PROJECTS, PROJECTS AND MORE PROJECTS

We had our first call with Elder and Sister Healy, the couple who will be replacing us next February. This will be their 6^th full time mission! (Plus 4 service missions from home). This week marks a year since we arrived in Frankfurt. We celebrated by going to Burger King with Elder & Sister Johnson who were in the MTC with us and who arrived here on the same day as us.

We had a very busy week in the office. Along with our weekly humanitarian division meetings, regional meetings with our 4 Welfare & Self Reliance Managers, and individual calls with our field couples in nine countries we prepared several projects for approval:

Fetal Monitors for Public Hospital- Onesti, Romania

Three fetal monitors will be donated to this hospital where over 2,500 pregnant women were monitored, and 800 babies were born last year.

Emergency Response- Chios & Ziros, Greece

Fires are raging in Greece. Relief supplies include generators, personal hygiene products, water, and food are on their way to those in need.

Medical Equipment for Rural Clinic- Filippiada, Greece

This clinic is the only healthcare facility providing first-degree medical assistance to a population of approximately 20,000 residents and 800 refugees. The clinic lacks an ultrasound machine, which prevents it from offering critical gynecological care. As a result, women—both from the local vulnerable population and the refugee community—have no access to gynecological examinations or prenatal checkups in their vicinity. The nearest hospital is 70 km away, with limited transportation options. Refugees in medical emergencies must cover the cost of a taxi, creating significant financial and logistical barriers to timely medical care. The donation of an ultrasound machine will enable the clinic to provide essential gynecological and obstetric services to women in need.

Back to School Supplies for At Rick Students- Romania

We will partner with ‘Everything Is Possible’ in their Back-to-School project. This NGO will create Back to School kits with age-specific books, educational games, notebooks, and writing instruments for 100 classrooms in various cities all over Romania. Our young missionaries who serve at this facility each week will help assemble the kits.

Sleeping Bags, Blankets, Hygiene Kits for Homeless- Stuttgart, Germany

The Stuttgart Stake will sponsor a Service Saturday on November 22, 2025, for 140 Relief Society sisters, Young Women, and Primary girls. In eight different service activities, age appropriate for ages 8 to 80 these women and girls will provide service for their communities. Humanitarian funds are being requested for four of the projects:

• Red Cross, Stuttgart has a ‘Cold Bus’ that community members can call if they see someone exposed to the elements. Donation: 25 sleeping bags, blankets, scarves, hats, food.

• Schlupfwinkel Stuttgart is an open contact and counseling center for young people whose current living situation has become unbearable. It is a place where visitors can shower, have breakfast, do laundry, have access to the internet and a computer, and set up a mailing address. Support is offered to connect the youth with the services they need such as doctors, police, or school opportunities. Schlpfsinkel does street work to tell homeless youth where they can go to find help. Donation: 30 hygiene kits. that include shampoo, deodorant, shower gel, toothbrush & toothpaste.

• Viel Farbe im Grau Foundation supports seriously ill children and their families during and after therapy. Donation: 50 homemade stuffed toys.

• Donation of 25 crocheted baby hats for vulnerable newborns.

Food Security, Indigent Community- Perugia, Italy

The donation of food stuffs such as oil, meat, fish, rice, vegetables, fruits and hygiene products to a soup kitchen and 5 solidarity markets.

The soup kitchen serves on average 106 lunches per day, 6 days a week and has become a vital refuge for those facing serious hardship. These facilities are manned by a handful of employees and 190 volunteers.

The solidarity market represents an innovative and inclusive system designed to support families experiencing economic hardship. Unlike traditional food aid models, these markets empower beneficiaries by allowing them to freely choose essential goods, preserving personal dignity and fostering a sense of responsibility. Structured to resemble conventional supermarkets, they are managed by two dedicated staff members and sustained by the invaluable contribution of volunteers, creating a welcoming environment that restores hope and promotes social cohesion. In 2024, the five solidarity markets provided vital assistance to 1,690 families, reaching a total of 4,913 individuals. The solidarity markets promote practical financial education. Beneficiaries manage the credit assigned to their market cards, learning to make thoughtful and responsible choices. This process strengthens budgeting skills and encourages greater autonomy in everyday life, contributing to long-term resilience and empowerment.

We led the discussion in our senior missionary scripture study group this week. Since the scripture block covered Doctrine & Covenants section 89, we feasted with thanksgiving on some of the beautiful foods God has created for us.

We saw this sight as we were driving to the grocery store.

Koblenz- Saturday Excursion

This beautiful city lies at convergence of the Rhine and Moselle rivers. Vinyards, forests, and four mountain ranges form the unique backdrop to this 2,000-year-old city that was established as a Roman military outpost in 8 BC. French joie de vivre and German tradition have produced a unique cultural fusion.

Two interesting fountains with a common theme of water spewing from a mouth.

Town Hall

Segments from the Berlin Wall to remind residents of the blessing of reunification and sobering stumbling stones.

Trier archbishops converted a medieval castle into the mighty Ehrenbreitstein Fortress. We rode a tram across the river to see it. In 1817 Prussian kings and officers reconstructed it and used it as a military stronghold. Henry T Allen from Kentucky, the commander-in-chief of the American occupation army in the Rhineland, was stationed in Koblenz from 1919-1923. After the First World War, together with many others, he advocated for the preservation of this fortress as an outstanding cultural monument. During WW2 the bunker under this massive fortress offered protection as a bomb shelter for up to 10,000 people and housed archives and museum collections. After the two World Wars American and then French troops were stationed here. And then the fortress provided housing for local citizens. The Ehrenbreitstein Fortress is Europe’s second-largest preserved fortress.