Last Post from Austria!

Easter!  The lamb cake and colored eggs have special meaning here. It is a sign of friendship and love to give the boiled colored eggs, especially red eggs. These were given to us.

Giant kinder eggs that Rick bought for a surprize. He is showing how big they are compared to the boiled eggs. There were toys inside!

Easter Sunday was such a great day! We loved watching General Conference at the church. We are in  the RS room so we could watch in English. The German translation version was seen in the Chapel. Since we were 8 hours different we watched all but the last session.

In between sessions Elder Tew had the great privelege to baptize our friend Ronny Zinser.

Elder Mitchell and Elder Durrant are such great missionaries! 

 The wonderful Suppan family!! Marlene has been so great to work with as the YSA representative. She does so much in her calling and will conntinue to do so

 Our last FHE April 6, 2015.

 Our dear, dear neighbor Val. Tuesday evening April 7th she made us a light dinner and we showed her the movie "Meet The Mormons" on Rick's laptop. She loved it and said the Sister Missionaries could call on her!!!!! We will miss her so much.

 The Kervinens from Finland came to Graz Wednesday to meet us for lunch. Aliisa served her mission here and was in Graz when we first came. She has been home since December and they are touring the mission. It was so great to see her again and meet her parents. Her dad is in the Mission Presidency in Finland. 

 Last night April 8th was our last Institute night. Horst and Edith Pail cooked the meal and Bro. Schatz taught the lesson. Marlene and the YSAs gave us these fun aprons so we can be Austrians at home and always think of them! Don't you love E. Tew in his Leder Hosen?! 

 Siri, Marlene, Lisa and Clara! All but Marlene are getting married soon.

 Manuela and Alice Schatz came after Institute and gave us presents. Manuela knitted wonderfully warm socks for next winter. What treasures!! Also a german childrens book for Grandpa to read to our grandkids!!

Well... it is April 9th 2015!!  Last minute things to do before we leave Graz and drive to Munich to meet with the other 29 young missionaries who are going home also. We fly out tomorrow and we will be home!!

APRIL 2015!!

 Don't you love my apron? I wear it with pride! This is our last Wed. Institute night. My last cooking and Elder Tew's last lesson. It's been great and we are tired. Good way to end, right? 

 Chili over baked potatoes, yummmm. Veggies and rolls. I fed 24 people.

Last lesson, Actually it was a question and answer class that was really a great time.

 The room was filled! We started having the dessert down here in the YSA room since Rick has been teaching. Works out better and Rick can have more time.

 Dominic, Kristin, and Gabi

 We are making lots of last time visits. Here Bro. Haas finally knows how to work the DVD player we got him for Christmas and the TV someone gave him. He is now using this as a good missionary tool when his friends come over by showing them segments from the church DVDs we gave him. He is  happy and so are we!!

We bid him farewell but we are glad that  we will see him again at the church for General Conference this weekend April 4-5.

 Oh, the Muhlbergers! What can I say? Love, love, love!

 We have entered their door many times. They are a joy and do so much for the ward and missionaries. She is 81 and he is 71 and have been married 21 years.

Our last visit with Sister Helmi Luschin and Sara, her granddaughter who is a nurse. She will turn 90 this July 27th and her entire family are coming to celebrate. Astrid and family are coming from Kaysville..

 The Kober Family!  Inge, Adi, Alex and Bernhard. Twelve year old Elizabeth was with friends and Julia is married with a baby. Bernhard is getting married Sept 4. He will be missed in the ward as Ward Mission Leader and one of the YSAs but we are sooo happy for him. He is one of  6 young adults getting married in our Graz Ward. Some are leaving and some will stay.

 Peter and Eva Hanselmayer! He is such a great friend and she has really warmed to us. 

 Klaus and Laurel! They just moved into their new apartment outside of the city. 

We visited others but no pics to post, and running out of time. 

 Cleaning, packing,.. crazy!!

Hope we can fit in all the CHOCOLATE, but I am getting worried!! We leave Graz in just 5 days!! I will try to post one last time. Love to all!! See you Soon!!