Diana at the museum; fountain at Zurich Bahnhof. These photos are just to remind you how cold it is here.

FEBRUARY 20, 2009 FRIDAY

This morning we called Sister Locher and wished her a happy birthday. Yesterday she had taken her grandchildren sledding in the mountains and that was why she wasn’t home. What a wonderful way to celebrate her birthday. We received a text message from Naeide asking us to come visit her this afternoon. We texted back that we would try to be there at 3:00. We also made arrangement to go with the Neidhart’s to Freiburg Sunday to listen to Jonah’s fireside talk.
We have tried to visit a less-active sister in Embrach several times, but have never been able to catch her home. Today we thought might be our lucky day. It was and then it wasn’t. It takes over an hour and a half to get out to Embrach which is a little dorf (village) out in the country. It’s a nice ride out there on the tram and bus, but it would be better if there were something besides snow and haze to see. When we got there, we rang her doorbell and her husband answered the door. We introduced ourselves and asked if his wife were available to talk to us. He asked why so we responded she was a member of the Church and we’d come to visit. He emphatically said she was not a member, it didn’t make any difference because they weren’t interested anyway, then asked us to leave. Well, sad to say, one more checked off our list. It’s sad for us to think of all she has given up and, when she realizes this, it’ll be too late.

Next on our list of things to do was to go visit Suwang in the hospital. She needs all the love and support she can get right now. We remembered that Naeide said she’d like to go with us to visit her the next time we went, so we texted her back asking if she’d like to go. She said she would so we got off the tram and onto another to go back to Schoerlistrasse to meet her. We met and together went back to the hospital. We got to Suwang’s room, but they were doing something to her so we had to wait a half hour before we could go in. It didn’t look like she had improved much, but she is such a patient patient. We visited for a half hour or so during which Diana gave her a picture of the Tree of Life and talked to her about the symbolism. Diana does such a good job of fussing over her, brushing her hair etc. that it can’t help but do her good. We finally had to leave because Suwang just couldn’t keep her eyes open and needed the rest. Even in her weakened state she always thanks us for the visit and tries to make us feel good. Diana said a prayer then we left.

Neide wanted us to come to her home to have dinner with her, but Diana trumped her and she ended up coming to our home. Naeide took advantage of being here to check her emails again with Diana cheering her on. I whipped up a dinner of last night’s leftover potato soup, breaded chicken patties, creamed spinach and rice pilaf with a strawberry mousse topped with fresh strawberries for dessert. It was all very tasty and she was impressed on how healthy we eat.