We had so many visitors today that it seemed like we didn’t get a lot accomplished at all today. I only managed to get two of the large books done and mom, I think, only completed two or three boxes of her material.
We had only been working about an hour and a half when Frau Dr Alexandra Lutz, the head archivist, came to visit us. They have been trying to get the internet set up in our room over the last couple weeks. She came with a form we had to sign indicating that we would abide by the restrictions of use.
It was really interesting, I asked again if it would be possible to have our “camera computers” logged in to their internet service. It is very nice for us because if we have computer issues we can call Bro Schauperl and he can log directly into our computers and solve the problem. Without that, he must try and talk us thru it or, in worst case, make a trip to the archive to help us. It is not QUITE the issue here because his office is only about 20 minutes from us. When we were in Klagenfurt it was a HUGE issue because of the distance. Anyway, she told us again it would not be possible because of the restrictions they have on that system. But, she did get us signed up for an email account so we could communicate with other members of the archive staff. That will be helpful. It will also allow us to send our weekly report to Bro Norton in England.
Dr Lutz is such a pleasant individual. It is just a pleasure to visit with her. She is trying very hard to help us in any way she can. But, we are seeing the limitations of a LARGE and very BUREAUCRATIC system. The Germans do love their bureaucracy!
Just shortly after Dr Lutz left we got a visit from “Frau Annette Handrich”. She is a historian who is working as an archivisit with the City Archive as well. She came to invite us to visit the main facility at the “Cloister” in down town Frankfurt. She wanted to set up a time so she could take us on a private tour of the facility. We were very excited to accept her invitation. I asked her if we would be able to take a picture of the “stacks” where the books were housed that we are photographing. Her response surprised me. She said, “Well, actually I don’t have authorization to enter those stacks and you would not be authorized to enter them either.” It was another indication to me of the bureaucracy of the system here. In Klagenfurt we had full access to the stacks and many times I would go down and pull volumes myself which needed redone, etc. I asked her if it would possible for someone who “did” have access to those stacks to take such a picture for me. She said she would check into that and let me know. Just a very interesting system here.
This afternoon I received an email from Frau Handrich asking us if the 4th of November would be a good time for us to come. Of course we told her that would be great. Also in that email she extended an invitation for us to attend their Christmas Party on the 13th of December. We also accepted that invitation. It will be nice to be able to meet the rest of the people whose names we hear once in a while but who we have not met. It will be fun to get to know them.
This being Friday, the archive closes it’s doors at 2 pm. So mom and I came home and actually took a little nap. Then, this evening we decided to fix some tacos. All went well until I had to open the can of pork-n-beans. Oh … the trials of being new missionaries in a new apartment. I had to revert to my old days when I would forget the can opener for our family camping trips. It works, but it always scares the bigibbies out of me to do it 🙂 I’ve sliced a finger more than once on those things!!
Received an email this evening from Elder and Sister Kirk. I guess there is a new Missionary Couple arriving today from the States. Tomorrow they wanted to get together and do a little touring around Frankfurt and spend a little time to get to know them. They will be a new Senior Couple in Nuremberg. It will be another enjoyable day tomorrow and we are looking forward to it.
Another day has come and gone. We consider each one a very precious gift. The Lord is so good to us. We are happy missionaries and give our simple witness again that this work is eternal and it is true.
Tad and Jana’s weekly blog 