GOODBY SWITZERLAND AND HOME AGAIN

The official goodby in the Institute Center for Young Adults.

We had a chance to tell them how much we love them with a final word of encouragement.

Michelle, Sara, and Tamara sing a farewell

The treats they brought, just about gone!

And introducing our replacements, Elder Steve and Sister Sue Fox!

And we are on our way.

An amazing view of the west coast of Greenland, icebergs and all.

This was fascinating from east to west.

. . . AND . . .

. . . straight to Susan's for a Thanksgiving feast--one day late.

We love our family!!

Gorgeous and delicious!

home sweet home

two weeks later on the Sunday we spoke in church.

!Merry Christmas!

SURPRISE FAREWELL

Well, see, this is what happened.

We were asked by Tamara to go with her and Yan to visit an older couple who were interested in learning about the Church. That was fine with us, but we asked if the elders were coming, because they are the ones who would be teaching them. Our friend said she wanted us to meet them first,

just to warm them up for the missionaries.

So after a few more questions, we agreed to go. We followed their car into the country, and they took us all over the valley. We drove for 45 minutes, and retraced our tracks a couple of times. I told Elder Grassli, "I'm not sure they know where this couple lives!" You can see how dense we are, because it didn't even occur to us that there was anything up other than visiting this couple!

All of a sudden they drove us into the forest and there were 25 or 30 of our young friends standing around a fire, and they did this funny little welcome chant, raising their arms above their heads and down, like they were bowing to us.

They had planned a surprise farewell for us!

They were grilling, and a delicious aroma filled the forest!!

Nearby was a forest hut, and you can see it is a nice one--

all wood paneled with a wood stove and tables.

And curtains, no less!

That's where we ate.

Matthew and Kuendri played fun party music and the kids sang traditional Swiss songs and we all had a great time.
We loved every minute of it!!!!

THANK YOU EVERYBODY!

We love you!!!

CHICK FLICK NIGHT AND HALLOWEEN

We girls invited just ourselves, even though some of the guys like chick flicks.

We saw two.

And ate junk!

And the mini Halloween party produced this great Jack o' Lantern . . .

And Grassli homemade donuts

MULTI-DISTRICT MEETING

We were privileged to be in a fabulously motivating and inspiring district meeting led by Elder Andrews and Elder Middleton. Gathering . . .

Preparing the agenda during the prelude.

Super achievers fulfilled all the requirements for the zone award last transfer.

Hanging out in the Institute Center for just a few minutes before the meeting.

And some new faces in the zone . . .



. . . and the mission!

Welcome to you all!

ANOTHER TRANSFER FINISHED!! OMEGA PHOTO

So here we are! Two more missionaries transferred,

Elder Heath and Elder Schulte

(love 'em all!)

PARIS

Elder Grassli and I were invited to Paris to give a couple of firesides and to meet with the new outreach missionaries there and share with them some of what is happening in the Institute Center for Young Adults in Bern. The photos of our meeting with the Stovers and Owens didn't turn out, and the photos of the afternoon fireside with the young adults are where I can't download them to the post (I will keep trying). But here are a few others.

Fireside for parents . . . our friend Christian Euvrard translating . . .

. . . and visiting after . . . Sister Euvrad in the white sweater

Students in the Paris institute center

A short ride on the Seine with Elder and Sister Owen . . .

Notre Dame

Guess what ?. . .

Dinner with the Petion family

.

GENERAL CONFERENCE

Conference Sunday dawned clear and warm. So lovely! Here we are enjoying the sunshine and pot luck lunch together with a few missionaries and young single adults.