MUNICH GERMANY AUSTRIA MISSION REUNION

Dear Family,

Our Mission Reunion occurs on the Friday Evening before  Spring Conference as great untold number of missionary reunions all over the valley are being simultaneously held. We have been having them at our home the last few years as the numbers are dwindling with time and it such a pain to clean up the cultural hall of a Chapel.  Here is the gang after dinner with my former Counselor, Lutz Herber and his wife, Mom and Me (in my Bavarian leather vest).  Lutz said, "The only one there that looked like a Bavarian was an American!"

We  usually start by announcing the event on Facebook and send out invitations through Evite but we are never quite sure of the numbers coming. We thought there would be 40 but I believe there was more and little kids were invited as well.  They were enthralled with the Lion, Leopard, Crocodile and all the toys in the basement.

Brett Lameroux and others did the invitations and he organized many to bring dishes.  He thought that "pulled pork" sandwiches with sides would be a great meal.  I bought four "Boston Butts', brined two and smoked all four.  The flavor was great! Here is Brett and Michael C. pulling the smoked "butts".  Thanks to Brett and his team for all the help.

We had s short meeting, sang a hymn in German, (Oh Du Quelle Jedes Segens) and had everyone say what they are doing and giving a little update.  Lutz Herber, visiting Bishop of the Augsberg Gemeinde, mentioned current missionary work there which is different than when we were there.  Because of the drop in missionary complement, only two missionaries serve in any Ward.  Augsburg, a center of the Reformation and always an open minded city, was very productive and we had many missionaries there.  I spoke a little about missionary work in the Salt Lake Valley.

Sister Herber made some great Bavarian Sauerkraut mit Butter, Speck und Zwiebel. She came back from Conference on Saturday and had worn her Dirndl to conference.  She went into an automatic helping mode and was so kind to keep the food moving along and helped so much with the cleanup. We had such a great time.

I hoped no one notice too much but I was getting over a big dose of the flu and was a little like a Zombie but enjoyed the time.  

We took a picture of the group before too many had left.  Great time reliving a wonderful period of all our lives. Here are two who were companions, Heidi P. and Liza E., now college graduates and Moms.  Heidi has a agree in landscape architecture and chases an energetic two year old.  Liza received her degree in Bio Engineering and teaches early morning seminary while looking after a couple of rambunctious boys.  Both are runners by the way.

There were many others and it was so great to see so many.  So many are married and away from Utah pursuing jobs and supporting young families as time marches on.

Alles Gute

Mom and Dad