Auf Wiedersehen

It is hard to say good-bye to the place where we have lived for more than half of our married life. Many a time we have heard returned missionaries say that their missionwas the best years of their life and how they grew to love the people. We can only echo their words.

We are caught up in a whirlwind of activities, joint-teaching appointments, last "farwells," financial and young adult quarterly reports, preparations, a talk in church next Sunday, newsletter requests, cooking, packing, etc. etc.

These are bitter/sweet days as we are so anxious to re-connect with our wonderful family and at the same time already missing what we will leave behind. We drove to Salzburg for the last time for interviews on Thursday. We were trying to take a mental recording of the scenery. The meadows are turning green again and as we see the wandering trails through the woods and meadows -- we wish we were on them, re-discoveirng the beauty along the way.

One sister we visit has recently returned to activity. She thanked us for helping her and being patient along the way. She crochets the most beautiful curtains, table coverings, etc. We were most grateful when she gave us a piece of her beautiful crochet work as we were leaving from our last visit.

The next picture is high up in the Tyrolean Mountains. We were visiting a sister on a joint-teach with the young Elders. She takes care of an older couple who remind us of humble farm people -- who we also love visiting with. Each time we go there to teach a lesson a most delicious meal is waiting for us. It is about an hour's drive to get there.

We love the young adults and their activities. This game is called "round the table ping pong" and they are very competitive. And the winner is -- ELDER MESERVY. Our young adults say we are now "Tyroleans" -- which is quite a compliment.

All the Relief Society sisters knit beautiful things here. I was determined to knit something to take home (even though I don't know much about knitting.) Watching them is amazing. All you see is a blur of click click etc. as their needles fly. So I made a scarf -- and it only took me about NINE months to complete -- BUT I did it!

I also decided I was going to read the Bible -- which I have never read from cover to cover. Along with the Book of Mormon study, and lesson preparations, I have finished reading the Old Testament and I am part way through the New Testament. We love and cherish our daily study time.

We had a baptism in February -- a Mother and Daughter. Elder Meservy was privileged to baptize the mother. This was a very special day as the daughter has been attending church for three years, but could not get permission to get baptized. Then her mother decided to come to church and she attended the Investigator class that we teach. Soon she wanted to be baptized too.

The picture is of Elder Meservy, Mara, Rakel, and Elder Beckstead. Elder Beckstead is completing his mission too and will fly home with us. He lives in the Salt Lake area.

We were hoping for another baptism at the end of March, but due to her mother's illness, she has been in Salzburg, and the date has been pushed back a few weeks. We are anxiously awaiting conference and to hear from our Prophet again.

The church is true. May we all be missionaries in all that we say and do, and as Easter approaches may we ever be grateful and true to our King, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

THE NEW YEAR 2010

January is not our favorite month because it is so cold. But the coldest day we have had was in December -- a freezing minus 17 C and that was the day we were walking around Old Innsbruck with another senior couple. We wanted to
see the Christmas lights, etc. but the only good part was when we were inside a restaurant trying to get warm.

One of our young adults was married in the Swiss Temple in December and had their reception here in Innsbruck. They served a full, delicious dinner (some of us brought a salad) and the program was delightful. Then they danced. I was glad to see that the groom had two left feet, just like me! (Rosalyn) Jerry and I also danced and it was a fun, fun evening. They will make their home in Italy and we will certainly miss them. Rosalyn and Kristin, a young adult leader (at the wedding)

We also had a baptism of a special young man. He is the only member in his family, but is so happy to be a member of the church.

Another baptism is planned in February. A young girl has been attending our branch for a long time. She wanted to be baptized but her parents said that she must wait until she is 18. She is now 16 and her mother said -- "OK, but maybe I will be baptized with you." This was a surprise, but the mother has been taking missionary lessons now too and a baptism date is set for February 14th. YEA Us with the cute mother of the 16-year-old girl.

We continue our busy schedule working with the young adults. They did two service projects last week -- one was helping another single adult move to another student apartment. We took our car and loaded it up and helped with the move. Then a few of them also helped a family in our branch do some painting at their new apartment. The apartment is one of the largest we have seen around here and is very lovely -- they have a pink room, an orange room and a green room (the one the young adults painted, plus other room colors and designs on the wall. The painting gang.

We are also cooking a full meal after Institute every Thursday evening. Each week we prepare a different menu. Most things are cooked at home and then transported to the church, then I can do other things while something is in the oven, etc. Then we finish it all up at the church -- cooking, warming, setting up tables etc. We prepare a lot of food for a lot of hungry kids. Sometimes I think that we have prepared too much -- but then every single crumb is eaten. #1 Chief - My favority, happy cook -- cooking at the church

January has been a wonderful month. Last year we had tons of snow, but very little this year -- we are always grateful to drive up and down these narrow, winding roads on dry pavement. (On one side of the road is the mountain, and on the other side is a very steep drop-off !)

We are always truly amazed to be in the midst of all this wonder. We are happy, healthy and feel truly blessed.