antique violins; inside Einsiedeln; Elders Pine, Ehlen, Evans and Diana outside Einsiedeln.













JANUARY 27, 2009 TUESDAY

Tuesday was our district meeting day and it started at 10:00 sharp. The theme for this meeting was focused on the Holy Ghost and ways he can help us, teach us, guide us, etc. Each of us was assigned a five minute talk on a different aspect related to the theme. Diana’s was on the Light of Christ and mine was on “Receiving Revelation.” It was very difficult to give a comprehensive talk on such a deep subject, but all of the talks we informative and inspirational. The game we played today was one where we all sat in a circle. One person was in the middle. The one who started it asked a question of the person sitting in the middle. The person would have to answer the question and then the one who asked the question traded places and took his turn in the middle. The next person then asked a question. We were pleased to see that all of the questions were appropriate, after all, they are missionaries. There were, however, some very interesting ones and some funny. At every other district meeting someone was assigned to bring treats. It was odd that this time there were no treats and not one of them brought up the subject. We don’t know why and didn’t ask either. And this was one of the tender mercies of the Lord today. Diana and I (and maybe Elders E&E) were fasting for Ilene Russo who was having an operation today. We didn’t have the temptation of goodies staring us in the face the whole meeting.

After the meeting we went out to Volketswil to make a birthday visit to a less-active member who we’ve not met yet, but who is listed on our member list as someone who doesn’t want contact from the church. We decided to ignore that notation and try anyway. Unfortunately Patricia wasn’t home so we left the gift in her mailbox along with an invitation to a fireside Sunday and to the meeting with Elder Bednar on Feb. 12. While we were out there, we tried to visit another less-active member. He wasn’t home either, but his mother happened to be there. She hesitantly opened the door, but when she saw us she became less afraid. She said James wasn’t home and that she just happened to be there. She said he is going to be moving to Zofingen the first part of February, so it’s a good thing we made contact today. And that was another tender mercy because we were prompted to go there today at just the right time because she told us she was just getting ready to leave. Otherwise we would not have known what happened to him. From the way she talked I thought maybe she was a member and, when I asked, it turned out she was. I asked her if she was active and she said she hadn’t been but she is beginning the road to come back. She said she belonged to the Altstetten ward, but didn’t think there was a ward or branch in Zofingen. She said it was a beautiful thing that we would come over here for two years and serve as missionaries. She said her son quit going to church after his divorce and didn’t think it would do any good to try and meet with him. We talked a little longer and she agreed maybe there was a chance he would talk to us. The only thing is he works until 8:00 in the evening. We may ask the younger missionaries to try and make contact with him. After that we tried one more home, but the member wasn’t home either so we left a note and an invitation.

On the way back home we stopped at Diana’s favorite little store and bought a bunch of those little stuffed airplanes and some more candle/napkin gift sets for birthday gifts. Then we stopped at COOP and bought some food to replenish our larder which was almost drained dry the last few days (well, not quite). We bought as much as we could carry then went home. We had enough time to eat a bit and then it was off to take a gift to Charlotte because it was her birthday. We caught her just as she was coming out of her apartment, gave her the gift, and then walked over to the Church with her for English class. The class is always interesting and fun. It’s fun to watch others struggle with English words and German words instead of just us struggling with German. It helps us realize we’re not alone in our struggles to learn and overcome. That class ended and then we attended Institute. It’s fun to interact with the youth who come from all over within the stake boundaries. Some, we’re sure, must travel for over an hour to get here, but they come because of their faith and desire to learn. The association with other youth also help them stay true and they support each other so well. Suwang Stefaniak was also there and she gave Diana the address to a store where you can buy cheap table clothes that are washable instead of the paper ones we’ve been using. We also were told that Ilene’s operation went well and it appeared things would be ok with her.