L: Overlooking our apartment building and you can also see the church bldg. Me taking a hike in the sweater Monica/family gave me.
FEBRUARY 11, 2009 WEDNESDAY

The wind storm from yesterday did a lot of damage throughout Switzerland and even caused the death of a few when trees blew over or caused car wrecks etc. The paper reported the winds were up to 174 km which is about 80 mph. The weather following this wind storm is supposed to be colder and wetter with rain/snow. Today it did both off and on with a little sun mixed in and it was cold again.

Diana went walking with Naeide again this morning and came back with a loaf of bread she bought at COOP. We did the wash which took all morning to get done. In between we did our reading and studying and then got prepared to go out to meet more less active members and invite them to the fireside with Elder Bednar and the Valentine’s party on Saturday evening. Two of them weren’t home so we left the invitations in their mailboxes. Josefina Bader was home, but I guess she doesn’t want to talk to us. The last time we saw her go into her home, but when we rang, she didn’t answer the door. This time when we came to her house, her kitchen light was on. After we rang her bell and knocked, the light went out, but she still didn’t answer the door. I guess we won’t bug her anymore for awhile, but may go back during the summer to see if we can meet her. We wished she knew we were only here to help and support her. We see so many older people who live alone who could use a friend and a kind word.

We got home about 6:00 and were just sitting down to some warmed up leftover casserole when the phone rang. Elder Ehlen said that our friend from the Altstetten Ward, Suwang Stefaniak, had been really sick and, living alone, hadn’t been able to cook anything for two days. They tried to get her to go to a doctor, but she wouldn’t go. Things got worse, however, and she ended up in the hospital. Her moving around a lot caused things to get worse even in the hospital, so they had to sedate her for four days. Today they woke her up, but she was so confused, they sedated her again. She kept asking for Pres. Bolt and the missionaries so Elder Ehlen asked us if we could go to the hospital in the morning and be there when they wake her up. They had a teaching appointment and wouldn’t be able to go themselves. Of course we said we would as long as we could get to the Mission Conference with Elder Bednar at 3:00 tomorrow afternoon.

We wonder sometimes if what we are doing is of any value because it seems as if we are spinning our wheels a lot and not accomplishing much. But the second part of the phone call with Elder Ehlen makes it all worth it. We referred the name of Sister Vedani, the mother of James, whom we met while trying to contact James. When we asked her if she was a member and active, she replied she was trying to get active again. Elders Ehlen/Hoffman made contact with her and now, with their support, is on her way back into activity again. After we met her we went back again on James’ birthday to give him a card and a gift. She said she really appreciated the concern we showed for her son.