A Delightful Concert

We were able to spend 3 days and 3 nights with the Leben's.  On Saturday night Matthias and Petra took us to a wonderful concert in an old monastery in the town of Walkenried in the Harz mountains. It was about a one hour drive from their home in Salzgitter (which is near Hannover, Germany).  Not only was the venue beautiful, but the concert was so pleasant.  The weather was almost perfect and the acoustics were very nice.  The program consisted of some of the classic composers - Elgar, Mozart and Haydn.  The concert lasted about 90 minutes and was a lot of fun.  The last part was Joseph Haydn (German spelling) and the story was told that Haydn slyly convinced his patron, Prince Nicolas Esterhazy to end his summer stay at a remote summer palace.  The prince wanted the musicians nearby which kept them away from their families.  They wanted to go home to their families, but the  Prince insisted that they stay until he gave permission to go.  During the last movement of the concert, each musician would leave one by one until there were only two violinists on the stage with the conductor.  The audience enjoyed this mock revolt and all the musicians came back to take their bows and hear everyone clap for the program.  It was a great concert and a very fun evening.

The picture below is for Susan's family.  Her mother's maiden name was Bischoff.  The Bischoff's' immigrated to St. Louis, Mo., USA from Germany in the 1850's.  "Eck" means corner.  This restaurant is on the corner of the street.  

"Remember the past learn from the it, Contemplate the future prepare for it, Live in the present; serve in it."  Thomas S. Monson, Teaching of Thomas S. Monson

A Visit to Salzgitter

June 7-10 was a holiday weekend in Germany celebrating "Witt Monday" or the Day of Pentecost which is celebrated here seven Sundays after Easter and recognizes the day that the Apostles received the Holy Spirit after the ascension of Jesus recorded in the Book of Acts.

We left Frankfurt a little before noon on Friday and drove to Salzgitter, Germany to the home of Matthias and Petra Leben our friends from our service-time during our previous mission in the Pacific.  We had a lovely time and enjoyed their wonderful hospitality.

Friday evening they took us to the town of Braunschweig for a delicious dinner which we ate outside of a local restaurant.  After dinner, we walked around the town and visited some of the important sites including the "Dom" (Cathedral) and the old town square. This was the home town of "Henry the Lion" a famous leader in German history.

Inside this building is a huge mall

Another view of the Mall

On Saturday we drove to the town of Wolfenbuttel and visited the Museum and Library which had some of the oldest handwritten books in Europe.  In the afternoon we walked from the Leben's home to the castle of "Henry the Lion" and watched the kids there play games and enjoy the setting.  That night we went to a concert in the mountains.

The Armoury

The books are just painted wood blocks

Catch the catapult behind us

On Sunday we attended church in Hildesheim where Matthias is the bishop.  The services were in German, so a couple of missionaries translated for us.  After church we went to St. Michaelis Cathedral in Hildesheim which was another beautiful restored church building that had been rebuilt after WWII.  The entire weekend was just perfect as a get-a-way from the office and such a treat to be with good friends.

We saw poppies like this everywhere along the side of the road

"In Flanders fields the poppies blow 

Between the crosses, row on row

That mark our place; and in the sky

The larks, still bravely singing, fly.

Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead.  Short days ago

We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,

Loved and were loved, and now we lie

In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:

To you from failing hands we throw

The torch; be yours to hold it high.

If ye break faith with us who die

We shall not sleep, though poppies grow

In Flanders fields"

"In Flanders Fields" Major John McCrae May 1915

Our Mission

Some may get the impression that our mission consists of visiting interesting and famous places in Europe.  We do have the opportunity and blessing to be able to do some visiting on holiday weekends and on Saturdays.  However on the typical work-week days, our time is spend supporting other humanitarian missionary couples stationed in various locations throughout Europe.  Our typical days consist of working in the office on the computer, making phone calls, participating in video conferences, attending office meetings and doing what we can to support those couples who are on the "front lines" so to speak.  The only break from the usual office activity is when we go out and train newly arriving couples in their mission area.  These are a few photos of us at work on a daily basis and show why we don't post much about our average days during the week. 

Zoom call with Elder and Sister Cooper in Bosnia

Elder Davis and Susan helping a missionary balance his expense report

Working on our computers

Our Bi-Weekly Area Humanitarian Committee Meeting

"Within the pages of the scriptures are countless directions, promises, solutions, and reminders that will help us in our journey to the "land of promise". " Ann M. Dibb, Be of a Good Courage, April Conference 2010

The Louvre, d'Orsay, Eiffel Tower, Saint-Chapelle, Versailles, and Notre Dame

As we may have mentioned, our office was closed to celebrate "Ascension Day", a German holiday which falls 40 days after Easter and marks the day Christ ascended into heaven after His Resurrection.  We had a 4-day period were we could leave, visit Paris and attend the temple.  During this time we tried to visit the most famous local sites.  We purchased tickets which took us to all these places.  

The Louvre was beautiful with so many famous paintings it could easily take a couple of days to see everything.  We spent about 3 hours there with all the other tourists and saw many beautiful works of art and left to have a nice lunch in a small Paris restaurant.  And yes we saw Mona Lisa.

Listening to Rick Steves

Venus de Milo

The d'Orsay museum was smaller and easier to get around.  The art was more modern and the tour was much less crowded which made it more enjoyable to visit.

The Eiffel Tower was wonderful.  We only went to the second level, but the view was magnificent.  At night they light it up the first 5 minutes of each hour.  They also have a zip line off the tower.  We watched one fellow go for his ride.

The Saint-Chapelle chapel had some of the most beautiful stained glass we've seen anywhere.  It was a big climb to get to see the beautiful works of art in the stained glass windows, but worth the climb.

Notre Dame is being rebuilt after the terrible fire recently.  We saw the outside from a short distance and snapped a few photos.

On Sunday after attending Church services at the local Versailles Ward, we visited the Versailles Palace and grounds.  It too was beautiful, but very crowded.  This was our last full day in France, so after visiting the Versailles Palace and learning something of the history we went back to our hotel which was also in the town of Versailles to rest for the evening and prepare for departure back to Frankfurt the next morning.

We passed on the Arc de Triomphe due to demonstrations.   We saw other sights as well from the car.  We drove through the tunnel where Princess Diana was killed.

Obelisk of Luxor 

Seine River 

Quai Anatole France

Statue of Liberty

Fountain of River Commerce and Navigation

Arc de Triomphe

We had an interesting time using the trains and subway.  We also did A LOT of walking.

"I love Paris in the spring time, I love Paris in the fall, I love Paris in the winter when it drizzles, I love Paris in the summer when it sizzles.  I love Paris." Cole Porter