Last Sunday we combined lunch with the sœurs and Tom’s Elders Quorum assignment of missionary coordinator. We talked about all their amis and the progress they were or were not making. Several were at church and one leaned over and expressed to Sr. Tew how good she smelled. She decided his desire to meet with the missionaries may not be appropriate.
At the direction of our branch president, Tom was able to orient Alban, the newest convert in our branch, to the Melchizedek Priesthood to prepare him for his interview with the Stake President. It was wonderful to sustain him at Stake Conference this morning and for Tom to stand in the circle with others to ordain him an Elder. FYI, last Sunday we had 51 in attendance at Sacrament Meeting- the most ever.
Monday night at FHE we discussed Superaging and how being on a senior mission encourages the sociality which keeps both brains and bodies healthy. Interesting studies by Northwestern University in Chicago and Harvard agreed that social relationships was the one thing that all their subjects had in common.
Nov.11 we attended the service at the Cenotaph honoring the war dead. Our city Mayor repeated a similar message from last year. We need a strong defence in order to have peace. People in Europe are very much aware of what is happening with Putin and Zelensky. Again our dear 86 year old branch member and veteran extraordinaire was in full uniform with all his medals and in charge of all the flag bearers.
We sneaked away to Lauterbrunnen for a picnic before attending a temple session in Zollikofen where our friend David received his own endowment. David was baptized 54 weeks ago, on the first weekend we attended the Chalon Branch. It was a wonderful opportunity to share both experiences with him. Lauterbrunnen is only an hour north of Bern and is one of our favorite glacial valleys in Switzerland but it was cold. Don’t miss these spectacular rock cliffs, waterfalls, and high meadows if you ever have the opportunity. We also drove up to Grindelwald at the base of the Eiger, the Monch and the Jungfrau - unbelievable scenery but a very famous commercial town.
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| Entering Switzerland from the Jura Mountains |
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| Lauterbrunnen with Staubach Falls |
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| The south end of the valley with snow up high |
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| The dawning of a new temple day |
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| Looking into a bright sun after the temple session |
Today our little choir of 14 from the Chalon Branch sang in Stake Conference. We have been practicing for months so all the words and nuances were memorized. Sr. Rasmussen accompanied on the harp and Catherine Catogni conducted. I think angels were with us as we sang the new hymn 1006, Were You There. All in the meeting felt the Spirit. One of the speakers, who had lived in our branch several years ago, commented on how wonderful it was to see the branch so lively after rumors in years past of its closure. Such a great day. We drove home and celebrated with beef stew, beets, and corn, and the sœurs.
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