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.