An Exiting Time in the Germany Frankfurt Mission

 27 Missionaries in 2 Days; 40 Missionaries in 2 Weeks!

We are thrilled!  Starting last Friday we had 27 missionaries fly into our mission from England on 7 different flights on 2  different days to 2 different airports located 3 hours apart.  It was a crazy busy two days.  Dan and greeted each group (from a social distance) and welcomed them to Germany.  They are now in 7 different apartments in 4 different cities awaiting another 10 day quarantine until they are transferred to their new companions.  Last Monday, November 23, 13 missionaries who had already been in quarantine for ten days joined their companions.  FORTY missionaries in two weeks.  It's an exciting time in the Germany Frankfurt Mission!

It is such a blessing to receive these 40 new missionaries* that arrived in Germany over the past 2 weeks.  Some of them started their Mission Training as early as February.  All were reassigned to missions in the United States.  I heard one describe her disappointment in leaving the Provo MTC and getting on a bus headed to her reassignment in Pocatello, Idaho instead of flying to beautiful Germany.  But they all made the best of it.  They learned important life skills and many other skills  they will use as missionaries. It is great to learn from them.  They have already shared many ideas from their missions that we are anxious to try here.  These missionaries are filled with energy and though a little nervous about the language,  they are brimming with enthusiasm and are anxious to get to serve.

What a blessing to have this influx of faith-filled young people who have a great desire to invite others to come to Christ, our Redeemer, and feel his matchless love.

Debbie Puts the Pedal to the Metal

Last weekend Dan and I needed to drive to Darmstadt for stake conference at 10am and he asked me to drive. The trip typically takes 45 minutes.  Dan had to take some phone calls, so by the time we got in the car, the GPS indicated we wouldn't arrive until 9:57.  I panicked.  Germans are never late and the thought of walking in late mortified me.  I am not one who enjoys driving fast on the autobahn where there is no speed limit, but the fear of being late motivated me to action!  I ended up driving the equivalent of 120 miles an hour. It was a bit terrifying.  Dan had to pry my fingers off the steering wheel when we arrived but we made it by 9:45!

A round sign with lines through it indicates no speed limit

Trying to Get a German Drivers License

With the help of Elder Hicken who runs our office, we gathered all the necessary paperwork needed to get our German drivers licenses -- residency permits, driving record, translation of Utah drivers license, etc.  Two months ago we set up an appointment.  Several days before the appointment we received an email written in German which I thought was a notice about mission automobile training.  I canceled this training explaining we had appointments at that exact same time to get our German drivers licenses and would reschedule.  

I was very nervous going into this official German office and having to understand when they spoke to me in German.  When we arrived at the appointment and tried to check in, my appointment had been cancelled.  Oh. My. Goodness.  That email must have been a reminder about this appointment and I canceled it.  I was physically ill.  Trembling.  Would I have to wait another two months for an appointment.  Fortunately Dan was there to communicate with them in their fast-talking German.  We were able to keep the appointment.  Everything was in order.  I was shocked that we had to schedule yet another appointment to pick up our drivers licenses -- three months from now -- February 27!  Why does it take 3 months to print out drivers license!  German bureaucracy!

Another scary encounter