It was zone conference in Frankfurt on Wednesday, February 10. It was a great experience! We took the sister missionaries with us to Frankfurt and arrived about 1/2 hour early so we could be in our seats. I had a few minutes to test out the piano and see if I could do it with confidence. I played through the piece and then people started coming into the chapel. I played just before the mission president spoke. I think it went okay. I am not what you call a solo artist. I played More Holiness Give Me which was in one of the books I brought. President and Sister Ninow spoke and gave us a challenge to re-read the Book of Mormon with specific goal of highlight the passages about the Savior. Then President Teixeira of the area presidency spoke. He is Portuguese but he speaks English, French, German and Portuguese. His talk was powerful. He talked about the faith that missionaries need to have and how we need to show by what we do that we have faith. Faith is not just a thing. It requires action. He gave several experiences. He then opened the meeting to questions from the missionaries themselves. They asked how to gain the trust of the ward or branch, how to help the less active return to the church and so on. His answer to each of the questions is that we cannot do this. It is through Jesus Christ that their lives are touched and then they will return to church. It is our responsibility to teach them how to come to Jesus Christ. We were totally uplifted by this experience. One young missionary asked what he could do because he was so shy and had a hard time opening his mouth to say anything. President Teixeira asked if he knew how he was called. He then told of the experience he had with Elder Perry. Each Friday morning one of the 12 apostles has the assignment to make the mission calls. Elder Perry invited President Teixeria to be with him on this particular Friday morning. They go to this meeting fasting and praying for the spirit to guide them. They go into a room with two large screens. On one screen is a list of all the missions who need missionaries. The other screen is so that there is a picture of the person who has submitted his mision papers with a little information. Elder Perry could ask if they speak a language or some other information. He said that Elder Perry would ponder for a short time and then say where the call would be given. Then they move on to the next person. When all the calling is done, the list is sent to President Monson for approval and signature on your letter. The day that President Teixeira was there 400 mission calls were made. It really hit me that I how I was called and that this is a purpose for me to be here. I have doubted that for this time I have been here. I need to get on with the work now.

We were really tired after this experience but still had to go to open the centerr and be there until about 9:00 pm. By that time, the missionaries had returned to give a lesson and no one was there except the kids in the gym and they turned off the lights when they left. We slept well that night. We did meet another couple, Elder and Sister Ence, who are new young adult leaders in Frankfurt. They have been here 2 weeks and she is struggling as I did at first. I hoped I help her out a little.

Last night was Institue and our student council meeting. It went well. We started out with a small group and had a larger group by the time the evening ended. I made "love cake" for the refreshment. We put fresh strawberries and cream on it. Several of them had 2 pieces. The love cake is a chocolate cake that Chris would love--moist and chocolate. We had hot chocolate with it. How is that for a chocolate evening. I had decorated a little for Valentine and we will leave that up until Monday night.

Today the sun is trying to shine but it is still snowing. My boots have really been wonderful. We are hoping for more sun. I will post some pictures as soon as I get my camera and computer together. We love the work and are happy and busy here. We love our family and know they are blessed as we are.