Dear Family,
This letter is the first to be written on the new computer received as a wonderful Christmas present a week ago as we returned to Vienna. It's working pretty well although we're still working on how to get our I tunes copied on a Windows 8 computer to play on a Windows 7. If any of you have clues, let us know.
As the week has gone, it's been pretty slow with lots of time to get caught up on things in the apartment. Although it had snowed in Vienna while we were gone, it came down good and hard on Saturday night as seen in this view into our back yard. and out our front window.
I guess we get used to all the salt that is thrown around on the Utah roads but here the custom is to scatter the sidewalks with gravel! It's definitely effective at stopping the slipping and sliding but long after the snow is gone, it's still pretty hard on the shoes.
Because we were up so late checking in with everyone at the Messiah Sing-In we decided to attend the one ward here in Vienna that starts in the afternoon and that is the 4th (International) Ward. It was a great end of the year as we covered the prophecies in the Old Testament regarding the Second Coming and while we were there, a member of the Bishopric asked Elder Parker if he'd speak on the 11th. So it's the first talk in Sacrament Meeting we've been asked to give and I guess it's nice that it's in English. We'll have to translate it into German and keep it in reserve for the next request that comes along.
The rest of Sunday was pleasant and gave us a chance to get caught up on any missed sleep. We weren't sure what was going to go on in the Center during the week of New Years but showed up for a possible Home Evening on Monday, though no one had been assigned a spiritual thought. As it turned out we had only one attendee, our young lady from Kazakhstan but it was a nice evening as she's now ready to be baptized after a quick holiday trip to Prague over the New Year's holiday. She's scheduled to be interviewed by the Zone Leaders as soon as she gets back and then the baptism will be planned. The sisters had met with her earlier in the day and we simply took the opportunity to once again go over the baptismal commitment questions which she seemed to clearly understand. There was some evidence that the missionaries might possibly have appeared for a Christmas party we were unaware of as there were some cleaned dishes near the sink. Tuesday there were a couple who showed up for language classes but it was a short night overall.
New Year's Eve we pretty much stayed home other than a quick trip down to St. Stephen's cathedral in the city center to see the last of all the city lights, mingle in the crowds and get dinner at Sister Parker's favorite restaurant, but did go out at midnight to watch the fireworks which were going on all over the city, apparently being set off on the tops of a whole host of apartment buildings.
New Year's Day we spent starting to take down all the Christmas decorations and went to dinner at a local Chinese restaurant that we frequently visit. Friday was a quick shopping trip to stock up on groceries and we went to the Center to see if anyone would show up for Waffle Night. There we found that the Elders had come by on Thursday for possible language classes as the chairs were still set up but apparently had no takers for the holiday. We ended up with 4 elders and a member young man from Hungary as well as two invited investigators the elders had met earlier. Both were students, one in computer science, the other in biophysics and what was fascinating in this small world of ours, was that both were from Ukraine, had spent several weeks in Kharkov and one had even been to church there although didn't remember Ruslana's mother. It may have been at a time when they were in Poland. At any rate, we did have a nice discussion with our waffle snacks. Which pretty much brings us to the 10th of the 12 days of Christmas.
We did have the opportunity to review the 12 Days of Christmas on You Tube as it was sung by the Tab Choir when the Kings Singers were visiting and it was fun again to see all of the family members represented in the choir just like in the good old days. Tomorrow we're going to attend the only ward we've never been to on Fast Day despite having visited it a half dozen other times so maybe that will give us one more opportunity to bear witness of the importance of the work in which we're engaged. Then it's off to the races for the rest of 2015!
We'll close with two of our favorite pictures. The first is of two cute figures who repeatedly part and then come together with a big smooching sound as they kiss on the streets of Seiffen, and the other was of a gorgeous sunrise that morning on our drive there.
(Sister Parker) It's hard to believe that the Holidays have come to an end and a new year has begun. We would like to thank everyone for their thoughtful cards, gifts and conversations. It is a joy to stay in touch and it keeps us from feeling too homesick at this time of year. I am enjoying my Fairy tale books in German. It is a fun way to get in my language practice. I am reading the Snow Queen from Hans Christian Andersen, so far it doesn't sound much like the movie "Frozen.'' However, it is made up of 7 smaller stories and one of the later ones just might fit.
We are looking forward to a great new year and pray that yours will be full of blessings too. As a mission we are all reading the Book of Mormon with daily assignments so that we will finish it together by July 1st. It is a good time to recommitt to daily reading of the scriptures. I hope that all of the grandchildren, even the little ones are getting their daily scriptures to keep away the fiery darts of Satan. ( Remember "a little child shall lead them." 2Ne. 21:6)
LOVE & HUGS, A BRIGHT HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Grammy, Grampa,
Mom, Dad,
Elder and Sister Parker
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