And We're Off!

Here we go for real, friends and family! After a day or two of muddle, we think we have it sort of figured out and we will try to post a new blog at least once a week. The format may change as we go along and learn more. You see here the beautiful city of Bern situated in the cradle curve of the Aare River. Interior of the Bern Ward chapel. Beautiful and crisp in blue and white. This is our resident ward, but we visit all the wards and branches in the stake in rotation to make friends with the Young Single Adults, encourage missionary work with them, find less active YSAs, fellowship and friendship new YSA members, "sell" institute. That's our mission and we love it! Our outreach center here at what is affectionately known as "Inschti Bern". Same building as the Bern Ward. We're supposed to be the grandma and grandpa who try to make it homey for the YSA institute students and others they bring. It's slow right now because graduation was last month, and the new year begins the last week of August. But we will be cooking a Tuesday night meal for students who come right from school or work, hosting waffle night and/or movie night on weekends, and other activities so YSAs will want to bring their nonmember and less active friends and hang out here.

After years of young missionaries around the world saying I reminded them of their mothers, it was a little startling to hear some visiting American YSAs say I remind them of their GRANDMOTHERS! for heaven's sake! I guess we are properly cast, (sigh). And we are lobbying (as invited to do so by some students!) to make a few decor changes to warm it up a bit.

Sister Harwood and Sister Walker are assigned to the center, and are as diligent as they can be. They are terrific and always thinking of new ways to attract investigators to the center. Very hard working gals, and we love them to death! And we love that the center is right across the street from our apartment!
Our apartment building, just our end. It's about three times as long as what is shown here. The tram stop is to the right--very convenient. An eight-minute ride takes us to the center of Bern and the bahnhof (train station). Our tiny apartment is truly becoming home to us. However, we've had to do a little "nesting" to make it ours! You know, if you get it painted, buy a new rug, hang your own pictures, and plant geraniums on the little balcony, it becomes your own! We'll let you see the interior soon. Well, there are some of the orientation facts. I'm trying to not make it read like a handbook. I'll loosen up. Promise.