Last Letter from Mom in Germany 2/28/2008
Dear Family,
Nearly 18 months ago when I wrote my first letter from Germany, I thought I would never see the day that I would be writing my last letter. September 2006 seems like such a short time ago now but then it seemed like March 2008 would never come. But it has, well almost anyway. Today was transfer day for the Elders and one of our Wurzburg Elders was transferred. That’s always a hard day because we become so attached to them. But it was time for Elder Tilgner to move on. He is the young elder who won’t be 19 until April and he’s been on his mission for nearly 8 months already. He’s from Germany and got special permission to come early because he didn’t qualify for the German army which most German young men are required to serve in for 9 months after they graduate from high school. He is very immature and very loud-----he never shuts up!! Sometimes you’d just like to tape his mouth shut. But he’s a great teacher and is very knowledgeable in the scriptures. He going to be in a threesome for a few weeks and that might be good. He nearly wears his companions clear out. Maybe his new two companions can handle it. He hates getting up early and complains about how tired he is until about noon. He is always singing or whistling. Now usually some of that is okay, but all the time? It gets a bit annoying. Even with all of those things of said, we’ve come to really love him and will miss him. His suitcases were huge and each one weighed close to 80 pounds. We have a little car and you should have seen us going to the train station. Both big suitcases were in the back seat and he had a backpack, his trumpet and 2 twelve packs of Dr. Pepper that we got in the trunk. The plan was for us to pick up the luggage and the Elders would ride the bus to the train station. But you know Dad. He thought we could all fit. We pushed the suitcases as far to one side as we could and Elder Tilger squeezed in beside them. I was driving. Dad was in the middle shifting the gears and Elder Warner was crammed against the other door. But we made it and it was a fun adventure. We met the new Elder this afternoon. His suitcases we much smaller and both the Elders were able to sit in the back seat with the suitcase standing on the end between them and the other one in the trunk. We are going to miss our association with the Elders.
Today is P-day. We have an appointment in an hour but the rest of the day we’ve been sorting and cleaning. We have both wondered why we thought it was necessary to “save” so many things. We’re making a good contribution to the garbage barrel outside. And we’re not done yet! Dad cleaned the over while I was cleaning things out of shelves that we here when we got here and have never been touched. I think it goes about three sets of missionaries back. Our suitcases are pretty much packed except the clothes we will need until Sunday so I think we’re going to make it. We have a full day tomorrow and Saturday. Dad has arranged for us to keep busy right up until the very end and that’s good. A bit stressful but good.
The couple that was supposed to be here today aren’t going to be able to come for at least another month. She had surgery last Thursday. One of the assistants called today and told us to meet with the Elders and give them all the people we could and have them work with them until the couple gets here. The down side to that is that some of them live way out of town and the Elders don’t have a car. But we’ll do what we’re told and hope and pray they can somehow stay in contact with these good people.
Sunday was a wonderful day and a sad day all at the same time. We had four of our less active people there as well as Sister Meyer (who isn’t really “sister” Meyer yet). We had stake conference and it was broadcast all over Germany. President Uchtdorf was the main speaker along with Elder Perry, Sister Lant from the Primary and Elder Neuschwander from the Seventy. Now how’s that for a stake conference? It was great! The people here are so thrilled about President Uchtdorf. He is very much loved and respected. He is fun to watch as he speaks. I think if you cut off his hands, he wouldn’t be able to speak! It was a great conference. After conference, which was broadcast into our building, the ward had a “linger longer” luncheon in honor of the Merkley family and us. The Merkleys are being transferred to the Army base near where Jeri and Dave were stationed. Brother Merkley was the bishop of this ward a few years ago and he got back in December after being in Iraq for 15 months. They are such a great family. It was a fun time but a sad time too. Lots of tears were shed as hugs were given and goodbyes were said. How we do love the people in this ward! They have been so good to us. We are very thankful that we were able to be here for as long as we were.
I think I sent a picture early in our mission showing our little red Opel Corsa. It is a four-door, automatic with air-conditioning. We have been the envy of many couples! The new couple in our district also have an Opel but it is stick shift and Brother Koraleski has never driven a stick shift. He about scared the Elders clear to death when they were riding with them. Well, to make a long story short, President Rakow asked us last week if we’d be willing to trade cars with them since our time was so short. We did that yesterday and it was hard giving up our little red car that we’ve had since we first got here to Germany. But this one is blue so Dad is happy and we only have three more days to drive it. It will be a bit of a challenge getting 2 big suitcases and 3 small ones in on Sunday but we’ll figure something out.
This is a difficult week. Everything is a mess in our apartment as we’ve spent some time each day sorting and packing. Suitcases are all over the floor and there are piles of “stuff” to go through. I’ll be so glad when we’re on our way to Munich on Sunday and even more glad when we’re in that plane heading West Monday morning. It’s just so close and I just want to be there. We still need to finish a list to leave with the couple who will replace us telling them where people live and all about them and about all the other things we do. Monday night was hard----our last Family Home Evening with these kids. Everything is “last” and is just plain hard. Dad says he thinks this is as hard as the first week of a mission and I think he’s right. But at the same time, we’re both really excited about getting home and seeing all of you. That’s what makes these days bearable.
I need to go get ready for this appointment. We’ll have lots to talk about next week. One of the sisters in the ward told us to be sure to tell our family “thank you” for letting us come on this mission and being so supportive. So “thank you” from Sister Raab and from us too. It has been a wonderful experience with it’s share of hard times but getting through those times has made it that much more rewarding. We appreciate the letters and the support and love we’ve felt from you.
Until next week---just four more day----know that you are loved!
Much love,
Mom
Nearly 18 months ago when I wrote my first letter from Germany, I thought I would never see the day that I would be writing my last letter. September 2006 seems like such a short time ago now but then it seemed like March 2008 would never come. But it has, well almost anyway. Today was transfer day for the Elders and one of our Wurzburg Elders was transferred. That’s always a hard day because we become so attached to them. But it was time for Elder Tilgner to move on. He is the young elder who won’t be 19 until April and he’s been on his mission for nearly 8 months already. He’s from Germany and got special permission to come early because he didn’t qualify for the German army which most German young men are required to serve in for 9 months after they graduate from high school. He is very immature and very loud-----he never shuts up!! Sometimes you’d just like to tape his mouth shut. But he’s a great teacher and is very knowledgeable in the scriptures. He going to be in a threesome for a few weeks and that might be good. He nearly wears his companions clear out. Maybe his new two companions can handle it. He hates getting up early and complains about how tired he is until about noon. He is always singing or whistling. Now usually some of that is okay, but all the time? It gets a bit annoying. Even with all of those things of said, we’ve come to really love him and will miss him. His suitcases were huge and each one weighed close to 80 pounds. We have a little car and you should have seen us going to the train station. Both big suitcases were in the back seat and he had a backpack, his trumpet and 2 twelve packs of Dr. Pepper that we got in the trunk. The plan was for us to pick up the luggage and the Elders would ride the bus to the train station. But you know Dad. He thought we could all fit. We pushed the suitcases as far to one side as we could and Elder Tilger squeezed in beside them. I was driving. Dad was in the middle shifting the gears and Elder Warner was crammed against the other door. But we made it and it was a fun adventure. We met the new Elder this afternoon. His suitcases we much smaller and both the Elders were able to sit in the back seat with the suitcase standing on the end between them and the other one in the trunk. We are going to miss our association with the Elders.
Today is P-day. We have an appointment in an hour but the rest of the day we’ve been sorting and cleaning. We have both wondered why we thought it was necessary to “save” so many things. We’re making a good contribution to the garbage barrel outside. And we’re not done yet! Dad cleaned the over while I was cleaning things out of shelves that we here when we got here and have never been touched. I think it goes about three sets of missionaries back. Our suitcases are pretty much packed except the clothes we will need until Sunday so I think we’re going to make it. We have a full day tomorrow and Saturday. Dad has arranged for us to keep busy right up until the very end and that’s good. A bit stressful but good.
The couple that was supposed to be here today aren’t going to be able to come for at least another month. She had surgery last Thursday. One of the assistants called today and told us to meet with the Elders and give them all the people we could and have them work with them until the couple gets here. The down side to that is that some of them live way out of town and the Elders don’t have a car. But we’ll do what we’re told and hope and pray they can somehow stay in contact with these good people.
Sunday was a wonderful day and a sad day all at the same time. We had four of our less active people there as well as Sister Meyer (who isn’t really “sister” Meyer yet). We had stake conference and it was broadcast all over Germany. President Uchtdorf was the main speaker along with Elder Perry, Sister Lant from the Primary and Elder Neuschwander from the Seventy. Now how’s that for a stake conference? It was great! The people here are so thrilled about President Uchtdorf. He is very much loved and respected. He is fun to watch as he speaks. I think if you cut off his hands, he wouldn’t be able to speak! It was a great conference. After conference, which was broadcast into our building, the ward had a “linger longer” luncheon in honor of the Merkley family and us. The Merkleys are being transferred to the Army base near where Jeri and Dave were stationed. Brother Merkley was the bishop of this ward a few years ago and he got back in December after being in Iraq for 15 months. They are such a great family. It was a fun time but a sad time too. Lots of tears were shed as hugs were given and goodbyes were said. How we do love the people in this ward! They have been so good to us. We are very thankful that we were able to be here for as long as we were.
I think I sent a picture early in our mission showing our little red Opel Corsa. It is a four-door, automatic with air-conditioning. We have been the envy of many couples! The new couple in our district also have an Opel but it is stick shift and Brother Koraleski has never driven a stick shift. He about scared the Elders clear to death when they were riding with them. Well, to make a long story short, President Rakow asked us last week if we’d be willing to trade cars with them since our time was so short. We did that yesterday and it was hard giving up our little red car that we’ve had since we first got here to Germany. But this one is blue so Dad is happy and we only have three more days to drive it. It will be a bit of a challenge getting 2 big suitcases and 3 small ones in on Sunday but we’ll figure something out.
This is a difficult week. Everything is a mess in our apartment as we’ve spent some time each day sorting and packing. Suitcases are all over the floor and there are piles of “stuff” to go through. I’ll be so glad when we’re on our way to Munich on Sunday and even more glad when we’re in that plane heading West Monday morning. It’s just so close and I just want to be there. We still need to finish a list to leave with the couple who will replace us telling them where people live and all about them and about all the other things we do. Monday night was hard----our last Family Home Evening with these kids. Everything is “last” and is just plain hard. Dad says he thinks this is as hard as the first week of a mission and I think he’s right. But at the same time, we’re both really excited about getting home and seeing all of you. That’s what makes these days bearable.
I need to go get ready for this appointment. We’ll have lots to talk about next week. One of the sisters in the ward told us to be sure to tell our family “thank you” for letting us come on this mission and being so supportive. So “thank you” from Sister Raab and from us too. It has been a wonderful experience with it’s share of hard times but getting through those times has made it that much more rewarding. We appreciate the letters and the support and love we’ve felt from you.
Until next week---just four more day----know that you are loved!
Much love,
Mom
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