A HOTTT JULY MONTH, 2018!

What a wonderfully hot Summer Month! We've been very busy in the Temple, of course, but we've also been very active in our wonderful German country! As we've lived through some cool - cold Fall and Winter days and nights and looked forward to Spring and Summer, we had no idea what the sun and very little rain would bring to us and the entire countryside.

Ilona Hartz and Lyn in her Garden

This is displayed very well by these poor, suffering pumpkin plants' wilted leaves - and, they are, of course, watered by Ilona Harzt in her garden by a watering can more often than most plants all around the neighborhood! Ilona has been such a good friend - we've had many musical adventures during our time in the Freiberg Branch. She has most recently asked me to lead the Sacrament Meeting music once a month. That has been great fun looking at our Branch members.

Poor Wilted Pumpkin Caps

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• As the end of July has come upon us, there have been comments made about this being the longest, hottest day stretch in the history here. When we first came last May, we lived on the third floor in a small apartment of the Temple missionary apartments. There was one window to the South. May was warm enough. As June and July came it was definitely warming up. We had an option to move to the main floor as one missionary couple was moving. We were delighted! Although we knew there was an afternoon sun setting exposure, we thought we just couldn't wait any longer. Besides which, the next available apartment would be located in the basement - much cooler, but also darker. Since light is always a happy part of my life, we chose to move to the main floor in early August. There would be another opening if we wanted to wait until November, but we opted to move into the downstairs then! This month has been so hotttt - we've thought back to that other apartment which had morning instead of afternoon sun. However...here we are.

Angela, Annaliese, Rosi, S. Wang and S. Apel 

Our view out the window is into some neighbors' backyards. So fascinating - we can see the side of the Fröbel's house - the daughter of President and Sister Frank Apel - part of the previously described Freiberg Temple history. She is the hair care queen for all of the sister missionaries.

 Parker, Moss, Thornock, Linford

We RS Sisters were just invited to a wonderful cool (big surprise!) evening of wonderful food and conversation in her home! She stood so happily in her kitchen showing off her vibrant red-colored walls and many other bright accents. She said she had done the whole thing herself except for two salads brought by her counselors. She is a COOK!

Happy Chef with her Delectables!

When we first came I found it very strange that she was the Relief Society President in the Branch as well as the First Counselor in the Stake Relief Society. She is very busy as she works several days of the week from early to early evening in her downstairs hair salon as well as still caring for a darling 14+ son, Gordon. She does all of it with great energy and enthusiasm and speaks always in the Saxisch dialect - of which she is very proud!! We sit and talk actively every month - great learning for me, and, I think, teaching for her!

Amazing Coloring of Dawn or Dusk Depending on Time

The most wonderful thing about our apartment view - certainly not a beautiful one looking into our neighbor's backyards - is that it is accompanied by the enchanting sound of early morning small birds singing. They are darling sparrows, mainly, I think. Of course, they are also great callers for their families retiring to home in the evening. 

We love to have the windows open - even though the light can begin coming in these days at 4:30 a.m. - and of course, the birdies are awakened about that early hour by their friend, the sun. That's too early for the work-a-day missionaries!