CHRISTMAS GIFT--ZONE CONFERENCE

Our last zone conference was a lot of fun. After a wonderful training by President and Sister Matern, we had a party! A wonderful time for the missionaries to relax and enjoy being together.

This post is a Christmas gift to missionary families and friends who will get a glimpse of their missionaries here. Anyone else reading this, just bear with me!

Preparations . . .

"Can I make a basket and catch it before it bounces on the table?"Testing the chips that would accompany the sloppy joe lunch we would have. (They were really sloppy!)
Stirring the dressing into the salad . . .


Opening the white elephant gifts . . . .

And . . . THE TALENT SHOW--the highlight of the day!

For his talent, Elder Grassli presented each of the missionaries with a copy of his sketch of the Swiss Temple. I recited by heart Luke 2:9-14. Elder Linford recited about 30 multiples of pi, which was amazing! When it was his turn, our district leader, Elder Jensen, told us that he was working hard on developing charity so he could get his talents back (See Ether 12:35).

Just a sampling of some of the others . . .

Amazing President Matern with card tricks . . .

THE MAGNIFICENT MATERNS!

Our mission president and his wife are such nice people. They seem to know just how to reach the missionaries, and the missionaries love them.

These three videos show the Materns' talent offering at the zone conference talent show.

You'll laugh! It was the crowning point of the show!

Just click on the arrow at the bottom left of the video you want to view. Our suggestion: Start with the top video and view the others in descending order.

TEMPLE GROUNDS AT NIGHT

The Christmas season is here, and to the temple grounds here in Switzerland has been added a lovely Nativity.

In the frosty cold evening, it takes on the appearance of an ice sculpture.

It reminds all temple goers and neighbors who walk through the grounds of the of the joyful event two millenia ago that ushered in the humble life that would culminate in searing atonement and glorious resurrection. Adjusting cameras to capture the scene . . .
. . .and the temple stands sentinal.

RANDOM SAMPLER

Liam practicing his Beethoven . . .

. . .and Sara serenading me with my VERY favorite Chopin nocturne.

The Reinach Branch Primary preparing for their sacrament meeting presentation. We weren't there the next week to see the performance. I'm sad.

Paper mosaics made in sharing time by the Burgdorf Ward Primary.

Fabulous.

Mike preparing Family Home Evening supper.

We asked him if he was cooking Chinese. He thought for a moment, and said "Well, not really, but I'm Chinese and I'm cooking, so . . .!"

It was a potato and hot green pepper soup and it was delicious.

Some old and some new faces in the district. . .

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Waiting for stake conference to begin. . .

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EXPRESSING GRATITUDE

Once again we gather with those we love to give thanks to our Heavenly Father for the blessings and bounties of the past year.

In the first Thanksgiving Day Proclamation

from President George Washington

he stated "It is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly implore his protection and favor. . .and to promote the knowledge and practice of true religion and virtue. . ."

We missionaries do acknowledge our dependence on God in every missionary lesson and activity. We gathered on Friday, due to Thursday meetings scheduled by Swiss, who for some reason do not feel it necessary to celebrate an American holiday. Can you imagine?!

Here you see us in preparation and partaking.

Peeling potatoes . . .

. . .chopping cranberries (We discovered you can make yummy cranbery sauce from dried, chopped cranberries by simply simmering them in water for an hour. No sugar needed.) . . .

. . .taking a Thanksgiving history quiz . . .

(they all did quite well, even Sister Frederiksen from Denmark!). . .

. . . setting it up (Thanks for the napkins, Jo Ann!). . .

. . . joking around before prayer . . .


. . . and then partaking.

Yummm!

Elder Jensen, our fine (really!) district leader, brought the festivities to a serious appreciation of our blessings by having us each tell what we are thankful for in our companions, our mission, and for our blessings in general.

It anchored the evening and helped us reflect on the best of being missionaries.

HIGHLIGHT ABEND --- ISRAEL

Once a semester the Institute has a "highlight abend (evening)."

This was a great one with Brother Lazzara's presentation on Cumran, the place the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, and Brother Weidmann's discussion with pictures of the land of Israel.

The evening was outstanding, with 36 Young Single Adults attending--the most we have seen in the center at one time. We are so disappointed not to have taken photos of them in class. Me and my concentration on food! But the tasting table of Middle Eastern types of foods was good, too. We had oranges with pomegranate seeds, honey almond cookies, crackers with goat cheese, olives, fresh dates (yummy), figs, sugared roasted almonds, and lemon bread. All served on fig leaves of course! ;)

Brother Weidmann and students

Some of the students discussing the presentations . . .. . . and having fun after!

We have a great center, with three game tables, a very comfortable lounge area, classrooms, and joint access to a large kitchen. We try to make it warm and welcoming, but the real work is done by the young single adults, when they bring their friends and enjoy being together. One of the two non-members in institute class is receiving missionary discussions.

The classes this year are studying the New Testament and the book Jesus The Christ by James E. Talmage. The sister missionaries attend the classes to become friends with the YSAs and are are teaching English conversation classes that are being attended by non-member students from the university. While the students are there to speak English, they also know our purpose is to teach the gospel, and the sisters, responding to their questions, are able to teach principles of the gospel and show church films.

We have visited every ward in the stake several times, to encourage member participation in reactivation and missionary work among young single adults. It is rewarding to become aquainted with these wonderful members and enthusiasm is building, especially with the encouragement of the stake presidency and bishoprics.

This is such a great way to serve a mission!

FAREWELL, FRIENDS!

We said goodby to three of our missionaries last week! We become so attached to them, it's hard to let them go! Here is our official district portrait before saying goodby. . . . .and here we are at our farewell lunch of sloppy joes, salads, chips, and banana splits. We will miss Sister Walker, Elder Trogden, and Elder Zickler! Your new areas will love you all!