OKTOBERFEST

Dear Friends,

This week we worked hard in the office as we were, for most of the week, the only ones on duty. We updated directories, mailed materials, counseled with an area authority about PA work and finalized our Christmas card list  for the 11,000 Christmas cards sent out by our Public Affairs directors. Elaine photo-edited the many member pictures taken by Elder and Sister Foote during their assignment in Albania.  Albania is on track to have their first stake this next March and the District the Footes visited has 35 missionaries out from their families.  These are a faithful people who are receiving the reward of their sacrifice. Those of you who can deal with us taking pictures of our weekend outings and not make insinuations about dedication, please read on.  If not, please stop reading now, and have a nice day.

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For the rest of you, at the request of our missionary buddies, we did an outing on Germany's national unity day holiday Thursday because our office was closed and the country was closed and because  they were carpeting the floors in the office so we could not get in, and also the wash was done and it only takes 30 minutes to clean our apartment and we need a break sometimes and it can be boring to sit in our apartment all day long.

 Elaine organized a quick 3-dorf day trip with our friends the Eyres who came from the MTC with us, our new friends the Footes, from Las Vegas, who replaced the Livingstones, and with our cute newly-wed intern couple, Casmin and Jordon Wisner.  Here we are in front of the lake/moat of the castle at Mespelbrunn.  This 1100's castle escaped the destruction of the 30-years war and has stayed in the family with the current inhabitant a descendant of centuries of Lords and Ladies.

Royalty had to prove their nobility back 4 generations to claim a right to reign.  This family made fun stained glass coats of arms of their ancestors to remind visitors of their blue-blooded parentage.  This castle is so well hidden it escaped all wars unscathed.

                                                                                   

Our next town was Werthiem with the largest ruins in southern Germany since they did not do as well in avoiding the the 30-years war :( The ruins sit above the confluence of the Tauber and Main Rivers.

More coat of arms plaques on the castle entrance to remind people of the nobility they were about to encounter.










This statue is unique because it is the resurrected Christ holding the cross.  Christ's foot rests on the skull of Adam often seen at the foot of the cross representing Christ's victory over the fall of Adam.

Very possible these flags are being flown because it is Germay's National Unity Day.  We will never get over the beautiful healthy window flower boxes we see in many places.  Sure wish we could do this in Utah.

You can tell you are in a historic part of town when you encounter these beautiful ornate and detailed iron sign displays.  This one belongs to the oldest hotel in Germany - the Hotel Riesen in Miltenberg on the Main River just above Frankfurt.

 Unlike last, this year we are getting some fall colors.  This is our view from the apartment balcony.

Sisters Stoker and Smith with one of Elaine's primary girls, Avery Ebert, who was baptized on Saturday.  Missionaries here are incredible dealing with much rejection and disappointment they smile on with the best attitudes.  They invited us to come teach Saturday but the appointment fell through.

New carpet in the Area Offices this week.

Elaine keeps the deck swabbed in our happy missionary apartment and its little toy kitchen.

Luckily we happened to visit the Wertheim Castle the day the Queen was at home and we were able to get her picture up here on the ramparts.