MONDAY JUNE 23

It has been just one week since Dale and I gathered with 13 other couples and 2 single sisters to be trained about the Temple and serving there, and also learn about our travel and living in a foreign country. One of the first items of business was to receive our missionary name tags. I was overcome with emotion as I looked at my name on a missionary tag... a very special moment made even better because it was in German. It meant we were really going on this mission.

During our three days at the Temple, we were able to go through an Endowment Session, Initiatory, and do Sealings. It has been more than 40 years since we were married in the Salt Lake Temple and we had not been back to that Temple in all those years except for possibly a family member wedding at one time. It was very touching for us to be there together at this time in our lives. We had not actually been through an Endowment Session and were grateful for that opportunity. Both of us had done Baptisms for the Dead there in our youth but that was the only other times we had actually done ordinances within those historic walls.

Our Trainers were Richard and Kathleen Walker She is one of President Hinckley's daughters and they have been the President and Matron of the Salt Lake City Temple. They know so many things about the Temple and we learned so much. They have actually written a book – "House of Learning"  

Here is more Information about them:

M. Richard Walker and his wife, Kathleen H. Walker served as president and matron of the Salt Lake Temple from November 2005 to November 2008. Prior to their temple service, Richard, an attorney by profession, served as a bishop, stake president, mission president, and temple ordinance worker. After both lost their spouses in death they met and married in January of 2004. They live in Salt Lake City, Utah. Kathleen, the oldest daughter of President Gordon B. Hinckley, has served as president of several auxiliary organizations and has been an active leader in her community. After both Kathleen and Richard lost their spouses in death, they met and were married in January of 2004. They live in Salt Lake City, Utah

I was asked to lead the opening song the first two days and played the Organ the third day – surprise! I love leading the hymns! Playing the Organ for the opening hymn was quite the experience. When I sat down I saw that it had pistons (used to set the sound for the organ) which I had never used – but I was able to actually find a preset that worked. It was a little scary – but I enjoyed playing High on the Mountain Top in that beautiful Chapel. I can now say I have played the organ in the Salt Lake Temple and also in a Catholic Cathedral in the Czech Republic. Those who don't know that story can ask me about it when we get home.

Another interesting thing that happened is that I met another sister who is originally from Delta. As we visited, we figured out that we are related – actually 2^nd cousins. Her Grandmother was my Grandpa Rawlinson's sister, Rachel. I remember my father talking about his “Roper” cousins which was Rachel's maiden name. We talked serveral times during the three days and made many connections through our ancestry.

We were also able to have a walk through of the Temple and see some of the other areas like the heating and cooling area in the basement with many pictures of the building of the Temple and the Baptistry. It was a great opportunity to go into the Solemn Assembly Room and the James E. Talmage room. President and Sister Walker told us some beautiful things while we were there including some of her feelings about her Father, President Hinckley. We will always remember the days we spent training in this beautiful Pioneer Temple.

AND WE WERE OFF TO GERMANY

Our flight had quite a few glitches and we were about 3 hours later getting here. It all started when there was bad weather in the Midwest so our plane from SLC was about 30 minutes late taking off and then got worse. We missed our connection to Frankfurt in Chicago but were able to get 2 of the last 3 seats. However, we had to fly to Dusseldorf – then to Frankfurt – then to Dresden. It was crazy! The last two plane changes were very short flights like going from St. George to Salt Lake. Anyway, we did finally make it – but our checked luggage did NOT come with us because of all the problems in Chicago. This meant I did not have my Oxygen Concentrator either.

The picture is of our plane from Frankfurt to Dresden – very small and we loaded the plane way out on the side of the runway. The Frankfurt Airport was quite the experience! Notice the stairs leading up to the door and we had to do stairs over and over again in the airport as well – with our carry on luggage in tow plus our CPAP machines. Poor Dale really got a workout.

However, it was a beautiful site when we finally rounded a corner and saw the Temple after only seeing it in pictures for the past 8 months. It is small, but so beautiful. Even though our housing, the Chapel and the Temple are all together on about 2 acres, it is so well organized that you don't feel like that is a problem. There is a “tunnel” that we can take to get to the Temple from our Apartment which is just a beautiful hallway at a basement level. It will be great when it snows for sure. We dress for our day in the Temple and just walk through the tunnel. It is awesome. The picture is the front of the Temple and the door at the right is our apartment building.

The weather is really cool and it has rained some. However, the other missionaries here tell us it gets pretty warm in July and August and pretty cold in the winter. I am enjoying a little humidity and I can breathe better here.

We were pretty nervous about not having the concentrator and so after having supper with President Husz, he insisted he call a Doctor here who is a member. He (the doctor) came right over to talk to us. There was no way to get Oxygen or a concentrator because it was the weekend so he told me some things I could do to help and got us some medication. He didn't even let us pay him...so, thanks to him, I survived the first night – well at least until 2:30 AM when I actually woke up due to jet lag.

We needed to be at the Temple before 7:00 AM, so on no sleep – we got ready for our first day as Tempel Arbeiter in the Freiberg Temple! We are going to love our time here. Later in the day, Brother and Sister Erlacher (who will be the new Temple President in November) took us to the Freiberg version of Costco – Kaufland – to do some shopping. It was great and we can pretty much get anything there we will need. They are like Costco when it came to paying as well – cash or use their own credit card system. We had to laugh because that is the only thing we do not like about Costco at home. It is kind of interesting that there used to be Walmart stores here in Germany – but Kaufland was established and has better hiring practices and facilities so eventually Walmart just left. I think I read somewhere that some of the Kaufland stores bought some of their buildings from Walmart. It really was a great place. We hope to go at least once a week if we can. It is too far away to walk so unless we lease a car, we will have to get rides with other missionaries here.

The best news is that 3 pieces of our luggage arrived (including the Concentrator) and the rest should be arriving today or tomorrow. That will certainly help us get our cute little apartment and our lives put together for the upcoming 18 months.

We had to walk a whole minute or so to get to the church (pictured above) this morning, I used a headset for Sacrament Meeting and then there was a “English” Sunday School Class. Relief Society was tough because I didn't understand anything but the opening prayer – which was given in German by one of the missionaries. Singing the hymns was a wonderful experience, however. I think I will learn German faster through music. I was asked to always play the organ for prayer meeting at the Temple and I will also be playing when I can before sessions. It is just a small electronic organ with no pedals – but it still sounds pretty good.

We were informed we would be sharing our Testimonies in a couple of weeks. I think I better start working on that now so I can be ready. They talk very fast here and run their words together – even Dale is having a hard time understanding. He says they have a different dialect here as well which is tough. But it will come, I am sure.

Until next time, we hope all is well with you and yours!