Hallo von Frankfurt: Niederwald Monument

Sunday, September 21, 2008

Niederwald Monument

Once a month the missionary couples get together for an excursion. So on Saturday we went 40 miles WS to the Niederwald Monument above Rudesheim. We rode a chair lift over the grape vineyards, then walked for 30 minutes to a beautiful picturesque scene overlooking the Rhein River. The monument symbolizes the rebuilding of the German Empire after the French-German war 1879-71. The main figure is Germania, holding up the German Emperor's crown in her right hand and the imperial sword in her left hand.

We then took another 30 minute walk through a German forest, around a hunting castle and to a game reserve where another chair lift took us down into the town of Assmannshausen. After shopping and refreshments we caught a boat going up the Rhein river back to Rudesheim. We passed three castles and the town of Bingen but didn't have enough time to stop and explore so we plan on going back.

We just happened to have a big bag of carrots for our lunch, but the deer enjoyed them for their's.

The Rhein is beautiful this time of year. A few leaves were started to show fall colors.

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Opening the Call

This is where is all began. We are excited to be here in Germany. Books are being printed in German and should be finished in a month. Councils have come together and were very sucessful. Power Points and module training programs are being created. Our days are busy and go very fast, before we know it we've missed lunch. We are expecting proposals to be approved shortly, then watch it fly. We have testimonies of the work we are doing and the help that will be provided for addiction recovery.

Frankfurt Temple

I have had many opportunities to step out of my comfort zone. As eight of the missionary couples met at the Area Pres. home for dinner, Pres. Oak's turned to me and said, "Sister Atkinson, will you offer the prayer for us?" I thought to myself, "Me? In front of a medical doctor, a psychologist, a lawyer, an accountant, two Area Executive Secretaries, two Seventies, you're asking me to pray?" Then all of a sudden, the courage came. I put a smile on my face and said, "Thank you, I would be glad to." The Spirit touched my heart and I prayed beyond my ability. I know now that if I just desire and try, the Lord will make me capable.

Switzerland a Dream Come True

I remember Great Grandma Feller who came from Switzerland. I remember her egg nog and German fritter pancakes. After her husband died at age 36 of tyhoid fever, she raised their 3 sons by herself. As a young child I attended her funeral. The night of her viewing, during a sudden rain storm, I dropped my very own package of juicy fruit gum in the gutter and watched it wash away. I started to cried. Thinking I was crying for Grandma, they showed me her small white slippers and her beautiful white dress. I quit crying because I knew I was looking at an angel. Her father, Christian Feller, spoke only German when they left Switzerland. Their first home was a dirt dugout in the hills near SLC. Their sacrifice has blessed our lives with the gospel.

What does your membership in the church mean to you?