The Mission Presidents Wife

Think about everything you have ever heard about Germans. You may have heard that they are very stern. Maybe that they aren’t friendly, that they would rather eat you than be your friend. Perhaps you had hear they cooked the best food, but desserts were bland. Or that they only eat meat and potatoes. I’ll admit that heading to Germany this was what I was told by a lot of people. So when I arrive in Zurich and met the Mission Presidents wife I was sure it was all true.

The Mission Presidents wife was short and stocky. When she looked at me, I was positive she was looking right into my soul ready to destroy it at any second. She and Mission President has picked us up from the airport and lucky for me I was the only sister so I got the great privilege of riding back to the mission home with them both – alone. Neither of them spoke any English to me but asked questions in German where I could only reply with I don’t understand. After a few questions like this, they stopped asking and continued the conversation by themselves. It was the longest ride of my life and I wanted to cry.

Upon arrival at the mission home we had our interviews with the Mission President and then went street contacting with the assistants. We were told that we needed to be back by a certain time for dinner and not to be late. We were late and we got it bad from the Mission Presidents wife who had been waiting for us. As this had been my fault, so to say. I got the sternest look all through dinner.

Dinner was amazing. After dinner the Elders went with the assistants and were placed in a hotel down the road. I on the other hand was once again left alone to stay in the mission home with the President and his wife. She took me up to my room and along the way pointed out different rooms and items like towels and such that I would need. Mind you this was all done in German and I didn’t understand a thing. When I told her that I didn’t understand she just shook her head and moved on. She set my things down in the guest room and returned back downstairs to do the dishes. Left alone in the room I quickly said a prayer for strength and headed down to the kitchen.

There she was this women I would come to love and cherish, doing the dishes. I knew the words for help and clean in German. So there I stood mustering up courage. When she looked up at me I said ‘Can I hilfe sauber the dishes, please’.  I didn't know if she understood me or if I had even said the correct words but there I stood praying that she would let me help. Something must have struck her with my plea because she stopped scrubbing the dishes and handing me the scrub brush and said “I guess that will be ok Sister Jensen”. I wanted to cry, this whole time she had made me struggle and feel completely lost but she could speak perfect English.

I don’t know if washing the dishes is what changed the feelings between us or if she finally just had pity on me, but we ended up becoming friends after that point. I was invited down for scripture study and prayer that night and even though it was in German, as things would come up she was quick to help me understand. Later in my mission I got to spend some time in the mission home and to learn more about this women know as the Mission Presidents Wife. She is kind, loving, and has a great sense of humor. She cared deeply about each and every missionary that came through that mission and she would do anything to help them.

How blessed I feel to have known the Mission Presidents Wife – a true German.

mit freundlichen Grüßen

Jenessa Jensen