Friday, March 18, 2016

Senior Missionaries Serving in Limburg

 This article was posted on our office Intranet

Senior Missionaries Expand Their Areas of Service

Over thirty Senior Missionaries currently serving in the Frankfurt Europe Area have discovered an additional way to magnify their calling of serving the Lord and His children:  When they can squeeze in a couple of hours each week, they brighten the day of people in need. 
Within an hour’s drive from Frankfurt is the city of Limburg, Germany, which is currently housing a camp for refugees.  During the morning, the refugees leave the boredom of their cramped quarters and congregate in one large facility.  As the adults are diligently studying German, very little has been provided there for the children’s diversion or entertainment.  Upon visiting this facility, senior sister missionaries recognized that they could do something to improve the situation.
As they put their heads together, the sisters came up with numerous ideas they could share with the people--crafts, games, stories, music, practicing German, etc.  Supplies and generous donations have poured in from missionaries and ward members.  Church funds allocated to the refugee situation have been requested to help with this project as well.  And in some cases, miracles have provided the supplies:  One sister found over 18 pair of knitting needles for almost nothing at a bazaar, and the missionaries located a store which donated kits for two sandboxes because the wood was too old and weathered to be sold.  The refugees, themselves, were then able to assemble and waterproof the sandboxes—much to the children’s delight.
Children and their mothers—and even men-- have enjoyed learning to knit and crochet.  Necklaces made by stringing noodles on yarn have been very popular.  Of course, providing the standard play things—crayons & paper, balloons, play dough, bean bags, and pick-up sticks—never fails to delight the children.  Even the adults have been coaxed into learning new songs since they provide a way to learn German.
These visits--being made three to four times a week--may be a short two hours in length, but their effect on the refugees is timeless!



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