FROM HOMBORG TO HAMBURG

Almost all the senior missionaries serving in the area office live in an apartment complex just outside Frankfurt in a town named Bad Homburg.  By going through the large underground parking lot, we can reach all the other missionaries’ apartments without ever going outdoors.   After serving in Missouri, I really appreciate having a garage to park in.  Many of the parking spots are elevated so that two cars can occupy one space.

On Monday evening we boarded a train that took us to Hamburg, on the north coast.  Hamburg is Germany’s largest port city.  We took an express train, which traveled at speeds over 150 mph.  

Our meeting on Tuesday was with Caritas im Norden.  Caritas is a global confederation of over 160 Catholic charity organizations working in more than 200 countries; the group we met with is their charity in northern Germany.  We were referred to this group by the Caritas people we are doing another project with from Vienna.  In the Europe Central Area, our humanitarian efforts are focused on doing larger projects and partnering with other NGOs, rather than doing many smaller projects directly with beneficiaries.  The hope is that by doing this, our Church’s humanitarian efforts can reach and benefit more people.

The Caritas representatives we met with were both very professional and delightful. They showed us three projects that they are working on that we could possibly partner on.  One focused on volunteers providing services to migrants and impoverished individuals that need help in a variety of ways.  The second, focused on giving aid to the refugees from the war in Ukraine.  And the third involves creating a center where homeless women will be housed, receive counseling and be taught life skills. 

We said goodbye to Elder and Sister Lamb on Wednesday.  We appreciate very much the efforts that they have taken to teach us.  Now we are on our own.  The first thing we did in the office on Friday morning was make up a list of things we knew needed to be done and divided the tasks between us.  It seemed to work well, so we will possibly continue the practice until we figure out a better way to apportion the work between us.   It feels good to me (Russell) to once again be working closely with Eileen in a common assignment after our last two missions where we had different assignments.

This is our apartment building.  There are several buildings with a common garage where the senior missionaries live.  We go to each others apartments through the garage. 

The cars in the garage are stacked on top of each other. Ours is the top car.  Russell has to turn on the elevator which takes the car on the bottom down so that we can drive our car off the ramp.

                           

We used the 4 hour train trip (each way) to work. Sister Lamb taught each of us to write up projects during the trip. 

                                         

The ICE train (Inner City Express) was extremely smooth. We couldn't even tell we were moving, despite going 246 km per hour as indicated on this sign.

                                                     

We didn't want to haul our luggage around on visits. We fit our computer, toiletries and clean clothes for the next day in Russell's briefcase. That was a first for Eileen to pack so lightly.

Despite being very cold, there were several flower shops displaying bouquets outside.

Elder and Sister Lamb, Healy and Waldal spent the day with representatives from Caritas.  The Waldals are a couple who serve between two German missions (Hamburg and Berlin).

                               

We were taken to a project where Ukrainian refugees are allowed to come and choose free clothes.  The clothes are all donated, washed and sorted by size.  It was extremely well organized.. This project is operated by a number of volunteers, most of which speak Ukrainian. 

                                        

                                                 

These two girls have organized the project.  They were delightful, both are Ukrainian. 

On our return to the train station there was a very large peaceful protest taking place.  We couldn't figure out what they were protesting. There was a very large police presence there.

In the mall where we went to get registered to live in Germany, there were surprise Amazon boxes in a vending machine.  Each box cost 12 Euros. I (Eileen) thought it would be really fun to buy one.  It is a good thing I am not a gambler.  

  There is a designated parking place to tie up your dog while shopping. 

FAITH PRECEDES THE MIRACLE

 Six weeks ago, Eileen started to come down with what was later diagnosed as Influenza A.  Initially she was given Tamiflu and then was given antibiotics and prednisone as it progressed.   She began to recover but was left with a persistent harsh cough.  Her cough seemed to become increasingly worse and was described by her doctor as severe bronchitis.  By Monday, Jan. 5, one week prior to our departure date, both of us felt a sort of panic begin to set in.  It would be very difficult for Eileen to fly in her condition.  On that day the doctor proscribed another round of prednisone for inflammation in her lungs and antibiotics as a precaution against the possibility of pneumonia occurring; the prednisone helps with the inflammation which causes the cough but decreases the bodies’ ability to fight off infection.  On Tuesday, I had a minor surgical procedure performed.  The procedure went well but I caught a nasty cold from being at the hospital.  By Thursday we were both in a very sorry state.  We were doing everything we could do from a medical perspective to get well but that was not working.  We were praying, begging God to heal us so that we could get on the plane and then keep up the busy schedule that was planned for our first week here.  On Saturday morning we called our bishop and asked him to give us priesthood blessings.  If we were to get better, it was not going to happen as quickly as we needed it any other way than for God to heal us.  By Sunday we had made amazing progress and on Monday morning boarded the plane.  For us, a miracle had occurred.  It was a poignant reminder that God was aware of us and mindful of our needs.

 As we have done during our prior full-time missions, Eileen and I will try to write weekly about what we encounter during our time serving here in Frankfurt, Germany (the Europe Central Area office).  Our calling as Welfare Specialists primarily has us involved in finding and implementing humanitarian projects, initially in the countries of Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Italy and Malta.  Our predecessors, Elder and Sister Lamb, have told us to expect change in our assigned countries over time.

I (Eileen) would like to add my perceptions on our first few days in Germany.  We were greeted at the airport by our Zone Leaders (the Silvestors).  At the apartment the Smiths (over housing) helped us move in and explained some unique aspects of the apartment.  It has been non-stop assistance since that time with receiving support from other couples.  We have over 30 couples, one single sister and three single men in the Europe Central Area office.  This is by far the most senior missionaries we have ever served with on one of our missions, other than the Church Headquarters Mission.  The areas which our couples serve are as follows:  Area Physicians, Area Mental Health, Education and Employment Specialist, Humanitarian, Self-Reliance, ESL/Member Leader Support, Area Infield Representative, Family Services, Family History, Church History, Legal, Young Single Adults, Area Executive Secretary, Computer Support, Records Preservation and Communications. Having this large number of missionaries means we have a huge army of people to call on for support.

The Lambs have gone to a great deal of work to prepare to train us. Sister Lamb has been going into the office at 6:30 am.  We will get emails from her as late as 9 or 10 p.m.  We are so grateful that physically we have been able to handle the vast amount of information which is being passed on to both of us. We really appreciate their efforts.

                        

We attended Humanitarian training at the MTC in November. As you can see Eileen was too                short to point to Germany so she pointed as high as she was able.                   

This is a photo of the other Humanitarian couples who trained with us at the MTC. Each couple has been assigned to various parts of the world.

Don't look if squeamish. This was taking out of Russells back just 6 days prior to our leaving. It was the size of a grapefruit.

                                 

Russell and Eileen at the SLC airport. Not feeling really chipper, but so grateful that we made it.

Maybe showing a lack of faith but this is NyQuil in traveling size bottles.  Helpful for the trip.

We made it to Germany.

The Smiths stocked our fridge and cupboards with food to get us through a few days which was very appreciated.

Eileen and Russell with Elder and Sister Lamb

Missionaries and employees from the Welfare/Self-Reliance department at the going away party for the Lambs.  The department as grown significantly since we served here 10 years ago.

The first 3 nights dinner was brought to us or we were taken out to a restaurant. This is with Elder and Sister Denny at what might very well become our favorite Italian restaurant.

We had a conference call with the Herways who are serving in Milan. Tom Herway was our bishop when we lived in Belgium 25 years ago.  He and his wife also served in Italy as refugee specialists 10 years ago when we were here. That is a miracle story by itself.

The Lambs organized a dinner for the humanitarian missionaries at the Eschenheimer Turm Cafe. This    place is a 15th century landmark with an outdoor cafe located at the bottom.  The biggest surprise was to utilize the restroom meant a walk up 45 circular stairs to the lookout tower where the restrooms were located. 

Healys, Lambs, Muellecks and Sutterfields