Dearest Family,
Is it already Reading Week? Where does time go? It is weird being here because we don't really have any similar holidays. I However, this week it was Fasching. But if you asked me to describe that, I really couldn't tell you the first thing. I know that the kids dress up and go around town, and I think they will this Tuesday or something.. Anyways, it is some tradition to scare/chase Winter away and then welcome spring. Which would be very welcome. Hah! On Wednesday or Thursday, it was apparently Fasching, but only for the women, so they are allowed to do anything to the men. Someone told us that if a woman wanted to, they could just kiss a man for no reason. Elder P made sure we were out contacting as much as possible that day. Haha! It apparently is also allowed for women to come up to men and then just chop their ties. That didn't happen either, but it would have been cool if it did eh? Next year! Haha!
As for Italy now being in our mission. It is really cool. The province, Sud Tirol (South Tyrol) used to be in Austria, but after WWII it was given to Italy. There were members in Innsbruck who would make the 3 hour drive every other week and come to church because they speak German. Not Italian. There were tons of inactive members there who said that as soon as there was a German Branch then they would go to church again, so apparently that is happening. I would LOVE to go there. But I probably won't. But I think it is cool that now there are 5 countries in our mission. As for who gets to go there, I have no idea. I know there are some missionaries who speak really good German and English so they are probably fine to learn Italian (German Missionaries for example)
As for Visa's. I actually have an Austrian Visa, and a German Visa. They don't stamp them in your passports now, instead they give you sort of a Driver's License card thing which is interesting. I don't have any difficulties with Visa's. But it is different in different countries obviously. Germany being the easiest, then Austria, then Switzerland (it is apparently bad there for Americans, so they have tons of EU Member missionaries there (England, Germany, France, etc) but I don't think as bad for Canadians. Who doesn't love us?) I know that in Austria, some missionaries have had troubles with Visas, Elder H told me it took him about 3 hours and tons more paperwork to get a Visa. Mine took about 5 minutes, and they only had to look at my Passport, and a letter that the church gives all the missionaries. No Birth Certificate or anything. So maybe that will mean something. But who knows? I also am apparently, not the only Canadian in the mission anymore. There is an Elder Steed from Raymond Hah! He is in a Swiss Stake, but in Germany (The Stake Boundaries don't always follow Country Borders) I think. But I don't know for sure. Just thought that was interesting.
Anyways. Not a whole lot happened this week. Unfortunately. We spent a ton of time dooring, and still haven't found a single investigator. It is really tough. I am really hoping that the blessings will be greater because the trial of our faith has been greater. I think it will be.
The only investigator we met with was H.
Things are tough. But we are doing good. I feel like I am still improving a lot and learning so many things. We have had a lot of funny ways of being rejected. I think my favourite would be when we told this guy we were talking about happiness and how we can get more of it. And in the most monotone voice he replies 'I already have so much happiness I don't know what to do with it anymore.' Haha! Stuff like that is good. I have learned so much. And I love you guys a lot!Sincerely,
Elder Connor J. Thompson
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