Guten Tag: FFF - Fabulous Friends Forever

As a final post to this blog, I will post pictures of the wonderful friends we made throughout our 18 months in Germany. First of all would be the dear friends with whom we served in the Public Affairs office. And then there are the German branch members, whose wonderful friendships we will cherish forever. And lastly, there were many fellow senior missionaries,
many of whom whom we will have the chance to see again.

Here are our three Public Affairs "bosses," Ralf Gruenke, Gabrielle Sirtl, and Dinis Adriano

And here's our whole team at lunch, including the Walkers
and one of our our BYU Interns.

Carlene and Gordon Walker were not only our partners in the PA office but also best friends with whom we shared so much--like eating out, touring Germany, and serving in a German Branch.

Their office was across the hall from ours.

Elizabeth-Anne Ashby was one of our BYU Interns whom we enjoyed getting to know.

And here I am with Cara Wade, our latest BYU Intern.

This young man from Russia was an example to us all. Despite his physical handicap, he was able to serve a 12-month mission in the Seminaries & Institutes office upstairs. His forever-positive attitude and bright smile never failed to brighten our days.

The amazing family below is the Junior and Teresa Hoopes family whom we met (and who fed us often) while on our first mission in Tokyo. They preceded us to Germany, where Jr. completed his tour with the Air Force. Upon retirement, they then headed to Anchorage, where he now works as a civilian for the Air Force. Two younger sons, Ty and Caleb, are missing in this photo. It was taken at the Frankfurt temple, where we accompanied them while their daughter, Terry, went through the temple prior to her mission to Palmyra.

We accompanied the young Elders on a visit to a Church member, Meridee Young, only to find out she is the niece of our fellow ward member here in Midway, Valoy Eaton. We were able to visit her a number of times, and we also treated her and her son to the Tabernacle Choir concert.

Petra and Bernhard Stadtmuller were a wonderful couple from the Offenbach branch whom we were so happy to be called as their home teachers. They are a wonderful example of the devoted German saints and are are currently serving their second temple mission, this time in Freiberg.

Catherine and Heinrich Schott were dear friends from the branch. (Carlene and I VT Catherine.) They invited us, the Walkers, and the Biddulphs to a wonderful Sunday dinner. My first time experiencing quark as a dessert (like a cream-cheese pudding) gave me a new favorite!

This is Hannah, Andy, and Silvanus Wegner on the day Andy baptized his wife and her son. We were blessed to serve as their Home Teachers. They also have darling twin one-year-old sons.

We became very close to Hans and Nora Gehrig, whom we were also assigned to Home Teach. They treated us to many wonderful German dinners in their home. Nora was YW President and called me to be her counselor. They are both returned missionaries and typical of the strong, dedicated third- to fourth-generation German saints! We will truly miss them.

We were so happy to attend the wedding of Hans and Nora's daughter, Rebecca, to Milford Smith. We were especially happy that Milford, a Brit, moved to Germany, thus ensuring this wonderful couple would remain in our branch.

Carlene and I both VT Eva Rohde, another strong branch member.

The Grasse family

Ralf & Anita Langner. He called Elder G to be his 1st Counselor in the YM.

President Alexander Merkel, Rebecca, and their six children--Melodee, Vincent, Jessica, Sam, Ethan, and Liam. Ethan was my sole nursery attendee for over one year.

I think we both celebrated when he turned three!!!

Our awesome farewell cake made by Rebecca Merkel.

Happy recipients!!!

We four couples and one sister were the senior missionaries who attended the Offenbach Branch: the Thomases, Sis Keyser, the Burts, the Walkers, and us.

We probably made up 20% of the branch.

Remember our friend, Teresa Hoopes? Guess whose cookbook is in her kitchen? That cookbook is none other than one by the popular Food Nanny, Liz Edmunds, who (along with her husband Steve) served as senior missionaries in Frankfurt.

Liz was constantly doing food demonstrations throughout the mission--both for young missionaries, senior missionaries, Church VIPs, wards and branches! I think we wore her out! We were so happy to learn that she and Steve live in nearby Woodland.

One of our favorite pastimes while on our mission was eating out with other senior missionaries. Here we are with our good friends, the Bausmans, at a nearby favorite Chinese restaurant.

We went on two different trips with Jon and Janet Jensen. Jon attended Murray High School along with me and was in the same ward growing up! Such a small world!

Ah, two ex-Marines-turned-Elders, Elder G and Elder Biddulph

These are seven Senior Sister Missionaries who helped us complete the infamous rush mailing of 2500 VIP invitations for the Freiberg Temple Open House. Sisters Bausman, Jensen, Matheson, Biddulph, Swensen, Hacking, and Caracena helped us meet the deadline!

At the last senior missionary FHE we attended, it was The Senior Olympic Games.

The Walkers won Gold Medals for...something.

Looks like the Healys won for the cotton ball shotput.

We and the Mills display our homemade airplanes.

Elder G shows off his Gold Medal won as best aeronautical engineer! His airplane surprised everyone as it was airborne until it hit the far wall! Everyone else's didn't even come close.

The Thomases, Sister Hacking, and the Bausmans competed in the paper plate discus throw.

The Swensons, Burts, and Mathesons served as judges.

Sisters Thomas and Jensen provided the treats.

Here is a photo of the last three couples to sit in our Public Affairs Office: Martin and Elaine Craven, Les and Dianne Feil, and Yours Truly.

And lastly, here is the fourth couple to occupy that space, our replacements,
Will and Elizabeth Cottam from St. George. We truly enjoyed our time together while training them for one week before heading home.