19 Years of Rock Solid Marriage

Today we are celebrating our 19th wedding anniversary.  There were some rough times while we were raising our 17 children, but we couldn't be happier at this time, especially serving as missionary companions.  Serving together has taught us even more about each other and it has strengthened our relationship.  It is a wonderful thing, to serve together 24 hours a day.   Even though we don't see everything in the same light, our goals and desires are certainly united.  We celebrated our anniversary with a trip to Luxembourg and the Bock Casemates, which are the foundation of an ancient castle and fortress that was built on and in a giant rock base.

Our Monday evening Family Home Evening was a presentation by Joel Burnham, Europe Area Security Manager.  It was very informative and fun.  We learned what Brother Burnham does as he accompanies apostles and members of the First Presidency on trips within Europe.  He also taught us some good tips on how to be safe wherever we are.  Joel and his wife are also facilitators for Self-Reliance groups in our ward.

On Tuesday we had our monthly meeting with our Self-Reliance managers throughout Europe.  As time has gone on, these meetings have become more and more productive.  We are so pleased to be able to work with these great men.  These two hour sessions once a month are full of participation and good ideas.  More importantly we feel a strong feeling of teamwork and brotherhood in these meetings.  The shot of the Zoom screen includes all of our 10 managers, our Area Self-Reliance Manager and Operations Manager and us as the Area missionary couple. 

This photo also includes Our Purpose, which is to help members come unto Christ

 This week we spent lots of time preparing for a self-reliance lesson for Activity Days.  Since there is no Cub Scouts in Germany, Activity days includes the boys and girls from 8 to 11 years old.  We were told to plan on 12 to 15 children, which we did.  When they arrived, there were 18 in attendance!

With most of the 18 children and their two leaders

We taught them how to manage money, starting with the great self-reliance video "First Things First".  We then emphasized the Self-Reliant Approach to managing money.  Each of the children memorized these key 4 steps.

We then had an activity to help them learn how to choose how to spend their money.  We gave each of them 1,000 play dollars and then told them to spend their money on six categories; Tithes and Offerings, Savings, Housing, Transportation, Food and Purchases.

We showed them a chart for each of the six categories, idenifying Okay, Good, Better and Best options, with the Best options meaning the most costly.  They then went around deciding how to spend their money for each category.

We thought that they did remarkable well.  Most decided to live in a Good apartment and then decided how to spend the remaining amount of money.  Most paid their tithing and savings.  Some had left over money and put that in extra savings or additional offerings.   One told us that it was a lot harder than he thought it would be.  These photos are of their participation, making choices, recording their choices and putting their money in envelopes.

At the end we gave each of them some boxes to put their own money in, labeled Tithing, Savings and Spending.  Sister Rueckert made 15 sets of 3 boxes, each made out of card stock.  Needless to say, she spent many hours on this project, including working until past 1:00 am the night before.  All the hard work was worth it as we saw the children learn important principles.  They each made a commitment to practice the 4 steps and to teach them to their parents in the next Family Home Evening.

15 sets of 3 boxes and lids.  All were folded and taped from card stock by Sister Rueckert

Before the meeting, we met with our two returned missionaries.  This has become a highlight for us each week.  They are working hard to identify their own purpose and mission in life so that they can move forward accordingly.

We had several meetings with our missionary couples this week.  Each one inspires us as we see their dedication and the progress they are making.  Sometimes, we just need to listen as they share their challenges. We moved many of meetings to this week since we will be traveling next week.  As we finished our last meeting on Friday, we left for a special anniversary trip to Luxembourg.

We decided to visit Luxembourg, because it was fairly close to home and it was a country that we had never visited.  There also appeared to be some interesting history and sights.   A little about Luxembourg from Wikipedia:

Luxembourg ⁱ/ˈlʌksəmbɜːrɡ/ (Luxembourgish: Lëtzebuerg; German: Luxemburg), officially the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg,^{[note 1]} is a landlocked country in western Europe. It is bordered by Belgium to the west and north, Germany to the east, and France to the south. Its capital, Luxembourg City, is, together with Brussels and Strasbourg, one of the three official capitals of the European Union and the seat of the European Court of Justice, the highest juridical authority in the EU. Its culture, people and languages are highly intertwined with its neighbors, making it essentially a mixture of French and Germanic cultures. The repeated invasions by its neighbor countries, especially in World War II, resulted in the country's strong will for mediation between France and Germany and led to the foundation of the European Union.^[5] 

It comprises two principal regions: the Oesling in the north as part of the Ardennes massif, and the Gutland("Good Land") in the south.^[6] With an area of 2,586 square kilometres (998 sq mi), it is one of the smallest sovereign states in Europe (about the same size as the US state of Rhode Island or the English county of Northamptonshire).^[7] Luxembourg had a population of 524,853 in October 2012, ranking it the 8th least-populous country in Europe.^[8] As a representative democracy with a constitutional monarch, it is headed by a Grand Duke, Henri, Grand Duke of Luxembourg, and is the world's only remaining grand duchy. Luxembourg is a developed country, with an advanced economy and the world's highest GDP (PPP) per capita, according to the United Nations in 2014. Its central location has historically made it of great strategic importance to numerous powers, dating back to its founding as a Roman fortress, its hosting of a vital Frankish castle during the Early Middle Ages, and its role as a bastion for the Spanish Road between the 16th and 17th centuries.

Dinner on Friday night at a Chinese restaurant in Luxembourg 

On Saturday we went to visit the Bock Casemates in Luxembourg City.  A little bit of history here would help.  In 963 AD, Siegfried I acquired this site and constructed his castle on the top of a rock or what is now called the "Bock".  Luxembourg City was built up on a similar rock with a bridge access from the castle.  Over the years this became a fortress that was almost impenetrable.

Model of the original castle on the "Bock"

During the French Revolutionary Wars, the city was occupied by France twice: once, briefly, in 1792–3, and, later, after a seven-month siege.^[7] Luxembourg held out for so long under the French siege that French politician and military engineer Lazare Carnot called Luxembourg "the best fortress in the world, except Gibraltar", giving rise to the city's nickname: the 'Gibraltar of the North'.^[

As part of the 1867 Treaty of London, it was required to dismantle the fortifications in Luxembourg City.  This took 16 years, and included the demolition of 14 miles of underground defenses and 9.9 acres of casemates, batteries, barracks, etc.   Also, Luxembourg would be established as an independent neutral country.

We were able to visit the remaining underground casemates (tunnels and fortifications), which were amazing.  We had beautiful weather for this special day.  The following photos are of the outside of the "Bock";

Overlooking the "Bock"

The road and bridge now go through the middle of the old fortifications.

Overlooking the "Bock" and foundations of the earlier castle

A panorama view of the "Bock" from below

View of the Bock across the valley below

We were able to go inside the "Bock" which was the home to over 50 cannons and 1,200 troops at certain times in the past.  The following photos were taken either inside the "Bock" or from the openings in the "Bock":

Looking out one of the openings in the "Bock"

Stairs inside the "Bock"

Going down stairs to a lower level.  This didn't work out and we had to climb back up the same stairs.

Overlooking the Church in the valley, from one of the openings

Inside the "Bock" overlooking the valley below and the city in the background

Looking out the other side of the "Bock"

By one of the cannons inside

Looking across to the rock foundation of Luxembourg City

Before we left Luxembourg City we visited the Notre Dame cathedral.  As always, these cathedrals are impressive.  In this one we saw some very unique and beautiful artwork relating to the life of the Virgin Mary, tracing her life from a little child until her "Ascension".  As we were looking at the artwork we met the artist who had painted these paintings.  She was able to give us insights to some of the deeper meanings of the paintings.  We were especially impressed with the way that Mary is always painted in the whitest of whites.  The paintings below show three women arriving at the empty tomb.  Mary, the mother of Jesus, is the one in the whitest robe.

A few of the paintings and the artist, Stella Radicati

For any who may be interested:  This gifted artist is from Italy and is currently living in Luxembourg City.  Her name is Stella Radicati and her email address is stella.radicati@gmail.com.  Besides being a gifted artist, we found her to be very kind and an inspired individual with a deep love for Mary, the mother of Jesus.

After leaving Luxembourg City we stopped at the nearby Luxembourg American Cemetery and Memorial where thousands of American Soldiers are buried.  This also includes some impressive memorial sites and the grave of General George S. Patton, Jr.  He died in Heidelberg, which we visited two weeks ago, and was buried in this military cemetery.

A major mural outlining many of the military campaigns to end World War II, many starting from the Luxembourg region

General Patton's grave marker

A photo of some of the thousands of grave markers

Next to General Patton's grave

In Church today, our bishop handed out graduation certificates for 13 more participants of our Self-Reliance courses.  One who received his second certificate was Wilson Semedo Oliveira.  He asked us to attend his young adult Sunday School Class today because he wanted to tell his Self-Reliance story.  He proceeded to talk for 10 minutes about how Self-Reliance courses have blessed him to gain confidence, get a job, and prepare for an education.  He talked about how he shared his "Me in 30 Seconds" in his school class which resulted in an assignment for all members of his class to create and share a "Me in 30 seconds".  He also told us about a classmate who wanted to see his Education for Better Work manual and ended up receiving a visit from the missionaries.  We love Wilson and feel like his story is similar to so many throughout Europe.  We never know how much impact the work we do has on others.  Wilson is certainly a much better person because of the impact of the Self-Reliance groups.

Wilson, sharing his experiences and testimony in Sunday School

We also has a wonderful visit with Wilson's mother this afternoon.  This great sister needed strengthening and was open enough to share some challenges that she has experienced recently.  We were able to talk and listen and finally to give her a blessing.  We love Wilson and his mother.  They are an inspiration to us and the reason for much of what we do.

Today (Sunday, March 12) is our actual 19th wedding anniversary.  It has been wonderful to reminisce on the past 19 years and count our many blessings.  We have endured many challenges, but our love has grown stronger.  We both had very significant spiritual experiences that brought us together to be married 19 years ago.  We know that our Heavenly Father's hand has been in our marriage and he continues to strengthen us in all that we do.  Our mission has certainly been a crowning jewel to our marriage as we work together each day serving the Lord.

On the lighter side, we have experienced much related to the number 19.  Our email address is rueck19@msn.com, which we selected many years ago to identify the 19 members of our family.  Our visit to Luxembourg was the 19th country we have visited together on our mission if we include the U.S.A. (MTC).  We also

counted 19 medical helps that we have added in our 19 years of marriage,  including a CPAP machine, 2 hearing aids, 2 Lasik eye surgeries, an artificial hip, a gastric bypass, daily catheters and several medications for: cholesterol (both of us), acid reflux (both of us), prostrate enlargement, bladder failure (3 times a day), calcium, multivitamins and baby aspirin for a hole in Sister Rueckert's heart (not caused by Elder Rueckert).

With the help of modern medicine and our Heavenly Father, we are ready for many more years together.  We want to spent them serving as much as possible.  Our love is strong, we feel that it is as strong as the "Rock of Gibraltar of the North" in Luxembourg.

God is a God of Miracles

We testify that miracles have not ceased unto the children of men.  Our week started out with a major miracle and once our eyes were opened, we saw many smaller miracles along the way.

On this past Monday we received the news of a modern day miracle that we want to share:

In October 2016, based on a request from Europe Area, Elder and Sister Pettit were reassigned from their Self-Reliance mission in Ireland to the Stockholm Sweden mission to serve as Self-Reliance missionaries in the Scandinavian countries. As preparations were made for the move, we realized that a visa would be needed. As options were reviewed, Sister Clouse of the Sweden mission office visited the immigration office and was told by a supervisor that since the Pettits would be staying less than 1 year (11 months left on their mission), they could apply for an extended visitor's permit once they were in the country and they would be totally legal. Based on this information and approval of the Church Travel office, Elder and Sister Pettit moved to Sweden on December 15, 2016. 

They have immediately gotten to work, have traveled most of the four missions and began building relationships with priesthood leaders.   They are an amazing missionary couple!  They went into the immigration office in January to begin their application for a visitor's permit and were told that they should wait until they were closer to the end of their normal 90 day period.  Based on this, they returned to the immigration office on February 8. At this time they were told that they could not apply for this extended visitor's permit without a visa that needed to be received before entering the country. Based on this their request was denied.  

At this point we got the legal team involved. Their response was the same, that they needed to leave the country and start with a new visa request. Since their 90 day period was running out, it could not be from a country in the European Union. Local members felt that there were other options, but there was no success. We began looking for other options for them to serve while awaiting a visa request, but residency had become complicated since their previous U.K. Visa had been cancelled after they left. We felt that most of their options and time were running out.   I went forth in my analytical way to identify our options, according to the Solving Problems lesson in My Foundations.  It was clear that the best option was for Elder and Sister Pettit to get their residence permit and continue as they had begun.  We decided that focusing on the other options reflects our lack of faith.

The Pettits decided to make one more visit to the immigration office on Monday, February 27.  They had faith that the Lord's will would be done. We asked our SR managers and missionaries in Europe to have a special fast on Sunday, February 26 on their behalf. Sister Rueckert and I had made this a matter of continued prayers over the past several weeks and a very intense fasting experience. We always pray that His will be done, but we could not understand why it would not be His will for Elder and Sister Pettit to continue His work in Sweden. 

The following is their story of what happened: 

"We want to give our heart-felt thanks to all of you who have been so selfless in combining your faith in our behalf concerning our visa for Sweden.   Today we met for the third time with the Swedish Immigration Officials regarding our request to extend our visitor's permit, which would allow us to complete our mission in the Nordic Countries.  It is difficult to describe a miracle, because when a blessing is asked for in faith, the answer is also best seen through the eyes of faith.  We are worried that putting the experience down in words might lack the spirit and real power of the moment, but it is true that we witnessed an absolute miracle today.

Our best description of what happened, was that we had a good feeling about going there today and expecting things to turn out well.  Our Mission office couple, Elder and Sister Clouse went with us for back-up, even though they would not be allowed in the appointment.   We presented our paperwork through the window to the desk and the cheerful employee looked over the papers.  After looking at them, he excused himself to go talk to a supervisor, and came back with the same news we had heard the previous two appointments:  we would not be granted an extension because we were in the country while we were applying ---and that is not permitted.  It didn't seem to matter how we stated and restated our needs and the fact that the mission couple had been told it would be possible, we were given a very polite and cheerful "no."   

At one point, the employee, seeming to think we did not understand the meaning of "no", said perhaps he could draw us a picture.  He drew a small circle on paper and said that it represented the permission you needed to get before you came into the country.  Then he put on X on the circle and said, "You don't have this."  He  remained cheerful, so we did too.  He said there was only a small chance we would ever be granted the permission as it stood, so we persisted in wanting to know how to take that chance, because although he just wanted us to go away defeated, we needed even the slimmest open window for our faith to get in.   We even said, we are willing to take whatever chance there is because we have FAITH.    He looked at our badges, smiled and said something like: "Faith is good, but you have no chance."  

After about 10 "no's" we asked if he would mind telling this to our Mission office people because they had heard differently regarding our situation.   He said he would tell them, so we went and got them to come to the window.  He told them the same thing, and they told him what we had shared before about talking to a supervisor who led them to believe we could stay in the country.  This finally led him to going back to get his supervisor, and the story was repeated ---and rejected--- with the same explanation why.   Then Sister Clouse said virtually the same things, but something clicked! The supervisor stopped and said, "Oh, I didn't understand that you meant to be here for less than a year."   Of course this was not new or hidden information,  as we had said it clearly before, and Sister Clouse had as well; but in the very last moment possible, it clicked!--- and to the great surprise of the employee, the supervisor approved for him to begin our paperwork.

Honestly, this could not have felt more like a miracle than if we had walked out the door with a rejection and had them run after us with a change of heart.  It was literally down to the last possible second it could have been passed! 

After this, there was a bundle of computer and general technology glitches which took about another hour and a half---making our total time there 3 hours standing, but we were 'walking on air'---so grateful that  "after the trial of our faith", the blessings really came.

Thank you again for being a part of a miracle.  This truly is the Lord's work, and He wants it to move forward.  " God has not ceased to be a God of miracles."  (Mormon 9:15)" 

As we received the phone call from Elder and Sister Pettit on Monday, telling us this story, we were overcome by the Spirit. Our very bodies tingled as we recognized the hand of the Lord in this miracle, which occurred "after the trial of our faith".  We just sat in amazement at the goodness of our God.  We poured our hearts out in prayers of gratitude for this answer to our fasting and prayer. 

That night I once again knelt in a personal prayer of gratitude. As I prayed I was brought to recognize that I had had doubts in this process. I felt the need to repent of my lack of faith. Through this process my faith has been strengthened and I can testify with renewed strength that God does answer our righteous prayers. I also testify about the power of fasting and perseverance in Faith.  God will provide for His Saints!

Also on Monday I received an email from one of the government offices in Czech Republic that showed me some links to genealogical websites where I might find information about my ancestor Samuel Bertran Hartmann, who left Bohemia in 1867 as a stowaway on a ship that left to the U.S.  We have never found anything specific as to his genealogy ever since.  This has been my first and most difficult genealogical task.  

Although we have not yet solved this, I was able to find the birth and marriage records for the city which we believe was his.  His grandchildren had told their posterity that he had been born in Nedanitz, a city that no longer exists on any map.  We had gone to visit a few cities in Czech Republic in December, Nedanice and Nedanitzky, in our search.  This genealogical site to which I was directed had the birth records of Nedanice and as I looked into the 1850s, the name of that city was Nedanitz.  We have miraculously confirmed the city where he said he was born.

Now the next problem is that his name was not in the Catholic parish birth records.  I searched them one by one.  One of his descendants said that they thought that he was Jewish before he left Bohemia.  As I searched for this miracle this week, I found some Czech Jewish sites that identified the process and location of Jewish records in Bohemia. As I searched some family names that had been identified, I found the surname of Hartmann identified as being in Jewish birth records for three different locations near Nedanitz.  I'm not sure of the next steps, but I have sent additional emails to identify where I can find those books.  This miracle has not yet been granted, but I feel like we are getting closer.  I know that the trial of our faith is still in process, but I also know that miracles will happen in the Lord's way and time.

The rest of the week we were able to recognize many other miracles around us, great and small.  When we went to our Book of Mormon class on Wednesday we saw Elder and Sister Rich for the first time in this class this year.  Elder Rich was struck with a case of bacterial meningitis in early January and nearly lost his life.  He has made a major recovery and is back serving in his calling.  As we looked at him and his good wife, we realized that we had been witnessing another major miracle in the past few weeks.

That night we were blessed to begin the My Plan for Returned Missionaries lessons for two recently returned missionaries in our ward.  Luis, on the left, served in Berlin, Germany and Giada served her mission in Lyon, France.  We love working with these young returned missionaries.  We also recognize how much they need these new materials to help them with their post mission direction.  We pray that we can help them formulate their own plans, with the help of the Holy Ghost, over the next several weeks.

Most of our week was filled with our normal work of meeting with missionaries or managers by video conference and making plans with our Area Self-Reliance Manager.  We always have special projects to work on.  One of our major projects this week was preparing for a special combined Priesthood and Relief Society meeting in our ward, which occurred today.  More about that later.

On Saturday, we took time to truly prepare for our coming week, doing laundry, purchasing groceries and learning German.  We both finished another unit in the Rosetta Stone tool.  I am still over a month behind my desired schedule, but this week I was able to make up some of the difference.  Sister Rueckert also spent some time decorating our apartment with home made Easter Eggs for the Easter Season which is approaching.

On Saturday night we went to the Church house and participated with our youth in the Face 2 Face broadcast with President Eyring and Elder Holland.  This was richly rewarding.  This event was held at a time that could be live with Europe and Africa.  In fact a youth group from England and another from South Africa were part of the broadcast.

What a privilege to be taught informally but powerfully by these two servants of our Heavenly Father.  Their responses may have been directed to the youth, but they will help anyone who will listen with softened hearts.  We were taught so clearly how we should pray and how we receive answers to our prayers. Their words were full of personal experiences that help the youth and all of us to relate even more directly to them.  We especially loved the way that Pres. Eyring and Elder Holland interacted with each other as they answered questions.

The youth of our ward watching the Face 2 Face event

President Eyring and Elder Holland interacting with each other as they answered questions.

 Finally today we had our Self-Reliance Activity in our ward.  We had only 30 minutes in the combined Relief Society and Priesthood meeting.  We used a shortened version of the new My Plan for Self-Reliance booklet.  Although we didn't have time to separate into Self-Reliance Groups at the end, we did have 23 individuals fill out registration requests to participate in Self-Reliance Groups.  We now have our work cut out for us to get the groups organized and started in the next week or so.

One final little miracle.  Last night, I was prompted to download the videos that we would be sharing in the lesson today. I found that the Church's Media Library was not functioning.  My wife tried it also with the same result on her computer.  We went into a minor panic.  Fortunately I still have friends in responsible places in the Self-Reliance department.  I was able to call one of them at 11:00 pm on Saturday (Frankfurt time) and ask for his assistance.  I then prayed to my Heavenly Father and went to bed, trusting in a resolution by morning.  Mike Davis, at HQ, was an agent to carry out this miracle that we so much needed.  The files were sent to us before we awakened in the morning and the activity went exactly as planned.

GOD HAS NOT CEASED TO BE A GOD OF MIRACLES!

SR Tool Box and Geburtstag in Heidelberg

This week we were able to concentrate on using the Self-Reliance Initiative Tool Box in Germany.  This included meetings with a stake specialist, a stake committee, a ward council, some returned missionaries and a devotional with our senior missionary couples in Frankfurt.  For each we used a different set of self-reliance tools that fit the situation.  We were able to finish our week in Heidelberg, Germany where we were able to celebrate Elder Rueckert's birthday, German style.

At our Senior Missionary Devotional, introducing the Self-Reliance Toolkit

Last Monday, we returned from England, arriving at our apartment a little before 5:00 pm.  That left us just over an hour to make final preparations for our devotional with the Senior Missionary couples.  We were the speakers or presenters.  We chose to share the Self-Reliance initiative in a little different way.   As I began to announce our presentation, Sister Rueckert interrupted that she had found an unopened Christmas present.  She proceeded to open the "Self-Reliance Initiative Tool Box".  As she removed different items from the tool box, we went ahead and explained specific items.  We started with an overall video with President Johnson of the Area Presidency, showing the connection to the Europe Area Plan.  She then discovered the three legged stool and we shared the history of the Perpetual Education Fund and it's evolution to the Self-Reliance Initiative.

Sister Rueckert discovering the three legged stool, from the early stages of the Self-Reliance Initiative

Next was the discovery of the self-reliance manuals and courses which can be used in different settings and for different purposes.

Discovering a long banner of curriculum, led to our explanation of the materials available.

We then did a My Foundation lesson, #6 on Resolving Problems and had the missionaries join in small groups to discuss, ponder and make commitments.  We finished with some success story videos from Cape Verde and Albania and shared our testimonies.

Thank goodness for Sister Rueckert for spicing up our devotional.  We believe that it was well received.

Throughout our week back in Germany we had additional opportunities to strengthen self-reliance efforts.  On Tuesday we met with the stake specialists from the Frankfurt Stake and discussed an upcoming devotional in the Frankfurt 1st Ward.  It also gave us an opportunity to share thoughts about the self-reliance activities within the stake.

On Wednesday we met with the Ward Council in our home ward Frankfurt 2.  Our bishop has been very supportive and he requested that we take the entire Ward Council meeting, since he had several new members of the Ward Council.  We shared a few of the tools and than asked the input of the Ward Council on how we should move forward.  Should we hold another devotional or how do we get more members to participate in the Self-Reliance groups?  The new Relief Society President and the High Priest group leader both has some significant ideas.  In the end we jointly decided to use the First Sunday meetings in March to do a short presentation and encourage groups to form from there.  The Ward Council will also identify members and give specific invitations.

From there we had a new goal, organize a 30 minute mini devotional that could lead to signing up for SR groups.  We worked on that Thursday and chose to use portions of the new My Plan used in the U.S. in a shortened version.  We sent it to the Bishop who approved this concept today.  Now we will move forward, seeking inspiration on the most effective way to take advantage of this time.

On Friday night we went to Heidelberg, Germany (about one hour from here) to participate in the Stake Self-Reliance Committee meeting.  We had understood that they would be doing a My Path Devotional in March and wanted some ideas to be prepared.  When we arrived, we found that the ward that wanted the devotional had decided to put it on hold for now.  However, we were able to see how this stake held their committee meeting and were able to give some input.  This stake has just called an African member to be on the committee to help the large number of Africans who have arrived in their region.  Accordingly it was decided that Self-Reliance groups can be offered to these members on Tuesday evenings.  We were able to offer some suggestions and left some tools from our "Tool Box".

We also made arrangements this week to begin our next sessions of My Plan for Returned Missionaries.  We have two missionaries that have recently returned.  We will begin with them this Wednesday.

We also spent time this week in preparation for our trip to Cape Verde next month.  We will assist our Publishing Services Department while they film some follow-up and new videos about self-reliance participants.  We also followed-up on a few items from our trip to England.

We took a break on Wednesday to participate in our quarterly Zone Conference for the Europe Area senior missionaries.  Some of the missionaries that are nearing the end of their mission and our zone leader, Elder Proctor, shared some thoughts about the different Attributes of Christ form Preach My Gospel.  We then heard from Sister Johnson and Elder Paul V. Johnson of the Area Presidency.   Elder Johnson taught us that Christlike Attributes are gifts from God and helped us to understand that they come when we put forth our best efforts and ask for them, then we receive them by His Grace.  He shared a story of his great grandfather and his family who suffered many trials.  He emphasized the scripture in 1 Nephi 20:10, "For behold, I have refined thee I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction".  He noted that The Lord refines us and The Lord chooses us in the furnace of affliction.  As always, we left the conference well fed spiritually.  We were also well fed temporally with a nice luncheon.

Photo taken at Zone Conference of Senior missionaries with Elder and Sister Johnson (front and center)

After the meeting in Heidelberg on Friday evening, we chose to stay the night in Heidelberg and spend some time on Saturday (Elder Rueckert's Birthday) visiting the castle and old town region of this historical city.  We started with a wonderful dinner at a local restaurant on Friday night.

Dinner for two, pork and turkey schnitzels and pork loin and sides.  More than we could eat together.

On Saturday, the weather was the best we have seen for some months.  The sun was out and it was a beautiful day to see some sights.  The following are photos and commentary on this beautiful city.

Heidelberg is a city near the western borders of Germany with France.  Historic sites in this location date back to 500 B.C. and was a location of the Roman Empire.  The oldest documented reference to the name of Heidelberg was in 1196.  By 1303 there is mention of an "upper" fort and a "lower" fort.  In 1386 a university was founded, the oldest university in Germany.  This was the location of a visit by Martin Luther in 1518 to defend his 95 Thesis.

In 1537 a gunpowder explosion destroyed the upper castle and the duke's palace was built at the lower castle.  The castle was the focus of many kings and battles over the next 200 years.  It was finally destroyed in 1693 by the French army. It was later reconstructed but in 1764 it was hit by lightning and destroyed by fire.

Since then it has been famous as a ruined castle, symbol of better days.

We started at a parking spot near the old site of the upper castle took a train down to the lower castle and later to the city.

Photo of the city from the castle, including the Old Bridge over the River Neckar.

Looking over the city from the castle wall

 In a tour we saw replicas of the castle before it had been destroyed and after:

Model of the castle before the 1693 destruction

Model of the current castle

Outside of one of the entrances to the courtyard.  This was a birthday present of King Frederick V to his wife Elizabeth Stuart, daughter of King James I of England

The inside of the castle courtyard

Western portion of castle destroyed by the French.  The moat on the left was never filled with water, but was a storage of live  cattle and boars who were shot for sport and served in dinners in the castle.

 Parts of the inside of the castle are still intact, including some large barrels that were used to store wine.  The peasants all paid one tenth of their harvest of wine which was given to the castle and stored in these containers.

Small barrel that stored about 120,000 liters of wine

The world's largest wine barrel, holding 221,000 liters of wine (58,000 gallons). 

This is the pump on the upper floor that was used to pump the wine up to the dining area, including a gigantic ballroom.  The man was our tour guide.

After touring the castle, we took the train down to the old town with some great views of the castle above.

View of the castle from the city below

View from the "Old Bridge"

Shows the "Old Bridge", built in 1788 out of stone, castle in the background

Entrance to the "Old Town" from the "Old Bridge"

Lindt Chocolate store in the "Old Town"

View of the Castle from our parking area above

Close up view of the castle from above

After our visit to Heidelberg, we returned home and received a visit from Elder and Sister Hacking, who delivered a birthday cupcake to Elder Rueckert.  We finished my birthday celebration with the cupcake and some ice cream.