Storm Memories

Tonight, as we have been watching the events associated with Hurricane Sandy as it impacts large areas of the Northeast United States, my thoughts have turned back to 1962 as I was serving as a missionary in Germany. Well do I remember this storm. I was serving in a small branch in Brake on the Weser River in North Germany. The city of Brake is about forty miles upstream from the North Sea. The area is low lying and has been protected by dikes for centuries. The Weser River at Brake is still affected by the tides. As missionaries we would often go to a small park on the banks of the Weser River and eat a sandwich during our noon time break from tracting and teaching. It was in February and on this particular day as we visited this small park. The weather was eerily calm, but we were surprised to find the water level as it would be at high tide. But it was in reality the time for the low tide. As we found out later there was a great storm brewing off the coast in the North Sea. Within a few hours the storm made landfall flooding large areas all along the North German Coast and into Holland. We lived in a small upstairs room on a street called Dungendeich's Weg. The building we lived in was right next to one of the dikes. We were protected from the storm by this dike which didn't break in our area, but it did break in areas not to far distant. Once the storm was over there were over 300 dead. More than 60,000 people had their homes and apartments destroyed by the raging flood water and winds. Most of the damage was done in Hamburg, a large city in our mission on the Elbe River about 75 miles north and east of Brake, where we lived, but as we got out and about the next several days it was very obvious how much devastation the storm caused. I have never been in a storm even remotely like this one, but Hurricane Sandy appears to be a similar weather event.

Our heart goes out to those affected, I couldn't help but count our blessings this after noon as I took advantage of the beautiful fall weather on a hike along the Logan River Trail. I remembered the childhood story about the brave little Dutch boy who saved his town by putting his thumb in the dike that protected it. If only it were that simple. Mother Nature is one powerful lady. Below are a few pictures I found on the web about this event.  Times have changed some.  People are now better prepared, but that takes nothing away from the awesome power of nature.

Houses in the North German Flood of 1962.

　
　

　

A dike beak. The Ocean floods in.

German workers trying to protect their homes from the flood.

A typical row house in Hamburg during the flood.

Following is a Wikipedia report of the the great German Sturmflut of 1962.

On Thursday 15 February, German authorities published the first storm warning for the North Sea with wind speeds up to 9 Beaufort. A severe storm warning followed the next day, with a predicted gauge of 3 Metres above normal, which was a level the dikes could withstand.

The severe storm and the flood it caused in the last hours of 16 February affected the dikes more than predicted and led to some 50 breaches before officials raised alarm for Hamburg. At this time of the day, most city offices were closed, which retarded the notification of the population. Civil protection plans were not implemented yet.

Due to telephone land line breakups, warnings could not be forwarded from coastal to hinterland emergency offices. Breakups at alarm siren lines and electricity lines affected the warning system severely. Radio amateurs had to establish emergency operations to support emergency services in means of communication.

Around midnight, the peaks were too high for some dikes to withstand. The back of the dikes was not yet fortified, so the first waters destroyed the dikes from behind and cleared the way for the flood.

Helmut Schmidt, police senator of Hamburg, coordinated the rescue operations, and requested for emergency help throughout Europe. He requested parts of the Bundeswehr for emergency purposes, especially engineers. That meant overstepping his legal authority, ignoring the German constitution's prohibition on using the army for "internal affairs" - a clause excluding disasters was not added until 1968. Also he got help by helicopters from other NATO states. The latter were called Fliegende Engel (Flying Angels) by the people.

120 square kilometres or a mere sixth of the city of Hamburg were flooded, destroying 6000 buildings. Streets were unusable and railway operation was suspended, leaving Hamburg unsupplied for a lengthy period of time.

Afterwards, emergency plans were implemented, and dikes were shortened and strengthened, leaving some river arms and bays unattached from the sea. 

High School Reunion.

Fielding High School Class of 1958

It was no "High School Musical" but it did give us a chance to catch up and to enjoy old memories. Fifty years is a long time. I was voted "the least changed." That must mean I've made the least progress. Actually, when I consider my family, I think I might be one of the very most successful of all from our small class. I think that is what matters most. More than half of our small class went on to finish college and we have, at least, of those who were there, three with doctor's degrees, some masters degrees, and a NCAA track and field champion, about ten missionaries and nearly that many bishops, and two stake presidents. That is way above the national average. We only had twenty-seven graduates that year(1958) How did we ever do it with only three elective classes to choose from at little Bo-Diddly Tech/Fielding High School class of 1958?. It might have been more, but that's all I could think of. It's called stick to the basics, something that seems to be getting lost in the educational systems of today. Some of our classmates are dead some are spiritually dead, some couldn't or just didn't care to show up, but it was good seeing all those who could make it again and knowing what they have done in the past fifty years. Here's a class photo someone took. The next fifty year reunion will be even more revealing.

Koshare Indian Dancers

The Koshare Indian Dancers are coming to Bear Lake.

Stephen befriended this troop and Venturing Crew from

LaJunta, Colorado since he has been working down there.

This is a unique and exemplary troop. They are celebrating

their 75th anniversay this year. They do all the traditional

scouting things, but take it a step further. They emphasize

keeping the lore of the Native Americans alive and have been

performing Indian, dances, songs etc. in elaborate native

costumes which have won them worldwide acclaim. They were

in Japan last year, and have performed all over the USA. They

have performed before Presidents, at half time for professional

football games, and for family and school groups and everything

in between. Most impressive to me is that thy have produced

more than 600 Eagle Scouts, 90 percent of which have gone on

to college, and they count more than 100 doctor's degrees, either

PhDs, MDs or thother academic doctorates among their alumni.

Show me another little town like LaJunta., that can boast the same.

And that is just the tip of the iceberg as to what they have done.

We consider it an honor to be able to host them here, and invite any

and all who can to come and see their program, If you can't come

please tell others about it. They will be at the Bear Lake Middle

School Auditorium at 7:00 PM on Monday August, 11th.

Good Times

Is this little pitcher a cute kid or what?



Nobody needs to go hungry. There's plenty and to spare.


It's not hard to believe that they are children of God too.

Annika digging in the sand at the beach at Bear Lake.

Maddie, is she going to get completly covered with this stuff?

Ryan and Sam enjoying each other and a few hours in the

sun at Bear Lake.

They are just as cute from the backside as from the front.

Well, maybe not.

It's a big, beautiful, fun puddle.

Alison leaning into a turn. Fast and lots of fun.

Going for a ride with Aunt Alison.

Megan, a little Bear Lake mermaid.

Rene, always busy???? Is digging a hole and filling it up

really being busy? Fun for all nonetheless.

Alison, Ada, Annika, and Micah at the beach.

Bright Eyes, Avery playing in the sand at Bear Lake.

Do cousins like each other or what?

Twins???? No, but Annika and Ada have the same hair

dresser. Good job, Aunt Samantha.

How often do we get all-you-can-eat fresh salmon.

Thanks Ammon for going fishing in Alaska. It was delicious.

Our little paleantologist discovering another fossil. No,

it was not a dinosour, nor was it Grandpa Bart.

Just counting our many blessings!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Can we

ever stop?

Oregon Trail Cneter

When you gotta go you gotta go. Oh ,but there is competion.

As most of you know the national Oregon/California

Trail Center is located in Montpelier. They are always

making changes and improvements. The last one which

was erected just this week is a life sized statue assemblage

representing the descent down Big Hill, which is located

just to the South of Montpelier.

Tough times on the trail near Big Hill. Everyone had to

help. It is said to have been the first major hill faced by

the Oregon bound pioneers in the many wagon trains that

traversed this area from the early 1840s until 1869 and

the coming of the first transcontinental railroad.

Maddie B. in front of the new Oxen and Wagon Display.

Yet another photo of these great people who were

willing to sacrifice whatever it took. We have a great

heritage which has blessed us all in untold ways through
the many years, influencing the lives of pioneer ancestors,

and indirectly all of us in profound ways.
When you are in Montpelier stop and take a look atound
I know you will come away impressed

The Mormon Trail paralleled the Oregon Trail on the

opposite side of the Platte River for much of the journey.

Madison's baptism at Bear Lake

Madison Brooke Eborn was baptized at Camp Hunt on
Bear Lake June 12, 2008 by her father Jason Eborn.
She has spent every one of her birthdays at a scout
camp and wanted to be baptized in beautiful Bear Lake.


Is any one going to go into the water with me?




Yes, Maddie, Your dad is going in to baptize you and your
uncle's Philip and Dan are going to act as witnesses. They
are all holders of the Melchizedek Priesthood. They had
to go out quite a ways before the water was deep enough
to baptize her by immersion like Jesus was baptized in
the River Jordan.

Jason acting in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and

with priesthood authority. This is a great blessing in all

of our lives, but especially for Madison tonight.

The sacred ordinance has been performed and they

are heading back to shore. It was spiritually impressive.

I hope this sacred ordinance will never be forgotten by

any of us.

Getting ready for confirmation. Madison was confirmed

a member of the Church and given the gift of the Holy

Ghost by her father Jason on the beach following the

baptism. You will receive many gifts in your life, but this

one, will be by far the most valuable gift you will

receive in this life. You will come to understand this

more and more as you grow older and an strive to do

what is right. Just remember, the gift of the Holy Ghost

only works when you keep your promises to the Lord

Jesus.

We love you Madison, and are so proud that you are a

part of our family and our granddaughter.

Grandpa Bart and Grandma Iris

Jason and his boys after Maddie's baptism at Bear Lake.

Jason's beautiful girls.

Jason still carrying his Maddie at camp after eight years.

They are very close and love one another very much.

Jason and Rene's Forever Family at Bear Lake after

Madison's baptismal service.

Thanks to the whole family for letting us share in this

special, sacred event in your lives.

Scout Camp at Camp Bartlett

I went to see Addison while he and his dad were camped
Camp Bartlett on Friday night. They seemed to be
having a good time.


Addison and some of the other boys in his troop on the
See-Saw at Camp Bartlett's Grizzly campsite.


Ammon is the assisstant scoutmaster in their troop.
It's always good to have dad along.



Addison, age 12, at Camp Bartlett, Grizzly Campsite.
think we might have been involved in a Guiness Book
of World Record's while I was there with them. We
sat through a three-hour plus campfire program.
Now, that's a lot of corny skits even for a bunch of scouts.