The week of October 11-16, 2010 was a very busy one in the temple. Karen worked in the Baptistry and Don worked as assistant--meaning that we worked whereever he was needed. Don met a man who is the Grandson of Leonard Ault (Don went to highschool with Leonard Ault). It is very interesting to see who we meet up with in this temple. There is not usually a week that goes by that we don't we meet someone we know or that knows someone we know.
We also saw Sam and Lonette Bushman this week. They are distant cousins of Don's and we met them after we came to Germany. We have a great relationship with them and enjoy being with them very much.
On Monday, October 11, 2010 we with many of the other temple missionaries to Speyer and Worms (pronounced "Vorms). These two cities contain two of the largest cathedrals in all of Germany.
The first city that we went to is Speyer.
This Cathedral was built in Speyer by Conrad II in 1025-61 and was used as the burial place of Salian Emperors. It is one of the three largest Cathedrals in Germany. Of course there is an ongoing effort to rebuild and preserve this building. It is called the Dom zu Speyer.
It was interesting to learn that most of the very large Cathedrals that were built in Germany were built by the reigning royalty as for the purpose of their own burial place and the burial place of other royalty of the time. 
It was a beautiful day for a trip--the first beautiful day that we had for many days--but it was a bit chilly!
This is part of the city wall that was preserved outside of the Cathedral.
We were very intersted in this statue display. It is Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane. It is an extremely large display.
It seems like almost all of the cathedrals that we visit have scaffolding somewhere on the outside. The is a big effort to preserve these hundreds of years old buildings.
This Cathedral is quite plain inside, but this picture will give you some idea of
It seems like almost all of the cathedrals that we visit have scaffolding somewhere on the outside. The is a big effort to preserve these hundreds of years old buildings.
This Cathedral is quite plain inside, but this picture will give you some idea of
how big the building is. This is only one hallway--there is a large gathering place in the middle of the Cathedral with another hallway of equal porportitions on the other side.
This is the ruins of a Midieval Jewish Court, Synagogue and Ritual Bath and was the center of the Jewish habitat from the year 1104. It is a cold water bath and was/is Jewish law that the people go to the public bath house once a month.
More of the ruins of the Jewish Bath House. 
Entering into the bathhouse down a long flight of stairs into a cave like building. The stairs obviously had been used for hundreds of years and were slippery and crumbling in places.
Karen going down the stairs to the actual bathing place. The water is still there today and people have thrown thousands of coins into the water.
Don and Kare sitting on the ledge above the bathing area. The window behind offers a place where a person can look down into the bathing area.
Don standing in the rat hause in Speyer (Rat Hause is City offices)
After leaving Speyer we went to the home of the Rahns. Brother and Sister Rahn were temple missionaries a few months ago. Sister Rahn was our tour guide for the day and they invited us to their home for a snack. A snack you say? It was more like a feast. We had a very enjoyable time.
This is the ruins of a Midieval Jewish Court, Synagogue and Ritual Bath and was the center of the Jewish habitat from the year 1104. It is a cold water bath and was/is Jewish law that the people go to the public bath house once a month.
More of the ruins of the Jewish Bath House. 
Entering into the bathhouse down a long flight of stairs into a cave like building. The stairs obviously had been used for hundreds of years and were slippery and crumbling in places.
Karen going down the stairs to the actual bathing place. The water is still there today and people have thrown thousands of coins into the water.
Don and Kare sitting on the ledge above the bathing area. The window behind offers a place where a person can look down into the bathing area.
Don standing in the rat hause in Speyer (Rat Hause is City offices)
After leaving Speyer we went to the home of the Rahns. Brother and Sister Rahn were temple missionaries a few months ago. Sister Rahn was our tour guide for the day and they invited us to their home for a snack. A snack you say? It was more like a feast. We had a very enjoyable time.After we were through eating Sister Rahn invited us outside where she and three of her friends put on a show of native dancing for us. It was very interesting and we loved it. Sister Rahn is on the right. 
It was very energetic and fun to watch.
After they finished a few dances for us, they got some of the missionaries to join with them. The dance started very slowly and got faster and faster until the missionaries that joined them just could not keep up. It was great fun!
It was very energetic and fun to watch.
After they finished a few dances for us, they got some of the missionaries to join with them. The dance started very slowly and got faster and faster until the missionaries that joined them just could not keep up. It was great fun!
After leaving the Rahns home we traveled to Worms to see the sights there.
This building is a very old Jewish
Synagogue. It is called the Rashi-Synagogue. 
The leaves all over Germany are turning gorgeous colors and we especially like the beautiful vines that cover many of the buildings and houses.
We visited the Jewish Sector in Worms. This is where the Jews were first gathered during World War II. The sector was inside a big wall and there were thousands of Jewish people living there. There was no family that had an apartment or a home to themselves. There were just too many people. The Jewish people were not allowed to leave the Jewish Sector for any reason. The Jewish people were taken from the Jewish Sector to the Concentrations camps.
The leaves all over Germany are turning gorgeous colors and we especially like the beautiful vines that cover many of the buildings and houses.
We visited the Jewish Sector in Worms. This is where the Jews were first gathered during World War II. The sector was inside a big wall and there were thousands of Jewish people living there. There was no family that had an apartment or a home to themselves. There were just too many people. The Jewish people were not allowed to leave the Jewish Sector for any reason. The Jewish people were taken from the Jewish Sector to the Concentrations camps.
This picture is of part of the wall that surrounds the Jewish
Sector. Note the screened in part at the top of the wall. This was for the German guards to walk along the top of the wall. This wall was built right through the homes that lined the wall and the German Guards had keys to the doors that they could walk into a home or apartment anytime.
This is a picture of the outside of the wall that surrounds the Jewish Sector. The walkway for the Guards is the bricked in part with windows in along the top of the wall--and could enter the homes where the walkway butted up to the apartments.
In 1521 Martin Luther was called before Emperor Charles V and refused to retrace his writings - "for this would be contrary to his conscience captured in God." When he was tried they asked him to retract his writings--he said, "Here I stand and I cannot deny it. May God Help me." This statue honors his hymn "A Mighty Fortress is Our God".
This is inside the Cathedral and St. Peter and St. Paul. It is one of the greatest monuments of medieal German architecture--the Imperial Cathedral of Worms. The building of this Cathedral started in the year 1130. Of course, parts of it has had to be rebuilt and there is an ongoing effort to preserve the building.
This is a picture of the outside of the wall that surrounds the Jewish Sector. The walkway for the Guards is the bricked in part with windows in along the top of the wall--and could enter the homes where the walkway butted up to the apartments.
In 1521 Martin Luther was called before Emperor Charles V and refused to retrace his writings - "for this would be contrary to his conscience captured in God." When he was tried they asked him to retract his writings--he said, "Here I stand and I cannot deny it. May God Help me." This statue honors his hymn "A Mighty Fortress is Our God".
This is inside the Cathedral and St. Peter and St. Paul. It is one of the greatest monuments of medieal German architecture--the Imperial Cathedral of Worms. The building of this Cathedral started in the year 1130. Of course, parts of it has had to be rebuilt and there is an ongoing effort to preserve the building.
This Cathedral is one of the most ornate that we have visited.
This is a model of the Cathedral when it was first built. We marvel how they could build such huge, elaborate buildings in those days.
Don needs to get into every tree he can get into!
This plaque is on the grounds of the Cathedral. Translated it means:
This is a model of the Cathedral when it was first built. We marvel how they could build such huge, elaborate buildings in those days.
Don needs to get into every tree he can get into!
This plaque is on the grounds of the Cathedral. Translated it means:
Here stand before Emporer and Empire Martin Luther 1521.
We hope that you enjoyed this part of Germany through our eyes!
We hope that you enjoyed this part of Germany through our eyes!
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