Happy Halloween

So this week has been really good!
It seems like Christmas will be so far away, but when I think about how I have been here since July it doesn't seem that far away. I am not going to lie. I am not excited for when it gets cold and snowy. We are in a bike area, and I am not so good on my bike. I have only ran into someone once though, and it is because they pulled a Saskatchewan Left (Is that even a thing? Either way, he pulled way to the right and then turned left so I tried to go by him and then ran into him. Luckily everyone was fine. We stayed on the bike, and they probably thought I was a J-Dub, so no harm, no fowl. Haha!) Elder B has hit two people I think. Once he slammed on the brakes to avoid a parked car, and then his bike flipped around a hit some lady behind him. So comparatively, I am not doing too bad. Haha! Luckily, it hasn't snowed yet. It's a little nippy some days, but we got some cheap ear muffs and gloves and scarves
Anyways, on Tuesday we met with C, the lady who got baptized on Sunday and our GML (Ward Mission Leader (Gemeinde Missions Leiter)) was there too. She made us some Roladen, Roladin, Rolladun, I don't know how to spell it, but it was a pickle, wrapped in some meat, wrapped in onions, wrapped in bacon, wrapped in meat. I love Germany! Haha! It was so good, but they feed us soo much here! I think the missionaries before were huge or something because when they dish us, we get like 3 times more than I can eat, and then I muscle it down, and then they serve the main course. It is crazy! But good, nonetheless. It was really good. There was some concern because she hadn't been to church in over a month, but the GML said that if she made all that fancy food for us, he called in Sunday food, then she was probably sincere. So that was good.
Then on Wednesday we met with her again at a members house and got another eating appointment. With Kurbiss Soup (That means Pumpkin!) It was delicious. I would say 9 out of 10 eating appointments gives us Kurbiss Soup. I love it! Then a bunch of vegetables. The husband, is a very Bavarian man with a thick accent, but he is super funny. I love the Branch here. We taught about the Prophets and then ate a bunch more and then went home on our bikes.
On Thursday, the Zone Leaders came to do interviews and it was really good. I really like them.
On Saturday, we also had an amazing day. I think every single person that we went by on, whether they were inactive or former investigator was there and we were able to teach, or we were able to set up a return appointment with them. It was awesome. Plus I had a cool experience with my bike chain. We were riding our bikes to see an investigator who had a baptismal date, but we haven't been able to contact for almost a month. Somehow, my bike chain fell off and got stuck in something else in the bike (I don't really know a lot about bikes. Just pedal and go!) and wouldn't get out. It took about 10 minutes of wiggling and adjusting things, and then it just popped out without me doing anything. We kept on riding to our investigators house and knocked and waited about 2 minutes and then he walked into the apartment. We were able to teach him right then and there which was amazing since we hadn't seen him for such a long time. Looking back on it, I realize that my bike chain fell off for a reason. If we didn't get there ten minutes later, then we would not have seen him at all, however we were able to teach him and set up another appointment with him because it fell off. It was cool to look back on and see that. I know that sounds dumb, but it was awesome.
Sunday was a busy day. It was nice because we got an extra hour of sleep, which was the best hour of my mission. Haha! We went to church and I had to give a talk. It was bad... It was really bad. Remember how bad I am at giving talks in English? Strangely, it was no better in German. Haha! I went up and started, and then realized that I forgot my scriptures so I had to use the Branch Presidents, and then I turned super read and just talked really fast with my terrible German and it was awful. Luckily, everyone was really nice and they still told me it was really good for only being here 3 months (MTC German doesn't really count...). After Church we went to a members house and they are awesome. The Dad reminds me quite a bit of dad. We ate sooo much delicious food with them too, and then we played Nertz (Sadly, I did terrible. Did not make mom proud.) And then went to the baptism. It was so good. I sang a song (Come Thou Fount, of course. Haha!) And it went really well. Plus, after that someone invited us over for supper, and now all of the primary kids think I am the bomb because I can sing English music and I can play the piano. Now the cool thing for them to do is to take the missionary name tags and pretend to be missionaries. It is funny. The branch is slowly, but surely warming up to us, which is really good. I want to be one of the missionaries that people remember.
That was a big part of our week. We also got one of our investigators, T, to get a baptismal date! Which is awesome! He lives in the Azulheim (Refugee Camp place) and is from Iraq, but he is pretty solid. We are working with him and hopefully will be able to help him a lot.
The week has been really good. We have been working really hard. And I come back and am exhausted, but I would much rather work hard than not at all. I realized that when I am unhappy I just need to work harder.
How is everyone doing at home? I miss Primary Presentations, but I think our Branch's is in two weeks or so which is really exciting! Haha! It is so strange to hear the Primary songs in German, but funny. I honestly, LOVE the branch here. They are so good.
Glad to hear that everyone is doing good. Hope that everyone is doing good. I love you a lot! Thanks for everything!



Sincerely,

Elder Connor J. Thompson