OCTOBER 30, 2008 THURSDAY

Prayer at 7:00 and the day starts. Since we have to get ready to make the caramel apples, we decided that we should make a test batch using the 500 ml (about 2 cups) of corn syrup that we found in the pantry. It worked out pretty well except we got the caramel a little too hard. We wanted to get it harder than softer, but we overdid it a little. That was why we called it a test batch. It covered 18 apples plus Diana got to do some of her pretzel sticks. About the time we got through with that the AP’s called and said they found the corn syrup in Stuttgard and Pres. Matern would be bringing it back with him on Friday. That must be good news but it means we’ll have to put our money where our mouth is. It shouldn’t be a problem and we’re thrilled we can bring a touch of America to the Swiss.

After that was done, we saddled up, so to speak, and went out finding and visiting even if there was a lot of slush on the ground. The sun did shine a little today which gives us hope for the Saturday Halloween thingy. I’ll be glad when that is over. Sis. Wachter wasn’t home so we left a little goody on her doorstep and also an invite to the Halloween party. Next we went to another less-active member’s home, but he wasn’t there. Another note and invitation. The last home we visited we found a sister home. She was barely able to get around and was very unsteady on her feet. Several times while we were there as she got up to do something, she almost fell over. She is a dear sweet sister. She is so sick and unstable physically that she can only get to church once in awhile. She showed us some pictures of their family and the missionaries she had in an album. She said before she got sick, the missionaries visited her all the time, but they didn’t anymore, that it had been six years and two months since she had a visit by the missionaries. She said that she had been praying that some would come and that we were the answer to her prayers. So we’ll put her on our once-a-month home/visit teaching list. We asked her if we could do anything for her and she immediately asked for a spiritual message. Her husband wasn’t home and she said he works in the Family History center twice a week at the stake center. The bishop calls him less-active because he only goes to church on Sundays once in awhile, but thinks he’s active.

On the way home we stopped off to get a few more things for Saturday and, besides, because we have to carry everything home on the tram, it seems like we’re always going to the store. At home you only had to go to the grocery store once a week or so. Here, it’s almost a daily occurrence because it’s hard to carry a lot of stuff at once. Also, Diana has wanted to get a few months supply of food storage just in case. Today we found big bottles of Heinz Ketchup on sale at half price. So now we have a years supply of Ketchup and a broken back from carrying it all home.

Tonight we made some phone calls to those we’ve visited who weren’t home or who didn’t live at the listed addresses. Two of the numbers I called someone answered, but the numbers belonged to different people now. Dead ends. I also called one sister who the bishop wanted us to contact to see if we could come visit. She said no we couldn’t because she didn’t want any more contact from the Church. She said she had returned to the Catholic church, the one she grew up in. No amount of coaxing helped. It’s always sad when this happens, especially when her daughter, who lives in our ward, is active and wanted us to visit her mother too. Well, that’s it for another day doing the greatest service on earth, at least for us right now.

We have been getting emails from our friends in our MTC session and it’s great to hear from them. The couples are scattered out all over the world. It’s an amazing thing to be a part of.