We had two of our in-field couples in Frankfurt for training this week. Elder and Sister Anderson who serve in Bulgaria arrived in-country last month. Elder and Sister Herway who serve in Milano, Italy arrived last week. It is inspiring to meet these interesting, capable, accomplished, dedicated people. Both are serving their second missions as a couple. Andersons previously served in Sweden, Herways in Rome. We train all day and enjoy each other’s company in the evening over dinner. One night we attended the temple together and the next night we showed them downtown Frankfurt.
Our early morning walks through farm fields are so renewing. The sugar beets were harvested this week. The soil here is dark brown and so fertile.
Wertheim am Main
Our Saturday field trip with the Mullecks was an hour and a half away from our apartment. Looking forward to these Saturday getaways with them keeps us going during the work week. We share similar workloads and sometimes we go all day without having time to say hello even though their desks are only a few feet away from ours.
Wertheim am Main sits at the confluence of the Main and Tauber rivers. The Main continues to Frankfurt and beyond where it joins the Rhine. If you follow the Tauber upstream it will take you along the famous Romantic Road. Because of its location the town has seen many floods. Buildings measure the high-water marks over the years. It is said that the brothers Grimm based Snow White on a real local woman from this town.
Wertheim am Main is renowned for its glassmaking.
The Spitzer Turm or pointed tower dates from the 13th century when it was built as a lookout tower. In the 15th century octagonal walls were added. It was used as a prison at one time with the entrance located 10m above ground, only accessible by ladder. The “drunkards and shrews” held here dreaded the “hole of fear” where some that descended into the dungeon never were seen again.
Neuplatz is the site of the old Jewish quarter. The Jewish community in Wertheim existed since the medieval times. At times there were more than 200 Jewish residents here. The Jewish community lasted for over 700 years until it was wiped out during the National Socialism Regime in 1938 and was never rebuilt.
The Counts of Wertheim built a castle on the hill in the 12th century that is mostly ruins today. It was partly destroyed during the 30 Years War, not in battle but by a 9-year-old girl who fell asleep without extinguishing her candle. Fire and gunpowder are not a good mix.
The Collegiate Church and the Gothic St Killian’s Chapel are across the street from each other. The tombs of the Counts of Wertheim are inside the Collegiate Church.
The Angel Well was created in 1574
Lovely day in a lovely village with some of our favorite lovely people.
On Sunday evening we had a sweet reunion with our dear friends Linda and Rulon Stacey. Rulon’s sister and her husband serve with us here in Frankfurt and they came to visit. Rulon and Ed shared similar professions in the healthcare field. We have enjoyed meeting Staceys in Chicago for the annual ACHC meetings for the past 20 plus years, but our paths have not crossed recently. We have been playing mission tag. They were called as mission leaders in Toronto while we served in Chile and just finished their service there last summer.
With love, Elder & Sister Lamb (aka Ed & Debbie, Mom & Dad, Pop Pop & Tu Tu)
Lambs in Central Europe 