Frankfurt Here We Come

Wednesday morning, February 20, 2019 our son-in-law, Jac drove us to the airport.  Because our flight was at 9:47 am, we needed to be there by 7:47 am.  We arrived at the airport and went to the counter to check our baggage.  Susan was a bit slow getting her phone-camera out - but all our bags were under the 50 lbs limit.

Two bags were 49lbs.  each and two were 46 lbs.

After checking in we proceeded to our gate.  While waiting at the gate they made an announcement that it would be a full flight and they were looking for volunteers to gate check their carry-on bags.  That was great news.  Our two carry-on bags were checked all the way to Frankfurt for free.  This meant all we had to carry were our backpacks.  We had used some air miles up upgrade to a little better seating, so we were now ready for the adventure to begin.

The first leg of our flight left Salt Lake City on time and we arrived in Atlanta, Georgia 4.5 hrs later.  In Atlanta there was a 2 hour layover and a plane change.  By the time we boarded, it was raining outside and our flight was delayed by about 30 minutes - but we took off.  Airport staff mentioned that they might close the airport, so we were very glad that we were able to take off.

Sorry about the light - here we are all buckled up and ready to go

The flight from Atlanta to Frankfurt was at night and pretty uneventful.  Some people do not have a have a problem sleeping on the plane, but this was not the case for us, so we watched a few movies.

We arrived in Frankfurt about 9:00 am, made our way through customs and searched for our bags. When we found them, they were wet from the rain in Atlanta.  Most of our clothes were dry however.

We were happily greeted by two missionary couples from the Europe Area Office.

Gary and all our bags (his eyes are closed, but it is the only picture we have)

Guten Morgen Frankfurt

We loaded our bags into the van and went to our new apartment.  We live on the 10th floor.  We took our bags up to our apartment, removed our wet clothes and hung them up to dry.  We cleaned up a bit and then began the long commute to the Area Office.  (across the parking lot)

View from the balcony of our apartment

It is said that the key to overcoming jet-lag is to not go to sleep till bedtime.  We stayed awake.  Do we remember much of that first day?  Not really.  We have received so many kindness from the senior missionaries here.  They have all signed up for different things.  For instance, showing us where and how to use the ATM, going to the grocery store, picking us up for church on our first Sunday.  Not to mention there was milk, cereal, and eggs for breakfast and sandwich fixing for that first morning and lunch.  When it came to dinner we have been hosted by couples who have either brought us to their home or taken us out to eat.  We have already been taken to see the Frankfurt temple.  (It is still being renovated, but we have seen where it is.)  This hosting has given us a chance to get to know so many of the wonderful people we serve with.  There has been a series of very kind gestures which have helped us get settled.

"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father:  I will go and do that things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the things which he commandeth them."

1 Nephi 3:7