MAKING FOREVER FRIENDS

Last Sunday we stayed up late to listen to President and Sister Sommerfeldt give their mission homecoming talks.  The Sommerfeldts were our mission leaders on our last mission in Independence, MO and they became good friends.  During our mission, I (Eileen) talked with them multiple times each week about the medical issues various missionaries in the mission were experiencing. Both Russell and I have a great deal of respect for each of them.  They truly loved each missionary, and they were united as a couple. Listening to their homecoming talks brought back a lot of fond memories of time spent with them.  There were about 100 missionaries who came up to the stand to sing “Called to Serve.”   Apparently, there were more in the audience who didn’t go to the stand. It was a well-attended event.

Normally it is Russell who writes the blog and I post photos. But this week God reminded me of one of His many blessings in my life. This has not been an easy mission for me. While living in Europe is delightful, some of the challenges we face with our current calling have been very difficult for me.  This week I have been reminded that one of the best blessings of serving a mission is that of the eternal friendships which can be made while serving.

While serving in Independence, I became close friends not only with the Sommerfeldts, but with a fellow single sister missionary name Sister Kathy Creer.  During her first mission, her husband tragically passed away.  We both said that we were sent to serve in Independence so that we could meet and become friends.  Sister Creer and I played racquetball together multiple times each week, she drove me to see sick missionaries when Russell was involved with his calling with vehicles, or in the temple.  We shared many private feelings regarding both challenges in our lives and the many miracles which we have witnessed.  In our staff meetings in Independence when it had been a particularly challenging week, the Sommerfeldts would say to us something like, “It’s time for that vacation in Germany!”   President Sommerfeldt had served in Germany as a young man, and a member of the Europe Central Area Presidency whose son was serving in our mission, had invited me to come over and visit at any time. Going to Germany for a break became a joke in the office. 

So, this past week I have enjoyed both the Sommerfeldt’s homecoming, and a visit from Kathy and her sister Lisa.  It was a much-needed break for me. As I contemplated the blessing of having met both Kathy and the Sommerfeldts, I reflected on the “forever friends” I have made in the mission field.  On each mission we have made some close friends, ones that no matter how many years it has been since we last visited with each other, we can pick up just as if it was yesterday. Through those sometimes difficult, shared experiences while serving as missionaries, we seem to build bonds with others more quickly than when we are home going through everyday life.  I cherish these friends and am so grateful for them.

Likewise, I am grateful for the wonderful companion I have had for six missions. I am grateful for a Heavenly Father and my Savior who have helped me when times are tough.  It has been a good week - I even gave out a business card to someone at a gas station who wanted to talk to a fellow believer in Christ.  This young man from the UK was traveling throughout Europe visiting churches. He told me he hoped to become a priest with the Church of England someday. Hopefully he enjoyed our little visit together as much as I did. 

                             

                         The Sommerfeldts with us on one of the last days of our mission. 

Sister Sommerfeldt talking at her homecoming. I took this screenshot off of my computer. 

                                                 

Sadly, Elder and Sister Platt had to return home. He is our In-field representative. She fell and cracked her pelvis about 6 weeks ago at a mission president's seminar. 

                                               

Russell teaching Come Follow Me.  It is taught every Wednesday for the senior missionaries.

Lisa, Kathy and Eileen at Burgelz castle. A family still lives in this castle. 

                                 

                              Switzerland is honestly the most beautiful place on earth.

I have a crazy friend. That is glass over a steep cliff.  

Kathy, Lisa and Eileen in Lauterbrunnen

Russell walking the thrill walk. I didn't go. No way am I walking over a cliff with glass over it.    

                    Jungfrau is the highest mountain in Switzerland at 13,642 feet above sea level. 

                                                 View of JungFrau from the helicopter. 

                             

             Schilthorn.  A James Bond movie was filmed at this amazing place on the side of a cliff. 

I walked on this suspended walkway over a cliff at Grindewald First. I went only because I was goaded into it, and I could hang on to a rail on both sides.  

                                                   The town of Murren is a car free town. 

                              Trummelbach Falls have a number of waterfalls inside a mountain. 

                               At the top of Schilthorn where a James Bond film was done in 1968.

         Russell and Eileen on the glacier midway through the helicopter flight. Russell suggested that we go on a helicopter ride since we didn't go parasailing. It was pretty amazing. 

                                

Cathy parasailing over Lauterbrunnen Vally. 

BACK TO MILAN

This week has been quite busy. In addition to helping roll out a new emergency communication system in Europe, we went to Milan and Turin to follow up on several recent and current projects, and to also meet with another potential project partner.

For the last two or three decades, the Church in Europe has relied upon the use of 19 satellite phones. They resemble a brick in size, shape and weight.  We are moving to the use mobile Starlink units, about double in number to the old system. These units can accommodate multiple users with their own devices for a variety of media venues and are easily transportable to the location of an emergency when local communications are down. The units are a combination router/modem that can run on solar power to provide an internet connection in times of emergency.  

In Milan we met with an NGO, La Rotunda, who run a food bank, teach migrants sewing and bicycle repair skills, house migrants while they learn to assimilate into regular working jobs, and are renovating a building to be used as a school. ARCA is another NGO we met with who have several large housing centers for the homeless, most of whom are recent migrants.

Another NGO we is Banco Farmaceutico, a distributor of drugs and pharmaceutical supplies to dozens of other charities in Italy who provide them to the end beneficiary.  Several thigs stood out to me regarding this NGO. First, almost all that they distribute is contributed to them by manufacturers, and other retail suppliers. Cash to buy medications is only used when there is a need for a specific medication that the regular suppliers do not have available to donate. Purchases are made at about 40 percent of normal prices paid. Second, many of those involved, pharmacists, doctors, and other professionals are volunteering their time to do so. They have literally thousands of volunteers.  They told us that many of our Church members participate in their annual drive and that they are known for bringing their children along to help volunteer. And third, the central operations are very professional run and extremely efficient. They don’t gather goods to pass along to where is beneficiary is found. Rather the beneficiaries meet with one of the many site charities where they meet with medical professionals who order the medication. Then with a sophisticated computer system, the medications are found and routed to the appropriate location for distribution. There is no inventory or storage needed.  The corporate volunteers provide that also. They even have corporate volunteers who provide transportation of the goods. We were told that in 2025 there were 27,000 volunteers with this organization. This is a massive amount of volunteers.  This is my favorite charity in Italy.

Colori Vivi is in Turin. This NGO is run by two women who’s products cator to the highend shops.  They train about a dozen migrant women a year to pass a test for high quality garment seamstress.  Those that finish the course are on their way to good paying jobs.  We watched one woman working on a pair of women’s slacks that would retail for about $1,200.  Most of the fabrics are donated by suppliers.The city government helps pick the unemployed women who will get the training.  Not only is it necessary to train the women as tailors, but they also need to be taught the importance of working 9-to-5, 5 days a week.  It is a cultural adjustment as well as professional training.

On Friday we met with Casa Jannacci, the largest homeless shelter in Milan.  Over 600 homeless live at the main shelter and several off-site centers. When each adult enters, they are assigned an advisor who works with them on a personalized plan to work their way back into normal society. They provide several language education, job and emotional counseling aids in addition to the typical food and shelter services. We like the efforts they are making to help the individuals become self-reliant.

It was good to get out and meet NGOs and beneficiaries. That is the part of humanitarian work that is so rewarding. Even though it was very hot and we had no time to see any of the local sites, visiting the NGOs was good for both of us; a welcome break from our regular work in Frankfurt.

                                     

This hotel proudly advertises that they are a one star hotel.  The location was great and the price was significantly cheaper than other hotels in Milan, but still seemed kind of strange. 

This is the bike repair training shop at La Rotunda.  

                  Visiting with the staff members at Casa Jannaci for the homeless

Coraline and Barbara looking at the donated fabrics at Color Vivi. Gucci donates fabric for the refugee women to sew on. 

                               

This ENT doctor has volunteered his time at this clinic for the last 2 years helping those who cannot afford medical care. All that visit with the doctors receive care free of charge if below a certain income. The three individuals in the photo above are all pharmacists.  One is doing administrative work and the other two are volunteers. 

I (Eileen) was fascinated by this doctor who lived in Uganda with his doctor wife and 8 children doing medical care there. He gave me 2 of his books he has written about his time in Uganda. He hosted us at Banco Pharmaceutico. 

You would think while in Italy you would have fantastic meals. We were so busy that we had no breakfast and the meal on the train was from Macdonalds. They forgot to put a fork in with the salad, so Elder Herway is eating it with his hands. 

Bolts of donated fabric at Color Vivi. Unfortunately it was 97 degrees and there was no AC.  We all felt pretty hot during this visit. 

Former refugees sewing at Color Vivi

Bolts of donated cashmere pants which will be made into pants. The pink was lining for the pants. 

These pants were sewn by a woman from Africa. The quality was amazing.  We were told these would typically sell for about $500. 

I had to leave Milan at 4:30 a.m. to get back in time to welcome my friend Kathy and her sister Lisa. Kathy was a good friend who served a mission at the same time as us during  our last mission which was in Independence. As it turns out her flight was cancelled, they rerouted her, downgraded her seat, lost her luggage. Three days later we are still trying to find Lisa's luggage.

                                                      Rudesheim

Kathy, Lisa, Russell and Eileen. We went to Rudesheim to take the boat tour down the Rhine. The water level was so low that the trip took us much longer than anticipated. 

A REVERENT CELEBRATION

We read about the festivities in the U.S. celebrating the 250^th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence and recognize that we are missing something quite extraordinary. For us here in Bad Homburg, this 4^th of July weekend is like any other summer weekend, except for the request by Church leaders back home that we fast today in thanks for the religious liberty that we enjoy in the U.S. (like in many other countries of the world), with the hope and prayer that the same liberties may be extended to all of God’s children wherever they may live.

By the time I (Russell) return from this mission I will be almost 72 years old.  I will have lived outside the U.S. for over 9 years, an eighth of my life: over 5 years in Europe and almost 4 years in Asia. As a young man having lived in Southeast Asia, I returned home from my first mission with a much greater appreciation for the freedoms, opportunities, and material abundance that I enjoyed simply because of the fact of where I had been born. I came home loving the United States of America! A period of living without the benefits it afforded me made me realize how truly blessed I was. 

When I was working in Belgium 27 years ago, I had a conversation with several other officers of our company regarding the taxation of stock options. They were citizens of several different European countries, all living in Belgium.  I was the only American. I remember them asking me why I didn’t just move to a different country and renounce my citizenship to avoid paying taxes. The thought had never even entered my mind and was repulsive. I remember thinking I would rather be economically broke but with my U.S. passport than a wealthy citizen of any other country. That was one of only several of my closely held beliefs that gave my new colleagues reason to think I was slightly crazy. And I still feel that way today.

What I have noticed change over the years, more so recently, is the attitudes of non-Americans toward me and other U.S. citizens. Just a week ago one of our couples were asked by some men if they were Americans.  When they replied yes, they were subjected to an explicative laced barrage of verbiage that laid bare feelings that most Europeans are too proper to express directly. 

When I was in Belgium over Easter weekend, I met with a former colleague that I have been quite close with over the years.  He asked me if things felt different than when I was here 10 years ago. He proceeded to tell Eileen and I that he could feel a change in how he is viewed by his neighbors and other professional acquaintances because they know he works for a company headquartered in the U.S. Due to my friend’s professional position, he is  required to have a clear understanding of the world around him. He advised me to be aware of the change in attitude and was grateful that we had not had any problems.

               Typically on the 4th of July we go to the Centerville Parade. It is basically a small town parade with a jet flyover. In the evening we watch the fireworks.  It was different not having either of those events to attend this year.  

Elder and Sister Richards recently arrived to take the Johnsons place.  We introduced them to our favorite Italian restaurant on Louisenstrasse with a scoop of gelato afterwards.  

On Saturday we went to a city in Western Germany called Trier.  This city is the oldest city in Germany, founded in 16 BC. This gate is called the Porta Nigra is the best preserved Roman city gate north of the Alps, built around 170 AD.  

Karl Marx was born in Trier in 1818. 

In the main square in Trier. 

The Trier Cathedral, was first built around 326 AD.

The cloisters at the Trier Cathedral. 

Read gold pieces from the Roman times are shown in the archaeological museum. 

This is the Polydus mosaic unearthed from a former Roman villa in Trier. It is from the 3rd century and has been made from  thousands of tiny cut cubes made from stone, marbles and limestone. 

This mosaic was made in the beginning of the 3rd century and discovered during an excavation in 1811. 

The Roman Baths in Trier were built in the early 4th century during the reign of Constantine. The baths consist of 10 acres of subterranean  caverns which remain cool in the summer and warm in the winter. 

On of the corridors in the baths.

Eileen got a chance to visit with some guys playing gladiators in the Trier Roman Coliseum/Amphitheater. 

21,000 steps later we stopped for a burger, fresh lemonade and shake. 

                               

The Romerbruke Bridge - The seven stone pillars for the bridge were put in place between 142-152 AD.  The first wooden bridge at this crossing was 17 BC.

Last week we went to a German ward. Normally we go to the International Ward, however since it has no AC and it has been terribly hot, we went to the Friedrichsdorf Ward which has AC.  I got permission from the organist to film his postlude today. I thought he was pretty incredible. 

CELESTIAL HUMILIATION

This week we had the privilege of attending two meetings at which we heard from Elder Ruben V. Alliaud, President of the Europe Central Area and his wife, Sister Fabiana B. Alliaud.  These were perhaps their last talks given prior to Elder Alliaud’s transfer to SLC next month to serve in the Missionary Department.  Their talks on Tuesday were during a devotional for all employees and senior missionaries serving in the Area. It was a chance for them to say goodbye to everyone, many in person and a lot more online.  The second meeting was on Wednesday, a zone conference for the senior missionaries serving in the Frankfurt Area office.  While their talks at both meetings were good, their talks to our zone were more personal in nature, messages prepared for us as senior missionaries.

During Elder and Sister Alliaud’s talks at Zone Conference, I (Russell) noted four specific points that stood out to me.  The first was when Sister Alliaud was talking about their experiences in new Church positions. She referred to them as lessons in “celestial humiliation.”  Opportunities to learn, both perhaps a skill, or knowledge, or wisdom, or some other strength and humility all at the same time.  As I looked around the room, I saw my fellow missionaries, almost all whom had been very successful previously, now filling roles in which humility may be the primary thing we are learning during our service here.

The second point that stood out to me was when Elder Alliaud referred to John 15:13. He said (my paraphrasing) that while we are not called upon to lay down our lives as Christ did for us, we are asked and have responded to giving up years of our lives in His service. While there are many ways to “endure to the end,” serving God, His Church, and His children was the best way.  My thoughts went to The Parable of the Sheep and the Goats (Matthew 25:31-46).  I need to do a better job of recognizing how and who God would have me serve and then doing so.

Elder Alliaud then referred to Jacob 5:61-63 & 70-72, the Allegory of the Olive Tree. He emphasized two words found there.  First was the repeated use of the word “Last.”  He assured us that we are living in the last days prior to the second coming of our Lord and Saviour, and that we are part of the servants laboring in the vineyard referred to by Jacob. Then Elder Alliaud noted the word “Joy” in verse 71.  He assured us that we will share in that joy in the future because of our efforts today.

The last point that stood out to me was when Elder Alliaud counseled us to always remember that experience outweighs opinion.  He said the world/others will have their opinions about what is right, but each of us has experience, and those experiences give us knowledge. 

Monday evening for FHE we had a farewell party for 5 departing couples.  Three of the couples going home are from the Welfare-Self Reliance dept.   Working with these wonderful senior missionaries has truly been a blessing in our lives.  L-R.  Silvestors (Family Services and our Zone Leaders), Johnsons  and Muellecks (Humanitarian dept).  Muellecks still have about a month left but they were honored at the party anyhow. We will miss these couples so much. 

              We also had a farewell luncheon for the 3 couples with the WSR dept.  

It has been a scorcher this week. Our AC at the office was broken for a few days.  We have no AC at our apartments. One senior missionary was admitted to the hospital with heart issues and they had no AC at the hospital.  CRAZY!

       The WSR department before 3 couples depart. The Richards and the Avillas just joined us this past week to replace the Johnsons and Silvestors.

Sister Muelleck and Sister Peterson wearing matching dresses for the Area Presidency devotional. I (Eileen) play pickleball with them both

                          Elder Alliaud speaking at our Zone Conference.

I was so excited when Sister Sylvester shared one of her last cans of A&W rootbeer from the military commissary.  Rootbeer is not available at the stores in Germany. 

Russell was asked to speak at Zone Conference about a missionary interaction he had while we were traveling.

An infield couple contacted me asking if I would buy Sister Johnson some flowers.  It was 100 degrees the day I purchased them. I hope they will last a few days. 

                       Russell and Elder Southwick kind of look like twins.