and a framed picture of the Heidelberg castle, which is our favorite.

At 5:00 we traveled to Buddigen for our first Heiligabend (Christmas Eve) celebration. This is there big night of gift giving. We spent the night with the Bauman family. I think you remember me telling you about Elder Kopischke who is the 70 over this area of Europe? His son is married to one of the Bauman daughters and they were also there, as well as Elder Christensen & Elder Spellman. The Baumans have 9 children but only 5 of them are still at home. One married daughter lives in Austria and she makes violins. I was really interested in knowing how she got into that profession as I played the violin for 10 years before I was married.

We arrived early and we gave them our candied yams. They had never heard of them before, but both of the full time missionaries, who were from the states, were excited to have a little taste of home. Everyone was dressed in their Sunday best. I noticed that the front room was partitioned off with a drape so you could not go in. Bro Bauman explained that it was a tradition for the mother and father to purchase and decorate the tree the night before Christmas Eve and have all the presents wrapped. Sister Bauman started to play Christmas carols and when she played a certain song ,that was the cue for everyone to open the curtains and come into the living room. The children were so excited. We each took a seat and Brother Bauman read the account of the Birth of Christ with Christmas carols sung at the appropriate times. We sang every verse of each song in German. The entire program was in German, but we still felt the spirit. Of the 8 songs that we sang we were only familiar with five of them. Three we had never heard, but I loved them. I asked Sister Bauman if she would give me the music for those songs so I can teach my family when I go home.

Then we heard a loud knock on the door and Bro Bauman escorted there 10 year old son disguised as the Weinachtsmann. The equivalent of our Santa Claus. His outfit was 10 sizes too big but he presented himself as big as the outfit he was in. He sat in the head chair and proceeded to call out peoples names to come receive their present. Before they could get that present, however, they had to share a talent. My goodness what a talented family they are. One girl played the oboe, two more played a flute duet and the oldest one sang a song opera style. When it was the missionaries turn, I knew we would be next and we came ill prepared. The missionaries had no prior knowledge of this either so both played a set of Congo drums that were sitting in the corner of the room. One Elder did a pretty darn good job as I thought I was having Christmas with a tribe in Africa.

Then the dreaded time when they asked us to share a talent. Elder Walters immediately says, "Sister Walters is very talented, she plays the piano, violin, Bass Violin and the guitar." Good grief, now they are expecting to hear something great and I had forgotten everything I knew. Sister Bauman brings out her guitar and the only thing that came to my mind was "Puff the Magic Dragon". I didn't sing along but did manage to pick out the tune. Thank goodness they didn't know the song was about smoking marijuana. I knew Elder Walters would not share his beautiful voice so I said, "My husband played the drums in High School", so they brought over a Congo drum and he did a long roll. It was really impressive. I think I should get him a drum set when we get back home. I know the Grandboy's would love it.

Our gift was four bags of gourmet pasta all wrapped up in a bouquet with light blue ribbons and a little ceramic mouse in the middle. I can't bear to use it but she says it is the best you can get. I'll break it open when my girls come to see me. I have to say, I was very impressed that they do very little gift giving. Every child got one gift and the gifts were not the least bit extravagant.
No one seemed to be disappointed, instead, they were so happy that everyone got a gift too. It was a great feeling of love one for another. After the gift giving part we all adjourned to the dinning room for the Christmas dinner which was very simple but traditional. Sister Bauman made brats and potato salad which she said was the recipe her grandmother made. It was almost like the potato salad I make but they added apples and large chunks of dill pickles. For dessert we had fresh fruit and lots of good cookies. I think I remember reading that in the early days this was the fare for the poorer people at Christmas time and they were lucky to have it. It was simple and memorable to think that we were eating the same food that their grandparents ate in Germany almost 70 years ago during WWII.

After dinner Sister Bauman took me around to see her house. 8 bedrooms and 5 bathrooms with a separate room for doing laundry and ironing. She says all the kids have a certain task but as long as they are doing it they are allowed to watch a video of their choice. Sounds like a great way to get kids to help out with the work. Then we went into the master bedroom. I thought I was in an icebox. I said, " My goodness how do you keep from freezing to death at night." Her answer was that they even open a window." Good grief. Bro Bauman says they never get sick. I should say not, how can germs survive in sub zero temperatures?

The night drew to a close as we realized that a storm had been billowing all the time we were there. We had a hard time getting out to the car in our Sunday shoes. We did get home safe and sound however. Early to bed to get ready for our Christmas Brunch with the Senior Missionaries in the morning. Have a great day tomorrow.

19-20 Dec 2010 Wintertime in Germany

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.