Eine Oper, Eine Strasse Ausstellung und Eine Taufe (An Opera, A Street Exhibition and A Baptism)

This past weekend was busy for us.  Friday evening we went to our friend Susan's home for a delicious salmon dinner and then to an opera. 

 

The Komische Oper Berlin

This opera house is beautiful! These pictures do not do it justice.

 Waiting for the opera to begin!

 We saw the Baroque Opera -  "XERXES" by Geroge Fredrich Handel.

It was long (over 3 hours) but the staging, costuming and vocalists were awesome!

Opera wasn't Hal's favorite entertainment but we are both glad we had this German cultural experience.

 

 Street Exhibition

Saturday morning found us at Wilmersdorfer Straße for a Street Exhibition.  We joined with 2 members of our ward and the 8 other missionaries serving in the Teirgarten ward.

 We handed out church literature and contacted people as they came by.

 Elder Mickelsen handing out a card with info about the church.

 Patty speaking with a man from Sierra Leone.  After talking with him for almost an hour, I gave him a Book of Mormon and an invitation to come to the General Conference broadcast.  He was very interested to see the prophet.  Hopefully he will come!

 This street contacting was successful and the missionaries not only distributed a lot of church information, but appointments were made for follow up teaching.

 

A Baptism

Later on Saturday - we attended Roland's baptism.  It was a very spiritual baptism.  He was confirmed and given the Gift of the Holy Ghost on Sunday and then he shared his testimony and the experience of his conversion.  His story is remarkable and includes a search of over 20 years to find the true church.  We are so happy to welcome Roland into our ward!



Tiergarten Hat Talent - Teirgarten Ward Talent Show

 

We have a great ward with people from all over the world and whenever there is a ward activity, they go all out.  This past Saturday was our ward talent show complete with elaborate decorations, a dinner, an activity for the primary children and of course the production. 

 

This is the poster advertising the event.

 

 



The primary children decorated small cakes.

This little girl was very pleased with her cake!

You can see Elder Mickelsen in the background as well as the wall covered with shiny décor.

 

Enjoying soup, bread and dessert

 

 Elder Mickelsen with Cora - our Bishop's daughter.  They are admiring the crafts and handwork display.

This is our friend Ronnie from China.  She made a book featuring Chinese wisdom and a poster in Chinese characters.  She gave the poster to us after the talent show.  The message on the poster tells us that: "We need to show respect for those who have gone on before us."

 

The Talent Show included many numbers.  Here are some of the highlights....

 

A Bolivian dance

 



 A fun song sung by an American opera singer

 

 "Sweet Pea" sung by YSA from the Philippines and America
 

 

 Our Bishop and his daughter sang a duet

 

 

A silly dance - "Grecian Urn"

 

A glow stick dance performed by the Primary children

 

The grand finale was a dance by the "Berlin Bear"!

 

We enjoy our ward and have learned to love so many of the members that we have come to know!

 

 

Just an update on the past two weeks:  Patty took a nasty fall (two weeks ago) when she tripped on a cobblestone sidewalk.  She has a big black eye that is slowly improving each day.  I did not want to post the picture that Hal took of me because it is ugly and scary!  I now hang on to him and watch where I am walking!!