Charlotte's day care circus; our attorney; The Hutchesons and Diana in attorney's office.

JUNE 26, 2009 FRIDAY

Elder and Sister Hutcheson called us on Wednesday to set a time to pick us up today so we could all go to the Mission’s attorney to sign some papers to try and get our insurance requirements for Kanton Zurich straightened out. When they arrived, we had lunch waiting for them, cold roast beef and all the fixins for sandwiches, green salad, fruit cocktail jello, and ice cream over banana bread for dessert. For their sandwiches she went for the Best Foods mayonnaise and he went for the Miracle whip. We had a nice leisurely lunch over which we discussed the various things we do on our missions.

After lunch we went in their car to the attorney’s office. It was an exciting drive because he wasn’t used to driving in the city and we had to go right through downtown Zurich. He didn’t have a Tom Tom either, and mine went berserk, so we had to rely on his printed directions as well as common sense. Our attorney was fairly young, but he seemed to know what he was supposed to do. He told us that nowhere else in Switzerland is there a problem, only Zurich. The attorney had already received verification/guarantee from Deseret Mutual to the effect they would match the Swiss requirements which is 100% coverage for any and all health problems, choice of hospitals, choice of doctors and either full private or part private rooms at our choice. All we really had to do was sign the documents which will now be sent to the proper agency for their decision. If they don’t approve it, then the attorney will appeal the decision to the courts. It’s important for the Church to get a final decision, not really specific for us, although it will certainly benefit us too, but for all the senior couples who come after us. We don’t know if we have to pay additional for the improved coverage.

On the way back it was a little more confusing and he actually turned down a one way street the wrong way. We came to a stop light and when we stopped, a bicycle rider tapped on his window, and when it was rolled down, told Elder Hutcheson he was going the wrong way and it wasn’t allowed. When the light turned green, he quickly made a right turn and got going the right way again. We continued on, but got turned around again. Diana and I knew where we were and told them they could let us out and we’d go back home on the tram rather than try and find our way back to our apartment in the car. They agreed and we went our way and they, we’re sure, found it much easier to just be concerned about getting back to their home in Ebnat Kappel near St. Gallen. It only took us about 15 minutes on the tram to get home.

It was Patricia Pascutto’s birthday today so we were just getting ready to go visit her when we got a call from Charlotte. She reminded us that it was tonight at 6:15 when the day care she used to work at was having their circus program put on by the children. We had just enough time to get to Patricia’s and return unless she was at home. Well, she wasn’t home so we got back home with a few minutes to spare. At 6:15 Charlotte dropped by and picked us up although we knew the way there because it’s in the same building she lives in. It was a fun little program with the younger kids walking along a 2X4 placed on the ground as if it were a balance beam. The next older group dressed as lions and performed tricks dictated by the lion tamer. There were muscle men lifting weights (balloons), dancers with streamers, a magician, the kids standing close together so they looked like one person with six arms etc. Anyway, it was all pretty fun, but after the performances, we left because it was pretty crowded and we didn’t want to impose on their refreshments.

We still had time to make another couple of contacts so we decided to go try and visit Dora and Markus Wachter and a new person we identified from the new member list, Renatus Raschle. We took a loaf of banana nut bread with us to give to the Wachters, but neither one of them were home. We ended up going back home without contacting either one although we left them notes with an invitation to come to the fireside Sunday evening. When we got home, it was close to 9:00 and we still had time to call Marija Friederich, the person Sister Locher recommended we try and visit. Marija answered the phone and after she realized who it was we had an interesting short conversation. We asked her if we could come by and visit her. She made it “klip und klar” (crystal clear) that she wasn’t interested in becoming active in the Church again. We told her we’d still like to come by and meet her and just get to know her. She agreed finally to let us come, but not until next weekend. It was late by this time so we called it a day.