063 Tuesday to Tuesday (July 1-7, 2015)

July is here, but it doesn’t feel like it. The weather is warmer, but the wind is cool. We love it. We had a meeting with a man who was one of several men who actually started German Festival. Back in 1981, he and a couple of others who were from Germany wanted to have something that resembled a celebration like they had in the old country. His name is Tony Siladi. He and his wife were so gracious to invite us into their home and talk about how the festival got started. 
 

Then

Now

Their families were actually from Germany, but they had to leave the country because they weren’t able to provide for their families.  Many were forced to leave because of wars also. Those who left settled in different parts of Germany, and Tony and his family left and went to Croatia. His wife’s (Theresa) family was there also, and they met each other but did not marry. They were poor, but Tony gained experience with meat packing. His father actually worked with horses and was very good at it.  A family who had immigrated to America got his father to come to take care of their horses. When they first got here, Tony helped with the horses, but that wasn’t what he wanted to do.

Theresa’s family could not get a sponsor to come over, so they went to Canada for a while. It was sometime later that they married.  Tony went to work with someone in New York with meat packing. His uncles had settled in Wisconsin, and eventually, he came here to help in their meat packing business. He met his wife in Wisconsin, and they have been married 55 years. They kept their business, eventually selling out and making a fortune. He then went with another meat packing company.

They lived in a really nice, but not extravagant neighborhood. The outside had so many beautiful flowers. We were given some currants from a tree to eat. They weren’t anything like I expected them to be.  Inside the home was more than I expected. What house has frosted glass on the doors to their pantry? All I could think was I was glad I didn’t have to keep it up. They are looking to sell it and buy something smaller so they don’t have to worry about keeping up the grounds anymore. She is 82, and he is 78 or 79. Wow, they had so much vibrancy about them. They said the secret was in keeping busy.

They had their trials in getting the German Festival started, but now it is the largest festival in the area. They had to call on their friends and push to get it started because there was a German group here who thought the festival would take away their importance in the area. Now, all of them try to take credit for it.

On the 1^st, we were unable to do anything with Victor until the afternoon. We went to the genealogy library to print off his names that he would take to the Temple the next week. That was a big step for him.

Getting names for baptisms at the Temple

That night we had FHE with the Armstrongs. We love them so much. I’m sure all the missionaries in our family will understand what I mean when I say how much we want them to join the Church. They will be so happy if they do.

The next day we were busy with paperwork at home until Pathway that night. We only have three more classes after this night.

On Friday, we went to the Temple. We couldn’t take Victor because he wasn’t off work. We had a good trip. It is amazing ow much we are learning from going each week.

Really, we were hit with the ugly stick!

This Temple is growing on us.

July 4^th, we so wanted to do something, yet no one was partying that we knew of or we just weren’t invited. So sad!  We decided we would go to a parade, but by that time it was too late. We just stayed home and commiserated with each other.

Sunday was busy. After attending services at two different Wards (in the same building), we went to Delavan to help feed the homeless. Several senior missionary couples were going, so we felt it was a good time to fellowship. What an experience! Sometimes I forget how blessed we are, and then the Lord provides an opportunity to remember. It was a good way to spend the Sabbath.

Elder Carter and young Elders

                            How blessed we are and were to help others!

On Monday, we got to work with Salvation Army. There were plenty of people there in the beginning, but the bread truck was running late, so they told everyone to leave that had other things planned. Craig and I had mapped out the morning for the project, and we stayed. As soon as all but a handful had left, the truck showed up. It was hard work making 1800 sandwiches with half the workers absent, but we made it. I found I was more OCD than I realized. I was putting ham and cheese on the sandwiches. I wanted the meat to be straight and the cheese to fit exactly. You can’t really do that when you are in a hurry.

I did get to speak to one of the men who is in charge of Toys for Tots on Christmas Day. He mentioned that they couldn’t get people to help with it, and last year they went out on the street to find some. I told him I thought we could get all the help he needed. I just needed to ask President Cutler first. When I wrote President that night, he said it would be no problem.

Later, Craig had a dental appointment for a chipped tooth. He didn’t get it done; he had to have the insurance agree to the work because the dentist supposedly is going to do something that will make his teeth look straighter while he is fixing the chip. 

The next day, we had Zone training which lasted from 10-1 at City Branch. It was a good meeting as usual. We love that we are being taught about fasting this month. Last time it was about keeping the Sabbath holy. I am going to do a better job preparing for Fast Sunday and staying focused on what is needed and wanted.

Our scripture for July is D&C 121:45:

          Let thy bowels also be full of charity towards all men, and to the household of 
          faith, and let virtue garnish thy thoughts unceasingly; then shall thy confidence    
         wax strong in the presence of God; and the doctrine of the priesthood shall distil 
         upon thy soul as the dews from heaven.

Elder and Sister Lenhard