We were welcomed to Frankfurt on Tuesday by the Lewis’s and Stoker’s who drove us to our apartment in Bad Homburg, 18 km north of the city.
Our apartment is beautiful and brand new. The missionaries who prepared it thought of everything, including filling our fridge with staples to get us through the first few days. Elder Lamb loves our car elevator.
On the evening we arrived, we were ushered to the office for a farewell/welcome party. Farewell for missionaries who have finished their mission service and a welcome to the new couples. We got to know each other, had a barbeque, and sang karaoke. (the couple that planned the activity is from Tokyo) We were presented with the perfect welcome gift-Lindt Lindor balls!
Jet lag or no, we spent the next three days in the office being trained. Our office is a 10-minute drive from our apartment through beautiful countryside.
We enjoyed walks each morning through our Bad Homburg neighborhood with church bells ringing on the hour. Bad means bath in German. This is a spa town known for its mineral springs. They claim the slogan Champaagnerluft (champagne air) meaning they have the freshest air in Germany. It is a lovely place!
Dinners were thoughtfully planned each evening. One night our manager, Eric Rottermann, took us out for a meal and another night the Nelsons invited us to their apartment for dinner.
On Saturday Elder & Sister Nelson from Grantsville, Utah took us and the other new couple- the Johnsons on a field trip- a train tutorial. The train station is a five-minute walk from our apartment. We rode the train to the airport on a practice run and then went to Frankfurt Am Main to spend the afternoon.
It is called Frankfurt’s New Old Town because the old town of Frankfurt Am Main was destroyed in an allied bombing raid in 1944. The old town quarter has been recreated. It includes 15 realistic reconstructions of the original structures. Some original house parts were used in the reconstruction. The only building that was left standing after the bombing was the Cathedral that was built in the 1500’s.
On the ground in the square is a memorial plaque that reads: ‘At this place on May 10, 1933, National Socialist students burnt books by authors, scientists, and publicists.’ These Nazi sympathizers burned more than 25,000 books. The somber plaque includes words from Heinrich Heine stating, ‘That was just the beginning. Where one burns books, in the end, people are burnt as well.’
After lunch we crossed the iron footbridge over the river Main. It was a lovely day with our new friends.
Speaking of friends – we have so many that are serving missions right now. Quoting one of them, named Jacqueline, “There is something empowering about having all of us out serving at the same time. We are in different places, doing different things, but we are all called by the same prophet and are serving the same God. I feel a real sense of power and unity in that.” These dear friends, from our Arizona and Alaska days hold special places in our hearts. As do you!
Lambs – Germany Humanitarian, Hutchins – Raleigh NC Office, Youngs – Hamburg Office, Riedels – Sacramento CA Office, Kiddles – Cyprus MLS, Sargers – Serbia Humanitarian
Two brothers serving at the same time, Bob – Church HQ (Salt Lake City) Prison Ministries, Ed.
With love, Elder & Sister Lamb (aka Ed & Debbie, Mom & Dad, Pop Pop & Tu Tu)
Lambs in Central Europe 