L: One of the pigs for Fasnacht; Luzern Ausstellung; an attempt to post a video of Fasnacht performers.
.
JANUARY 17, 2009 SATURDAY

This morning we were on our way to Zurich Bahnhof at 7:45 to meet the other missionaries going to Luzern for the contacting display at the bahnhof there. Our spot was reserved from 10:00 until 12:00. On the way to the Zurich Bahnhof we got a call from Elder Middleton telling us we’d meet shortly before 9:00 which was a half hour later than we were told yesterday. With a little time on our hands we decided to ride Tram #7 to the end and then back to the bahnhof. We arrived in time, found our train and the other four Elders arrived just in the nick of time for us all to get in. The ride lasted an hour and it’s always a pleasant experience to be with the younger missionaries. Their conversations are always centered on different points of the gospel, teaching methods and situations, use of language and etc.


We arrived, met the missionaries stationed in Luzern and set up our display. Why is it always the coldest day of the week or month when the contacting display is scheduled? We talked with many people, gave out BM’s and tracts and had a good time proclaiming the gospel. Today was also the first day of a month long celebration they call Fasnacht. I remembered this fest from when I was in Switzerland 45 years ago. There are many bands and musical groups and the each unit dresses up in different costumes. Every hour a new group performs in the bahnhof and many people stop to watch. The fest culminates in huge parades on February 19 where not only the parade participants dress up in costumes, but others do too.

After that we rode the train back to Zurich, went to Schwamendingen for a little shopping. We went to the little Thai store and bought some other weird stuff to try, then to COOP for some groceries. The weird stuff we bought this time was canned grass jelly, canned jack fruit, another one of those little green things (yummy), sweetened ginger (my favorite), canned ramoutan and some more flavored aloe vera cubes. Then we came home and I studied for my lesson tomorrow and Diana studied the Relief Society and Gospel Doctrine lessons. Tomorrow will be interesting.