Week 56--On the way home

Monday I woke up early to do our laundry, finish the last packing and weighing of a last box to ship home (with the temple clothing we are keeping and everything else we aren’t giving away or which can’t fit into our one roller duffle bag), finalize the packing of our hand luggage, and clean our apartment.

A 10:30 Antje and Norbert came and helped us haul our box to the post office—I was so relieved that it was a ½ kilo under the maximum so I didn’t have to open the box this time! We came home and I continued my to do list while John got off the last of our farewell letters emailed to friends and ordinance workers all over the temple district, most of whom we will not see again this side of the veil. We want them to know how much we have loved coming to know them.

Antje and Norbert fixed us all lunch in the kitchen downstairs and in the evening John and I finished the remaining left overs from our little fridge but for a few items for our granola breakfast Tuesday. Our apartment is looking very empty now our big box is gone and the massage table has taken up residence across the hall at Suckows’, until Brother Hauck comes from Hungary to pick it up. Our clothes are laid out for the temple in the morning to be worn and then given away. The only thing remaining is the last trip to the recycle and rubbish bins in the morning and to load the car after we finish at the temple. Every thing I do seems so final. I guess because it is.

Tuesday morning we got up early and called Paul Millard who will do our bathroom remodel to fix our master bath so it is safer for John when we get home, before we got ready for the temple. We dressed in our whites for the last time here--another last!

We arrived in good time for preparation meeting. As I entered the room Sis Husz whispered that she had a present for me and took me to her office and there gave me a package with a beautiful red-toned, scarf she had designed and hand painted for me. I was touched by its beauty and the love and effort it represented.

It was a busy morning in the temple. We had a group of 20 Romanian Saints here bringing with them eight new endowments. John, in his last official act as trainer, quickly give Br. Geambasu, our one Romanian brother ordinance worker, a last-minute update—he was to lead the second session, before leading the first session with me as his follower. We had a good-sized session, full of marvelous familiar faces in the room. I loved concluding our assignment here by presenting—for what will likely be the last time—at the veil in Deutsch. How I will miss that. The thought brought tears.

When we finished we began making our way toward the president’s office to meet with him for our release. It was a slow process with workers and patrons alike, wanting to hug and kiss us, wish us well, and tell us we will be missed. Pres. Husz was so patient as he waited for us, telling me at my concern for making him wait that leaving can’t be rushed.

Their he spoke with us about D&C 76:5-6 asking us to read the verses (handing me an English bible: We read 5 For thus saith the Lord—I, the Lord, am ^amerciful and gracious unto those who ^bfear me, and delight to honor those who ^cserve me in righteousness and in truth unto the end.  6 Great shall be their reward and eternal shall be their ^aglory. He counseled us to read the whole section viewing it as a “pre-endowment” section with this marvelous promise at the beginning.

Sunday in my talk I had spoken about Mary and Martha and of my being a Martha who needed to better learn to choose the “better part.” He said rather than focusing on Mary or Martha he would turn my thoughts to Emma and after speaking to the theme of her being commanded in her dual tasks asked me turn to D&C 25 and read the last verse, assuring me that what pertained to Emma pertained also to me: 16 And verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my ^avoice unto all. Amen.

We spoke longer of things that meant a great deal to us in his pleasure in the work we have done on our mission and of his appreciation for both of us. It was a very sweet time for all three of us. Then he officially told us that we were released as ordinance workers in the Freiberg Germany temple but that it would be our stake president who would release us as missionaries—we were aware that would be the case and had already been in email communication with Pres. Fitts at home. 

We left, again working our way through those who wanted to bide us farewell and finally walked through the tunnel back to our empty apartment, changed our clothes, hanging them on the doors of those to whom they were being given, hauled our suitcase, with Norbert’s help, to his car and drove away from Freiberg, heading for Munich.

Antje, of course, had packed us sandwiches—it is her compelling need to feed us!—and John ate them while I ate our left over cheese, ham, and crackers, accompanied by carrot and celery sticks, and apple quarters to finish the last things from our little fridge. How satisfying to have left everything cleaned out and clean, turned in our keys and paid Br. Maschke 2 Euros in case there were phone calls we owed for.

As usual we get their room. Dear souls!

We arrived in München at 4:30 in the afternoon, Norbert being the intrepid driver he is, driving straight through but for WC stops along the way. It was good to get there and get out of the car. Since they live on the 3^rd floor up with no elevator it was a job to haul everything up but once there it was so nice to have a day to relax and reorganize our bags. We had hoped to have only one bag to check and carry everything else in hand luggage but Vueling weighs everything—checked and hand bags and we were 1 kilo over. Primases to the rescue: Antje pulled out a lightweight bag and we put everything heavy in it and redistributed so that now we have two bags to check (which are free) but our hand luggage is under the 10 kilos allowed. That will at least get us to Barcelona.

2nd hand and more. Fun outing.

Wednesday we enjoyed a fun day with Norbert and Antje with a visit to her Second Hand and More store, with its fun Bayern dirndels, leather jackets, and other items that were fun to see, but not to buy; rode the U-Bahn, walked in the famous downtown Marienplatz (where we saw a marvelous mime), ate a currywurst—our first—and came home for a good nap before leaving for dinner at a Mongolian grill restaurant for our (as Norbert put it) “hangman’s meal.” We came home and got ready for morning and our leaving again, really on our way tomorrow morning early.

Spiffy Bayern duds--but too much $ for what would feel like a costume at home

Dinner at the Mongolian Grill--our Hangman's meal

Hard to say goodbye to dear friends--likely for the last time.

Thursday morning we got up early, ate a little granola and yogurt and loaded all our stuff in Norbert’s VW and headed out to the Munich airport. As is our usual pattern, we left early so that there would be no stress or worry. After a few mis- turns and stops at Terminal 2 we finally arrived at Terminal 1 and unloaded all our gear. Norbert and Antje wanted to come with us to see us off, but we told them that an airport isn’t like a train station where they can come to the train, see that we are comfortable, before waving us off with her white hanky. Dear, dear souls, both. (Antje has flown only once—under duress and with great angst—after Norbert booked and paid for a tour to Israel with Daniel Rona for them both. He has gone twice to Israel and once on a church history tour in America. It has been wonderful to be with them—probably for the last time in our lifetime.

A choice era has ended in our lives. Ahead of us now is our slow return home and the formal end of our mission experience together. How blessed we have been and how grateful we are.

We arrived in Barcelona in just under 2 hours, glad not to be flying for 10 hours home in these seats with no knee room. Airplanes now are adapted to cram in as many people as possible by fitting in extra rows of seats but for the forward rows that require one to purchase seats if comfort is desired. Gone too, apparently, are the days of passing out free drinks or even peanuts—at least with Vueling. But the flight went well and we arrived safely, collected our luggage—all 40 Kilos of it, ugh!—and headed to the taxi stand.

On the plane for Spain

Our funny little Spanish hotel, Hotel Lloret was right in the heart of the middle of town on La Rambla and brought back memories of the Red Wall in China. We far prefer a place that is part of the locale. This one was. Tiny room with a tiny balcony and the busy sounds of Barcelona out our window. The air is fresh and cool, humid, but pleasant.

After (happily) dumping our stuff off we went out to find a late lunch and found ourselves a bit adrift in struggling to read menus in Spanish. We managed to eat and then go wander down La Rambla, planning to walk down to the pier but found the narrow walking-only allies off the main drag absolutely delightful with their quaint shops, restaurants, and wonderful old architecture. Following our map we found the old Basilica where there would be a flamenco guitar concert at night but, knowing we wouldn’t have energy for a 9:00 pm concert we bought a CD to listen to at our leisure.

Amazing. Lace-like stone

One of our favorite discoveries was the Gothic cathedral built in the 1300s. It was amazing with its lace-like towers and stone, rose windows. We returned back to our hotel, stopping to buy some crusty rolls, cheese, and fruit for our dinner, neither of us wanting to go back out at night. Though it has only been a tiny taste of Barcelona, it has been delicious to our visual pallets.

We boarded the Ryndham at 11:30 on Friday after a rather expensive taxi trip to the pier. Everything went really well with getting right into our room (moved up from the 5^th to the 9^th floor). We ate a little lunch and then our bags arrived and we were able to unpack for a couple of weeks. How nice that is.

The ship is far smaller than others we have been on, holding only 1200 passengers and we like the feel of it very much. The clientele is older, though there are some families with children, but the pace is unhurried, and uncrowded. Just right for our taste.

I have been working daily on my blog book of our year in Freiberg. It takes a lot of time to handle the pictures and reedit the text but it will be wonderful to get it done along our way. I’m sure when I get home I would find it difficult to devote the time necessary to do it.

Saturday was a quiet day at sea. The skies were grey with billowy clouds and a touch of sun breaking through a bit here and there.  We enjoyed the meals; we are asking for ½ portions, and they are most accommodating. We did try the hot tubs (which aren’t crowded), the fitness room (which is gratis), and walked the deck (a wonderful way to breathe the sea air and enjoy just being together).

Not as warm as Trevi's --we look forward to it!

Sunday morning we enjoyed breakfast delivered to our room, wanting to have the Sabbath different than every other day. After scriptures and breakfast we did go into Málaga by bus to quietly walk the inner city and enjoyed seeing the old fortress, the cathedral that had its bells pealing just as we walked up to it. We entered and enjoyed a little of the service that was going on, particularly the organ and choir. We also saw the Picasso museum along our way.

I brought my computer with me and we stopped and used a restaurant’s wifi to ship off emails, after ordering a fruit smoothie to share. This is a wonderful approach to have occasional contact, rather than the ship’s pricey Internet for $.75 a minute.

Intrepid--with sticks!

It was nice to return to the ship and get warm—the wind was blowing and we were glad for our jackets. We ate lunch and then put in an order for dinner to be delivered again to our room to enjoy after our listening to a session of conference for our church today. It is the best we can do for Church today, but it is pretty wonderful really.

We are grateful to be on our way, heading home.

Week 55--Final full week in Freiberg

Every now and again Pres. Husz will say to us, “We are really going to miss you,” and I know they will, because friendships are priceless, but still we will be replaced by those who will come at their time to preform the work needed. In the Church it is always the case of a finger being pulled from the pond. The hole is quickly filled.

That said, without doubt we know that “for such a time as this. . .” we have been allowed to be here and as we leave we take with us wonderful memories that will not soon fade.

Abmelden from Freiberg

Monday Norbert and Antje took us to town to abmelden (check out) from Freiberg a week early. We had to let them know we would be leaving on the 23^rd. So many things are so "final" for us these days. Afterwards, we walked in the old Stadt and Antje shopped for a neighbor at home.

John and Norbert (with his salty Bayern jacket--and beard)

We couldn’t have wished for a more wonderful final full week than this one, surrounded as we were by 50 of our beloved Hungarian Saints, here to serve yet another week in this wonderful temple.

Pres Monson greeting (but here everyone was in white!)

The week sparkled with a surprise visit from Pres. Monson to our temple—the first visit ever by the prophet. He spoke with everyone in the temple crowded into the foyer, greeting each person individually and then pronouncing a blessing upon all the patrons and workers and all of their families because of their service here. It was a marvelous experience to be part of this visit.  

He affirmed that there was an "amazing spirit" in this temple. Tears were flowing down cheeks of these precious Hungarians, who have paid such a price to be in the temple repeatedly throughout the year that we have been here—and many years before we came. This week on Tuesday five among them received their own endowments in the second session of the day—just before Pres. Monson dropped by! 

What an experience for these newly endowed Saints! From then until Friday night they, with great joy, attended every session—12 in all—so that by the time they left they had become seasoned temple patrons. This is the pattern. What an immersion of the Spirit in their lives. These sweet people who have so very little, choose "the better part" in life. Anytime the Hungarians can take time from work, they come to the temple. It is their focus in lieu of vacations of other types. I always think of those listening to King Benjamin—with their tents firmly pitched toward the temple. What a marvelous example of devotion they are to us.

Pres. Monson spoke warmly to us all for several minutes using double translation into Hungarian and then Deutsch. Though we caught only the last few minutes since we were finishing up our assignment at the end of the session, Norbert and Antje Primas were there and reported that he had personally greeted each individual with a warm handshake--even tugging on Norbert's beard with a smile, and kissing the forehead of a tiny, 90-year-old sister from Vienna. With so many Hungarians in the temple, Pres. Monson laughingly asked if there were any left in Hungary!

Wednesday and Thursday we had very busy days in our efforts to complete the last of our assignments from Pres. Husz and to put everything in order before turning things over. Wednesday Andreas and Ingrid Ortlieb came from Leipzig to serve for the day in the temple and then took us to Hotel Schwarzes Ross in Siebenlehn for dinner. 

Andreas and Ingrid Ortlieb

They had wanted us to come to Leipzig and stay with them but neither we nor they had had the time to fit our visit in, so we made do with a wonderful visit over dinner. John trained Brother Ortlieb with such gentle encouragement that Andreas says John will be with him in his heart every time he works in the temple. He wrote him one of the most expressive, letters of appreciation I have ever read.  They are wonderful, kind people, and are among the many who will leave big holes in our hearts as we return home.

Thursday night we had a triple farewell dinner with the missionaries at Himmel und Hölle restaurant in Freiberg, since three missionary couples go home so soon. We rode down with the Huszes after Sis Husz and I finally went for a walk in the woods, which we have been longing to do for a long, long time! It was fun to walk and talk. I will really miss her.

A walk in the woods with Marikka Husz--finally!

The restaurant hosted a delightful gathering with yummy food and wonderful company. Pres. Husz asked each of the six departing missionaries to share a highlight of their experiences here in the temple and that made for a wonderful event, following which the president and matron presented each couple with some lovely small mementos.  

Homeward bound first--Us

Homeward bound a week after us --Linda and Jerry Meyers

Homeward bound mid Nov:Jim and Lynne Chidester

Pres and Sis Husz--a favorite picture and a favorite couple!

Miryam and Robert Koch--assistant to the matron and 1st counselor

By Friday we had turned everything over to the wonderful new counselors we have quickly grown to love and went home looking forward to Saturday, when we would do only ordinance work.

Barbara and Bernd Suckow--assistant to the matron and 2nd counselor 

Saturday morning I spoke in our morning preparation meeting with John translating for me. The focus was on the importance of our savoring every day (as Pres Monson had counseled us on Tuesday)—staying in the middle, as Pres. Uchtdorf put it, not focusing just on endings or beginnings but on the now! I like that principle. Too often we miss precious moments as we worry about the future or regret the past. Doing so also allows me to hold on to this singular day without thinking only of next Tuesday—our last in Freiberg.

Saturday, we attended the first session, doing some Laing family names, read a wonderful history of the miracle of this temple, which Pres. Husz loaned us to read while in the temple, and then participated in a sealing session—again doing family names.

In the morning I had brought my camera, checking it at the recommend desk, and then found Pres. Husz to ask if it would be permissible to take a picture just outside the temple doors with us in our whites, to which he replied, “Only if I am in it too!” We were so happy to have it taken with both of them in the picture with us.

John, Pres. Ernst Husz, Marikka Husz, and Sue

In the evening we went to dinner with Antje and Norbert—since we have no food left in our cupboards, then came home to put the finishing touches on our talks for Church. We decided that I would speak in English (rather than my abysmal Deutsch) and John would translate, as he did in preparation meeting Saturday. 

He took my talk and translated it paragraph by paragraph so that we could toggle between us, working together as we have done throughout our mission.

We just returned home from Church having given our talks. John spoke briefly after I concluded and did a great job, as always. Two young missionaries spoke after us, with great enthusiasm. The balance of the block today was for the ward to listen to the last session of conference. We came home, having been able to already see it auf English to write my weekly blog—another last in Freiberg—and get farewell letters out to friends here and in neighboring countries.

Tomorrow means laundry, cleaning, shipping off a last box, and final packing before we return to the temple Tuesday morning, where together John and I will lead the 8:00 session before getting released as Freiberg temple ordinance workers. We will then pack Norbert’s car to the hilt with our one piece of luggage, plus all our other stuff we are giving them, and head for Munich and the beginning of our restful return home. As the sun sets on our mission we feel grateful to had a such a glorious experience! Missions are wonderful! It may seem like a dream by the time we get home, but we have loved it! And we love you, too.

Sun setting on our glowing temple Freiberg--and our time in it!

Week 54

Another week has flown by. Some days I long to be five years old again when time for me hung, not moving ahead for days, on Christmas Eve, certain that morning would never ever come. Instead I turn around and another week is gone. Perhaps this slippery slide of time is just part of getting older.

We have entered the everyone-around-us-wanting-to-do-something-with-us-before-you-go-home mode.  We love spending time with good friends and already are feeling the pangs of parting, but we simply are running out of available time slots and have to say instead, “Come to Salt Lake and visit! We’d love to welcome you there!” If everyone takes us up on that we will have a parade of wonderful people to try to speak German to for years to come.  Meanwhile we hug them then provide our email addresses.

Doug and Louie Geary

Monday we did get away with the Gearys, our newest missionary arrivals, who came in August. They are delightful kindred spirits, and we will miss them a lot.

Tuesday we were back in the temple with a busy Berlin week. It was fun to welcome the crowds who came, so happy to be in the temple for their week. Knowing we too would be traveling to Berlin on Sunday to hear President Monson, we avoided having to say “Goodbye” to those we wouldn’t see again, and instead said “bis Sonntag!" (See you Sunday!) though certain it wouldn’t be likely in a crowd of Saints from multiple stakes gathering in a huge hall.

Sister Husz was looking a little less like a pale ghost, and assured me she was feeling better.  I was relieved but now felt I was coming down with her persistent cold myself and began doctoring and plying John with preventative therapy—my worst fear was having him come down with something  just before we were due to leave.

Wednesday I did my assignments in a fog, then worked with the counselors in rolling off some remaining projects. By the end of the day when I waved goodbye to the president, he took one look at my face and ordered, “I don’t want to see you here tomorrow!”

Kiki's "Bs"

Following his direction I stayed home Thursday, ate nothing, soaked in a hot bath, babied my cold until I couldn’t stand being in bed any longer, and then worked on my farewell talk and wrote letters to grandchildren—we have loved our Oma and Opa letters, and have tried to answer each one individually, until we received three this week from our Kiki, who was showing us her accomplishments with a whole page of “Bs” (though they look more like 8s) she had written herself.

In the afternoon, after John and Bernd Suckow (our 2^nd counselor) came to give me a priesthood blessing, Sis. Husz brought me her special cold-curing lemon, honey and cinnamon/clove tea, followed an hour later by the president delivering a pot of pumpkin soup, I began to make progress on feeling better, much relieved that my prayers had,
thus far, been answered—John was not showing signs of catching this rotten bug!

Friday I was back in the temple all day and again in the evening—except for a two-hour nap in the afternoon (my sister Kathy would be proud of me!). I am so grateful for the blessing and the kindnesses that have shortened what had appeared to be a lengthy bug-battle in the making!

Saturday in the late afternoon, our friends from Munich, Norbert and Antje Primas, arrived. They had planned to come next Friday night, stay over the weekend, help us take care of last-minute matters, go to the temple Tuesday morning for our last session, then haul us and our stuff home with them before sending us off to Barcelona to catch our ship.

When it was announced that the prophet was coming to Germany just after conference to speak in Hamburg, Berlin, Frankfurt, and Munich, we were concerned that their coming would cause them to miss seeing him in their city on Sunday, October 21. They discovered that tickets were limited in Munich since a large hall was not available. We suggested them come early and go to Berlin with us, as a huge place with no ticket requirement was rented. They decided to come go with us to Berlin, and spend a week in the temple then take us back with them.

Primases arrived--to feed us, of course

We enjoyed dinner together—most of which Antje and Norbert brought with them. Those two are just incurable givers. You can’t keep them from it! We have long since given up trying to match their efforts. We did secure tickets on a bus for Berlin for the four of us on Sunday morning to avoid Norbert’s having to drive an additional two-plus hours. Then Sunday morning, an hour before we were to leave, while I was just trying to figure out what to take for snacks for our long day, our bell rang and I found Antje there holding out a lunch bag she had packed us for the journey. You just can't keep her from feeding us! On our turf or hers.

Norbert's Kofferwagen

We went up to their room in the Herberge to see one of two luggage wagon he had built and brought to give to temple housing. Norbert, an former building missionary, can't be kept from giving his skills and time either. They are a happy pair who know how to find joy through service. We can learn much from them.

Now THAT is a big windshield!

Norbert and Antje ready for the Berlin bus journey

The drive to Berlin was pleasant with a riot of fall colors outside our front-seat view through the enormous windshield of the tour bus much of our ward was aboard. We had left Freiberg in time to arrive an hour early and all went well until we got downtown Berlin, on the Autobahn, and were stopped dead still in a famous Berlin Stau—a traffic jam--of enormous proportions. It appeared our trip to see President Monson was doomed unless prayer could get us through—and I believe in prayer! After an hour of inching along, we got to a blocked exit. The bus driver climbed off and spoke with the police who amazingly allowed our huge bus to exit. We made it 20 minutes late but the program had been delayed to accommodate those caught in the reported traffic problem and was just beginning as we walked in.

It was marvelous to attend. We from Utah—who see the prophet now and again—do not realize what it means to Saints worldwide to see and hear him in person--especially these East Germans, whom he has served so much over the years with prophecy and miracles.  They came from everywhere, at great sacrifice, just to be there with him and to mingle with the Saints. One of our favorite young Hungarian temple workers—Zollie Szücs—took a bus all the way from Budapest to be there for the event--some 15 hours. 

Pres. Monson in fine form

He had emailed John asking how we could meet up in the crowd so he could see us once more before we leave. We thought such a likelihood next to impossible given the promised size of the crowd, but after the meeting, there he was waving from below toward our upper seats. 

Zoltan Szücs and John--an unexpected reunion

Berlin Sunday with Primases

We were astounded at how many people we did actually get to see after the meeting as members were exiting. In the hour’s wait we had before our bus returned we hugged and greeted so many we had not hoped to see again. I think this experience gave me a little feel for what it will be like in the Spirit world to greet those we have learned to love and been separated from for a time.

Pres. Lehmann from Görlitz--one of our dear friends who we will come to SLC!

We came home to eat chili with the Primases that I had made ahead, and then turn in. 

I am so grateful to be well again, and so grateful to be home!