Missionary Friends

During the time Lou and Leona were in Switzerland, they did a lot of fun things with fellow missionaries.  They took some short trips, ate a lot of meals together, cut hair, and enjoyed the pleasant company of good people.  Because this blog is not a travel log, I won't detail the individual experiences, but will share this overview from Dad's journal.

Missionary Christmas Dinner

Leona & Lou on left at the end of the table

December - 1989

As we became acquainted with the other missionaries in the apartment house, we were again impressed with the effect of obedience to the two great commandments. There was such a spirit of kindness, love, and brotherhood among the missionaries that it was a joy to be with them. We ate with other missionaries or they ate with us in our apartment. We got to know each other pretty well this way. Because the Bottas only spoke Italian, and the Mettlers only spoke German, those who could speak English and German and Italian were often invited to be interpreters; so it paid to be able to speak other languages!

Whenever anyone was ill, there was always food, medicine and plenty of advice brought in. It is amazing how many people our age have ways to cure anything! In this climate, everyone was willing and anxious to help, no matter what the need. There were always offers to pick up something at the store and to help with chores around the apartment building.

 Flier announcing an outing

A couple of the missionaries were always planning things we could do on our preparation days if the weather was suitable, and then helping us with directions, money, tickets, interpretation, etc. Several couples would walk two blocks to the train station and go see many beautiful parts of Switzerland. $18 American money would buy a day pass, and we could get on and off at different villages or cities to see the sights, and then get back on the train and go on.

Sunday afternoon walk - March 1990

Leona - Jan and Max Berryessa - Garnet and George Standage

Some of the missionary couples had served several missions already. Several were in their late 70’s and a couple of the men were in the early 80’s. The Standages who finished their mission at the Swiss Temple in March 1990, are now serving in the Washington, DC Temple. Several of the couples we worked with had lost their companions and remarried. They were some of the neatest couples. They were so appreciative of each other, and so caring and courteous, that they made some of us take another look at our roles as husbands.