PERSPECTIVE

On the weeks that we are in town, we try to go to the gym.  The building we work in has a very nice facility.  We have found that it is difficult to go during lunch because we always seem to be too busy.  Going before or after work is complicated by our sharing a car with another couple. On a few days, the elder with whom we share a car has wanted to stay after and go to the gym while his wife got a ride home with other missionaries.  This week we were blessed by two other couples who were traveling and allowed us to use their cars for a few days while they were gone.  This has allowed Elder and Sister Walch, the couple we share a car with and us to each have a car to ourselves this week.  We and several other couples who are carsharing are looking into leasing our own cars during our stay here.  While the cost is at least double the amount that we would be charged by the Church for a car, it would be nice not to have to keep to a set time schedule to start and stop work each day, and to not be without a car every other weekend. 

On Friday Eileen and I both had interesting experiences in the gym.  That day Eileen tried for the first and probably last time to try going at the beginning of the day.  I figured I could cover for us in the office.  It just so happened that we had a fire alarm evacuation while she was working out.  Fortunately, she was on the treadmill at the time, an elder was actually in the shower when the alarm went off.  I should have taken a picture of us all standing in the parking lot.  Eileen was freezing, sweating without a coat.  One of the other couples who had their car keys let Eileen sit in their car until the drill was over.

That evening after work we both went to the gym.  The lockers all have combination locks that you set yourself.  I had heard of others being locked out of their lockers when the locks failed to reopen.  But my experience had always been good until that night.  By the time I realized that my locker would not open, almost everyone had gone home.  Someone had to be called back into the office to reopen my locker.  The employees told us that the locks failing to reopen happens all the time.  Good to now know.  I won’t lock my locker anymore.

Yesterday, Eileen was texting with a Sister living in the UAE.  She and her husband are volunteers there working with Family History.  Eileen started texting her a week ago when we first heard of the air strikes in Iran.  Her description of how they were under their desks, sheltering-in-place while listening to explosions and rockets passing nearby made our problems with carsharing and the gym seem quite insignificant.  I feel very blessed and fortunate to live in a clean and safe place, where my worry is what I will choose to eat and not if I will have anything to eat. Far too often I get caught up in my rather trivial problems while many others of God’s children are suffering truly serious and grave issues.  I am grateful for the opportunity to serve, to work on humanitarian and disaster relief projects.  From the office sometimes I lose site of the suffering those benefiting from the projects are experiencing

This a lego version of Neuschwanstein Castle done by Norbert in the Area Office.  It has 11,000 pieces. 

We were invited over to the Silvestors apartment for FHE and ice cream potatoes. We thought it was a typo, but it wasn't.  Ice cream shaped into a potato.  

We have quite a nice gym at the office.  The Germans are serious about having the office decked out with healthy opportunities.  We have a resting room with 4 massage chairs, a massage room with a massage therapist who comes to offer free massages. (I have yet to get in on that deal).  Fresh fruit and veggies are delivered to the office each Monday and Wednesday.  It is a nice option if you didn't have time to get a lunch

                                     

       

It seems like eating this pizza counteracts any benefit of going to the gym, but it was very good.  Russell and I shared this pizza. Most people were eating one pizza per person.  We thought it was way too big for one person to eat.  

We bought a 3 Euro vase at Woolworths, the roses were 6 Euros. Russell said he will get me fresh flowers each week. 

We saw lots of  people driving convertibles yesterday. The weather has been beautiful.