14 - 20 DEZEMBER 2015

caroling on the Zeil

This is my last blog before Weihnachten. Today, 20 Dezember, marks our 11th month to the day since our arrival in Frankfurt. Januar 5th marks our 1 year mark auf Mission. Only six months remain. We will surely be sad to see our time in Deutschland and Europa end, but enough of looking ahead! We are enjoying every day that we have left.
     We have made a 6 month calendar and are planning places to see before it does end. We want to leave for home with no regrets, as it may be our last time here. We must get to

Two old Marines (Jim Galbraith)

Berlin in the spring to visit Stephen's old mission and see the city--once divided by the ugly wall--now resurrected in new life since the reunification of Germany in 1989. It will be great to see once again the Brandenburger Tor, Tiergarten, Gedächtnis Kirche, and other places. We would like to make a trip to Paris, or at least in that direction. Stephen wants to visit Belleau Woods (famed WWI battlefield for Marines) and other sites. Unfortunately, Normandy Beaches are outside our territory. We would like to see a few more places in Belgium, as well. We want to visit Italy (Rome) and see the temple platz, but that may have to come the final week of our mission before returning home.
     This past week Stephen has been working hard on a power point presentation on how to set and

deer decorations am Zeil

implement mission and individual goals without increasing stress. He's called it "Perfectionism 101."
So many missionaries struggle with intense stress, anxiety, and eventual depression over trying to be the perfect missionary. He was asked by the Denmark Mission President to come there and present training to the mission leadership council. However, after consulting with Elder Dyches, he decided it was not worth the trip, and he did a power point with 33 slides and a training script for the president. He sent it to him this past week. We will see how effective and well received it will be. If it turns out good, we will probably send it to all 11 mission presidents with which we work. Every mission seems to struggle with this.
   

Christmas decorations am Zeil

  Elaine has been very busy with music. In the 4th ward at home she felt useless and had no opportunity to play. Only a few get that privilege there. But here she has been in high demand. She is the music director in Offenbach and the primary pianist. She plays for our Monday weekly area devotional, the senior devotionals, the senior FHE gatherings, and she has been asked to accompany several special musical numbers. Today, she conducted sacrament meeting hymns, played for primary, and tonight she is playing for the senior devotional, as well as accompanying two special musical numbers. We are happy for these opportunities and I am so grateful for her love for and talent in music.
     This past Saturday our little Offenbach Gemeinde had a Weihnachts Fest at the church. The children put on a nativity play complete with manger, angels, shepherds, wisemen, Jesus, Joseph and Mary, and choirs of angels singing. We watched President Uchtdorf's talk at the First Presidency Christmas Devotional, and sang carols. Friday evening we went to a Thai restaurant with other couples. The company was great but the food mediocre at best.

     Last Wednesday evening we went with other seniors, young missionaries, and members of the

Zeil Frankfurt

international ward down to center of Frankfurt (am Zeil) and sang Christmas carols in the busy center. Lots of people came and listened. I met a fellow who was a social worker in Germany and we talked for awhile. I gave him a pass-along card with the Church's on-line information. Unfortunately, toward the end of our singing a drunk (totally plastered) joined our group and was singing into his bottle of beer as a microphone. He had headset earphones on and was clearly singing to different music than we were. I guess that is the way it is. We are trying to teach people of Jesus Christ, that he lives, is the Savior of the World, and that the truth is once more upon the earth through living prophets, and most people are listening to an entirely different message of the world. We love them all though, and are grateful to be on the Lord's errand.
     This evening we had a senior devotional. Elaine played for the opening and closing and for two accompaniments with duets. She did a wonderful job. We had a sister from Spain tell us about Christmas traditions in Spain and a

Oliver Antoine/Elder Biddulph

brother, Oliver Antoine, tell us about traditions in France. It was fun and amazing just how much food (especially sweet stuff) is such a huge part of the European traditions. Oliver was a missionary in Madagascar during the David and Laura Harmon era there. It was fun to make the connection.
     One more blog before 2016 is rung in. Fohliche Weihnachten to each and everyone of you.

Senior missionaries at Thai Restaurant