Feb. 24-29, 2020 Leap Year and Transfer Week

Wow! That was a fast week.  We even had an extra day in February and it still went too fast.  We just began our last transfer period - in missionary lingo that means we only have one more transfer and then we return home.  So much to see and do - it is a little overwhelming.

 BREAK THE DAM DISTRICT- District name that means push forward with all our heart, might, mind and strength to serve the Lord.
This is (was) our District for the past 6 weeks.  The chairs show how many transfers they have been serving.  We are the next ones to return home.  They have a lot of fun making this picture at the last District Council of the transfer.  The real group is below in their fun picture.  We will really miss this group.  We have grown to love each one of them as we have served with them and had them in our home.  We will welcome 4 new missionaries out of the group of 10.  It was a big transfer for our group.

 We have lunch together after the meeting and they all take turns preparing the lunch.  One of the favorite meals in this mission is to eat at a Donor Kebap shop.  They all find their favorite one and eat their regularly.  It is very filling and very inexpensive.  Cheaper than a McDonald's hamburger and way more healthy.  So, we decided to treat them at the end of our meeting.

Elders Coleman and Cooper

Shop owner with meat on skewer

We all (12 of us) took the street car and went to their favorite IKRA.  The owner has been really good to the missionaries.  He was so nice when we all converged on his shop.  This is a small 3 table shop that mostly you order and go.  He was so excited to have it filled to capacity along with his regular customers.  He asked if we were their Boss'?  He went and brought Russ and I a free drink.  He asked if he could take a picture of the whole group with the menu in the background for Instagram.  It was so fun.  The food was also very good and we fed all 12 of us for 38 Euro - now that is a deal!

Elder Olson

 Wednesday was a sad day of Transfers. These pictures are more for us as a memory, but these are all of the missionaries we said good-bye to.  One of our Zone Leaders, our District Leader, one of the English Class Instructors and others. 

 Elder Olson helped launch the English Class and it is thriving.  We had 22 people at class tonight.  It is one of the highlights of our week.  We have met so many wonderful people from around the world.  We have made friends and they are so happy to be learning English in such a wonderful place.  There are some really touching stories and even those who have left their countries for a better life are not free from some of the turmoil or cultural laws.  We will really miss Elder Olson and know he will continue to make a difference in his new assignment.  Elder Koch from Denmark

was our Zone Leader and he is off to Stuttgart Germany.  Oh how we love our Danish missionary.  So grateful for his leadership and friendship.
We met Elder Bennett when he first arrived in the mission in Switzerland inspecting his apartment.  It was wonderful to serve with him in our District.  He is from Minnesota and we enjoyed sharing stories.  He worked really hard to convert Russ to European skinny pants and pointed toe shoes.  

 Sis. Clark served her first two transfers here and we really enjoyed getting to know her.  She is off to Switzerland and will have a wonderful experience there.

Elder Coleman is from Idaho Falls, Idaho.  We love our Idaho missionaries.  He comes from a family of 14 and was a really hard worker.  He was trained well and he loved to cook and learn new recipes from me.  He loves Family History and taught many people how to start their family connections.  

 Our District leader, Elder Cooper - well his real name is Cooper Vickers.  His last name is not a good word in the German language so they have him go by his first name so he goes by Elder Cooper.  He is from Nebraska and is a wonderful young man.  He joined the Church when he was 14 years old and he has studied and learned so much about the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  He has a wonderful testimony and a desire to serve. 

 We thought we would end our mission with Elder Janousek from the Czech Republic.  He had just been transferred to Vienna last Saturday and was planning to be here for the next two transfers before he completes his mission.  We started with him and served for 9 months in Freiburg.   We thought it was really awesome that we would also end our mission with him.  On Tuesday morning he got an unexpected transfer to Switzerland to serve with Elder Cooper (above) as Zone Leaders.  So we lost two missionaries that were not in the original transfer list.  It just was not to be. 

Thursday we met most of the new missionaries and the work goes on.  I made homemade bread for the English class and they loved it.  They could not believe it was fresh made just for them.  It is always a good conversation starter as we talk about the different foods I make.  Our new Instructors are going to be great and the students already are liking them. 

The Corona Virus has caused some concern and is affecting several things here in Europe.  It is also flu season everywhere and we have had some sick missionaries to help with.  I made chicken noodle soup and we are trying to make them comfortable.  We moved all of the sick ones to one apartment so their companions don't get sick and can continue working.  We did not get much of a P-Day today as we took care of all of their needs.  The good thing was I got to spend a few hours with Sis. Bittner while we waited for the Sisters she would be working with for the next few days. We made a Chocolate Cream pie for my dinner on Sunday and had a great time together.  We will have to save her a piece since other missionaries are coming for dinner. 
There is a great excitement in Vienna right now with the Missionary work.  We have Insta-gram ads being made about each of our missionaries and they are getting a great response.  We had a film crew here today filming our English Class for new ads that will come out for our new class starting in April.  It is amazing to see new technology and the good that can come from it.  It is way out of our league - but for the younger generations it is their way of life.

It has been an interesting week with funny things happening.  I have had two people yell at me and I have no idea why. It was in German and I couldn't understand them, so at least I didn't say anything back.   We had someone pull the emergency switch on a train just to be mean and it immediately stopped and then we had to wait for it to be taken care of.  When you are in the underground and those things happen it gives you an uneasy feeling.  The next night we were coming home and we were on the last tram and it stopped and they said there was a problem further down the line and we would all have to get off because it could not finish the route - so we walked the rest of the way home.  We had a man tell us we were crazy because we believed in Jesus Christ.  We walked out of our door to go help the sick missionaries and there were 3 police cars outside the door and parked in our driveway so we had to just sit and wait for them to put people in their car and leave.  We thought maybe there was a full moon because of all the craziness, but that was not the case.  Maybe just the Winter blues. 

We still do not have a replacement for our assignment in Vienna.  It is one of the best assignments you could ever have if you enjoy Young Adults, Missionaries, amazing cultural experiences, great food, beautiful scenery and a simplified life.  We can't believe there is not a waiting list for people to come here.  Yes, I am advertising again - but the assignment is open and ready for someone to come.
We are looking forward to Spring.  They say Vienna is beautiful with lots of Cherry blossoms in March.  I love Spring and look forward to experiencing it here.  We love what we are doing and especially the people we have met.  Our lives have been so blessed and enriched by everyone we have met.
Viel Liebe,
The Grimmett's