L: George Wimalasuriya; M: Elders Roberts, Ehlen, Jensen, Evans Naeide, Cornelia, Diana and Robert. R: Elder Larson in dreamland.










APRIL 12, 2009 EASTER SUNDAY

This morning we were up bright and early to get ready for our missionary correlation meeting at 8:00 and the block of meetings thereafter. Elders Pine and Harris came by quick before the meeting to finish the baptism invitation. In the correlation meeting it was good to see the progress of the work here in this ward. Throughout the block of meetings we were excited that some of the less active members we’ve been working with came today. Margarita Maurer, the one with the bad knee, came and was greeted by many of the members. When she left after the meetings and social were over, she hugged many of them including us. She also invited us to visit her when we could. Cornelia Schaer came and enjoyed the services and the social after. She met Sister Martin who is also a dentist technician and has an interest in being a manicurist. Sybille Oberli came and we were able to meet her. This is also the first time she has been to Church since we’ve been here. Elders Evans & Jensen were the ones who contacted her and invited her to Church. Solange, Patricia, Suki and, of course, Naeide and Charlotte were also in Chruch. Sister Sigrist came again today with her daughter and son, Kyvia and Nickolas, and stayed for the social after. It was Kyvia’s birthday so we gave her a chocolate bunny. We also gave Nickolas a missionary pocket badge that says, “Future Missionary” on it. He said he still loves his BM. Brother Kummer came and this time he allowed us to make an appointment for next Wednesday to visit him and his wife; she is the one who is homebound. She has been so ill he hasn’t allowed us to come visit for over two months. We confirmed the lunch appointment with the Lochers for next Saturday and they agreed to invite and bring Silvana Gianatti with them, an inactive member we’ve visited with several times. We hope she comes. We were also invited to the Viegas-Hawes family for dinner on Thursday evening. The only thing we were disappointed about was that the Wachter family didn’t come. We had great hopes for them, and still do, because we never give up.

After the block of meetings the ward had an Easter brunch social. This is something we would never do at home, but it happens occasionally over here. It was an excellent opportunity for Sisters Maurer and Cornelia to become acquainted with ward members and develop friends. We also had opportunity to meet and get acquainted with a few more people.

Charlotte organized an Easter egg hunt for the missionaries and a few members and investigators at her home after the ward social was over. She went home a little early to hide the eggs and get things ready. Those who came were Solange, Patricia, Cornelia, Naeide, George, Elders Pine & Harris, Elders Ehlen & Roberts, Elders Evans & Jensen and Elder & Schwester Larson and of course, our host Charlotte and her five cats. Cornelia also has three cats so those two really get along well. The egg hunt was a lot of fun because watching how they all tried to find eggs and couldn’t, was a hoot. They looked right at the eggs and seldom saw them. Being an old prison guard and very practiced in the art of searching and finding, it was hilarious to watch. Elder Pine looked in a Yucca plant and then walked away complaining there were no eggs to be found. I couldn’t stand it any more so I told him to go back and look a little closer. He was amazed to discover three eggs where he had just looked. Diana found her share and then replaced them to make sure everyone was able to find their share of eggs. The cooked eggs they kept and they each were allowed only one plastic egg with a number on it and one with a letter on it. These corresponded to prizes we brought for them. Charlotte loaded her table with chocolate rabbits, chocolate eggs, other kinds of chocolate, different kinds of drinks, and a cake thingy. Naeide brought some other goodies and Cornelia brought some Easter torte. Later she brought out some cheeses and bread. It is really hard to keep the weight off with all these goodies everywhere, but we’re trying.

We came home and finally had a somewhat quiet evening. We continued working on our lesson for tomorrow night’s FHE. We are using the story about “The Bird Cage” that Roxsan sent to us, translated into German, of course. Elder Norris just called us to get our weekly report. He’s such fun to talk to. Maybe our kids will skype us now. Well, time’s up; we’re out.