All the missionaries + tour guide; M: me + sign welcoming the Missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ; L: welcome room before tour. No photos of inside factory allowed.


FEBRUARY 2. 2009 MONDAY

P-day is also my birthday. Thanks for all the birthday wishes I received via email and SKYPE. It’s not easy turning 65, although my mind says I’m still 25. I still don’t know what’s happening with registering for Medicare which is mandatory for everyone in order to avoid paying a penalty for the rest of your life. The Church medical department sent me some forms to send to Medicare to register to delay signing up until I return home as long as I have insurance to cover me until I get home and live in and volunteer (mission) in a foreign country for more than twelve months. I met all the criteria, filled out the forms and sent them in, but received no confirmation or anything else from Medicare to say everything was OK. I guess I’ll find out when I get home.

For P-day the missionaries from our district and the Altstetten District met in Aarau for a guided tour through the FREY chocolate factory. They took us on the tour which began in a little amphitheater with a film about the company and the making of all different kinds of chocolate products, right from roasting and crushing the beans through the end product. After the film our tour guide took us to a room where we put on hairnets, a duster and shoe coverings. We were directed to wash our hands and then use some sanitizer lotion on our hands. Then the tour began and we actually got to see first hand what we saw on the film, step by step. We mostly went down an elevated hallway where both sides were clear windows and you could look down on what was happening below. As we passed each area where a category of product was made, we were able to eat all the different chocolate things we wanted. When we stopped at the first tasting station, we tried everything, eating as much as we dared without looking like greedy pigs because we thought this would be our only chance. Much to our surprise, we came to another area where a different category of product was made and there was another tasting area. We still didn’t quite understand that there would be more so we indulged ourselves again only not quite so much. After five or six tasting areas we were absolutely filled with chocolate and I really needed some potato chips to help me recover from the queasiness eating too much chocolate causes. Everyone knows that eating something salty cures the queasy feeling. Following the tour we gave our tour guide a present which was a wrapped Book of Mormon. I found out no one put any brochures with it, so we slipped some in when she wasn’t looking. We went back into the change room and took off all the protective clothes and then were taken to the little store where they let us buy what we wanted at 20% off. This time we only spent 28sfr. ($25), and it was about all we wanted to carry. They also gave us a box of chocolates as a gift. All this and the tour only cost each of us 5sfr. After the tour we went to the company lunch room and bought lunch for 12sfr. each which for Diana and I consisted of a salad bar. Then we came home.

Tomorrow’s district meeting is the Omega meeting which is the one just before the transfers on Thursday. It’s going to start at 9:00 which means the sisters in Luzern will have to be on the train by 7:00. They said they wouldn’t have time for breakfast so Diana and I volunteered to have breakfast for them at the Church when they arrived. We had to go to the store and pick up a few things for it. What they are going to get is a jazzed up birchermuesli breakfast. We start out with a muesli mix from Denners and add milk, yogurt and cut up fresh fruit.

Tonight is our regular FHE, but we are also celebrating Naeide’s birthday although it is really on Feb. 5. She doesn’t know it, so we hope it’ll be a surprise. Since Elders Ehlen and Middleton are being transferred, Naeide wanted to make it a going away party for them. Most of them know it’s my birthday too so, although I don’t want it, they’ll probably do something for me too. We’ll see what happens. Although there’ll be some partying go on, the spirit of the FHE will be preserved because we know Elders E&E have a lesson prepared. We wanted to give Elders E&M a going away memento so we also went to the little Asian store where we buy my ginger and all the funky stuff I like to try. We knew Elder Middleton likes the fried dried banana chips so we bought some of those for him. We knew Elder Ehlen likes rootbeer and we knew where to buy it, but didn’t want to because it costs 3.50 sfr. a can. But, wonders of wonders, this time at this little store I noticed A&W rootbeer on the shelf for 1.10 sfr. a can. Wow, what a bargain. Then Diana found an unopened case so we grabbed onto it quick. We also bought some ginger for Ilene because she asked us to get her some. As we checked out the clerk gave us and additional 18% off the rootbeer because that’s what they do when you buy a case instead of singles. Even better.

When we got off the tram at Schwamendingen there was an elderly lady getting off at the same time. She was having difficulty getting off so we helped her down the tram steps onto the ground. We got on the bus and went to the Asian store and then came back which took about 25 minutes. As we were going into Migros the same elderly lady just couldn’t manage getting on the escalator to go down into the store. Another lady was trying to help her, but didn’t seem to know how. We wrapped our arms around her shoulders, said Eins, Zwei, Drei and stepped on. Down we went without any problem. We did our shopping, went up the escalator to the Denner store which is right there. Diana stayed outside on a bench while I went in and bought the Birchermuesli. When I came out, the little elderly lady came up the escalator and sat down by Diana. We asked her again if we could help her get to where she was going, but she declined several times before we gave up and went on our way. And that is our tender mercy for today; we were able to help this elderly lady in time of need. And isn’t that what this life is about, loving and helping others. As an additional benefit, another lady had noticed what we did and, when we left the store walking back to get on the tram, she came over and thanked us for the kind deeds. We are just glad to represent the Church in a good light.

The FHE was as good as ever and especially tonight as many good things were said about everybody. Naeide brought a birthday/going away cake for me, Elders Ehlen and Middleton. After the presents were given and opened, Elder Ehlen gave the lesson and then came the cake. Instead of a game everyone got a turn to express some thoughts about Elders E&M and then Elder E expressed some thoughts about each person present. Those who attended tonight were Naeide, Elders P&M, E&E, Ilene & Juerg, Guiseppe, Sarah and Pres. & Sister Bolt. Ilene & Juerg gave me a ginger root to make tea out of and a package of sauerkraut and a small ham. Elders E&E tried to find some Louis L’Amour books in German, but couldn’t , so they bought a couple German language westerns in a old pawn shop. They also gave me a funky tie which I’m going to wear tomorrow in district meeting.