Diana & Elder Pine; Elder Larson under the train, Elder Carrier in cab.;

MAY 12, 2009 TUESDAY

Today we had a tri-zone conference at the stake center here in Schwamendingen because we had a visiting Area Seventy, Elder Weidmann. We arrived at 9:00 and had a half hour to visit with other missionaries and two senior couples, Elder & Sister Horlacher and Elder & Sister Hutchison. We got to talk to Elder Evans who is now serving in Dornbirn, Austria. The meeting started at 9:30 and ended at 4:30 with an hour break in between for lunch. During lunch all the missionaries who had birthdays since the last conference were recognized and given a gift by Sister Matern. Diana was one of the birthday missionaries. The meeting was informative, spiritual and long, but a lot of good training and teaching was enjoyed by all.

Following the conference we went home for an hour and a half and then returned to the church at 6:00 to prepare the building and food for Institute tonight. The Diethelms are on vacation so we’re filling in for a month. It’s not hard setting up or getting the food ready, but it takes a little time. When all was ready the youth started coming and before long the meeting began. The YSA’s are always glad to see one another. We have a good time with them; some we know better than others such as Paulina, Aleah, Jona and Sarah. Paulina and Sarah treat Diana like she’s their favorite Grandmother and always look for her and sit by her until the classes start. Once the classes were over the food was served and then we helped clean up. It was fun working with the Wichtermanns. We not only get to help on Tuesday evenings, but this week we’ll help on Friday and Sunday; Friday for a High Priest and stake function and Sunday for a CES youth fireside.