Week 10

We have had a delightful week and hope you did as well. Ours ended with a quick trip to Nürnberg—from where I am writing this entry. We drove down after the temple closed Saturday afternoon with Lynn and Jim Chidester, fellow temple missionaries, who used to live here and wanted to revisit the annual Christkindlmarkt.

Der Gasthof Bub

We arrived about 8:00 pm and checked into our pension, Gasthof Bub, in Zirndorf, a nearby suburb village, with its half-timbered exterior and interior walls and fun old rooms. The Chidesters have stayed  here several times and we could quickly see why they love it. We enjoyed a good dinner in the hotel pub before turning in under our down covers for a much needed rest.

Nürnberg Castle

This morning we attended the Nürnberg Ward in town and then explored the castle environs that sit above the city, stopping at a little restaurent just outside the castle entrance for kerbis (pumpkin) soup and Johannisbeersaft (currant juice). It was a delightful setting for lunch, though truth be told, my recently discovered kerbis soup recipe is much better (it follows below). It is one of the best discoveries I have made since being in Germany.

Nürnberg from above the city

Our next stop was  to wander the Christkindlmarkt mixing with the crowds of fellow visitors. We didn’t go to shop (that is for tomorrow morning!) but just to enjoy being there and seeing, hearing, and tasting the spirit of Weihnachten.   

We came back tired from our walk and went to dinner at another old Gasthaus just a few meters from our pension, before coming back to make phone calls to John’s dad, who’s precarious health is declining quickly, and to check in with Patrick to catch up on his world, before he left for church.

Despite our concern for Pop Laing, it has been a nice week and we can’t but hope he be given a special gift of being able to “go home“ for Christmas. He has certainly endured well the challenges of mortality.

Famous Nürnberg Christkindlmarkt

Nürnberg--home of fresh yummy Lebkuchen, tons of it.

Earlier this  week we experienced the Polish saints who arrived Monday night for a week at the temple. They came with youth and adults, some 60 in number. Several of them were set apart as new ordinance workers so John and I had our work cut out for us to prepare the daily plan for the work to be done and to begin training. It was delightful to work with each person, particularly since a number of them speak a little English, which made our job much easier!

Wednesday evening our Relief Society put on a marvelous evening of music, good food, and wonderful warmth. The committee had hauled in a dozen live pine trees, projected images of winter and snow on the wall, and welcomed us with hot winter punch as we arrived. The American missionaries sang "Chestnuts Roasting" for our part. Even the Polish sisters who were staying at the temple were included and welcomed with a Polish carol and genuine outreach. 

 

One important part of my week was working with Sven Apel (the youngest son of our former temple president) to redesign a scheduling program to get the sisters’  plan more automated for the computer. He came to the temple Thursday morning and spent several hours with us getting things started and then I met again with him on Friday evening at his home. He is married to a cute little blonde from Texas and they have three or four children. Sven is a delightful person who has been wonderfully willing to help us out. Hopefully by the time I get back to Freiberg he will have it ready to test run with the schedules this week.

Two different things touched my heart this weekend:

The first was when all of the missionaries were invited to an open house of a couple in our ward, the Teubners, this coming Monday evening but when Sis Teubner’s husband was hospitalized, the open house was called off.

We were so sorry to hear of their troubles. Then mid week, just after we returned home from the temple we had a knock at our door and opening it found all the missionaries in the hallway with dear Sis Teubner and her Saint Nicholas bag, handing out well-stuffed Christmas stockings to all the missionaries—they were to have been her gifts to us at the party that was cancelled. What an example of thoughtfulness. In the midst of her own troubles, she was still thinking of how to lift and cheer others.   

Second, I received a forwarded email from my sister this week, encouraging this Sunday to be set aside as a day of prayer and fasting. Whatever one’s political bent may be, we liked what was promoted. The notice read:

December 15^th marks the 220^th anniversary of the ratification of the Bill of Rights.  Since the first ten amendments to the Constitution, known as the Bill of Rights, have enumerated and helped preserve certain rights granted to all people by God, the Independent American Party calls for a national day of Prayer and Thanksgiving in recognition of the sacrifices of the Founders of our Nation. This weekend, December 10^th & 11^th, let us all give thanks to God who has given us our Freedom and express prayers for the continuation of the Freedom of our nation.  Let us pray specifically for some of the following:

1. For the safety of those in the armed services.

2. That our legislators, both state and national, will work to preserve and restore our Freedom.

3. That our people will turn from ungodly ways and follow and keep the commandments of God.

4. That the forces of evil, wherever they may be, may lose their financial, media, and political support.

5. That our nation may be protected from danger, both from without and within.

6. That the United States of America may become a beacon of Freedom, which shines to all of the world.  That all nations may desire to follow the path to Freedom and that Freedom may spread to all mankind.

7. Remember to give thanks for the blessings of Liberty, the Spirit of Freedom that is moving in mighty power among the people of our land, and for those who are standing forth in defense of those Freedoms.  Ask God’s blessings on all those who serve the cause of Freedom.

            The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man (or woman) availeth much.   James 5:16

This weekend let us join with patriots everywhere and raise our voices to the God of Heaven on behalf of our country.  If we will do this, the promise in Second Chronicles will be available to us.

            If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.     2 Chronicles 7:14

Whether or not you participated in this Sunday’s focus on prayer, I hope we may all seek heaven’s help in preserving our nation.

We continue to be grateful for the many blessings we have been so richly blessed with, among them our wonderful friends and family and our nation and its freedoms.

May your week ahead be full of joy and a recognition of the blessings you receive.

Kerbis (Pumpkin) Soup, to die for:

2 tablespoons butter

1 onion, diced

2 carrots, peeled and diced

1 apple, peeled and diced

2 cups fresh pumpkin, roasted and diced, see note below (Perhaps canned pumpkin would work but I have only used fresh.)

1 tablespoon sage or herbs de provence (I used the latter) 

3 cups chicken stock

1 cup cream

Salt & freshly ground black pepper

Directions

1. In a stockpot over medium heat, melt butter and saute onion, carrot, apple, roasted pumpkin, and sage until all are tender, about 8 to 10 minutes.

2. Puree the mixture in a food mill; if you do not have a food mill, then puree in a food processor or blender. Return the puree to the stockpot, add the chicken stock and simmer for 15 minutes.

3. Then add the cream and simmer for 5 more minutes, lowering the heat if necessary so it does not boil. Season, to taste, with salt and pepper.

4. Divide soup among 4 soup bowls and serve immediately. (If you desire to, dribble with kerbis oil for artistic effect and flavor).

Note: To roast pumpkin, preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Cut whole pumpkin in half and then cut each half into several pieces. Discard seeds or reserve for another use. Place pumpkin on a baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, and season with salt and pepper. Roast in oven until tender but not falling apart, about 30 to 40 minutes. Let cool, peel away skin, and dice.

 

Enjoy a wonderful week!