To All of Our Distant Family (But We Seem to Be Getting Closer Every Week)
What another incredible week we have had. Five of the seven days were spent getting to, enjoying and then returning from the conference held in the stake center next to the Swiss Temple in Zollikofen.
A brand new couple, the Kinghorns, have been assigned to work in Graz which is two + hours away by train but is included in the Vienna Stake. We had, as we reported earlier, the opportunity to go and inspect three apartments that are now their responsibility but gave us a chance to see where they work and enjoy more of the beauties of Austria. Because of the continuing huge influx of refugees from the middle East coming into Austria and looking for asylum in the European Union, especially Germany, the borders between Austria and Germany are backed up for hours. Trains were not even running between the two countries so it was recommended that we travel a more southerly route instead of our usual passage through Salzburg. That meant getting off the major autobahn and traveling more directly through the Alps toward an entrance directly into Switzerland. It couldn't have been lovelier as we passed through Innsbruck where the Olympic Winter Games were held many years ago, and over passes that already had 4-5 inches of snow. But it was a long, long drive.
We got up at 4:15 in the morning in order to catch a train that would get us to where they were going to pick us up by 8 AM. From there it was supposed to be about a 9 1/2 hour drive to Bern where our hotel was located if we didn't have any traffic problems an didn't stop for gas or food. Although we had all packed a lunch which was helpful, and eaten breakfast before we left, obviously more stops were required. Because we had not anticipated the need to drive, we missed the opportunity which is present only for the first six months of entering Austria to get a valid driver's license with just a simple exchange. After that it takes a full course, training, and passing a written and practical examination which we didn't feel was profitable. Hence, Elder Kinghorn got the responsibility of driving the entire distance. Elder Parker had the responsibility to be the navigator and although we had maps and a GPS, it was still an interesting experience. More than once we probably lost 30-45 minutes wandering around trying to get back on track and we finally pulled into a spot fenced off and across the freeway from where our hotel was located. It only took us another 45 minutes to figure out how to get to it and we eventually pulled in about 9 PM, only 13 hours from the time we had headed off together!
On the positive side of all of this, however, was the wonderful opportunity to get to know them well. They have presided over the Albanian Mission many years ago, Elder Kinghorn served a mission as a young elder in Frankfurt along with two other senior elders now serving in our mission and he has also served as a patriarch, Vice President of Ricks College before it became BYU-Idaho, and hence has had close associations with several general authorities. As we compared notes it was fascinating to find out that they have 10 children, only 9 of whom are living as they also lost a daughter when she was only a year and a half old in a drowning accident while Sister Kinghorn was in the hospital delivering another baby. So of course, we bonded quite well together and had a long opportunity to share life experiences. Elder Kinghorn and Elder Parker conversed actively in the front seat while the sisters were carrying on in the back seat. They had been given the opportunity to purchase a new car which was slightly larger than the one we had driven in when we visited two of the elders during the apartment inspections and those elders were happy to get their car back which they had assumed they would lose. But consequently the Kinghorns hadn't had much time to really get adjusted having only arrived a week earlier and then spent a day driving up to the suburbs of Vienna to pick up the new car literally the day before we all departed.
The conference proper started with a temple devotional and session on Thursday afternoon, giving us Thursday morning to do a little sightseeing. Several of us piled into the mission van driven by the couple who were with us in the MTC who had previously served in Salzburg, then Vienna (living in our apartment), before deciding to return. They had originally served this time in Stuttgart but were then assigned to work in the office after deciding to extend for six more months. So about 8 of us decided to drive up to Interlaken, a beautiful little town situated between two lovely lakes. Here is Grammy and Sister Kinghorn.
The name means "Between the Lakes" and it is simply a beautiful alpine retreat filled with hillside farms high up on the sides of the valleys and cows and sheep grazing in the meadows. It seems that many of the cows wear bells and Sister Parker had the opportunity to purchase a cute little carved wooden cow complete with the bell as our primary souvenir from the trip.
We got back in time to change into our temple clothes and enjoy a wonderful meeting with President Psota, the temple president and his wife. It was wonderful to attend a session in the temple after nine months and when that was completed we held a meeting of introductions and listened to President and Sister Kohler speak. Each couple was only given a minute or less to tell where they came from and where they were serving but it was great to get oriented to the many new couples who had arrived since our last conference six months ago which had been held in Salzburg. The couple in charge of the conference are both Swiss citizens and hence allowed to serve in Switzerland, even though both live in the USA. Their mission ends this coming week so they really had the responsibilities piled on their heads before being able to focus on their departure. After short introductions, there was really a lot of time to spend talking with everyone at the meals that were prepared by local members. Our hotel was a Best Western and they had a large informal dining area where they provided a good breakfast as part of the stay as well as cakes and goodies in the evening where we tended to gather and talk. We have always felt these seniors to be special as they have all devoted their time and extensive service in the church to further carry on the work. Several times we have likened it to the closest thing we can imagine to being in the celestial kingdom.
Friday morning was another time devoted to seeing the city of Bern, a world heritage site, never destroyed by the wars that plagued the rest of Europe. We had the privilege of being guided by a couple who live in Bern who had previously served with us in the mission. We spent three hours walking around the city center with lovely buildings, decorative statues at many intersections, and enjoyed the Swiss Parliament building, the ancient clock tower and a very interesting church known as Der Munster with a large sculpted entrance depicting the last judgment.
Here one sees Christ at the top with Mary to his right and John the Baptist to his left with the twelve apostles lined up below, six to either side. In the arch above are many prophets from the Old Testament and to either side of the flower shaped window are depictions of the just and the unjust. To the Savior's right, our left, you might be able to see the gate leading into heaven with the righteous all clothed in white lined up to enter. On His left are those enduring the suffering of their sins with very interesting depictions of those guilty of murder, unchastity, stealing, pride, being unforgiving, and even one we thought might be guilty of poor parenting. I had a fun time asking the people in our group if they saw the members of the church depicted there. At either side of the door not visible in the picture were the wise virgins to the right and the unwise virgins to the left. Just visible at the bottom in the center is Michael fighting off Satan depicted as a serpent trying to coil around him.
Friday afternoon was spent in various classes instructing us on the finer points of apartment inspecting, we had the lead with the group talking about supporting the YSA's and working with elder's quorum and relief society presidencies, what kinds of activities we had had success with, how to prepare simple meals and a good discussion on how to reach those who are less or inactive. After dinner we had another wonderful presentation from President and Sister Psota, truly inspiring leaders.
That evening we had the chance to walk around the temple grounds a bit. When Elder Parker was last here in 1965 it was fairly isolated. Now it's surrounded by lots of new homes and apartment complexes. They added the statue of the Angel Moroni and did renovate the interior to make 4 endowment rooms instead of just the one they originally started with. Built in 1955 it was just the 9th temple of the church, one of only seven then operating not counting Kirtland and Nauvoo. They were requested not to alter the exterior by the government because it has been named a cultural heritage site and the church complied with the request. Notice the Swiss flag flying at half staff to commemorate the death of Elder Scott just a day or so earlier.
The conference ended on an extremely high note with a testimony meeting. They had allotted two hours but it ended up going 2 and 1/2 with all of the departing missionaries in the next six months given first priority to bear their testimonies. We joined in with the others in heartfelt expressions of the joys of serving the Lord full-time. We packed up and were on the road by about 1:30 choosing to drive only to Salzburg by that night, there being no problem going from Germany into Austria as there was coming the other direction. Sunday morning we attended the Salzburg Ward where we several times have met for Zone Conferences but never for a worship service. We were delighted to find out that it was the Sunday where the Primary presented the meeting. They have a big but very young Primary with only two or three 11 year olds but a lot between 6 and 9. We'd never had the opportunity previously to witness that and so it was a true delight to see the children sing and give their talks.
After the meeting where we had a wonderful time talking with the members and a former sister missionary who had worked in Vienna, it was on the road again. This time they dropped us off at the train station halfway home to Vienna and then they drove on home to Graz. We both arrived about two hours later having spent a great five days together. We unpacked and then felt we'd better go over to the center to thaw a few of the meats for our Sloppy Joe's at home evening and while we were there six young adults showed up along with one investigator to finish off some of the food that had been left over from the Institute Opening and Singles Ward which had taken place there on Saturday and Sunday while we were gone. It gave us a great opportunity to find out who had been there and bring the rolls up to date but got us home a little later than we had planned. The summer is gone, fall is here and in just a few more days we can say that we'll be home next month!
[Sister Parker] It truly was a wonderful week, as Grampa has described. We loved going through the southern Austrian Alps again and then through some of the Swiss Alps. It was impressively beautiful, and awesome how high the houses were on the mountains.
In the higher alps some of the trees had even started changing color and looked a little more like autumn. We also had the opportunity to see our first snow as we drove higher up on the mountain, where the rain turned to snow. I loved it. Interlaken was also beautiful and much more open with flat areas and meadows.. Everything was so well kept and manicured, even the fields with cows or so it seemed. I was also fascinated with the groups of cows that were all wearing bells, maybe like putting little jingle bells on babies shoes so you will know where they are going. It would be nice to spend a little more time here and enjoy the peacefulness.
Senior conference and meeting with other couple was also wonderful, enjoyable and inspiring. It is incredible to think of all that these senior couples give and sacrifice in serving the Lord, which of course is the desires of their hearts. Another tender mercy on our way home was to finally hear a Primary sacrament meeting. It was so sweet and tender and made me think on all our wonderful grandchildren. Nothing could touch your hearts more than hearing little children sing, "I Know My Father Lives," (the spirit whispers this to me and tells me it is true.) I hope to hear my grandchildren sing this when we return home.
Enjoy the cool, crisp autumn days and walk through some crispy leaves for me.
Grammy, Grampa, Mom, Dad, Elder and Sister Parker
No comments:
Post a Comment