Welcome to Freiburg Germany

It is hard to believe we have finished the first week at the MTC.  It has been an experience that I have never imagined.  We have been very busy and on a schedule every day.  I have had to get used to eating at 7:00 AM, 12:00 noon and 4:30 PM.  We walk a lot and that is good with all of the good food we are eating.  We have learned teaching skills, personal refinement, met wonderful people that have made the same commitment to leave home and family and serve the Lord.  We have studied our scriptures, taught lessons, listened to General Authorities, and attended many devotionals and meetings.  Today we were each given assignments for our church meetings.  I was asked to play the piano for the church services and in Relief Society (meeting for women).  Russ was asked to lead the music in Priesthood meeting (meeting for the men).  One of the Sisters could not be at church and asked me to do her assignment.  I taught a discussion group in Sunday School.  We then had a 3 devotionals with wonderful speakers and musical presentations.  It has truly been a full day.

We had Saturday as a preparation day to visit family, get laundry done, shop, etc.  We were able to go spend time with Emily and her family.  I made cinnamon rolls for my Dad for his 97th Birthday.  We spent Saturday with family, about 80 of us celebrating this remarkable man.  We had a family picture taken and good food and visiting.  A cousin came that we had not seen in about 45 years.

I had acquired tickets to the Mormon Tabernacle Choirs Pioneer Concert for Saturday night.  Emily, Ian, Russ and I went out to dinner and then to the concert.  We were at dinner and were leaving.  As I passed by a table with a family of 4 children and the parents, the young children started yelling and jumping up at down.  I looked to see if I knew them.  I asked, "Did you think I was your Grandma?"  They said no, and were so excited I was talking to them.  Their mother said, "They are so excited to see a missionary."  It was a very touching moment for me.  The realization that the name tag on my chest carries a great responsibility.  I had almost forgotten that it was there.  We had a great visit with them as we explained where we were going.  I hope we are received as well in Germany!
The Concert was absolutely wonderful.  They sang with the guest artists songs from Rogers & Hammerstein musicals.  They ended appropriately with The Sound of Music.

                                                                 The famous Map

                                                     Companion couple - The Barney's

                                                                Language Tutor, Natalie Moto

                                                         District at MTC - friends forever

Letters to my family

I have tried to write weekly to my family in January 2015.  I have been using email, but would like to change over to my Blog.  This will keep a better record of my thoughts and feelings for my children and grandchildren.
I am still learning how all of this works and hopefully can make this a worthwhile effort.

You can see I did not get very far in 2015.  It is now July 18, 2018 and a new chapter of my life has begun.  I am at the Missionary Training Center in Provo, UT preparing to go to the Alpine German Speaking mission.  We have been assigned to serve in Freiburg Germany.  It is a college town in Southwestern Germany close to the French and Swiss borders.  I look forward to documenting the next 18 months through words and pictures.