Sunday, March 21, 2010

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.

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