Branch President

Today Dave was set apart as the Branch President in Hof.  The Stake President, Thomas Hengst, was finally able to come and do the job.  The former branch President and his family were very happy to have this take place.  He has served for 6 1/2 years as branch President but has been in a leadership calling for over 15 years so he is happy to be able to sit with his family in church.  He mentioned that in his testimony today.

So that you will have an idea of what the Sunday in Hof is like:  We will have to get to the Hotel where the church rents rooms early in order to get the place ready.  The missionaries walk there early also in order to help.  They put the piano together and set out the song books and put up the song list and prepare the announcement board.

Elder Struve assembling the keyboard.

Elder Hess unpacking the sacrament things and preparing for the ordinance.

Only two weeks ago Brother Merkel rented space in the Hotel to store the keyboard and large box containing the sacrament things and the books.  Before that he had to bring it home and back every week.  He knew we would not have storage room in our little apartment to do that.

 The members begin arriving about 9:50 and it is normal for all to go around shaking everyone's hands.  Most have cars but several families walk to church.  We usually have about 20 people there counting the missionaries.  One week we had two extra families who drove in from Plauen because when they got to church, the police were there investigating a break in and church was canceled.  We only meet for two hours not having Sunday School.  We have Sacrament meeting first and then split into three groups: Primary - all three kids, YW and RS combined and Priesthood.  Dave is teaching the one young deacon so he no longer must meet with the 'old' guys.

former President Merkel, New President Montgomery and Stake President Hengst.

The former with the two new counselors, Br. Grunbichler and Br. Hermann.

All of the members stayed for the setting apart ordinances and as far as I know know, no one refused to sustain Elder Montgomery.  I was afraid to look.

Here is the whole branch on Feb 7, 2013

Back row: Elder Hess, Mr. Forberig, Joseph Ernst, Elder Struve, Elder M, Br. Merkel, Br. Lange, Br. Hermann, Br. Grunbichler
Next Row:  Sister M., Robert Hemmann, Rosa Merkel, Sophie Merkel, Gloria Merkel, Sis. Grunbichler, Clara Hemmann, Celina Grunbichler.
Sitting row:  Sis. Forberig with Tia, Sis Ernst, Sis. Merkel, Sis. Lange, Caroline Jakobs
Front row: JonasForberig, Valentin Grunbichler, Vincent Grunbichler, Helene Hemmann, Sis. Hemmann.