On top of Weisshorn, Robert, Dian Elder Harris and Elder Nilsson; one of the little train stations on the way up to Arosa.

OCTOBER 6, 2009 TUESDAY

This morning we called Elizabeth Bouso, our contact from last week, to set a time to come over today. We already had agreed on Tuesday, but didn’t set a time, but arranged the time for 2:00. Before we left for district meeting, Cornelia Schaer called and asked us to come to dinner tonight. We had Institute tonight at 7:45 so we agreed to come at 4:00. While at Sister Schaer’s eating dinner, Marcello called to change his haircut appointment sometime earlier than 7:00, so we squeezed him in at 5:30. It turned out to be a busy day.

District meeting was fun as usual and Diana’s game was the best of all. It was the Bonko game where we divided into groups and who was the first to roll the specific number twenty five times won the round. We went through each number, one through 6, and then we were supposed to from six through one, but we ran out of time. As soon as district meeting was over, we went home and got our materials together for our lesson with Liz. She says she doesn’t answer to anything but Liz. We also reviewed our lesson material and what we wanted to accomplish.

We had never got off the tram at Waldgarten before, an underground tram stop, and it was a little confusing getting up to street level. We had to take an elevator or stairs down one floor, get out and then get on another to go up two floors. Weird! We found her apartment and she let us in. She really likes to talk and for awhile, we thought we weren’t going to be able to teach her what we had prepared. Finally, Diana asked her opinion about three questions. Where did we come from? Why are we here? Where are we going after this life? That caused her to think and she responded that she had given thought about these questions and felt it was a blessing to be on the earth. This gave us the opportunity to talk about the pre-earth life, the purpose of being here, that God uses prophets to teach and lead us through revelation, about the ministry of Jesus, Apostles and Church organization, apostasy and the restoration. We ended with the testimony of Joseph Smith and the coming forth of the Book of Mormon. She accepted a copy and agreed to read the highlighted scriptures we had marked throughout the book. When she listened, she really listened intently and heard what we taught. We gave her an overview and weren’t really able to go into depth, but that will come later. She reiterated the fact that fifteen years ago when she was hired to clean the mission home, the missionaries then didn’t offer to teach her or even give her any brochures or written material about the Church. She said she is a person who, when asked, would consider doing what was requested, but she was dead set against anyone trying to tell her she had to do something. She appreciated us in that we taught her, but didn’t try to push her into anything. We just taught and invited. Right at the last she invited us to come next week to have lunch with her and asked us if it were alright to invite her preacher friend to come too. We gulped, but said of course she could invite whom ever she wanted. We’ve made pretty good friends out of little Triana and Tito, her children. It was hard to get away, but we were in danger of being late to Cornelia’s for her appointment.

We made it to Cornelia’s a few minutes after 4:00. She had everything waiting for us when we got there. We spent an hour and a half with her and had an enjoyable time. When we are invited to lunch or dinner, we always come prepared with a spiritual thought, kind of a thank you for the meal. We taught her about priorities using Matt. 6:33 and Ecclesiastes 3:1. The object lesson that went along with it was putting rocks in a jar representing the must do things and then pouring in wheat to fill the gaps representing all the other things that are fun, but important things. First, if you fill the jar with wheat and then try to fit in the rocks, they won’t all fit in. However, if you prioritize and take care of the rocks first, and then pour in the wheat, everything fits. And, if you wanted to carry the lesson further, you could add water demonstrating that everything you want to do, fits, if you prioritize. But very first comes seeking after the Kingdom of God. While we were there, she mentioned needing some help to move a piece of furniture she needed and had acquired from a friend, to her shop. We told her we would try to find someone with a vehicle big enough to do it for her. We had a prayer and left just in time to get home for the appointment with Marcello.

We got home just before Marcello arrived. While cutting his hair we talk about what he’s doing and try to teach him a little bit and encourage him to come to Church. Elders Richeson and Dockstader have the teaching responsibilities but, we do all we can to support their efforts. We had a few minutes between when he left and when we needed to leave for Institute so we relaxed a little. Actually, I fell asleep on the couch while Diana was on the computer. Never lay down twenty minutes before you have to go somewhere. All of a sudden I came awake and we realized we were late. We got to the Church about 15 minutes late and sat through the rest of the lecture. Tonight was not regular Institute with classes etc., but Guido Weibel gave a slide lecture on his pilgrimage in Spain on one of the ancient apostles missionary trips. This particular trek took him from Switzerland into Spain on foot. I was perplexed because I could hardly understand a word of what he was saying. I thought I could understand German quite well, but not tonight. One sister saw we were having trouble and, since she was sitting just in front of us interpreting for another person, she and that person got up and moved to just in back of Diana. She said she might as well interpret for us as well, which was very kind of her. She mostly interpreted for the guy and Diana because she sat where I wasn’t able to hear her only occasionally. Diana was grateful for the translation, but she had to crane her neck in such a way that it was painful and, by the time he finished, she was feeling a little ill. After it was over, I asked the other two missionaries if they understood what Guido was saying. I was relieved to hear them say they couldn’t understand much of what he said either. It could have been we just weren’t familiar with the vocabulary he was using and he was also mixing a form of dialect German with German.
After the lecture we went into the cultural hall for the refreshments. After, on the way out we met Bishop Schwendener. As we talked with him Diana mentioned that Cornelia needed some help with the piece of furniture. He said he would bring it up in ward council Thursday evening and assign the Elders Quorum to take care of it for her. That’s a relief for us to see the ward accept this responsibility. We made it home by 10:00 and we are tired and ready for bed.

The tender mercy for today is that we were in the right place for Cornelia to ask us for help and that the Lord made sure our paths crossed with Bishop Schwendener to pass the plea for help so he could take care of it.