Week 18

John working with Sis Metzner--assistant to the matron--on German nuances

We are well into February as this week ends and have been busy in our assignments despite both of us struggling with health issues. John was hit with low back muscle spasms that set in Wednesday evening making it next to impossible to stand up on his own. Such days have made us very grateful for the simple things, like putting on one's own shoes, that we too often take for granted.

We have had a lot of use from our massage table as I have done reflexology on John’s sciatic nerve each night and again each morning. We are very grateful for the different things we have learned that help keep us moving forward and found opportunity to laugh a lot at our technique of getting him dressed in the morning since he has been unable to bend without setting off painful spasms. I worked out a clever mostmostechnique of putting on garments bottoms, socks, trousers, and shoes all on in one bunch before trying to have him stand up and pull everything up into its proper place.

He has courageously gone each day to the temple, walking by faith and he has been blessed. He gave his training to the brethren from a chair and then trained new workers, hobbling with their help to the recommend desk or other places they needed to learn. Once he was seated at his desk to work on our training guide project he did quite well for an hour or two—while I did my work before taking him home.  We felt very blessed to have gotten through a day when it would have been much easier to stay home. Each day has brought new adventures in learning to cope. By tonight, Sunday evening, he is doing well enough to stand up on his own! That’s progress.

Dr. Kleinert--House Call!

Two particularly bright lights in our week have been the kindness of those around us. We had called a medical supply place to see if we could buy a back brace to give John some additional support only to discover that such a purchase required a prescription! Nearly everything does. Dr. Klinert, a member of our ward, is our man to go to whenever the missionaries run into a health issue. He is the epitome of a consecrated life. He doesn’t just write the prescription—he also pays for them—and delivers it to you. If you thought the days of house calls had ended, you haven’t encountered Dr. Klinert!  When John called, he said he was coming by to check on him and within the hour he was there with his bright smile, silly jokes, and unending willingness to help.  On another occasion John asked if it were possible for us to arrange through him to have some of his drug sent from NIH to Germany. (Germany is notorious for blocking anything like that from entering.) Dr. Klinert said it would be too much trouble to try to ship it in and instead just gave me a prescription to pick up at the Apothecary. Out of curiosity I checked it out to see what it would cost in Germany but had no intention of having it filled, knowing that Dr. Klinert had an understanding to have the bills sent to him. The cost for 100 pills was  over 500 Euros.  I took the prescription back and said thanks for the information and left. The following Sunday, Dr. Klinert handed John a packet with the 100 pills I had refused to pick up! What an example of freely giving.

I had my own hurtle to overcome this week by contracting a rotten cold that left me with no ambition to do anything but sleep. I was glad to come home with John and crawl into a warm bed. In the Herberg is one handicapped bathroom with a deep wonderful tub. Because of John’s back problem we were given a key to use it. We stayed home from the temple Friday evening and I headed for the tub with my cold, leaving John to rest at the apartment. After a long hot soak I was just ready to climb out when there was a knock on the door. Scrambling into my robe, I opened the door to find Sister Husz, our matron, there with an orange wool blanket and the instructions to wrap up in it and get some extra rest. She had been at the temple all day long and had come on her errand of mercy to succor the sick and afflicted. She and President have both been wonderful to John and me.

John still at work, despite muscle spasms!

It doesn’t sound as if we could have been too productive for the week, but we have actually made good headway on our training guide. John doesn’t seem to ever go anywhere without his being enlisted to write, edit, and perfect materials, so we are up to our ears in writing each day and are enjoying being able to work together.

Happy Birthday to Xavius!

We were delighted to hear from Chi and David and enjoyed seeing the pictures of  Xavius’s birthday event this past week. What a boy. Two years old with a head full of curls and an unstoppable personality.

Our genealogical project is moving forward, step-by-step. We are getting faster at cataloging and entering documents. I am so impressed with John’s skill in putting a plan together that works well.  We are enjoying getting acquainted with many of these ancestors that were here-to-fore just names. If that.

Have a wonderful week.