My Birthday Week in Germany!

Had a great day with hearing from our kids via texts and all of the wonderful facebook messages (gotta love facebook for that, right?) The day ended with a visit which turned out to be a birthday dinner to a couple of families way out in the sticks...darling houses inside..no idea what they looked like on the outside as it was pitch black. Here in Germany you take your shoes off when you go into the house and she had some handmade slippers for us to put on. This was like 7 pm and we had already eaten dinner but out came this huge gnocchi casserole....she is apparently an awesome cook. I had to explain myself of course..well, dad did for me since they spoke no English. Then out came the cake, but I told her the sparkling water she provided (they all drink that over here) was my treat. I guess she didn't understand the flour sugar bit as she sent us home with all the casserole and the cake and a gift bag full of chocolates and jam. Oh, and she also gave me some handknit socks. So sweet! I figure surely that will be my toughest one yet, but they are all so hospitable they want to feed you every time you come visit. Not like that thankfully. I suppose they will get used to me and my "strange" eating habits  But we had a great evening laughing and talking, so it was all good.And I took the food to the missionaries on the way home 

We had a lovely walk together over near the Rostock Wall. Centuries ago the city was surrounded by a brick wall for protection. Most of it is down now, but still enough to get an idea and they added a lovely park and walking path right along the wall. On one side of the wall you can see old towers and buildings, and on the other side, tall apartment and new office buildings. We bought a picture today of the tower and the man was telling us that the very street that we were on at the time was totally flattened during the war. It is now a lovely brick street with shops and offices on either side leading up to the town square. I am continually amazed by the stamina and rebuilding that went on in postwar Germany. Gentz and I both got our hair cut this morning and the owner of the salon who is 47 years old was telling us as so many do that things were better before the reunification of East and West Germany and taking down of the Wall back in the eighties. During that time, everyone had jobs because if you didn't work, you went to jail. True, you couldn't travel to the west or anywhere else, but they didn't know any different. So, once communism was gone, people lost jobs, many were depressed and alcoholism took a strong hold. It was a very difficult time for the East Germans; some people from West Germany even came back and demanded that their land be given back to them or their house if someone else were living on it. None of us knew any of this..we just thought it was wonderful that they were now a free people! And I suppose it IS wonderful now, but at the time, it wasn't so great.

Our neighbors, Sven and Manya...he's an elementary teacher and she is an architect, had a baby girl last week and named her Gretta. I can hear her crying through the walls..sweet sound! So many noises I 'm not used to...people walking around in the apartment above us,.traffic outside, children laughing, people walking everywhere, but not minding it..it is all rather invigorating!

We went out to eat at a charming restaurant with a couple, Bodo and Sigrid,  from our English speaking class this week.  Gentz says that the Germans understand gemütlichkeit (try pronouncing that!!) It is cozy enjoyment usually with friends and family. The restaurants are the most charming I've every seen!! The owner always walks about and checks on your meal and how you are doing and even offered us a small glass of vodka at the end of the meal! How's THAT for hospitality:)) (we didn't take it:))

It seems there are little tables everywhere, to sit out or inside and enjoy the bakery that you find in every grocery store and on every street corner. Just within 5 minutes of us there are ten bakeries!!

We do a lot of visiting and stair climbing, since many people live in apartment buildings with no elevators. Here is a picture of Government Housing where Rostock is allowing the refugees to live. It looks very similar to all of the apartment buildings here just not as many stories. It  is in a lovely area surrounded by trees; the only detracting thing is a chain link fence all around it, but I think that is for the protection of those living inside rather than keeping people from going out, as they are free to go wherever they need to go. 

I am very impressed the way the Germans have welcomed these poor unfortunate people into their land. One of our church members who we visit here is from Ghana and calls Germany the "Promised land". He fled Ghana because of the intense poverty there but is having a hard time getting approval to stay here since he was in no danger and there is no political unrest there. He has much faith and patience and keeps saying: "God will provide". We pray for him and hope that all will work out for him as he wants and in his best interests.

We are learning much. I feel like my world is expanding; I just wish my language were!! In my small American mind I'm afraid I just don't understand why everyone doesn't speak English!!:) I didn't even know how to ask for the bathroom at the beauty parlor this morning! 

Thank goodness Gentz was there!! But I am using DuoLingo and another church member is helping me with German, so we will see if this 66 year old brain can absorb anything in the time I am here. But the people are patient with me and I appreciate that! 

Tchüss!! (one of my favorite words....sweet, short goodbye.) Pronounced Chews, but soft s not like a z.

Until next time!! Thanks for stopping in!!

Rainy Day in Rostock!
Rain never keeps the Germans in. Mamas and Papas and Omas out pushing babies in carriages with plastic over carriage, baby all covered in a huge blanket so you can barely see them! I haven't had the courage to ask if I can take a picture, so I have to get them on the sly from our balcony. Our neighbors are expecting a baby girl any day so possibly I can ask them so you can see what I'm talking about.

A thought I had this morning during scripture study was how very much Jesus Christ loves EVERYONE!! I never knew Rostock Germany even existed before now, but He did. Each person I see on the busy street is a child of God; each is my brother or sister, and I hope that my love for these people can increase. It is good for me to be reaching out beyond my self and my familiar world. Oh,how I long to have a more open heart!! "Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal." I Corinthians 13:1
Right now to the Germans my voice DOES sound like brass or a cymbal as they don't understand my words in English, but it is truly an opportunity for me to just show love through my smile or my eyes.
I suppose at all times we need to show love that way as we meet a stranger on the street or in the store...smiles work in all languages! Tchüss!! (a sweet German goodbye, pronounced Chus..long u.

New Year's Eve Weekend

We didn't get out too much on New Year's Eve...just enough to find another fun area and a TK MAXX!! Yes, a form of TJ Maxx and I'll be there on Monday that's for sure...everything here shuts down at 1 pm on New Year's Eve. We did also find St. Mary's Church - quite a tourist stop as it was built in the 15th century. It is only open from May-October since there is no heating but boasts an astronomical clock that has been keeping time since the 1600's, beautiful paintings, stain glass and a huge pipe organ. There are organ recitals every day at noon that certainly excites my Elder. We are looking forward to seeing it once May arrives!

So interesting to see these modern department stores to be in these centuries old buildings. 

There were quite a few people about and the missionaries had been advised by the mission president to avoid throngs of people and stay inside especially after dark; if they were visiting members in their homes, they needed to be escorted home. We had our Elders Skidmore and Keller who live just a few doors down over for Stir Fry and an evening of just visiting and listening to music. Such delightful young men! We feel so blessed by our association with them. Elder Keller is from idaho and only been out for three weeks and Elder Keller is from New Mexico and has been here for five months.

As my daughter Maggie said, when I sent her this video of the fireworks. "East Germans sure know how to blow up a sky!" And that they do. The fireworks started very early on and went all night long. This video is just at 9:45 pm and is from our second floor balcony. The next day there was residue just all over the place and a few garbage cans on the way to church in the road that Gentz and the elders moved out of the way. As neat as the Germans are, I'm sure it will be cleaned up very quickly on Monday. Happy New Year everyone!!

Friday, December 30.
We decided today was our preparation day which basically means we can relax and wear jeans if we want!(yay) Did I tell you that Senior missionaries wear a skirt (women) and a suit (men) or at least shirt and tie? We spent the morning inside as my dear Elder had to translate my sacrament meeting talk for church on Sunday. It took him around five hours to do that.
Then we set off on another adventure. I was looking for a cross body purse and found one at a delightful little leather store and he got a computer case. Surprisingly, as so often happens here, we found another charming little pocket of stores and lo and behold there was a Veganmaster Grill so we went in. And Elder Franz got a fake liverwurst sandwich to go.

Wednesday December 28
Lesson learned: DO NOT drop your car keys from a second floor window or balcony! Who knew, right!?? So, my dear Elder went outside and forgot his keys. He buzzed up and asked that I "throw" his keys down. "I'll just bring them to you" I sweetly said, although the idea of throwing them down was much more appealing and he knew it! "No,just throw them down" he said, not wanting to cause me any trouble as he is so wont to do. I obediently (wink) went to the balcony outside our living room and threw them to him. I didn't want them to land on his head since they were rather heavy and so I aimed for a bit in front of him, and indeed they missed his outstretched hands and landed with a clanging heavy sound on the pavement. "Oh my, I hope that didn't damage the key" I said with a feeling of horror. And off he went. Later, as we got into the car to run our errands, the car wouldn't start. After several calls to the mission office in Berlin and the Opal dealer we realized that indeed the keys were damaged! We felt like foolish children. The only spare key was in Berlin 3 hours away and the cheapest plan was for my dear Elder  to take the train (70 euros) round trip to the mission office to pick up the key. But he had the brilliant plan to call a member of the church who travels for his job and asked him. No, he wasn't traveling but his daughter was coming up from Berlin to visit on Friday and she would bring the key. Hooray! Expensive crisis diverted, although we will still have to have a new key made which will cost around $100. Ugh. Lesson learned. I hope to spare you that lesson...again, DO NOT DROP CAR KEY FROM HIGH PLACES!!

Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016
A day with the Strassenbahn(mass transit)  and adorable sisters

Today since our car key was unavailable, hence our car, we had to do our visiting on the mass transit which is just up the block from our apartment. The missionaries showed us how to get a day pass as it is cheaper and we embarked with our nervous selves for yet another new experience. We spent two hours visiting the three sisters all together and it took us five hours of traveling to do so. There are stops, there are waiting, there is walking then to find each person in these large apartment buildings. I have never seen so many apartment buildings!!
One of the sisters who is Sister Schlunz is 93 year old and the dearest thing. She speaks very slow German, which dear Elder enjoys and speaks no English but is so full of love I feel I can understand her. She said she prays for me every day! She served a mission in 1948 in Germany. I loved her apartment with pictures of her husband who died 18 years ago and treasures gathered from her long life. She lives very simply and comfortably. She had a little table set in front of the couch in the living room with small plates, two knives and a bowl of tangerines and apples. She said that she heard I don't eat sugar or fat:) (actually flour) and thus the fruit. What a dear. What a joy it was to visit with her and we wish we could have stayed longer but we were at the mercy of the strassenbahn and our next appointment. I was pretty cold and weary when we returned to our cozy apartment, but my heart was warm!

We had a lovely Christmas weekend. We ate some definite German meals at a couple of the branch members' homes and then went Christmas caroling. A good time was had by all and we were able to spend time with some lovely people and experience a little more of German culture. The people are so very sweet to us and there a re a few who speak English, but not very many!

It being the elders' Preparation Day the day after Christmas (senior couples can prepare any day they want to) we took them to the Baltic Sea Coast, about 15 minutes by car. It was windy and rainy on the way (gray skies and rain most all of the time here in the winter) but we did get a couple of hours of sun while we were walking around which was nice. The area was pretty full of people...all the tourist shops were closed because Germans celebrate the day after Christmas as a holiday as well. It  was good for me, so we just enjoyed the scenery and being out in the fresh air. The town was quite charming with cobblestone streets and homes and shops 4-500 years old; it truly feels like a step back in time although with all modern conveniences....well, pretty much..hard to find a public restroom and when you do, it usually costs 50 cents to use it!

Tuesday  Gentz and I decided to be big brave dogs and get on the train near our apartment to find a large department store; we know where it is, but have never gone by train. I am looking for a crock pot and a rice cooker..they are not very plentiful here in this area. Neither are large items of food; I do not know how the German saints do their food storage..you can buy flour one pound at a time and same with sugar. Needless to say, we go to the store quite often..good thing there are a couple within walking distance. 

Well we eventually made it on the train and realised we paid four dollars to go like a half a mile..we won't do that again and we walked back but at least we had the experience and know how to use it. Gentz has no problem asking questions when he doesn't understand something. His biggest problem over here is driving on these narrow narrow streets and trying to find parking on our street. There is very rarely a spot and when there is one it is way tiny. The mission office will pay for private parking so that is what we will do...there is a parking garage about ten minutes away. Still no crockpot or rice cooker so I will have to rely on Amazon I suppose:))

We are doing well and adjusting. I'm learning to rely on the Lord and my sweet husband more than I ever have in my life and that is a good thing. I am working on learning German, so hopefully in a few months I can at least ask a few questions. I am speaking in sacrament meeting this week, but Gentz will interpret for me. Usually during church, one of the elders interprets for me with headphones. There is another member, Vladimir from the Ukraine who comes with his two little girls and he doesn't speak German very well. Very few speak English; they say because this is East Germany..in the west more people speak English. Not what I thought, so I'll just have to stretch and grow which is good for the soul AND the brain cells:))