It appears with not a lot of grace or style.
The couple on the left was in our German tutoring class. They are going to Frankfurt, German;y. The rest from left to right is Elder & Sister Betts, Elder & Sister Hall, Us of course, and Sister and Elder Stepan.
We arrived in Münich the morning of February 4th, with the expectation that we would be met. The couple who were suppose to pick us up had never been to the Airport before and got a wee bit lost. We can thank the Webb’s for the euro coinage, that got us a phone call to the mission office—to at least learn that they were on their way, so that was at least encouraging. We were not hard to find as four couples stood there with our missionary tags on. They had the van for the luggage, and Norm and I as I was using the cane. The rest walked to the bus station. We met at the mission office for lunch and then to the mission home. Two of us stayed over night at the mission home and the rest went to a nice hotel. They tucked us in for an hour and then it was back to the mission office for a couple of hours of instruction. Great instruction, but we were all”jet lag” zombies. The couple giving the instruction were the Area Reps for the CES program, Elder and Sister Hunger.
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We all loved the Tyrolean or Bavarian Suit Elder Hunger was wearing.
Then it was back to the mission home where President Miles interviewed us and then gave us our assignments. The Betts were sent to live in Germany and drive 6 klm to Shaufhausen, Switzerland. They cried with happiness. He served his first mission in Switzerland and because of the
The Hall’s were sent to Klagensfurt, where they had never been before, as they have traveled the area several times.
Celebrating our 47th anniversary. A very unexpected but appreciated gift. The Zauggs were excited after showing us this little bed and breakfast, when they learned it was our anniversary on that date.
We are now in our small apartment. The Elders tell us we have the Taj Mahal. We just need to organized it to our style.
As we were leaving the Mission Office Norm asked about our An Melden papers. He said he could not give them to us as he didn’t know where we would be. Monday Norm filled one out and tried to Anmehld it. Nope not with out the Church’s stamp. Today, Thursday we are still waiting for the letter, but we did get our Auto record book. There are three of us feeling a little panic, especially in light of the fact that the Zauggs took the place of a couple in Wein (Vienna) who had to live the country and are serving in the Scotish-Irish mission because they didn’t submit their papers in time.
Norm and I have found out that we were very efficient as the office couple.
We cannot get our internet up as we have to start a bank account. We cannot start a bank account without a Visa and we cannot get the visa until we Anmelden. We have to get our Utah driver’s license translated so we can drive legally, and we cannot do any of it until we Anmelden.
We had our first family home evening Monday, and 6 showed. Almost all have family home evening with their parents as they live at home.
Tonight we had our first meal, which was awful. We didn’t have time to prepare anything so opened a large #10 can of Gulaushsuppe, and made speazel. The speazla was good, but canned Gulosh is not. Fortunately there were only 3 who arrived in time to eat because of the snowstorm. Unfortunately they will probably talk. Norm suggests my cinnamon rolls, next week, cooking in the oven as they come in. Now I gotta figure out what to serve with it, besides hot chocolate.
Feb 10 Our An melden papers came today, so we dashed over. All was correct except the most important thing. The form had not been used in 2 years and they would not accept it or the stamp as it had to be on the right one.
I shake my head. When Norm called the office (and he held his cool) he was told that they knew they were old but thought they could force it through. “Dumb idea with any bureaucracy—anywhere in the world.”
Norm told him to get them on line. And he told Norm not to panic as we had 90 days. Norm informed him that it was only three. (Even the cover letter that was sent with us was very clear about that.) And since we had been there 5 days we could be thrown out of the country.
Saturday Feb 11, 2012
We are worn out tonight. Running and catching buses can be exhausting when one is not use to it. I have lost weight. Yaaaaah! But it better keep dropping with all this activity. We do have a car but are saving the miles and taking the bus as much as we can. And to think we moved 6 suitcases between us on the train. That was hard enough getting them off in that short stop. The Elders in Münchun told us that when we stopped, just start tossing them off and the missionaries would see us and help. Not a chance! Never take that risk. No one sent them the information so they would know which train or platform. I stood at the stairs and Norm handed them to me to get off the stairs onto the platform while he rushed back to get another one. We barely got them all off the train when it started to pull out of the station. Fortunately we had them stored near the door.
Mail doesn’t come on Saturday in Austria—so we wait and pray for Monday. Norm got his license translated so can drive for 6 months. Now if the “proper papers” arrive Monday morning, hopefully we will quit wasting so much time on someone elses “silly” mistakes. We have lived our lives on the buses.
But we took time today to go to the international market to get hats. We arrived to freezing cold weather. I about ruined my feet permanently . The shoes I had froze hard and were creating bruises across my toes. Norm kept telling everyone that I needed to purchase boots, but they kept the rest of our schedule so full. I was putting on white heavy socks under my black knee highs trying to protect my feet. Wednesday night they were so sore I could not sleep. I went into the bathroom and in the light I could see I was in real trouble. I woke Norm and told him that we went nowhere until I had boots. As a diabetic the last thing one wants is open sores on the feet. When Norm saw the mess I was in he was worried. First thing we did was make the purchase. Now I have traded my bum left knee for a sore right foot. It is starting to heal though.
I
With all my griping out of the way, I will turn to more positive thoughts.
Salzburg is a beautiful city, even under the blanket of snow. Last Thursday we were returning home while it was snowing. It was beautiful quiet and still. We held our first Home evening with the group of 8. Most don’t usually come out for Monday as they live at home and are with their families, but the word had spread of the Zaugg’s transfer. So of course everyone wanted to meet us. The Zauggs had really been hard at work and will be large shoes to fill. They also have been working with less actives, and a few new contacts. She is a very friendly person and had made friends with many in the apartment complex. So every one were curious about the new missionaries.
Thursday we had 10 out to institute and the meal before. Many come when they can get there because of work. So two young men arrived right at the end of institute.
Friday Norm had about 4 calls from the sisters who said that they heard he was funny with funny stories. One sister said, “Don’t you change. You do things your way. Kid’s love good stories. Well Norm will be good at that part. I don’t think I know anyone who has more stories—and funny ones at that unless it is Peter.
We had the Elders over twice so that they could teach Lilly, a very pretty girl. Yesterday they gave her the last New Member lesson as she is headed to Berlin to school. Last Sunday, it just so happened that her new Bishop from Berlin was here for a grandchild’s blessing, so the Elders introduced her and he promised see that she is watched over.
I have been warned that for the first several Sundays to tune out after an hour of all German or I can count on a headache. Well I hear German all day, and try to pick out words that I know. Sometimes I can get enough to know the jist of the conversation. Norm is in his element. He is so sweet. One day a sweet little old lady (probably my age—just looks older) stops him and asks about our tags. Then she tells him that her mother just died at 80 and would we remember her in her prayers. Now if any one pays attention to how he focuses in on his grandchildren as he is talking to them, giving them all his attention. That is what he does—almost best. He has these sweet little old ladies eating out of his hand. And they try to talk to me until they see the blank stare with my dumb smile and know I understand little.
And dialects. Everyone speaks with a dialect. Bayrhien, Schowbe, Chech, you name it. One man with some emotional problems was yelling at the bus driver. I swear he was talking German with an Oklahoma accent.
Riding the bus and people watching is fascinating. One elderly man gets on the bus with a peaked hat. He had bushy grey eyebrows about 1 ½ inches thick above the nose. The hairs were at least 1 inch long. With the pleasant look on his face he reminded me of a gnome. One child was making fun of his grandfather’s hat that had two peaks. He kept telling him that he looked like a hare with his ears cut off. One hardly sees a grey haired woman as they all dye their hair. And hats and scarves. I have never seen so many different hats and scarves in my life. You would think fur coats were the rage. But Sister Zaugg told me that the older women wear them for warmth, and that they are warm.
I have never seen so many narrow streets in my life. Lots of cars, buses take those streets. I am not brave enough to drive here. If you hesitate until the light is red you get honked at. But as a pedestrian you can step out into the middle of traffic. It is 3000 euro if one hits a pedestrian. They stop these cars on a dime if they think you are going to cross in front of them.
We are anxious to get out of town and meet some of the contacts in the small surrounding towns. They say the scenery is just beautiful.
They build tall apartments, hotels, ect right into the rock cliffs. We go through narrow tunnels going one way and around coming back because they are not wide enough for two way traffic. One of these times with a little bit of time we will carry the camera and get some pictures. Some of those tunnels go through mountains.
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