Week 11

Nürnberg Christmas Window

Monday evening we returned from Nürnberg having enjoyed our time with the festive spirit of Weihnachten in the air, despite having it rain while we wandered down the lines of booths. We came away having enjoyed the tantalizing flavors of Lebkuchen and Bratwurst.

We came home to get our laundry done before our week “began” on Tuesday at the temple, glad to be home again but happy to have had the experience of the trip and the chance to get better acquainted with the Chidesters. Each of the seven other missionary couples has been a wonderful addition to our lives. 

This week without family close by to make goodies for, we put little gifts together of homemade caramel dip, cheese ball, and lemon curd for our missionary neighbors. It was fun to take them around and visit with each couple.

John’s brother Ronald sent us a U-tube link to a song that really touched me with the sentiment, if not the style. It is called “Where’s the Line to see Jesus?” and tells of a little boy, seeing the lines waiting for Santa, who asked the question. It got me thinking about the real meaning of Christmas in a very nice way. Fröhliche Weihnachten is on everyone’s lips and though I know it is the German greeting that means Merry Christmas, I wanted to really understand the word better. I liked the definition when I learned that “Weihnachten” means “holy night.” How lovely. Surely it was a holy night when the Savior of the world was born.

The temple has been a little quiet this week without the big groups. There have been moments where we were busy but they were infrequent. We did enjoy a wonderful young 24-year-old from eastern Hungary who has been here for two weeks serving as an ordinance worker. He had lost his job and decided since he had a break he would use the time to serve in the temple.  Friday he gave his testimony in prayer meeting in English, with Sister Metzner translating (as she always does for me). Zoltán Szűcs patiently helped John and me with our attempts to learn some of what we do in his language. He wears a “CTR” ring which he said stands for “Current Temple Recommend” rather than the usual “Choose the Right.” Both are good reminders of what counts. We enjoyed having him come to dinner and hear about his and his mother’s conversions, his mission in Hungary, and their little branch. He left for his twelve-hour bus trip home Saturday after serving all three sessions. We will miss seeing him in the temple each day.

Christmas party with the Weihnacht Man and the Primary

Saturday was also our ward Christmas party, which began at 4:00 in the afternoon. The program included a wonderful new Christmas DVD produced by the Church that was fun to watch, even though everything was, of course, in German. It was followed by an original little Christmas production featuring the Weihnacht Man who, by the end of the program, called each family’s children up by name and gave little gifts one by one. The party ended with a wonderful buffet of goodies, hot chocolate and Kaffee (Pero), all served with china cups and plates. It gave me just a little feel for how our ancestors would have gathered in earlier years without the simplicity of paper goods. 

Winter has come with all its beauty--especially at the temple

We found it charming, but a lot of work—something that doesn’t seem to be an obstacle to those who so willingly serve here. When we came out of the church to walk back to our apartment it was snowing and the lights shining on the temple reflected a cross in the snowy sky, with the Angel Moroni emblazoned in the clouds.

Kymora's First Christmas. She looks the part!

John and I have enjoyed working on our Laing research, trying to grapple with the voluminous numbers of documents that Hugh Laing, our Ontario cousin, has electronically sent us. It is our goal to make some real headway in our “spare” time, which isn’t too plentiful. But we are doing our best and making a little dent. It seems to us that Hugh has been inspired, though not understanding himself where this drive to find and share this information with us comes from. We are grateful for what he has done and is doing for all of us.

 We are also grateful to our daughter for her sending us wonderful pictures of her little brood in their Christmas dress up. 

May you have a wonderful week ahead in preparation for the “Holy Night” to come next Saturday.

Be safe and know that we love you all, think of you often, and pray God’s choicest blessings upon you.