March 24-30 Eight Months completed

After a very busy and beautiful last week, we had a little break and chance to catch up this week.
Sunday was a wonderful day.  We had 5 visitors from the USA at church today.  It was really nice talking to all of them.  We had Ward Conference (a meeting held once a year) so we had a lot of Stake Visitors from Zurich attending and then had a pot luck dinner after church.  It made it really nice with all of the visitors to be able to sit and eat and talk.  Bro. Horlacher, from St. George Utah was visiting.  He and his wife were here 10 years ago serving as missionaries doing what we are doing with the YSA.  They were the ones who made it possible for the YSA wing to be completed in the lower level of our church building.  It was very interesting to talk to him and hear their story.  In the end, after they got the city permits and contractors lined up, there was no money to build it so he donated it with the help of some friends in Utah.  He is very proud of what they were able to do and provide.  We had heard the story about a family who made it all possible, but not all the details.  It was nice to talk with him and meet The Man.
We had a couple who both served their missions here 30 years ago.  They currently live in Austin Texas so that was fun to talk with them.  They know The Townsends in Austin - he is the current Patriarch of their Stake.  Fun to catch up on a few things Texas.
We also had a man, Cameron, who is here for two weeks learning German.  He works for the US State Department and will be moving his family to Berlin in August to work at the Embassy there.  They sent him here for a two week intense language training.  He speaks Chinese and lived in Afghanistan for two years and he said German was harder to learn than either of those languages.  I can relate.  We really enjoyed visiting with him and hearing of his life and work adventures.

We did not have the YSA over after Church because of the lunch after the meetings.  This gave us some time to just enjoy Sunday and get ready for Monday.
Monday District Council was back to Singen (we were there all day Saturday).  It is always a beautiful drive and with Spring, it is changing every day with new blossoms and flowers and green mountainsides.  We had a nice meeting and said good bye to Sister Pitcher and Elder Sides who were being transferred this week to new assignments.  We are looking forward to meeting the new missionaries on Monday. 

Our Elder Janousek is the new District leader and with his companion Elder Robertson they are going to be awesome.  We love these two young men and they are so dedicated to the work. He asked us what he could do that would help him as a District Leader.  I told him I would really like a monthly calendar of meetings and activities so we can coordinate them better with travel and other needs.  We seemed to never know until the night before what was happening and that was difficult some times.  He started as District Leader on Thursday and on Friday he sent out a calendar for the whole transfer (6 weeks) of meetings and activities.  He is going to be great and he will be a good influence on the whole District with his leadership and wonderful personality.






Tuesday was P-Day!  It was a much needed day to take care of things at home like laundry, cleaning and shopping.  We also are looking for a new apartment for the Elders so we spent some time visiting Property management offices.  One office said they would not rent to us because the missionaries change about every 3 months.  She was nice, but did not want to work with the Church.  It is very difficult finding housing.  They said for every apartment that becomes available there are about 500 applicants.  It is best to find someone who is moving and talk to them before they tell the owner and work a private deal.  So the adventure begins.  We need a Tender Mercy for this to happen.

Wednesday was lunch with Katrina.  I said a very basic blessing on the food in German and she understood and was so excited that I said it.  She usually walks around the room or cooks while the Elder's pray.  She actually sat down and listened when I prayed.  We ask her every week to pray and she always says next week.  Maybe after my short simple prayer she will realize that she can pray.
It was my turn to cook for Institute on Wednesday night.  I made a wild rice chicken soup, salad, homemade bread and a nutella cake.  I had worked most of the day getting everything ready.  At 4:00 we got a message that the teacher was sick and the other teacher was out of town.  I was more than willing to teach.  Then, one by one the messages came in that people were not coming.  I was not very happy as I had spent a lot of time fixing dinner.  The missionaries and two students ended up coming and so we just ate and did not have a lesson.  They were happy they were able to eat as much as they wanted.  They ate two loaves of bread and almost all of the cake - not to mention over half of the pot of soup.  Always glad to feed hungry young men.

Friday was our day to visit Amira.  The lesson from Come Follow Me this week is Matthew 14-15 and Mark 6-7.  It is titled "Be Not Afraid".  Jesus Christ came not just to do wonderful things for the people but to empower people like Peter to do wonderful things too.  Even if it meant facing his fears and doing something that seemed impossible - like walking on water.  Miracles can happen if we, like Peter, will set aside fears, our doubt and our limited understanding and follow Him in faith.  When we fear, we cannot have faith.  The Lord is inviting me to Come Follow Him even, especially in the storms of Life.  I know as I study, learn, come to know Him, ask in faith and Act upon the things I learn, I will trust Him and know He will always be there for me.  This section of scripture also talks about the story of the loaves and fishes.  I baked some bread and took it to Amira to share with her as we talked about how this story applies to us in our lives.  How has the Lord magnified us as we have served others?  In John 6:48, 60 we also learn that Jesus Christ is the Bread of Life.  He not only fed the masses to fill them with food, but he fed them spiritually with what they would need to know to have Eternal Life with Him and His Father in Heaven.
We have grown to love Amira and continue to be amazed at her enduring life even amid so many medical struggles.  She is facing her challenges with great faith and teaches me so much.

The corner Gelato store opened back up this week after being closed for the Winter.  So, we had to stop by and get us a scoop. Great way to end the day.

We went to the City Center today and it was so busy with people you could hardly walk.  Spring was everywhere.  Easter is really big here and I love it!  The store windows are decorated just like at Christmas.  These are the largest Lindt bunnies I have every seen.  This is a store window and the bunny is about four feet tall.  I did have to break down and buy us each a Lindt bunny to have in our Easter baskets.  There is a discount Chocolate shop that we like to go to and I was good today and just looked, except for the bunnies.

All things Spring.  This is at the market in the City Center that is open every day until 2:00 pm.  Flowers, produce and lots of brats. 
The Munster is getting a new organ and it will be unveiled in April.  We are looking forward to the Saturday organ concerts to begin again.

I made a Salad for the Pot Luck last Sunday and it was enjoyed by many.  So many people came and told me how much they enjoyed it - and I actually understood when they said,"die essen ist lecker"-  meaning the food is delicious.  Recipe below for those interested:

Spinach, Chicken and Pasta Salad (Sis. Diane Lake shared it with me)

450 g. Bow Tie Pasta, cooked al dente

Dressing:
1 cup vegetable oil               6 Tbl. Sugar
2/3 cup Teriyaki Sauce         1/2 tsp. Salt
1/3 cup Rice Vinegar            1/2 tsp. Pepper
1/3 Cup Cider Vinegar

Salad:
1 (10 oz.) bag fresh baby spinach
3/4 cup Craisins
3 cans of Mandarin Oranges, drained
1 (8 oz.) can Water Chestnuts, drained and slivered
1/2 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1 bunch green onions, chopped (I used just 1 stem)
1/4 cup Toasted Sesame Seeds (slightly brown in skillet on low for about 5 min.)
3/4 cup honey roasted peanuts (I used a mix of peanuts and cashew honey roasted)
2 cups Teriyaki Chicken, cooked and chopped.  (I marinated 2 chicken breasts in Teriyaki sauce and then baked in the oven, cool and then chop.)

Blend dressing ingredients together.  Mix 1 to 1 1/2 cups of dressing and cooked pasta in bowl and marinate for at least an hour. 
Combine the rest of the salad ingredients in large salad bowl.  Just before serving, add pasta and dressing and toss.  Add more dressing if needed.
This sald is a bit of work, but SO worth it.
The dressing can be made ahead and stored in the fridge.  It is great on regular salad.

Enjoy!
The Grimmett's