Memorial for Mom with no family attending - courtesy of COVID-19

From the time of my mother's passing on February 14th to mid-March, COVID-19 had become a world pandemic and travel restrictions made it unwise and unsafe for family to gather for the memorial.

Joanne and I had our tickets and were planning on attending my mother's memorial on March 28th. The plan was to return to Germany after the services and a couple of days with family.  Many of our children and grandchildren were planning on attending as well as my siblings and their families.

All of my siblings and I consulted and decided to have my mother's remains buried without a memorial and then gather as a family at some future date for a reunion and a graveside prayer service.

So, on March 28th, my Dad and Mom's remains were put to rest on a beautiful day in St. George with only their dear friends, John and Susan Gordon in attendance.  They have been angels to our family and we love them dearly.

What gives us peace is knowing that they are with our loving Father in Heaven and his son, Jesus Christ. Every tear has been wiped away and joy is present for these amazing parents that I love dearly.  While my heart aches for their loss, and our not being able to honor them in a proper memorial, we know in whom we trust and we are sustained by His love and peace.

Busted in Germany - who is that guy?

It is rare in Germany to see police positioned on the Autobahn (freeway) to catch speeders as they do in the USA.  Instead, they use cameras that snap your picture at key locations.  Often they reduce the speed on the autobahn from "unlimited" to 100 KPH very quickly so you always have to be watchful.

When they take your picture, they mail you a ticket with no other warning and you have to wire them the money.  Very impersonal if you ask me.  Make me pull over on a busy freeway, roll my window down, turn over my license and registration and have some uncomfortable back and forth conversation before receiving my ticket after a long wait.
That's what I'm used to.

This ticket only cost me 20 Euro, so not so bad.  I'll have to be more careful next time...

I look like a get away driver in a bank heist!

FHE - the last for now

Twice a month we gather for FHE with all the senior couples. 

This week was scheduled to be the potluck farewell dinner for Scott and Geri Conlin.

Normally, the cultural hall in the chapel is full of tables and lots of food for 45-50 people.

We still wanted to come together to say farewell, but now we all fit around the table in 

the lunch room of the area office.

Elder and Sister Sabin were our surprise guests. (Sister Sabin took the picture)

As we sat around the table chatting, Elder Sabin asked, "Do you think that the Lord knew that
COVID-19 would happen?" Then he quoted John 16:33

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

It was very comforting to have this kind, wise general authority talk to us and reassure
us that all would be okay. That we can overcome tribulation and be of good cheer
because the Savior has overcome the world.

Then we were entertained by the Conlins. Geri had written this little ditty just a few days before.

Full-Time Mission for the Lord

to the tune of Grandma’s Feather Bed by John Denver

When we were just young newlyweds, about 44 years or so

We planned for a senior mission, was where we wanted to go

We raised our kids, loved our God, grew old and served our ward

But the best darn thing about growing old, is a full-time mission for the Lord

CHORUS: Oh, it was eighteen long or twenty-three, the best months we ever spent

There were some times we missed our family, even though we were quite content

We could have served from home or in the states, though we were sent to serve abroad

Oh, the best darn thing about growing old, is a full-time mission for the Lord

After MTC, we’re in a new land, the language and culture are new

We can hardly stay awake, jet lag is in our brains, so that we can barely chew

We’d sit and listen and try to learn, there was no time to get bored

The next thing we know we wake up every morning, serving full-time mission for the Lord

CHORUS

The Brethren and their wives, are so inspired, our jobs are not a chore

We learn from them how to love and how to serve and then repeat some more

Our Senior friends are dear to us, they deserve a big award

With consecrated efforts and acceptance of all, we’re serving full-time missions for the Lord

CHORUS

Well, we love our Mas, we love our Pas, we love kids and grand-kids, too

Golfing in the sun, playing tennis with our friends, skiing knee-deep powder, OOOH!

But if we ever have to make a choice, we’d say it in accord

We’d trade it all, plus a new sports car, (well maybe not the grand-kids) to serve a full-time mission for the Lord

CHORUS

No Church Meetings

Since the directive had been made that there would be no more church meetings, 

we held our own little sacrament meeting in Russ and Charmaine Anderson's apartment. 

That would be the last meeting of this kind since later that week we were told

 by the German government no more than two in a group.

Scott & Geri Conlin, Charmaine & Russ Anderson, Karen, Dave, Ward, Joanne, Steve & Anita Hicken, and 

Bruce & Maureen Allcott

Our group was small, but the spirit was very strong. We sang a hymn and the sacrament was administered. It was one of the most touching experiences we have ever felt. 

Karen and Ward were especially tearful as they would be leaving in two days.

The Exodus - Thanks to COVID-19

As the COVID-19 pandemic became more and more concerning, we got word that the senior missionaries and those young missionaries with health concerns would be going back to the U.S. We had a very strong feeling that we would be staying. Dave emailed Elder Gary Sabin, the Europe Area President to let him know that we were willing to stay and help in whatever way we could. As long as missionaries were still in the field here in the Europe Area, we felt having an area mental health adviser here in Frankfurt would be important. 

On Friday afternoon, March 13th, we got a call from Elder Erich Kopischke, a counselor in the Area Presidency asking if we would be willing to stay. Our answer was a big YES.  He expressed that Dave played a vital role in the support of the missionary work and it would help a lot if we stayed in Germany. 

This was an answer to prayer in many ways. We felt that we were safer here in Germany and our home was being rented out to the Molters, and we had sold our cars. MaryLynne had recently broken her hip and our home was the perfect place to recover. We couldn't imagine having to ask them to find other accommodations.

It was a mix of emotions as everyone was waiting for their itineraries and packing their belongings. We had been told that most of the couples would be "transferred" and continue in their missionary service from home. All were to self-isolate for 14 days to make sure they had not contracted the virus.  In all, 21 couples left Germany and only 3 couples stayed.

We went to dinner with Ward and Karen as they would be leaving on Tuesday (after we all got our German driver's license) and found this little pile by our door. We already had a fridge and freezer full and many bags inside the apartment.

We became the drop off point as the other couples found out that we were able to stay. We all thought that we might be self-isolating in Frankfurt, so we had bought extra food and supplies. These were left at our door the morning everybody left after a big supply had already been dropped off.

When we opened our door on Sunday morning, there more gifts had arrived...
pillows, the ever-so-scarce toilet paper, plants and thank you notes!

In the early morning hours of Sunday, March 15, most of the couples made their way to the
Frankfurt airport to await their departures. 

With all the cars turned in by the couples leaving, it looked like a used car lot.

          E/S Meservy and  E/S Davis                                                       Debbie & Lou Moench                                                                                                                                                                             

          

Sally Scott sent pictures as they waited in the airport of the couples going to Utah.

The lines were ridiculous. 

                    Brent and Carol Snow                                              Sally and Welby Scott

Ward and Karen left on Tuesday and sent us these pictures from the Frankfurt airport and then the Chicago airport. What a difference two days made. 

Wetzlar

Little did we know that this would be our last outing for ... who knows how long.

With our travel buddies, the Andersons, we set out for a place for lunch.

It was a beautiful Spring day with lots of blossoms and ducks playing in the river. 

Spring is on its way! 

We headed north and arrived in the quaint little town of Wetzlar in just 45 minutes.

The streets seemed to go in a figure eight, with lots of fun shops and bakeries.

I found a fun knitted scarf/beanie combo from Peru and 

Dave picked up an interesting carved nose to store his glasses.

This beautiful door welcomed us into the cathedral with all of its charm.

There were several of these smaller rooms around the main chapel.

The combination of English and German on this poster was intriguing.

"Hand in hand, with Jesus, on the way".

Since we came for lunch ... let's do this.

Tasch am Kornmarkt

We will definitely go back. Such good food!

The Farmer's Market was closing up as we made our way back to the car.

We would definitely put this on our list of places to revisit. 

Luxembourg

Attending church in a foreign country is always a moving experience for us as we see the saints gather together to worship our Savior. We noticed a lot of kissing on the cheek, which we thought a little concerning with the COVID-19 virus so prevalent. 

We wore headsets so we could understand those speaking in French. 

This congregation met in a beautiful, yet simple building. 

After Sacrament meeting, we headed to the Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial.

There are American Cemeteries like this one scattered all over Europe for our many thousands of soldiers who died here in World War II.  The human suffering of war, the bravery of these soldiers to give their lives for each other and a cause greater than themselves really is quite moving.

General Patton is a legend and when he died in Europe after the war, his wishes were to be buried with his men.

Each cross is inscribed with the name of a soldier who died in this part of Europe, it is a reverent place as you think about the loved ones left behind and the human cost of this war.

A touching painting showing WWII veterans returning in their old age to visit the graves of their fallen comrades.