Another great week in Germany!! It has snowed everyday for 8 days straight (so far) but it is warm enough to walk in and we really enjoy our excursions in the snow. We took a train ride to District Meeting, in the snow. Absolutely gorgeous scenery. We drove to our favorite grocery store, in the snow, and through "our forest." (Someday we should probably figure out the name of the forest.) We went to Erfurt to research places to see for the Senior Conference. And we drove to Freiberg, in the snow. We got there early enough on Friday to be able to walk through town and explore the many shops. When we asked a waitress for directions to a hotel she also showed us on the map how to get to the temple. It was funny because we hadn't said anything about the church or the temple. It is snowing again (still) tonight but we are snug and warm in our little apartment. Love it!!

We had another week of fun activities! Home Evening and food on Monday. Institute, dinner and Music Night on Thursday. Friday Night Movie. Saturday Preparedness Fair. We had enough supplies for everyone to make their own 72-hour Emergency Kit to take home. Everyone seemed to enjoy the week. Such a fun and fabulous group of people that we get to learn from, work with and love. We feel so blessed. We discovered more great buildings on our Sunday night walk. This is part of the University.

Fasching is a mixture of Halloween and Carnival. Everyone dresses up and celebrates for a week. Our celebration consisted of costumes, games and the Elders making pudding. Both Elders are in the "pudding" picture - one person reaches through and is the "arms" of the person in front. They did a great job of working together and both were wonderful sports. Fasching war ganz toll!  We continue to go another city to speak in church one Sunday a month. They always treat us to a delicious dinner afterwards and are so loving and kind. We finally have (had) blue sky, we had to get a picture fast because it wasn't going to last long. The forest is on our way home and the other is out our bedroom window, I wish I could capture the sounds of the church bells ringing. 



Man do we love these kids!! A night of bowling for Home Evening - so much fun. We took the strassenbahn to the other side of the city then walked 3 blocks to a resort that had a bowling alley (6 lanes). I wish I could have gotten a good picture of the pins - they hang by ropes on the alley. Shoes are $l. You rent the alley by the hour. Very efficient.

The pic of Duane after a major shopping trip to Ikea last week. We got to buy things for missionaries' apartments. They are so respectful and careful before they ask for anything. One set of Elders asked if it was okay if they had some new bowls and new pillows. We were able to fill their orders and deliver, it was a great day.