RAIN ON THE RHINE

Last Sunday, Father’s day, I (Russell) was able to hear from and talk to most of my children and grandchildren, and it was great!  I was also able to speak to my father.  I truly have ben blessed with a father and two grandfathers who have all been very active in my more formative years.  From them I learned how to work, a desire for education both formal and informal, and most important of all a love for my Father-in-Heaven and His Son, my Savior, Jesus Christ.

Most of the time since our arrived here two months ago the weather has been pretty mild.  Rarely has the temperature got above the mid-seventies.  On Friday the sun was shining and the temperature got into the high eighties.  This prompted Eileen to feel that Saturday would be a good time for us to take a short cruise on the Rhine River.  You can catch a boat about an hour from here that for a small sum goes up and down the river much like a bus, letting you get off and on at various stops.

Despite the weather forecasting possible showers we decided to go.  Saturday morning I got up at 6:00 am to jog.  During the night it had rained and even during my run it was drizzling, enough that you noticed it but not enough to make you really wet.  By the time we were driving to Ruedesheim it began raining enough you needed the windshield wipers but as we started on the boat the rain lighted back to more like a mist.  It was fun to see all the activity on the river.  The Rhine serves as a water highway for large barges taking goods to and from markets.  All along the two-hour ride up the Rhine was saw the remains of castles.  It was beautiful and relaxing.

We got off the boat at St. Goar and road a small trolley up to the remains of Rheinfels castle built originally in 1245 AD.  On our way up to it the rains started coming down harder.  Having come this far we were not about to head back without seeing the castle.  While it was very interesting to see, I am very glad I didn’t have to live there during bad weather.  On the way back our boat was a paddle wheeler built in over 100 years ago.

While most of our work in the office involves doing computer/paper work we also spend significant amounts of our day in talking to the couples that are serving as welfare/humanitarian missionaries in various countries of Europe.  Most of the couples are serving in locations that are what might be referred to as “developing nations.”  Sometimes we spend time counseling with the couples on how to deal with some of the challenges they face, trying to help where we can.  Many times we are just sounding boards, as there is little we can do to change things.  Below is an edited version of a letter I wrote just this morning to one couple that has been facing challenges with others taking inappropriate advantage of them.  Both Eileen and I really respect the couples we work with and we hope we can recognize at least in some part what they are going through as they serve the Lord.  

Dear Elder and Sister,

As I read your email it reminded me of my time serving as a young missionary.  I spent nine months as the mission financial secretary.  Most weekdays I would go to the bank and withdraw funds to then go and pay bills in cash. Due to many instances similar to what you have described I became very skeptical and grew to trust no one.  For decades after I returned home I wondered if perhaps I should have done things differently, perhaps trusting and loving the people more.  Upon my return there a few years ago I found that many things had not changed and indeed local business practices were much as I had remembered it.

The challenge seems to be, how do we deal with that every day and not have it taint our love for the people or the work we are called to do? That is something I have yet to fully resolve for myself.  I do know it is a much easier matter to be tolerant or positive about when I am not facing it on a daily basis.  You are on the front lines of the battle and not in one of those spots you read about in the Church News about how well things are going.  My wife and I are praying that both your challenges may diminish and that you may be strengthened so that your burdens may at least seem lighter.

My only suggestion is to use a trusted local individual as much as possible when dealing with money matters.  Use and pay an interpreter, and get reimbursed for the expense.  If the branch president can help you in dealing with church financial matters, you might consider letting him be the face to the locals.  They may be less inclined to try and extract something from a local than a foreigner.  This is one reason we are counseled in humanitarian work to use NGO partners in our projects.

My condolences and concern are sincere, and my advice is probably worth what you paid for it.  Please feel free to call and vent whenever necessary.

Best regards,

Elder Healy

Eileen and Rusell in front of one of the many castles

This white building was in the middle of the Rhine. Functioned as a toll booth

We viewed this train along side the Rhine. It had derailed early Saturday morning injuring 10 people

Interesting mix with camping trailers at the base of this huge castle

Castle on the top of a very high hill

This Dad (or Grandpa) had a unique way to keep the child happy-a steering wheel and umbrella on the sidecar

Massive gates to enter Rheinfels castle

You can't tell how hard it is raining in this picture, but it was coming down hard

Ruins of Rheinfels castle

Looked like a movie-No it was real life, castle in the clouds

Fun to see the name of our daughter on the side of a boat

Paddle wheel boat we took on our return. This boat was built in 1913

         

SHARING OUR FAITH

Today is Father’s Day in the United States. I (Eileen) have been very blessed to have a wonderful father and a good husband who has been a great companion and father to our children.  Usually on Father’s Day we have a big dinner at our house where the fathers in our life can relax and be pampered.  I will miss being with all of our family members today, but I truly do love them. I am grateful to have my best friend as my missionary companion and my eternal companion.

 In our role as humanitarian missionaries we are not allowed to talk about doctrines of our church while working with NGO project partners or with those served by the projects.  This applied to us also while we served in Indonesia as humanitarian missionaries. While serving in the missionary department our role was to work with potential missionaries, mission presidents and stake presidents.  Although this is our third mission we have never had much of an opportunity as missionaries to share what we so firmly believe to be true with others. 

On Friday we had what was for us the rather rare experience of extending invitations to others to explore our faith, and then later that evening to witness the baptism of someone else who had accepted our faith.

In order to live in Germany legally it is necessary to have a resident’s permit within 3 months of arrival.  If we neglect to get one and then travel outside of the EU, we would be barred from reentering Germany.   The emphasis from the HR department has been that we must get our residence permit soon.  We have now been in Germany for six weeks. It is possible to make an appointment for registration but currently the appointments are booked out until next fall. We were asked if we would be willing to “take a chance” and go early on Friday morning to stand in line and see if we could actually get in without an appointment. 

We arrived at the registration building at 7 a.m. only to find a very long line outside of the building. The doors would not open until 7:30 a.m.  We got in line with many other foreigners, most of which appeared to be from the Middle East, Africa and Eastern Europe.  Several people who arrived after us moved their way up through the line past us to be at the front.  While annoying, my husband felt it was inappropriate as a missionary to display righteous indignation – better to “turn the other cheek.”  There was some grumbling among others who had qued up appropriately but I think everyone was afraid of making a disturbance for fear of possibly preventing himself or herself from getting their much needed paperwork completed.

We finally were able to get in to see someone at 10:30 a.m. The conversation regarding the paperwork was done in German with Gabi, a woman from our office, doing the translating.  The woman behind the desk was looking at our papers and became very animated. We were concerned that perhaps something wasn’t in order.  Gabi translated for us the following conversation.  “It says here that your church is called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I have been reading the Bible and this is truly the Latter Days.”  Not exactly what we expected to hear when we were at a government office.  The woman who I will call Gertrude than continued to say that her husband died five years ago on September 11, which also happens to be Russell’s birthday. She said she has been searching for answers but has not found all she is seeking for within the Bible.  I gave her what we call a pass along card in German with a picture of Jesus Christ on the front and a phone number and website address for information on our church.  Gertrude continued to talk about her family and how her son does not want to have any children because he doesn’t want to bring them into such an evil world.  We explained how we have 13 grandchildren and they bring us such joy.  We empathized with her and her desire to have grandchildren.  In the end she gave Gabi her address and said she would like to keep in touch.  This was a most surprising but pleasant occurrence for us.

While talking with Gertrude there was a young couple in the booth next to us trying to process their papers. Unlike us, they had nobody to translate for them. After a few minutes they were sent out of the office. Later we saw them waiting downstairs. Russell asked them if they had been able to get their residence permit.  They said they had to acquire more documentation.  We started visiting with them. The couple was newly arrived from Eritrea.  While talking with them I noticed that the young woman kept staring at my missionary badge. The young man kept fingering a necklace, which turned out to be a cross.  I asked if they were Christian and they responded affirmatively. I was able to give them a pass-a long card, which they seemed to be very appreciative for. I was wishing I had one in English. 

Sometimes we don’t always understand why certain things happen. Was it more than happenstance that our long wait that morning allowed us to be in a place where we could meet Gertrude and the couple from Eritrea?  Or perhaps are there opportunities all around us and we just fail to notice them most of the time.

Friday night I attended the baptism of a beautiful young woman named Matta. She is currently living in Germany and has for several years. Originally Matta was from Iran.  There were at least 100 people who attended the baptism.  Among them were several young men from Iran who have joined our church since immigrating to Germany. Sister Leimer spoke about why we get baptized and the covenants we make.  Elder Hales spoke on the Gift of the Holy Ghost.  He related a meaningful story about the impressions that a young father had regarding his daughter. Those impressions saved the daughter’s life.  Over the years we too have had many such impressions regarding our members of our family.  We are very grateful for the influence of the Holy Ghost in our lives.

We are so grateful to be members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.  If you would like to know more about our beliefs you can go to the website www.mormon.org.

This photo was taken on the day our youngest son was sealed to us in the Bountiful Temple.  It includes Eileen's parents Russell's father and his wife and his two youngest brothers.

Eileen's family growing up. We needed some lessons on color coordination.

At Eileen's parents 50th reunion. Photo taken at the Joseph Smith Building.

Pass along card.

SHE IS HEALED

As mentioned in a previous blog we walk 6 days/week in the cemetery (Hauptfriedhof) near where we live.  Last Monday, for family home evening the couples were given a tour led by Elder and Sister Caracena.  It sounds a little morbid but I (Eileen) found it fascinating. Russell did not attend the activity as he was still at the office.

This cemetery was opened in 1828. The cemetery is located directly adjacent to two Jewish cemeteries, the Old Jewish Cemetery (opened together with the Main Cemetery in 1828) and the New Jewish Cemetery (opened in 1928), and together they constitute one of the largest cemetery areas in Germany. The cemetery is noted for its many monumental graves, its garden architecture and as the site of the graves of many notable individuals. (Wikipedia)

I have found that this is a perfect place each morning to clear our heads and prepare for the day ahead as we exercise. It is densely wooded and many sister missionaries have likened it to their very own “secret garden”.  There are flowers blooming throughout, the smell of sweet lilac and wild rose bushes is abundant.  We have seen a variety of wildlife including a red fox, squirrels, many birds and even a few large hawks.  It is large enough that we could take a different path each day and still not walk the same path over a period of several weeks. It is fascinating to me to see the different headstones here. Many are much more elaborate than we have in the U.S. The graves are well cared for. Stickers are placed on the graves indicating when the grave needs attention, or that the plot lease is almost up.

It has long been the custom in Germany for family members to tend to the graves of departed loved ones.  When family members do not live close enough to care for the grave it is possible to pay the cemetery, or some other party such as a florist, to take over this job. Plots are usually rented for a certain period of time, usually 20 to 30 years, with the possibility of an extension. However eventually, most of the plots will be used for another burial.  We do find in this cemetery many graves that are from the 1800s-early 1900s. We are assuming that those that are older do not have the rental policy as that of the newer graves.

Among the graves that seem especially interesting to us are the resting places for: Alois Alzheimer (the Dr. that initially discovered/identified the disease), the Hindenburg monument (dedicated to those that died in the Hindenburg’s crash in New Jersey), a section for babies and young children of American servicemen who passed away while their parents were serving near Frankfurt, the war memorial to those who died in the 1^st and 2^nd world-wars, and several pavilions dedicated to notable families.

As mentioned earlier, I (Russell) was unable to go with the group on Monday night because I was still working in the office until after 11 pm.  Fortunately, we live very close to the office.  We know it must sound glamorous to others that we attend the temple in Switzerland and go to other countries as part of our work here.  And it is to an extent but it is not a vacation that it may at times sound like.  We tend to work 8:30 am to 5:00 pm most days Monday through Friday.  About one evening a week I will work late in order to get caught up.  We also tend to each spend at least an hour in the evenings (including week-ends) addressing emails or talking on the phone for work related issues.

Eileen used to love going on her Operation Smile missions where she worked as a nurse.  She would go for two weeks at a time and thoroughly love the long hours she spent dealing with the patients and their families.  When serving in Indonesia we found that 60 to 80 percent of our time was not spent with the people benefiting from our projects but in doing computer/paper work and logistical planning, and this surprised her.  I told her that someone else at Operation Smile had been working hard doing similar work in preparation for the two weeks she experienced.  In our current role we are doing that back-office work for the majority of our day with the remainder spent coaching and training the Humanitarian couples we work with here in Europe.

We had some good news this week. Five months ago I (Eileen) broke the bone just above my ankle while vacationing in the Pacific. It was very disconcerting to me as I wondered if we would be able to make our April 18^th MTC date.  Often we don’t realize the blessing of good health or mobility until we don’t have it any longer. Such was the case with me. I was truly grateful that this past Tuesday the orthopedic surgeon here in Frankfurt examined and declared my foot healed. I am very grateful that the break did not keep me from serving this mission and that no surgery was required.

It is wonderful to be able to drive again. Going to the doctor was the first time I have driven in Germany and the first time I have driven more than a few miles since I broke my leg.  My appointment was about 45 minutes away. Since Russell was busy I had another sister missionary go with me.  The trip went really well until we were just a few blocks from the doctor’s office. The GPS told me to turn right and then take an immediate right, which I did. I mentioned to Sister Jensen that the road seemed kind of narrow. I continued down it as the road became more and more narrow. A few people stared at me. At the end of the road there was a sign stating that this was a designated bike and walking path. In the U.S. we don’t have bike paths big enough to drive down. Sister Jensen and I both got a good laugh out of my “faux pas.”

Monument to those that died in the Hindenburg accident

Alzheimer's grave

I love this "Christus" statue-a similar one is in the Temple Square visitor's center

Very ornate family monument

War memorial

U.S. Servicemen's children's graves

Family Mausoleum

You can go inside

The ceiling in the mauseoleum had engraved stars and flowers in gold leaf on the ceiling, there were also stairs to go to the basement where there were more tributes to family members.

MISSIONARIES IN MONTENEGRO

This past week we went to Podgorica, Montenegro to help train the Olsons in their humanitarian work.  If you have looked at our MTC pictures Sister Olson was the one with the broken arm. She broke it on the first day at the MTC and had surgery on it 2 days before leaving for Montenegro. We were so impressed with the determination they showed to make it to Montenegro despite the challenges they were facing.  The Olsons have just recently returned from a mission to Ghana where they were used to making the best of hard situations.

Montenegro is in South Eastern Europe. It has a coast on the Adriatic Sea to the southwest and is bordered by Croatia to the northwest, Serbia to the northeast, and Albania to the southeast. Serbian is the language spoken by most of the people.  We didn’t go to the coast during our time there but according to a local young woman I spoke with on the plane some of the most beautiful beaches and also mountains are in Montenegro.

Elder and Sister Olson have their work cut out for them.  Other than the four young missionaries and themselves, there are less than a dozen members of our church in the country. He is the branch president (or spiritual leader of the congregation).  She is the primary president (children’s organization, 4 children attending), and they both teach institute (young adults, 3 attending) on Friday nights. They also supervise and help care for the young missionaries serving in Podgrica.  While we were there they were also shopping and doing the cooking for a branch party on Saturday.  We went to the grocery store with them and it was really the largest and best stocked grocery store I have seen in a while. The food is delicious there with what seemed to be an Italian influence.

The first night we arrived Elder Olson pulled out his wallet to pay for the parking at the airport. Later that evening when we were going to get some dinner, he couldn’t find his wallet. Russell and Elder Olson went down to the car assuming he had left it there. They were gone for a really long time and came back empty handed.  We scoured the apartment looking for it. We knew that if we didn’t find it there could be some serious challenges.  Sister Olson said a very heart-rending prayer beseeching God for help in finding the wallet. We went back to the car, she pulled back the seat on the passenger side and there was the wallet. Russell and Elder Olson looked stunned. They had both pulled that seat back with no success in finding it.  I am confident that we had an immediate answer to a sincere prayer.

Initially we had a lot of important but mundane topics to address with the Olsons. Part of the training we needed to accomplish was to teach our Church’s specific direction in how to identify and structure potential humanitarian projects  (spend funds), how to keep track of humanitarian projects on the computer, and how to track humanitarian funds and get bills paid.  After a couple of days of it Eileen  and Sister Olson needed to get out. We went to a shop and were trying unsuccessfully to communicate with the owner.  A young lady approached us and said that she could speak English and would translate for us. Ana was a delightful young lady working in a prominent position at a local bank. She offered to assist the Olsons in any way that she could and gave us her card.  This was truly a blessing as the Olsons speak very little Serbian and could benefit from some networking as they search for projects.

We went to lunch at “Niagara Falls”, a beautiful location with some falls that look like a very miniature Niagara.  Afterwards we took a drive to some ancient roman ruins called Doclea. On Sept. 7, 2010 Elder Russell M Nelson, visited Montenegro. He and a small group of members in Podgorica assembled at the ruins of Doclea, remnants of a Roman Empire civilization dating back to the year 1 A.D.  Elder Nelson said, "At those ruins I knelt in prayer to bless the land and the people of Montenegro."  It was wonderful to see a location with such rich history both dating back to the time of Christ, and then also where an apostle of God had prayed for the people of Montenegro.

Wednesday we had a visit with two officials of the local Red Cross.  We have a shipment of 600 wheelchairs that will soon be arriving at the port. Our church has partnered with the Red Cross to fit and distribute the wheelchairs to those in need.  This will be the fifth shipment of wheelchairs our church has donated in Montenegro.

Thursday we went to a facility called Komanski Most. This institution has 115 residents who have various mental disabilities.  We met with the director and four other employees and then took a tour of the facility. We were impressed with the cleanliness of the facility, the love and care the employees showed to the clients and the efforts that were being made to help each individual become as independent as possible. Arts and crafts were being done in one room complete with classical music playing in the background. In an outdoor location rock music was playing over the loudspeaker with men dancing to the music. There was a sensory stimulation room for the 13 residents with autism. Recently our church donated a greenhouse so that vegetables could be grown.  The hope is that the adult men and women will learn some gardening skills and also be able to benefit from their labors by eating the produce that is grown.

We truly enjoyed our visit to Montenegro with the Olsons.

Millenial Bridge in Podgorica

This was the mundane part of the training

The Falls

Roman Ruins

Russell and Eileen at Roman Ruins

Inscriptions on ruins

More inscriptions

Sister Olson and Sister Healy

Orthodox church in Podgorica

At Komanski-this woman was a resident who wanted to make sure the other residents were working

The director at Komanski with 3 of the residents-they were very anxious to have photo taken

Greenhouse donated to Komanski from our church