WHO"S GOOD IDEA WAS THAT?

 For most of our time here we have been very busy.  Rare have been the times when for a few minutes I (Russell) have been looking for things to do.  But on Wednesday I had such a morning.  Thinking we were caught up with what we could do on our various projects, I spent some time cleaning up my electronic and paper files.  Only after that, bored, did I turned to two potential projects, each of which was “on hold” after our having met with them just once.  Knowing that both of potential projects had advocates among the employees, I read through their files again.  One with a large municipality would have had us partnering with an NGO representative of the municipality.  Government units in this country cannot legally take donations, as a precautionary measure against corruption.  I decided to learn what I could about the NGO, a group I was unfamiliar with.  The internet is a great resource of information but the quality of which is sometimes questionable.  My search found an article from 2024, it gave a brief history of the group, including its fast growth rate in recent years, and its rumored possible past ties to organized crime. An email to a fellow senior missionary, who prior to retirement from law enforcement from the country, was within a few hours returned with a warning to not be associated with that NGO.  

Both Eileen and I were very grateful that we had learned so early in the process not to proceed further.  It would have been very embarrassing for all if we had helped develop the project with the municipality only to have to back out at the last minute.  Reflecting on it that evening, we both realized that we had not only been blessed to find out about the problem so early in the process, but we were both aware that the way we found the issue was not due to our own diligence.  Rather, it was one of these “minor miracles,” one where you know it was not your own good idea.  Interestingly, on Thursday and Friday we were swamped with work again.

                   

                                Another rapeseed photo-it really makes the area look beautiful. 

                                               

I    I (Eileen) received these flowers from Sister Johnson  who knew it had been a difficult week.

We went to a garden show at a castle. Basically it was an outdoor market. This is as close as we could get to the castle. 

This plaque was on the outside wall of the castle.  Built in 1475. 

On the way home we stopped to get some flowers to plant on our outdoor balcony.  We don't know if there will be enough sun for them to grow, but they look nice for today. 

Russell thought the best part of the outdoor market was the bratwurst. 

Watching Saturday night conference over zoom. We couldn't get the translation to work through             the earphones, so we had to read the translation.

We had written translation of conference on our phone.  Russell and I both were laughing at the particular translation with the sustaining of officers. See translation circled in yellow.

TOO OLD TO GIVE BLOOD

This last week took us to Zollikofen, Switzerland.  It is the small city where the Bern Temple resides.  The purpose of our visit was to meet with an NGO which is working on several efforts to try and help those in the neighborhood beside the temple, most of whom are recent immigrants from many different places outside Europe.  Among the non-Swiss population living there, they have a 50% unemployment rate.  Projects to tutor the children after school, provide playground equipment, and build a sense of community within the diverse population are fostered by this NGO.  On Tuesday afternoon we went to see a blood drive they were sponsoring. Having given blood many times I thought I (Russell) would participate.  To my great surprise, I was told that potential donors aged 70 and older, who have not given blood before in Switzerland, could only give after having been cleared by a Swiss doctor.  A doctor was not present who could sign-off on my health.  The fact that I had given blood just last fall in Centerville was of no help.

Not being allowed to give blood because of my age was a bit of a shock to me.  While I don’t see myself as old, perhaps my perspective is just my wishful thinking.  During our first few missions, Eileen and I were clearly the youngest or among the youngest senior missionaries serving there.  Only on our last mission in Missouri would I say that we were at the average age among the other seniors.  Now in Frankfurt, I must admit that I am in the older half of the senior missionaries, but nowhere near the oldest, we have several who are between 75 and 80.

Perhaps because I was reflecting a lot on my age during our trip, when we attended a sealing session in the Bern Temple I thought, “this may be the last time I am here.”  It reminded me of a phrase from a song that was popular when I was a senior in high school, “We may never pass this way again.”  The song by Seals and Crofts, encourages cherishing the moment and taking the opportunity to appreciate people because life moves on and circumstances change. Opportunities may possibly be lost if not taken now.

During April 2022 General Conference, President Russell M. Nelson gave a talk titled Now Is the Time.  In it he said, “The future is always uncertain.  Weather changes. Economic cycles are unpredictable.  Disasters, accidents, and illness can change life quickly.  These actions are largely beyond our control.  But there are some things we can control, including how we spend our time each day.”

President Nelson continued, “Yes, we should learn from the past, and yes, we should prepare for the future.  But only now can we do.  Now is the time we can learn. Now is the time we can repent. Now is the time we can bless others and ‘lift up the hands which hang down.’”

I’ll take my experience of being turned down to give blood this week as a gentle reminder that I need to do a better job of using what time I have left to appreciate and help those around me, both at home and here on the mission.

We had the opportunity to do sealings in the Bern Temple. This temple was dedicated the day Russell was born.  It was the first European temple built and was a blessing to the Saints as it meant they no longer had to travel to North America to attend the temple. 

Markus and his NGO organized a blood drive at the church which the Red Cross implemented. The turnout was remarkable.  Fifty two donors participated, including 22 first time donors.  Sixteen donors had to be turned away due to medical reasons. The Red Cross sent an email stating that with the 34 blood donations up to 102 lives could be saved. 

Blood drive notifications. 

Elder and Sister Lex drove from Salzburg to meet us for this trip. Both happily donated blood. 

In Switzerland you get Lindt heart shaped chocolates as a reward after donating blood.

We had non stop meetings trying to plan this future project. Elder and Sister Lex participated, coordinating the possibility of YSA service participation with Brother Hanni, the YSA leader. 

The YSA having a meeting in the chapel. Their singing was great. 

After a toast of non - alcoholic drinks, Markus gave us each a beautiful bottle of sparkly apple juice. I (Eileen) told him I would leave it on my desk and break it out when/if the project passes. 

Brother and Sister Gappmeir (Markus) prepared a wonderful plant based luncheon which they shared with us. 

Overlooking Bern

Cobblestone street in Bern.  The water fountain in the lower left corner was where individuals were filling up their water bottles.  Obviously the locals thought the water was safe to drink. 

         Several senior missionaries took a walk through the blossoming  cherry trees in Oakstadt. 

Our view of Oakstadt while on our hike. 

The old walls of Oakstadt

The rapeseed fields are plentiful along the side of the roads here. Rapeseed is used to make canola oil. 

                                                         

Eileen with Sister Muelleck and Sister Ezard.  We all have a common friend-Fran Moulton.  Sister Muelleck is here with her husband doing humanitarian work. Sister Ezard is a single sister and on her 5th mission. 

It is spargel season! We walked to a nearby farm to purchase white aspargus. It is served in Germany with Hollandaise sauce. 

The outside of the spargel is pretty tough. This is the machine they use to shave the tough outer edges off 

The Browns loaned us their car while they were gone this weekend. Russell sort of had to be a pretzel to get out of the car. It has yet to be seen how he is going to get in for church today. 

HOW TO LOSE $150 QUICKLY

After riding the metro systems in New York last year, and more recently in Frankfurt, Rome and Milan, we thought we were pretty good at navigating mass transit trains/subways and that Vienna couldn’t be all that different.  We were wrong!  Upon exiting the subway on our second day there, we were met by the transit police checking to see if travelers had paid tickets to ride.  I proudly produced our 24-hour tickets purchased the day before.  We were clearly within the 24-hour period as our tickets had the purchase time printed right on them. To our surprise we were told that we had violated the system and that the fine was 135 euros each!  I protested that the ticket clearly showed that we had purchased the 24-hour ticket less than 24 hours ago.  The officer then told me that we had to have activated the ticket by getting it stamped when we took our first ride.  As there were no turnstiles like we have seen in other cities where you put your ticket in, I incorrectly assumed that purchasing the ticket with the purchase time printed on it was sufficient.  The officer said I could pay for only one of the two violations if I did so immediately.  Although we had violated their system, which they viewed us as having cheated, I saw myself as perhaps naïve but not as evil.  I was just wrong in my assumption of what the real process was.

On Wednesday evening we attended a Young Single Adult institute class.  The subject was how to avoid being deceived by the devil, regardless of the method (associates, internet, etc.), regarding Gospel truths.  A talk given by Elder Lawrence E. Corbridge in 2019 at BYU, titled Stand Forever, was referenced.  In it, Elder Corbridge talks about the broad spectrum of deception we face today and our making errors because of that.  He said, “When you act badly, you may think you are bad, when in truth you are usually mistaken.  You are just wrong.  The challenge is not so much closing the gap between our actions and our beliefs; rather, the challenge is closing the gap between our beliefs and the truth.  That is the challenge.” It reminded me of what Jesus said, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32). Knowing the truth helps us see things as they really are and avoid sin and error. Had I clearly understood (known the truth about) the Vienna subway system process, I would be $150 richer today!

 In his talk, Elder Corbridge continued speaking about truth and knowledge, and about primary religious questions (such as does God exist, is Jesus the Christ, etc.) and secondary religious questions (such as the methods by which Joseph Smith translated the Book of Mormon, etc.) we all face. Elder Corbridge described four methods of how to find the truth: the scientific method, the analytical method, the academic method, and the divine method.  It was a great talk about seeking truth and focusing first on what we know and what is most important when facing Gospel questions.

While at the Young Single Adult class/activity, I met a young missionary, Elder Gout, the grandson of the temple president we met last Saturday in The Hague and great-grandson of my mission president when I was a young man.  Meeting the two of them in so short a time has caused me (Russell) to wonder if God is trying to tell me something.  I’m just not sure yet what that something is.

This week we met with two great NGO’s (the purpose of our trip) with whom we have worked before and plan to continue doing so in the future: VinziWerke and Caritas, Austria.  Both organizations are dedicated to serving the poor and needy.  Talking to their representatives (and with those of other NGOs we work with), to plan projects that will help God’s children is the best part of being a missionary here.  

Elder and Sister Lex picked us up at the airport and had some delicious sandwiches for us to eat prior to leaving for the day.  Elder Lex was born in Austria and served a mission in Boise.  His wife is a native Idahoan.

Elder Lex and Russell on the metro figuring out which  stop we will be getting off at.

Discussing a game plan before going in to VinzeWerke. Helmut (the regional manager for Welfare Self Reliance) and Signe (the area public affairs director) joined us on our visits. 

We had a great meeting with the group VinzeWerke in Vienna.  This NGO is dedicated to providing aid and housing to people experiencing poverty, homelessness, or social exclusion. We were extremely impressed by this primarily volunteer based organization and how appreciative they were of the donations our church has offered them. 

We spent Wednesday evening visiting with the YSAs in Vienna. The first person we met was Elder Gout (standing next to Russell).  His great grandfather was Russell's mission president and we had met his grandfather at The Hague Temple just a few days previously. It all seemed more than coincidental. 

Some of  the YSAs being taught in German.  We attended the English institute class taught by some senior missionaries. Afterwards we joined the YSAs for a pasta dinner. 

We had a very productive meeting with Isabella from Caritas Austria (in the blue sweater).  Caritas does remarkable work. We were in Vienna to discuss future projects with Caritas and VinzeWerke.  Signe is all dressed in pink in honor of her new grand niece who was born the day before. The meeting was held in the YSA institute building. 

Helmut took us on a walking tour of Vienna. We walked 18,000 steps and learned so much from him. 

This beautiful mosaic is a replica of the Last Supper painted by Leonardo da Vinci.  If you look closely you can see it is made of tiny little tiles. The BYU singers will be performing in May at this church in Vienna. All proceeds from donations will be given to VinziWerke to support their humanitarian efforts. The church was once used as a stable for their horses by the French during the war.

The inside of Karlskirche.  It was built over 300 years ago.  Vienna had been devastated by the plague. The emperor made a vow to God that if the plague could be eradicated he would build a most beautiful church. It is hard to believe with how ornate it is that it was built so long ago. 

Roman ruins were found in the middle of Vienna dating from the 1st century. 

The line to eat at this authentic frankfurter eatery in front of the Opera house was almost 30 min long.  No indoor places to eat-just eating on the street. 

The original  old Roman wall is in front of the little house where a famous composer lived.  Maybe Schubert?  Helmut told us about so many composers who lived in Vienna we lost track. Those that lived in Vienna were Mozart, Beethoven, Haydn and Strauss, Schubert and Vivaldi. 

This wedding cake was at a famous bakery called Demel.  There was a huge line waiting to purchase treats at this bakery.

Much to our surprise it started snowing while we were there.  We had to buy a scarf, hat and gloves to keep us warm. 

 Lots of protests were going on in Vienna. This sign says Make Iran Great Again. 

A QUICK TRIP HOME

In many parts of Europe, Easter is celebrated with Good Friday and Easter Monday as a four-day weekend.  And while many in Europe are no longer religious in their belief in God, they are religious in observing (taking off work) those religious holidays.  With our office closed for those days and General Conference being .this weekend (no regular Sunday services in Frankfurt), we decided to take a short trip to Belgium and the Netherlands.

Our first stop was to see Pierre Pouken and his wife.  We have known each other since 1999, when I (Russell) hired him as our head of internal audit at Huntsman International.  Since I retired in 2012, Pierre has kept in touch with me and friendship has grown even though we have been far apart during the last 14 years.  Pierre now lives not far from our prior home just southeast of Brussels.  He has a very nice home that he bought and restored just a few years ago.  He has also purchased two adjacent fields of land so that he now has a number of acres on which he is going to build a vineyard.  When I commented that Huntsman must be treating him good, he said Russell, “I sold at $30.”  Pierre’s children and four young grandchildren live close to him and will enjoy the property with him.  As I left, I thought how fortunate I was to have made some good friends during our years in Belgium.

Just up the road, a couple of miles closer to the ring road around Brussels, we stopped in Overijse for a few minutes to take a few pictures of our home there.  We loved our time living in Belgium (1999-2001) It was the time, when as a family, we were the closest.  I miss those days.

On Saturday morning we were able to attend the temple in The Hague, Netherlands.  The first session of General Conference doesn’t start until 6:00 PM local time, so the temple was open in the morning.  Since the current temple president was/is Buddy Gout, I asked to see him and explained that I had served as a missionary in Indonesia when his father Hendrik Gout was mission president.  I  served in the mission office for the last nine months of my mission and worked with him on financial matters.  Hendrick Gout was the first president of the Indonesia Jakarta Mission, which was created on July 1, 1975.  I was in Cebu at that time waiting for a visa.  For the five years prior to then, the elders serving in Indonesia were part of the Singapore Southeast Asia Mission, the mission to which I was originally called.  Eileen and I enjoyed the time which President Gout took to talk with us. 

Last evening and today we have enjoyed the opportunity to listen to General Conference from the comfort of our hotel room.  We both feel privileged to have been able to raise our arms in sustaining Dallin H. Oaks as president of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and along with the other apostles, as prophets, seers, and revelators.  We appreciate their messages and counsel to us.

During the first session, I was particularly touched by Elder Bednar’s message on enduring valiantly to the end.  He taught that it was not enough for us to just hang on and suffer until our life is done, nor was it enough to just do good deeds until life was over.  Elder Bednar said, “In a spiritual context, enduring is far more than merely persevering tenaciously to complete demanding duties or challenges.”   He went on to say, “As we align our character, desires, actions and what we truly love more closely with God’s will, the Savior can bring about a comprehensive and complete change in us.”  Of the many spiritual gifts that can come from aligning our lives with God, Elder Bednar focused on charity, the pure love of Christ as how we should endure to the end.

In 1st Corinthians chapter 13, Paul talks about charity and our need to possess it.  He recites several great deeds and says even if we do all these things that if we “have not charity, it profiteth [us] nothing.”  At times Paul’s words have bothered me, appropriately so, as I have struggled to always do the right thing for the right reason.  All too often I find myself, while managing to keep my words and actions doing what is right, having my thoughts and feelings not being completely there yet. My hope is that with time I can align my character enough with God’s that I can enjoy that “comprehensive and complete change” Elder Bednar spoke of in me."          

We are so grateful for the beautiful gift of the atonement and resurrection.  It has been a blessing to listen to the Church conference messages and hear our leaders talk of forgiveness, love and hope.                                                      

This was our house when we lived in Belgium for two years. We have many fond memories of our time there. 

                                         

We visited the Hague temple and had a personal visit with the temple president, President Gout.

                                         

                               

Russell, Eileen Pierre and Michalene.  In the background you can see the property where a castle used to be.  The castle was bombed out in the war and now there is a large mansion in its place. 

We saw tulip and hyacinth fields along the road.

It was a cold day at the beach. There were an abundance of European Razor Clams shells on the beach. They crunched under our feet when we walked. 

Russell threw several star fish back into the ocean.   

                                                          

We were delighted and proud  or our grandson Connor (who is only 8 years old), when he spoke last week in Sacrament meeting.  He seemed so young to speak in church, yet did a great job.