Montenegro

A major part of our work is training new humanitarian missionary couples. On Tuesday morning we began our first training.  We arose early and went to the airport where we caught a flight to Ljubljana, Slovenia.  We changed planes in Ljubljana and flew to Podgorica, Montenegro.  Seven countries now make up what was once Yugoslavia.  Montenegro is one of the those countries.   We came to Montenegro to train a new couple who had arrived on March 8th.  They are R.Wayne and Leslie Johnson from Arizona.

Courtesy of Serbia and Montenegro Atlas:  Maps and Online Resources

The Johnsons picked us up at the airport and we went to our hotel and dropped off our bags.  After that we went to their apartment to discuss what we wanted to accomplish in the next few days.  After we went out for an early dinner.  We ate at a delightful restaurant called Lazaro where we had excellent food and service.  Sister Johnson's dishwasher is broken - we decided this was a good reason to eat out.

Susan, Sister Johnson, Elder Johnson, and Gary

Caprese Salad

Steak

Wednesday morning the Johnson's picked us up at the hotel and we went back to their apartment to start our training.  The first thing on the list of duties is to make sure the phones, computers, and printers are working properly.  This took pretty much the rest of the morning.  About noon we went to the local mall to just walk around and have a gelato to keep our energy level up.  After visiting the mall we went back to the apartment and continued our work on getting their equipment operating and help them learn the operating systems.  They each had a Surface Pro computer, so Susan and Sister Johnson spent most of the afternoon figuring it out.  At dinner time we went for a walk across a foot bridge and through a park.  We walked around the town and Gary purchased two new ties as souvenirs from Montenegro.  We ate delicious pizza at Goodfellas and then walked back to their apartment.  We discussed the work and they drove us back to the hotel so the young missionaries could use their car. 

Hard at work training

A wee bit windy

Thursday morning we were picked up at the hotel again.  Susan had been feeling very discouraged and inadequate the night before because we were running into so many challenges.  After a lengthy discussion with the Lord Wednesday night she felt that she had the faith to do what we were here to do and if not the Lord would help us to do "what we can do". 

Outside the church in Podgorica

We started work at 9am.  At 11am all the young missionaries showed up for a "Zoom Conference" call from their mission president.  It was transfer day.  All the different areas called in and President Melonakos announced the transfers.  It was certainly different from the time when we served in Bosnia in 2012/13.  Two of the young missionaries that were in the apartment for transfers had served in Tuzla.  After the transfers were over, went back to work.  About dinner time we drove to the main part of town and pared the car and went walking.  We walked past the store where we had bought the ties the day before, and Gary got another tie.  There were only 5 euros each.  The young missionaries had recommended that we could get some good crepes at a place called Presto Pizza.  We went expecting crepes with vegetables and meat.  Upon arrived we discovered that they had lots of pizza, but not crepes.  After looking at the menu, we remembered that crepes are called "Palachinke" in Croatian/Bosnian.  That is the word for pancake or crepe. They only had dessert crepes, which we all tried.  It was amazing how much of our language skills came back.  However now we are in Germany, and they don't use the same language skills we once had in Bosnia. 

President Melonakos

Susan with the Podgorica group

Friday morning the Johnsons needed to go to the Immigration office to begin their registration.  We worked on our computers and then went for a walk.  As we were walking back to the hotel, we met the Johnsons.  We went back to their apartment and did pretty much the same as we had been doing the past two days - working on equipment, filling out forms and getting the new couple set up in the various computer systems.  They also needed help with their phones and their GPS system.  Sweet Sister Johnson was using a map to get them where they needed to go.  It was very "old school".  We also went looking for a new printer for the Johnsons, but we were not successful.  By now it was time for dinner, the dishwasher had been delivered but not installed, so we went back to Lazaro for dinner.  The first night we spilt our meals, this time we forgot and each ordered a meal - the Johnsons had enough leftovers for Saturday and Sunday.  

Saturday morning we went back to their apartment to tie up loose ends.  Hopefully they are better off than when we came.  We have a list of things to do at the office Monday morning to continue helping them get settled and set up.  The Johnsons also have a list of things to do next week, including meeting with potential humanitarian partners.  Both they and we were grateful that we came.  We didn't do all we wanted, but we were able to do enough to help them on their way.  They are an excellent couple and will be successful in their work.  We are grateful to serve with them.

The Johnsons drove us to the airport about 12:30pm and returned the same way we came.  Podgorica to Ljubljana and Ljubljana to Frankfurt.  One we got into Frankfurt we caught the train and made it back home about 9:00pm.

"When we are on the Lord's errand, we are entitled to the Lord's help.  Remember that."  Thomas S. Monson

Extra Photos -

We thought you might enjoy some more of the photos from our last two weekends.  We visited a church, had a lovely German meal and all in all had two delightful weekends.

You can climb the stairs and go to the top of the church

Inside another church

The bottom of this organ is 6 feet up.

They have cruises on the Main River

Yum!

"The best part about pictures is that even when the people in the photo change, the memory it contains never will."

Learning how to use the RMV in Frankfurt Part 1 and 2

"RMV" stands for Rhine/Main-Verkzehrsverbund or the Rhine/Main Regional Transport Association.  On Saturday, March 10^th, we went exploring on the train with our friends - the Davis'.  We bought tickets at the train stop near our apartment and began our journey.  

Sozialzentrum (Social Center)

Up to 5 people can ride for the price (11€) of one ticket.  We rode the train all the way to the airport so we could learn how to ride to and from the airport when we traveled out of town.  We hope to take the train to and from the airport when we visit our couples in other countries.  From the Frankfurt airport you can get off the plane, buy a ticket for the train and travel anywhere in the city.  

After leaving the airport, we followed the signs and went to the main train station.  There were several kinds of trains going to various locations.  While there we saw trains and a beautiful display of flowers.

This is a bullet train

Once we finished at the train station we got back on the train and started our return trip.  On the way, we stopped at a district called the "The Zeil" where we visited an Easter Market.  The market was very much like the fairs or markets you see everywhere.  Lots of fresh produce, meats, jams, honey and many other things.  There were several booths selling Bratwurst, so we had one for lunch.  

After lunch we got back on the train and went back one stop to a district called "Dom/Römer.  This is the historic heart of old Frankfurt.  Most of the pictures you see on postcards are from this area.  You will also see it is on the banner for this blog.  It is the home of the City Hall which is called Römer and dates back to 1405.  Most of Römer was destroyed in World World II, but they rebuilt the historical buildings in the main square.

After wandering around, shopping and touring a beautiful old church, we got back on the train, rode to the end of the line, got off, changed trains, and rode back to our stop.

We now hope we can get to the airport with our luggage by ourselves.  It was another great day!

On Thursday we went to the city registration office to begin registration for our visa.  We spent over 4 hours waiting for our turn.  While we were sitting there a young man came up to Gary and said "Are you the Winters?  I think you know my parents."  He said that he heard us talking, looked at my name tag and wondered if we were the same Winters who had served with his parents in the Pacific.  He told us his name and "Yes" indeed we did know his parents.  He is living in Frankfurt while doing an internship.  

Gary, Aaron and Susan

This Saturday morning it was raining so we put on our exploring clothes and went to find a museum to visit.  We (ourselves and the Davis') boarded the train again and went to Dom/Römer.  Here we went to find out about museums - which we learned were quite expensive.  We did however learn that the last Saturday of the each month is SaTOURday and admission is free.  Once that was checked off our list of "To Do's" we decided to wander around downtown Frankfurt.  Last week we went one direction, this week we went another way.  We crossed over the Eiserner Steg which is one of the bridges that goes across the Main River.  It is a walking bridge and has thousands of "locks of love".  The view was beautiful, whichever direction you looked.  It was cold and windy, but we had a great time.

The other side of the centar

Locks of Love

"Listen to the Spirit.  As you study, pay attention to your thoughts and feelings (see D&C 8 2-3), even if they seem unrelated to what you are reading.  Those impressions may be the very things God wants you to know and do." These Twelve Jesus Sent Forth" Come Follow Me

The Rome Italy Temple

The Rome Italy Temple was dedicated on March 10, 2019.  Two videos have been released that you might enjoy.

The first video explains the reason and purpose of temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and provides a tour inside the Rome Italy Temple.

https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/virtual-tour-rome-italy-temple

The next one tells about the historic meeting of President Russell M. Nelson and President M. Russell Ballard at the Vatican with Pope Francis.

https://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/prophet-meets-pope-francis-vatican

Also below is a link to an article published in the Deseret News (Salt Lake City, Utah).  This article highlights the humanitarian work being done throughout the world by LDS Charities with it's global partners.

lhttps://www.deseretnews.com/article/900059557/pope-francis-meets-with-president-nelson-in-the-vatican-catholic-mormon-rome.html

We are thankful to be a small part in this work blessing those in need and helping others to help themselves.

Our Adventures Begin - Exploring Germany

Before we went to New Zealand on our last mission, we visited with Elder Glen Rudd several times.  Each time he told us to go out and see the country - "Don't be a knucklehead and sit in your apartment - go  places and do things, you may never get a chance to go back again."  We followed Elder Rudd's advice while in New Zealand and continue to follow that advice while here in Germany.  

Saturday morning, March 3rd, Elder and Sister Davis joined us to explore the town of Marburg, about an hour's drive from Frankfurt.  We drove on the autobahn, took the exit to Marburg and proceeded to find a parking place.  Once that was accomplished, the adventure began.

Here we go

This is one of the first sights we saw -

Throughout the city they had cast iron replicas of the the buildings. 

Our destination was St. Elizabeth's church and a nearby castle.  We followed the signs that said "Schloss" which is a German term for a prominent building - like a castle.  This turned out to be quite the hike (all up hill).  But it was well worth it.  When we got to the top, the church was closed.  But we loved the view.  

View of Marburg

We made the trek back down - lots of steps and cobblestone walks.  When we got down the hill, the town was celebrating Flaching and Karneval, both events happening prior to Ash Wednesday.  The soldiers, dressed in 18th century uniforms kept coming in and out of the town hall.  We need to learn more German so we can understand more about these holidays and traditions.

This is a drinking fountain

Not sure what the shoe represents

In the Centar

We ate lunch in the Barfus (Barefoot) Cafe.  It was delicious.  Forgot to take a picture till we had started dessert - a nutella crepe.  But here it is.  

It was very good

We left Marburg and ventured down the road to Limburg.  Here we visited the Limburg Cathedral.  All these places require going up, up, up.  Usually when we get there - we discover there is another way which we could have driven to save walking so far - but, it is good exercise.  We passed several interesting things on the way up and of course on the way back down.  

The Cathedral itself was very fascinating.  It was hard to get a good picture of it - so we also took a picture of a replica inside. Here we had another breath-taking view.  Once back down the hill, we wandered around and found a bakery.  The pastries were delicious.  Each city has a "centar" where there is shopping for both the local people and visitors.  After we finished wandering around Limburg we got back into our car and drove back to Frankfurt and our apartment.

Cathedral

Inside the Cathedral

Spectacular view

Still at the top, the great view was just around the corner on the left

A different view of the Cathedral.  Where is Gary?  Getting the car.

The detail is unbelievable

In Limbug Centar - bakery is just to the left

"We take photos as a return ticket to a moment otherwise gone."

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