Dear Family,
We have had some amazing experiences the past few weeks! First, thank you for your prayers and fasting for us. We have definitely felt that extra support from you and from our Heavenly Father. You may remember that Dad was called to the High Council several months after we arrived in Germany. His assignment has been over the Young Men. Last week because of this assignment we were able to attend a temple week in Frankfurt with all the youth from our stake. We didn't have to rent a car to drive or pay for a train ticket because the mother of one of our young single adults offered to drive us in her car. Her daughter is serving a mission at the St. George visitor's center right now. She also speaks great English because she served a mission in England ( one of the tender mercies I experienced so I could participate in the conversation on the way up and back). We stayed in a youth hostel up in the mountains about a 45 min drive from the temple. We even had a room to ourselves, although we slept on 2 bottom bunks. We arrived on Tuesday evening and were glad we had thrown our coats in at the last minute because it was much colder up in the mountains. There were about 55 youth and quite a number of leaders there. The temple can only handle about 20 youth at a time for baptisms and confirmations. Each session lasts about 2 hours plus 45 min. ahead to get clothes and instructions. We were scheduled for 3 sessions each day so each young person could do 2 sessions during the two days we were there. The rest of the day they had classes they attended at the ward building next to the temple. Some of the classes were on using the computer to do family history. All of the classes were spiritual in nature. Dad and I were able to spend all of our time in temple. We didn't have assignments until the afternoon on Tuesday so we decided to do a session in the morning. Two stakes from Paris were also having their temple week so many of the sessions were in French. Our session was too full so they asked for volunteers to go on a different session. A few people volunteered but we ended up being the only couple on the session. So we were the witness couple wearing head sets. The session was in French, I was listening in English, Dad in German and I think the officiators were originally from Africa. I actually turned the volume down on my head set and listened to much of the session in French. I was surprised how much I could understand. Head sets didn't help in the prayer circle and the rest of the temple workers that helped us spoke German. So I spoke English and they spoke German. It was an unique experience. Later, while Dad was helping in the baptistery I asked if I could do some initiatory. Most of the workers there were French speaking so they found some people who were willing to help me in English. But I started out with some French workers. I had the most spiritual experience of the week as I listened in French and realized I could understand most of what was being said. I had the overwhelming feeling that Heavenly Father was mindful of me and that He loves me. After being in Germany for over a year now and still having to have most things translated for me, I felt like it was another tender mercy being able to understand the ceremony in French. We had other wonderful experiences working in the baptistery and mingling with the saints who had come with their entire family to spend a week at the temple. The patron apartments on the temple grounds were full of French families including their little children. The older children take care of the little ones while the parents are in the temple. There is a big kitchen where they can cook and little refrigerated lockers where they keep their own food. A big dining area is full of families eating together. Some of the people are dressed in white
because there is a tunnel that connects to the temple. They can dress in their own rooms, go through the tunnel to the temple, come back for lunch and then return to the temple and never have to change out of their temple dresses. This is already too long so I will just say we had a wonderful time at the temple! This week we had interviews with the mission president, zone conference all day yesterday and institute and FHE. It is a busy life but we are loving it all. Our time here continues to tick away. We have just 4 months left now and have to start thinking about life after our mission. I have to apply for Medicare 3 months before we return. We have to start getting things ready here for our replacements. And we still have many projects left to complete. We will be spending a lot of time redoing another missionary apartment soon. Hopefully it will be ready by Christmas. We love and miss you all! Thank you for watching out for each other. And thank you all for your prayers for us.
Love,
Mom and Dad
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