July 14-20, 2019 1 year on our mission!

Lemon Raspberry Bar - thanks Joe T. for the recipe

ONE YEAR MARK on the Mission!  I can't believe how fast the time has passed and how quickly it is going.  It is hard to even think about all of the work it took to pack our home and fit everything for our mission in 2 suitcases.  The crazy thing is one year later I am doing the very same thing - packing my apartment and trying to fit everything in our little car for our transfer to Vienna Austria.  It has been a little overwhelming this week.  I gave away most of my flowers and planter boxes today and that makes the move very real - my little world in Freiburg is being transformed into an apartment for Elder's and that makes me a little sad.  They can't wait to move in and to be able to enjoy this beautiful space.  This mission office changed out the beds today - twin beds for the next week- it is getting real.

We have had an amazing week as we are trying to see and do so many things here in the area. Every week I think I will write about what I have learned and been spiritually strengthened by and we have so many experiences to tell about it is hard to get it all recorded.  I keep a separate study journal so I am recording the important things as well. 

 We visited Burg Hohenzollern on Tuesday with  Elder & Sister Blanchard and Elder & Sister Bretzing.  This was our farewell time together - we have enjoyed so much getting to know them and working with them in District and Zone Conferences.  We have been the best kitchen crew in the mission.  We were so grateful that they had shuttle buses to take you to the top so we did not have to hike the whole way.  This is a view from the road as we were driving about 6 km. away.

King and Queen for the day

 

Burg Hohenzollern

The original castle was built in the 1200's and was destroyed by fire by opposing forces in the 1400's.   It was rebuilt  in the 1440's - 1460's.  It eventually fell in disrepair leading to the rebuilding in the 1840's - 1867 as a memorial.  This last time it was never lived in as a primary residence.  It is still owned by the Hohenzollern Royal family (they have no privileges since WWII).  It is used today for concerts and parties and for a camp for special needs children every summer. 

Russ loves history and enjoys all things artillery.  It is so interesting to learn about these families and the whole genealogy dating back to the 1200's to the current family is painted on the walls and ceiling of the front foyer as you enter the castle. They did not allow any photos inside so we do not have any pictures to show the beautiful paintings of their family tree.

The Bretzing's

The Blanchard's

Our walk down from the top to the parking lot.  It was easier to walk down than to walk up the steep hill.  We thought it was easier until the next day and our legs let us know how steep it really was.
Another new adventure - we had to take our car in for the 15000km check and so they gave us a rental car for the day.  We were going to rent a car on our own but they said, no- it is part of the service.  So we dropped off our car at the dealership and they had us sign for the rental car.  It was a 5 speed stick shift with a 50km limit for the day.  We told them we would be going well over that and they said no problem it is .25 for each kilometer over.  It is a good thing I learned how to drive a stick shift when I was 15 and have had a few cars over the years to keep me in practice.  We are used to powering over the mountain and keeping up quite well on the autobahn - I was barely able to pass the sloooow trucks over the mountain pass and the drive was considerably longer than it usually would take us.  It would have been a better drive and way less expensive to have rented our own car, but we survived another adventure. It was more of an inconvenience when they called us in the afternoon to tell us they found a problem (this is the third time we have taken it in for that problem) and they could not have the car ready until the next day but that they would need the rental car that night for another customer the next morning.  So, we raced back to return the car before they closed and then had to walk a long way and catch the tram with our ice chest and then walk from the tram station home.  Oh the life of a missionary!

chocolate cream cheese rolls

Our final District Council.











This is the farewell picture of The District.  We will truly miss this wonderful group of missionaries.  Our Friend, Amira said she was going to miss my Cinnamon Rolls - her favorite of all the things I had taken her.  The District also asked for a final batch so I made Cinnamon, Lemon, Cherry and Chocolate Rolls for Amira, The District and our Ward Party Friday night.  A small memory to leave the people of Freiburg. 

 Annual Summer Ward Party in the middle of the Black Forest (Sivo's, across the street and up the hill from the restaurant we ate at when you visited)  It took us about 30 minutes to find the right road - trail to arrive at the party.  We finally had to have a friend come to the main road and guide us to the park.  It was a beautiful evening and a wonderful picnic area.  Soccer was the Game and grilling was food.  It was a wonderful evening and great way enjoy being with these wonderful people.

I love the different water fountains all over the country.  They each have their own charm.  This is where everyone put their drinks to get cold.  It is fresh mountain water and it is very good.

We had our last Institute for the semester on Wednesday and so it cooked a TexMex fiesta with chicken and beef fajitas, rice and beans with chips and homemade salsa.  It was a huge hit and those who have been to the USA especially like the Salsa because it does not taste like bar-b-que sauce that they call salsa here. 
We had the Institute Graduation and  summer grill party on Saturday night.  It was so nice to be a part of the evening and to see the accomplishments of the students that we have been serving this past year. 
They are a wonderful group of young people who serve in the Church, attend University, work, and some are married with family responsibilities.  They watch out for each other and welcome those who come and are new to the group.  We have been so blessed to have been a part of their lives and have learned much from them.  It is so hard to say good-bye- much harder for me than for them.  We took all of the pictures on the mission phone for this event and I can't figure out how to get them on the computer.

We had Elder and Sister Lloyd from the mission office stay with us on Friday night.  They went with us to the Ward Party in the mountains - a real adventure for them - and then we showed them all things Freiburg on Saturday.

 Last summer when we arrived they were in a drought and the bachle's did not have water in them.  All through the city center they have these little waterways that have water in them.  They say it helps keep it cooler.  They sell little wood boats for people to float along the water.  Kids love them.  Saturday was their annual bachleboot races.  It was fun to see them in action.  They had booths set up for people to make their own boats and paint and decorate them.  Then they had races with prizes. 

 We attended the Saturday morning Organ recital - they loved seeing the Cathedral and being able to hear the organ.  It was a very good selection of music this week.  Then we had our final Rote brot (Specialty of Freiburg) it is a glorified hot dog on a baguette and they are really good.  They have many vendor food trucks on the square at the market.  We ended our city tour with the best Eis (gelato) in Freiburg.  It was a fun morning and a wonderful opportunity to show off our city one last time. 

 So, it has been a whirlwind week on top of all the things we do with and for the missionaries and packing and getting things ready for the move. 

 We are looking forward to our week at the CHAD Conference for the Young Adults in Switzerland this week.  We leave early Monday and will return on Friday.  It will not be a vacation, but it will be a nice change and a little slower (I hope) than the past two weeks have been. 

 We have been asked to speak in Church next week so I have been working on a few words and my Testimony of Jesus Christ that I can share with them.  I feel like I have not learned very much German in the year we have been here, but I continue to study and learn and that is the best I can do with all of the other things we have responsibility to do.  I love the people and they know I am grateful to be here serving.  I have been humbled as I serve and just quietly do.  I have been an influence here in ways that are very different than I am used to serving and that is OK.  I am doing what I have been called to do and it has been a learning and growing experience that I will always cherish.  I needed this time of learning and growth and silent service - yes, I know that is hard to believe that I have not said very much and just listen a lot.  Russ unfortunately has to listen to me a lot and he has developed very selective hearing! :) I think hearing aids are in his future.  I have had some very special experiences as we have taught many people about the gospel of Jesus Christ and had them in our home.  Most of them are from other countries and are struggling with learning German as well and I have been able to teach and help them.  This has been very rewarding and they have found a refuge from the World when they come to our home.  I am so grateful for the home we have made here and that we have been able to invite and welcome so many. 

Viel Liebe,
The Grimmett's