Belated Birthday

My birthday was two months ago but I want to post about it because it was one of my most special birthdays and shows how terrific the people are here, where we are blessed to serve.  I wasn't expecting any kind of celebration because we are away from our family and long time friends.  But the day played out very unexpectedly!

In the morning we had District Meeting in St. Gallen. Somehow the missionaries found out it was my birthday.  They really went all out to make it special for me. They decorated the room and had it darkened with little candles and when I walked in they started to sing "Happy Birthday".  They gave me a few small gifts as well.  We brought lunch but made it very simple.  We had picked up special cheese cakes at the Saturday Market in Ravensburg and they loved the special birthday treat.  It was one of the most delightful District Meetings.

The St. Gallen District

Visconti, Bushman, Hilton, Sister Lake, Elder Lake, Chisholm, Weisler, Pedersen, Passey, Titmus

Bob convinced me that we needed to stop in Dornbirn, after taking the missionaries home, to study for awhile at the church before going home.  I agreed, never imagining he might have an ulterior motive.  I thought we were going out to dinner for my birthday.  He told me we needed to stop at our apartment to get umbrellas since it was raining.  I decided that I would change into pants and comfortable walking shoes to walk into the city.  When I opened the door, I was shocked to find our apartment filled with many of the wonderful and dear friends we have made here in Ravensburg and in Dornbirn.  I actually got quite emotional realizing how much these dear people mean to me. They had planned and prepared a really fun surprise birthday party for me.  And boy, was I surprised!  It never entered my head.  Some of them came all the way from Austria, almost an hour away.  Our cute young friend, Corinna Tonoli, had organized the whole thing and had people bring food.  She came early and decorated with streamers and balloons and had party hats, too.  Everyone came into the hall when I walked in and sang "Happy Birthday" to me.  They had a wonderful chocolate cake with candles.  Some of them even brought gifts.  Corinna remembered that we had said we missed having Mexican food here, so they prepared a taco buffet.  Very thoughtful!  And everything was delicious.  It was really a fun party!  Everyone enjoyed visiting and eating.  It was a birthday I will always remember because of the love I felt from so many.  The people are definitely the best part of a mission.

Irina Kiefer with me

Gerda Stubbe-Griell, Diane, Susann Trautmann

Nicola and Jordy Wijsbeek

Fleur Wijsbeek

Jorg Stubbe and Rudiger Trautmann

Ralf Lorenz and Wladimir Lange 

Irina, Corinna, Flora and Bob

Elder Hilton

Elder Bushman

The Buffet

The Tonoli Family
Giampi, Corinna and Flora

Senior Conference in Innsbruck

On the 19th of April, we headed to Innsbruck, Austria on the train for our semi-annual Senior Conference with all the other senior missionaries from our mission.  Our wonderful mission president's wife, Sister Laura Brown, posted a lot of fun photos from the conference on Face Book immediately after and tagged me in the post, so anyone who follows me on Face Book has already seen a post about this event.  Well, now you will see and read my version of the event.

We were thrilled that the conference was held in beautiful Innsbruck.  We have been anxious to see this remarkable city and we were not disappointed.  But we were also excited to spend some time with the other senior couples.  These are outstanding people who are serving here with faithfulness and dedication and giving everything they've got to bless the members, missionaries, and others in the Alpine German Speaking Mission.  It is called the Alpenlaendische Mission here.  This was an opportunity to share ideas and strengthen each other and be inspired and motivated to continue serving with hope and optimism.  And that is exactly what happened! 

We arrived in Innsbruck on Thursday about noon and enjoyed a lovely lunch sitting outside at the hotel.  We had some wonderful workshops in the afternoon and then a delicious dinner at the hotel.  In the evening, we had Elder and Sister Peery from the area office in Frankfurt speak to us.  They are  mental health advisors for the area.  But they are also terrific missionaries.  They shared some helpful information and some incredibly inspiring stories.  We loved them!

Friday morning was a wonderful breakfast buffet at the hotel and then more workshops in the morning at the church, which was in walking distance from the hotel.  All the senior couples participated in teaching the workshops or filling some assignment for the conference.  We were on our own for lunch and then we had the afternoon free to do some sight seeing.  One of the couples, Dean and Judy Wade (from Davis County, UT), gave us fabulous ideas for things to see and do. We were very blessed because the weather was absolutely perfect! A group of us took a tram to the top of the mountain and we trekked around in the snow and enjoyed the incredible view.  We had dinner at the hotel and a delightful evening focusing on Family and Marriage.

Saturday morning was another breakfast buffet at the hotel, we checked out, and then headed to the church again.  The Browns shared and inspired us all.  We all shared "Tender Mercies" experienced on the mission which touched our hearts and caused tears to flow.  It was a special conclusion to a special and memorable conference.  We look forward with great anticipation to the next one!

We had a fun afternoon seeing more of Innsbruck before heading back to Ravensburg.  I'm afraid the photos really don't do it justice!

The Austrian Alps

Walking to the church.

President and Sister Brown starting the conference.

The Wades, the Andreasons, and the Stephensens

The Peerys, the Madsens, and some guests

The Browns, the Mathews and the Hansens

The Hughes' and the Stringhams

The Norths, the Russells and the Lakes

The Golden Roof

Looking down on Innsbruck from the top of Nordkette

From the top of Nordkette

Snowboarding hill

Innsbruck

Adorable President and Sister Brown

Hofkirche

Bob on the stairs climbing to the top of Stadtturm.