1 week; 2 Countries, 2 Cultures, 2 Cuisines, 2 Climates

We started the week in southern Spain and finished in northern Italy.  Two contrasting but beneficial Self-Reliance experiences.  In Spain our focus was on helping unemployed priesthood leaders in Cadiz, while in Italy we were involved in a seminar for all the Stake Self-Reliance Specialists.  Food tastes are also very different in the two countries.  Even the weather differed, sunny in Cadiz, Spain and rainy in Milan, Italy.  

In front of the Milan Cathedral

View over the bay in Cadiz, Spain; Temperature in the 60s.

We finished our previous week, arriving from the Netherlands in our home just before midnight on Sunday evening.  Monday morning we were on the way to the airport by 10:00 am.  We traveled through Madrid and on to Jerez, Spain.  We were pleased to arrive to warm weather that felt like late spring.  What a delight!  We traveled with our Area SR Manager, Thomas King and were picked up at the airport by our Spain SR Manager, PAco Serrano.  From there we drove to Cadiz which is on the southern end of Spain.  Cadiz overlooks the Atlantic Ocean,   The following photos were taken as we arrived.

Panoramic View from the outside of the shopping mall where we ate dinner that evening

Evening shot of the bay

The purpose of our trip to Spain was to start working with one of the stakes that has very high unemployment.  The Area Presidency has asked us to help unemployed Priesthood leaders in Spain as our top priority.  We started with the Cadiz Stake.  They had identified over 20 priesthood leaders that were unemployed and many more sisters who are part of the ward councils.  We were able to have 11 of them come to a special accelerated job search effort on Tuesday and Wednesday mornings.  PAco asked me on Tuesday morning if I would facilitate the first lesson of the My Job Search Self-Reliance course.

Our name plates for the training

I believe that this worked out well.  With my limited Spanish, it was easy for me to facilitate and let the group members do all of the talking. That is exactly what a facilitator is supposed to do.  We sat around two tables and proceeded with two separate groups.  I asked the sister at the first table to facilitate as I tried to keep track of what was happening in each group.

One of the Job Search tables

I love the way that the materials are organized.  After doing a My Foundations lesson, we moved onto learning how to do a "Me in Thirty Seconds"  statement for each individual.  Following the pattern outlined in the course materials, each individual was to practice their "Me in Thirty Seconds"  with others.  Below shows the two groups sharing with each other on a rotating basis.

The second from the right is the second counselor  in the stake presidency and chairman of the SR Committee.

We than asked them to make a list of contacts and share their "Me in Thirty Seconds" with at least 10 of their contacts before returning the next morning.  PAco than taught them how to start accessing the hidden network of jobs through these contacts and the people that they know.  They also made their first contact that very morning by telephone to start their progress.  Only 9 more contacts to do after leaving the training.

As we were eating dinner that evening, PAco talked to one of the participants as his Action Partner and discovered that in one of his contacts, he was already offered a job teaching French in a school, beginning later in the year.  What a great beginning.

That afternoon PAco and Thomas King visited a company called "Quality People" and introduced the needs of our members.  This company hires 100 to 200 people each month in temporary positions often with potential full-time positions.  This appeared to be a wonderful resource to share the next day with those in our job search group.

That evening we met with the Cadiz Stake Self-Reliance Committee.  Thomas King asked me to share a doctrinal discussion on the spot.  Again in Spanish, I am less comfortable, but we were able discuss D&C 104:14-17 which is full of Self-Reliance doctrine.  The stake president counselor kept saying that he was understanding all of my Portunal (Spanish and Portuguese mixed).  They received overall training on the Self-Reliance initiative by PAco and then we discussed the effort to help the unemployed leaders.  

This committee was so engaged, especially the chairman of the committee and the senior bishop in the stake.  They knew the needs of the stake in detail, name by name.  They decided that they needed to start these job search groups in each of the wards the next week, including the individuals in our training.  To do that we suggested that we take time the next evening to train the ward specialists.  They felt that they could bring these specialists together for that training.

Stake Self-Reliance Committee with Visitors

The next morning we continued on with the second lesson from the My Foundation and My Job Search materials.  9 of the individuals returned, we lost two.  Each reported on his efforts the previous day.  Some exceeded the 10 contacts, others did less.  That is part of the process.  Each that made contacts reported on their experience.  The sister said that one of her contacts told her that if she would have contacted her a few months earlier, that she had a job available.  Others opened the doors to other possibilities. PAco reported on the resources that he had identified the previous day and shared it with each of them.

We then continued with lesson two, which focused on Using Time Wisely (from My Foundations) and preparing Positive Declarations (Power Statements) to use in interviews with employers.  Again, PAco followed with more detailed materials to help as they set up interview opportunities.

The entire group lined up practicing their Positive declarations

More practice of Power Statements 

Pondering and writing down commitments

That evening we met with 5 of the ward specialists and the stake specialist to give additional training.  Once again, the meeting was led by the stake committee chairman, the second counselor in the stake.  He had been with us on Tuesday morning, Tuesday evening and Wednesday evening.  His leadership makes all the difference in this effort.  We felt that, with his leadership, this two day effort could continue in the stake and bless the lives of many more members.  Of course, PAco will continue working closely with this stake as they move forward.

The stake committee chairman sharing his feelings about the importance of the self-reliance efforts.

At times, my Spanish wasn't sufficient and Elder Diaz, a young missionary, helped with translation.  He also helped me understand some of what I was not able to capture.  He also acted as a member of the group. He will be well prepared as his mission finishes in 7 months and he returns to his home in the Canary Islands, off the coast of Spain.  His Companion, Elder Smithson, sat with Sister Rueckert and Thomas King and translated the proceedings of the training to them.  We love working with these young missionaries.  Their attitude is so positive and they are willing to serve in any way.

Elder Diaz (my translator) and Elder Smithson, who translated for Sister Rueckert and Thomas King during the training sessions.

View from the front of the stake center

The next morning we caught an early flight and returned to Frankfurt by noon.  We were able to go to the office and work on a  few priority items and prepare for our trip to Milan, Italy the next day.  We left home on Friday at 7:00 am to go to the airport for our next adventure this week.

We were met at the airport by our SRS manager, Ether Simoncini.  Unlike Spain, we had rain much of our visit in Italy and much lower temperatures.  We spent the rest of the day with Ether and his parents, who are our Self-Reliance missionaries in Italy.  We had hoped to visit with some PEF loan participants that day, but the only one that was able to be scheduled had to cancel due to illness.  We are always able to spend productive time with Ether as we discuss the Self-Reliance initiative in Italy.  We also were able to make final preparations for the specialist seminar the next day, including Elder Simoncini's translation of some of my presentation materials.

By 4:30 pm, we had completed our preparations.  With a little time available, we took the subway to the center of the city and visited the Milan Cathedral.  The following comes from Wikipedia.

Milan's Cathedral, built between 1386 and 1577, is the fifth largest cathedral in the world^[69] and the most important example of Gothic architecture in Italy. The gilt bronze statue of the Virgin Mary, placed in 1774 on the highest pinnacle of the Duomo, soon became one of the most enduring symbols of Milan.

The subway took us right to the Plaza in front of the Cathedral.  

View of People and Pigeons on the Plaza

On the side of the Plaza, Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II

This area is full of interesting sites, but with limited time available, we focused on visiting the Cathedral.  Some photos while we waited in line to get entrance tickets.

Side view of the cathedral.  It is deeper than it is wide.

Interesting sign before entering with all of the things prohibited in the Cathedral.

We could take photos in the  Cathedral, just no selfie sticks or tripods.  This cathedral is an example of Gothic architecture and is enormous.  The Cathedral has many memorials to previous Arch Bishops, including Pope Paul VI, who came from Milan.  Some of our photos from inside:

Looking across the width of the Cathedral 

Looking diagonally across the Cathedral

From the middle of the cathedral

From the front of the Cathedral

With the length of the Cathedral behind us

Zoomed in version of the front of the Cathedral

We were able to hear someone playing the organ, apparently rehearsing with a choir.  We were pleased to once again experience music inside a cathedral.  As we came out, it was now dark, which gave us a night view.

Close up of the Cathedral with the Bronze Statue of the Virgin Mary

We enjoyed a very Italian meal that evening with Ether and his parents.

Ether, Elder and Sister Simoncini, Elder and Sister Rueckert

Saturday morning we began the Stake Specialist training.  9 of the stakes were in attendance with the remaining stake specialist joining us by Zoom.

Stake Specialists with one joining by video conference

I was able to share an overall view of Self-Reliance activity in Europe and compare it to the 2016 results in Italy.  Ether translated and added valuable content.  Ether also shared a powerful doctrinal discussion on self-reliance as taught by the Savior from Matthew chapter 22 and 25.

Elder and Sister Simoncini prepared a lunch for all.

After lunch, Sister Rueckert shared some European Success Stories and shared the elements of a good success story.  The Area 70 in Italy has asked for more success stories to help the priesthood leaders to be motivated by the successes around them. I was very impressed with the way that Sister Rueckert leads a discussion.   She brings a powerful spirit to our Self-Reliance activities.

Sister Rueckert sharing principles of Success Stories

Sister Simoncini than shared some successes in Italy.  Ether than held a Facilitator training session in group mode for all of the participants. It was wonderful to see all participating.  It appeared to strengthen the bonds between each of them.  At the end I challenged them to each facilitate a group session themselves.  They were also assigned another stake specialist as an Action Partner.

The remainder of the day included Elder Simoncini discussing materials that they should use and Matt Matthias (Our Eastern European SR manager) shared how one on one coaching was working in his area. Ether than finished up establishing next steps with each of the Specialists.

Some of these specialists were the same that we had met a year ago.  Whenever we meet people a second time, the bonds of friendship seem to increase.  We were pleased to participate in this seminar.  We can see the uplift that it gives to the participants.  We pray that this uplift can continue as they confront real challenges in moving this great initiative forward.

After attending Church in Milan, Italy we are on our way back home.  We are finishing this blog from the airport as we await our flight.  As we ponder about the contrasts of both visits this week, we need to share the contrasting foods that we also experienced:

An Italian Pizza, my Friday night dinner, thin crust no tomato sauce

Spain's favorite meal, Paella, Rice, Olive Oil, vegetables, meat

Dutch Treats

We just finished a fabulous trip to the Netherlands, full of special treats.  We love working with the Self-Reliance committees and specialists in this country.  They literally fed us and took care of us throughout our trip and also introduced us to Dutch architecture and food.  We also had a special experience performing baptisms for Sister Rueckert's ancestors in The Hague temple and were delighted to attend an all mens choir in one of the old Dutch Churches.  We have now visited the Netherlands enough that it is beginning to feel like our second European home.  However, we aren't quite ready to move into their "cube houses".

In front of the "Cube" Housing development in Rotterdam

Monday and Tuesday - Training of new Self- missionaries 

Our week began with a missionary training opportunity on Monday and Tuesday for Sisters Margit Ezard and Anne Lovell.  Sister Ezard is beginning her mission with this training while Sister Lovell has been helping in Self-Reliance in Frankfurt since she began her mission 6 months ago.  Sister Lovell will travel to Croatia to help as a companion with Sister Ezard on several occasions in the next six months.  Also participating in the training was Thomas King, our Area Self-Reliance Manager and Matthew Matthias, our Self-Reliance Services manager for the Eastern European countries.  On Monday we trained in the principles and processes.  On Tuesday, Matt Matthias shared the specific steps that are being taken in the Adriatic North Mission.  Sister Ezard participated in our Senior Couples monthly video conference meeting at 2:30 pm on Tuesday and after that we took her to the airport for her flight to Croatia.

As we took time to help her get her luggage checked at the airport, we had a wonderful chance to share last feelings and give a hearty good-bye.  We love the enthusiasm and positive attitude that Sister Ezard brings to her calling.  We feel that she has been sent for a purpose to this location.  We certainly have learned to love her in the few days that we had together.

Sister Rueckert with Sister Ezard at the airport

Wednesday - Catching up and getting taught

On Wednesday we felt that we finally had time to catch our breath before heading to the Netherlands on Thursday.  We made final preparations and followed up on our previous trip to Portugal and the missionary training.  We also had our weekly German lesson, participated in our weekly Book of Mormon lesson (at lunch time) and our Old Testament class that evening.

It turned out to be an amazing day as we were fed spiritually by others.  In our Book of Mormon class, Elder Peery spent the entire hour sharing thoughts about the translation of the Book of Mormon.  He had done a large amount of research and shared many quotations and comments about the actual translation process.  It is good to discuss these topics with other missionary couples.  As we reviewed  the known facts and pondered the challenges of that day, we were touched to see how the Lord worked with Joseph Smith.  We understood better how Joseph Smith learned to translate as the Lord taught him line upon line, precept upon precept.

In our Old Testament class, Sister Stay taught about Genesis chapters 2 through 4, moving Eastward.  She shared much symbolism from those chapters and outlined the physical locations from the creation, to Eden and moving eastward.  She opened our eyes, giving much more meaning to the Plan of Salvation and relating it to the temple, both ancient and today.

What an incredible opportunity we have to be taught by others and to be constantly learning!

Thursday to Sunday - Visit to the Netherlands

On Thursday we left for the Netherlands.  We drove and arrived in time to check into our hotel, have some dinner and participate in the Self-Reliance Committee meeting of the Rotterdam Stake.  This was the third time that we have met with this stake committee.  They continue to progress and have shared the principles and processes with all bishops and relief society presidents.  Additional specialists and facilitators are being called.

We had an additional meeting on Friday morning with Martha, the Stake Specialist, and Elder and Sister Goebel, senior young single adult missionaries.  We discussed how this initiative can help the young adults and planned for a meeting the next day with some returned missionaries from the stake.  We made plans for the presentation of the new My Plan for Returned Missionaries booklet to those returned missionaries.  Afterwards we sat and enjoyed a brunch together that had been prepared by Martha.  Sometimes in these more informal settings even more good is accomplished.  We left feeling that we were not only prepared for the next day, but also had greatly improved our relationship with these great people.

We took time to visit a nearby windmill, which is the home and business of one of the ward relief society presidents.  We took photos for our daughter Gina, for her Valentine surprise for her husband.  We also found the store to be delightful.

Sister Rueckert in front of the windmill.  The base of the windmill is  a store.

Store inside of the windmill

On our way to the temple, we stopped in Delft to visit the home of Delft Ceramics.  We didn't have time to take the tour, but at least took a few pictures from the car.

We then went to The Hague temple. Coincidentally three other senior missionary couples had arrived from Frankfurt and were on the same temple session with us.  

The Hague Temple before our session

We needed to get some of the male family names baptized so that the other temple work could be done.  We were able to stay after the endowment session and participate in a baptism session that evening.  I was allowed to do the baptizing for a youth group from a ward in The Hague.  The bishop's son was able to be proxy for the names that we did.

Those names included six direct ancestors of Sister Rueckert, including 3 of her 6th generation grandfathers, 2 of her 7th generation grandfathers and one 8th generation grandfather.  These are all names that we identified during our visits to Erfurt last August.  We both felt strong impressions of the spirit as the first baptism was done for Gabriel Moeller, her 7th generation grandfather.  

I also performed the baptisms for some of the young women of the ward and then I was able to be the proxy for these same ancestors as they were confirmed members of the Church.    What a joy it has been for us to not only be able to identify our ancestors, but to be able to perform or be proxy for the temple work for these same ancestors.  Words cannot describe the joy that we felt.

Sister Rueckert with cards of baptisms and confirmations completed of her ancestors in front of  The Hague temple

Names of ancestors, including Gabrial Moeller, Sister Rueckert's 7th great grandfather

Coincidentally, we were able to meet with the bishop of the ward who helped perform the confirmations.  He was aware of the Self-Reliance initiative and of the upcoming My Path Devotional that would be held. 

Saturday morning we met with two returned missionaries form the Rotterdam stake with Elder and Sister Goebel and Martha and her husband Andre.  One of the sisters had returned from her mission about 6 weeks ago.  The other had returned two years ago.  We love hearing the testimony and the strength of these great returned missionaries.  This new booklet is a wonderful way for them to remember the lessons learned on their missions and to use that same faith to help prepare for their own self-reliant path.  The meeting went very well.  We believe that the missionaries and stake specialist were able to understand the process and feel the spirit of this great work.

My Plan for Returned Missionaries with two sister missionaries

After spending time together for three days in a row, I believe that our relationship has been significantly strengthened with these great leaders.    Perhaps unplanned, but a very positive consequence of this trip.  We are more than missionaries, we are now friends.

Martha, our Rotterdam stake specialist and her husband, Andre, also on the stake high council

Elder and Sister Goebel, YSA missionary couple

Poffertjes

After the training on Saturday, Martha and Andre took us to the market in Rotterdam, where we ate Poffertjes together, their treat.  This is a traditional Dutch delight.  They tasted so good!  We stayed after and watched them prepare them from the beginning.  Photos follow.

Sister Rueckert with Martha and Andre and Poffertjes

Absolutely delicious Poffertjes with butter and powdered sugar

In front of the Poffertjes restaurant

 These are made with a flavor of crepes, but cooked in a recess and then turned over while still moist on the top.  This allows them to puff out and become a Poffertjes.  The photos below show some of the process that we watched and photographed.

Turning them over at just the right time.

Finished products being removed from the forms

After this delicious treat, we took time to explore this unique center of Rotterdam.  We first heard some bell music and went to find the source.  It appeared to be coming from the nearby Luarenskerk Church.  As I went to see if we could go inside of the Church, I found the doors locked but a few people waiting at the front door.  They told us that a concert would be held that same day at 15:00.  Entry for the concert was 15 euros a person.  We thought that would be a fun experience.  Since it was a little after 1:00 pm, we saw a few of the sights first.

Laurenskerk in Rotterdam

Our first stop was the "round mall".  This is a very unique mall.

Round Mall

The mall is made of a few stories of shops and then another 8 stories or so of residences.  Inside the mall is open with  many unique shops.

In front of the mall, seeing through to the other side.

Ceiling from the inside of the mall, seeing the building on the other side

Inside the mall are many separate shops, most are food related.  Each is high quality.  We had the best macaroon cookies that we have ever had.  The following are a few photos of the shops.

Cheese Shop, large rounds of cheese

Spices and seasoning, each in their own pile

As we left the "round mall"  we saw an amazing landscape of architecture.  The following panorama photo gives a high level summary of the sights.

Cube Houses

We focused our efforts on exploring the "Cube Houses".  This is a development of houses built inside a cube that is resting on the point of the cube.  One of the owners decided to turn his house into a museum and charges 3 euros a person to see it.  Seems to be a profitable enterprise.  We went in and took a look through this fascinating living accommodation.  The floors are level but the cube approach creates very interesting walls and corners.

Outside the Cube housing complex

More cube houses in the rear

View of the Cube Houses and another interesting building behind

Stairs leading up into the "Cube House"

In the living room

In the kitchen

Stairways in between levels

In the upper room corner

View out of the upper windows

Het Urker MannenKoor "Hallujah"

As it was approaching 3:00, we went back to the Church.  We found someone at the entrance trying to sell a few tickets for their friends who had been too ill to attend the concert.  Thankfully we were able to buy the tickets from them.  We're not sure where we would have bought the tickets otherwise.  When we went in we found that this was a big deal concert.  It was an all man choir of about 70 men.  They also had guest artists, a female soprano, a few special organists and a guest piano player.  

Choir in this magnificent Church

Conductor leading the audience in one of the congregational songs

Beautiful Organ

Soprano guest artist - beautiful voice

We proceeded to enjoy a three hour concert of incredible talents.  Most of it was in Dutch, but some of the songs were sung in English.  I especially enjoyed singing "How Great Thou Art"  in Dutch with the entire congregation, probably over 300 individuals.

The concert ended with the Battle Hymn of the Republic, a tremendous finish to a wonderful Dutch experience.

For Sister Rueckert, this was a highlight of our trip and one of her favorite experiences in Europe, participating in the music in these old Churches.  Let me just quote from her journal:

"The choir was amazing.  As I began listening to this music, I felt strong stirrings of the spirit.  My soul soared and I felt an amazing uplift.  This is what I love to do in Europe.  This experience brought back memories of the concert we attended in Frankfurt at Christmas time.  There are so many people throughout the world with amazing talents they have been given by God that they are willing to share with the world.  I am so very blessed to be able to experience such amazing music.  The spirit has always spoken to me most strongly through music and it continues to be the same."

This Church was originally built in the 1500s and  has been rebuilt after the bombing of Rotterdam in 1940.  The Nazi army invaded the Netherlands and met resistance.  They then bombed the center of Rotterdam with threats to continue if the Dutch did not surrender.  The war finished and the center of the city of Rotterdam was rebuilt, including this wonderful church and the incredible architecture that we experienced.

 Self-Reliance in the Apeldoorn and Hague stakes:

On Sunday morning we left early to drive an hour and a half to the Apeldoorn ward where a Self-Reliance devotional was held during the last two hours of the Sunday block  There was a missionary homecoming at sacrament meeting.  We were able to share the My Plan for Returned Missionaries with the returned missionary and observed the My Path Devotional.  It was shared by the Stake Self-Reliance Specialists, Carlo and Amanda Boos.  The photos below show some of the members who had signed up to join some of the Self-Reliance groups.

Groups assembling after the devotional.  The second man from the left is our stake specialist, Carlo Boos.

Those who signed up for the Finance group, including the wive of the stake presidency member who chairs the self-reliance committee.

After this meeting, Carlo and Amanda hosted us for lunch in their home.  We had a wonderful time getting to know them better and enjoyed a wonderful lunch.

After that meeting we traveled another hour plus to meet with the Stake Presidency counselor in the Hague stake.  We had a good update with him and also received some edible nourishment.  We finished a little after 7:00 pm and then began our drive back to Frankfurt, arriving home a little before midnight.