So before I forget, this subject took place about 5 minutes ago. It was raining and we were walking to where we do emails. It wasn't raining too bad, not enough to use an umbrella, but enough that maybe you could get away with it. Anyways, we were walking across the bridge and this older couple were walking towards us. The old man started rubbing his head (he was bald by the way) and then when he got closer to us was like ''Well, I guess the rain is okay. It's not like it can mess up our hair.'' I laughed really hard. It was so funny, and so random. Old people are the best. Or the worst. But usually the best! Haha! And as much as everyone told me that this mission would be so hard and that all of the German or Austrian or Swiss people would be rude and stubborn, they really aren't. They are very nice people. They are just very... firm in their faith... Haha!
So last week was really good. On P-Day, we went to the top of a mountain. I think it is called Nordketten. Anyways, it overlooks all of the city and the valley around it and is BEAUTIFUL! It was weird because of where Innsbruck is located, you could see the German Alps in one direction, the Italian in the other direction. Not too close to the Swiss, but I can live with that if I have to. Haha! It was really fun to go and do that. We wandered around the top of the mountian (no yodelling, sadly) for a while, and then when we came back noticed I got pretty sun-burned. But it's gone now, so I have a nice missionary tan. From the short-sleeve down, with a nice Watch Tan-Line, and a CTR ring Tan-Line. They are the best! Haha!! After that we went bowling with the JAE group. It was really fun.
This past week was really good! It felt like everything just clicked. Nothing too special happened in the first part of the week. Tuesday and Wednesday were spent dooring and trying to get a hold of our investigators. It seems like most of them have fallen off the face of the earth, but we'll find them soon. Hopefully! Haha!! We did meet with M again and had a better appointment. I hope that she is understanding more, but sometimes it is hard to tell with her. She is an interesting lady though. We talked a lot about reading again.
On Thursday we had Zone Conference. Which was awesome! I got to see two missionaries who went in the same day as I did. Elder S, who is in Wels now, and Sister B who is Klagenfurt. It was fun to see them. Apparently they changed the way that the German missionaries are in the MTC because now people only come every 6 weeks instead of Alpiners coming every 6 weeks, and then Berliners and Frankfurters coming every 6 weeks. Now just everyone comes every 6 weeks. No overlapping or anything. That probably doesn't make any sense, but the moral is, its different and now you meet less people. So I am glad it changed after. Anyways, Zone Conference was really good. It is always fun to be with missionaries. We are idiots. Haha! But in a good way, I think that just after a while of being on a mission everything is funny to you. So I will be crazy after 2 years! Haha!
At Zone Conference I also got all my mail. It was awesome! I cleaned up!!! Haha! I got your package, which is awesome. I was going to carefully ration out my peanut butter, but then I have already eaten 4 of those things and only have 7 left, so that might not happen. But it is so delicious. I also got a couple letters, and a package from Laurel Hill. I love her.
On Friday, we had our Ausstellung, or Street Display. The Zone Leaders came from Salzburg to help us out and it went really well. Usually I hate Street Displays a lot. But for some reason this one was so much fun. I gave out 3 Book of Mormons, which is 3 more than I have ever given out! And it was fun. I met a lot of cool people and talked to everyone! Something that I have struggled with a lot. I still do actually, but it was just good on that day. We met a lot of cool people, and of course some crazy ones, but we always get quite a few investigators out of it. The best part that happened though was when I went to talk to this women. Most of the time they just give you excuses about how the can't talk right now or anything, but hers was the best I have ever heard. ''Sorry, I can't talk to you I'm Mormon.'' Mind. Boggled. I don't know what she thought we were or anything, but I was too shocked to respond. Haha! She might have thought we were Jehovah's Witnesses, which a lot of people think actually, but apparently she doesn't know too much about Mormon Missionaries. I am sure that she will be really embarrassed when she sees that one again.
Saturday was another really good day. We met with a lot of people that we met at the Street Display and so we have 3 new investigators that I feel really solid about. Elder B hasn't seen a baptism his whole mission so our goal is to get one this transfer. It will be hard, but I still think that we can do it. We met with 2 new investigators, one is named L and at first it seemed like he only made an appointment to bash us but by the end it really changed. I am always amazed at how a short simple testimony in horrible (and I mean horrible) German can change someone's mind so much. There is no other way we could do this, than through the Spirit. We just have to get out of the way. Even talking to people on the Street I find that I am saying words that I don't know what they mean and people are understanding me, so either they take compassion on my little brain and just pretend like they understand what I am saying, or they are able to understand in the language of the spirit, which sounds lame, but is in Preach My Gospel so... it's true.
The other is named L. When we went to her house we just talked with her at her doorstep. It was really good. She said that she had already read a bit in the Book of Mormon and really liked it.
Sunday was really good, we had 2 investigators just randomly show up to church who we hadn't been able to contact for a couple weeks so it was awesome! We have appointments with them and I think that things are going to be picking up here soon. We also had an appointment with S. She has two little girls about B and B's age and is from Nigeria. We didn't meet her husband, but she said that he was excited. She is is originally Muslim and said that she wasn't sure about the church, but wanted to learn more. But said her husband would be very interested. It would be so nice to have another family to teach. And another family for the branch. That is what we need most. We taught her a really good lesson. I am feeling much better with teaching people and everyday am getting more confident at just saying what needs to be said and realizing that the Spirit doesn't only speak to one companion, but to both of us so I need to be more bold.
All in all things are going really good. I don't have a lot to report, other than the work is good. The ward here is super good. I love them a lot. I am really trying to love the people because everything is so much easier. And that is what being a missionary should be about. I love it a lot.
Sincerely,
Elder Connor J. Thompson
P.S. Sorry I complained about not getting any letters. I got so many last week I felt like a huge jerk.
No comments:
Post a Comment