Whataweek.

Moin!

So, I must say it has been a crazy week.  It started out pretty good.  I was excited about the things going on.   However, it was followed by an interesting experience.  I want to report on that experience today.  Hopefully others can learn from it as much as I did.

We had just had an excellent appointment.  It seemed like everything was going perfect.  We were in the train heading home after the good appointment when a man began talking with us.  He started out being a pretty normal guy who doesn't like us, but then it escalated to the point where there was obviously a huge opposition there.  I could quite literally feel the presence of the devil.  It was a feeling of hopelessness and darkness.  I could not believe what was going on--all in the presence of our investigator!  The man stayed on the train as we got off despite his threatenings, and we headed to the bus station.  While waiting for the bus, the evil spirit seemed to move into the body of a nearby lady.  She immediately took on a form of negativity.  The people around us definitely noticed the difference in mood as well.  We got on this bus, and the opposition was still there.  I feel like I was stuck in thick fog that blocked all form of proper thinking.  I then felt this small quiet light in my heart, the Spirit.  It told me to get off the bus at a certain bus stop.  The moment I listened to the Spirit and got off the bus, this evil, thick fog and opposition had no more power.  It was a testimony to me that Satan is there to work against us, and when we follow God we can be freed from his chains.  It was a very, very crazy experience, and I hope to not experience it again.  I guess these are the kinds of stories you expect to hear from missionaries though, haha.

Well, needless to say, it ended up being a strange week.  It seems like things are back to normal, and I am working hard!  I am looking forward to a great week and watching General Conference this coming weekend.  I hope you all have a wonderful week, and that blessings are sent your direction.  I know that God lives, and I know he wants the best for each one of us, his children!

Germany is still as great as ever!  I am enjoying it the best I can!

Transfer 4 in Hamburg!

Yo!

So, this last weekend was transfer calls.  Just as expected, I didn't get transferred!  That's pretty regular when being a trainer.  I imagine this will be my last transfer in Hamburg though.  There is, however, still a chance that I stay.  This transfer is a five week transfer.  That means it will probably seem to go by even faster than a normal transfer!  So crazy!  The time is going by so quickly these days.  This weekend we have the switch back of the times.  That means one less hour of sleep, and much more daylight in the evening!  Wow!

The last week was pretty awesome.  We did a lot of finding, and we had quite a bit of success!  We had a couple experiences where we only had a few minutes left to do doors, and so we chose to do a specific set of doors before we finished and we found somebody new!  It's great to see what the Lord blesses us with when we are doing our best! 

I think the weirdest thing is that I will have been in the Hamburg district longer than anyone else who is currently in the district!  I have been here a pretty long time!  Of course, the missionary couple is here longer than I, but that is only because they stay in the same place the whole time!  So they don't count.  It's a big district, too.  There are now going to be 13 missionaries in the district!  So weird!  That is just crazy!  It's bigger than one of the zones! I have a picture of our 12 person district of the last transfer and one of our adventures of last P-day!

Well, life is good, life is great, at least for me, at any rate!

Foo Foo Party!

Hey!

So, this last week was pretty much amazing.  We started the week out well by finding some great people, we had a zone conference on Thursday, and throughout the week we had some miracles!

The Zone Conference pretty much changed my world.  I decided to kick everything up a notch.  I had worked super hard to get where I am, and then I thought to myself, that I want to reach higher.  I set my bar up another couple notches, and I continue to climb.  I decided I am not going to settle for anything less than what I can be!  That is valid for everyone on Earth.  If you push yourself as hard as you can, you can achieve so much!

Also, the other day we were walking to go visit an inactive member.  We were just kind of going down the street, trying to find out where this person lived.  Somehow I made a wrong turn, which set us back some time.  We turned back around and headed back the correct direction.  All the sudden I heard behind me, a man.  He asked us if we were the Mormons.  Naturally, I answered in the affirmative.  He then began to explain that he is a member--baptised and all!  He had fallen away from the church and began drinking, smoking, and drinking coffee.  He didn't want anything to do with the church.  Now, at least a year after the previous contact with missionaries, he searched us out and told us that he is doing super well!  He says he quit drinking, quit drinking coffee, and quit smoking.  All because he knows the church is true and wants to feel of the Spirit again.  He wants to come back to church, and he is happy to be back.  He said he repented and wants to move forward.  What a miracle!  I could not believe it!  I have never lived such a happy experience.  I felt exactly like the father whose son came back.  I wanted to kill the best calf we had and hold a feast.  I can't wait to see him at church.

On Saturday, we had an appointment with one of our investigators.  He decided that he wanted to make us some Foo Foo!  It is a traditional Ghanian dish, and he said he loves to make it for the missionaries.  Elder Hess had the chance to eat it for the first time!  It was super delicious.  The pictures are of the Foo Foo itself, and of me eating it!

That was our week!  It was great!  I can't wait for another great week!  I miss you all and hope you have a great week! 

Also, by way of announcement (haha):  If you send me a package, make sure to send it to the mission home in Berlin--NOT to me at the apartment.  Packages take longer, and sometimes require going through customs.  If you send them to the office, then the office can take care of all the customs problems, and eventually forward the package to me.  Letters can still be sent to the apartment, no worries there.

Weeks Gone By

Why Hello!

So the weeks keep on travelling by quickly!  I don't know how that is for all of you all in the non-full-time missionary world.

So, my companion and I are working hard and getting things done.  The last week we only had a couple of appointments go through, but we are working hard to find more people with whom we can meet!  It is amazing what you can accomplish when you work for it!  There really wasn't anything too exciting that happened during the last week.  I feel like I am reliving my life of about a year ago when I was a Golden missionary.  However, now that I am training a Golden, I see everything from a different light!  It's a cool experience, but requires a TON of effort!  The job of teaching someone German in 3 months is alone a big task!

I can't think of any single event or two from the last couple weeks that was really cool, but just know that the weather is warming up and so are the people!  It won't be long before "the time of darkness" (What I like to call the winter time here in Germany where it's dark at 4 o' clock and the sun comes up at 11am) is over!  That will mean that people will be happier about the weather!  Including the missionaries.  I am excited for that, and excited for the coming summer.  It has been a while when I could simply wear a short sleeved shirt outside!  it will be fun!

Here attached is a picture of me near the Elbe River again.  Everytime we pass somewhere cool by the Elbe River I just want to take a picture!  Haha

Golden Week!

Well Hello!

I can't believe I am a trainer!  This is crazy!  I get to go around with an American trying to speak to a bunch of Germans in broken German!  Wahoo! haha.  Actually, it's bad.  It is quite a new experience though.

On Tuesday I spent hours in trains going to Berlin, and stayed the night there.  It was a good travel, and luckily one of my old companions, Elder Staheli, came with me.  Since we were both training, we decided it would be fun to travel together.  After staying the night, we woke up and headed over to our trainer training.  That didn't last too long, and then we were introduced to the Goldens!  I didn't know who my golden was going to be right away like I had expected.  It was crazy!  They finally read off the name of Elder Hess as being my new Golden to serve with me in Hamburg-Altona!  What an awesome experience.  Right after the names were read, I ran up to the front and gave him a huge hug (practically tackling him).

Later, we had to wait in the big Berlin Train Station for about an hour before our trains came.  We hung out there, and then took off to go to Hamburg.  Another 4 hours of trains with a ton of luggage.  We traveled a lot with Elder Staheli and Elder Zondler (Elder Staheli's golden) because we were going the same general direction.  They even came all the way to Hamburg with us where we went and got Döners!  Now, for all of those who don't know what a Döner is:  it is a turkan invention, invented in Berlin, and it is pretty similar to perhaps... a burrito.  Except that it is put in a sort of bread thing.  We went there and Elder Hess had his first Döner!

The week has been great since then.  Just a lot of work, and learning.  That's what it is all about!  I am hoping for another great week this week!  Wish me good luck! 

Training!

Wow!

This transfer I am training!  I may be getting a guy fresh out of the United States!  It is crazy!

More information to come next week!  All you need to know is that I am staying in Altona (Hamburg)!

My Address continues to be the following:

Until Next week!

Last Week of the Transfer

Why Hello!

So, it is once again the last week of the transfer.  That means that we get transfer calls on Saturday and I get to see whether I stay here in Altona, or if I leave.  It is really weird that the time is going by so fast.  It seems like I just barely arrived here in Altona.  I hope I stay here in this area! 

The last couple weeks have been interesting.  We have been sick on and off.  We cleaned some crazy mold out of the apartment.  We found some new people.  It has been fun.  It's also exciting that we finally have snow on the ground!  Plus, it is cold enough to stay on the ground!  That's one of the best things.

There haven't been too many super exciting things lately.  Just the normal missionary work!  I have decided to set some new goals with my language learning.  I have come to a comfortable place with my German, and, even though I am still learning new words everyday from other people, I decided that during every language study that I have, I will learn 10 new words!  I am hoping that this will bring me to an even higher vocabulary level, and allow me to communicate things even more clearly.

I decided to attach a picture of the port here.  This is right by our train station in the Altona side of Hamburg.  Enjoy!

Have a great week!  Hold off on the letters this week until I know if I am getting transferred to a new city or not!

Yep!

Hey!

So, I am feeling pretty sick because I got sick last week (and I am still sick), so I want to make this quick.

Yesterday was awesome.  A lady came to church, and she is now a new investigator.  She was totally excited to learn about the gospel, and even stayed for all 3 hours of meetings.  After that, there was a baptism of a little girl in the ward, and the lady stayed for that too!  She even asked if the baptismal font had warm water.  It was so cool.  I have high hopes for her!

I also wanted to attach a photo of me and the Elbe River in the background. 

Have a great week!

Super Speed!

Just like normal.

The week went by fast!  In the past it seemed like the time was slow, but fast.  This week was simply fast.  I am just doing the work, and not really thinking about what time it is, what year it is, or what month it is.  It is fun!  I enjoy being in the city I am in, and I enjoy my companion.  It's just a great time.

I don't know how to explain this week other than that.  The time just passed us by.  We were able to talk to some new people and make out appointments.  It was great.  My companion speaks fluent Spanish.  Sometimes I try to speak spanish with him to learn some things. 

The work goes on, and I have the opportunity to take a part of it.  I am so blessed to be here!  I'll even show you a picture of our church building here in Altona.  It's amazing!  Sorry the color is weird, I took the picture at night, and it was super dark.

Happy New Year!

Wow!!

I cannot believe that we have entered the year 2012!  That is amazing!  This year is going to be great.  I can just feel it.  Don't you worry about anything.  This is your new beginning.  Give people a reason to say that they enjoyed 2012.  First thing I learned this year:  You can make somebody incredibly happy by the things you say to them.  Don't judge people, don't decide whether or not they deserve to be treated nicely--just be nice!  It's the little things that you do everyday that can bring you closer to God.  It doesn't have to be something big.

For our new years we didn't do anything special.  We had to go in to our apartment early (at 6 o'clock) because of all the drunk people and fireworks.  We played a game called dominion with the Elders in our apartment.  It was fun.  We went to bed on time (10:30) and I got woken up at midnight because of all the crazy fireworks!  Fireworks are 100% legal here in Germany, so they launch TONS of them off at midnight.  It was crazy.  I have never heard so many fireworks at one time before.

I hope you are ready to make some goals for your new year!  Have fun, and enjoy yourself!  

Stay True!

P.S.  Here is a picture of my new companion, a cool statue, and the aftermath of what happens on New Years.