Cochem, Trier and Luxembourg

We wanted to take a weekend trip along the Moselle River because we heard it was a beautiful drive from the Lear's.  We invited the Johnson's (Kay and Gary) to join us and they invited the Done's so we told the Done's to invite another couple to join them so we would fill two cars.  They invited the Yost's.  We had a ball.  We work hard during the week so on the weekends we look so forward to getting away and it usually is with friends we've made here in the mission.  Although, I can honestly say, it would be wonderful to travel with ANY of these wonderful couples we've met here.  They are all so wonderful and we've made some of our best friends and fondest memories with these wonderful people.

This picture is along the Moselle River - it is a river that is a tributary of the Rhine and joins at Koblenz.  The Moselle twists and turns it's way between Trier and Koblenz along one of Germany's most beautiful river valley.  The hillsides are terraced with vineyards and castles dot the tops of hills all along the beautiful landscape.

Kay Johnson (works in Public Relations) and is from Southern California.  We have become good friends.  She's been here about 5 months.

 Our traveling group....look at the vineyards on the hill behind them

 Kay being funny with Tony....this is in Koblenz

 Kay, Pamela Done (going home in one week) and Suzie and Fred Yost (IFR - infield rep. - he is the person that Mission presidents go to before a problem is turned over to SLC headquarters.

 We're having such a good time!  Love these cobblestone streets

 I feel like we climbed a mountain!

 The Moselle River - just lovely.....fall is just starting

Castles EVERYWHERE!

 I will never get used to all the flowers !  Most of them are creeping geraniums

 We hiked up to the castle where you can see the Moselle River below.....spectacular view!

 Bagonias

 Stephen Done, Tony being "squished" by Fred Yost and Gary Johnson (funny guys!)

I just love all the flowers!

 Cute picture of Elder and Sister Done.....I love her smile! 

 Oh we have fun together!

 The largest bathing complex outside Rome was built in Trier in the 2nd century AD.  A luxurious bathing facility extended over an area equivalent to six football fields.  Rooms with various heated pools, generously proportioned courtyards and rooms for sport, body care, exercies and distractions made the baths into a cultural center within the Roman City of Trier.   This picture below is the exposed part of the plot where the baths once were.

 Home of Karl Marx - founder of Marxism (communism)

They say that everybody has a twin......we found Suzie Yost's twin in Trier!  We saw this lady and couldn't believe how much they looked a like!  

Me, Sister Johnson and Sister Yost

Pamela Done (who is leaving next week for home) loved trying on hats

Another beautiful church  in Germany

Look closely at this picture and see Tony and Elder Yost (Fred)  waving.  This is Porta Nigra which is a large Roman City Gate in Trier.  It is the largest city gate north of the Alps.  It was built in the middle ages.

Sister Yost and Sister Johnson

The vineyards are everywhere and so beautifully covering all the hills and mountains

Roman Amphitheater in Trier for Gladiator contests in the 2nd Century AD

We were able to get downstairs below the amphitheater to see where they held the animals, slaves, horses, etc.

Our little tour group traveling with us today.  Done's, Johnson's, Yost's and Goodall's

Elder and Sister Yost have quickly become dear friends, originally from Idaho, now live in Alpine Utah.

Sister Done (Dr.s wife) and Sister Johnson (she and her husband Gary are over church public affairs)

I think I've made Elder Done a few too many chocolate chip cookies!

I am still amazed at the flowers EVERYWHERE!

American WWII Cemetery and Memorial - this cemetery is the resting place for 5,076 American Military members.  Most of whom last their lives in the Battle of the Bulge let by General Patton.  It is a humbling experience to walk thru these hallowed grounds.

As you enter the cemetery you first see a huge stoned chapel.  On the one side of the chapel you sill see the inscriptions of the the accomplishment of the American Armed forces in the region.  On the other side, are the names listed of 371 still missing.

General George Patton's grave.  He was buried here but did not die in the battle of the bulge but instead in a car accident just prior to his return home from the war.  He had requested to be buried with his troops.  General Patton is regarded as one the greatest General's in US history.

You can't help but get a feeling gratitude for what these brave souls did at the invasion  of Normandy.

I could not help but take notice of the Jewish grave stones.  Many Jews battled to stop Hitler and they are marked with the Star of David headstone.  Notice the "rocks" placed on top of this headstone which is traditionally what they do because they feel laying flowers is somewhat of a pagan custom.  The stones have a special character in Judaism.  In the bible, an alter is no more than a pile of stones, but it is an alter that one offers to God.  The most sacred  shrine in Judaism, after all, is a pile of stones, the Western Wall.

This was the first time I had seen an American flag since leaving America over 14 months ago.  I was surprised at my reaction.  It was flying at half staff for the Senator John McCain who had just past away.  We were lucky to be here as they lowered the flag and played our National Anthem from the large bell tower.  It actually brought tears to my eyes.  There is just no place on earth like America.

Luxemburg

And, once again....we come to the end of a wonderful weekend and back to work on Monday.  The weeks have passed by so quickly.  I suppose that is because we are so busy.  We have three months left and we will be home again.  Changed, having learned more and met new friends and have become better people because of our experiences we have had here which have given us a better perspective for our own lives and what is really important in life.  Things are not important, people are important, God is important and family is important.  So grateful for the experiences and changes we have been able to make in our own lives.  Forever changed for the better.

August 2018....Another dear friend goes home......

Janet Nelson is always so wonderful to share her home with all of us each time we say good bye to dear friends who have completed their missions here in Frankfurt. This was a farewell luncheon for Pamela Done.  She is Dr. Done's wife and takes care of the decorating of the mission presidents homes throughout Europe.  This was a wonderful luncheon and we all lingered for a few hours talking and laughing and just enjoying!  This week, we loose Sister Bateson, Sister Garrett, Sister Done and we have new missionaries to get to know, Sister Conlin, Sister Jensen and we have two more coming next week!  We have been here long enough now that there are only two other couples that have been here longer than us.  Everyone else is new.

 Mona Batesons, Linda Carroll, Kay Lundquist, Julia Skoubye and Pamela Done.  I just can't say enough about these ladies and they're examples to me.  They are strong, sweet, hard working, dedicated, devoted, kind, gentle......I could go on and on.  I just love them

 Sweet Sister Jensen on the left just arrived this week and still has jet lag and is trying her best to remember everyones names.  She lost her parents when she was just 6 years old and was adopted at 13 years old.  She is an amazing woman.  She and her husband work for LDS Family Services here in the mission.  Dani Garrett goes home in two days (so sad) and then there's pretty Sister Valerie Sabin who has become a dear friend.

August 2018 Another GOOD-BYE to dear friends.....once again

One of the sad parts of being on a mission and meeting and becoming such good, close friends is when it's time to say good-bye, it always comes too quickly.  This is another "good-bye" luncheon held at Jill Johnson's home (she is President Johnson's wife), he is the President of the European Area.  Sister Mona Bateson will be leaving us and also Dani Garrett.  I have just loved these two ladies and will miss them so much!  I tease Mona and tell her "I have Mona envy".... she is beautiful and I love how she dresses.  Dani and her husband were our Zone leaders for a short while and I grew to love her.  She is multi talented and so kind and just plain fun to be around.  Below is a photo of (left-right) Kay Lundquist, Jill Johnson, Suzie Yost, Marlene Lindsay behind, Carol Nelson, Sister DeFao, Dani Garrett, Sister Swingholm (brand new, just arrived) and Diane van Hoff

 Arriving at Jill Johnson's apartment (not at all like our Apartments) - very upscale, after all, they live here for a much longer time than we do!  Just a lovely home.

 Sister Mellor from the Frankfurt Mission, Paula Call OGC and my next door neighbor and Trudena Fager OGC.  These ladies are just wonderful.  Sister Mellor works in the Archives, not an easy mission.  It's a room with no windows, all day long working with archival documents to scan for family search.

 In the blue is Kay Johnson who works in public relations, she's from California and we've become really close.  Next to her in the back is Valerie Sabin (wife of Gary Sabin- General Authority), she is a doll and I have become close with her too.  I guess, I can say, I've become close to everyone.....there is not a person here that is not kind and loving and just wonderful people!!!  Mona Bateson is the woman in the navy blue with the white hair next to Kay Lundquist.

  Two of the most lovely people you could ever meet!

Sister Sabin and Sister De Fao , wives of the two General Authorities serving the Europe Area.  They are great examples of kindness and love to all of us here.  We greatly respect them and have grown to love them.

Mona Bateson, Marlene Lindsay and Dani Garrett.  I love all three of these wonderful ladies that have been an influence for good in my life..........

     Below - Jill Johnson, Sister Swingholm(area psychiatrist) and Carol Nelson, mission nurse

Me, Diane van Hoff, and Kay Johnson 

 Sweet Mona Bateson, always giving something away.....right up until she leaves!  I will miss her greatly

 I put these two pictures in because I have had to resort to cutting my own hair because the hair dressers here ALL cut it way too short!  I wanted to remember that I have been cutting my own hair for about 6 months.

Catching Up

Here in the mission we try to have activities to include everyone of the Senior Missionaries.  This is a FHE that we had a few months ago where Sister Munz from the Frankfurt mission taught us how to make homemade chocolates!  It was fascinating!  I watched her as she mixed the chocolate with her hands to get the right consistency so the chocolate would set correctly.  It was then our turn to "get our hands dirty."  I decided that although I LOVE chocolate, I don't like getting my hands in the batter.  Homemade chocolates will not be on my list of "must do's."

We did have a good time learning how much goes into the process and "eating" our candies!

Below is Sister Munz (from the Frankfurt Mission and Sister Fager from the Area Mission)

 Messy - sticky hands!

 Elder Done showed us how to make chocolate covered leaves.  After the chocolate sets, you pull the candy from the leaves and it looks like a chocolate leaf.

 Even the Elder's got into the candy making!  Elder Nelson and Elder Munz

 When I first arrived in Frankfurt, one of my jobs was to organize the baby boxes that went to the refugee expectant mothers.  Shortly after this project was done, I was assigned to the Finance Dept. to help with a job there.  This below is a sample of what went into the baby boxes for these expectant mothers.  This was a labor of love and a huge project with over 100 volunteer's who helped with the project.

Time is passing quickly.  We are down to  20 weeks left.  New missionaries will be joining us soon, as we are loosing another 3 couples who will be going home within a month.  The Gallup's, good friends from home called us and will be coming to visit us in October.  It's been wonderful to see so many people from home and helps break up our weeks.  We look forward to Dan and Suzanne's visit!

When I think of my friends that have already gone home months ago, I think of them so fondly and really miss them.  It will be so wonderful to get back together with them at reunions after we return home.  I especially miss the Thomas's and the Roberts.  With each couple that goes home, the work here continues without a hitch as new missionaries are trained and put right to work as they start their adventures here in Germany.  We are so blessed to have been able to serve here and make the wonderful friends .