Yea! Social Security here we come....

It was a Happy Birthday....

I just don't get tired of looking across our desks

at this handsome face each day. Grant is talking to our area welfare Director William Blacoe. He's the one eating cake. William is from Ireland and currently working on an enormous undertaking of writing a book about each word in the New Testament. Grant helps to edit his work. William uses 29 translations in various languages, while viewing four different monitors, along with dictionaries, encyclopedias, books and articles. The paper dad is editing tonight is on the word Conscience and is 21 pages long....amazing.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANT!

October 23, and here we are singing happy birthday to Grant. We are on the third floor of the Area office building and the tradition here is to be treated to cake and ice cream by the one celebrating their birthday. We served a very moist carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. The oven in our apartment has settings I've never seen before, so it has been a guessing game when it comes to baking. Will it be done, or dry or burnt? I have mastered brownies, banana nut bread and that's good considering I only have two pans to work with, a bunt and a disposable tin.

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times...

There's nothing like a five mile walk, on a medieval cobble stone road, through a beautiful autumn forest to lift your spirit's and clear your head. Oh the blessings we have...

On this stained glass widow are the four generation of the family that owned the castle. When a knight married he had to prove that his four great-grandfathers were of a noble family. It is the so-called proof of nobility.

Lord Echter was 49 when the castle was finished and his wife was 44. This is the poem above them:

Matrimonial love in God and constant faithfulness,

Will bring you happiness and blessing without any trouble.

With earnestness and diligence we have trusted in God,

For our children's welfare we have built this house.

Their son who inherited the castle, Count Ingelheim Echter and his wife had 22 children and their son who inherited the castle next had 18 children. One of their cousins was shot for the attempted murder of Hitler. Dad's minor at BYU was history, and we are surrounded by it and enjoy it. This castle protected the road we walked on. What a beautiful, peaceful day we had... bonus, we believe that Marie-Antoinette Countess von Ingelheim heiress of Mespelburnn was our personal guide on the tour, she looked a lot like the picture of her in the Knights' Hall and was so very informative.

Mespelbrunn is one of the castles in northern Bavaria, that was not destroyed in the Thirty years War nor any other. Its origin goes back to the thirteenth century. So Mespelbrunn is one of the few castles in Germany that has retained its original form and furniture.

We are surrounded by the effects of change in our economic situation, the value of the Euro is dropping and people of Germany are keeping an eye on the United States and the domino effect. Our prayers are with our children and friends as we ride this roller coaster together. President Boyd K. Packer speaking Sunday, Oct. 12 to his home ward told them that, "Hard times are ahead...It's important to listen to the Spirit. We are led by prophets and apostles. We can see ahead. We can be and are prepared. Turn off the television and focus on family. Pay your tithing. The promise is there - pay your tithing and you'll be watched over. You'll be alright. None of us is exempt from trials. If hard times come upon you...do what you're supposed to do and you'll be comforted. Sure trials will come. Because of them faith will increase. Happiness will increase. Security will increase. You'll be glad to be alive at this time. It's a good time to be living, to be raising children. I leave this testimony, counsel, and blessing."

Just think of Medieval times, ninety percent of the people were poor, illiterate peasants - ruled by kings, nobles and bishops. Most children died before adulthood. Thirty years was a long life. Plague was a constant fear. People worked the land, hoping only to survive the winter. Life for most was a dreary preparation for heaven. The Christian Church gave people hope for a better life after death.

October 3, German Holiday

Working in the office is very enjoyable, we have a large window that faces North so we watch the storms roll by each day. In Germany you can experience all four seasons in one morning.

We are busy putting together training material for the newly German translated ARP program to be presented to Stake Presidents and Bishops. Our first visit will be to the Nuremberg stake and the Munich stake. We found the thoughts we needed in our morning scripture study, and our friend and office neighbor the mission Psychologist happened to show us a book he brought from the MTC which included a guide for Bishops that has already been church approved... we feel directed in our efforts as we prepare to present the program to German speaking countries.






The office is closes for all German Holidays, in fact William our director always has an interesting sight for us to see and visit. This is a picture of a one those experiences. This tree is a Cedar of Lebanon planted in 1820, the year of Joseph Smith's first vision. These trees are beautiful and their cones grow pointing up.


This is the Burg Ronneburg just 45 minutes from our apt. On this weekend they were having a medieval celebration. Many booths and many people dresses in costume for the occasion. We saw sword fighting, magic act, and listened to several different musical instruments. We loved the view from the castle tower and had it all to ourselves.

On the Fjord

Visit to Goteborg, Sweden

We had a great experience watching dedicated members of the church come together in an effort of concern and expression of love to help correct behavior. These good colleagues and friends shared with ideas and encouragement as they discussed challenges they each encountered. The day went very quickly and soon it was time to watch them bid each other farewell until January. I have reflect upon the example they are to me, faithful in their personal life and sincere as leaders of their various countries... Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and England. United by a common goal, to not only help people, but to also bring them unto Jesus Christ, where individual recovery takes place. I know that the Lord has prepared these good people, for this program could not function without them.

As you can see the weather was overcast and a little cool but very comfortable. Because we had a little time after our flight arrived, our host had scheduled a boat trip through the Fjord's for us. And since he was raised in Goteborg, he made an excellent tour guide. We traveled from Saltholmen Harbor to the Island of Branno. There we walked across the island, caught another ferry for the islands of Styrso, Kopstadso, Aspero and then back to the Saltholmen Harbor. While on Branno, the fire alarms sounded. The only vehicle on the island, I believe, was the fire truck. All others traveled by foot, bicycle or motorbike. Dad caught this short footage of the firemen headed back to the station.