A GLIMPSE INTO THE LIFE OF A MISSIONARY COUPLE IN GERMANY

We spend most our time visiting with less actives.  We have a long list of names. The drill goes like this: 
 >We are scared and shy as Clint makes a phone call and sets up an appointment.  
>Most respond favorably and then we go to their apartment feeling awkward but are very prayerful.  They are usually hesitant and cautious.
 >We drink herbal tea and bland biscuits, chatting about their life.
> Clint, understanding most of what is being shared in Deutwch , responds as I am  casually pinching him with pleading eyes saying " übersetzen für mich, bitte."  I chime in periodically when I understand enough vocabulary words, body language and the Spirit on my own. 
 > We share a scripture/gospel principles, then give them a challenge, hopefully always dictated by the Spirit.
>Then miraculously after a 2-3 hour visit (they don't seem anxious for us to leave) we embrace with very genuine Christ-like love being exchanged and felt.   We love it - what a gift it is!  

The remaining time is spent with the missionaries teaching, and transporting together, district meetings, Gemeinedrat ( Ward Council), Zone Conferences, member activities,  studying German and the Scriptures (3 hours a day) and trying to be successful at shopping and cooking.  We often walk to the top of the hill to the Freidingen Castle for exercise.  We have faced some tough relationship issues hopefully learning a lot about ourselves and how to forgive ourselves as well as others. The saying “I never said it would be easy but that it would be worth it” definitely is how we feel.

 Carnival called Fasching in Germany is a big 3 day event particularly in Radolfzell where parades in the winter bring much excitement.  Doris Voigt, on the left, our newest investigators in the middle and Sister Gurney on the right.

 "Young Adults" we hope someday dressed in the fashion for our Freidingen dorf

 He definitely wanted his picture to be shown to Americans

Just around the corner from our house we were nice and cozy, most drinking beer, as Sister Gurney wears her missionary badge. 

 When the parade in the carnival begins on go their masks with stories of Freidingen Castle that are too scary to tell

 Sisters, Kautz, Voigt, Gurney, Trench and Luxenberg enjoying morning tea at a Frauenhilfsvereinigung Activity similar to the pictures above?

 Elder Horlacher's shoes after serving for a mere 9 months

 This is our chapel that will be dedicated January 27th which is bringing great anticipation and deep thankfulness.  The previous meeting place was in a factory building in industrial Singen.

Doris Voigt, a strong active single sister who  has taken Sister Gurney under her wing.

i

This is dear sister Kautz, a new member who we teach every week.   She miraculously has surprised us by accepting a teaching assignment and walking in the snow 5 kilometers to get to Church when her ride didn't show up.

                                                                                       Tulips from Elder Gurney reminding me of Spring in the cold winter

Here we are at a Senior Couple Conference in Switzerland: Shellenbergs from St. Gallen, Switzerland: Holmes from Lahr, Germany: Gurneys from Singen Germany; the Betts from Schaffhausen, Germany and the Foxs from Bern, Switzerland.  We shared our common challenges and energized each other with honest conversations

The shops are on narrow streets with intriguing window displays

  

Chris and Richard Shellenbergs who are good friends with the Nunleys

All the buildings have detailed paintings often depicting an event in history

 This is the Fredingen Castle up a hill behind our house

 On Christmas Eve at 3:00 the bells started ringing and all the people from our dorf began walking toward the Church so we joined them and found ourselves inside this Church for a Children's Mass. Every child received a lighted candle after the nativity story and  the Church glowed - we loved it

 These Elders have become like sons ALMOST

 Celebrating Elder Stonehocker's birthday at our house

 Thobias is an "Elect" investigator who is reading the Book of Mormon and has received a witness,  he is praying, going to Church but just needs to get baptized - we love teaching him!!

 This is Hidemarie who is always by my side translating

Sieglinda and Manfred helped paint our apartment before we came and we shared a lovely lunch with them at their home.