Week 49

Monday, together with three other missionary couples, we took a bus outing to Seiffen. We have long wanted to go back, after our aborted anniversary trip last June when we came home with the flu.

Awaiting the bus for Seiffen

We had a grand time down on the bus, laughing and sharing stories along the way as we rode through wonderful scenery of green fields, forests, and tiny German villages along our way.

A fun outing together

Seiffen is a wonderful old health town (Kurort) tucked right above the Czech border in the Erzgebirge Mountains. It is famous for its wonderful hand carved wood works and for its marvelous old hexagonal church.

The beautiful old Seiffen Kirche

We have come to know that church from many works of art we have seen but to actually see it in person was a real thrill for us. I love the charming cemetery to the side of the church, so typical of Europe with its garden plots so beautifully tended by loved ones.

Seiffen cemetery--I love this ongoing attention to someone who has gone before.

We returned home in good time to finish up our preparations for beginning our temple week on Tuesday—an Allegemeine Woche (a week in the temple not designated for any particular group, country, or mission). By Thursday, however, we received a good-sized group of Czechs who came and stayed through Saturday, attending every session offered.

Tuesday first thing we also met the one to become the new first counselor and his wife, Elder and Sister Koch, here from Switzerland, who came for their week of observation and training. They, as the Suckows, will arrive to begin their missions, on September 25. We liked them both very much, though their English—particularly hers—is pretty limited. She is anxious to learn more and we will work together closely communicating the best we can. John and I are grateful for the new folks coming to replace those leaving.

It always strikes me with wonder at the smoothness of transition in Church responsibilities as one is released and leaves and another comes to fill their shoes.

Wednesday marked the 89th birthday of John's mom, Grace Scott Laing. We called and spoke with her briefly to let her know that we love her and were thinking of her. John had written a wonderful birthday letter to her which Becca had read her. She has not been eating or drinking for a few days and we don't know how long she will be here. No doubt Pop is anxious for her to join him.

Mom Laing, now 89, with Paul's family

Addendum: We received a phone call early Monday morning letting us know that Mom Laing passed away at 4:22 pm--one month to the day after her beloved husband. They are without doubt celebrating being together again after this brief separation, now to begin their eternal lives together. Rebecca reported that Mom went through these final stages of mortality step by step in hours that Pop took weeks to go through. Certainly his delaying was a desire not to leave her and her speed was a desire to rejoin him! We had phoned to have our love conveyed to her just two hours before she slipped into eternity. We are so grateful for our knowledge of the Plan of Salvation that allows us to rejoice at this time rather than to sorrow.

This has indeed been a week of endings with Pres. and Sis Metzner (1^st counselor and assistant) finishing their service on Saturday and the Harpers (2^nd counselor and assistant) following suit next Saturday. How we will miss the Metzners. Gisela is sunshine and love personified and Rolf is constant in service and friendship. We are glad to keep the Harpers for one more week.

Rolf and Gisela Metzner, returning to Darmstadt

 Thursday night we celebrated and thanked both couples at a combined Abschied dinner with all the missionaries. Jim Chidester, at the request of the president, had made use of old slate shingles from off the temple (the East Germans never get rid of anything!) to make etched plaques showing the temple and pictures of their presidency. It was a lovely event.

Bruce and Jean Harper, returning to Cottonwood Heights, Utah

Friday, Rolf Metzner asked John if he and I would come with him before the evening session so he could show us something he had discovered on one of his many bike rides—but he would take us in the car, for John’s sake. We willingly went with him and he drove us in his BMW over bumpy pastures roads and old DDR forest lanes until we came across a horse ranch he had discovered. We visited those mounts in their stalls, wishing we had brought an apple or two along with us.

A visit to the horse stables.

On our way back into Freiberg we were stopped by a police blockade a couple of blocks from the Temple. The forceful woman refused to allow Rolf to drive further down Hainichener Strasse, demanding he turn around and go park in designated parking in Kleinwaltersdorf, the next town down the road we had just traveled—he didn’t have the necessary residence tag to permit him to drive into Freiberg Saxon Days, being held Friday through Sunday.

John and I got out and hiked back to the temple, while Rolf obediently turned his beamer around. We saw him later after we all got back and learned he had obtained the tag and collected his vehicle. That was our reminder that Saxon Days were upon us in Freiberg!

John enjoying Saxon Days downtown Freiberg

Saxon Days is like a huge state fair at home in Utah, but located throughout an entire city. This year it was being held here. Saturday after the temple John and I gathered up his sticks and headed down Hainichener Strasse for town to get a flavor of the three-day event.

Heading into the throng!

All the city streets were blocked off but for police and emergency vehicles and thousands of pedestrians crowded the streets.

We enjoyed the festive feel in the air, ate an Italiansich Eis and a grilled wurst, saw displays of goods (and goodies) for sale, before dragging ourselves home ending a 4.37 mile walk. I’m sure that John had little hope of ever making it back but we did—both of us relieved to finally get home.

Loop lace making

Polish pottery display

I had to laugh at the displays of Texas cowboys and American Indians we stumbled across along our way. What a strange thing to find in Freiberg, Germany for Saxon days! I did enjoy the melodic sound of the haunting Indian flutes played.

Indian flutes mixed with Umpah bands. A world of contrasts.

Our week ahead will be the last before our temple shuts down for two-weeks’ maintenance and we have Hungarian here again. We look forward to seeing these wonderful friends—likely our last chance before it is time for us to leave ourselves.