July 21-27, 2019 Fiesch Switzerland YSA Conference

We just returned home to Freiburg after a memorable week in Fiesch Switzerland.  It is located on the Switzerland Italian border high in the Swiss Alpes.  We had to go over Grimselpass and we were truly on top of the mountain peak.

 Sorry for so many pictures, but it was beautiful.  The pictures cannot begin to tell the beauty and I could not take good pictures as we were driving.  The area over the Grimselpass is know for the green rock formations.  We were above timber line at this point.  Water falls cover the mountainsides and in this area the water runs into two large lakes that are dammed and used for hydro electric power.  The color of the water is green from the color of the rocks and the very cold mountain water.

 There is a big difference in this water and the lake at the top of the post.  The deep blue water is in the valley out of the mountains and is breathtaking to see as you come off of the mountain and see it.  You can see the water coming out of the rocks and into the lake. 

 This is looking down at the lower dam. 

There is a distinct architecture in this area of Switzerland.  Every village and town has all of their buildings and homes made out of this dark brown wood.  It is very old and in this area mostly used for winter sports visitors.

local building with rock foundation

Many of homes are built like the one on the left with a post and large flat rock and then the house built on top.  There is a large space between the foundation and the actual house.

We went even higher on one mountain and we were literally on the peak that was very narrow and very rocky.  We tried to hike a trail to the top of a smaller peak but it was too high, narrow and way scary so we turned back and just enjoyed watching the younger climbers make it.  The picture on the right is the trail of rocks we attempted to climb.  This area looked down on the largest glacier of the Alps.  It is also a place they call an "energy spot."  I will show you pictures below. 

It was at this spot we decided to stop and just watch the climbers.  We were high enough and could still breath!

 They say, this energy spot is ideal for perceiving everything that surrounds you, from the view into the valley, across the rocky landscape on the Eggishorn (this mountain) to the gleaming mountain peaks and the breathtaking Aletsch panorama.  A balanced, slightly uplifting spot, with a very pleasant energy.  A spot to enjoy, in tune with the element of water.  here the forces flow in all directions; the flows of energy can be clearly felt.  They tell you to stand in the stone sculpture and enjoy it!

Me standing the the stone sculpture and feeling the positive energy. It said to be aware of the earth.  Imagine that you are putting down roots.  Let the feeling flow through your body.  Now be aware of of the heavens above and consciously strive to feel the flows from above.  Fun to feel the nature.

The World's biggest square
Konkordiaplatz is the meeting point of the glaciers knkown as the Grosse Aletschfirn, the Jungfraufirn, the Ewigschneefeld and the smaller Gruneggfirn, where they form a plateau of ice 86 km2 in size and 900 m thick.  Where glaciers meet, their lateral moraines merge into a central moraine visible as dark longitudinal stripes.  The Great Aletsch Glacier actually has two central moraines below Konkordiaplatz, the Kranzberg moraine to the west and the Trugberg moraine to the east.

They had hikes to walk on the glacier but they were filled up by the young adults and so we did not get to climb on the actual glacier.  We saw it from above.

 This is the bird's eye view of the Matterhorn.  Below is the big picture of the Matterhorn on a clear day.  Most days there is a haze that makes it difficult to get pictures.  It is amazing to be on the back side of all of these famous mountains and see them all in one place.  We saw the Matterhorn, Jungfrau and Eiger as well as many others.

This is the back side of the Eiger and the Jungfrau.

Looking from the top back to the other side of the mountain to the area we were staying in at the Fiesch Sport Park.
The creations of the earth are stunning.  There is a God and His majesty and power are shown to us in so many ways.

 You cannot be in the Alps without an Alphorn lesson.  They offered lessons for two of the days and it was entertaining to watch them learn.  Russ figured he would try bringing back memories of his trombone days.  He actually did pretty good and at least got some sound out of it with a little tune.  They are beautiful when played together and literally fill the mountains with wonderful sounds.

Bldg. 5 

 We began our week helping with check-in of 200 Young Single Adults to the CHAD Conference.  It was a wonderful assignment as we got to meet the kids as they arrived and we met all of the YSA from Vienna who attended.  We were able to learn where they were all from and to see who needed a friend and who came in groups of friends.  By the end of the conference, they had all made new friends and we were some of their friends.  This picture of the church and little city was the view from our room window.  We love the churches in every town and the landmarks they have become. 

 It was fun to learn some of the games they played.  Some games we were never able to figure out.  They said you had to play it to really understand it. 

The theme of the conference was CHANGING TO THE BETTER.
We had wonderful speakers from Pres. Auras, the Munich Stake President, Pres. and Sister Brown our Mission President, Bruce and Marie Hafen former President of BYU-I, dean of BYU law school and General Authority Seventy for the Church, and The Area Seventy Presidency member and his wife (don't know how to spell their names) he is the head of the Cardiac Unit of a large hospital in Northern Germany.  It was a powerful group of speakers and we learned to much.  This was one of the highlights of being at the conference.  Every day was filled with learning and being blessed with the Spirit to help us be better in our lives.

 The people we met made it an amazing week.  These pictures are from their dressy night.  They had so much fun and danced the night away.

 The photo booth closed down and they wanted their pictures taken so I filled in.  The Camp site director was really impressed with our young people.  It is a very large Sport Camp facility and there were several other groups there for camps.  They asked if we had Church on Wednesday with the kids all dressed up.  We said, no just a special dance and party.  They could not believe what a sharp group of young people we had.  She asked to know more about the Church. 

 Some of the adult leaders and volunteers checked in on the dance to see the fun.  The Photo booth was closing down and they gave us all props and wanted us to pose for a picture.  This is a crazy picture with wonderful people that we are so glad to have me and served with. 

Pres. and Sister Brown were one of the highlights of the Conference.  They are wonderful speakers.  The spoke on Making Difficult Decisions and Recognizing Answers you receive from God.  "Is it my thoughts or the Holy Ghost?"  Everything that invites good is of God - we ought to do it!!!
What brings more light into our lives? It is not money, possessions, fame, or honors.  Inviting the Holy Ghost into our lives takes the Light within us from the brightness of a flashlight to a floodlight.  Pres. Brown says the best way we can bring more light is "To Be Kind and To Love Others."  Sister Brown shared her conversion story when she was 17 years old and Pres. Brown ended with singing a song.  It was so powerful and he has an amazing voice.  I don't think there was a dry eye in the audience.  So blessed to have them as our Mission President.

 Thursday night we filled 265 balloons with helium for a release.  They had a testimony meeting and then wrote a note and attached it to our glowing balloons.  They came and each got one and then they sang, I Am A Child of God and released them into the night sky.  It was beautiful and we had a wonderful night of weather. 

 The Conference ended with everyone singing the National anthems of Germany, Austria and Switzerland.  It was wonderful to hear and to see and hear their love of their countries and also be unified as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints from many countries.

We had a nice drive home on Friday, sad to leave the beauty of the Alps and to return one last time to Freiburg.  We arrived to the hottest day of the year and this picture shows people with their feet in the bechle's in the city trying to cool off.

We attended our last organ concert in the Munster today.  We will really miss this Saturday morning activity.  We love being in the City Center among all of the people and the many vendors at the open air market. 
Our Bishop hosted a bar-b-que on Saturday evening for anyone to come and tell us good-bye.  I do not like good-bye's and like the German word auf wiedersehen (till we meet again) much better.  We will be seeing Elder Letort off at the train station on Tuesday.  He is from France and his grandparents live about 1 hr. away.  We are all speaking in Church on Sunday and he invited his grandparents to come and hear him speak.  He asked if I would have them over for lunch.  So, trying to clean out the fridge and get rid of food, I have been busy cooking today for Sunday guests and Monday District Council.  Pray for me to get all that needs to be done in the next four days accomplished. 
The adventure continues.  Looking forward to a great travel week and our overnight stay in a real castle.

Viel Liebe,
The Grimmett's