Guten Tag Meine Bruder

Hey everyone! How are you doing.  I hope you all had a good reading week, and enjoyed some nice Canadian weather, or if you are Darrin that you got to enjoy some nice Hawaii weather.  I know where I would rather be.  Haha!  I really can't complain though.  I think the coldest that it has gotten this winter is -5 or something.  So, it would be pretty nice for us at home, but I am not accustomed to cold at all anymore. 

This past week, was a little bit slower again, but we did have some really good things that happened.  I really have nothing to complain about at all.  I was talking to a return missionary this week at church, and we talked about how on a mission you always have to have the faith that things will get better, and always say 'tomorrow will be better' and then at the end of every week, 'next week will be better.'  I find it a little strange that I am always like that because before my mission I would not really classify myself as an optimist or anything like that, but now I am almost obnoxiously positive.  Haha! 

On Monday, we were having family home Evening with a member family, and it was originally supposed to be the parents, and their youngest son (a return missionary), but when we got there we saw their other son (with wife and two children), their daughter (with non-member husband), another member of the ward, and one of their non-member friends.  We had a really good supper, and then shared a Spiritual Thought about the Plan of Salvation.  It was really great, because the whole family was doing most of the teaching to the people who didn't know the gospel very well.  And the best part is, it didn't feel weird, or forced, or like we had all come together to convert everyone, it just felt good and natural.  Just like how sharing the gospel should be.

On Tuesday, we had an exchange and I worked with Elder B in Heilbronn.  It was really good.  He goes home in less than a month, so it's a little strange.  I can only imagine how weird it is.  I guess I will know soon enough.  But I don't really like to worry about that. 

Not a lot happened on Thursday.  Just tried to talk to a lot of people.  Strange that NOBODY here has time.  Nobody at all.  Bummer.

On Friday we had an appointment with a family, which was really sweet.  The kids LOVED Elder H which was really funny to watch the fight over sitting beside him.  I got along with the non-member husband pretty well.  He is way cool.  I think that's one of my favourite parts of a mission.  Just meeting so many different people.

Speaking on different people, we met with O on Saturday, that was awesome.  

On Sunday at church I also had to give a talk, which I think went pretty well.  Quite a few people told me that was the best talk they'd heard a missionary give, and they really liked that I spoke to them as part of the ward, not just as a missionary who gave them a big guilt trip for not giving us referrals.  Now I know what to say next time though.  Haha! 

It was really good though.  We also had a sweet miracle because a lady who we had contact with in October (so before I even got to Ludwisgburg) texted us and said that she'd read the Book of Mormon.  We'd tried to go by on her pretty often, and we'd phoned and texted her at least 10 times since then, and talked a fair amount, but she was never really an 'investigator'.  It was great to see how when we stick to it, then we will be able to find people.  It just doesn't happen when we want it to, and how we want it to.  We need to be as concerned with them as the Saviour is for them.  Which is a lot.  That's when we really see success and things on a mission.

Things are going good here.  I am happy and glad to be here, and am trying my hardest not to get too trunky.  Strange enough, as long as we are working then I am too tired and busy to think about home.  Another good reason not to stop until my very last day.

I love you guys so much! Have a great week.  Stay safe!

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Sincerely,

Elder Thompson

Happy Valentines Day

Hey everyone!

This week was a pretty slow week to say the least. 

We had a couple of opportunities to do some service this week.  First we put together a bed for K and O, which was awesome.  Then on Saturday, we did service for the G family and they are way cool.  We painted a wall, and then built some Ikea shelves which was fun.  It was really good and a lot of fun. 

We also had an exchange this week where I was with Elder M from California, where we spent the whole day contacting.  Super...  But afterwards we had ward council which was really awesome.  Just in case you don't know, I love the ward here.  We have quite a bit to do, but this past week was vacation so things were crazy, so nothing sweet happened.  This week will be better.  I know it. 

Anyways, I gotta go.  We are spending the day in Stuttgart and so I don't have tons of time.  I love you all a lot!  Say hi to everyone for me.  I got a letter from the Ward Council, it was really good.  

 Thanks for your letters and emails from home.  If you need something to do, just remember how nice it was to get this, and then multiply that happiness by 5073.  That's how I feel when I get something from home, so you should send me stuff.  Haha!.
--
Sincerely,

Elder Thompson

Woohoo!

First of all, I suppose I should say that Transfer Calls came and went, and Elder H and I are staying together.  Which is not what we expected at all, but will be really good.  Have I ever mentioned that I love the ward here?

This past week we had a couple of really neat things that happened.  First of all, on Tuesday we had interviews, which were really awesome.  I don't know how someone couldn't love President and Sister Miles.  They are so amazing.  We talked about a lot of good things, and just as it seems to happen every time at interviews, the questions that I had were answered, without me even having to ask them.  It was just really great.  The biggest thing we talked about was how we as missionaries, and members of the church really need to be more outwardly loving.  He talked about a Senior Couple in Landshut, the W's and how they are the most loving people no matter what.  They just love everyone.  That's how I want to be.  This week was also interesting because I was going through all of the things that I have acquired on my mission, and came across Dad and Uncle Al's talks from Grandma Fern's funeral.  That is exactly how Grandma was.  She never made a big deal about doing good things, she just did them.  And she did them because she loved us.  She didn't need any other reason, and neither do we. 

Not too much else has happened actually.  We have been meeting more with members, and with some less active members as well, and really trying to find people.  Elder H has been fairly sick, but is hopefully on the upswing now.  On Saturday we came together as a district and then we all went through our area books together.  You would have to ask the missionaries at home to really understand what that means.  It was really strange, and in all honesty seemed like a reason to hang out as a district, but if that is what the Zone Leaders say, I guess we can do it.  Haha!  It was a lot of fun.
Church on Sunday was really good.  The American member of our ward in the Stake Presidency gave a talk that was so good.  It answered just about every question that I had about this coming transfer.  It will maybe be a little tougher, but I know it is what I need.  That's how it's been sort of my whole mission.  Not always what I want, but always what I need.  I am going to make the best of it though.  I love you guys a lot!  Take care! Sorry this is so short! Say hi to everyone for me!

--
Sincerely,

Elder Thompson

February Already??

Hey everyone!

Thanks for the e-mails, and for the pictures Kari.  The girls are getting really big.  That is so crazy.

This week was a pretty good week.  Monday evening, we had an appointment with a part member family who have three young boys.  It was really funny to see.  The dad is a really nice guy, and the ward is really wanting to work and help the them more.  The three boys also really love missionaries, and wore their 'Zukünftiger Missionar' (Future Missionary) name tags.  It was awesome. 

On Tuesday, we had District Meeting in Heilbronn where we had a surprise party for Elder B.  It was good.  I used that Betty Crocker mix that you sent me, but it tasted really nasty.  It could have something to do with the fact that the oil I used had expired 6 months ago.  Gross...  Elder H is convinced that they only bought it 4 months ago, but I am not too sure... In any case, we ended up throwing it all out.  Haha!  Better luck next time I suppose.  Afterwards we had our finding day, which was pretty uneventful.  We knocked on quite a few grumpy people's doors, which was made even better by the rain.  But I really shouldn't complain about the weather because the coldest it got last week was 4°C.  Really nice.  On Monday it was 17°C or something like that.  

On Wednesday, we went to the hospital again to visit O.  She had her baby on Tuesday, and actually phoned us to let us know.  That was cool.

On Thursday, we went for lunch with the R's.  They are almost like the grandparents of the ward.  They are really funny.  

On Friday, the highlight of the day was for sure an appointment with a man named Hans.  He was a self-referral who saw an ad on Facebook and then wanted to know more.  He is really religious and has a Doctorate in Religion, and so at first I was a little worried how that would be, but it was nice because he did not want to bash at all.  He simply wanted to know, and really liked a lot of things that the church did.  He was really excited about the Book of Mormon, and really hoped that we would have enough time to visit him again.   We said yes.  :-) I remember at the beginning of my mission, and especially before my mission how hard it was to tell anyone anything, especially when it came to tougher questions like 'What happens if I am not baptized?' 'Why is your church the true church?' 'How can you believe in the Book of Mormon when...?'.  But it was just so easy, and felt so right.  It was a really great experience.

On Saturday we spent the day contacting and trying to get a hold of more people.  We also spent our lunch break and bought a sweater  Other than that not too many notable things happened.  Just the usual crazy people on the train, and fun things like that.  

Sunday was really good.  To our great surprise, O came to church.  He has a good heart, so that it good.  Even better was that N came to church.  Apparently he has been going to Institute, and really likes it a lot.  We didn't have time to meet since he was sick and left after Sacrament, but he was really happy to be at church.  He said he'd been reading in the Book of Mormon as well, so that is really great.  We will for sure be meeting with him again this week.  

Today was also good.  We had a P-Day and all surprised Sister B (the Senior) Sister in our Stake.  We then had a talent show.  It was really good.  Johann was also there, and got four of us to sing 'The Rose' while he played the piano.  Sadly, no Happy Hands dancing.  It's been too long since any of us have seen Napoleon Dynamite. 

Anyways, I gotta go.  I love you guys a lot! If you feel an urge to write a letter, you should follow it.  I know someone who would love it.  Haha!

--
Sincerely,

Elder Thompson