"Proof" we are traveling!

It's not easy for me to post to a blog! Amy has just put up so many really good things on her blog. I guess I better put something up too. It's not because I feel guilty. Au contraire, it's because she inspires me!

First, a picture of the bishop of Charleroi I ward, Bishop Philippe Wery and his wife, who were here at the Temple for the marriage of a friend. Taken April 14, 2009.















This is Dominique Raveneau and his wife and two of his kids. He was 18 when we were in Angers in 1985-86. He has a twin (I had forgotten that). It seems he is heavier than he was then. Some friends from Angers told us they were here, so we went to the "Guest Hostel" and found them!














We went to Luzern (Lucerne). I think that's the town where they invited a special grass for cows. The tower is called "The Water Tower," but I think it was for defense, not for storing water.






















There's a "covered bridge" over the river which flows into the lake. Covered bridges are common in German speaking Switzerland, so when you see one in the US, just think of your German speaking Swiss friends.
















* * * *













I have been impressed with how green the grass has become and how beautiful the flower gardens are around the temple. So I just shot a few pix of them. I'm certainly not a great photographer. It seems every time I hold the camera up, all I see is my own reflection on the back of the camera, so I am just * hoping * that I'm getting what I am aiming at. Anyway, they are beautiful flowers. This first shot is looking south from the front of the temple, at the largest flower garden.





More flowers.




More.


















One of these shows the street: Temple Street! Can you enlarge it so that you can read the words?














I hoped to get both the temple and the flower gardens in front of it. But it didn't work. As I saw, I just point and shoot! Not a good way, but I can't figure out another way.































This is "downtown" Zollikofen. It's not very big. Actually, it's kind of long and narrow. This is one of the more important roundabouts near the north end of town. Across the street you can see the pharmacy which has been friendly to us.



That's enough for today.

Meeting new people.

This is going to be short. I hope to post something longer later today.

Yesterday, Sunday Apr 26, I attended in the morning, as usual, the German ward. At the end, I met a senior missionary couple named Atkinson. I asked them if they spoke German and they said no. (Once again I ask myself, “why are they sending only-English speakers to Europe?”) Well, it turns out they have a rather special calling, one that sounds pretty “adventuresome.” They are charged with setting up a Church-sponsored anti-drug program in countries in Europe. I guess they are talking to government and healthcare officials in many countries. So they often don't need to have any other language, since many such people in Europe (who are, by definition, well-educated) speak English. Still, it would be nice if they could at least greet such people in French and/or German and/or other languages.

Anyway, this couple said they travel a lot! I told them Nicky's father-in-law has a new calling involving the same thing in his stake in Buffalo, N. Y. The couple said they were in Paris last week and it was Stake Conference with meetings held, I think, in the rue Merrie meeting house. They were * im-pressed! * by what they saw! It's a 16th century building, and it was filled!!! I think Stacy and Alice have seen that building, and I hope some day I can see it too.

Earthquake in Italy.

Our temple president, President Castellani, just sent me some pictures of the earthquake which took place on April 6 in a city in central Italy called L'Aquila (the Eagle).

It was 5.8 on the Richter scale. 279 dead. 1500 hurt. 10-15 thousand buildings damaged. Some of our fellow temple workers have friends and maybe even family living in that area. The Rome Stake has rolled up its sleeves to get to work. Four LDS Church families were directly affected by the quake, including the branch president. But they're getting back on their feet. Here is the site the president sent me.

http://mail.google.com/mail/?hl=en#inbox/120ca17448a2327e

Whoops! It won't work. The only thing this does is lead you to my logon site at google. Sorry about that. I'll see if I can figure out another way send you these photos. Actually, maybe you can find them by just googling for "earthquake in Italy."

Ah ha! Here is what I found. Some of the pictures are the same ones the president sent us.

http://www.sacbee.com/static/weblogs/photos/2009/04/021291.html


In any case, be ready for . . . ANYTHING!!



Get your 72-hour survival bags ready!

Luv,
Gerry/Dad

Do research by reading old newspapers!!!

Dear family

I just saw the following website http://archive.deseretnews.com/historic/

It contains issues of the Deseret News back to 1850. I decided to have it look for the word Giauque.

Several interesting hits: one is about James and Zelona Giauque, of Mesa, Arizona, who in 1989 sent a Book of Mormon containing their testimony. It ended up in the hands of someone who was the golden contact of Zelona Giauque's sister. . . in Africa! The story appeared in the Church News in 1990.

Also an article about the death of my great-great-grandmother, Elizabeth von Gunten Giauque. The article says she arrived in SLC in 1874, and that she was greatly appreciated by the Salt Lake German community. Another indication that she was more comfortable speaking German than French, and that Arnold Gustave Sr. may have been more of a German speaker than a French speaker, even though his paternal ancestors were French speakers from Preles.

There's even an announcement about Mom's and my marriage.

Gotta go to bed. 'S late. Luv to all.
Dad

P.S. As mentioned above, the maiden name of Elizabeth Giauque (who came to SLC in 1874) was “von Gunten.” We've found and visited the town of Gunten and the village of Sigriswil, both south of Bern. I think I remember reading that the missionaries who baptized her in St. Imier may have come from one or both of those villages, and may have even been distant relatives of hers. Further research may tell.

P. P. S. Today we saw several friends from Strasbourg and Charleroi (Belgium) in the temple! Wow! What a reunion!!

Trip to Spiez and Interlaken.

Last Monday, April 6, we drove about 20 miles to Spiez and then 20 more to Interlaken, south of Bern. The day was nice, the lake (Thun Lake, or Thuner See (or Thun Sea) was pretty, and the mountains huge and impressive.

I hope I can get these pictures posted.


This is the statue of the founder of the city of Bern. I'm sorry it's more of me and not all of the top of the statue.




















This is Alice in front of a flower garden at the Castle of Spiez.














Bigger view of the castle. It's been renovated many times, and in each century (since the 12th), they just add more. It's not big. We couldn't get in, because the tourist season hasn't started yet.














The old and tall part of the castle is NOT a Renaissance palace. It seems to have been built for defense (in the 12th century). In German, this is called the "Wehr Turme," which means "War Tower!" Get the picture? I guess they made it tall so that they could, as a last resort, drop stuff (rocks, boiling water, or worse) on invaders who might have gotten inside the castle walls. I really can't think of any other reason for building it so tall.



















Speaking of a "War Tower," check out this huge castle we saw near Strasbourg back in Sept 2007. To be posted later, if I can find some pictures.




Took a picture of the lake and mountains, not knowing if it would show anything but haze. But it turned out o.k. We're looking north, and the mountains are smaller (but they're still big) and have lost their snow. To my back are the big mountains, covered with snow.


















I think it would be better just to send you professionally take photos. Look at these sites: (I hope to find some later.)





You can't believe how many different watch companies there must be in Switzerland. And how many languages the watch stores speak!! (I count 11 on the first two signs. Is that really Russian, Stacy?) On the second two signs, look for all the names of watch companies you know.

Our official "snail-mail" address:

It has been suggested that for reasons of security, this information about our address and phone should be removed. So I am removing it.

Comments on Conference, April 5/6, 2009

Hi all,

It's 3:45 p.m. Sunday afternoon (Apr 5). What a wonderful General Conference so far! Not only the regular General Conference with absolutely great talks; we've been able to see the Sat. morning session last night (Sat. evening) and this morning at 11 a.m., the pre-recorded Priesthood session, and then, on the net, we saw Sat. afternoon session, although we paid a little less attention to it because we were having lunch. I was particularly impressed with Presidents Uchtdorf's and Eyring's talks! I felt like those two men are truly pillars of strength! One of the favorite images of my mind is what I imagined when I first read a story about Moses in Exodus 17:12. (Check it out.) Aaron and Hur were Moses' first and second counselors!

It's nice to see that one of the Twelve Apostles will be able to speak to French speakers in their native language, even if he is not a native speaker of French. That will be nice! And I believe that's a first. I don't know if there's ever been an Apostle who didn't need a translator, at least for the French. True, some of the Apostles have learned German or Spanish as missionaries, but I don't think there has been any apostles, up to now, who could do French or Portuguese (or Italian). I think there were some, like John A. Widtsoe, who might have been able to do Norwegian, but that's a long time ago (1925? - 1952?), and the apostles didn't go to far away places back then.

We were touched by Elder Scott's very personal remarks. Elder Cook was pretty direct! Elder Christofferson was absolutely eloquent, and taught the doctrine in a very touching way! Sister Lifferith of the Primary was “right on” with her comments about respect! All in all, this is a great Conference. But in addition, we watched the Young Women's Session held on March 28. It is also on the Internet. President Monson was at his very best in that session! You've gotta listen to it! Go to http://www.lds.org/ and then to General Conference, and then find Young Women's. We men are missing a lot when we don't listen to Relief Society Conference in September and Young Women's Conference in March.

Connie, is it true that Sister Cook, whose maiden name was Nelson, is a relative of yours? A cousin? She's too young to be your aunt! 2nd counsin?

We also watched Sunday morning and heard Pres. Uchtdorf again, and also Elder Holland.
W O W! Some of the Interweb comments are that Elder Holland's talk deserves to be memorized!

We didn't hear Sunday afternoon. . . it will be played next Sunday. But already we've heard that Elder Bednar's talk was also very doctrinal and very inspiring.

The Gospel is true! It's wonderful to know that it is!

Luv to all, Dad and Mom / Gerry and Alice.