March 5, 2012

Hey family! How are you guys doing?! I am getting sort of excited for my birthday because they make a HUGE deal about it in Germany. Grandpa John talks about that in his book I think. It's true. Actually, today I met someone from not too far away from the town he was born in. She had heard the name and knew it. Cool eh? I have never met anyone who knew of it before.

Anyways, this week has been good. Once again, a whole lot of rejection in the investigator aspect, but we are working hard and that is all we can do. It is sometimes really frustrating, but we can only try our best. I honestly can't remember the days too well, and after a while it is a little tougher to remember the difference between dooring on Tuesday, dooring on Wednesday, dooring on Saturday. Haha! On Wednesday, we had to help a new family move into the ward. Which was awesome. Except it was at 900 so there were 5 people there, and then right after we had District Meeting, so we sort of stunk real bad the whole day because we had gotten sweaty. On Thursday we had a real Bavarian Eating appointment with Knudel, Schweinebraten, Sauerkraut (which I actually like now. Which is strange... I hated it at first, but it has grown on me. Especially Blaukraut (Blue Cabbage), everywhere else they call it Rotkraut (red cabbage), but Bavaria's colour is blue. So, Blaukraut it is! Haha!

On Friday, we had to go to Passau so that we could do a baptismal interview. More really, so that I could do one. It was really a great experience. I felt a little strange doing that because I don't feel like I should be the one, but I felt really good about it, and he was really ready. He's a really nice guy, and his baptism on Sunday was a very good experience. After that we met with H. I love that man a lot, but it's tough. He didn't come to church either, which was really tough.

On Saturday, we had a funeral. We helped set up a lot of stuff, and then I sang in a quartet at the cemetary. Then we raced back and I helped sing there, and then we helped make sure there was enough food and everything. But there were quite a few less-active members there. I think about 5 or 6. Which is good, I think they realized that the church was good. A couple who were at Stake Conference too, so that was really good to see.

On Sunday, J's baptism was in Landshut (since they don't have a baptismal font in Passau, the last little girl there was baptized in a river). It was good. He was a little afraid of the water, so it took about 16 tries to finally get him all the way under. All the kids were laughing, but it was really good. I sang there too. Which went okay. Just same old Elder Thompson, sharin all his talents. Oh dear... My sense of humour is ruined... Haha! It was really great to see. A baptism is great.

Today was an interesting day. We went to Munich with the Passau Elders (Neuötting decided not to come) and we had to meet with the Zone Leaders to give them a Suit Jacket they had forgotten here last week. So they were late getting to Munich Bahnhof, so we missed our train to Dachau. Then we took the next one, and it stopped in a little town about 20 kms away and because of technical difficulties, the buses weren't running through Dachau and a couple other little towns, so we had to get off the train. So we had to wait for a bus to come which took about 20 minutes, and then we finally got to Dachau. When we went there we got on the bus to take us to the camp, and SURPRISE! it is closed on Monday. Luckily, the bus driver told us, so we were able to stay at Dachau Bahnhof, but of course the trains weren't running so there was the chaos of finding a bus or taxi to take us back to Munich. We had no luck. So, we had to wait about 30 minutes for the train to finally work again and then finally we got back to Munich at about 1445, and we had to take our train at 1524. So we went and walked around Marienplatz for 15 minutes, and then we were done and took the train back. It was fun still. A little sad that we couldn't go, but it happens. Especially with some unprepared missionaries.... haha! But so is life. Haha! We can't do anything about it now. And it was still fun. Next week we might all come to Landshut and go see the castle and play some games and stuff. I think that will be fun too.

This week, we still haven't found any new investigators, but not for lack of trying! It has been a tough week, but really good. I am much more happy when I am working hard and doing what I need to do. I have learned so much. It is strange to be starting my 5th month in Landshut. Transfer calls are the 16th, and I am a little anxious. If I stay, it will be good, but tough. But leaving will be just as tough. Who knows. I have learned its best not to worry about it.

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Sincerely,

Elder Connor J. Thompson