SENIOR MISSIONARY CONFERENCE: Switzerland March 2014

We had a wonderful experience attending out first senior conference. 

We traveled by train to Innsbruck and then drove with the Mowers the rest of the way to Switzerland.







We left a few days earlier so we could enjoy some of the sights.  Our first stop was Interlaken.  This is a beautiful town in the setting of the Swiss Alps. 

We took the time to ride a cog wheel train up the mountain to another village.  

The scenic views were absolutely breathtaking!

Our next stop was in Lucerne on the famous Vierwaldstattersee (four lakes that connect with each other). 

The wooden bridge of Lucerne, Switzerland

Lucerne is famous for an old wooden bridge with a long covered walkway. Strolling along the banks of the lakes is a favorite pastime for the Swiss.

The next day we drove to the old city of Bern.  This brought back many memories of  my time there as a missionary. It has definitely changed in the past  40 years...more traffic, more modern elements, very high prices.

A pint of strawberries being sold by a vendor was 7 Euro (about $10)

I took the time to sit in a small park overlooking the river and ancient steeples. My mind traveled to my missionary days...very fond memories.

Elder and Sister Fox playing a duet on the  Alpine Horns.

Our conference began on a Thursday.  We were given workshops, a morsel of entertainment, and spiritual nourishment. It was wonderful to just be able to compare notes and realize we all have unique situations, challenges, and joys. 

                                                                 

We were able to attend a session in the temple. 

I was overwhelmed by emotions remembering that the last time attending the Swiss temple was with my mother. Even though it has just been six months since we last attended our temple in Spokane, it seemed like much more time had passed.   We easily forget what a privilege it is to access the temple on a regular basis.








We enjoyed our dinner...we were fed authentic Swiss food like Raclette, an evening meal of potatoes cooked in their skins with various accompaniments like pearl onions, pickles, etc.  A special over melts cheese in separate small trays to put over the potatoes.  Yum.  The breads in Switzerland are especially flavorful with all the cheeses available.

Besides our workshops, we were given a few tours of our choice. 


We went to a Kaserei (cheese factory) where we were given a demonstration of how cheese was made hundreds of years ago. We were inside a small single room  building dated from 1765.  A gentleman in his traditional Swiss shirt explained the process in his Swiss dialect.   I love the Swiss dialect!  It was so good to hear it again!  

"We must all press on..."

We were invited to participate by stirring the immense copper cauldron that was swung over an open fire.  Then Sister Smith and I were able to take the curds and  being put into a large mold and press all the excess liquid out. Nothing is wasted. The pressed liquid as wells as excess curds are fed to the pigs on the farm.






In our mission, we have couples doing such a variety of tasks.  The couple in Vienna work at the YSA Center (a separate building for the many students in Vienna) and spend most every day there all day.  They prepare meals for 30-50 young single adults.  The Buchanens serve in Ravensburg (my home town) as leadership support to the small branch.  Another couple does genealogy research in one specific town in Germany.  We have office couples, we have couples like us that work with the YSA groups and serve in the wards according to the desire of the local leaders.  Some have large groups to work with, some very few. We have just a few in Linz right now, but with the help of the missionaries we are growing.

Senior couples from the Alpine German Speaking Mission at their annual conference in Bern, Switzerland.

Our mission president, Pres. and Sister Miles are almost at the end of their mission.  They have faithfully spent the last three years presiding over 299 missionaries in three countries.  Just the travel alone is staggering---each zone conference,  interviews,  stake conferences, mission business, etc.  Pres. and Sister Miles have been a source of inspiration, love, and counsel for many missionaries young and old.  We will miss them when they leave in June.

Mission life suits us.  We love the variety of our labors.  We love the missionaries and never cease to be amazed at their level of commitment and spirituality. 

We love the members that are so caring and demonstrative.  In Austria, if the members like you, you are always greeted with a hug.  If they are unsure of you, a handshake is the standard.  I don't think I have ever been hugged so much in my life!  Its simply a wonderful custom!  Elder Didenhover gets lots of hugs from the missionaries. They love his humor and the parental counsel and just knowing that they are loved.  It is warming to see him give complicated handshakes and a then a big bear hug to the elders. 

There is so much joy in the gospel!  We have had trying days, but for the most part we are amazed at how a deeper awareness of the gospel and of Jesus Christ brings so much joy and happiness.

We hope and pray for our family and friends each day that you will partake of this joy with us in spirit.