New missionaries and Ronneburg castle....May 23, 2015

We feel like "old timers"......and it's a good feeling !  A new missionary couple arrived on Tuesday; and because they will be living in our old apartment, the Zone Leaders asked us to show them around.  With so many couples coming and going right now, there isn't an apartment available in the building by the mission office.  They will be working in the technology department and will have to commute from Koppern to Frankfurt.  They are Elder and Sister Casalena from Baggs, Wyoming.  We showed them the "unique" things about the apartment......the tiny kitchen with the teeny refrigerator, the teeny-tiny shower, where to find the washer and dryer, etc.  We drove them around Friedrichsdorf, showed them the Temple, and we took them shopping for a few necessities they will need settling in.  We took them to a German restaurant and met two other couples we had invited to join us.  It was a lot of fun getting acquainted with them.....and we discovered what a small world it really is.  Sister Casalena was born in Salem, Utah.....and so was Elder Hanks.  They went to school together!  She said her grandfather was Dr. Curtis in Payson for many years.....he delivered me and my sister Kathryn, (and Elder Hanks, too!) took my tonsils out, and operated on my Dad and literally saved his life.  And.....my Grandma Pickering was his nurse!  We realized we had met at Salem Pond 2 or 3 years ago while watching our grandkids play in the water.  It really is a small world.

It was fun driving them around and remembering our feelings when we first got here.....we aren't greenies any more!  I felt so grown up!

We heard about a Midevil Festival in a town about an hour away, and we invited the Casalenas to go with us on Saturday.  

It was a nice drive up through the forest, and the weather was cloudy but pleasant.  

The Ronneburg castle dates back to the 13th century.  It is in great sharp and was interesting to tour.

Lots of people really get into the festivities.........we did, too.

Here's my knight in shining armor!

And now here I am.......I'm sure you are thinking, "she sure has gone to pot!"  Couldn't resist!

The booths were interesting, but I didn't buy any swords or bows and arrows ......too many questions at customs!  We ate crepes.....pizza crepes are delicious!  We saw a fencing demonstration and the main event was the jousting tournament.   The horses were beautiful....the acting was hilarious!

The merry-go-round made me a little homesick.  I could picture my grandkids having a great time......well, some of them!

It really was a fun day.  We got back and went grocery shopping because Monday is a holiday here and everything will be closed.  Then a 4 day work week.  

We are coming up on 11 months.....with hump day coming the middle of June.  We can honestly say we are glad to be here.  Missions are about stretching and growing and we certainly are doing that.

The young missionaries have had a program going encouraging all the ward members to share the gospel in many different ways.  This month's assignment is to use social media to spread the word.

So.....we are happy to be serving a mission for the Kirke Jesus Kristi der Hilegen der Litzentag.  We love Jesus Christ and feel so blessed to have had his gospel influence our lives.  Jesus Christ is at the head of our church.  He is the Son of God and our Redeemer.  He guides his church through modern day prophets and we sustain Thomas S. Monson as the prophet of the church.  We know our lives have been blessed by trying to keep the commandments and following our leaders.  We want our family to be together throughout all eternity, and pray constantly for His influence in our lives.  

We think of you always and pray daily that your lives will be blessed and protected.  

Love to all.......Elder and Sister Saunders

May 10,2015. Mother's Day and Jessica's b.day

Happy Mother's Day from colorful Germany !!

Eight years ago, I drove down to Richfield just a few hours before Jessica was born.  I "talked" to my mother all the way down.  I knew she was very aware of this special day.  I could picture her giving her great granddaughter a kiss and sending her " down the rainbow....yes, Mom, to earth and you."  That was the first poem I remember her teaching me to give in a Mother's Day program at church.  It was a wonderful feeling holding that beautiful new baby......so fresh from heaven.  She a wonderful girl and we love her so much and are so proud of her.....Zum Gebergstag, Jessica !!  

We spent a quiet Mother's Day here in Germany.  They celebrate it the same day we do.  The Primary children sang a sweet song and 3 young adults spoke.  A wonderful service.

My favorite companion remembered the day......I'm a lucky woman!

Last Monday we received a package from Kristi.  Lots of nice surprises, but the best one was a banner that she had put together......

Our 15 grandchildren spelled out Happy Mother's Day in the cutest way.

       Ethan McCleve.                   Ashton Cahoon.                      Paige Saunders.  BYU in the fall!

                    Jacob Cahoon                                          Kennedi Saunders

       Mia McCleve.                     Spencer Cahoon.                            Tyler Saunders

            Kellie Saunders.                          Emilee Cahoon.                       Kalli McCleve

                  Savannah Saunders            Our birthday girl, Jessica Saunders, holding the D she made.

           Austin Saunders.                                           Corbyn McCleve....with my Mother's Day kiss!

                                                                                       

                 Can't begin to tell you how much we love these kids......and their parents!!

Keith and I drove over to Mainz two Saturdays ago.  Beautiful church......but wished I could be touring the beautiful new Payson Temple!  Also saw the Guttenberg Museum, and walked through the plaza filled with booths and people.

One the way home, guess what we saw ...........

Yea!!   It tasted as good as we remembered !  Also.....ice for the drinks!  And free refills!!

And look, Tyler .......your favorite food!!   We had the chicken without the bacon......but if you had been with us, we would have ordered some just for you!

This last Saturday we drove up a beautiful canyon to a nice restaurant with 3 other missionary couples.  Nice drive, nice meal, nice company.  The place was called Sandplaten.  We decided to go home through a quaint little town named Schmitten.  It has a reputation for giving out lots of speeding tickets.......and sure enough, Sister Dittmar didn't slow down from 80 to 60 fast enough, and we got 

"flashed".  Keith saw the flash just when Elder Dittmar saw it.  Elder Dittmar wasn't driving because he has gotten a few too many flashes!  Sister Dittmar will get a nice little ticket in the mail in about 2 weeks.

While driving around this month, we have seen lots of fields covered with this beautiful yellow plant.

I asked about it and found out it is called Rape.......when the Germans say it, it doesn't sound like it looks!  They process the whole plant and make Rape Seed Oil....it is related to the Saffron plant.

I am living proof that you can take the teacher out of the classroom, but she still keeps on teachin' !

Speaking of teaching.....do you remember the name of the round balls in the trees over here?

If you have forgotten, the answer is in a previous blog.

My dessert the other night was Spagetti Carbonara....actually ice cream with nuts and chocolate.

Keith's looked pretty good, too!

.

There is an ice cream shop in the mall where we get our groceries.  We were there with more Senior Missionaries and enjoyed eating out doors in the warm spring air.

There are always couples coming and going.  The newest missionaries are from Woodland and she is The Food Nanny.  I thought she looked familiar ! 

One last picture before I close......

This is the view from our bedroom window.  I sit here every morning to do my hair and make up.

Gorgeous, isn't it!  The autobahn is just beyond the trees, the red roofs, and the field.  It is more crowded right now because most of the trains are on strike.  We seldom ride the train, but some of the people in our office sure hope the strike will end soon.  You see a funny sign at the exits on the autobahn.....anyway, Spencer, Jacob, and Ashton thought they were funny.......AUSFARHT

We send our love to one and all.  We are well and happy.  This has been a wonderful experience for us.  We highly recommend it!

Love,  Elder and Sister Saunders

 

Training in Cape Verde....April 23 -26,2015

Our first "official" travel for training was highly anticipated, short on actual  training, long In actual travel time, and an experience we will long remember.

We traveled with two of our office colleagues, Luis and Sonja.  They are both from Portugal and have been to Cape Verde several times.  That made it so much easier for us.  Luis' wife took us to the airport Thursday morning......we left our apartment at 4:30 am.  The flight to Lisbon was 2 hours and 45 minutes.  We had a 10 hour lay over because there is only one flight a day to Praia.  Luis and Sonja has arranged for a senior missionary, Elder Campbell, and a church employee to lend us a car for the day.  They met our plane, gave us the mission car, and we were off to see Lisbon!   Saw the old Lisbon, the twin of the Golden Gate  Bridge, a beautiful church, an impressive monument, a mall....so 

Luis could get his glasses fixed, had lunch at a nice place on the beach, rested in a beautiful park, saw the site for the future temple in Lisbon, ate the most famous pastry in all of Portugal, spent some time in the Mission Office, bought a spoon.....whew!  The flight to Praia was  4 hours....we landed at midnight, but that was 3 am Frankfurt time.  By the time we got to bed, we had been up 28 hours.

Lisbon is lovely.

I

This is Vasco de Gama, Portuguese......famous explorer.  You probably studied about him in fifth grade.

This monument is impressive.  It represents all the people who made Portugal great.....from the

workers, the kings, the clergy, the government, the artists, etc., right up to the explorers.  It is shaped like a ship, even the sails.  Sonja was so sad to see it is not kept in better condition, and she blames the economy.

You can see the bridge on the background.  The same man who designed the one in San Francisco did this one, too.

Notice the ocean, not the construction barriers!  Keith had fish and I had a steak with a fried egg on top.  Right after we took this pic, the backhoe and workers arrived.

This is the second longest bridge in Europe.....just so you'll know !

Whenever anyone in the office told us about Portugal, they always said we needed to go the best pastry shop in Lisbon.  Luis and Sonja thought the same thing and we went.  I look like  I ate 20, but I only had 2.

We waited 10 minutes for a table.  Luis said they have the reputation of the best pastries and the worst service in Lisbon.....this is true.  You sprinkle cinnamon and powered sugar on them.  They make 50,000 each day.  You can pick some up "to go".....that line was at least 100 people while we were there.  (Kaycee.....notice my bracelet!)

Cape Verde is made up of 8 or 9 bigger islands and lots of smaller ones.  Praia is the capitol of the island of Saniago.  It was discovered by the Portuguese, and that is the native language.  But it is African in most ways.  When we bought me a drink, they gave us change for our euros in African money...so we have a few coins from Africa for our cash register back home.

This was the view from our room.  Very nice hotel, not so nice beach.  I spent a lot of time watching people walking on that dirt road.  Saw many women with big bundles on their heads.  There are other islands with nice beaches......Santiago is mostly lava rock.

Lest you think all we did was look at the ocean, let me assure you the best part was meeting the priesthood leaders from all the islands.  About 30 of them came to the training meeting on Saturday.  Such a wonderful group of dedicated men......all young!  I don't think any of them are older than maybe 35.  Stake Presidents, Bishops, various clerks, and Brother Soares, our Assistant Area Auditor. He is so dedicated....and so busy......young family, 2 other church callings, a job, and going to school. We are hoping to get him some help....soon!  There are 3 stakes and 2 districts here.....about 9,000 members.

Elder Morena, the Seventy over Portugal, taught and so did Luis and Sonja.  Keith didn't do any training.....not because he isn't capable........he just doesn't speak Portuguese!  Where is Ben when we need him?  Elder Campbell translated for Keith.

Neat story........last month two of the sister missionaries returned to their apartment to find it had been burglarized.  Among the things taken were several church videos and the sisters said they hoped the burger at least watched what he took!  The next week, a young man brought their stuff back to them, including the videos and apologized for what he had done.......and asked if they could teach him more about the videos!!!   Amazing!!  The gospel is so life changing....and so important in our lives.

We left Paria at midnight.....got in Lisbon in 2 hours and 45 minutes.....in the very last seats on the plane, so we couldn't recline.  Sonja and Luis were hesitant to leave us at the airport for our 8 hour layover.  They tried to get us an earlier flight, but we would have had to pay $700 extra.  Sonja wanted us to go home with her to her sister's house, but we just wanted to wait it out at the airport.  It is huge!  We found a good place to wait....watched a huge TV....snooker and races.....ate at Pizza Hut, found a section of books in English in one of the book stores, so I spent the afternoon with Jack Reacher!  All in all, 8 hours went pretty fast. When we got on the  plane, we were surprised to be seated in business section!  Now I know what it's like to be treated First Class......warm, refreshing towels, more leg room, reclining seats!, a MENU!!, and all the soft drinks we  wanted!  We were spoiled!  Took a taxi home. We went to bed at 9 pm.   We had been up 36 hours. 

I could tell you this was taken when we got to the office this morning ......but that would be a lie.

In the first place, Keith didn't wake up until 9 this morning.  He decided I needed my beauty sleep, so he went to the office at 10 and gave me the day off!! Oh how I love my sweet husband!

This was taken last week in front of our office building.  Note the pink and white  blossom on the tree!  So pretty!

So now we know what it's like to travel for our job.  Exciting and exhausting!!

Love 'till  next time.  Elder and Sister Saunders

PS.....the beauty sleep didn't work!  I would have to sleep MUCH longer!