Well, the weeks are dwindling down with just ten left, and I will give you this one in review. We said goodbye to our young Elder Brown on Wednesday morning and welcomed to Rostock Elder Openshaw who is almost finished with his mission..going home just a few weeks after we do, so he no doubt will send us off. Hopefully that will be the case as my heart can't take much more of saying goodbye to these young missionaries who we come to love so much. I feel ever so grateful for all of them and hope that wherever in the world you are that you can love the missionaries, be kind to them and oh yes, feed them when you can!! Need help? Call the missionaries! They delight in service! They are out here at their own expense because they love God and desire to serve Him.
Wednesday afternoon we met our dear friend Seigrid at the church...remember her? The one who doesn't believe in God or the afterlife? Anyway, as I shared, her husband has a fatal brain tumor and is dying...he is still at home and she doesn't get out much, but decided to come out that afternoon and see a few friends. We were grateful that we were on that list and had a good visit with her. Maybe next week when she comes back to learn some "English" we can re visit that life after death conversation. I hope so.
Thursday was a "card making" activity with a few Relief Society sisters. The head gal who was teaching us (visiting from out of town) had a few funny choice German words to say about mine as I tend to end up with crooked lace, paper etc. etc. but it was great fun and we each made two lovely cards. It was a small group, but a lot of laughter and my Angelika and Gentz were nearby to interpret what I needed to hear.
Saturday we had District meeting with our four missionaries and got to know the new ones a little bit more...two always come over from Schwerin about an hour away..we have our new Elder Openshaw (new to us, not to the mission) and Elder Souza Lima in Schwerin now who is from Brazil. I had made taco soup that I thought was way too spicy but they LOVED it! For next district meeting tomorrow I am making a Brazilian Stew with black beans and a ton of meat in yes, my ever faithful crockpot. Gentz made his annual Bunny bread! We love feeding the missionaries.
Sunday was a great day at church with several visitors and we had Daniel over for lunch with the Elders. He had made Gentz an Africa shirt with a sewing machine we gave him that was our dear Sister Schlunze's ( who died last year). Daniel was a tailor by trade back in Ghana and the shirt is so beautifully made. Then we took a meal over to the Bernhardts who just had their little baby Aurora on Saturday morning. After that, Katharina, our neighbor came over and visited for a couple of hours as well as the elders as I always love for them to meet her.
Yesterday we went to visit Elke and Peter and watch slides of their Egyptian Tour. Elke is a shopowner right around the corner who I have gotten to know fairly well and she has been wanting to have us over to their apartment for some time. It was a fun couple of hours with them and they were ever so hospitable with cake and tea of course...Gentz had to eat 3 pieces of cake!! But as he said it is not as rich as American cake..more like whipped cream, so he was fine! We so love getting to know these hospitable Germans better and I have certainly learned more about being a good host! There is always food, tea and great conversation and many laughs!
So, there we have it..the news this week from rainy Rostock! We so appreciate all of your prayers and your friendship. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! I will close with this scripture that I love from Doctrine and Covenants 6:14; "Verily, verily, I say unto thee, blessed art thou for what thou hast done; for thou hast inquired of me, and behold, as often as thou hast inquired thou hast received instruction of my Spirit. If it had not been so, thou wouldst not have come to the place where thou art at this time." I love thinking about that....as we inquire of the Lord He guides us through His spirt and we know that we are led by Him. I am so looking forward to General Conference this weekend and being able to "sit at the feet" of the prophet and apostles and leaders as they give us the divine direction through the spirit of what the Lord would have us know at this time. If you want to hear some really great talks from inspired men and women, tune in to LDS.ORG and watch on Saturday and Sunday...you won't be disappointed!
We are grateful for the sacred privilege to be here at this time on this mission and know we are right where we need to be. Our lives have been enriched, our hearts have grown and our testimony that God loves all of His Children has indeed been strengthened. Happy Easter and remember that He is ALWAYS THERE!!
