Stephen and Elaine Biddulph

19 - 25 APRIL 2015

Busy week! I talked with 33 missionaries this week. Sunday we attended stake conference in Darmstadt. I hadn't been there before, but I did a map reconnaissance and plugged the address into the GPS and we made it down and back safely. The autobahn is crazy. The speeds keep changing from 80 KPH to 130 KPH. When you go 130 people still pass you as if you were standing still. One must be very watchful because people come up so fast on you. The woman's voice on the GPS in our new car has a nicer, gentler voice. The one before was rather demanding: "Turn left in 100 meters. No you dumkopf!! You missed the turnoff. Recalculating!!!"

Steigenberger Hotel where Mission Pres Conference held

Tuesday we attended a part of the mission president's conference in Bad Homburg. All 30 or more presidents and their wives were there, along with the Europe Area Presidency, Elder Bednar and his wife, the Executive Director of the Missionary Department, and Elder Neilsen of the 70s. We got to meet, for the first time, the mission presidents and wives whom we serve. Elder Bednar is doing a multi-mission training tour in Europe to train mission presidents and missionaries on proselyting in the computer age. About half of our missions are receiving IPADS in a test of the program. The mission presidents were trained first on Tuesday pertaining to the program, and the missionaries were trained today at the Frankfurt building next door to our Europe Offices. Two booklets were given to the missionaries dealing with how to use the IPAD in proselyting, including Facebook, and the second was on how to protect yourself from abuse of the internet. Elaine and I attended a part of that meeting so we could see what the challenges are going to be with missionaries using IPADS. At the Tuesday evening supper in Bad Homburg, Elder Bednar spoke on a personal basis to us, and it was

Steigenberger Hotel

sweet and very nice to be with him. We saw a side of him that one doesn't often get to see. I am amazed at the schedule and constant demands and total consecration of the general authorities; constantly on the go.
On Wednesday, the Area Medical Advisors and Mental Health Advisors drove up to Konigswinter near Bonn on the Rhein to the Schloss Drachenburg. I've included some pictures below. It was built in the 1880s by a wealthy baron. The inside woodwork is remarkable and the walls are painted with panels depicting the history of Germany and its kings and rulers. Like most all castles, it sits on a prominent hill with beautiful vistas of the Rhein. I had two major phone calls with missionaries during this trip - each took about one hour, so, I was a little preoccupied. Nevertheless, we enjoyed the trip. The countryside was beautiful.
Today, of course, was the missionary training. I also had about 8 phone calls with missionaries today. So, we came home about 4 today, changed our closes, and went for a walk through the cemetery. It is so beautiful now walking the shady pathways of the cemetery. The trees are coming our in full leaves. There are beautiful little benches to sit and listen to song birds twitter and squirrels chatter in silent peace. The weather this past 2 weeks has been remarkably clear, sunny and mild.

The Rhein, Konigswinter from Schloss Drachenburg

Saturday morning we attended a training for the Primary leaders and teachers in Offenbach. One of my presidency responsibilities is to oversee the primary program of the branch. I love to go to primary and hear the little children sing their songs in German. Next Sunday Elaine and I are teaching a 15 minute mini-class to the children on faith-the first topic of the May schedule. Sunday was regular church meetings. The stake patriarch spoke and gave a wonderful talk on patriarchal blessings and lineage. I understood every word he said because he spoke clear (klar) and distinctly (deutlich). Next Thursday we head north with the Sharpes to Koekenhof, Netherlands to see the Tulip Festival. Next week's blog should have some nice pictures. Until then, Tschuss!!!