Rebecca, Dad, Monica, Chris, Mom in Konstanz; Mom, Dad, Monica, Rebecca, Chris on the boat from Konstanz to Schaffhausen on the Rhine; Monica, Rebecca, Chris, Robert in the train to Konstanz.

MAY 6, 2010 THURSDAY

This morning we had a breakfast/teaching appointment at 10:15 with Priska Staehelin and Michael in Stammheim which is a small town near Stein Am Rhein. The last time we met with them at Migros they said they had a few unanswered questions they would like to discuss with us. With that in mind we didn’t exactly know how to prepare so we included them in our morning prayer. I had to go to the Church this morning to get a larger jump suit for Paul before we went to our appointment. It took about an hour to get to Stammheim by train and, just as they described, their apartment was in the train station which was converted into a home. Tiziana, one of Priska’s daughters, was watching for us through a little door built into the main door and invited us in when she saw us. They had breakfast mostly on the table so we sat down and soon all were seated and a blessing was said. Those that were there were Michael, Priska and her four children, Cecelia, Tiziana, Julie and Julian. Breakfasts here are a lot different than what we are used to in America. It consisted of cold cuts, different kinds of cheeses, cherry tomatoes, boiled eggs, mozzarella cheese, different kinds of rolls and croissants, butter and jam. We had a comfortable conversation with them as we ate and got to know them a little better.

When we were finished and the table was cleared, the children went into a different room and we were alone with Priska and Michael. To get into the teaching mode we mentioned they had some questions they wanted to talk about and now would be a good time to talk about them. Michael said he didn’t have time because he had to go to work. He quickly got ready and rushed out the door when the train stopped outside at the station. After he had gone she said she had another daughter who was fifteen year old named Kathleen, who quit school, smokes, gets drunk all the time and runs away. The state mandated she be housed in a group home where she is supposed to stay and receive psychological therapy, but she runs away from there , too. Her ex-husband takes her on weekends occasionally, but is not very responsible and lets her run around town etc. etc. and etc. Priska wondered if we had any counsel for her on how to help her daughter. She is required to pay a thousand dollars a month, which she can’t afford any more, for the in-patient treatment Kathleen is supposed to be receiving. She feels guilty and feels it is her fault her daughter is that way, that she must have done something wrong in raising her.

We lived through the same experiences with one of our children and discovered there isn’t much one can do until the person decides he wants to change. We tried everything we could think of the help him, but nothing worked. We haven’t given up and still do what we can although we’ve turned it over to the Lord. We discussed the principle of agency, but focused more on helping her to not blame herself and not to continue being an enabeler. We focused more on the healing we can receive through Jesus Christ and His atonement when we live the commandments. She’s had most of the missionary discussions so she knows the gospel, but hasn’t understood what is necessary to get a testimony. We also gave her a copy of the “Proclamation of the Family” and asked her to read through it before we came back. We made another appointment for May 13 when both she and Michael will be there.

On our way back home we stopped at Erzwilen to switch trains and, after we got off we were approached by a man that appeared to be from India and traveling with his family. He asked us how to get to the Rhine Falls. We told him we were going that direction and he could follow us. Fifteen minutes later the train came and we all got on and traveled to Schaffhausen. We went quickly home and got the jump suit and then went to see Paul. He tried it on and it fit this time. We also discussed how the baptism would take place and practiced a little on how to stand, hold onto my arms and then go under the water. He is now officially ready for his baptism.

We got back in time for our meeting with Sylvain and spent a productive hour with him on agency and how we should follow the example of Christ in the Garden of Gethsame where he asked not to drink the bitter cup, but submitted to the will of the Father anyway. We also need to submit our will to the Father in all things, trust Him and live the commandments.

After he left we worked on Paul’s baptism program and finally got it to the point where we felt comfortable in printing it. We wish we were better on the computer so it wouldn’t take so long to get it done. In between Diana worked on her talk some more.

Phone calls tonight included Bro. DeMarzi checking to see if everything was ready for the baptism. We assured him all assignments and arrangements had been made and now we just need to wait for Saturday to get here. Elder Walters called to find out what time our baptism was on Saturday and said they would try to attend. While I was talking to him, Sylvain called to get some advice on how to help one of his friends who’s wheelchair bound and said he wanted to end it all because he was of no use to anyone. Diana gave him some good advice. Elder Vincent called this morning while we were at Priskas to let us know he hadn’t been transferred; transfer calls were made today. We couldn’t talk to him then so we returned the call tonight and talked with him for awhile.