The Freiberg Temple and the week in review

From 2009-11

Caleb and I took a trip to the Freiberg Temple in Germany this weekend and had some great experiences along the way.  In fact we have had a week filled with things, so here's a long rundown.

Quick preface...Temples are special buildings that Latter-day Saints construct as the House of the Lord.  We do not have regular Sunday services there, but instead go there to make covenants with God that we will keep the commandments, to be married for eternity, and perform this work on behalf of people who did not receive the essential ordinances during their mortal life.  I know that last sentence is loaded with Mormon jargon - if you want to understand what I just wrote, start here, otherwise, suffice it to say that going to the temple is an immensely important part of our spiritual development.

The Freiberg Temple holds a very special place in history.  Built in 1985, it was the only temple built behind the iron curtain.  The East German communist government didn't want to allow its residents to go to Switzerland to attend the temple, so they allowed one to be built in an out of the way city near the Czech border.

From 2009-11

On Friday morning, Caleb and I took the train to Prague, then another train to Usti nad Labem (a strikingly beautiful city in the northern mountains along a large river), then Aleš picked us up and drove us to Freiberg.

It was Czech week at the temple so many Czech saints were there.  It was like a big family reunion.  There are dormitories with a shared kitchen and dining area so everyone hangs out and interacts between temple sessions.  This was great since we got to see people from across the country (some we knew, some we met for the first time).  We shared a room with a member of the mission presidency who is also a transportation engineer.  We stayed up late Friday night talking about road design and financing (I know you are thinking "only an engineer").

In the temple communication was typically given German and either Czech or English.  Nobody speaks only one language.  And some spoke all three.  Finally Czech just flowed effortlessly out of my mouth - unfortunately it was only when I was trying to speak German.  It was just beautiful how everyone was just patient and helpful.  We felt very much at home.

On of my favorite people was a brother from Austria who was serving as a temple worker.  He and his wife had served a mission in the temple 10 years earlier and they now go back there (even though Frankfurt is closer) to keep serving.  He spoke to me in English.  I spoke to him in German (to the extent I was able).  And, best of all, when he pronounced Czech names, he even did the "ř" (you'll recall that's the ha-rrrrr-zh sound) just like a Czech.

Besides the social benefits, serving in the temple brings a great peace of spirit that is incredibly refreshing.

Some other events of the week...

From 2009-11

Last Monday and Tuesday the kids had off school in celebration of the anniversary of the start of the protests that led to freedom from communism.  On Tuesday, Kristine, Caleb, Silas and I went to Rudolfov - a small town just outside Česke Budejovice.  It was an absolutely beautiful day for a hike through the woods along a stream.  That afternoon Caleb, Lucy and I biked to Plav.  We also watched TV some to see the images of the protests 20 years ago.

Kristine, Lucy and Silas went to Plzeň to visit Madla on Friday and Saturday.  While there they visited Madla's mom, Maruška, at her cottage.  She's a hunter (a rather rare thing here and even rarer among women) so she made them svičkova from venison with homemade dumplings.  It was delicious (they brought some back).  Kristine said it was a nice visit, though she ended up carrying Silas too much.  Oh, and he vomited on the train just as they got back to Česke Budejovice.  Kristine was able to catch it in a bag though.

By the way, in Usti there were a bunch of roundabouts.  I took some video of a multi-lane roundabout with a fairly large truck volume.  Then, there was a traffic circle that had yields on the inside of the circle (which violates one of the fundamental design principles of modern roundabouts).

On our way back from the temple with the Chrdlovi family, we went to Řip Mountain.  Legend has it that the original Mr. Čech looked out over the land from atop Řip and claimed all the land he saw for his people.  As the core of an old volcano, it is an interesting bell-shaped hill in the middle of a plain.  Going there is kind of like going to Fort Snelling in Minnesota or the Alamo in Texas - it's a fundamental part of the historical identity of the people. 


Finally, Sunday we relaxed with church and time at home to recover from a busy week.

Oh, and a couple of Silasisms...We had watched Green Eggs and Ham for English class.  So, on a walk, Silas says, "Me Sam.  Sam me am."  "Daddy bein' a booger.  He buggin' me all the time." 

Peter