A Nice Tasty Slice of Humble Pie

Things this week went about a million times better than last week, and then some! I'll try to start on Monday, but here days still seem like weeks, so I'm sorry if I forget things. I will try my best.

So Monday, after our P-Day was done, we helped out at family home evening. We played hockey (yay....). Luckily, I wasn't the worst at it, so being Canadian and having to play it in Phys. Ed. paid off! Haha! It was really fun. Even though the branch here is small, the JAE (YSA) group is strong and do a lot. It probably helps because of Elder and Sister G. Who could be the funniest people I have ever met. Elder G was in the hospital all last week, and so we went to visit him a couple times, he has very similar ideas as Dad does, so it was funny. President and Sister Miles also came on Monday to visit him, so it was nice to see them. A little sooner than I thought I would, but still good. They are so wonderful. And funny. So on Monday we didn't really do a whole bunch because it was our P-Day.

The rest of the week we focused a lot on finding new investigators, as we had 0. Haha! We spent a lot of time tracting, and Wednesday we spent pretty much all day. We had a couple of interesting experiences with that. Lots of people yelled at us for going to their door, more people answered while they were not decent. Something I cannot begin to understand. The best was when one person yelled at us to leave her building (we were doing it in an apartment), and then we just went to the next door (admittedly, not the best choice) and so then she kept yelling at us, and then to show her disgust she shook her floor mat out on us. She was really unhappy. I don't know what it was that we did, or why she was so angry, but she really was. It was fun. NOT. It's interesting to me to see how different people react to us.

So after that all day, we went on Member Splits. Elder H went with Sister G (Elder G was still in the hospital), and one of the ward members to teach the family we taught last week. I went with one of the JAE's, and we taught someone who was being taught about a year ago, but then stopped. We taught about prayer, and luckily we taught in English! She said so many interesting things, about how since the missionaries stopped meeting with her, something in her life was missing, about how the missionaries always seemed to phone her when things in her life were going really bad, and how even though she sometimes would regret making appointments right after, it was always what she needed to hear, and she loved hearing it. It was so nice to hear that. It was kind of the win that we needed after having a couple crappy days. We also made an appointment to meet with a couple on Sunday, but we will talk about that later on in the letter.

Friday was a great day. We went on exchanges with the Zone Leaders (Elder W and Elder W). They were both awesome, and were good missionaries. I really liked them both. We had our Ausstellung on Friday, or street display. Boy is that something else. Nothing like a good slice of humble pie by being rejected by every person you see for 4 hours. Delicious! It was actually really fun though. We were in front of the museum between some buskers (People who play music for money, this one was guitar, down the street it was also accordion (awesome!)), and the Animal Rights Activists. I think people got the wrong idea about us because we were close to the Animal Rights Activists. So they gave us weird looks. Especially because were in our white shirts and ties, and they were in their sweet sleeveless shirts, dreadlocks down to their knees (No joke! It was the scariest!), and that lovely aroma that comes from not showering for a while. It was really good though, and despite the large amount of rejection we made quite a few appointments out. Later that evening we were walking home from our bus-stop and someone from the restaurant across the street started yelling at us for us to come there. We were a little confused, because we didn't know what he wanted, but he wanted to know who we were because he saw us walking by every day and was so confused. We made an appointment with him again so we taught him on Saturday. He is the funniest guy. Saturday and Sunday were both really good days. We met with quite a few investigators who I think had been really prepared for us.

On Saturday, we went back to the restaurant and taught the man from Friday. We gave him a Book of Mormon in Arabic (He is from Jordan), and he was so excited about it. He said that since we'd met him the day before he had gone and read a lot about the church and was so excited because he'd read tons of really good stuff and wanted to know more about it. We made an appointment to meet with him later, and he wants us to meet at his house next time so we can talk to his family about it more. We also met with the lady that we met last P-Day. We had a really good lesson with her too. When we gave the opening prayer she felt the spirit so strongly that she started to cry. It was amazing to see! We gave her a Book of Mormon, and she was excited about it because she wanted to always feel like she did when we were praying. She is such an awesome lady as well. Then we met with that couple from Wednesday and gave them, and their daughter a Book of Mormon. They both seemed really excited about it, and when we told them that it was about Christ, they even knew a little bit about the scripture in maybe Romans? About ''And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold, them also I must bring and they shall hear my voice. And there shall be one fold and one shepherd.'' It was super awesome. We met with a couple of other people and taught them quick lessons on the street, but haven't been able to see them since (It was on Friday, and we have been fairly busy since.) but things are really looking up here. We now have people to teach. As frustrating as this past week has been, I think that it helped us both to take things more seriously, and to realize a lot more why we are here, and what exactly we need to be doing. Hopefully things will continue to be good here. But I have faith that we will. Life here is super good.

As for the questions people asked. Food here is wonderful. We have only had one dinner appointment, but it was delicious. We also had Schnitzel our first night in the mission home which was also wonderful! So I think it's good. Just haven't had too much authentic, but that will come with time I'm sure. Just need to do more schmoozing? Haha!

I love it here a lot. Say hi to people for me. And to send me letters if they wanted. Hint Hint! Haha!

Sincerely,

Elder Connor J. Thompson

Where in the world is Connor?

So, things here are going really good! I am in Innsbruck, Austria! Just where I wanted to be (Sort of... Vienna was my first choice, just anywhere in Austria was good for me though!). It is beautiful here. I've been told by many people that this is the most beautiful part of the whole mission. We are actually right in the middle of the Alps. I sent some postcards home today, so hopefully that will give you an idea of what it looks like. I am also fairly certain that you will be able to creep around the area a whole lot to find what it looks like. It's beautiful though, trust me.

As for Innsbruck again, it is beautiful. I think it hosted the winter Olympics twice? The population is about 100,000 people maybe, but I am sure you can just find all that out. I will try to send some more pictures.

So first off, my companion is Elder H. He is from Draper Utah (Lame...), but he isn't Utahrded which is good. Haha! He is going home in March, so he's been out a while, but he still has some time here. He's served mostly in Vienna and other parts of Austria, this is is third transfer in Innsbruck, but his second in a row (he was here earlier on in his mission). We get along really good, he's funny, and we have similar ideas on things, so it makes everything a lot easier.

It is just us two missionaries here in Innsbruck, but we also have a senior couple who have been called to work with the YSA members of the ward and help start doing more YSA things, this is because Innsbruck is a University city, so in during the year there are tons of kids, however, right now in the summer it is a lot more empty. The senior couple are hilarious though. Elder and Sister G are their names.

The ward here is really good. There were about 40 members on Sunday, which apparently isn't very many. I thought it was a good amount though. The church is actually its own building and has a tiny little gym and everything. I like it a lot! Elder H and I had to play piano in church. Oh how I wish I hadn't of given up lessons. It was terrible! On the brighter side, we will not be asked to play again, so we don't have to worry about that hopefully. Haha!

After church we went to a supper appointment with a family, and they made so much food. It was ridiculous! And remember how you told me that if I said I didn't want any more food I could say and they wouldn't be offended? FALSE! People here are. Luckily, these people were younger, like Matt and Kari's age, so they weren't offended. Actually, I think if Matt and Kari were German, it would have been these people. They had two daughters (almost 4 and almost 2) who were crazy, but the oldest one would say the funniest things. Halfway through the oldest went to the bathroom and came out brushing her teeth with only her underwear (European...), and just smiled at us while she walked by. It reminded me sooo much of something that Aiden would do, and then their younger daughter was crazy like Dexter. Actually crazy. Haha! But anyways, they weren't offended at all. They made salad for the first course but so much of it (what I would get at a restaurant), and then for the main course they had like half a chicken, tons of mashed potatoes, and cooked vegetables. It was soo much! They (Elder H included) told me that if I didn't eat all the food at an Old Lady's house then she would cry. I believe it too. There go my chances of coming back skinny! Haha!!

I am trying to think of cool things that we have done this week. Not a whole bunch. We have taught some lessons to some inactive members and one investigator, and one investigator family with the Glovers. All of the lessons went good I guess. Haha! The German is super fast, and I've heard that outside of Switzerland, the Tirolish accent (Tirol is the State we're in) is the hardest accent to understand. So it's interesting. It stinks to try and learn to because I don't know any German grammar at all. Absolutely zero. Because I never learned any when I was here, and not in the MTC either (well, a bit, but not a whole bunch) because I was only there for three weeks. But I think that I'll learn it here faster. Hopefully. Would be nice to know how to speak it now because I just sit there and smile and nod. Haha!
So a little more about my week, we've been trying to find new investigators. Two weeks ago, they had a bunch of solid investigators, but then because school is out for summer they all went home. We've spent most of our time tracting (We call it dooring), which is interesting.... To say the least. Let's just say that people here will stop whatever they are doing to answer the door, and don't worry too much about their attire. I've seen lots of nice beer-bellies, a couple nice pairs of little tiny boy underwear on old men, and my favorite is the strategically placed shirt. Yikes! All of these from Old men. They seem to be the only ones who have a problem with this, but its nice to say ''We have a message about the Book of Mormon we would like to share with you'' when they are standing there super nude. Surprisingly they say that they aren't interested at the moment. I don't get it.... Haha!!

We hadn't had any success with anyone wanting to meet with us until today. So after 4 days of tracting, and this lady came up to us on the bus and wanted to know more, and then another one on the next bus (Oh yeah, we do not have a car or bikes, we walk and ride the bus) told us she would be okay to meet with us. Hopefully they will both work out and we will have two new investigators. It would be nice to have one of those. Haha! The moral is that on P-Days we have the most success. Everyday P-Day? Why not? Haha!!

All in all, things here are good. It's so much nicer than the MTC, but so much harder as well. I think I am glad that I was only there for three weeks, but sometimes I wish that I would have learned more German. So it's hard to say. There has got to be a reason for me being here now though. So hopefully I can find that out sooner than later. It would be nice, but I might not know what the reason was for years. Who knows. I have faith though that there is a reason. I have really been studying that a lot as of late, because I have heard people say that it's not faith, it's just blind obedience. Which are two very, very different things. I know that the direction I am receiving here truly does come from someone much higher than us, and that there is a reason for everything. Finding the reason, or the thing that we need to learn is the hard part of life, but I think once we figure that out, then we are golden. Much easier said than done.

Thanks so much for all that you guys do for me. I hope you are having a wonderful vacation, and a lot of fun. I miss you. Say hi to everyone, Ron and Laurel in particular, I may have had to read their cards a couple times over the past couple of days.

Elder Thompson

P.S. I don't know if I told you or not, but Jerry and Jeanette sent me a letter a week or so ago in the MTC. It was really nice. I don't know how to get in touch with them, but say thanks for me. It was very much appreciated!

I'm Here!

Elder Thompson has arrived at the Mission Home in Munich.

Deutschland Uber Alles!

Mom and Family! How are you guys? I hope you are doing well. You said the funeral was tomorrow? I wish I could be there, but things here are okay too. Give everyone a hug for me, especially Grandpa. And tell them if they wanted to write me I would be okay with that. I don't know what happens to my mail once I leave. I don't think I get it, so Saturday will be my last time to get mail because there is no mail on Sunday, and I leave at 5:00 in the morning on Monday.

Is the Postal Service still on Strike? I wrote some people about a week ago, but I don't know if they got anything or not. Basically I wrote anyone who wrote me back (hint hint), so if you wrote me I tried to write you back! I'm not just ignoring you! We just don't have a bunch of time here either.

So like I said on Friday, I was switched to the German district after I went to the Salt Lake Temple. It was so neat, and I think it's so much sweeter after being in the MTC for so long. Plus it was nice to be with Canadians. Oh Americans... Today is the 4th of July so that is really fun. Remind me to never be here again for the 4th of July. Ever.

This week has been pretty good actually, a little tough, but I have had so many experiences that have helped me to feel like this is the place that I need to be, and that I will be helped so much.

So last week was really busy, one of my teachers has been having a really hard time lately, his wife has had a couple surgeries, and then there were some complications so he had to miss a class or two, so we had TONS of Personal Study time, which isn't so bad I guess. I have really been studying the Plan of Salvation, especially since Friday. What an amazing blessing to have. I love it! When he was there we just focused on things that we were unsure about how to do in the Mission Field, so we worked on teaching the Word of Wisdom, and the Law of Chastity. That's fun to practice. Elder H was very intent on practicing the Law of Chastity however, so he would do that out in public. That's a good way to get funny looks at the MTC. Haha!!

Our other Teacher, Sister B has taught us a lot too. She is a super good teacher, and reminds me a lot of Kari actually. Just a little more hyper. I think she was on her mission in Taiwan or somewhere? . It is weird to have the different German teachers but good.

I love the German Zone. Today since it's P-Day we would usually go to the temple, but its closed, so we played Werewolves (Mafia) all day long! Haha! So funny. Makes you act, not so missionary like, but still fun and a good way to relax.

Flying with me in our zone are 7 others. Elder S, Elder T, Elder A (Both Utah?) Elder P(New Mexico), Sister M(Utah?), Elder B (England, the only other international), and Elder S (Idaho). That last name might sound familiar to you because his brother married Christina Janosch? One of the Janosch's, so it's weird. Small world eh? He's a super nice guy though. Actually everyone is really nice, and despite the occasional Canada sucks joke, I feel like I get along well with everyone.

Last night we had a Devotional from Jenny Oaks Baker. As in Elder Dallin H. Oaks daughter. Who is a world renowned Violinist. It was so nice to have that. She talked a lot about things that she learned through her performing and learning music, and how the Lord does bless us if we follow the commandments. She also played music other than hymns (It was magical to hear not hymns! Haha!), and it was really good.

How else are things there? How is everyone doing? How is Grandpa? I hope everyone is doing really good there. I think about everyone lots and wish I had time to write everyone, but there really isn't enough time. I love you guys lots, thanks for everything and especially the examples that you have been for me. Seeing and listening to people here I've found that the common thing to do was to see how bad you could be but still be Mormon. I'm so thankful that in my group of friends and with all their parents and families that never was the thing to do. It saves you from so much trouble. I can't believe how many people have to work out things that they did before they came here. It seems so silly to me. But oh well. I love you guys lots! Write me letters???


Sincerely,

Elder Connor Thompson