Dear Family,
Here we are in November! I can't believe how quickly the time is flying by! Last Friday, as you all know, was Gpa George's birthday!
He had such a special day! I ordered some pizzas delivered (terrible pizza, I might say--nevertheless, those who haven't tasted good American pizza still liked it! Hah!) Anyway, everyone brought different food items, I made a huge chocolate cake, and we had lots of fun at a staff luncheon for Gpa. I looked around at the table and here is what I saw: Co-workers from Brazil, Portugal, South Africa, France, Italy, England, Germany, and Spain. It is amazing the diversity of the people who work here in the Frankfurt Office. It really helps to have so many languages when we work with the 37 countries we do. Most of the analysts speak at least three languages. It is amazing!
He had such a special day! I ordered some pizzas delivered (terrible pizza, I might say--nevertheless, those who haven't tasted good American pizza still liked it! Hah!) Anyway, everyone brought different food items, I made a huge chocolate cake, and we had lots of fun at a staff luncheon for Gpa. I looked around at the table and here is what I saw: Co-workers from Brazil, Portugal, South Africa, France, Italy, England, Germany, and Spain. It is amazing the diversity of the people who work here in the Frankfurt Office. It really helps to have so many languages when we work with the 37 countries we do. Most of the analysts speak at least three languages. It is amazing!
Anyway, we had a wonderful weekend, too. Saturday, we took about an hour trip away to the city of Rudesheim on the Rhine River. There you take a tram ride up the hill above the beautiful vineyards below and can look out over the whole valley and the river running beside it. The fall colors are just breath-taking!
We decided to just drive over to the other little city and to walk the streets of Rudesheim and go to a very unique museum that is housed in a 15th century knight's manor. Inside were 350 old mechanical musical instruments that were so entertaining. We had such an enjoyable afternoon. We got back in time to start watching the football games and for Gpa to start talking to all the family members who texted and called between the two days. He seriously was in his happy place! However, he soon was sad, angry, disappointed--whatever you want to call it when both BYU and his Gators lost, but all the calls and birthday wishes really helped cheer him.
Sunday, we walked around the little town of Istein--it has some of the most crooked half-timber houses you could ever see. Also, we walked up to the witches tower which has a plaque at the base in memory of the victims of the witch trials of 1676, listing the names of 31 women and 8 men killed at the end of the rule of a ruler named John, Count of Nassau-Idstein. It was all very interesting! It's such a great thing to LOVE history like we do!
We even followed a truck that was doing a shout-out for Gpa George on his birthday! Hah!
At the top, there is a monument called the Niederwald, which was erected in the 1800s memorializing the unification of the German nation. There is a path there that winds around the hill and is about three miles long that goes past an old castle and into the next town where you take a chairlift down to another unique city called Assmannshausen.
Mechanical Music Museum housed in an old Knight's Manor.
Getting ready for the Christmas markets.
Sunday, we walked around the little town of Istein--it has some of the most crooked half-timber houses you could ever see. Also, we walked up to the witches tower which has a plaque at the base in memory of the victims of the witch trials of 1676, listing the names of 31 women and 8 men killed at the end of the rule of a ruler named John, Count of Nassau-Idstein. It was all very interesting! It's such a great thing to LOVE history like we do!
The Witch's Tower
We even followed a truck that was doing a shout-out for Gpa George on his birthday! Hah!
Sunday night, after church, we had a combined missionary dinner with another Senior couple in Frankfurt. Because we live out in the country, it is too far for the missionaries to come without cars, so we helped bring food and had the two sister missionaries at a couple's apartment who lives in Frankfurt. We had such a great time talking and laughing with those young sisters. We have really missed seeing the young elders and sisters here in this mission. We had much more interaction with them over in Russia.
Each Monday, we have a Devotional for the workers here in Bad Hamburg Office. Today, we had a combined devotional that was televised from the Frankfurt Office. The Area Manager over Temporal Affairs, Brother Maynes, gave a wonderful talk, beginning with the story of Joan of Arc and how revered she was, especially when she started winning so many battles. When she came in upon the Frenchmen, she was so disappointed with how they were lying around, drinking, and had so many women prostitutes at the camp. One of the leaders of the camp was so happy to see her and said, "Now we have God on our side," to which she replied, "Yes, God is definitely on our side, but are you on God's side?" She then proceeded to tell them what they needed to do to show God that they were on his side. Brother Maynes said one of the top priorities for us showing that we are on the Lord's side is by paying our tithing. He then quoted President Joseph F. Smith who said: "By this principle (tithing) the loyalty of the people of this Church shall be put to the test. By this principle it shall be known who is for the kingdom of God and who is against it. By this principle it shall be seen whose hearts are set on doing the will of God and keeping his commandments, thereby sanctifying the land of Zion unto God, and who are opposed to this principle and have cut themselves off from the blessings of Zion. There is a great deal of importance connected with this principle, for by it it shall be known whether we are faithful or unfaithful. In this respect it is as essential as faith in God, as repentance of sin, as baptism for the remission of sin, or as the laying on of hands for the gift of the Holy Ghost. President Joseph F. Smith went on to say: "We who have not paid our tithing in the past, and are therefore under obligations to the Lord, which we are not in position to discharge, the Lord requires that no longer at our hands, but will forgive us for the past if we will observe this law honestly in the future. That is generous and kind, and I feel grateful for it." He further stated: "No man will ever apostatize so long as he will pay his tithing. It is reasonable. Why? Because as long as he has faith to pay his tithing he has faith in the Church and in the principles of the Gospel, and there is some good in him, and there is some light in him. As long as he will do this the tempter will not overcome him and will not lead him astray."
I know that was sort of long, but I loved it and after seeing people all over the world pay even their widow's mite, we are truly reminded, the church doesn't need the money, but the individual needs the blessings that are associated with the obedience they show in this commandment. May we all live this principle.
We love you all so much! Love, Gma Laura
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