March 5, 2012

Hello,
yes, i got the munz. thanks a bunch, we were able to get toliett paper and food to last long enough to get us to msf time. Its not really dragging, its actually going faster. this time last year i was saying, "I have a year and a half left", and now its, "I have less than 6 months left". pretty crazy. So, you don't have to get Travis some mission stuff, he´ll be able to take some of mine. And i can help decide from the list of things what he needs, cuz when I look back on it, I haven't used half the stuff i came over with, and you can usually find that stuff anywhere. You don't have to get him a backpack, either. Mines in perfect condition. And you should get his papers done by, like, may. Thatd be cooler. D. Todd is this Thursday from 2-9. The 1st 3 hours are just with us couple missionaries, and the other hours are for priesthood leadership/fireside. Should be pretty sweet. We think he´s gunna grill us. And no, my license isn't a big deal, its just kinda upsetting that we put so much money into it and have nothing to show for it. We´re playing füßball with the zone today, so thatll be pretty intense. Other than that, not much going on. Was another slow week. Lots of finding going on. We did however have 3 people at church yesterday. OH, get this: So there's this crazy lady here who gives the missionaries stuff. We´re not aloud to eat it cuz Pres. Ninow said it could be poisoned. But shes off the wall. She was also a former member, but i think got kicked-out. Anyway, she comes to church on fast Sunday to bear her testimony about how everyone is of the devil and she can see devils in the congregation and stuff. Not a good environment for investigators. Well, yesterday was Fast Sunday. And she was there. And Elder Owens and I had to bear our testimonies for a really long time so she couldn't. He only went up for like a minute or 2. Nearing the end of the meeting, as she was getting up, I bolted to the podium (having no idea what i was gunna talk about) and talked for 10 mintues about the Gospel of Jesus Christ (3rd lesson in Preach My Gospel). I basically taught the 3rd lesson. That gave her just enough time to talk for like 30 seconds. It was pretty close, but we got it. That's my fun story of the week. Oh, and on Wednesday this entire area of Germany is on strike with buses and stuff, so its gunna stink trying to go places. K, don't have much else to say. Hope you have a great week! Tschüß!

February 7 - February 27, 2012

February 27, 2012

HEY GUESS WHAT

SO, my return date changed again. Ill be home either the 30th or the 31st of August. Next cycle is another 5-weeker, so they keep cutting me down. So, companion and I are great. We get along pretty well. His name´s Elder Owens. He´s from South Dakota. He likes movies and everything. He wanted to go into film, but he´s not sure now. As for teaching, not so good. We have like 5 or 6 investigators but haven't been able to get in contact with any of them, so its been a lot of finding time. And yes, we have hot water again. Last pday was good. Our district is pretty cliquey, so Elder Owens and I usually just hang by ourselves. Not like the other districts Ive had. The districts from when I was in Mannheim were the best by far. Elder Keetch is coming back out in 2 weeks! D. Todd Christoferson is here next week. That´ll be cool. Its starting to warm up here. Oh, do you think it would be possible for me to get a little personal money? My companion and I are broke, and we have no food..Or toilet paper. The ward here is very old. And they don't really like us that much. They have no begeisterung for missionary work. We also don't have a ward mission leader. It pretty much stinks. I don't like it up here. Id rather be back down south. I'm going to try to go back to Weimar to end my mission. That would be sweet. Today for Pday we don't have anything planned, so we can just ausrüh. That's always nice. I think that's everything. I'm still working on my license stuff. The office told me to retry in Ktown, and I was like, *sigh* alright. So I did. Turns out in ktown it would have only taken me like 5 weeks to get it, so I was way pumped. So I got all the paperwork and everything ready to go, and I got transferred. So, I'm basically really ticked, cuz its almost been a year and I have nothing to show for it. And They told me I cant get the reimbursement of the 200€ Ive spent on this thing, cuz its "past the date of reimbursement" I'm still trying, but I'm just about ready to give up on it. its been a fruitless endeavor. Anyways, not much else to talk about. OH. TELL CHAD THAT I SUCK AND WISH HIM A HAPPY BIRTHDAY. Ive been in such a rush, and its always on my list of things to remember, but whatever gets on that list I don't ever remember. So tell him that. K, ima go now. Have a great week! Tschüß
February 20, 2012
 only have 13 minutes. gotta catch train. doing good. I'm jealous of them Travis and Chad being able to see Elder Holland. You asked what Joint teaching is...joint teach is someone who goes w/ missionaries to teach someone. We are going bowling today. Its a massive holiday today, a lot like Halloween. My companion had to shower with a ladel cuz there was no hot water. Eating really healthy now and drinking protein. Salmons pretty good. Working out every morning and night. gunna get buff. 6 months till sexy. k tschüß

February 13, 2012
 Don't have a lot of time today, we´re pretty stressed on time. So, yeah, so far things are great. I think I was just upset to be whitewashed again, and it was like watching all the hard work we´d done get flushed down the toilet. But yeah, things here are going really well. We actually do get along great, maybe it was just the beginning of the mission or something, but then, it is only 5 days in, so we´ll see. We almost set a baptism date on Saturday night for this coming saturday, but our joint teach ruined it. Our goal is 6 baptisims this cycle. We´re pretty sure we´re gunna get it, its just gunna take a butt ton of work. The weather here is still freezing, but one gets kinda used to it. Now how would I hear that Shalese is gunna be an aunt? I dont get letters anymore. But yeah, pretty uneventful week. Just trying to get adjusted to the new area. Oh, we´re gunna see D. Todd Christopherson in a couple weeks. Cool, gell? Its just for our 2 zones (Dortmund & Düsseldorf) So itll be sweet. K, gotta go to Dortmund now. Tschüß!

February 7, 2012

  Last weeks pday was also kinda fail. I actually cant remember what happened lol. But yes, im alive. Its butt cold here. We're getting the weather from Siberia (its always -7 or lower) so luckily we were sharing the car w/ the other elders. But that doesnt matter anymore. Im getting whitewashed. Again. With a companion I already don't get along with. So, im not overly in the best of spirits. This will prolly be a tough cycle, but we´ll see. The dang sisters are getting our apartment. It stinks. None of this makes any sense. gah. Other than all this, I guess im doing okay. Im sending a package home, so you'll get some sweet german stuff. DONT BREAK ANY OF IT. Its snowing right now. I also didnt have any time to write yesterday, so thats why you're getting it today. Its also very hard to write on an american keyboard. I must type very slow. And yes, I did get the stickers and the article you sent me. I had a really big hat in that picture. Yeah, Im not sure what to write about, except that its cold lol. Apparantly theres also been an increase in neonazi terrorist activity, so thats always fun. The usual car bombing, house-burning, turk-killing stuff. Its pretty crazy. Okay, i gotta go finish packing and stuff, so ill let you know how transfers go...if i surive. Chao

Dec 5th - January 1, 2012

 

January 1, 2012

Transfers were good. I hated leaving Mannheim, but its gotta happen. My new comp is Elder Decker, who goes home in 4 weeks. Yeah, we´ve got some investigators, and one guy with a baptismal date. We´re getting along fine. The branch is good, but i haven't introduced myself yet cuz the branch president wanted to wait till fast Sunday. We have bikes, and it rains ALL THE TIME so its taking a little adjusting. Our apartment is a mansion. Its soooo nice, ill have to send pics. We´re also on the 8th floor of a building, so we have a nice view of the city, which was way cool for New Years. And who says I'm not happy? I'm doing fine. Talking to home had nothing to do with anything. I just never know what to say, and i was wicked tired. I was just upset about being transferred, but other than that I'm fine. And yes, I thought that joke was kinda funny lol. But yeah, nothing much to talk about.  

JOKE Alex is referring to:

Three friends die in a car accident and they go to an orientation in heaven. They are all asked, "When you are in your casket and friends and family are mourning you, what would you like to hear them say about you? The first guy says,"I would like to hear them say that I was a great doctor, and a great family man." The second guy says, "I would like to hear that I was a wonderful husband and school teacher which made a huge difference in our children of tomorrow." The last guy replies, "I would like to hear them say ... "Look, He's moving!"

OH, for i forget, heres my address:

Friedenstraße 55 a/WNr. 61

67657 Kaiserslautern

Germany

So, yeah, thats all I got. Talk to ya later tschüß

 

December 27, 2011

Hi. yeah, not much to say. No, im not overly happy. Nah, im not happy about going. I could have stayed here a while longer. Yeah, new comp goes home at the end of the cycle. Dont know whats going on w/ E. Keetch yet. Yeah, no clothes :) The sweaters wern't bad, but i dont wanna come back with american cloths lol And what game? You mean the ping pong? That was fine. If you mean games from blockbuster...

-SKYRIM (if they have it)

yeah, that's the only one that matters. If its not there don't worry about it. Ill just ask for it on my birthday :D

For Pday, I'm gunna be writing in tschüß books. That's about it. And finish packing. For the yo-yo:
http://www.yo-yo.com/index.php/site/categories/accessories

 

The string color doesn't really matter.

K, that's all I got for now. Have a fun New Years! Tschüß!

 

December 19, 2011

So, I figure Id just call you real quick on Sunday to figure out what time we should skype. E. Keetch is skyping home at 5:30 (here time) which is 11:30 your time, so Ill prolly get to you at 7:30 here time (1:30 you time). Bishop has free calls to the US, so maybe Ill call during church or somethng. But yeah, im excited. The Christmas songs are mostly the same here, a couple differences, like how its in german haha but it doesnt translate the same into English.  I just got the package from the Gardners yesterday,(nice surprise) but nothing from you guys yet. Its okay, i dont really want anything. haha Id love to drop Travis off at the MTC when he goes!! Thatd be sweet. Yeah, Giselle should just write me lol...just sayin. Eh, its okay.  Our chirstmas party was pretty good. But I dont wanna say too much, im talking to you guys in a week, so im not really gunna say much so TSCHÜß

December 12, 2011

 I think we've been sick just cuz the weather has been all over the place here. Lots of rain, no snow. I hate it. Yeah, we went to the temple with our ward on Saturday. But, for whatever reason, E. Keetch and I wernt aloud to get in the water. They (the temple people) said we´d swim away, which doesnt make any sense, cuz as missionaries, we baptize people. So we just did the confirmations and I got to be the tauf recorder. It was pretty cool. We then went out for chinese. I got squid. It wasnt fried kalimari like I thought itd be, it was legit squid. It was pretty good. But later that night, we were at a baptisim for a girl in our ward, and the squid destroyed me. I spent alot of time on the toilet lol. On Friday we went caroling with some members from the ward. It was also pretty cool. Not much else happened this week. I need a time that ýou´re gunna be able to skype. Bishop said we could do it at his house, so we just need a time. Its in 2 weeks. gah. Hey, do you want any cool German thing for christmas?  Ill give you a list of things to look up and you can decide from there:

-Raucherman

-Nutkracker

-Pyramid

-a house for your christmas village

 

That's about all I can think of ha ha. Rauchermans are prolly my favorite. But you can look them all up. Well, not much going on today. We´re just gunna chill with the other elders in Mannheim. K, have a great week! Tschüß!
 

 

December 5,2011

 

Hellose. Yeah, Christmas is coming up. The stickers you got for me were perfect...BUT...my yoyo string broke, like, the next day whilst I was playing with it. So, If I could get a new string thatd be greeat...lol: Other than that, I dont really want anything for christmas haha. Im gunna get a new suit, but other than that, I dont really want anything. Yeah, our ward is doing a christmas party on the 17th, so that should be fun. Thats cool that you got to be mitbelehrs with the elders. Yeah, some people have the lamest excuses. Its usually cuz they´re too afraid that they´re gunna actually get an answer, and then they´re gunna have to change their life, and most people dont want to. Its confusing. So...with my leg...I took a little tumble down a hill while I was chasing after E. Walker, who was chasing after a soccer ball. I landed wrong and sliced the whole left side of my body open. It hurt pretty bad, I havnt taken a spill like that in a long time. I got some pretty sweet scars, too. Is it bad when scars itch? But yeah, not much to say this week. We were sick most of the week, so we were inside most of the week. But this week we´re going caroling, and to the temple, and other stuff, so this week should go by pretty fast. Today we´re going to Heidelberg to see the Weinachtsmarkt, so that should be fun. Its rreally cold here, but no snow yet. Bummer. Well, Ima gunna go. I should have some info about christmas soon. K, talk to ya later! Tschüß!

November 21 2011

FAMILY LETTER


BANGARANG

Eh, not much going on this week. We have Zone Conference on Wednesday, and Thanksgiving dinner with the other missionaries on Thursday, so that´ll be sweet. Other than that, its pretty boring. The Weinachsmarkt in Mannheim opens on Wednesday. We went to the one in Speyer today, but it wasnt as cool as expected. We´re pumped to go to the one in Heidelberg, tho. Oh, I found out this week that I can't pray in english anymore. I tried, and I struggled way hard. Its so much easier in German now haha. Ive also heard that if you pray in your mission language after your mission, you´ll be able to keep it (the language, I mean). I find myself not being able to remember english words or phrases, and sometimes I use the German grammer when I make sentances. Its pretty cool haha. Austin Smith going to Italy for his mission? Thats sweet. I know he wanted to go there pretty bad. Im pumped for him, especially with the temple going up soon. So, Ive been thinking about how I only have 6 more cycles left, and Im dreading coming home. Im freaking out. Im sure I'll have nothing to worry about, but still, like, ive been doing the same thing for the past almost year and a half, and to be thrown back in the ocean is kinda scary. Eh, but I dont let it bother me too much. My biggest fear is that when I see Shalese, that im gunna puke lol. Dont ask me why, but thats just my fear haha. Um yeah, so other than that, thats about it. Wait, why were you at the Sedgwick? AND on the day she got my letter, none-the -less? Id send pictures, but I need to write letters first :) And im trying to do better with putting them online. But alas, it always evades me. Maybe on like my 18-month mark ill send pics home or sumtin. K, ima go now. Have a great week! Tschüß!

DADS LETTER

hey pa, week was pretty good, but kinda slow. You should stop getting sick lol  Here's something new I learned this week that I thought was pretty cool! Get this: So you know how some talk about how when we´re in the lower kingdoms of Heaven, we cant progress? And that damnation is eternal and stuff? Well.....Its not! It doesn't say that ANYWHERE in the scriptures! In fact, it says the complete Opposite! It says that we´ll still be able to progress, it'll just take a little longer than if we lived right while we were on the earth! Pretty nifty, right? Weather here is cold, thats about it. For Thanksgiving we´re going to the ward haus in Limburgerhof with the other elders to have a dinner. Should be sweet. Yeah, not much happened this week. Same old stuff. K, have a great week! Feel better! Tschüß!

November 14, 2011

So, Transfer results...IM....staying here, and so is Elder Keetch. WOO. Yeah, Sister Uchtdorf shook our hands. We were basically like, ´"Follow us if you want to get back to your husband" haha. It was hammer. Also not too much going on this week. Its gotten pretty cold, the Weinachsmarkt is being set up, Thanksgiving is in like 2 weeks, Ive been in Germany a year as of tomorrow, yeah. Not much going on, so this letters gunna be prety lame. On Sat. night, we did like a member Missionary Training Center which was pretty sweet. We (Mannheim and Speyer elders) bought all the food, called members, told people what was going on, and taught lessons kinda like in the MTC. Pres. Schwartz even came as a guest speaker, which was pretty cool for the members. There were more people than expected, but luckily we had enough food. We were freaking out the whole time thinking we wernt gunna have enough lol. We also had 2 eating appointments yesterday, and another one tonight and on Friday, so hopefully I start gainging weight. But i doubt it. Im special lol. But yeah, that's about it. K, hopefully something cewl happens this week. Oh, thanks for the package! Um, I noticed there were no yo-yo stickers in it, so im gunna send you the link again:

http://www.yo-yo.com/index.php/site/products/3152PK

This is implying that I REALLY need yo-yo stickers, so if that was in a christmas package or something that would be hammer. I cant think of anything else I would need for it, so thats it for now. K, ima go now. Have a great week! Tschüß!

October 4, 2011 - November 7, 2011

November 7,2011

Sorry, we've been in a rush, I think I can do a better job writing today...

Interviews were good. Yeah, they´re always w/ our Mission President. He was telling me about my potential that I have but I havnt unleashed yet. I told him people have been telling me that my entire life, I just dont know how to do it lol. So we´ll see how that goes. President Uchtdorf was awesome. We brought an investigator, and we sat in the very back until someone came to us and told us we could sit in the 1st row, so we obviously moved. He talked in German, which was way cool to hear. it was also his birthday yesterday, so we all sang to him. Afterwards he told everyone that he´d be making his way around, so we got in line to meet him. Elder Keetch got to shake his hand, but I followed him the WHOLE NIGHT trying to get in. it was pretty funny. We (Elder Bullard and I) were even asked to go find Sis. Uchtdorf and bring her back to the group, but never got a hand shake or a picture. Epic Fail. But it was good anyways.

   Yes, I got your package this morning, but havnt had the time to open it. Ill prolly get to it sometime later tonight. So, the exact day that I´ll be home is Sept. 6th, so Im actually only a week short of two years. Another fail.

   Sounds like a fun time (week of no power and snow) lol. I wish I coulda been there. Its still cold here, but not cold enough to snow. And yeah, I still hear from Christian. AND, Like 4 days after I left Solingen, another guy, Uwe, also got baptized! Dang. A golden stole my hard-earned baptisim lol

   Chad....oh gosh (referencing Chads drivers licence). Travis...tell him to play more videogames to up his coordination.

As for Sedgwick B-day party's they are always fun lol. I remember the dating game. I lost, but won anyways haha. Yeah, I honestly kept forgeting to send her letter. I had it all written out and everything, but kept forgetting. That, and I didnt want to send it imediatly after cuz it makes me look desperate for mail. Which im not lol. Im at the point of mission where I dont even know what to say in mail anymore, and everyone kinda forgets about you anyways after a year. its sad, but one gets over it relativly quick. But yeah, I sent it to her on Friday I think, so she should get it this week. 

    Sounds like some pretty intense dreams mom. I like the one about me with the blonde hair and dark routes, tho. Remind me to tell you about that later...

    Frankensteins castle was awesome. Most of the castle was closed off tho, cuz they were doing like a haunted graveyard type thing and it was only open at night, but we still got to see it. Then we went to Heidelberg for a YSA activity. I got my face painted like it was in the Haunted graveyard. It made me trunky lol.

   But yeah, everything here is doing good. its kinda slow, but at the same time its flying faster now that the time is arriving soon. Nothing much more to say. Ill have the transfer results for you on Monday, cuz we get calls on Saturday. other than that, have a nice week and talk to you later! Tschüß

October 31,2011
Hi, way to not email me last week. But its okay, i forgive you. Kinda gotta write kinda quick today, we´re going to Frankensteins Castle, cuz its Halloween. Um, yesterday was stake conference in Keiserslautern, and the missionaries sang in the choir. It was pretty good. Then we had interviews, which went also pretty good. On Sunday we´re gunna go to Darmstadt to see President Uchtdorf, so we´re pretty pumped for that. Other than that, not sure what to write about. Sorry, kinda in a rush. But im doing great, and my winter gear is still fine from last year, you dont need to send me anything wintery. K, gotta go have a great week tschüß!


October 17, 2011
Im doing good. Still happy, still healthy, and still taking vitamin D. Weather here´s gettin´ colder, so im pumped. Yeah, in the way of snow, Germanys the same. We´re good with flu shots. Sounds like lots going on back home. Cant say ive seen the movie RM, and Pres. Schwarz doesnt talk about adjustment, at least not till we´re ready to go home. Interviews should be coming up pretty soon. No new investigators. If anything, we´ve lost some. it was a tricky numbers week, but this week should be better. We wanted 14 lessons, but we only got 4. Alot of fallen-out appointments. For Pday we´re gunna go to Speyer. What we´re gunna do, we dont know. Elder Keetch & I just spent 2 hours in an orthipedic clinic for his ankel (spelling?). Apperantly he´s got a random piece of bone floating arounnd his foot, and its been like that since January (German health care stinks) So we´re trying to fix it. he´ll prolly have to get minor surgery on it, but we dont know yet. For Halloween, we´re gunna go to Frankensteins castle, which should be awesome. Tranasfers are in...4 weeks? kein anung. but we´ll prolly both stay for kridmus, whichll be cool. Other than that, not much going on. I always forget to tell something, but im never shure what it is. Eh, ill have to write it down when it pops in. Well, thats about it for this week. Hopefully this week is a tad more exciting. K, ima go get my haircut, so have a great week! Tschüß!


October 10, 2011
Im glad Im staying in Mannheim. Its a pretty sweet area, and the members are pretty cool, but I think Solingen is still my favorite area. Not many investigators, but we´re working on it. Mannheim hasnt had a baptisim in over a year, so we´re gunna attempt to change that. Sounds like life back home is exciting...lol. Ill be partaking in boring life in like 10 months...weird. Tell Travis to do it, take guitar lessons. Didnt he try, like, along time ago? I have been thinking of writing Frau for a while, I just gotta not be lazy with letter writing. I was just gunna ask how that package was coming along lol. Did you ever find those yo-yo stickers? Ive started juggling, its pretty intense. Ive picked up alot of useless skills out here lol. But Im sure they´ll impress someone someday. Well, today we´re going to Heidelberg cuz half our district is new, so that´ll be fun. Its getting colder here, but the leaves dont really change color- they just die. Its kinda boring. Oktoberfest is over. I didnt even really know it was going on. But yeah, thats about it from me. maybe Ill write/mail that letter soon. We´ll see. Oh, and could you get me Giselle´s address too? I got the family letter from them, but not from her, so ima chew her out. K, ima go now. have a great week. Tschüß!

October 4, 2011
Sorry I didnt write yesterday- apperantly it was the 4th of July for Germany, so EVERYTHING was closed. We went on a day-hike with our ward. Thats was pretty fun. Transfercalls came in- Im staying in Mannheim, Elder Bennett is going to Duisburg, and Elder Prussey´s buddy Elder Keetch is gunna be coming in! I also found out that Elder Bennett knows Elder Rapp! So tell him he says hi. Yeah, not much happened this week. Except for confrence and transfer calls, nothing really happened. We had alot of fallen-out appointments, and one of our investigators is going on an new england vacation. And this week is transfer week, so I dont even know whats going down. For pday we´re gunna chill in Worms cuz half our district is leaving.  Id say that nightly Book Of Mormon reading is a good idea, no matter how little or how much it is, as long as youre reading in it at least once a day. I guess you could use the reward system, but they´re all old enough that they shouldnt need it. Thats about all I have to say about that. K, ima finish uploading pics, so Ill let youz goz. Have a great week! oh yeah, Christmas is in 11 weeks. Tschüß!

August 26 - September 25, 2011

September 25, 2011

hi

yeah, not much to write about. nothing overly exciting going on, its missionary stuff: We do the same thing every day, from 6:30-10:30, for 2 years. Little things happen in between, but its all the same. Not much going on here. Its been pretty average.  I had a last minute talk on Sunday, luckily I had one pre-prepared. But im pretty sure I can give one off the bat now. I have better german than a lot of people in the ward lol.  Now, about the guidlines again haha, im not breaking commandments. I still follow those. Now, as to matters with Jake, you just gotta let him do his own thing. Dont force him to do anything. He´s gotta figure things out for himself. Thats about all I can say. We cant make people do anything. We can only promise the blessings that comes from doing things . They have to know for themselves the importance of stuff. Sometimes that takes awhile. But I´ll do what I can, praying and fasting wise. And you can't think I'm a bad missionary, you're my mom. It defeats the purpose.  Well, we had a busy day today, so sorry you didnt get your letter earlier. Thats a pretty sweet dream you had. Ive had some pretty intense dreams, from waaayyy deep revelation to Shalese yelling at me haha. I swear, thats all she does in my dreams. Im always getting yelled at for something. I hope she reads this haha. STOP YELLING AT ME I DIDNT DO NOFFIN. K, now that thats over with, I dont have much more to say. Im gunna start uploading more pics next week when my camera´s charged. Well, thats all Ive got for now. Im way exhausted, and Ive got a thema in DDM in the morning, so ima gunna go. Have a great week! Tschüß!

September 18, 2011

 The less-active who gave us the wine is a little weird, and crazy, and italian, and he hasnt been a member very long, so it was kinda expected. We told our bishop, but he laughed at it too haha. He´s way cool. I gotta start uploading pictures again- ive been slacking off, and i need more room on my camera. Yeah, we got a new phone. Its about the same as our last one, but when we got it, the PIN didnt work, so it brought us to a PUK number, and then we got locked outta our phone, so we had to wait a few more days for a new SIM card.  But its all sorted out now. So, with facebook on my ipod, i cant even use it cuz i dont have internet ever, and if i do use it, its on pday. Ive learned alot in the past year. Pres. Ninow once told me that the reason I wasnt seeing any "success" was because I wasnt following little "rules". We dont have "rules". We have guidelines. True, when you follow guidelines you´ll be happy, etc etc, but I have also seen many miracles without following all the tiny rules. When I had 2 batisims and 20 lessons, I wasnt keeping all the little rules. Its a little weird to explain, so maybe when I get back i can share some more info. I hope this doesnt make me sound like a lazy or bad missionary, Ive just learned a lot in the past year to be able to decide what works and what doesnt. But yeah, this week was still kinda slow cuz of our lack of phone, but this week coming up should be better. A girl came to church yesterday who read about us somewhere, and wanted to learn more. We´re meeting with her on Thursday. We also have Zone Confrence in Heidelberg on Wednesday, so dass sollte spaß sein. I ate alot of schnitzel yesterday, that was awesome. We also saw Joe Burns, but I dont remember what day it was. He´s gunna play soccer with us today. Its starting to feel fallish (thats prolly cuz fall starts this week) and its killing me inside. I love fall, and it just reminds me of home. Its kindof an awesome sucky feeling. Awesome cuz its a very homey feeling, sucky cuz im not home lol. eh, 11 months. In 6 months, I have to start "6 months to Sexy", which is when I have to work off the mission weight and start looking buff. But, i havnt gained, or lost, any weight. I weigh the exact same as when I left CT. Crazy. Well, ima go now. We gotta go pick up the other elders at bahnhof, so talk to ya later! Tschüß

September 11, 2011

So, this week was good, and bad at the same time. Well, not really bad, but we lost our phone on thursday, so we´ve been phoneless for a few days, which kinda takes a toll on our numbers and getting in contact with people. I even asked some girl (who just happened to be very attractive) if we could use her phone to call ours. She didnt believe that we lost it, and thought we were just hitting on her and her friend. Then I asked another guy who was sitting next to us if we could use his phone and he let us, and I gave him the numbers in german, then the girl didnt even think I was american. oh well. But yeah, Elder Bednar was cool. he was pretty funny. All the missionaries were there, so that was also pretty neat. He basically talked about:

spiritual gifts,

pray to know to act,

how to be sucsessful as a parent,

how kindness is a good way to soften hard hearts,

we dont need to feel the spirit all the time,

at some point in our life we should memorize the family proclamation

It was really cool. Thats basically the only cool thing that happened this week. We went to a birthday party of a less active last night, and accidently had wine. He said it was non-alcoholic, and because he´s a member we believed him, but it was all lies. Luckily we only had a swig, and it was pretty easily identifiable. But other than that, nothing really exciting. HAPPY BIRTHDAY JAKE AND MCKENZIE!! I forgot to send out letters, but I didnt forget. And yes, I am hitting the "Hump Day". Im pretty sure ive learned alot, but too much to put in an email. Ill just tell you guys in a year. K, we´re going to see a cool cathedral in Spire today, so I gotta say Tschüß. Have a great week!

September 4, 2011,

So, Mannheim is a blessing and a curse. BLESSING: I guess the ward is cool, there wernt alot of people there on sunday cuz alot are sick or on vacation. My comp is awesome, we get along way well. His name´s Elder Bennett. He´s from Texas too; I guess its just an overall cool area.  Not overly pretty, but its cool. Do you remember Joe Burns? He´s studying here right now hahaha. Ill most likley see him around. Im not really sure about the investigators yet- they´re all on vacation. We´ll prolly get in contact with them this week.  CURSE: I have never seen so many attractive girls in my entire life. No joke. It stinks, but is awesome at the same time. gaahhhh. And the weather here is way different from Solingen- its so hot here, but today was way nice. We went to Heidelberg to check out the castle. It was the perfect day outside. We see Elder Bednar tomorrow, so that´ll be cool. So, new address:

T6.26

68161 Mannheim

As for things to send me for the 1-year package, I only have this:

http://www.yo-yo.com/index.php/site/products/3152PK

its for the yoyo that TJ sent me for christmas. I havnt been able to use it cuz it needs new friction pads, so if you got those that you be awesome <3

But yeah, that about all I got for now. Im glad you liked you mini-letters. I dont have time or room to write full ones, so those will have to do haha. Tell Mr. C I said Hi! Thats way cool. K, ima go now. Ill talk to you next week. Tschüß!

August 26, 2011
Sounds like the east coast is getting destroyed (referring to hurricane and earthquake)...good thing im in Germany BAHAHA. So, we got transfer calls on Saturday. Im....going to Mannheim! Its really cool, but sad at the same time. Im gunna miss Solingen, and Im gunna try to see if I can visit the Bapt. on the 18th, cuz I basically taught him everything. But im way pumped. I hear Mannheim is an awesome area, and I already know my comp haha. His names Elder Bennet. Oh, guess what. On Sept. 6th. Elder Bednar is visiting the mission, so we´re ALL going to Frankfurt to see him! And the summer is over. We had a few hot days here and there, but it was basically freezing. And now im wearing a hoody AND my winter coat (its pretty cold) and will only get colder...WOOO. Thats basically it from my side. Ill prolly have more to write next week. We´re getting together with the district today cuz Elder Telfer (elder Prusse's friend) and I are the only ones moving. He´s going to Frankfurt. And Elder Wilde is training. so, DONT SEND MY PACKAGE YET. K, i gotta go. Bis später!