Germany week 64

Dear Mom,

Well you seem to already know about the most exciting part of my week. Or at least part of the most exciting day. We had the street display on Saturday and everyone in the district came, including the Jarrards as well the Zone leaders. That ended up being pretty good. I didn't personally end up talking to anyone that was interested, but Elder White got a number from a guy that seems really interested that he gave to us, so we'll see how that goes. Towards the end we got rained out, and just as we were about to pack up it stopped so we could go for another half hour or so.

After that the Jarrards took us to a delicious Mexican Restaurant for dinner and then they all left and we went home to weekly plan. And then the sisters called and asked us if we could give their investigator a blessing so we went and did that. Turns out her foot was swelling like crazy so she can't walk on it, but it should be fine for her baptism this Saturday, so we're hoping for that.

When we were coming home from that a random guy walked up to us and asked us if we were Mormon, said he had met some of us in Holland and that he wanted to meet with us. So we told him where the church is and he took a card, so that should be awesome.

Well those were the highlights. Have a fantastical week! Love You more!!! Me

Letter from a Senior missionary

Elders Cloward and Frickey spent Sat PM preaching in the rain in the Mainz walking district with the sisters, the DLs, ZLs and us, the old couple. They bring a lot of humor and enthusiasm to the work. At the end of the day, some 8 copies of the B of M were handed out. Thanks for sharing your son with us. He's doing a great job! Elder & Sister JARRARD

Germany Week 63

It's crazy that you've been learning so much about the sabbath because we have too! You'd almost think the Quorum of the Twelve specifically besought the area presidencies to get everyone in their areas to focus on that. (Hint: If you didn't already know, they totally did, you can expect to keep hearing about it for awhile longer, at least until next General Conference, which, fun fact is only about a month away.)

This week has been pretty normal for us. Talked with some people. A lot of people. It was actually rather interesting the other day as we were talking to people on the streets. There was a man who wasn't exactly nice to us. He wasn't mean, he just really didn't tolerate what we were doing. It was interesting in that moment because while I felt a bit attacked at the moment I also felt a greater surety that what I was saying was true. But I guess that's how it happens a lot, so nothing really too surprising there.

Love you more!
Isaac

Germany Week 62

My week was great. I did get your present and it was actually hilarious because we don't actually have a real freezer so we got it just before we went to Zone Training (we actually left a few minutes after we had planned so we could wait longer and right as we were leaving the doorbell rang), and we figured it would stay cooler in the box it came in than in our fridge. So we went to Zone Training, came back and it was still frozen! What's more, because it's a bunch of small things it actually fits in our freezer! And it's delicious. I took a nice picture of how crammed our freezer is now, but it was with my camera, which is hard to send you since I'm writing this on my iPad, so you'll just have to imagine.

The rest of my week was pretty good too. Actually I got another awesome birthday present later that day. We went to a member's house later and we got there a bit early, so we klingeled some people around where he lived. The last name we were going to klingel answered, asked if we were Zeugen Jehovah's and when we said we were Mormons they let us in. Turns out they were 14 year old girls, but they took a copy of The Book of Mormon and gave us they number, so that was cool.

Anyway, I don't know how the temple was yet because I'm currently typing this while waiting for the next session to start, but I'm sure it will be great. This is going to be the last time I get to go because it closes übernächster Samstag.

Well, hope you have an awesome week! Love you more! Isaac

Germany Week 61

This week was nice. Nothing too exciting, but it was still good. Partied with some less actives. Went and helped one of the sisters' investigators in her yard. Got to feel super manly because we were taking out a tree stump and all we had for tools were shovels and a pickaxe so we had to cut its giant roots with the pickaxe.

Wow, this week sounds kind of like it was boring and mundane. Pretty sure it wasn't, but oh well. Oh, also before I forget, we were supposed to be going to the temple tomorrow for my birthday, but then someone silly decided to put Zone Training on that day instead, so we should be going next week, so I will be emailing on Tuesday (hopefully).

Love you more!!!
Elder Cloward

Germany Week 60

Hey mom,

My week was pretty good. The first part of the week was pretty full with Abschieds Termine (farewell appointments) for Elder Blanchard. It was funny because they were all families that Elder Blanchard of course knew very well, but I hadn't ever had an appointment with any of them before so it was also nice for me to meet them. I guess that's what happens when one of you has been there for four transfers and the other for only one.

The last half of the week was a bit slower. We spent most of it getting Elder Frickey situated and accustomed to the area. We've only been together for about four days, so one cannot really know how everything will läuf (run) in our companionship, but it seems like it should be pretty good. Sure hope so anyway because it's pretty likely we'll be together for a while. Elder Frickey is pretty convinced this is going to be his last area, which really wouldn't be surprising. Schauen wir mal (We'll See).

Well, I can't think of anything else to say. I'm sure something else exciting happened, but it currently escapes me, so I guess I'll just end here.

Love you more!!!

Isaac

Germany week 59

Dear Mom,

Sounds like you had a nice exciting week. Probably more exciting than mine. At least until Saturday. On Saturday we had transfer calls and it turns out Elder Blanchard is leaving and being replaced by Elder Frickey, who was in the MTC with me. (Also, fun side note that you probably don't actually care about, we have a new AP too, and it's Elder Nilson, who was in Bamberg with me for four transfers.)

We also had an adventure on Tuesday. We were doing a split in Darmstadt and we all had to hop on a different train. Well, everyone made it. Except for me. What's more Elder Blanchard had the phone and my Bahn card, so I was stuck in Darmstadt all alone. Then that scripture popped into my head, namely, "be still, and know that I am God." So that's what I did. I sat there for a half an hour and waited for the other Elders to come back. But the rest of the split was great and we found a new investigator for Langen, so that was great.

At church on Sunday, after a directive for the Quorum of the twelve we switched to having Sacrament meeting first in the block. That was certainly different. At the beginning of church we were a bit smaller than usual, but more people came pretty quickly. It was interesting to see just how much of a difference it made in the reverence and spiritually of the meetings. I guess it's just one more evidence that the apostles know what they're talking about.

Well, Love you more!!!
Isaac