Just before Halloween, The Francois family invited us to their FHE.  They are in our ward, and he works for the church in the Welfare Office.  Cute, talented, and multi-lingual, and they lived in Sandy just north of 94th for a year.  They returned to Frankfurt the month after we got here.  We had a wonderful meal and then Elder Saunders and I gave a short lesson on listening to the Holy Ghost.  I did a little presentation I learned from Liz Cahoon........she used a small bell, but I had to improvise.  I put some TicTacs in a little tiny container, shook it and asked if they could hear the sound.  Then I put the container in a jar and put some rice, small rocks, and powder to cover the container.  No one could see the container, but when I shook it, we could all hear the sound if we listened carefully.  That's how we can hear the prompting of the Holy Ghost.  We can't see him, but he is there for us.  Elder Saunders told some stories about being helped by the Holy Ghost.  The Francios really liked the story about when his dad was about 12 and some older boys heard him say that he would never smoke a cigarette.  The boys invited him to join their "club"' and when he went with them, they knocked him down and pinned him to the ground.  Then they lit a cigarette and tried to put it in his mouth.  He prayed that the Holy Ghost would somehow help him, and he suddenly had so much strength he was able to toss those boys off him and run away.  Our children always asked  Grandpa Saunders to tell that story to them.  It was a favorite!

By the way, Grandpa's stories have been told in our Book of Mormon class when Keith was the teacher, and in our  Home Teaching visits.  He and his example live on in his family's lives.

We helped Viv celebrate her birthday......and my mandarin pumpkins were a big hit!

Where do you go on Halloween in Germany ?      Of course!!

We were happy to visit during the day , but lots of people enjoyed the festivities Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.  We were content to get a souvenir coin for our cash register at home.

Then it was on to the next castle.....Schloss means castle.....Castle Alsbach

Getting to the top of the castle would have been a great spook alley......dark and winding...

..but the view at the top was breath-taking.

Our office had a Team Day on November 6th at the Friedrichsdorf Chapel.  Our office is the LUF team.....Local Unit Finance.  The first part of the day, each person told about their area and what they have accomplished this year.  I learned more about my colleagues and appreciate them even more now.  They all deal with several different languages and banking systems throughout Europe.  We took a break for lunch at a Chinese buffet, then back for training, then ping pong games, then Jeanclaude von Tonder summed up the activity.  He is a great team manager.  At the end he gave each of us a thank you gift of candy.......and the team gave me a bouquet!!  Very appreciated surprise !!

While we at the chapel, I took some pictures of the demolition around the temple.  The temple itself is undergoing renovation. One side was sinking, so while they are taking care of that, they are adding on a new baptismal area.  The old font was right in the middle of the temple with an underground tunnel to get to it.  They are adding a whole new baptistery area to the side of the temple.....on the side by the parking lot.

I took this picture  for 2 reasons......the Case Tractor Company is alive and well over on this side of the world......my Dad would be so proud!  And....the crane on the left is working on the new Friedrichsdorf Stake Center.  When it is  finished, the original church building ( on Keith's  left ) will be torn down.

The steeple with Angel Moroni is just left of center.  It is in front of the temple. When the building was approved by the city of Friefrichsdorf, it was with the  understanding  that nothing could be taller than the church steeple in the center of town.....so it couldn't be on top of the temple 

This used to be the Distribution Center and apartments for some of the Temple Missionaries.  The steeple you see is actually on the church in the center of town.....the one that has to be the  highest in the city.  All the building in the area will include an apartment area that groups can rent when they bring groups from out of the area.  The Cahoons stayed in the old ones that have been torn down now.  We personally hope there will be lots of parking....that should be a big priority.....just ask Keith!!  Of course, we won't be here when it re-opens.

My companion is of the opinion that if you've seen one castle, you've seen them all.  When I heard that  this Schloss has a moat, I thought  that was different enough to warrant a nice drive last Saturday.  This was one sign........This was the other........

It says that is is closed until  19 March 2016.  

We could get close to it, but the gates were locked.

It is just beautiful, and maybe we will be able to return in the spring.  We did get a souvenir coin.

We said good-bye to Elder Jim and Sister Rosemary Hanks last week end.  They and two other couples completed their missions, and new couples are arriving to add to our little "family" over here.  There is always someone coming or going.  We will miss the Hanks, Smiths, and Riggs.

We are looking forward to Thanksgiving dinner next Thursday.  We are taking a vegetable tray and are on the clean- up committee.  Almost like home!!  Then comes Christmas....and the Christmas Markets......and a visit from my sister LeAnn and her son Austin.  They will be here in Frankfurt for a week, then will fly to Paris and meet Jim, and then on to Saudi Arabia to spend a week with their son Andrew ( and Jessica ) and their family.  I know 4 little kids who are getting just what they want for Christmas!

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all.  We are truly thankful to be serving our mission.  It is a wonderful experience!!  

Love,

E/S Saunders, Mom and Dad, Grandma and Grandpa