Variety in March

March came “in like a lamb.” The first week was sunny and nice and the fields across the road were all turning green. All the snow was gone except where it had been piled up by snow plows, or was hiding in the shade. Spring was in the air. Then on Sunday morning, the 7th of March, we woke up to see snow coming down. It was blowing a very wet snow, and it really looked like Winter was telling us it was not ready to give up. But by that afternoon, the sun was peaking out again and it looked like the snow would melt quickly. So, weather wise this month of March has seen a lot variety.

On the 13th of this month we participated in another Stake Youth Family History day, this time in Darmstadt. It was the Heidelberg Stake youth, but they held it in Darmstadt because the ward building there is very large. It was built back when there was still a large American military base nearby, and they had a huge ward. The building was the biggest in what later became the Heidelberg stake. The strength then came from the American military priesthood holders and auxiliary leaders. But that has now changed – not only by the Americans leaving, but by the local people maturing. Darmstadt is now part of the Heidelberg stake. Heidelberg only had a relatively weak branch 50 years ago when Elder Howlett served there. But we had over 60 youth attend this day and they seemed to learn a lot. Here you see one of the classroom scenes. Bengt Svedjot, Richard Walker, Elder & Sister Howlett, Torsten Kux, and David Schauperl all came from our FamilySearch office to participate in activities of the day. Elder & Sister Schlotz and Elder & Sister Frost, who are German LDS Church service missionaries, also came to help teach and support the activities of the day. It was another full day with a lunch in the middle, and all went well and we were glad we could help with the presentation. Torsten Kux, Richard Walker, Sister Schlotz and Elder Howlett were the presenters, the rest of us helped out where we were needed. Sister Howlett again took many pictures of the activities.

Two new missionary couples arrived in March and early April, but one of the couples is assigned to the Church History department rather than Family History. With these changes, it became necessary to remodel our office space. We used to have one large room for three sets of missionaries, but now it is divided into two rooms. We again have three sets of missionaries, with the two new couples, but the workspace has been changed. Change is good sometimes.

On 17 March we were invited to a birthday party. Our friend, Erika Vollath, turned 80 years old and she baked several cakes, and prepared many different kinds of food, then invited lots of friends to come over at various times during the day. When we got there about 10 people were already there, seated around her dining room table enjoying 7 different kinds of cake. Sister Vollath is the lady on the front right of the picture. She baked most of the cakes, though she may have asked a few to bring a cake. Imagine taking small pieces of seven different kinds of cakes, served with hot “coffee” (made out of barley – I think they call it “Caro” here in Germany). This formed the foundation for about two hours of pleasant conversation. After several of this group left, more people came and she asked us to stay for a supper where she served meat slices, potatoes, and several kinds of vegetables. It was a feast! We finally decided to leave when more people arrived, to also join in on the supper. We were full, and our seats were needed. What a celebration. Sister Vollath is a full-time temple worker and a very intelligent, inquisitive, graceful and spiritual person. At eighty years old, she still walks to the temple, to church, to the store and keeps very active. What a wonderful person she is. She has been willing to teach us missionaries German one night a month, and is probably the favorite teacher.

March also was the time of the Relief Society birthday celebration. Sister Howlett attended that party and had a good time with several sisters of the ward. The organization in Germany is called Frauen Hilfs Vereinigung, which means the Women’s Helping Organization. It is generally called FHV by all members (pronounced “ef hah fow”). It took Sister Howlett several months to be able to even remember the acronym, but now it is familiar enough and fun to use it. The FHV is running very well here in Germany and Sister Howlett enjoys being with the sisters very much.

For interest and exercise, we took a walk up on the ridge that is on the other side of the creek North of our apartment building and it was fun seeing the village from a much higher perspective. Because it is beginning to be spring, all the countryside around was turning green and beautiful, however, the rain clouds continue to gather several times a day. We really enjoy taking walks around our village countryside. (We live in Nieder Erlenbach – The word “Bach” means “stream” or “Creek.” There are two villages on the Erlenbach that are named for this stream, and we work in Ober Erlenbach [the upper one] and live in the other [the lower one]. “Nieder” = “nether” or “lower” as in Netherlands.)