Getting Settled

Sunday, September 29, 2019 

So much has happened in the past two weeks since we arrived in Frankfurt Saturday morning, September 14.  After waiting in the passport line for over an hour, we were greeted at the airport by Elder Davis our Zone Leader, and Elder Dewey, the Area Mental Health Adviser (AMHA). Our bags barely fit in the van, but we made it to the apartment in about 30 minutes. Jet lag is real!

Our apartment far exceeded our expectations. We have an end unit with two bedrooms. The second bedroom has bunk beds and a table/desk for Dave and a small desk where I can hang out when I’m home. Dave will be working from the apartment, so it’s set up nicely.

We are on the ninth floor and have a nice view looking toward Frankfurt and the surrounding areas. Our kitchen is small but quite adequate. The small washer/dryer unit is in the kitchen, and we are making the best of things without a dishwasher. With just the two of us, it’s not a problem at all.

When we arrived, we were given a schedule where several couples had signed up to have us for dinner the first week. What a wonderful blessing that was. I sure didn’t feel like cooking, and we were able to get to know some wonderful people in the process. We have now been able to pay it forward to the newest couple, Elder Louis Moench and his wife Debbie, who are the newest AMHA couple.

It’s such a small world in the church. Elder Moench (Lou) has a younger brother Brian, who was best friends with my brother, Mick, in high school. Lou and my brother, John, were classmates at Olympus. He remembered John and Noni well, and Mick, of course.

As Dave was getting oriented by Elder Dewey (Larry), I was trying to figure out where I would land. I was told that I could choose where I would want to serve. Since Dave can have a more flexible schedule and we could travel a bit more, I didn’t want to be too tied down. I had heard of a couple of places that my office skills could be used, so I ended up helping out in the Church Communications Department (CCD), which is in the process of changing its name from the Public Affairs Department.

Then a few days ago, they asked if I would be willing to take on being the editor of the Wegweiser (translation = Signpost) which is the weekly newsletter for the senior missionaries. There is a committee already in place, so I’ll have lots of help. It keeps everyone posted on the couples coming and going, birthdays, places to see near and far and other interesting articles. One of the Area Medical Advisers, Elder Dave Koegler, is doing a Cooking Corner. I guess he’s quite the foodie.

The weather is very similar to home. Summer is definitely in the past as the cooler temperatures are here, along with the wind and the rain. Our apartment building is only about 100 yards away from the Europe Area offices, which is adjacent to the local meeting house. We attend the International Ward (Frankfurt 2^nd), and they meet in the Stake Bldg., which is right next to the Area Offices. I just love hearing all the different accents as we hear them teach us and bear testimony of the Savior.

Our first Sunday, the invocation was in Portuguese. The next Sunday there was a family (husband, wife and son) who had just been baptized and their confirmations were in three different languages: Chinese, German and English.

I have a note from Sunday School where they were teaching from 2 Corinthians. The teacher likened what the Savior has to offer to a cough drop. It helps relieve our sore throat, but doesn’t heal it immediately. I really liked that.

He also suggested we jot down our thoughts during the hard times so we can remember how we have been comforted. It helps to have those things to look back on.

Today the brother who spoke in Sacrament was from Italy. One of the things I took from his talk was:
   Let us learn the Gospel.
   Let us live it.
   Let us share it.

As missionaries, that is exactly what we have been set apart to do. We need to be bold in our actions to live it and to share it. And continuously learn of His Gospel on a daily basis. I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve where I can to share the Gospel to all the world.

And from the Bishop: Pray, Invite, Fellowship. So much in those few words.

We are looking forward to General Conference next weekend. We are so blessed to have a living prophet, President Russell M. Nelson to lead and guide this church.

A panoramic view looking Eastward.

Looking north out the kitchen window. We love all the light we get from being up so high.

A panoramic view from the balcony of our living room, looking to the west toward the Area Offices.



Looking west from our living room window on the ninth floor. 
Frankfurt in the distance to the left and the office building in the foreground.

On the left is the Europe Area Office and a short walk to the right is our apartment building.

To the left of the office is the church building. We can't complain about the distance to/from work.

This couch and coffee table will be leaving soon. 

Still getting unpacked. Two twin mattresses make up our king size bed.

Dave has his office in the second bedroom so he has more privacy. Two monitors plus his laptop. 

And when we have company, we're ready with bunk beds!

Galley kitchen with a small washer/dryer combo. Still figuring out how it works!