CONFERENCE WEEK

MEAL Conference

We had a two-day MEAL conference with area humanitarian couples in Frankfurt this week. There are four couples that live in Frankfurt. Other area couples came in from Uzbekistan and Moldova.  Our couple in Türkiye had to join via Zoom because of visa issues.  We each taught a session, we enjoyed team building activities, and we were taught via technology from HQ in Salt Lake.  The topics included learnings from humanitarian projects focused on refugees, food security, the Romani population, emergency response, construction, education & employment.  Our young employees also taught a computer skills class to us senior missionaries.  We love these good people we work with.

Zone Conference

The very next day we had a Zone Conference where all 30 plus senior missionary couples who serve in the area office gathered to be taught by our Area President, Ruben V. Alliaud.  It was a rich spiritual feast. Zone conferences always come just when we need some encouragement and perspective of why we do what we do.  “Thrust in your sickle with all your soul and your sins are forgiven and you shall be laden with sheaves upon your backs for the laborer is worthy of his hire. Wherefore, your family shall live.”  (Doctrine & Covenants 31:5).  We serve because we love our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ.  We have been given much, and we want to give back.  We also serve because we believe our family will be blessed by our service.  We ask in our prayers every day that any blessings we receive from this service be consecrated to our children and grandchildren.  We love them so!

Zone Activity- The Romantic Tour

We joined with the other senior couples for a wonderful Saturday activity called the Romantic Tour.  We drove for an hour to the lovely town of Rüdesheim.

There we boarded a boat for a Rhine River cruise.

We got off the boat along the way to tour the Rheinstein Castle.  Built in the 1300’s, it was rebuilt in the 1800’s.

Then back on the boat to Assmannshausen.  There we rode a chairlift up the mountain, enjoyed a hike, and rode a cable car down. There were  a lot of locals out ‘wandering’ (the word for hiking in German, pronounced vandering).

We enjoyed dinner in Rüdesheim with the Southwicks.  Fresh spargel (asparagus) is on every menu right now. It was a lovely day, and the weather cooperated perfectly.  It did not start raining until we were ready to head home.

Our tender mercy of the week was meeting the Mullers (cousins of our son Josh’s favorite mission family).  We have been trying to make contacts with people from Hamburg to explore possibilities for humanitarian projects there.  We asked our friends who serve in the mission office in Hamburg for some ideas.  Cindy Young gave us Tanja Mullers name.  She is on the stake Relief Society’s activities council in charge of service opportunities.  When we contacted her, she told us that she and her husband would be in Frankfurt this weekend- voila!  Our Hamburg contact!  We met for dinner on Friday night.   Miracles abound.

With love, Elder & Sister Lamb (aka Ed & Debbie, Mom & Dad, Pop Pop & Tu Tu)