From Mom 10/21
Dear Family,
If you could see us now you would never believe we are on a mission. We are sitting in a bar with very loud music blarring in our ears writing this email.
We have been "on the road" the past two days and have one more day to go.
We left Munich Thursday morning at 7:30 and by 7:30 that night, we had driven 360 miles and inspected 6 apartments. Our first inspection this morning was at 8:00 and we have driven another 300 miles. Today we've done a lot of outlying cities and have seen some beautiful country and very beautiful small cities. Tomorrow we have just three more to inspect but they are all many miles apart. We called the mission secretary and asked him if it would be alright to stay overnight Friday so we didn't have to drive clear back to Munich every night. He said he would ask the president and when he called back, he said Presiden Rakow wanted us to take three days and that they would arrange the schedule with all the Elders and Sisters and would get a motel for us both night we would be gone. So we weren't at the Outreach Center last night to write our letter and we couldn't figure out the internet at the hotel we were in last night. So tonight when we checked in we asked if they had internet service and they told us it was through the bowling alley and in the bar. But we're here absorbing lots of smoke into our clothes and lungs writing this letter. Your letters mean so much to us and we just want to stay in touch with you too.
This little job is very stressful. Getting to the cities isn't too bad but finding the apartments is something else. Then when we do find the apartments, finding a place to park is another thing. We usually end up walking 2 or 3 blocks back to the apartment from where we can park. Dad is amazing with the maps though. I've been driving and he tells me where to go. A few times I've been tempted to tell him where to go!!! Especially when he keeps telling me to turn right at the next corner. After about four right turns, you've gone around in a circle and you end up at the same place. Tuesday night we just kept doing that and I just blew my cork! I stopped the car, got out and told him to drive -- I hated this country, I hated this mission and I wanted to go home. You know Dad. He calmly got behind the wheel while I was bawling my eyes out and said, "As soon as we get back, we'll call President Rakow and tell him we're leaving and will pay our own way home." Well, I'm not going to do that even though at that moment I just wanted to quit. We had a good talk the next day and I think Dad
realized how really stressful this thing has been for me. It was good to talk it all out and I feel better. Dad is amazing with finding all these apartments. I just try to stay going straight or turning left or right when he tells me to and eventually we find where we are to be. We both give the Lord a lot of credit too
but it's that sticking to it that Dad has when I'm ready to give up that has helped us on this little venture.
Next week we'll be doing another 3 day trip and that will finish all 45 apartments.It has been such a great experience to meet the Elders and Sisters and three couple missionaries. Each day I admire these young people more. Europe is a hard place to serve a mission. The work is very slow and difficult and some of their living conditions leave a lot to be desired but their spirit is so good and they are thankful and happy to be serving a mission.
A mission is definitely a "refiners fire" and a wonderful preparation for life. I know we couldn't do this without your prayers and support and love. We feel it every day and are so thankful for all of you.It's so good to hear about all the activities going on with the family. Thank you for sharing the stories and activities of the kids. Sounds like everyone is busy as ever. We've had some great meetings with part member families. They really share their feelings with us. I think that's one advantage of being old! They act like we're their grandparents. We've visited all 5 families the bishop asked us to visit and Wednesday night he asked us if we would visit the 5 black members who are here as political refugees. They are all men who have had to leave their families. We've visited one of them and he has just a wonderful spirit and is always so friendly when we see him at church. It's amazing how one good visit and discussion about the gospel can make all the frustrations of a mission worth while.
My lungs are filling up with smoke and my clothes are going to stink forever if I don't get out of here so I'll close for now and try to write again next week. Thank you so much for keeping in touch with each other and looking out for each other. That means a lot to us. Family becomes more important to us every day. There's nothing Dad and I want more than for our family to love each other and work together to be an eternal family.
Until later--Wir lieben Sie. (We love you)
Mom
If you could see us now you would never believe we are on a mission. We are sitting in a bar with very loud music blarring in our ears writing this email.
We have been "on the road" the past two days and have one more day to go.
We left Munich Thursday morning at 7:30 and by 7:30 that night, we had driven 360 miles and inspected 6 apartments. Our first inspection this morning was at 8:00 and we have driven another 300 miles. Today we've done a lot of outlying cities and have seen some beautiful country and very beautiful small cities. Tomorrow we have just three more to inspect but they are all many miles apart. We called the mission secretary and asked him if it would be alright to stay overnight Friday so we didn't have to drive clear back to Munich every night. He said he would ask the president and when he called back, he said Presiden Rakow wanted us to take three days and that they would arrange the schedule with all the Elders and Sisters and would get a motel for us both night we would be gone. So we weren't at the Outreach Center last night to write our letter and we couldn't figure out the internet at the hotel we were in last night. So tonight when we checked in we asked if they had internet service and they told us it was through the bowling alley and in the bar. But we're here absorbing lots of smoke into our clothes and lungs writing this letter. Your letters mean so much to us and we just want to stay in touch with you too.
This little job is very stressful. Getting to the cities isn't too bad but finding the apartments is something else. Then when we do find the apartments, finding a place to park is another thing. We usually end up walking 2 or 3 blocks back to the apartment from where we can park. Dad is amazing with the maps though. I've been driving and he tells me where to go. A few times I've been tempted to tell him where to go!!! Especially when he keeps telling me to turn right at the next corner. After about four right turns, you've gone around in a circle and you end up at the same place. Tuesday night we just kept doing that and I just blew my cork! I stopped the car, got out and told him to drive -- I hated this country, I hated this mission and I wanted to go home. You know Dad. He calmly got behind the wheel while I was bawling my eyes out and said, "As soon as we get back, we'll call President Rakow and tell him we're leaving and will pay our own way home." Well, I'm not going to do that even though at that moment I just wanted to quit. We had a good talk the next day and I think Dad
realized how really stressful this thing has been for me. It was good to talk it all out and I feel better. Dad is amazing with finding all these apartments. I just try to stay going straight or turning left or right when he tells me to and eventually we find where we are to be. We both give the Lord a lot of credit too
but it's that sticking to it that Dad has when I'm ready to give up that has helped us on this little venture.
Next week we'll be doing another 3 day trip and that will finish all 45 apartments.It has been such a great experience to meet the Elders and Sisters and three couple missionaries. Each day I admire these young people more. Europe is a hard place to serve a mission. The work is very slow and difficult and some of their living conditions leave a lot to be desired but their spirit is so good and they are thankful and happy to be serving a mission.
A mission is definitely a "refiners fire" and a wonderful preparation for life. I know we couldn't do this without your prayers and support and love. We feel it every day and are so thankful for all of you.It's so good to hear about all the activities going on with the family. Thank you for sharing the stories and activities of the kids. Sounds like everyone is busy as ever. We've had some great meetings with part member families. They really share their feelings with us. I think that's one advantage of being old! They act like we're their grandparents. We've visited all 5 families the bishop asked us to visit and Wednesday night he asked us if we would visit the 5 black members who are here as political refugees. They are all men who have had to leave their families. We've visited one of them and he has just a wonderful spirit and is always so friendly when we see him at church. It's amazing how one good visit and discussion about the gospel can make all the frustrations of a mission worth while.
My lungs are filling up with smoke and my clothes are going to stink forever if I don't get out of here so I'll close for now and try to write again next week. Thank you so much for keeping in touch with each other and looking out for each other. That means a lot to us. Family becomes more important to us every day. There's nothing Dad and I want more than for our family to love each other and work together to be an eternal family.
Until later--Wir lieben Sie. (We love you)
Mom
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