BAPTISM BY FIRE

This week has been a true baptism by fire for us. Our work in the Area Offices with mental health is going well. Elaine and I have stayed busy calling and counseling with missionaries. I typically get to the office just after 7 a.m. and read the scriptures and spiritually prepare for counseling. My first appointments are typically at 8 a.m. and I stay pretty busy throughout the day. Two sisters from the Paris France mission had to go home for emotional instability and one elder from Denmark because of Mono. Another is leaving Monday for belated confession. I spent 45 minutes on the phone with him preparing him to return home with honor, complete the repentance process with dignity and joy, and return to the field. Two or three others are doing well enough that I've scheduled them every 3-4 weeks instead of weekly. I've been doing a little counseling with one of the single senior missionary sisters who is a mental health counselor, helping her work through some of her cases. However, the true challenge has come with our assignments in the Offenbach branch. The branch president didn't waste any time throwing me into the fire. I have been given assignments to oversee the primary (Primarvereinigung), the ward mission effort (huge-the branch has 250 members and 50 active, although we had 60 there today), and organizing sacrament meetings. I am conducting the meetings this February (auf Deutsch) and did my first one this morning. I must have been somewhat coherent as people raised their hand when I asked for sustaining votes. Elaine was sustained today as the pianist for Primary--just what she wanted. She played the piano for them today and I attended to get acquainted with the leaders and childen. The Germans speak so quickly that it has been difficult for my old brain to pick up all that they say. So many words I don't remember or know. But with reading and listening, the Sprache is beginning to slow down, and today I understood much better than I did the first Sunday. Yesterday we went with another senior couple to Heidelberg on the Rhein. It turned out to be a sunny, beautiful day, and Heidelberg was just as I remembered it from many years ago. Elaine discovered a Lindt Chocolate store in Heidelberg. We went in and I thought she was going to scream or pass out. I've never seen so many different wrapped balls of chocolate. I drove to church today using only the GPS. I missed one turn-off and the recalculation took us on a circuitous route though the city. After church we went over to the branch presidents home for dinner. They are such a great family--so faithful. They and their relatives hold about every major position in the branch except priesthood leadership. I've included some photos of our apartment and Heidelberg trip.\

Heidelberg und Rhein Fluss

Old ornate building

Building along the Rhein

Elder and Sister Biddulph Heidelberg Schloss

Haupt Stasse Heidelberg

Heidelberg Schloss (Castle)

Stadthalle (city hall)

Town Centre Heidelberg

part of castle destroyed in French war

Frankfurter stake center and Europe Area Office Bldg.

Our Narrow Bathroom

Entry way Porthstrasse 7/4

living room and table

Tiny Kitchen

Living room

Office/2nd bedroom