This week we had a companionship of Elders over for dinner. Mom said she finally felt like she could cook a meal for others. It was a sweet experience to welcome Elders Hamilton, Bentke and Ault. It had been a long and tiring day, but sharing missionary experiences, testimonies and joys lifted our hearts.
Dad drove out to the airport on Thursday (a somewhat harrowing experience with road construction and a GPS that doesn't say to turn until it's too late!) so Elder and Sister Rueckert could return home after serving for 2 1/2 years. They were the Area Self-Reliance Specialists and have seventeen children who were waiting for them. One of the joys of serving here is the remarkable people with whom we serve. They all have interesting stories, great capacity and amazing experience. We are better for knowing them.
We had the Area Humanitarian Committee (AHC) meeting and reviewed many new projects. Every two weeks we meet with the Area Welfare Manager and make decisions about project work. So much good is going forward with projects in educating the marginalized, building communities and leaders to help local people find local solutions to problems, training to help and integrate the disabled, screening for eye disease, helping the blind to become more self reliant and to read, helping the homeless, orphans and widows, and providing training in gardening and food preservation to feed the hungry. We are touched each month as we hear of the work of charity organizations, small and large, who work with LDS Charities to relieve suffering. We have a much better idea of what the couples in the field go through to find good partners and develop each project. They work hard on these projects and sometimes the development of their projects is filled with little miracles that led them to discover the work that was needed to help the poor. We love hearing about those little miracles.
We are monitoring the flooding in Greece and will partner with the Red Cross and/or other international organizations in a relief effort if things get worse.
Dad's least favorite part of the week was starting the expense report. He said it took about 2 hours to get the receipts mounted, labeled and ready to scan. He probably only has another hour and a half left and he'll be up to date on expenses. Oh wait, it's a new week!
Yesterday (Saturday) we took time to go downtown Frankfurt and walk the Zeil. The Zeil is an outdoor shopping street that is only open for pedestrians and bicycles. We took the U-Bahn 5 train from our apartment right to the Zeil. It was only a 10 minute ride and we were there.
Sister Lindsay waiting for the train to the Zeil on this windy winter day.
Here comes our train.
We walked up the stairs from the underground U-Bahn stop at Konstablerwache and here we are at the farmer's market on the Zeil. There were stands with fruits, vegetables, meats, bratwurst, flowers and more. This is a picture of a mushroom stand. When we walked by it on the way home all of the mushrooms were sold.
This dog is intensely watching the butcher. I watched this dog for several minutes and he never moved until the meat was handed to his owner. One happy, hungry dog on the way home.
Fruit and vegetable stands lined the aisles.
Next we moved from the farmer's market area to the main street of the Zeil. It is about 50 meters wide and both sides of the street are lined with stores and more malls with more stores. Can you see grandma in the picture?
People were selling balloons and foods. Some people were playing instruments and singing for money contributions from the passing crowds.
Skyscraper at one end of the Zeil. A new 5 Guys burger place is coming soon to the Zeil near this spot. There are lots of beautiful stores with clothes, shoes, electronics, jewelry, restaurants and anything you want. There were beautiful department stores and small shops.
We bought some fruit and each got a bratwurst with lots of mustard on the way out. We went down the stairs and back on the U-Bahn 5 train and 10 minutes later we got off and walked a block to our apartment.
Our First Christmas Tree in Germany
We assembled this little plastic Christmas tree that we found in the keller. The lights and decorations were left for us by a couple that served before us--a Christmas gift the keeps on giving. "O Tannenbaum" came to mind as we were decorating the tree.
Grandma found a few new Christmas things in the keller (basement/seller) that departing couples have left behind for other couples to use.
We've got to have a poinsettia for Christmas. Grandma especially liked this pink one that she saw at a garden shop where she had a luncheon with other sisters as they bid farewell to a fellow missionary.
The tree brought us the sweet comfort and joy of the season. We'll gladly give this tree to a family that needs it more than we do if our Bishop has a family who can use it. It was fun to set it up and decorate it.
Our living room
View from the other side of the room..
We had a visit from a special friend... no, not Santa. Our neighbor, Cliff Montagnoli traveled here for work and often visits our ward when he is in Frankfurt. We met up with him at church and had him over to our apartment for lunch before he was off to catch his train to Berlin. Grandma made a great dinner and apple crisp and ice cream for dessert. We appreciate Cliff. He was so kind and brought a few things from home for us.
Thanks again, Cliff.
We're looking forward to a special Thanksgiving dinner with our fellow missionaries this week. Grandma is helping with the meal and making salad for 80-90 people. We went to the "Metro" store (like a Costco, sort of) and got our membership last week. Now we can go back there and get the big bags of cut lettuce that she will need for all those salads.
We give thanks for the blessing of the gospel of Jesus Christ in our lives and each of you, our eternal family. Happy Thanksgiving!
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