Stein Am Rhein (one side of river, look at the castle on the skyline); yep, another Swiss cow); other side of the river from the same bridge.

APRIL 9, 2010 FRIDAY

We got up this morning happy that we had two appointments scheduled for today, Sylvain at 11:00 and Emely Dipaolo at 3:00. We worked hard at learning the concepts in the 3rd step of the recovery program workbook so that we could discuss them with Sylvain in a way that would help him accept the necessary things he would have to do to make progress. This is a new program for us and it takes a bit of work to prepare. Everyone should get one of these manuals and work through the steps because it really gets down to the nitty gritty in applying scriptures to our lives. If one seriously worked through the concepts and assignments, it would bring one closer to Christ and make the Atonement a reality and a help in everyday life to follow His example. However, step #3 will have to wait a little longer. Silvia called and told us Sylvain is still suffering from his back pains and wouldn’t be able to come today. Later, Sylvain called himself to let us know. We’ll talk to him on Sunday, we hope, to make another appointment.

We called Silvana Ginatti, our less-active friend in Schwamendingen, to confirm that we’re still invited to lunch tomorrow. We made this lunch date several months ago and we just wanted to be sure she remembered. She hasn’t had the courage or desire to return to activity yet, but we keep hoping and praying that she will catch the Spirit again. And yes, she hadn’t forgotten.

All of a sudden it seemed like we were out of clean white clothes. We put a load in and let them wash while we were busy with other things. When they were finished washing, we switched them into the dyer. Our pile of cans and bottles were overflowing the bucket under the sink so while the clothes were drying, I went for my morning walk and I took them with me to put in the recycle center located by the shopping center in Herblingen. While I was there I bought some bananas to make banana bread to take to Silvana tomorrow. She can’t eat sugar so we’ll try with Splenda again. Last time it didn’t work out so well because we didn’t put enough in.

By the time I got back the clothes were finished and I took them upstairs with me. We did a little more preparation for our meeting with Emely and then went to meet with them. We had a great lesson reviewing the 4th Article of Faith and focusing mostly on the Gift of the Holy Ghost. We drew a stairway to the Celestial Kingdom and as we discussed the steps, we had Emely write them in. For example, the first four steps were, faith, repentance, baptism and the Gift of the Holy Ghost. Other steps included the temple ordinances, following the commandments and enduring to the end. And then came the commitment part. Emely and her mother, Katia, hadn’t been to Church yet so this is what we talked about. Katia took responsibility and said she was to blame that they hadn’t been coming, that she hadn’t made it a priority. They both committed to coming on Sunday for sure this time. We also talked about a baptism date and if her husband had agreed to let Emely be baptized. Katia said she would talk to Claudio this weekend and tell him it’s time to let Emely get baptized. Emely would like to get baptized in June or July before she has to get operated on. Emely always says the closing prayer before we leave.

We needed to pick up a few things from ALDI so after we left the Dipaolos, we caught a train and went to Jestetten. We bought a lot of flour and sugar, half of which we’ll give to Paul Hunziker. He always does a lot of cooking for people who come visit him and we feel we need to help him out with some groceries. He lives on a small pension, but still wants to, and does, serve his fellowmen. We got back home, baked the banana bread which, as Diana said, tasted delicious, and had dinner. For me it was left over pizza and sauteed shrimp and for Diana, tomato soup and sauteed shrimp.

Phone calls we received today in addition to the ones already mentioned: 1. Our district leader, Elder Bentley, called to see if we’d gotten our key he left in our box the other day. He also told us there would be no district meeting on Tuesday in lieu of the zone conference on Thursday. He will pick us up and we can ride to Luzern with them. We asked him if he and his companion were planning on helping us teach the 10 year olds at the International School. After some coaxing he said they would if he didn’t have to do any of the presenting. He said he would be too nervous in front of kids. His companion, Elder Dahneke, is stoked about the opportunity. 2. Elder Vincent called from Zollikofen while we were at the Dipaolos to sing happy birthday to Diana (a couple of days late). We had to tell him we were in the middle of a lesson and that he’d have to call back later. 3. Elder Talley called to ask us if we would be in charge of a 10 minute game at the zone conference.

We got a call from Silvia this afternoon reminding us that the members of the branch council were going to fast for the Dipaolo family to help them come to Church and for her father to agree to let her get baptized. We already had planned to fast for them, but were appreciative the members had remembered to do it too.