Finally, we're all together again. A few had already left and a few hadn't yet arrived, but this is almost all of us. The pot of stew I made fed about 25, not quite enough. They were so happy to be together, they are so loud when they are happy, they are such a great support system for each other, and they are always taking care of each other. Such great examples of love and acceptance. We're off to a great school year!

After a great week of running Rob and Sienna around Germany and having their help with the activities that we are involved in we put them on their plane exhausted! (Them and us!) We are so glad they were able to come and see what we do!!

In our 5-hour fast tour of Berlin we saw the Brandenburg Gate, the Holocaust Memorial and Museum, Checkpoint Charlie, a few government buildings and many very impressive statues. Our friend and tour guide, Anne, did a great job of showing us what we wanted to see and she knew the subway and bus systems like she grew up in Berlin. After a good night's rest we got to see President Monson in the International Convention Center. And we got to do it all with Rob and Sienna!!

Just wanted to share this beautiful view down the path at Wartburg Castle in Eisenach. It was a rainy day but we had fun with Rob and Sienna anyway!

What a great week - checked more apts (the missionaries are such amazing people); some of these apartments were in cities where Duane served 42 years ago. We found one of his apartments and this fountain where he had his picture taken as a young missionary (same pose). We ended the week in Friedrichsdorf with the Senior Missionaries in the Frankfurt Mission. It was wonderful sharing experiences and testimonies with each other. We work, we play - all so rewarding!!



We meet with our District once a week.Such a fabulous group of hard workers. We celebrate with members. We give treats to clean apartments (Clean Fairies). We check 11 apartments every 6 weeks. They actually thank us for helping them learn how to clean. We eat at different restaurants as often as we can. We feed Elders when we go to visit. We explore little dorfs and cemeteries. In short - we eat, we feed,we meet, we teach, we investigate, we celebrate. What an adventure!! 

 

 

We must have had a busy week because we don't have many pictures. I've been working on a quilt for our next baby - I have a great sewing machine but it is tempermental, doesn't like to sew in straight lines and must like to hear me threaten its life every time the thread breaks. So, I gave up on matching seams of little pieces and started over again with a bigger, easier pattern.
We had a crazy match of ping pong one night and a week-long Fall Fest (similar to Sausage Fest in Richland) only there is no Bier Garten (it's everywhere). It was so fun to sit and people watch while we ate Currywuerst mit pommes. We don't know why all the celebrating but there have been fireworks most nights, a carnival and activities everywhere - what a fun place to be!