Frankfurt for Mission President Seminar

We were able to attend the Europe Area Mission President's Seminar. It started Tuesday evening the 25th for dinner and ended Thursday the 27th at 3 pm. It was held in Frankfurt at the New Century Hotel. Our room was lovely and we really enjoyed our stay! At dinner Tuesday we got to sit at the table with Elder Kearon and his wife Jen. Also, with the Packer's who are serving in the Spain MTC. We haven't seen them since we served together in California. That was such a fun treat for us. 

Wednesday was full of training and I got to meet many of the Presidents and Wives that we send our missionaries to when they leave the MTC. What great people! They would say to me, "Thanks for taking such good care of our missionaries." I have to remind myself that they aren't mine...they are theirs. Oh well, I think it will make it easier to send them off because I know what outstanding people they are headed to.

At the end of our day, we got to walk into the downtown area of Frankfurt along the river Mein. I have never seen so many people out exercising in my life! They were biking, running, walking, canoeing (like the olympics) and who knows what else. It was impressive! I have learned why it is impossible to allow the geese to reproduce on our pond. As we walked along the river, it was a filthy mess from all of the ducks and geese and babies. (gross and nasty!)

These were some of the sights from our walk.

Every town has an old church that is being restored.

The locks again on the bridge.

New downtown area.

Government building in old downtown.

When Jon asked me what I wanted to eat I said, "I want to find some Weiner Schnitzel." I have very fond memories of it from my study abroad days in Baden. So we walked around the downtown area and came upon a pretty small restaurant that was advertising schnitzel that looked like my memories. We decided to go in. IT WAS DELICIOUS! Even Jon liked it! The bread and salad dressing in Germany were very tasty as well. Who would think a person would get so excited about salad dressing? Well, we did!

Thursday we had training until 3 pm. One thing that has stayed with me was said by President Ivory who is serving in Romania. He will be finished in a few weeks and had an opportunity to speak to us. He told of an experience they had at the end of their first year of service. They had an eleven year old son that came with them who had had a very difficult time his first year out. When Elder Bednar came to visit, after his meetings, he went and spent one hour with their son in his hotel room. Elder Bednar later told of the experience in a "Face to Face" that he was doing. He spoke about his service as an apostle, and that it was "one by one". (Elder Bednar had spoken to us about that same idea when we were being trained in the MTC.) He said he was sent to Romania to minister to this twelve year old boy, and oh by the way, preside over the conference where they were. President Ivory said after he had this experience he started writing everyday in his planner one word. WHO? His focus that day would be on who the Lord needed him to minister to. I also have been writing WHO? in my planner. I hope to be more mindful and open to doing what the Lord wants me to do everyday, for those of His children that need it.

The Area Presidency and their Wives bore their testimonies at the close and the Kearon's let us know they are getting a new assignment. They will be leaving Germany. We will miss seeing them on occasion. They are very dear, kind people who have been so good to us and our family. We love them.

We jumped on a bus to the airport at 4 and our flight didn't leave until 10:30 that evening. It was a LONG day. It is sweet to be with all of these good people who are working in the same cause as we are. They understand what our life is like, well maybe not ours since we are in the MTC, but we could totally relate to theirs. It is a blessing to be working with missionaries and their investigators and new converts. Life is good!