May 20, 2013

Hey everyone!

I don't have tons of time this week.  That may be a common theme until I get back since we want to use all our P-Days as sweet as possible.  Which is only 3.  Crazy!!  

In any case, things here are going really well.  I realize that my letter last week was also pretty poor, so I will try to cover things a little better than I did last week.  Not going to make any promises though.  Especially since I get headaches when I look at the computer for over 30 minutes (an answer to Dad's many long years of prayer?) and we don't have tons of time. 

Anyways, we had Mission Tour with Elder Jose A. Teixeira, he is the Europe Area President and the most loving man ever.  It was way good, and despite having 31 Elders sleeping in an apartment where normally 7 sleep, it was pretty good.  I took one for the team and slept on the floor beside the bathroom.  That might have been a bad choice.  Oh well....  

All of our investigators are doing really good.  We found 5 new ones this week, which is really sweet because that doesn't happen too often.  

It was all in all just a really great week.  And last week was sweet too.

We went to the Mercedes-Benz museum, which was really cool.

We have also just had a lot of cool experiences with being in the right place at the right time.  It's nice how that works out so much.

I also learned that Hay Fever (I think that would be the translation.  Heuschnupfchen) is an actual thing, and I was actually sick on Monday and Tuesday (it was pretty bad those days), but then it got better.  I am pretty much completely healthy again.  So that is good.  

Things have been a little tougher with our part member families because they are still on vacation, but they should be back pretty soon so that will be really nice.  Until then we will be meeting with the new people who we found.  Two of them have said that they want to be baptized, so we will see how that goes.  It would be really sweet to see another baptism before I go back, but if it doesn't happen I know that it will happen right after I come back home.  And in all honesty, it doesn't matter if it's now or then.  The important thing is, is that they are coming closer to Christ.  It's not about writing as many names as possible in the cover of my Preach My Gospel. 

Anyways, I gotta run.  Just saw that our train is coming sooner than we thought.  Can't miss it, or else we will be late.  And Germans do NOT like that at all.  Take care! Thanks for the pictures and the emails.  I love you guys lots!

Hello!

Hey family!

I cannot believe that another week is already gone.  Where does the time go? It's crazy.  This week, was really good.  The weather wasn't super great, but things will be better this week, and everyone in Germany was pretty happy because there are two German teams in the Champions League Final.  That probably means nothing to any of you.  But it just means that there are going to be some crazy busy nights where dooring is a really, REALLY bad choice.  And that there is a little more beer on the streets than normal, although that just happens the warmer things get.
In any case, I will try to give you the run down on what happened this week.  On Tuesday we had our District Meeting, which was really good.  Our District is really great, and it's always fun to get together.  Afterwards we had an appointment with M which was really good.  She is a really neat lady.  We also had an appointment with the B family, who is awesome.  We have tons of good families here.  I really am so blessed. 

On Wednesday we had a Ward Barbecue! Which was awesome! 

The barbecue was really good because we had quite a few less-active members, and part member families, and a couple investigators there so it was really awesome. 

Since I am a District Leader we had a meeting on Friday and talked about the problems that missionaries are having, and just a lot about how we can help people remember that we are actually teaching and finding the children of God here and not just numbers.  It was interesting.  Missionaries are great.  Some are strange.  Quite a few are just crazy.  But I love them all.  We then later had an appointment with the G family that went really well.  We are hoping to talk to them about baptism now, except we have a problem... They are going to be gone for three weeks on vacation... No!! Luckily one of the daughters isn't, so we are going to work a lot more with the ward with her, and we are going to meet again before they go.  I think it will be really good.  They are a great family.  And I will still be here when they get back, so it's all good.
Saturday we did service (I have never done so much service my entire mission before) for another family.  We then visited a less-active family who was really nice, but it's just an interesting situation.  We will work there too.  There really is tons to do with a lot of people. 

On Sunday we had church, which was really good.  It was Fast Sunday, but sadly no kids bore testimonies this month.  It was also a super crazy Sunday because all the stores were open.  Normally nothing is open on Sunday except for restaurants, but this Sunday it was almost like Spectrum (we couldn't find the Mini-Donuts sadly.  Which I guess wouldn't have been super great since we were fasting, and it was Sunday...).  We talked to some great people, and all in all it was a good day.  And to top it all off Oswaldo came to church, and finally learned my name! Haha! 

This upcoming week is looking really good.  We have Mission Tour in Munich on Friday where a member of the 70 will be there.  It should be really good.  The problem is that is starts really early in the morning, so we either sleep over somewhere in Munich, or leave really really early the morning of.  Either way it will be something for the journal.  Haha!  We also have quite a few appointments, and things will just be great.  Life is good. 

--
Sincerely,

Elder Thompson

Guten Tag!!

Hallo Familie!

 I am staying here with Elder Chapman, and I am staying in my favourite ward ever, what could be better?  This transfer is going to be the best one ever.  I know it.  We had a really great week.  

So this past week was really good.  We had some funny things, and some awkward things, and sometimes those went together. 

On Tuesday we had exchange and I worked with Elder M.  Don't get me wrong, I love Elder M, but this was the least I have ever wanted to do an exchange in my whole life.  Why you ask me? Is it because I ended up missing an appointment with O? Is it because we met with two other member families? Is it because I really like my companion tons? Is it because I hate being not in Ludwigsburg? Could it be a combination of all of those? (That is the answer there)

Anyways, it was okay.  We didn't do tons which was okay, mostly because my stomach was still not feeling so great after the earlier activities.  But it was a lot of fun. 
On Wednesday we had an appointment with the G family.  They are really sweet by the way.   The younger daughter had some super good questions and was really interested, which was awesome to see.  We have another appointment there on Friday this week, which will be really good. 

On Friday, we had to help out the Elders in Stuttgart with a baptismal interview, and the dumbest thing of all time happened.  So we get on a train and see that we are in a different car than them.  So while it's still there, we  jump out quick and go to run to their car.  No problem, the other doors are still open.  So we go and press the button, and the door doesn't open.  We keep trying and start to go to another one, when we notice that now all of the doors are closed...  Oops...  So we miss that train, and have to wait a half an hour for the next one.  Bummer... But it's okay I suppose.  They met some crazy people, and maybe someone who is way golden so it's all good.  We also had an appointment with the Z's again, and we helped them with service, which meant we got to wear regular clothes.  I think they just said that because they know how much Elders like wearing these clothes.  All we did was dig one hole for a plant.  Maybe a foot and a half deep.  Haha!  Then they taught us how to make Spätzle.  Which is delicious, and good.  I will make it for you when I get back.  How you ask? Because they bought us our very own Spätzle maker (also called a Potatoe Press?), and Elder C said I can take it.  Score!!  We then ate it, and then had an appointment with them and their neighbour who is now an investigator.  Woohoo!!  She's really cool, and likes the missionaries.  

 On Saturday, we had a Finding Day where we were trying to find people the whole day here in Ludwigsburg.  We were able to get 6 people as a district, which is really good actually. 

On Sunday, there was a baptism in the ward, which was really great.  There were quite a few non-members there, which is always nice.  It is a family where the dad is American, and the mom is German, and so his family was here, and it was nice to talk to someone else in English.  I forgot how different people here are then at home.  I wonder how big of a difference it will be.  Not that I don't love people here.  I really do.

Anyways, we came back home with a bunch of leftover cake and then planned for the week. 
All in all it was a really good week.

This week is going to be even better.  We have a lot of good things planned, and we will be able to see a lot of success  if we keep focused.  I am trying hard to work had up until my last day, and not get trunky.  I really don't think I am too trunky, but you never know.  It's a lot easier here though because I really love the members, and it's just such a great place.  And they like us a lot.  For example, we were at the baptism, and they put out all the food first, and I saw some mini-donuts, I was obviously very excited about it, but knew I probably wouldn't get any because of all the primary kids.  So a member and I were making plans how we could get them, and then right before the baptism started a little girl (the members daughter) ran over and handed me a napkin with a donut inside.  Then after the baptism, she ran outside to the food, put 3 on a napkin and ran them over to Elder Chapman and I.  It was super funny.  And very appreciated.

I know that this is the Lord's work.  That no matter what kind of obstacles get in the way, it really will be done the way He wants it to be done. 
Sincerely,

Elder Thompson