Letter to Family March 30, 2012

March 30, 2012

Dear Family,

Just a quick note to wish you a very Happy Easter.   I am so looking forward to conference this weekend.  We are going to another castle on the Rhine this Saturday because we don’t get conference until 6 p.m. over here.   There are about 8 or 10 of us going.   I am so grateful for the wonderful senior couples we are surrounded by.  They have become our family away from home and makes life so much easier and definitely makes this mission a great experience.

Sorry that I don’t write more often but I guess because I talk to the kids on SKYPE or the phone, I don’t remember to write everyone else about the things going on in our lives.   I will try to do a little better now that we only have a few months left.   We are scheduled to fly out on the 20^th of July.   Of course, we don’t have any flight plans or final details yet but will let you know when we know anything.

We are doing well.  The weather was nice this past week getting up to almost 70 and we had blue skies instead of the common gray overcast skies.   It is amazing how much better you feel when there are blue skies.   Marv kept saying isn’t it great that winter is over.   Well the last two days and for the next week it is suppose to be in the 50’s and we have overcast skies with possibility of rain.  I enjoyed last week hearing the birds sing which lifted the spirits even more.   They don’t sing as much when things are overcast for some reason.  I guess I thought it was spring because I planted pansies in my flower boxes and a couple of other plants.  Everyone else was planting and so I did too.   I don’t expect us to drop to freezing so I am sure they are just fine.  

The castles are starting to open back up again so we are starting to go to them on Saturdays.  Most close in October and don’t open back up until April.   I’m glad that there is so much to see in a day trip.  The fields are starting to turn green and the trees are getting blossoms on them.  I really do love Spring. 

I am finally going to get to do some training with some of our groups.   I will be doing a financial training for the support specialist in Europe (secretaries) at their meetings close to Frankfurt the end of April.  I think they have given me three hours so I am working on a way to make it enjoyable and still learn what they need to learn.  Either the day that one ends or the next day, I have been asked to do a training with a group of Coordinators that will be staying in the same place.   

The next week, the first week in May, Marv and I will be traveling by car to Italy to do a training for the coordinators from Italy, Hungary, Poland, Romania, Czech, Albania, Croatia, Moldova and the Netherlands.   The training is in a city 40 kilometers from Venice so we are planning on spending a day in Venice on our way back.  We are also hoping to see Hitler’s Eagles Nest on the border of Austria.   The travel time is between 8 ½ hours to 9 ½ hours because we will take one route down and another one back.  We will probably stop in Salzburg and spend a day there also.   We will probably stop in Munich on our way down and see Dauchau concentration camp.   So we will be blessed to see things we haven’t had a chance to see outside of our area.   This is probably the only trip that S&I will send us on.   Originally I was told we would be doing a lot of travel but that hasn’t happened so I am grateful for this one little thing.  We will be paying for all of it except for the mileage to get there and back directly (gas) and the hotel for two nights at the conference.  I feel privileged that it is working out that we can do this.   I hope my training will be worthwhile to those that are attending.

  

Bryan and Candalyn have found a wonderful 6700 sq. ft home that they put an offer in on and are under contract now.   I can’t wait to see it.  We are so thankful that the other houses fell through and that they are able to get this one for almost the same expense per month it would have cost for the others because the interest rates are so low now.   It is in Enoch.   It has 8 bedrooms and 7 bathrooms, I think.  It is on a half acre and has a wonderful 2100 ft additional garage/storage unit on the property also. It has a huge 3 car garage attached to the house.   It has 11 outside doors.    I think they got a great deal.  Still cost a lot but I think they will be fine.   I guess if we get old and can’t take care of ourselves maybe they can find a corner in their house for us.  Ha Ha.   They have been so good to take care of house and we are so glad they have been there.   Hopefully it helped them save the money they needed to make this purchase.  I really think the Lord has blessed them because it has been quite the process of getting this house but now everything seems to be right on track and a go.   As soon as they get the appraisal back, they can lock in the interest rate and everything else is good because the loan is approved.

So if anyone has any extra furniture or beds you don’t need – they might be able to use them because they have a lot of house to fill up.   Ha Ha

Our ward has loved having them there.   They have been the Webelos leaders and have worked hard to help the boys earn all they can.  They have one little boy that is leaving their group to go to the next level because of his birthday and he has earned every single badge and thing that is possible to earn because they have worked with him.   He was sad to hear they were moving but was glad they weren’t moving until after he left their group.   I know they have been a great blessing to those young boys that have been willing to come and learn from them.   They both work really hard at it.

Scott and Kristin have been working hard and have had some setbacks with their property and business but are staying positive and feeling like it is a good learning experience and that hopefully things will work out in the end.   Scott is working really hard and Kristin is loving being home with the children which I am sure is helping Scott with his business too.   She has joined a health club and is being determined to go every day and exercise. 

Christie and Scott are both very busy.  Christie submitted a chapter of a book for review by a LDS writers group that will meet in May.   I hope they like it and encourage her to continue writing.  She is going to the conference in May and we will see if she wins anything for it.   If not, she will still get some feedback on what to do to improve her writing.   She is very talented and needs to continue with that talent.  She has just been called as the Compassionate Service Leader in her ward and she is way excited about that calling.  She was counselor in the Primary and was so sad when she was released (the whole presidency was released).   She has also been asked to write the Ward’s History.   Scott is busy with teaching at school and his job as counselor in the bishopric.   They are coming on June 6 to spend 9 days with us and we are so excited.   We are planning on showing them as much as we can during that time so they will probably go home tired.  

We are going to England two weeks before we come home for 6 days and 5 nights and meeting up with Michael Hayes to have him show me around the places that my Dad’s relatives came from.   He and his wife are also 80 so I think that is very kind of them to drive from Wales to Mansfield where they told us to stay because we only have a few days and it is close to where my relatives came from.   June, his wife by second marriage, has a son that lives there so they will stay with him and take us around during the day.   Then we will hopefully spend a few days when we come back to see some more places that Marv and I have wanted to see before returning.   So as you can see things are going to be very busy for the next few months.

We get the Friday before and Monday after Easter off work.   I don’t know what we will do but hopefully something.   There are a ton traveling to the Netherlands but we don’t have anyone to go with and we don’t exactly know where to go and we want to save our money for the other things coming up in the next couple of months.   There are still a few couples not going and so we will probably figure out some things to do with them during that time I am sure.   The problem is all the stores are closed on Friday, Sunday and Monday so you can’t go shopping to grocery stores or regular stores during that time.  Most of the castles are open so we can do that and I think we can find some restaurants open too.   They really have tons of decorations for Easter.   They decorate their trees outside with Easter eggs.   I am actually bringing some home because I think it is cute.

  

Lisa, thanks for the pictures that Baker took when he was over here during World War II.  We have been doing some research and it appears a lot of those places are here in our mission.   We are trying to figure out if we can go to any of those places and check things out.  They are all within an hour to hour and half from here.  If you have any more information, please send it our way.   This is exciting to realize he was here or close by so many years ago. 

Well, I think I have rambled on long enough so I will close.   We love you and hope you have a wonderful Easter time and a wonderful Spring.   May the Lord bless all of you.

Love,

Marv and Vickie

Elder and Sister Paxton

Letter to family at Christmas

Merry Christmas!   I don’t know if you will get this before Christmas because it is the 6^th of December and I am sending them today but I wanted you to have these little books.   If you get them after Christmas then you will just have something more to look at.   I thought these books will be good to take to Church or use them for Family Home Evening. Even those that can’t read can look at the pictures.   They are stories from the scriptures, information about the Prophet and apostles and a little matching game (might be better to do this one at home) where you match up the General Authority with a card that shows the things they like to do or where they served a mission or where they are from.   It might be kind of fun for family home evening to look up more information on each of them so that you understand all the things on each of their individual cards. 

 

I love you and I am so proud of each of you.   I know that you love the Lord and your families.   I want you to know that I love you all very much.   I have a testimony of the gospel.   I know that God lives.   I know without a shadow of doubt that he hears my prayers and he answers them.   I know that he loves me and I know that he loves each of you.

  

As I think of each of you, those that have married into our family and those that have been born into our family, I realize that I have been truly blessed to be a mother, mother-in-law, and grandmother.  There is no greater blessing in my life.   I can’t wait to hug and kiss each of you. 

 

I really do know that the Lord must love Grandpa and I very much to send us here to Germany.   What a wonderful place to be.  What wonderful friends we are making.   What great learning experiences we are having.   I know the Lord is in charge and I know he will not ask us to do anything that he is not willing to help us with and help us succeed if we will turn to him for guidance and help.  

I love seeing the people that are accepting the gospel over here.   I love hearing and meeting those that are the first generation of members in their family and learn the sacrifices they make to be a member but how strong they are.  

I feel the Lord’s strength and protection every day.   I know that he is taking care of each of you.   That doesn’t mean things are always easy but I know as you all work hard and try to follow him, he blesses you.  

How grateful I am that I am able to serve at this time and especially grateful for Grandpa and his life.   I don’t know what I would do without him.   He is my best friend, next to all of you.  We love being together and our marriage is stronger because of this experience too.  

May each of you love one another and see the tender mercies of the Lord in your lives.   May you count your blessings and thank Heavenly Father for helping you when things seem tough in school, with friends, at work or at home.   Remember he wants you to succeed and he wants to bless you.   Live your life the best you can every day and he will make up the difference. 

 

We hope you have or had a wonderful Christmas.  Ours may be a little different this year but we can still spend some time with you all over Skype so it will be almost like being home.   May the Lord bless all of us as we are separated by oceans because we will be together again this summer and there will be lots of time to enjoy each other in person.   I love you.   I wanted you to know at this Christmas time especially my love for you and my love for my Savior.   You are all my little angels and instruments in the Lord’s hands because of the way you reach out to others and your family members.   Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! 

 

Love,

Mom and Dad, Grandpa and Grandma Vickie (that’s for MaKayla)

Christmas Letter from Mission in Germany 2011

As we approach the Christmas Season, our thoughts turn toward fond memories with our family and friends.  We may be many miles away in Germany but our hearts and thoughts are with all of you. 

We are learning so much and are grateful for this opportunity to serve a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints here in Germany.  We have been able to visit many towns within our mission boundaries on Saturdays and see lots of castles, residences and historical sites.   This has helped us learn about the history of this country and develop a love for that history and understanding of the people.   We have been able to travel to Poland and Hungary and see the spots where the land was dedicated by prophets to the teaching of the gospel through Marv’s assignment with Centers for Young Adults. 

We have met so many wonderful people that have influenced and touched our lives.   We have felt the love of our family from a distance and we have grown closer to each other.   We love being here together and having this time together to learn to appreciate each other even more.   Life has its ups and downs and we have seen some of those while we have been here but that has made the ups even sweeter.   We are truly being blessed.

               

We are grateful to our Savior for the many blessings he has given us, especially for our family and our friends that have and do make a difference in our lives.   We know the Savior lives and we have felt his Spirit with us and have witnessed his guiding hand in our lives.  

As we remember the Savior’s birth at this special time, we pray that each of you will feel the Spirit of the Lord in your lives.   We love you and wish you a very Merry Christmas and a very happy and wonderful New Year.  We will miss not being with you but we will be together again and will renew family time and friendships in about 8 more months.  

Love,   Elder and Sister Paxton

Travel to Poland Warsaw Mission in Warsaw to Train

October 26, 2011

Dear Family:   

   

I guess it is time to write a letter and let you know what we have been up to.   I guess where we get to talk to most of you on SKYPE you, you probably won’t don’t need this letter but I decided it has been quite a while since I have sent a letter maybe I should write one.   

When you get this it will be November and you will have just gone through the Halloween stuff.   I suppose you all had great parties, trick or treating with lots of goodies and candies and probably gave away a lot of candies to all those trick or treaters.   We are getting together with 4 other couples for a Family Home Evening on Halloween so we won’t be around for the trick or treaters if they have any.   There are some Halloween things in the store and so costumes.   Our ward is having a trunk or treat on Friday, October 28, with a dinner afterwards.  We are going to the temple that night with the missionary couples because it is our scheduled time so I am sure the Bishop will not be happy when none of the missionaries show up for the party. 

Things have been really busy for me lately.   I moved my office closer to where Marv’s office is.  I am in the office with the Asplund’s across the hall from him so that is nice.   I had to help print and put together packets for an Area Convention in Vienna and because my boss wasn’t organized with what he wanted, I had to stay until 8 p.m. on the night before he left to help get the binders completed.   I had spent the previous couple of days late getting things prepared.   I thought I was past that stage but apparently not.   Oh well it is done and he was off to his meetings with the Coordinators in Europe and Richard Hawks and Mike Kaminske from Salt Lake.   The Asplunds were invited to attend.   I have to admit at first I was a little envious but then when it got closer I really didn’t care anymore.

Last Thursday October 20, 2011, Marv and I were invited by President Nielsen to attend a Mission Conference in the Poland Warsaw Mission in Warsaw.   We were asked to train the couples for a couple of hours.   We were supposed to train our CfYA couples so it worked out pretty good.   We learned so much from his training and hopefully the training we gave to the couples was uplifting and motivating to help them want to continue their work.  We tried to talk about how blessed we are to be missionaries and the great blessings the Lord gives us even when the work is hard or not what we might expect.  We tried to encourage them to follow the counsel of their Mission President. 

President Nielsen and Sister Nielsen were absolutely awesome.   They made you feel so special and it was like you had known them all your life.   They got us a hotel in downtown Warsaw for the first night at the Novell Hotel.  It was very nice.  We walked to a museum called the Rising Museum.   It was chilly and it was a lot further than we expected but we found it.   It was museum telling about all the resistance against the Germans during World War II.   It was very interesting.  By the time we were done it was dark and so we had to make our way back to the hotel.   We ate in the hotel restaurant because we weren’t sure if it was safe to be out much at night and it was probably around 8 p.m. by the time we got back.   The food was pretty good and we were tired after all our walking.   I had my pedometer on and we had walked 8.66 miles that day and that was after I had even done my exercising that morning before we left.   So I think we did okay. 

One funny or good little tender mercy started when we needed to go to the airport.   First the guy that was going to take us to the airport forgot and so he was a little late getting us but that was okay because we planned for plenty of time.   We actually got through the security without any major problems for once.   I didn’t have to do the spread eagle stance for the first time I think.   We found our gate and settled in.   I was reading my Kindle and it got past the time we thought we should board but no plane.  Then it got past the time to board and we heard something about going to Vienna.   I said we had best go see what is happening because we were supposed to go to Warsaw.   Marv went up and asked and they said they moved the flight to another terminal.   Thank heavens it was only two gates away.  We took off running and were afraid we had missed our flight but lucky for us, that flight was late and we were among the last ones to get on.  

Coming back almost the same thing happened.   This time we were sitting where we were supposed to be with another guy was down there.  After awhile he asked if we were going to Frankfurt and we said we were.   He said it is very strange because there are only the three of us.  I said we just barely got our boarding passes and this is where it said to be.   He said that was the same with him.   After a little while he said I am going to go see what is going on.   He went quite aways away and came back in a hurry and told us they had moved the departure gate from 41 to 26 so off we headed again.  This time we didn’t need to run.   What did we learn from this adventure?   Never trust the gate listed on the boarding pass – always check the board and recheck it often.   I know I checked it when we got there and it said what our boarding pass said.   We got home about 9:30 p.m. on Saturday. 

On Friday morning of the day we went to the Mission Conference we ate breakfast at the hotel that cost us more than our dinner in the hotel the night before.   I thought that was strange because it was a pretty basic buffet breakfast.  We walked around for a little bit but came back to the Hotel and worked on our presentation before we called a cab and headed to the mission office for the meetings.   After our presentations talking about the Centers and working together to find the young people, the mission president took us all out to dinner at an Italian restaurant.   It was really good.  We were able to walk there.   I had a cucumber soup and a pasta dish.   Both were really good.   We had a list to choose one soup or salad and then the main course.   We walked back to the mission office and had some more training and then we were able to socialize a little with everyone.   Then we went with one of the couples to a motel that was really close by.   The motel was pretty old but it was clean.  We had twin beds and the bathroom apparently had been remodeled because it was fairly nice.   We did check for bed bugs.   It seemed to be okay.  We were so tired by the time we got there that we just wanted to go to bed.  We had to be over to the Mission office at 8 a.m. the next morning for breakfast and fix lunch for our excursion they were going on.

We left  around 10:30 and went on a rented bus and one of the Young Single Adults from Poland was our tour guide.  We went on a walking tour in Old town of Warsaw.   One of my favorite spots was going to the most sacred spot in all of Poland, which was the tomb of the unknown soldier.  We were privileged to see the honor guard do a walk around.   The President said in all the times he had been there he had never seen them do that.   The soldiers were so straight and precise.   How they can look like them do and not even blink and stand so still.   It was awesome.  

But in this same area is really the most sacred of all sacred spots and that is where President Spencer W. Kimball was visiting the people and government officials and dedicated Poland and the people to the teaching of the gospel on 24 August 1977.  We had our pictures taken in this beautiful spot.   This is the picture of our YSA tour guide, Dominick with President Nielsen standing in front of the spot where Poland was dedicated.

The Poland Warsaw Mission has 44 Elders, 4 sister missionaries and I believe 7 senior missionary couples and 2 senior sister missionaries.   They are so busy working trying to do all the work that needs to be done.   They used to have 120 missionaries so they are working with a small group of people.   On Saturday before we left we were able to see the 50^th person baptized in Poland this year.   She was a single mother with two little kids.   She was approached 7 years ago and not ready but about a month ago she walked into the church and said she wanted to learn about the gospel and be baptized so she could raise her children correctly.   There were four other investigators there.   One was from India.  I don’t remember where the others were from.   We met a guy that has lived here for 10 years that is from the Congo and has been a member for 20 years.   He is still trying to save money for his wife and 4 children to come to Poland and live with him.   He seemed really positive.   I loved being there even if I couldn’t understand the language. 

 One of the talks was in English and was translated into Polish so that was great.   Our little tour guide had to end up giving the Baptismal talk on the spot because the girl that was supposed to do it showed up really late.   I heard he did a great job.   Whatever he said really touched the gal that was being baptized and he actually talked for quite awhile.   He is getting ready to go on a mission soon.   His story was very touching also.   The mission president’s wife was telling me about him.   He grew up in an abusive family.   His mother has lived with lots of different guys.   He has pretty much had to raise himself and often times checked into a hostile because life was so bad.   He was baptized about two years ago.   The mission president and his wife have worked with him a lot to help him understand what he needs to learn what not to say, etc.  I asked him how long he has been a member and he said “long enough” and I said that’s great.   He asked how long we had been a member and I told him all my life that I was born into a family that were members.   He said, "You are so lucky.”   You know he is right.   Things are really tough for these converts especially when there aren’t a lot of other members.  

Most of the senior missionary couples are Branch Presidents plus they run the Center for Young Adults.   They are all very busy.   As I got to meet each of them and visit with them, I realized that the Lord is really in charge.   He has called all of these people to serve where they are because of who they are what they have to offer.   They were all wonderful.  I realized I was glad for my calling and I am sure they are glad for theirs.  

On our tour we saw a monument of a little boy.   He has his father’s helmet on, a scarf with the colors of the country around his neck, big soldier boots on and a gun in his arms.   This symbolized that when the resistance was going on all had to fight.   What a sad thing to realize that the war was so terrible to these people. 

   

When we were on our tour the Mission President noticed an older guy looking at a map by himself so he approached him and asked if he could help.   This guy was very distinguished looking and he was from Moscow.   He joined our group and he was given a pass along card.

  

We walked on the street where Marie Curie was born and raised.   Because Warsaw was pretty much destroyed, they don’t know exactly where her house was.   She was really amazing to have won two Noble Peace Prizes and being a woman.   He did talk about her accomplishments and was very informative about her.

We were given special privileges to go into a chapel of a convent.   A nun of the order of the Holy Sisters let us in because this young man talked with her and she agreed to it.   This never really is allowed.   This particular convent was destroyed in the war.  When it was destroyed there were 1000 injured people they were hiding and taking care of who were killed along with a lot of the nuns and some children.   They were not supposed to allow anyone inside there because it was against their religious rites but they felt they had to help.   So I guess they broke some of their covenants.   There are only 25 of them in Warsaw and I think only 300 in the whole world that belong to this particular convent or group of nuns.   They have to pray for 6 hours straight every day.   They have done a lot of good.  Their convent was very bright white which is refreshing compared to most of the cathedrals.   The mission president told us to all take off our missionary badges when we went inside to show respect to them and of course only whisper.  We couldn’t take any pictures inside either.

Dominick, our tour guide’s family on his father’s side was part of the resistance and on his mother’s side her father is a communist.   His grandfather still is and is actually very wealthy but I don’t think he gives him much money.   I understand that Dominick sells communist memorabilia from WWII on the internet for his grandfather.   The mission president’s wife said his grandfather is softening but she doesn’t think that he will join the church but hopefully not be as antagonist toward him. 

This week I have been working with the auditors from Church headquarters.   I don’t know if I have been able to help as much as I would have liked but I am sure when this is all said and done at least some things are going to be addressed.  We will see how much longer I will be in this position.   I think I have definitely become a thorn in their side.   If they are told they need to cut back on the amount of money they spend on their meetings, I will definitely not be liked and they will not be happy.   Their meetings are just big parties.   Next Wednesday, Trent will be here from Salt Lake for 12 days and we will be working on what they have found on budgets and he is hoping to do some training.   I hope he will be able to do that too.  

We have a new couple that has moved in next door to us for the next couple of months.   They will be going out as a Center for Young Adults couple the end of December somewhere in this mission.   They are the Baker’s and they are working in the Mission Office for now.   Sister Baker does all the driving.   That is pretty unique out here.   They seem really nice.   We have been so busy that we haven’t been very good neighbors.   Tomorrow night I have a two hour practice for choir and then Friday we have temple night and Saturday we have stake conference and Sunday we have conference and Monday (Halloween) we have FHE so the next little while is going to be really busy.   Then on Wednesday, November 2^nd, Trent from Salt Lake will be here for 12 days.

We love you and hope you are all doing well. 

Love,

Mom and Dad, Grandpa and Grandma, Marv and Vickie, Elder and Sister Paxton (whatever you want to call us)

Friday, September 16, 2011

Dear Family and Friends:

It seems that it has been forever since I have written.   I know we have talked on the phone or on SKYPE to some of you and have done some e-mailing to the others. I decided to write and do a quick overview of some of the things we have been doing sorry if you already know all of this.   

We have both been busy with our jobs and that makes us tired when we go home at night but that is okay.   I think I am adjusting to the culture a little better all the time and the German or European way of thinking and doing things.  Of course, that doesn’t mean I always agree with it but I am trying really hard to understand.

On the 7^th or September we had a sisters night out and it was really fun.  Each of us had to bring three things that we had found unique to Germany.   It was interesting the things we all came up with.   Some of us that the same things but others had things I didn’t know about.   We had a light dinner with chicken salad sandwich and a drink and a cake that someone made with icing (kind of) from things she found here, Very interesting.   Their cakes and pastries are not as sweet as ours back home.  We had to tell one lie and one truth about ourselves and they would guess which was true.  We all had a good laugh.  Some of the stories were pretty good.

Last Sunday, we picked up Randy Hulbert and Steve Marshall from Salt Lake FM from their Hotel in Frankfurt and took them to our International Ward for church and kidnapped them for the day at our house where I fed them dinner and then we took them for a ride down the River Rhine, of course, it had to rain and rained hard but at the end it did stop raining and they could see a few castles from the road.   We got them back to their hotel around 8 p.m. that night.   It was fun to visit with them and get to know them.   We picked them up on Monday morning to bring them into the Area Office.

Monday morning we had to go to the airport and pick up three men from BYU-Idaho and take them to their hotel in a town about 30 minutes away.   When we got there, we realized the Area Presidency had put them up in a beautiful castle.  Apparently it was the castle that Queen Victoria, daughter of Queen Victoria from England had built and lived her life in after her husband had died.   It apparently is a very exclusive place to stay.  There were about 4 or 5 Jaquer out front when we drove up and a bell man came out to help them.   It cost them over 400 Euro per night and the Area Presidency reserved two nights for them so they could go there after they flew in that morning.   This is out of their normal price they pay for motels so they were shocked and had to get hold of their supervisors to tell them about the situation and cost.   On top of all of that breakfast was not included.   They did talk them into giving them breakfast because they didn’t use the room the night before.   It is a good thing one of them spoke German.   Apparently the breakfast was really good.  The best they have ever had.

After we dropped them off we had to go to Friedburg about 30 minutes from that location and pick up our German driving license.  We had gone in about 4 months ago and paid for it and filled out papers and took them our mug shot for the license but had to wait until we had been here 6 months.  We hit our 6months in that county on the 10^th of September but because it was a Saturday, we had to pick it up on Monday.   Apparently you have to get it that day or you are driving illegally.   They don’t give you a break at all.   Then we had to stop in Ober Erlenbach about 20 minutes from that place and pick up a key for Erik’s pool car and we thought we were going back to the airport to pick up the car but Peter Meiser said for us not to try and get the car because we don’t speak German and the papers might not be in the car.   We brought the keys back to the Area Office and said they would have to figure it out.

We had to go back early Tuesday morning and pick them up and take them to the office.  By the way we had a van from the Office because our little Corsa couldn’t hold them or their luggage so Marv was driving around a huge van all this time.   He did really good.   When we got them to the office, we then had to take Heidi out to the airport to pick up a car that was in long term parking because Erik, the Assistant to the Area Director ended up in the hospital in Rome and so someone had to get the pool car.   Thank heavens they got her all the paperwork she needed and she had no problems getting it taken care of.

Then  at about 1:30 we took the 3 BYU-Idaho guys and the Asplunds to the Ronneburg Restaurant for lunch in the van and back to the office for 15 minutes while they downloaded their e-mails and Asplunds got their luggage to travel with them.  Then we were office to the airport again for the 2^nd time that day.   Each trip takes us about 30 minutes to get there.   We dropped them off and came back and filled the van with gas and turned in the keys.  By then the day was gone so we went home.  We were both so tired.   Marv slept for about 2 hours.   It was a good day, a different day, and a tiring day.   Now they are off flying around Europe for the next 5 days giving a fireside on the internet degrees available through BYU-Idaho and the Asplunds are just their traveling companions.   I can’t remember every place they were going but I know that they were flying to Sweden that day and then to Albania the next day.  

This Sunday Marv has to pick all of them up at the airport again with the Van and then try to get them 40 minutes away to a sacrament meeting, then 30 minutes after sacrament ends get them back to Frankfurt (10 minutes not enough) to another meeting and then they will do a fireside that night and then we have to take them to a motel in Bad Homburg for the evening.   I figure Marv will get home after 10:30 or 11 p.m.   I wanted to go to the fireside for the Senior missionaries that night but I will see if that works.  

One thing we did a couple of weekends ago was go to another castle (surprise,not) but when we got there they were only doing a tour in German and told me we had to schedule things ahead to get it in English like 3 days and for a group.   We had the Asplunds with us but they had been on the tour and didn’t want it again so it was just the two of us.   We paid the price and signed up for the German tour.  When we got to one of the rooms I noticed that there was another group of people with a guide (5 of them) and it appeared to me that he was talking in English.   I made my way across the room and sure enough he was.   I listened until he stopped talking and then I asked the group and him if it would be possible for my husband and I to join then because I didn’t understand the German.   He and the people graciously said sure.   He told our tour guide he had us.   The group we left had about 40 people in it so it was nice to be in a small group and he was wonderful.   I felt this was a little tender mercy from Heavenly Father because I was getting so discouraged in the other group not understanding anything.   The Asplund’s went into the town and were waiting for us.   We had a huge bowl of ice cream and headed back to Frankfurt.   We ate in a castle place in Frankfurt that there was all kinds of construction around.   It was good food.  Normally priced for here but not enough room for a group of 25.  We were looking for someplace to feed the people coming for a training on the 29^th and 30^th of September.  

The weather here is unpredictable.   One minute if we are lucky it is sunshine and then later one it can be raining.   It is hot and then it is really cold.  No wonder I keep getting a cough and sounds deep.   It seems to be worse on cloudy and rainy, cold days.   We still like where we live.   We like the people we work with and the time is going fast.  

I love the scriptures and they have helped me so much to see the Lord’s hand.   It seems when I read them I found an answer to some concern and feel the love of the Lord or feel a resolve to try harder.  I know why we are told to read them because we can find answers.   I know the Lord hears my prayers and he answers them sometimes through thoughts, sometimes through the scriptures and sometimes through other people.   Sometimes he lets me try to work things out on my own but I always know he is aware of me.   I really have been so blessed and I think I am going through some challenges because they will make me a better person.   Everyone has their challenges and I don’t want anyone else’s because when I look around, I am so grateful I don’t have to walk in others shoes.   I am so grateful the Lord gave Marv and I this opportunity to come and serve here.   We have the best of all worlds.  We have lots of other couples to interact with, time to see things on our P-Day and work to further the temporal affairs of the church.   We have the time to be together and enjoy, lean and build our relationships even more.   I have the very best companion in the world and am so blesses to be with him.

We love all of you and hope that you see the tender mercies of the Lord in your lives.   I know that he is aware of each of you and that He loves you.   May you have a wonderful week.

Love,

Mom and Dad,

Marv and Vickie

Elder and Sister Paxton

Family Letter August 26, 2011

Friday, August 26, 2011

Dear Family,

I am trying to write a  quick note so I can get this in the mail.  Where does the time go?   It seems like it is flying by.  We have just passed our 6 month mark and that means we only have a year left.   There is so much to do and see I hope we will get some things accomplished.  

Last Sunday, I invited over three couples for dinner at our house.  We had Diane and Allen Asplund, the Leonards from Cheyenne, Wyoming.  He was a child’s dentist after he got out of the military where he was dentist.  The Davies, who are the Executive Secretary to the Area President and who picked us up at the airport when we first arrived and had us stay in the apartment in their building for a few days until we moved over here to Bad Vilbel.   We all had a great visit and it was fun getting to know people a little better.  I fixed cordon bleu, which you buy in the store frozen for 4 of them and it only costs at 2.59 Eur, which is really reasonable and easy because you just pop them in the oven for 25 minutes and they are done.   I tried to make scalloped potatoes in the crockpot and everyone seemed to like them.  We had sliced Baguettes (like French bread, just smaller around), frozen vegetables, a tossed salad that Sister Asplund bought and ice cream for dessert.   We didn’t visit real long because we had a fireside with a member of the Area Presidency at 7:00 and one of the sisters had to go put together the refreshments at 5:30 p.m. but it was still very nice.

I am planning on having two couples and a single senior missionary sister, who is leaving in a couple of weeks over this Sunday for dinner after church and  then we will go for a walk by the river and park if the weather permits.  The two couples are new. One are the Wells from Provo, was an Psychology professor and originally from St. George and he still has a lot of family in St. George.  The other couple are the Bradley’s and they are from Holiday (how do you spell that?  I am brain dead.)   He is a lawyer and they are not missionaries but service representatives.  They are invited to all our activities and meetings though.   It will be interesting to find out what that means and I don’t know how long they are here except I know they signed some kind of a contract.  His wife doesn’t have an assignment so she is making quilts and cooking and finding things to do.  

We had Zone Conference a week ago and that was really good.   It is always nice to get together with the other couples and be uplifted and laugh also.  We learned about a lot of them and their assignments here which was really interesting.  Marv and I had to tell about our assignments and how we give service.  That was really hard for me.   Marv did a great job and I am glad I really had to think about what benefit I am giving.   It was interesting to understand what Humanitarian projects there are throughout Europe and what the Public Affairs people have worked on.  They can’t tell you what they are working on now only after it is done.

Last Saturday, the Asplund’s came over and we met up with the Peterson’s from Lehi and walked around our town and park.  It was the start of a Festival here and they were getting their booths set up in the park.   I bought a tablecloth and some small square tablecloths for the table also.   We ate a hamburger at the Down Under Australian Restaurant and it actually was very good.  Marv and I ordered the kids meal and it was plenty.   It was a hamburger and fries.  The hamburger was the normal size hamburger but we saw the other hamburgers and they were HUGE.   We of course had our Cola Light and it was hot for once outside and I could have had two of them easily.   

Afterwards we walked around a little more and then we watched a parade.   It was fun.   I have now seen my first German parade.   There were about three bands and they weren’t kids bands but adults dressed in costumes.   There were huge tractors pulling big wagons (I’m guessing like hay wagons) with people inside most of the time having a good time and drinking beer.   During the parade, they gave away flowers, apples, apple juice and we think beer, (we didn’t take any – in case you are wondering), cookies, key chains, and of course candy.  We really did enjoy watching it.   The floats have a long ways to be like the floats back home even the small town floats at home are much better but it was still fun to see.   I was clapping for the floats and realized that the Germans don’t clap.   Oh well, maybe I can start something new.   We hurried and got home and had to leave for our Ward party. 

I had made peanut butter brownies with my precious chocolate chips in them and they failed.  They were getting too done on top and not done enough in the middle.   I have to hurry and find something else I could take so I took some packaged fancy looking cookies with chocolate on them.   I felt so dumb but what do you do when you are trying to learn how to cook.   I think part of the problem is they don’t have real brown sugar over here either.   Oh well, it was still fun.   They had over 100 people show up for the ward party.   It was mainly different salads and dessert but it was fine.  It was pretty noisy in the gym because everyone was talking and they had it set up so that you moved around trying to get to know all the new families that have moved into the ward.   We got home about 8:30 p.m. and I had to finish putting the finishing touches on my Relief Society lesson.

On Sunday, I taught President Utchdorf’s talk On the Road to Damascus.   It was a really good talk and I was glad I got to teach it because I learned so much and it was exactly what I needed to learn at this stage.   The sisters were wonderful with sharing some of their experiences that really added to the lesson.   I think it went well and I felt the Lord was really helping me.   I am glad that they ask us to teach once in a while because I need that spiritual uplift in my life even more.   We do have a devotional in my office every day and that is really good.

Well I guess I had best get this in the mail.   I love all of you and hope that life is treating you good.   We are doing good and I am happy to be here serving at this time.  Marv is awesome and he is the best companion anyone would or could ask for.   We think about you and love you. 

 

Love ya,

Mom and Dad, Grandpa and Grandma (Vickie for MaKayla), Marv and Vickie for the rest of you

Brother and Sister Pearle, May 5, 2011

Visit to Perle's to get computer and records for the Center for Young Adults Program, May 5, 2011

(Elder and Sister Perle with Marv and Vickie Paxton in the Perle's livingroom in Nutingen, Germany)

Sister Pearle and Vickie Paxton by their apartment

(This is taken from a letter sent to our family on May 5, 2011)

Today Marv and I along with Asplund’s (Diane and Allan),who are the CFYA Leaders, and who we have become good friends with got to travel to the town, called Nutingen, that is about 2 ½ hours away from here to pick up a computer, filing cabinet and files for Marv’s job from Brother Perle.   It was a very nice drive and I did notice a couple of castles on the hills on our drive but of course we couldn’t stop. 

Sister Perle fixed us lunch and it was very good.  She had chicken pieces in a sauce over rice, sliced tomatoes with sliced round mozarrela cheese and rolls.   Her table was beautifully set and her home was very lovely.   It is in an apartment building where they have lived for the past 36 years.   They pretty much raised their children there.  As I looked around, she had decorated it very lovely and she shared stories about a lot of the things she had.   There were stories about a lot of the figurines she had.  Some were given to them from people they served on their missions and held special meanings for her. 

Sister Asplund and I loved visiting with this sister.   She gave us a book to look at that was all about Dresden and what happened there during World War II.   I should have borrowed it because she had two of them.  One was in English and the other one was in German.  I found it very interesting and the pictures were so good to look at. 

I was amazed that she raised her children in this small of a place.  There is a small kitchen, a 1/2 bath, small diningroom, a livingroom which has door out to a very nice balcony and then some steep stairs to an upper part that has an office which used to be a big bedroom and I believe maybe two other bedrooms up there.  We are truly blessed to have such large homes with yards in America.  Their apartment building has 6 apartments in it, I think.  

Brother and Sister Perle shared with us their story of how they met.  She is a convert and Brother Perle baptized her.   She saw the name of the church on the outside of a church and decided to attend a meeting and check it out.  She then got interested in going to the dances and activities there on weekends.   During that time in Stuttgard there were a lot of soldiers here and so a lot of the girls married the American soldiers but she didn’t.   Brother Perle when he was 23 and a newlywed was made a Branch President.   Then he was a Bishop, Counselor in Stake Presidency 2 times, Bishop again and I think they have been on 6 missions.  They have served in the temple a couple of times, in Dresden proselyting,  and Trainer for the CFYA.   He is around 75 years of age. 

<>     <> Sister Perle told us a very touching story about how she had had a  sickness that paralyzed her from the waist down when they were on one of their missions so they had to be released.  Brother Perle gave her a priesthood blessing after she had suffered some time with this and the doctors didn’t know what was wrong with her.  She was healed enough that she can walk around now.  After this healing and getting better they went back and finished their mission but they feel they can never pay back the Lord enough for healing her.   Her legs are still kind of weak but she said she can get around and she is not complaining.  

This is a picture of Elder Perle and his brother and sisters when they were little and then when they were older.  We thought this was a cute way to see the changes in life.

They shared some beautiful stories with us.  She told us we need to go to Dresden and see all the history that is there.   This is where the wall was put up and divided the East from the West.   She remembers this time very well.   She is actually from Czech Republic and she remembers the night that Dresden was bombed by us.  She was close to the border and they could see the glow of the fires from the bombing.   She was kicked out of Czech Republic but was sent to Stuttgart,
Germany, to live with a relative, which was a blessing in disguise because  she did not have to stay behind the iron wall.   She and Brother Perle met in Stuttgart.   Anyway we learned so much from them and the Spirit was so strong.   If only we could have experiences like today every day. 

We had a prayer before we left for guidance and safety and for a nice time of getting to know and love the Perle’s.  We were able to travel up there with no problems and traffic was even decent.   I had been a little concerned because Marv was having to drive a big van and I know how hard it is to get around in the little car we have – I hoped he would not have any problems.   We didn’t get lost and the ride went smooth.  Coming home we couldn’t get the car to start because we could get the key to turn so Brother Perle tried to help us and finally after reading the manual, he got the car started.   It was kind of funny but then we left after they gave us some sweet rolls from the bakery for our trip home.   The Perle’s are the most wonderful and faithful people I have ever met.   They are loved by Heavenly Father and you can feel that they know that and how much they want to serve the Lord.   Our trip home took us an extra hour because of traffic.  We left around 8:15 a.m. and got home at 7:00 p.m.   I felt the Lord did bless us totally today.  

Marv shared his story of why he is on a mission today with the Perle’s.  Brother Asplund asked him to do that.   He has told his story many times.   I always want to add what I felt and saw but I let him tell it his way and don’t interject anything.   He always gets choked up and he says he knows the Lord saved his life and this is a small thing he can do to give back a little to the Lord.   I am so proud on him.   He is truly doing a great job here.  

I love all of you.   I want you to know that I love the Lord and I am glad that I too have listened to the Spirit and made choices in my life that have given me this opportunity to serve here.  I have come to know that the Lord knows the end from the beginning and he knows what we are capable of doing.  I know that he loves each of us.   I know that he wants us to obey the commandments and as we do, he blesses us beyond measure.   He never breaks his promises to us.   It is us that break our promises to him.   I love my Savior, I love each of you with all my heart.   I miss you but I know this is where we are suppose to be right now at this particular time.  I believe as time goes on we will even learn more on how we can serve him even better and why he wants us here.   Even if it is for us to be stronger, to love each other and our family even more, even if it is to make some new and dear friends, even if it is to touch the heart of someone somewhere, there is a purpose and we need to do our part.   What a wonderful opportunity to learn to serve and to serve with all our heart.   May the Lord bless all of you with the blessings that you need and desire.   May you feel his love for you and that his love will fill in for us while we are gone.   May all of you feel that we are where Heavenly Father wants us and that you will feel our love for you is my prayer.   The gospel is true and if we follow the commandments we will find happiness in all our lives.   Keep up the good work.  Remember to smile and be grateful for the little tender mercies that happen in each of our lives each day.

July 1, 2011

Dear Family and Friends,

The time is flying by.  I can’t believe it is already July.   We hope this finds all of you doing well and enjoying the summer doing some fun things.   We are keeping really busy and for some reason I just don’t seem to get everything done that I want to do.   Sounds like life, doesn’t it?  

Marv is doing an excellent job with the Centers for Young Adults.   He has been busy building new forms and spreadsheets to track the information they need and getting the Finances organized.  It is a lot of work but when he is done, it will be done right and will be easy for the next people to follow.   Because of his association with the CFYA we had the privilege of going to Budapest, Hungary, for three days last week, June 22-24.   When I told my boss we were going he asked that I do a review on the Coordinator out there and so we had to work that into the plan also.  

Our flight from Frankfurt was delayed a half hour but when we got to Budapest we were met by two awesome young Elders from Washington State.  They are from the same town, same ward, received their calls the same day to Budapest, entered the MTC together, flew to Hungary together and after 18 months of serving, they are now serving together in the mission office.   We really enjoyed getting to know them and feel of their love for their mission.   They even called us on Friday and asked if we needed a ride back to the airport so that saved us a taxi ride.   Their names are Elder Murray and Elder Miller.   (Even their names start with the same letter of the alphabet).   They also helped us during our training which was held in the mission home/office/CFYA building.  

It was very nice and there was a little air conditioning in the room, which was like a small living room that we gave our presentation to the Mission President and his wife, two sister missionaries (senior) serving right there in Budapest and a senior couple, the Harwell’s serving in a town about two hours away.   One of the sisters, Sister Smith, was in the MTC with us and so it was great to renew acquaintances.  She also made a lot of the arrangements for us for the training.   She made homemade cinnamon rolls and they were so good.  

We spent over two hours in training and then we had sat in on a council meeting with the Council Chairmen of the CFYA.  What a wonderful young man he is and how devoted he is to finding the lost sheep.   It was exciting to hear about the things he is doing with the other young people to search for those that could be coming to the Center and taking Institute classes.  They have an average of 16 people attend Institute and on Mondays for Family Home Evening, they have 25 to 30 and on Friday night activities they have sometimes as much as 50 young people come.  Some of these are not members and so this is a great place for them to feel the spirit.  Sister Smith and Sister Chase are doing a great job because they are having the Center open five nights a week from 3 or 4 p.m. on.   They have FHE on Mondays, Institute class on Tuesday and Wednesday, English classes on Thursday, and an activity on Fridays.   A lot of the Centers are only open two days a week but the Church would like them to be open 5 nights a week and as you can see they are definitely doing that.   Sister Chase is there until the end of July when Sister Smith’s new companion will come and Sister Chase will return to Germany to a CFYA she was working in before Sister Smith’s companion, who was her aunt had to go home because the work was too hard.   I think she might have actually been assigned to a new mission in the States that would not be as hard for her to do.  She was in her late 70’s and I believe this was her 5^th mission.

When we got done with the meetings, Marv took them out to lunch but it was almost 2:00 p.m. and I needed to meet with the Coordinator of S&I so I told them to go without me.   I met with the Coordinator and was so grateful to have this opportunity to look at his records, which he did a really good job at organizing his papers.  I was able to teach him some things about how to use and record his Visa charges and the program that is used for that.  I loved that part because I was teaching him something he wanted to know. 

He then after about two hours took Marv and I in his car to see some of Budapest.   Budapest is split in the middle by the River Danube.  On the flat side it is called Pest (peshh) and on the hilly side of the river it is called Budda.   He used to be a history teacher so he was so wonderful at telling us the history of Hungary and Budapest.   He showed us Castle hill that looks over the city and has a huge Castle on it.   (We didn’t have time to actually go in but we walked around a little bit.)   It was so hot too.  

Then he took us to the hill that Elder Nelson dedicated the land to preaching of the gospel.  This is the story I downloaded from the lds site.   But to actually stand where he stood was quite amazing and the funny part is we were pretty much alone there even though before there seemed to be people everywhere.  It was so peaceful and beautiful.  It was a by a huge statute that they call their Statue of Liberty, which was put up after World War II.   Here is the story:

Hungary, Budapest

The desire shown by many Hungarians to learn about the Church and the improvement in relations between the U.S. and eastern European countries presaged the visit to Hungary of Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve in April 1987. On Mt. Gellert, situated in a Budapest park, he offered a prayer to dedicate Hungary for missionary labor. In his words, “It was Easter Sunday. There had been a lot of people, a lot of traffic in the park. But all of a sudden, the people had gone home, and I had a sweet, peaceful feeling this [was] the spot.” ²⁵

Because the Church had not as yet received legal recognition, Elder Nelson immediately informed the government about the dedicatory prayer. He explained its significance to Dr. Imre Miklos, state secretary and president of the State Office for Religious Affairs. Dr. Miklos was moved and expressed his appreciation for the desire of the Church to bless the people of his country.

On 1 June 1988, the document granting legal recognition to the Church was signed in Budapest by Dr. Miklos, representing the government of Hungary. On June 24, Elder Nelson received the official declaration in Budapest on behalf of the Church. He was accompanied by Elder Hans B. Ringger of the First Quorum of the Seventy and President Dennis B. Neuenschwander, president of the Austria Vienna East Mission—the Church leader who would have immediate jurisdiction over missionary efforts in Hungary. Also present were two Hungarian members of the Church, Dr. Gedeon Kereszti, serving then as the president of the Hungarian District, and his counselor, Dr. Peter Paul Varga.

He then took us to see the Parliament Building.  It is huge with a lot of Roman architecture.  We didn’t have time to go in but it was still nice to see the outside and have him share more history with us.   The buildings in this town have a lot of detail on the outside with statutes and figures everywhere, on the face of the buildings, on the top of buildings, etc.  The town is dirtier than in Germany and there seem to be more poor walking around.

Marv and I walked around on Friday morning before our flight and walked in the park across from where we were staying.  We were approached by a gypsy (I’m sure that is what she was) and she was begging us for money for her bambinos – we are told not to give out money.   She followed us and I was really nervous.   I’m sure she figured we were American because we told her we didn’t speak Hungarian so she tried German and then French but she didn’t know English.   It was very strange.   I wanted to get out of there and I had to practically drag Marv along.   I didn’t feel safe and he thought we were fine because he saw a woman with a baby.   I don’t care – I didn’t feel safe and I was really glad to get away from there.  We were looking at a statue of a Hungarian Soldier and German Soldier shaking hands, the date was in 1914 so the end of World War I.

The currency if HUF and it is large amounts and so when you spent 1800 HUF you panic but that is about 7 EUR or 11 US Dollars.   I was ready to come home on Friday.   I thought I would be better about the travel but it is actually kind of scary to me when I can’t speak the language and I don’t know where to go and some of the streets we were walking on didn’t seem safe.   I know you have to careful about pick pockets there and Marv was so frustrated with me for making him put his wallet in his front pocket.   It really was an interesting city but without Brother Jozsef Kucskar we really wouldn’t have seen much or known what we were looking at.  

One of the most interesting parts of the time was hearing his conversion story and hearing how he came to be a Coordinator for S&I.   He and his wife are the only members on both sides.   He joined because of his wife.   He was raised staunch Catholic and practiced his religion and didn’t see a need for any other one.   But he joined and developed his testimony and even though he always wanted to be a lawyer (I think he would have made a good lawyer), he agreed to work for S&I because of his wife again.   Women look at the influence you can have on the men around you.   He is a wonderful man and he has had many challenges but I believe that has made him even better.  He was traveling that night to a town and then staying overnight so that he can meet with the Elders and Priesthood leaders to see about starting an Institute class there.   The area was just opened to missionary work.   He loves what he does and we were told he is a great teacher.   I know he was a great teacher for Marv and I.   Isn’t it interesting all the people the Lord just puts in our path so that we can learn and grow?  

By the way, Budapest had McDonald’s, which we ate at 2 times because we could point at the picture, a KFC and a Burger King all in the same block.  They are everywhere.   We did eat breakfast in the motel because it came with our room and we ate dinner on Thursday night there.   It was really good.   I had perch and Marv had some bacon wrapped meat.   Our room was very hot and our little refrigerator did not work but other than the heat issue, we survived and learned a lot from our experience.   We are suppose to go to Warsaw, Poland, to do some training in July.   We have an S&I couple there so we will probably do double duty again.   I just hope we get to go to some other places too even if it is scary.

On Saturday, we went to Mainz, Germany about 45 minutes away to meet up the Asplund’s and the new Mental Health Couple, the Dearings.  She is the doctor and they are from West Jordan.   She is the same age as me, 57, and she was able to take a leave of absence from BYU to serve this mission because her husband wanted to serve before his health was bad.  He is around 65.   She has a medical degree and worked for the state as a clinical psychologist, retired from there and is now teaching at BYU.   I really like her and it was fun to get to know the two of them.   We ate in a Mexican food place.   It was interesting and sort of okay.   They all loved it but I don’t know if I will drive 45 minutes to eat there again.  You never know.    We didn’t do much here but do in a Catholic Church which was huge.   We found an ice cream stand because Brother Asplund always likes to get an ice cream when we are touring and ate it and then pretty much came home.   We got home by at 6 and we left around 12 that day.

I have really had my struggles while being here but this week after a few bad days, I feel I have passed through some of the tough times and I am on the road that is better.   I guess I expected this to be easy because it is like a job but it has been the hardest job I think I have ever done.   I have trying to learn all the different personalities and trying to get people to make changes that have been their traditions for well over 30 years.   I think I was trying to be someone I am not and now I have come to realize that the Lord expects me to be me and that he will help ME.   I look forward to better days ahead.   Thank heavens for my awesome husband.  He has been my strength and support.  It is funny that I was the one that felt we needed to do this and I am the one that has struggled the most.   He has just jumped in with both feet and he is doing great.   I know I couldn’t be here without him so I am grateful his life was spared.   We are loving our time together.   This is a wonderful place to be and this really is a wonderful experience.   I have decided without the challenges I get to face, I wouldn’t grow and the Lord expects me to grow so hopefully I will learn to do what will be the best for those here in Europe and make lots of new friends and come home with a great love for them and be able to share all I have learned.  Every day is a day for learning and I am trying to open my eyes and see what is around me and how I can learn for everything that happens.   I love it and I am in a good place inside myself, which allows me to reach out to those around me.  

I want you to know I love my Savior.   I know he lives.  I know he loves me, he knows me, he know the end from the beginning and everything between.   I know that we are here at this precise moment in this precise place for a precise reason and I know the Lord doesn’t want any of us to fail and he is there to help us.   I feel his presence and the presence of others that sent to help me.   We are so blessed to be surrounded by great people.   I love all of you and I miss you but I know this is right.   I know that President Monson is the prophet and he has extended this call to us.  

May you all be happy and enjoy your journeys where ever they take you.  Stop and smell the roses along the way because I am finding that is what brings the peace and happiness to our lives.   Well I had best stop and get this ready to mail.  

We love you,  Elder and Sister Paxton, Mom and Dad, Marv and Vickie (did I miss any titles?)

We love to hear from you – Write or e-mail let us know how you are doing.   I can’t believe how much we look forward to a word from home.   By the time you get this you will have had the 4^th of July.   I hope all of you were safe and had a great day.