From Mom 4/6
Dear Family,
Sorry I didn’t get a letter written yesterday. When we went to visit Sister Gunter on Wednesday, (she’s the one who had been in the hospital) she asked us if we would like to go for a walk with her on our P-day. We told her we would and that we would be at her house at 11 o’clock to meet her. We hurried and got our leaning and washing done and then left. When this woman says she want to go for a walk, she wants to go for a LONG walk! We walked for about 5 hours. We went downtown Wurzburg to where the river goes through town and walked along the river. There are beautiful flower beds, lots of trees, ducks and swans in the river as well as the big long kayaks like they have in races in the Olympics and of course the big barges that are constantly going up and down the river. It was very peaceful and calm, away from the traffic and noise of the city. Then we walked into the city and went into a few stores and other places. One of the things that was very interesting was a display in the Rauthause, which is a building comparable to a courthouse at home, of what Wurzburg looked like at during the 2nd World War. It was one of the most heavily hit cities in Germany and was almost completely destroyed. An interesting thing about it is that right in the middle of the city where all the buildings were destroyed, a beautiful church was left untouched. It still stands and is a focal point of the city. When people give directions for downtown they say, “Do you know where the old red church is?” And then they give directions from there. One of the members of the ward here told us that after the war the United States wanted to just come in and finish tearing down everything that was left and start all over building the city but the German people wanted to clear out the rubbish and re-build from what was left. The walls of most of the buildings were still standing but that was about it---no roofs or windows. Anyway, that’s what they did. They rebuilt the city. The only problem was that at that time there weren’t a lot of cars and they left the streets just like they were which were very narrow. To drive in town is a nightmare. Whenever we have to go there, we park outside of the downtown area and walk in. But it is a beautiful city and if you can stand the crowds for awhile, it’s fun to be there. Most of the restaurants are just small so the tables are outside and people sit at those tables almost year around. I guess it’s just something they are accustomed to doing. All in all we figured we walked at least 8 miles yesterday. We had an appointment last night and we were both more or less just shuffling along. I thought we would really be feeling the pain this morning but are happily surprised that we’re doing okay. I guess we have walked enough that we’re getting used to it. We just have never walked that far before. But it was a very enjoyable day. The sun was shining and it was warm but not too warm and the scenery was beautiful. I think Sister Gunter enjoyed it too. She commented several times how nice it was to have someone with her while she was walking. I think I told you that her husband works in Stuttgart during the week and is just home on weekends so she is alone a lot. She seems to be doing much better. Her doctor told her to not go back to work until the 13th of April and it seems like the rest has been good for her.
It is Easter holiday time here in Germany and is a big event. We’ve had a hard time seeing people because school is out and they are either going out of town or have people coming to see them. It seems strange to us when people say to us that they are going to Rome or to the Netherlands or to Paris. That has always seemed so far away but it isn’t that far from here. Today is Good Friday and everything is shut down. Stores will be closed today then open tomorrow but closed Sunday and Monday. Everything is always closed on Sunday, with the exception of a few gas stations, and that makes it very peaceful. School is out for two weeks for spring break so, as I said, missionary work is very slow.
I have to tell you something Petra told us when we met with her Tuesday. She said at work one of the people she works with was talking about the big Easter celebration they were getting ready for in their church, (Catholic) and she asked Petra why her new church didn’t have a big celebration for Easter. Petra’s answer to her was, “it’s because we celebrate Christ’s death and resurrection every week as we partake of the Sacrament.” I think that’s really something coming from a new convert. I made a comment on how impressed I was that she understood the scriptures and teaching of the gospel so well in such a short time and her response was, “Sister Price, I have the Holy Ghost with me who teaches me. Why shouldn’t I understand them?” You can learn a lot from other people. She didn’t come to conference on Sunday because she thought it was all in English. It was broadcast in our building in both languages and we just assumed she knew that but she didn’t. But she is looking forward to her next Liahona so she can read it.
Last Friday night the young single adults had a bowling party. There were 13 young people there and us two not so young people. The bishop has called a young single adult committee and they did all the planning and inviting. We were so happy to see so many there. There were 2 non-members. I was so impressed how these young people handled things. They had us all meet at the church at 7 o’clock. We went into the chapel and had prayer and a spiritual thought together then got into the cars and drove to the bowling alley. We had three lanes and after the first line, our leader switched everyone around so we had the opportunity to get acquainted with everyone. When we left, we gathered together in the parking lot outside the bowling alley and she announced our next activity for the end of this month, an all you can eat Pizza party, and then we had prayer together before we left to go home. It was a great evening---lots of fun a fellowshipping which is the purpose of these activities.
We enjoyed General Conference so much. What a lift it gives us. We were able to see the Young Women’s broadcast, the Saturday morning, and priesthood session and the Sunday morning session at the church. We came home Saturday night and I watched the Saturday afternoon session on the internet from 10 until midnight. We tried to do the same thing Sunday night for the Sunday afternoon session but I couldn’t stay awake. I too look forward to reading them when the May Ensign comes out. I was so impressed with what we were taught and especially impressed that President Hinckley was able to take such an active part in conference. I loved his testimony which he began with, “But these things I do know” and then testified of those basic, so important teaching of the gospel. How fortunate we are to have such wonderful leaders. It’s also very humbling to be a missionary and hear the prayers for missionaries that are offered by the general authorities. If we don’t succeed it is only because we aren’t doing our part with all the prayers that are offered in behalf of the missionaries.
Speaking of missionaries, our friends, Doyle and Karen (Rumsey) Judy e-mailed us to tell us that they have received their mission call to the Rochester New York Palmyra mission. Karen will work in the mission office and Doyle will be working with Physical Facilities of church owned properties. Karen said that they even put on their papers that Doyle new German and would enjoy coming here but the Lord has something different for them to do.
You’ll laugh when I tell you this because we meet with so many people that have emotional problems. Last night we were at the hospital visiting Stephanie, our young FHE friend. We have been trying to go see her a couple of times a week. She wants Dad to teach a lesson to her about every other time we go so he does that. The other times we usually just walk around the grounds and talk. We have also taught her how to play 3 to 13 and she loves that game so we just put the Rook cards in our bag every time we go. Anyway, last night we were going down the stairs to go outside and a man stopped Dad and pointed to his missionary badge and asked if he would come to his room before we left for the night. Dad told him he would and when he went to see him this man told Dad that he had a Book of Mormon and has read it two times and wants us to come and teach him about the church. We laughed when we got outside thinking of how many people we teach who are in mental hospitals! Anyway, we got permission from our district leader to teach him there and have an appointment next Tuesday at 7:30. He seemed like such a nice man when he was talking to Dad and I though he must be someone who works there. Guess we’ll find out more about him next week.
That’s about it for now. Thank you again for all the letters. I know it’s hard finding the time to write but they do mean so much to us. We love all of you so much and think of you and pray for you every day. We’ll be looking forward to hearing about how your Easter was. I’m inviting you now to spend Easter with us next year.
Love you lots.
Mom
Sorry I didn’t get a letter written yesterday. When we went to visit Sister Gunter on Wednesday, (she’s the one who had been in the hospital) she asked us if we would like to go for a walk with her on our P-day. We told her we would and that we would be at her house at 11 o’clock to meet her. We hurried and got our leaning and washing done and then left. When this woman says she want to go for a walk, she wants to go for a LONG walk! We walked for about 5 hours. We went downtown Wurzburg to where the river goes through town and walked along the river. There are beautiful flower beds, lots of trees, ducks and swans in the river as well as the big long kayaks like they have in races in the Olympics and of course the big barges that are constantly going up and down the river. It was very peaceful and calm, away from the traffic and noise of the city. Then we walked into the city and went into a few stores and other places. One of the things that was very interesting was a display in the Rauthause, which is a building comparable to a courthouse at home, of what Wurzburg looked like at during the 2nd World War. It was one of the most heavily hit cities in Germany and was almost completely destroyed. An interesting thing about it is that right in the middle of the city where all the buildings were destroyed, a beautiful church was left untouched. It still stands and is a focal point of the city. When people give directions for downtown they say, “Do you know where the old red church is?” And then they give directions from there. One of the members of the ward here told us that after the war the United States wanted to just come in and finish tearing down everything that was left and start all over building the city but the German people wanted to clear out the rubbish and re-build from what was left. The walls of most of the buildings were still standing but that was about it---no roofs or windows. Anyway, that’s what they did. They rebuilt the city. The only problem was that at that time there weren’t a lot of cars and they left the streets just like they were which were very narrow. To drive in town is a nightmare. Whenever we have to go there, we park outside of the downtown area and walk in. But it is a beautiful city and if you can stand the crowds for awhile, it’s fun to be there. Most of the restaurants are just small so the tables are outside and people sit at those tables almost year around. I guess it’s just something they are accustomed to doing. All in all we figured we walked at least 8 miles yesterday. We had an appointment last night and we were both more or less just shuffling along. I thought we would really be feeling the pain this morning but are happily surprised that we’re doing okay. I guess we have walked enough that we’re getting used to it. We just have never walked that far before. But it was a very enjoyable day. The sun was shining and it was warm but not too warm and the scenery was beautiful. I think Sister Gunter enjoyed it too. She commented several times how nice it was to have someone with her while she was walking. I think I told you that her husband works in Stuttgart during the week and is just home on weekends so she is alone a lot. She seems to be doing much better. Her doctor told her to not go back to work until the 13th of April and it seems like the rest has been good for her.
It is Easter holiday time here in Germany and is a big event. We’ve had a hard time seeing people because school is out and they are either going out of town or have people coming to see them. It seems strange to us when people say to us that they are going to Rome or to the Netherlands or to Paris. That has always seemed so far away but it isn’t that far from here. Today is Good Friday and everything is shut down. Stores will be closed today then open tomorrow but closed Sunday and Monday. Everything is always closed on Sunday, with the exception of a few gas stations, and that makes it very peaceful. School is out for two weeks for spring break so, as I said, missionary work is very slow.
I have to tell you something Petra told us when we met with her Tuesday. She said at work one of the people she works with was talking about the big Easter celebration they were getting ready for in their church, (Catholic) and she asked Petra why her new church didn’t have a big celebration for Easter. Petra’s answer to her was, “it’s because we celebrate Christ’s death and resurrection every week as we partake of the Sacrament.” I think that’s really something coming from a new convert. I made a comment on how impressed I was that she understood the scriptures and teaching of the gospel so well in such a short time and her response was, “Sister Price, I have the Holy Ghost with me who teaches me. Why shouldn’t I understand them?” You can learn a lot from other people. She didn’t come to conference on Sunday because she thought it was all in English. It was broadcast in our building in both languages and we just assumed she knew that but she didn’t. But she is looking forward to her next Liahona so she can read it.
Last Friday night the young single adults had a bowling party. There were 13 young people there and us two not so young people. The bishop has called a young single adult committee and they did all the planning and inviting. We were so happy to see so many there. There were 2 non-members. I was so impressed how these young people handled things. They had us all meet at the church at 7 o’clock. We went into the chapel and had prayer and a spiritual thought together then got into the cars and drove to the bowling alley. We had three lanes and after the first line, our leader switched everyone around so we had the opportunity to get acquainted with everyone. When we left, we gathered together in the parking lot outside the bowling alley and she announced our next activity for the end of this month, an all you can eat Pizza party, and then we had prayer together before we left to go home. It was a great evening---lots of fun a fellowshipping which is the purpose of these activities.
We enjoyed General Conference so much. What a lift it gives us. We were able to see the Young Women’s broadcast, the Saturday morning, and priesthood session and the Sunday morning session at the church. We came home Saturday night and I watched the Saturday afternoon session on the internet from 10 until midnight. We tried to do the same thing Sunday night for the Sunday afternoon session but I couldn’t stay awake. I too look forward to reading them when the May Ensign comes out. I was so impressed with what we were taught and especially impressed that President Hinckley was able to take such an active part in conference. I loved his testimony which he began with, “But these things I do know” and then testified of those basic, so important teaching of the gospel. How fortunate we are to have such wonderful leaders. It’s also very humbling to be a missionary and hear the prayers for missionaries that are offered by the general authorities. If we don’t succeed it is only because we aren’t doing our part with all the prayers that are offered in behalf of the missionaries.
Speaking of missionaries, our friends, Doyle and Karen (Rumsey) Judy e-mailed us to tell us that they have received their mission call to the Rochester New York Palmyra mission. Karen will work in the mission office and Doyle will be working with Physical Facilities of church owned properties. Karen said that they even put on their papers that Doyle new German and would enjoy coming here but the Lord has something different for them to do.
You’ll laugh when I tell you this because we meet with so many people that have emotional problems. Last night we were at the hospital visiting Stephanie, our young FHE friend. We have been trying to go see her a couple of times a week. She wants Dad to teach a lesson to her about every other time we go so he does that. The other times we usually just walk around the grounds and talk. We have also taught her how to play 3 to 13 and she loves that game so we just put the Rook cards in our bag every time we go. Anyway, last night we were going down the stairs to go outside and a man stopped Dad and pointed to his missionary badge and asked if he would come to his room before we left for the night. Dad told him he would and when he went to see him this man told Dad that he had a Book of Mormon and has read it two times and wants us to come and teach him about the church. We laughed when we got outside thinking of how many people we teach who are in mental hospitals! Anyway, we got permission from our district leader to teach him there and have an appointment next Tuesday at 7:30. He seemed like such a nice man when he was talking to Dad and I though he must be someone who works there. Guess we’ll find out more about him next week.
That’s about it for now. Thank you again for all the letters. I know it’s hard finding the time to write but they do mean so much to us. We love all of you so much and think of you and pray for you every day. We’ll be looking forward to hearing about how your Easter was. I’m inviting you now to spend Easter with us next year.
Love you lots.
Mom
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