Krefeld, Germany

Up at about 7:45. Took Jimmy swimming at the pool by the convention center and stadium with the Cub Scouts. We were there until about 11:00. I had a good time, but the water and building sure were cold! I went by Trautmann’s and discussed Relief Society and Primary problems. We’ll probably have to reorganize everything to get leadership which can run the organization.

I took the consolidated reports to Brother Hoffman and then with with Peter over to Hansen’s to see if we could get their car to run. After jumping, it started. I cleaned the sparkplug wires; one is bad. I told Sister Hansen to take the car to a garage to have it tuned up.

I went back to the house and put Nina’s bicycle tire on. I looked for the leak in the Mercedes but couldn’t find it. Looks like a hose from the water pump is leaking. The car needs points and plugs pretty badly. It would get better gas mileage if repaired.

I went Home Teaching with Br. Schroeder. Br. Miller went with Br. Rudloff. They went to see the Von Royen’s. Lots of spiritual problems at that house.

Br. Schroeder wanted to find a new apartment. We went to look at one and found a very unfriendly landlord. He raised the rent when he saw us. We went to the Hansen’s, Grühn’s, and Tourne’s. We were back to the church at 9:30. I drove the missionaries to Heile to find an address for a referral and then drove them home. I was in bed by 11:30.

Transcribed from my journal.

Krefeld, Germany

Traffic moved right along today and I was in to work about 8:30. I spent most of the morning moving from my own office into a big office upstairs with Keller and Blumel. By noon I still hadn’t all the stuff put away. I bought a battery for the clock and hung it up under the flashing number sign.

I talked with Bill Stevens about overhead rates for material. He says a flat % on all material and outside operations. It’s the easiest way to absorb it.

One roast beef and one peanut butter sandwich for lunch. Peanut butter was good!

Gordon (Plummer) called and revised his travel schedule again. He comes in here on Wedensday, 15 Jan. Wants me to fly back on the evening of the 16th. That should be no problem. We’ll then fly together to Munich on the 21st, if all goes well. He also told me about a pay raise. Base pay raised $100/month to $1,433, making annual pay of $17,196 Housing allowance raised to $4,224/year and living allowance raised to $7,116 per year. Total package is now $28,536 per year.

Peter (Chasterneuf) and Brother and Sister Wright came over. Watched TV and played games until about 2 a.m. I drove everyone home.

Transcribed from my journal.

Krefeld, Germany

In to work by about 8:30 a.m. Called Michael Hunt about the possibility of translating the “Total” handbook into German. Henry (Heinrich) has found a firm to do it. Michael will send pre-release copies of the new “Total 7” handbook to get a firm price quote. He’ll also call back by Monday.

Programmed the Standard Cost maintenance.

The weather is rainy and cloudy. Back to the same old stuff. It’s not possible to be nice two days in a row.

Painters came in to paint the Rado Plan room (in the TRW office) today. Sure did stink. No where else to sit.

Telex from Gordon wants me to meet him in Munich on the 15th. Don’t know if he sent it before or after he talked with (Bill) Hoerner after the Steering Committee was postponed. Must call him tomorrow.

The news says that Germany has 945,900 people out of work, or 4.5%, but inflation is less than 6%. Open job positions at the end of December were 193,700, down 33.7% from December, 1973. German economy is the best in the world at the moment, apparently. Inflation rates in Germany were: 1971 – 5.3%; 1972 – 5.9%; 1973 – 6.9%; 1974 – 7.0%. That’s the average per year.

Jimmy had Cub Scouts today and has to go swimming Saturday and must be at the school by 8:45 a.m. There goes another day’s work for me at the gemeindehaus (church building). Reasonable attendance at FHV (Frauenhilfevereinigung or Relief Society) tonight. I went to Hansen’s after FHV for tithing settlement. Brother Hansen’s sheet was not in the book. Mervyn must have it at the house. Sister Hansen had a letter from Sister Mohr. She (sister Mohr) wants to be released from her responsibilities in Relief Society. Sister Hansen was rather depressed. I said we’d talk more about it on Sunday. She should get a new counselor. Hansen’s car is broken — doesn’t start. I may go by Saturday afternoon to see if I can find the problem.

I ate lunch today at the chicken place on Belsenplatz. I bought clippers, a “to do” book, and glue.

Transcribed from my journal.

Krefeld, Germany

Drove Peter to camp and took Paula to train and saw her off OK. Traffic really bad coming to work. Got in about 8:10. Weibrich from BLW called. Trouble with TBDS program. Learned that he hadn’t formatted the files. Still trouble. After 3 phone calls found he’d changed the file names and had a file named wrong … had the slash in the file name.

Programmed the routing print program.

Nina called to say Paula called from Aachen. She’d gotten off at the wrong train station and had to take a bus to Aachen Main Station. Missed scheduled train but found an express train that would get her to Ostende about 15 minutes later than her scheduled train. Hope she makes it OK!

Sent last payment of $48.07 to MasterCharge which should pay off the bill. Good to see it go! Nina also said we received the Church magazines for January again. They’ve definitely got 2 subscriptions on us.

Weather nice. Sunshine and clear skies. First time in a long while. All the missionaries came by. Br. Schroeder’s bike is broken. They had an apointment with Kukula’s. Nina went out to movie with Lynn Wright and her mother. Movie didn’t show due to equipment failure, so they went bowling instead.

Br. Rudloff came over to go over the monthly report and to get TRM Report finished. Found several discrepancies between the two reports. Need to get a new listing fron the computer in membership lists.

Received another bill from the auto insurance — have already paid it. Got to go see what the problem is.

Nina found malt balls at the English movie. Sure did taste good!

Bill Hoener said that the BLW Steering Committee Meeting is delayed until the 24th.

Transcribed from my journal.

Krefeld, Germany

Left home for work about 7:30 or 8:00. Went to airport to cash a check and found out that the account numbers on the checks were wrong and couldn’t cash it. Went to bank, cashed check there and found out we’re about 5,400 marks overdrawn — but $700 check hadn’t deposited. Got to go on austerity budget! Nina came by office and picked up allowance. She and Paula are going shopping and sightseeing in Düsseldorf.

Received Christmas present from Datacom via Gier Electronics. Includes new RPG II manual and assembly listings of Databus 7 and DOS. Also there was a Reference Manual for the new 5500. Looks like a good machine. Virtual memory should not be much of a problem on this machine. Will be interesting to see the operating system for it when developed.

Gordon (Plummer) called in reference to his next trip. Can be here in Düsseldorf either Tuesday and Wednesday of next week or sometime during week of 19th. Talked with Dick and sent Gordon a telex back suggesting week of 19th. I’ll probably go to BLW for the Steering Committee Meeting on 17th.

Peter and Paula were at the house all night. After dinner I went to MIA for a while. 5 kids there (4 Hansens, Weinard) plus Sister Faust and Ulerika. Drove Hansen’s home and Sister Faust to the bus stop. Went home and looked at some slides and movies and went to bed about 11:30.

Sent more checks to Household Finance and asked for interest charges. Also sent letter and info to Church Magazines.

Audi ran problem-free today. Got letter from Elder Davis in Gutesslohn.

Transcribed from my journal.

Krefeld, Germany

First day for kids back to school. Heather stayed home to get stitches out of her head. Nina was up very early and not feeling well — pretty tired. Went to Audi garage and they came and picked up the car. Took tram to work about noon and rode in with Peter and Paula (Chasterneuf). Had good visit on tram. Deposited $700 in bank account and brought diary up to date at office. Asked Fr. Koglin to get train and boat scheules for Paula going back on Wednesday:

Bratheway family was supposed to come over for Family Home Evening, but didn’t show up. We were quite disappointed. Postponed FHE until Tuesday nite. Peter and Paula got lost in Düsseldorf and ended up walking to the Neuss train station. Apparently had a good time in Köln, saw cathedral, and brought back 2 Big Macs from McDonalds. Took Peter home about 11 and talked with Paula until about midnite.

Had Audi fixed. Garage found broken wire in the ignition. Paid 366 marks to get repaired. Hope it runs.

Transcribed from my journal.

Krefeld, Germany

Had Branch Presidency meeting. Everyone there. Started 15 min late again. Br. Trautmann may not be here next week. Will recommend Sister Ingeborg Van Royen as companion to Sister Rachel Hansen as Stake Missionary. Brother Oestreich (Elder’s Quorum President) didn’t show up for Priesthood Meeting. No notification. Br. Hoppe, Br. Rudloff, Br. Trautmann, Br. Smith, Br. Hansen (late!), missionaries, Br. Ostler, Br. Schroeder, Br. Hart, Br. Miller. No Aaronic Priesthood. Br. Trautmann is conducting today. Song #81 “Herr, Unser Gott” for opening song in Priesthood. Sunday School – Song #107 “Lobe den Herren”, #45 “Oder Held des Wahren Glaubens”. I gave 2-1/2 minute talk. English class over ministry of John the Baptist. Testimony meeting: 40 present, including 20 who speak English as native tongue. Opening 73 “Die Sach ist Dein, Herr Jesu Christ”. Sacrament: #5 “Jesus, Einstens Schlicht Geborn”. Second fast meeting in a row that Brother Wright has born his testimony.

Drove with Mervyn and Br. Trautman to visit Sister Buch in Hinsbech. Had a good meeting. We take the sacrament to her each Fast Sunday. She is 86 years old and can’t travel any more. Stopped at Sister Deutsch’s on way back to get some clothes for Hansen’s. She appears to be living with somebody. Glad I’m not a Bishop! Sister Rachel Hansen was set apart today as a Stake Missionary. Lynn and Mervyn came over and stayed until about 1 a.m. Had a great visit and ate a pancake supper. First time for everyone except Paula for maple syrup. They normally put orange juice or lemon juice and sugar on pancakes. Very late in bed.

Transcribed from my journal.

Krefeld, Germany

About 1 a.m. Paula called. She was in Aachen. Travel agent had booked lousy train connection. Drove to Aachen in Audi to pick her up. Car ran there and back to the swimming pool, 5 minutes from home, and quit. Got Nina out of bed to come and get us. In bed finally about 4 a.m. Slept until 9 when telephone rang. Missionaries at church to work and no one there. Sent them home. Mervyn called at 11. He was at church to work and no one there. Nina sent him home. Got up about 3 p.m. Mervyn came over about 6 p.m. Signed receipts and talked until about 11. Learned that Mervyn had written a poem (after his mother died). Got a copy of it and it is in page just before January 1. Very good. Drove Mervyn home and prepared Sunday School lesson on John the Baptist. Audi wouldn’t start to drive Mervyn home.

Mervyn Wright’s Poem:

Question

Oh Father, Father, Father, dear
Please can you tell me why we are here.
They told me a story at church today
Jesus died for us or so they say.
For ever we will live or so they claim.
Oh Father, Father, please explain
God forgives us all they say
If we kneel to him and pray,
God gave us love a feeling true,
This feeling that I have for you.
But Father, Father, tell me why
Why did he let my Mother die?

Answer

My son your mother died that she might live,
No better answer can I give.
For many years she suffered pain
But Jesus suffered just the same.
Knowing this just made her strong,
Knowing that she did belong.
Our God a miracle has performed.
He gave her back her body strong,
A mind and heart that can do no wrong.
So my son one thing I ask of you
Please remember the gospel is true.

Transcribed from my journal.