A Medieval Christmas Market

A Christmas Angel, Saint Nicholas, and me......in Ronneburg Castle.

This was a great day.  We went with Elder and Sister Castleton......and at least 10 more senior couples.  Around every corner we found either a medieval character or a missionary!

Sister Castleton called this "Missionary Stew".

The Kirks, Castletons, and Keith.

We told them they had the best costumes.....and after taking several more pictures, he asked Keith to email our pictures to them.

The sign on the left caught my eye....can you see why?

What an interesting couple.   And such costumes!

Here's another interesting couple......the Jarrards live two or three houses away from Lorin and Cleo in West Jordan.  They are a new couple and are serving in the Frankfurt Mission.  We really liked them because he introduced us as his neighbor's younger and better-looking brother!!

While I was looking at the donkey, I should have bought that pretty cape.....and trimmed it with fur.

Actually, all I purchased were some plastic knights to remind us of all the castles we've seen......and some lunch.  Dessert was deep fried battered apple slices and vanilla sauce.  

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There it is....real live Mistletoe. 

This was a wonderful experience.  Different than any of the other Weinachtenmarkts we seen.

Not a nativity scene to be found.......oh well, we're going to Hessin Park next week.  Maybe I'll have better luck there.

We attended the Area Office Christmas Devotional last Thursday.  We had our monthly interview with Elder Johnson, then sang in the "Traditional Senior Missionary Choir".  I couldn't remember last year's choir, but apparently one year there was.....and maybe there will be one next year.  All I know is, we'll miss it if there is......we will be home!

The Area Presidency spoke.  We have grown to love and admire these men so much.  Elder Johnson's wife is my friend Beverly Hind's niece.  Elder Dyches read the story about the Christmas Pagaent and the little girl who held her sign ( an M ) upside down and the audience read Christ was Love.  President Kearon told about touring a refugee camp with Elder Ballard in Cyprus.  It was a wonderful Devotional and really started the season off right.

The Johnsons.   The Kearons.    The Dyches.

And the catered meal was wonderful, too.  And cute decorations on each table.

One more picture......this is Andrew and Sue Mason.  They are a charming couple from England.

Andrew works in our building and Sue spends one day a week volunteering at Family Search just down the road from us.  We took them to lunch at our favorite Italian place, Guido's.  You see, Keith got another ticket and Andrew is our "banker" and handles the payment.  It makes it easier for him to pay the fine and we reimburse him.  They have lived here a little over 2 years and he has gotten 3 tickets.  We have been here 17 months and have gotten 3 tickets.  We have gotten the last 2 in the same place.  The speed limit goes from 70 to 50.....apparently they set up the camera right there.....Andrew got 2 of his tickets there, too.  Our most recent one came with a picture of Keith looking over to the passenger side of the car.....just when I said, "I wonder what that box is?"  We know now what it was!!

Sending love to you....again!