Temple Trip to Switzerland

Someone asked about our trip to the Swiss temple.

It was an awesome experience.  A really "out of this world" experience.

Simply Beautiful

We left Vlore at about midnight to catch a 3:30am flight to a town and country I've never heard of (Lithuania something).  We spent and hour there and then flew to Zurich.  From Zurich we took a bus to Bern.  There were two groups of stake members ~ about 15 in our group and 6 in a group that took another flight to Vienna and then to Zurich.  They were to meet up with us there but they missed their connecting flight in Vienna and had to spend about 4 hours there waiting for another flight..

Looking out the front door toward the Alps (can't see them)

   When we arrived at the temple dorms the Stake Relief Society President greeted us with a trunk full of groceries and instructions for the week.  Most were quite tired and the temple was closed (Monday) so we had a snack and went to bed.  I think we, Dixie and I did a couple of sessions on Tuesday and decided to take a bus ride to down town Bern.  A most interesting experience...But we are getting used to being in a place where few speak your language.  The temple was beautiful.

One of the two marriage sealings

 The endowment sessions were usually provided in 4 or 5 languages ~ Shqip, German, Swiss, Italian, and English.  It was a joy to be with the Albanian saints in the temple.  We were so impressed with their diligence and desire to be there.  The two wedding\sealings were very impressive.  To view a mother, father, and two children be sealed together for all eternity was a marvelously touching experience for everyone in the room.  A testimony of the reality and effectiveness of that sealing was instilled deeply in my soul.  A recollection of my own covenants with my family was reaffirmed and I am most grateful that God has made such covenants and promises to me and mine.

We had a double wedding celebration

 These things are no lightly given nor are they frivolously received.  They have an eternal nature and are recognized as never ending covenants.  They contain beauty and fulfillment beyond words or descriptions. I can't emphasize enough how deeply I was touched by the "beyond this world" reality of what takes place in the temples of our God.

We were at the temple Tuesday through Friday and flew home Saturday.  We did endowments, sealings, and baptisms.

A truly marvelous and uplifting experience.  We've never done 4 endowment sessions in one day.  They just kept getting more and more revelatory as the day went on.

I can't get this picture to turn upright in this program.  Sorry,  turn your computer screen.

One Activity Right After the Other

Let me just catch up on a few things and add some supporting pictures.

First the flood.   Well, it started raining about 3 in the afternoon Saturdaz and rained hard all night long until about 5:00 in the morning.  When I say hard it's like buckets full.  The city was filled with water.  The streets, many homes, underground parking, businesses lower than 3 feet and all buildings close to any drainage..

Note the high water level on the house 

this is a street just outside our apartment

 The pictures tell the story better than the words.  A few of our church members had their homes flooded and one's home was destroyed. I mean they lost everything.  But here's the good part of the story... Members of the church in Durras and Tirana hearing about the flooding and loss in Vlore started collecting clothing, bedding and other things in an effort to send some relief.  After a week of donations they filled a truck full of stuff and sent it down here.

The Bishop and the Relief Society are still in the process of distributing it to needy families.  It was a tremendous outpouring of generosity and charity for their fellow saints in Vlore.

4 weeks later things are pretty much back to normal.  All the mud has been picked up and hauled off and the flooded businesses are back doing business.

We had a mission conference last week which was most inspirational.  A councilor in the Area Presidency was here and spoke to us for about 2 hours.  We met the new missionary couple replacing the Whites.  They take over the responsibilities of the mission office.

We have had a couple of really good youth activities this past two weeks.  The bowling party was fun and the Halloween party went off quite well.

 Again some pictures will help more than the words.

We continue to teach Institute class in Lushnje and Fier each week along with attending the one here in Vlore.  I am still serving on the High Council and spoke in sacrament meeting last Sunday.

We spent a week with the Europe Area YSA leaders and enjoyed learning from them all the thiings that are going on with

YSA's in all of Europe.  They are a great couple serving in Frankfort Germany and are from Utah..

I won't take time to mention the fantastic game night, the workd wide broadcast for YSA, general conference, or sharing family home evening with ward members.

Lots of love to all our friends and family in Lewiston, etc..........