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Show BONN, GERMANY German Family Grows in Gospel rs Dietrich Ertelt worked quickly to complete the scrubbing of her kitchen Door. She had been taught by a good Ger- V . , J' wm y man mother that cleanliness was next to godliness and she was most anxious for her new apartment to be extra presentable for her husband. Sister Ertelt, a new brde of two months, recalled the simple wedding at the Lutheran Church nearby. As she worked, a knock came at the door. Wiping her hands she opened the door to discover two young men dressed in dark suits What do you know about the Mormon Church? they asked I know nothing about the Mormon Church, but if you will wait a moment, I will be glad to speak with you, she said forgetting the busy work schedule she had planned Her husband was not at home so the missionaries remained only a moment, but left a tract called An Important Message for You That was nearly 12 years ago. Today the tract has a special place in their Book of Rememberance with the names of two missionaries, Duane Millard and Bruce L. Jones written clearly beneath it. When the elders returned that March the Ertelt couple had a lot of ques- 12, tions to ask. For nearly three months the elders retuined often to answer their questions and to lead them m the discussions. They were baptized in June, 1962 Tithing was the biggest problem in our decision for baptism, Brother Ertelt said We had no money, it seemed impossible that we could pay tithing Then we read the Book of Mormon and listened to the elders and decided that we should be baptized We had not attended any meetings at the branch, and following our baptism were surprised and a little disappointed to find the members of the chuich meeting m a factory It did not seem very much like a church, especially with the dram pipe across the ceiling on the meeting hall It was not only a noisy pipe but it leaked, he said. Not only that, but the congiegation was mostly old people Though they were friendly, we got the impression they didn't think we would last very long in activi'v Family activity is the way of life for the Dietrich Ertelt family of Bonn, Germany. I was immediately made a home teacher, and started a program of activity that was steady and sure. "When it came time to pay tithing, we decided that we would put the Lord to a test. We paid our tithing with our very Iasi penny, and were pleased the next food to our day to have people bnng brought Even apartment. food for some reason. We were expecting a baby at that time and had no funds to prepare for the needs of the baby. To our amazement, our mothers and neighbors and others were soon bnnging us baby things, so by the time the baby was born we had everything we needed Some of these items have lasted for all five of our children," Sister Ertelt said Two years after thur baptism, the young couple with heit two children went to the Swiss Temple to be sealed as a family "We are pleased that the other three children have been born under the covenant, he said Brother Ertelt has taken great pride in blessing all of his children except the first, when he did not hold the Melchizedek Pnesthood Nine months after their baptism he was ordained an elder, end has held important positions m the branch since. He has served on the district council and was called as branch president in 1965 I try to be like King Benjamin and serve the members As branch president, my biggest problems have been someone elses problem because the gospel has blessed our home and we have had no serious illness or other hardship since we joined the church Brother Ertelt has a fine job in the personnel division of the Defense Ministry for the Republic of Germany His hobby is collecting church publications in the various languages in which they are printed, and keeping a Book of Remembrance that contains memoirs of each of the significant events for his family in the church. Today the chapel of the Bonn Branch an old home that is remodeled, paid for and dedicated Sometime w'e hope to build a new chapel, because it is more impressive for investigators to visit our meetings is Thousands Attend Pioneer Fair in Michigan BY DAVID JOHNSTON Church News Correspondent BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MICH Robert Dobson of Pontiac Ward, Detroit Stake, poured wheat into a grinder and a small knot of curious people gathered around to watch flour come out the other end. It was a small ever, but a new one to many of those who watched Nearby Mark Bauer of Royal Oak Ward stood amidst all the antique home tools and farm implements he had spent the year gathering When someone picked out the old tools they liked, Brother Bauer mounted them so they could add a rustic touch to a kitchen, den or family room. Brother Dobson and Bauer were just two of scores of Detroit Stake members who help put on one of the most popular annual events in this wealthy Detroit suburb. the stake Pioneer Fair. We draw 3,000 to 5,000 people, 80 said percent of them and councilor stake high Wayne Berge, Bloomftld Hills ward 'member', And ifr 10 - CHURCH addition to making about $14,000 for our welfare and other funds, we get a much more important benefit between 100 and 200 referrals and some baptisms. The fair, held at the Detroit Stake Center here, diaws people from as far away as Chicago for its two days at fall harvest time Some people come looking for bargains in works of art and handmade toys, games, quilts and foods," Brother said Berge Many more come just to see demonstrations of domestic skills that are almost lost arts, he added A continual crowd gathered around an old spinning wheel as sisters from the Relief Society demonstrated how the pioneers made their own material for clothing. The .wagon WEEK ENDING NOVEMBER 24, 1 stake lented an old covered tograce the stake center's front 973 lawn and help attract people Inside old butter churns, corn shelters, hoise collars and other tools helped build an atmosphere of pioneer times .ittle children gatheied around an anvil where Rod Davies of Bloomfield Hills ward and several helpers turned horseshoe nails into rings for the children That trinket may be common to many folk, but not to the urbanized masses around the Motor City where horses and horseshoe nail rings are as rare as Model T Fords were in Ltah sixty years ago We sell many, many games to people because we make ours out of wood so they last longer than the plastic ones the stores sell, Brother Berge said. In everything we offer clothing, Christmas we strive decorations, even furniture for quality so people who come here will see that we believe in doing a good job and have good feelings towards church and its members." A the missionary committee plans all year on the event to encourage those interested in the Gospel to learn more about it Films such as Mans Search for Happiness and talks about the church go on continuously during the fair "Each family donates the materials for the articles it makes We ask each family to try and produce $50 worth of merchandise, which usually means about for materials and the rest for labor We also encourage families to work together on their project to build family unity, Brother Berge explained $5 A few of the items sold at the fair are expensive For example, Stake President Jack Pfeiffer and Fust Counselor Neil Williams make inlaid wooden chess boards which sell for $50 or more each |