NOVEMBER 22, 2008 SATURDAY Our bedroom

Because today was a Saturday for the display at Bahnhof Oerlikon like last Saturday, we expected a call from the AP’s to see if we wanted a ride over there like last time. We didn’t get a call so we thought maybe, because it was cooooold and looked like snow that they may have cancelled. We got ready and went over anyway to see if they were there. It should have started at 10:00, but we got there just a little after. The wind was brisk and it started to snow. It seemed, though, that there were as many booths and buyers as last week. The missionaries weren’t there so we started walking around the market booths. We brought our own BM’s and tracts so we were prepared to go it alone, if necessary. We looked for the guy who we gave a BM to last week, the one who gave us a bottle of olive oil in return. He was here again this week so we stopped and talked to him for awhile. He said he hadn’t had time to read the BM yet, but said he wanted to and would. We found out what he does for a living is go to different cities with his booth to sell his stuff at the markets. Every Saturday he would be back here unless it was really bad weather. He didn’t put up his shelter this time because the wind was blowing too hard, so his goods were getting snowed on. Poor guy tried to keep things as dry as he could by wiping stuff off with a towel. We got his name and address; he lives about 40 kilometers away in Uzwil near St. Gallen. We told him we could come up there and visit him, but he said he’s on the road most of the time to the different markets. So we’ll just visit him here until he gets a testimony of the BM and then we’re sure he’ll want us to come teach him.

After we talked to him we wandered over where the missionaries set up our display. The stand and some missionaries had arrived, but the BM’s and brochures hadn’t. We told them we were in business because we had ours. They took them and set things up, but it was hard to keep things on the little table because of the wind. It was amazing that the snow didn’t stick on our materials, but the Lord blesses us in many ways. We talked to a few people, but most were too cold to want to stop and talk I guess. I was proud of Diana because she was out contacting everyone who came by and tied her hardest. When we couldn’t feel our feet, face and hands anymore, we would duck into a store and stay long enough to get at least halfway warm again. We saw a cucumber rolling on the street in the market and Diana thought she knew who had dropped it. We picked it up and caught up with the lady. Sure enough she had dropped it and she discovered a hole in her bag. We thought maybe this was divine intervention, but alas, she was friendly and nice, but wouldn’t take a BM. She did, however, take a tract on the Plan of Salvation. Who knows, somewhere down the line she may be interested.

We stayed until we couldn’t stand it no more, and then we went home. We did stop and pick up some milk and Diana bought some more soup mix. She does love hot soup. I got some yogurt; I do love yogurt. The rest of the afternoon we got our reports ready for tomorrow’s missionary correlation meeting and to send in to Pres. Matern. We also studied the language by reading the scriptures in German and English. All’s well that ends well.

I did say that we would describe some of the differences between regular missionaries and senior missionaries. We may not know all of them yet, but here a few. We aren’t held to the same schedule as the young ones, nor do we need to pass off the scriptures and lesson plans that they do. We are expected to learn the lesson plans enough to be able to teach. We were asked at one time to prepare to teach the new member lessons, but the baptism fell through for some reason. We aren’t expected to go out and tract or do that type of missionary work. We are expected to do contacting in different ways, however, such as while riding the buses, trams and trains. We have had some good experiences doing that. We are at the disposal of the Bishop and visit those he wants us to that are either less active, in care centers/nursing homes or homebound. We meet with the other missionaries in District Meetings, zone conferences etc. Right now our assignment is to visit all the less-actives (some of them the bishop knows and some he has never met) and verify addresses and what their attitude is towards the Church. We also are expected to attend the YSA and Insitute just to be there and fellowship. We don’t have to teach or plan any of the activities, but just be an example and encourage the youth. Pres. Matern said we also may be asked to work in the mission home answering phones etc. when the regular staff can’t be there. We haven’t had that opportunity yet. He also said we may be called on to help with maintenance of the missionaries apartments if it’s a simple fix. Young missionaries are restricted to their areas of assignment. We are allowed to travel throughout our mission. We can also visit the temple whenever we want to. Young missionaries can only go when they are assigned. These are some difference. We will also probably not be transferred around. We work as we are able so we're not required to stay out until 9:00 p.m. Picture below is our bathroom with Grandma sitting on the throne.