We traveled four and a half hours northeast of Frankfurt to attend the Freiberg Temple. It has been four months since we last attended the temple and we were so grateful to be able to go again. We were treated so kindly by the temple missionaries and other ordinance workers. We stayed in temple housing and enjoyed talking with other patrons over breakfast. The temple is connected to the housing by a tunnel, so we dressed in our white clothes and walked to the temple underground. We had six family file cards and did initiatories, endowments and sealings for them. One of our ancestors was a Hunsinger with family roots in Germany and we think he appreciated hearing the ordinances in his native languge! We felt a wonderful spirit as we entered the temple and performed these sacred ordinances for our ancestors. Though we were away from our family at home for Christmas, we were able to spend it with our departed family in the temple. It was a sweet experience.
The skys were cloudy and dropped a little rain during our stay. It didn't bother us because we entered the temple through an underground tunnel from the temple housing where we stayed overnight.
This beautiful temple was a miracle when it was built behind the Iron Curtain in East Germany.
The clouds were low and the statue of Moroni cast its' shadow on them.
Grandma found some fresh cut flowers in the Freiberg market one night.
Freiberg had a Christmas market like every other town in Germany.
This stand featured cinnamon sugared bread strips wrapped around an iron pipe. It cooks and then you peel off a line of swirls and enjoy the cinnamon bread treat.
We departed the next day and explored some more sights on our way to Dresden for the Christmas weekend. We went with Elder and Sister Yost. Elder Yost served a mission in Germany as a young man and then he and his wife served as mission president and wife in the Czech Republic. We enjoyed his mission memories of the places we traveled through. He is now the Infield Representative in the Frankfurt Area Office.
We loved reading and looking at your beautiful blog! It sounds like you enjoyed a wonderful Christmas and were able to explore many gorgeous towns and cities along with going to the Temple. I'm sure that you are loving this fabulous opportunity in your lives as we also did to be of service along with having the privilege of traveling to so many new and exciting places. I felt the same way about our mission to be able to have a history lesson along with the spiritual learning and teaching connections we had with everyone we came in contact with at Temples, church, other missionaries. Congratulations on your darling new tiny grandson, Quinten Oliver! Love all the precious pictures as they remind me of the photo shoot Jodie and I did in her apt.with Samantha when she was born on Dec. 1st. We are so glad that Matt and Ellen were blessed with another healthy beautiful boy and hopefully Ellen is feeling well! Can hardly believe how much their other children have grown!!! Take care, I know no matter how wonderful your mission is, it is difficult to bed away during the holidays and a new baby. May The Lord continue to protect and bless you always!
ReplyDeleteLove from your good friends, Ron and Sal I should mention that Ron is continually recovering, but still has some pain in his right leg most of the time. I have gotten the cold/flue that seems to be spreading around and am trying to not give it to Ron. I didn't mean to go on so long and surely hope that others aren't able to read this...