Woche 32: Kilometer und mehr Kilometer

Woche 32: Kilometer und mehr Kilometer

 
Montag 
On Monday, we went to a beautiful little village in the Black Forest. It is called Neukirch. There was snow everywhere! It was so pretty. I also bought two ties. Fun fact: I came out with 18 ties. I now have 56 ties. And I have spent less than 15€ on them. A lot of them I aqquired from stuff missionaries left behind. I might have an obsession.

 
Dienstag

Tuesday we had a lesson with Herr "G". He lives an hour away from us so it is a pretty long drive. Well, we found a couple people who said that they have interest. I have learned on my mission how to communicate with people without having a full depth conversation. We met a lady from Romania and she didn't speak German or English, so we showed her the Book of Mormon and said Jesus Christ, God loves us in German and she accepted it. The language of the spirit is truly a miracle. And after we went contacting, we went to our appointment with Herr "G". We introduced the Plan of Salvation. It was such a good lesson. We explained the doctrine of the after life. He understood and accepted everything. He is very open and he prays about what we teach as well to find out for himself. He liked the fact that most of God's children would live in a kingdom of glory, despite the fact of not living directly with him.

 
Mittwoch

Wednesday, we went down to another part of our area called Blumberg and Löffingen. We went out finding but no one would listen. So we decided to go visit a less active that was in the area. Bruder Abt lives in Löffingen all by himself. No one has visited him in like 10 years. It is such a sad situation. He still believes in Joseph Smith and the Restoration makes complete sense to him, but he doesn't agree with all of the doctrines of the church. It made me realize something. We can't change doctrine because we don't agree with them. God is the master of the doctrines. We can't tweak them and fix them. We don't always agree, but we just need to study and come to the  knowledge as to why this doctrine is there, why God made it that way. 

 
Donnerstag

Thursday, we had our District meeting in Singen. We also had our Interviews with President Kohler. We discussed Agency and some other stuff within that. 

 
Freitag

We had another lesson with Herr "G". We discussed the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He is just a wonderful man. He has such a big desire to learn more about the restored church and to come closer to Jesus Christ. 

Well, this week was so awesome. I love being a missionary and having the opportunity to serve the Lord 24/7. Have an awesome week.

 

Celebrating Elder Bowler's gift of a reservation at a restaurant that serves American Style Hamburgers and fries

Lovely dinner with the amazing "Z" family who takes such good care of our missionaries!

Woche 31: eine neue Versetzung

Liebe Mutter,

The time feels like nothing! It is just flying by. It is just unbelievable.

Well, Elder Hancey is pretty great. He is a relaxed missionary but gets the job done. By that, I mean that he doesn't jump the shot too soon. But I think that we get along pretty well. 

I did get the book, thanks so much!

No luck with my bag...

Could you move the photos please, haha. I will try to update the dropbox. 

 
Woche 31: eine neue Versetzung

This week has been so good. We met so many wonderful people ready to listen. We met a couple and their granddaughter. They told us no and that they didn't want to change or read the Book of Mormon. But they invited us in to have some water. And then they started feeding us. No lesson or anything, but God is preparing them in other ways. And then we had a lesson with a man who lives an hour and half a way. He was a self referral and just loves what we have to say. He said he wants to come to church and he has been reading in the Book of Mormon. It is just great. He is so happy. I just truly know that this gospel changes peoples lives and makes them so much more happier. Jesus Christ truly is our Savior. He suffered for us and knows all of our pains. We can turn to Him in time of need, when no one else seems to be there, He is there waiting for you to turn to Him and say, please Lord, I truly do need thee every hour. He can bless us in unimaginable ways. I know this to be true, I have seen it in my own life. I know that this gospel is the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness. I know that we have a living prophet who receives new and modern revelation for us. We have the opportunity to receive this same revelation for ourselves personally through the study of scriptures and prayer. I know this to be true with my entire being. That is why I am here, to serve the Lord and help him accomplish His work. I love you all and hope this week is wonderful. 

Mit Liebe,

 

Michael's District

Woche 30: Versetzung

Liebe Mutter,

I will be staying in Schwenningen for a fifth transfer. My new companion is Elder Hancey. He is from Utah and will be leaving in two transfers.

Did you get the package? Did the marshmallows survive? I am sure this was the lamest package but oh well lol.  The next one will be better.   I did get the package.  I loved the package! Candy, homemade marshmallows, sticky notes, and sharpie pens. Seriously, I love it and so does everyone else. The marshmallows did survive. And I love you too! I love the pens! They just write so comfortably.

Do you need anything?  I do have one small request. A new German book. The one I have is way to simple. But I heard of one that is extremely good. It is called Hammer's German Grammar and Usage. If you could find the newest edition for under 10 dollars that would be great. If not, the previous edition will work. Elder Young said he got the previous edition for 5 dollars but the newest has a pronuciation guide.

I love the weekly snail mail letters. I think they have just the right amount of stuff in them. 

"J" is doing good. He can come to all three hours of church now. We are starting to explain Joseph Smith and the Restoration again. And he liked the book!

Woche 30: Versetzung
 

Montag

Last Monday, we had the wonderful opportunity to visit Triberg. It used to be the border of France and Germany some time ago. They also have the highest waterfalls in Europe. I ate an amazing Schwarzwälder Berliner. It tasted so good. And surprise, I bought a tour guide to the Black Forest in French... And also a pin that has the German and French flag together. So just a language tip:

English: The Black Forest

Deutsch(German): Der Schwarzwald

Français(French): La  Forêt  Noire

I might be a little obsessed but that's okay. Anyway, It was so pretty there as always. And then we traveled back home and went to the Seeborg family for Family Home Evening. They made some awesome chicken dish with a mushroom onion sauce on top. We ate it with Spätzle. And then afterwards we sang and then read out of the New Testament for children.

Dienstag

Tuesday, we went to Singen for Zone Training. President Kohler is starting to lay the law down. It's great. He even told us we should be speaking German from 9-9 everyday. That will be interesting. And then we discussed the importance of the Book of Mormon. As stated many times over, our church completely depends on the Book of Mormon. That is why we must have a testimony of it along with Joseph Smith. That is why we as members and missionaries stress the Book of Mormon so much. Because it is the keystone. After Zone Training, I had an exchange with Elder Young in Bad Säckingen. Apparently people actually celebrate Three Kings Day. No idea how, but they do.

Mittwoch

Wednesday we didn't see much luck. But we tried out the whole speak German all day thing and it went really well. Something I thought about though on Wednesday and Friday is this. We are good missionaries if we can meet the two requirements. 1) of course being a good teacher and following the spirit. And 2) if we are ready at all times to be a missionary, to talk to someone, etc... On Wednesday we were ready at all times to talk to people and stuff and although no one took up on our offer, I still felt successful because we need to respect other people's free agency.

Donnerstag

Thursday we had an exchange in Schaffhausen. We pretty much went out finding the entire day. Lately people have just started speaking to us in English, it's weird.

Samstag

Drum roll please! rbmrbmrbmrbm... I will be staying in Schwenningen 2! Elder Thomas is going home and I will now be working with Elder Hancey. I am super excited to be working with him this coming transfer. I feel our area has been prepared and the Lord is beginning to harvest here. There truly are people prepared to embark on a new journey towards Christ. I know this to be true with my entire heart.

Woche 29: Silvesters

Michael's Mission President and Wife started a blog and I found this pic from the day he arrived in Munich!  LOVE IT!

Woche 29: Silvesters

So this week was quite similar. We went out finding a lot since our investigators didn't have time because of the holidays. But we had some great conversations. This week helped me realize the importance of this message we are bringing into the world. Everyone needs it. Literally. It doesn't matter if you are Christian or not. We have at least one thing in common, we are all God's children. And He loves us all equally.  That is why He sent His son for everyone. That is why He restored His church. That is why we have this wonderful message. To help people look towards God and receive much more happiness than we can imagine. 

What did you do for NYE? We went to a party at the church. They sang songs in Schwäbisch and perhaps Badisch. And then we watched fireworks outside of our window at home. Guess what!!!  I found some more people in our Family History. Look at Family Search and at David Hagel.  I found the parents and then it went back like 5 more generations because of someone else. On New Years Day no one was on the street so we did Family History. But I was trying to legitimize our Family History because there is incorrect information in certain places and then I found them! And I found where this Glückstal place is. It is in Moldova!  It is in between Ukraine and Romania. It used to belong to Russia so that is why everything says Russia. And there is also a cemetery in North Dakota with their graves.

Transfers are coming up, do you think you'll stay or go?  Do you feel ready for a change yet? You are such a great example, I know you will stay or go wherever the Lord sends you!  They usually keep missionaries in an area for 6 months. But, I feel ready to transfer. I would miss Schwenningen a bunch though. So I wouldn't mind staying here. Actually, I would love it.  And thanks! It is easier when to be a good example when you have great parents!

This past week I have also studied a lot on goals. I read a talk called the Fourth Missionary. And the Fourth Missionary is essentially obedient, loving and charitable, and has the will of God in place of his. Or in other words, His will is to do the Lord's work. It is not always easy, but he has the desire. It then proceeds to continually ask this question... Who are you and who will you become? Meaning, when everything temporal is taken away, who are you? What qualities will we have? What will it be like to stand next to us and then where do we want to go with this?

Sorry this week was so short. We just really didn't do a huge variety of stuff. 

Ich habe euch lieb!