So much to tell, so little of P-day left.
Taught an amazing couple who was referred from Salt Lake City, got pelted with toothpaste, had a Zone Conference where Facebook was unleashed, and bought Lederhosen! Also, we just taught an awesome investigator named Alex who the Aikens found. The Aikens went home last week, which is super sad. Elder Aiken was having knee problems, but they hope to come back. Alex told us he doesn't know what the Book of Mormon is yet, but he is very willing to try it out and he believes there is something good about it. Facebook is going to be awesome. To my relief, it was never treated as a replacement of the other work we do. It is just another tool! Of course no one will be forced to use it, but we are encouraged to use all the tools we have. Elder Hyatt, my Trainer, put together an awesome arrangement of Nearer My God to Thee for Zone Conference, based on the BYU Vocal Point version. Elder Hyatt, his companion Elder Mortenson, and I sang that arrangement at Zone Conference. Elder Hyatt and I hung out a lot, that was way fun. I love you all and I thank you for your support. Shout out to my companion Elder Stark for sticking with me through it all this week. He's a very low-key guy and he never thinks about himself. Ciao ciao! Elder Kimball Germany Frankfurt Mission 93053 Regensburg Prinz-Rupprecht-Straße 34 Alma 34:32 By the ChurchSo this week we were on a split in Nürnberg. There was this newly baptized member named Anton who wanted to go street contacting with us, which was way cool of him. He contacted this group of teenage girls and I gave them a short version of the Umfrage. They said they weren't interested, and we went our separate ways. Then they came back to us later and asked us what we thought about Kommunismus. We tried to explain that the church is neutral, but they wouldn't take that for an answer. Then we said that the church takes stances on important religious freedom issues. Anton made the mistake of using the example of how the church was disappointed when gay marriage was made legal in America. Then two of the girls said that they were lesbian said basically, "So since you don't believe in it, you don't believe we should have rights?" We tried to explain that it was all about religious freedom and that God loves them, but they said they wanted to leave. We wanted to say goodbye on a friendly note and shake all their hands, but they said "We don't want to shake hands with someone who doesn't believe we are people." Anton did a good job of not bending the truth. I just hope he didn't feel too bad about the whole thing. I was fine, but members tend to take things like that harder than missionaries do. They aren't as thick-skinned as we are because they aren't doing what we do all day. Regensburg ApartmentFour generations: Elder Call, Elder Webster, me, and Elder HyattWe had a Mission Conference on Monday because Elder Ballard wanted to speak to our mission, and it was exactly what I had hoped it would be! We arrived at Frankfurt on Sunday night, and all the missionaries were watching a broadcast from Elder Ballard in Friedrichsdorf. Shortly after Elder Stark and I arrived, Elder Webster and his Trainee Elder Call walked in! We hugged and then sat down together. Then Elder Hyatt and his companion walked in! We hugged and his sat down by the three of us: Elder Webster, Elder Call, and I. So we were sitting in four generations! Trainer, his Trainee, his Trainee's Trainee, and his Trainee's Trainee's Trainee. If I lost you, I can say it another way: the new Trainee, his Trainer (his dad), the Trainer of his Trainer (his grandpa), and the Trainer of his Trainer's Trainer (his great-grandpa). We got to sleep over with the four of us, along with Elder Blackner and some other missionaries I knew. We all slept in the same room and talked about Wuppertal together. It was great to talk to Elder Hyatt about how he is doing and just see him again. I feel like I have been gone for a while now, but it was great to hear from Elder Webster about how Wuppertal is doing and how not much has changed. It's only been two weeks (almost three now, I think). With Elder Heller at the Mission ConferenceWith Elder Blackner at the Mission ConferenceWhat Elder Ballard told us was very inspiring and very specific. He told us 1) We need to have teaching appointments every night (whether we are teaching investigators or practicing our teaching on members) 2) We need to talk to at least 10 people every day 3) We need to ask for referrals after every lesson We have been striving to teach every night since he said that, and so far we've been able to do it! We taught the Aikens (the senior couple in our area, unfortunately they might be leaving soon because he is having knee problems) the Word of Wisdom to practice, and it was hilarious. At the end of the lesson, Elder Stark asked them if they knew anyone who would benefit from our message. Elder Aiken told us his alcoholic brother would benefit from it, and then without cracking a smile said, "They used to call him Ol' Whiskey!" Sister Aiken started laughing and so did I. Mission ConferenceFor a scripture for this week I wanted to share Mosiah 15:8. It says "And thus God breaketh the bands of death, having gained the victory over death; giving the Son power to make intercession for the children of men". So powerful! God broke the bands of death through his son. This gives the Savior power to intercede for us. That is the happy news that we give to people. A lot of people don't have time to hear it, but I wish they would take just a minute. I try not to be too casual about when people don't listen. They need to know what they are turning down. It's not "kein Problem!" It's actually a big problem, because what we are sharing could change their life. I'm happy to be here in Germany and I do believe that we are in the Lord's work. I love you all! Thanks for reading! Alles Gute! TL;DR -Denied a handshake -Four generations -Ol' Whiskey the Alcoholic Elder Kimball Germany Frankfurt Mission Alma 34:32 Mosiah 15:8 And thus God breaketh the bands of death, having gained the victory over death; giving the Son power to make intercession for the children of men-- Und so zerreißt Gott die Bande des Todes, da er den Sieg über den Tod errungen hat; und gibt dem Sohn Macht, für die Menschenkinder Fürsprache einzulegen-- Elder StarkRegensburg ApartmentStreet art in WuppertalWith Elder Augat (Zone Leader) before I left WuppertalWith Elder Happel (other Zone Leader) before I left WuppertalWith Elder Koch (Elder in my District) before I left WuppertalThe Regensburg Dom (cathedral) which we visited as a District todayWell, we have not had any lessons since I last wrote. We had one last Wednesday with Evelyn, a Jehova's Witness who thinks that we believe in alien landings. I mean, there isn't really anything that says we don't, especially if you look at some of that facsimile stuff in the Book of Abraham from the Pearl of Great Price. But yeah, we met up at McDonald's and she hit us with a barrage of questions and then said she had to go. Then she showed up to church on Sunday! Other than her, we have not taught any investigators since I got here. That was rare in Wuppertal, we usually had a lesson every few days, sometimes several in one day. While we were dooring the other day someone told us we are "in tiefsten Bayern," or "deep in Bavaria." So there are a lot more Germans here than in Wuppertal, but they are almost all RK (Romisch Katolisch or Roman Catholic). That doesn't mean we can't baptize anyone though! That's just some background. I translated for our branch on Sunday! It wasn't as scary as it sounds, because the attendance was only about three or four families and some single people. The branch was mostly Americans, with three or four Germans and some Nigerians. I didn't know what kind of system they had with who plays the piano, and I didn't want to hijack anything, so before I knew it we were singing the first song a capella, and it was one I could play. I didn't say anything because we had already started. I felt bad after that, so after I got done translating what hymn we would be singing I rushed over to the Branch President and told him I could play. Later he told me he was not very happy that I hadn't told him earlier, but what can you do, it's in the past now. A super old picture from the University in Wuppertal that I can finally send because we are at a computerOn Sunday we were over at the Peterson's house. He is the Branch President, and they last lived in Utah, but have been in Germany for a while. The American members are super nice, and I like being able to be myself a bit more with them. Not only do they speak English, but they come from the same country! We also ate with the Bowsers on Tuesday for Lucy Bowser's birthday. They are also from America, although they have been in Germany for 10 years now. That was really fun, and it was super nice that they would want to spend time with us on Lucy's birthday. Sister Bowser is from Springville, which is crazy! I come all the way to Germany and get to know people from my hometown! Brother Bowser gave us a ride in his huge British jeep that he drove over from England because he wanted that specific car. It was so weird having the driver's side on the right! It's awesome having such a big District! We had a nice District Meeting on Wednesday at the Aiken's house (they are the senior couple serving in our area) and a fun P-day with the District. They were nice and all came to Regensburg so Elder Stark and I could get haircuts and still hang out with them. Anther super old photo from a split in Dusseldorf of the Strassenbahn, which goes aboveground and undergroundOther than that, just know that I love you and hope you are doing well. God loves all of his children, I have a strong testimony of that. I also believe that he lives and that he has a plan for our lives. Sometimes when things get really hard, it's because God is humbling us until we accept his will. I generally take a long time to become humble enough to do that. God has to give us trials until we are ready to give up and we just say, "God, what do I do?" When we listen to his answer, we can change for the better.
TL;DR -Deep in Bayern -I made the Branch President angry in my first week -The Americans are everywhere -District funnage -My lack of humility With the Sandner FamilyOne last picture with Elder WebsterThe Regensburg District (without the Ehepaar)I've been transferred to Regensburg! It has been a big adjustment. I had one of the happiest days of my life on Sunday. We watched Conference, talked to members, and we got to say goodbye to some members and missionaries because I was leaving on Tuesday morning. We got to say goodbye to the Sandners, who are a family who I love from Wuppertal. Sometimes I wonder where the joy is in missionary work that people talk about that is greater than anything I've experienced before. On Sunday I felt that. So now I'm the District Leader in Regensburg! I'm companions with Elder Stark, who is from Newton, Kansas. He's a very love-filled guy and I'm excited to work with him. My district is amazing! We have four Elders, two Sisters, and a senior couple! The Regensburg Branch used to be a ward, but then a bunch of Germans got offended and left the church. Then the nearby US Military base was included in the branch so that it would survive, and now the branch is half German, half English. So I've heard. I haven't been there yet! With our Ward Mission Leader and his family, tnr --he is from Springville!With Elder Hörtig--he's heading home!With Elder Hörtig again |