It's almost time to make a March entry and I haven't even gotten February up yet. Schedules remain so busy and time gets away quickly. I love the fact that pictures can say so much and tell a story beyond what words can sometimes. At least I keep a picture journal and can share some of our experiences that way. There is much to write about too, of course, as each day seems to hold tense and new challenges for Lowell and myself.
I don't have the time right now to write much but I can say that I have truly been influenced by the Spirit in my calling to help keep our missionaries safe, even when they're far away. Doing phone triage can be difficult sometimes as you try to put together the verbal descriptions of what the missionary is feeling, what a sore or rash looks like or the accurate location and nature of the pain they're suffering from. When I need a better visualization, a picture can be quickly sent per phone that brings everything into better perspective on many problems. I had a sister who had been ill with fever, pain and generally not feeling well for a couple of days and getting progressively worse. One morning she had broken out in a painful rash on her face and forehead and very near her eyes. I had her send me some pictures, was pretty sure I knew what the problem was, showed them to our Area Medical Advisors in the next office who concurred and by afternoon we had her into a doctor who immediately got her on the right antiviral meds for a raging case of Shingles. The appointment was made by the missionary insurance company under an "emergency" status through their company in Russia (which I have mentioned before) which usually takes much more time. Within a couple of hours they had made all the arrangements and she was on her way. She responded very well to this quick treatment and the rash never went into her eye which it easily could have. I pray everyday that I will know how and when to respond and what questions to ask. It's pretty humbling. I know I am not doing it alone.
Lowell continues to help move the missionaries into countries where they have been called. A while back one of his many daily assignments was to try to get a missionary from a small province in China to France, This young man's attempts to get his visa were repeatedly denied and he was to the point where he was about to give up and go to school instead. Lowell was given the assignment to see what he could do. With each of these challenges he must first research the process and how it's suppose to work or how it's worked before. This took time and effort as he couldn't find a precedent from China to France. Luckily he knew just the people to contact for help in Hong Kong with whom he'd worked before during our mission there. Their work along with the ground work Lowell had built and emails back and forth between him and the missionary, finally opened up the way for this missionary to obtain that long sought after visa. This young man was so thrilled and so thankful to be able to go. There are so many stories.......wish I had time to share.
February starts the season of Fasching or Karneval which is the celebration period before Ash Wednesday and the start of Lent or the month long fast in preparation for the Easter commemoration which is all VERY big here. The Fasching parades and parties are the "live it up" activities (which usually involve a lot of drinking and merriment) before these fasts begin. Each person makes a personal commitment to go without or sacrifice something important to them for a month's time. In olden times it was usually alcohol, meat or eggs. Now it can be anything.
The costuming for these (as you saw in our last post) can be very elaborate and EVERYONE dresses up. The people come out in mass even though it's freezing cold which it was at these parades.
These pictures are of Michelstadt, our first-of-the-day stop. This is a smaller town, more quaint and less crowded but very into the celebration.
This is one of my favorite pictures. Aren't these children beautiful?
Quite a beautiful town hall building.
As cold as it was, these flowers were flourishing and vibrant.
One of the few telephone booths still standing.
A beautiful cobblestone pathway through one of the town wall gates leading into a picturesque little neighborhood.
Now we're in Miltenberg, a larger city where the celebration is huge and everyone we saw was in costume including the by-standers.
A strange but very friendly guy, a bit under the influence, I think.
We even saw the Simpson family at the parade!
The crowds were so thick it was hard to move up and down the streets.
We were told that we had to drive to Burgstadt, a very small town outside Miltenberg, to see the "painted church." Outside it's a very plain, white stucco building with a beautiful door. Inside it is filled from floor to ceiling with fresco-type paintings that are centuries old of the life of Christ. The door is usually locked, so you have to go to the house across the street to rouse the caretaker to let you in. What a treasure it is. We could hardly believe what was inside.
On our walk in the cemetery one very cold February day we actually came upon these little flowers poking their heads out of the soil. It gave a small glimmer of hope that maybe warmer weather was not too far ahead.
This was a Friday "movie-in-the-office-conference-room" night. We had tons of wonderful snack foods and a great flick, "The Theory of Everything". I consider it a must-see!
Truly the first glimmer of sunshine out our front door for WEEKS!
The next few pictures are a Saturday trip back to Rudesheim, the same place we went the second day we were in Germany. We took a new senior couple, the Matheson's, with us on their first outing. It was cold but the sun was out, the shops were open and the Rhein River adjacent to the town, was a glorious sight to behold.
The men didn't allow us girls too much time for shopping, but this felted embroidered coat really caught my eye.
Here we are with the Matheson's at the top of the mountain overlooking the river. It's a small world because they're from Provo and he knows Tyler very well.
We decided to take the scenic drive home up through the mountains. Beyond a very small village out in the middle of nowhere we found this beautiful, large restaurant that was open. We couldn't believe our luck because the food turned out to be some of the best we'd had.
Here's Lowell's Schnitzel with mushroom sauce. See any American influence here? French fries.......really?
Here's a wonderful, freshly caught trout dinner with a beautiful salad.
Here's my steak strip stuffed baked potato and accompanying salad. Great!!
Such a delicious dinner and great friends. A perfect end to a perfect day trip!
Here's the boss after FINALLY turning 17 3/4 years old. We love these leap year birthdays. They're keeping him young.
The ever famous traditional Castleton family birthday cake for this terrific teenager!
These next pictures are of our Minute-to-Win-It Family Home Evening. What a hilarious exhibition and fun time that was. If kids and grand kids could have seen these crazy contortionists, they would have been proud!
How low can you go Elder???
More signs of Spring.
This is the gravestone for the famous German doctor who discovered Alzheimer's Disease and gave it his name.
