Doing My Best: Mainz Week 12

May 18, 2015

Hello Family beziehungsweise Mom and Dad,

Lots of rain isn't helping with the drought? Is it just not enough, or is it run off since the ground is hard and dry? It seems like it rains here all the time compared with home. Not really hard rain too often, but lots of sprinkles 'light showers'.

Youth employment day [Dad note: a Saturday seminar for youth teaching them about interviewing and other things about finding a job], that's fun, is Emily thinking of getting more consistent work, or is she still doing a lot of babysitting? Glad to hear Austin's birthday was fun, wish him Happy birthday from me (if he doesn't read my emails) there will be a small present for him in the mail one of these days. Your youngest son is a teenager now! How's that?!

Yeah, it seems like Taylor's doing really well too, glad to be back in Germany :) Part of his old ward here.

I haven't heard anything else about the woman in Langen, hoping she's doing well, but I really don't know. Splitting with Elder Rowe was a lot of fun [Dadnote:Friend from the RSM area, also in Frankfurt Mission], catching up on home, different being the 'older' missionary on a split considering that I'm pretty new myself, but lots of fun overall. No one is being transferred, Elder Fitzgerald and I are still working together, actually no missionaries in my district (my companionship, the sisters in our ward, the Langen Elders) were changed. Working hard together for another 5 week transfer :)

Good priesthood meeting and Talyon's farewell [Friend Going to the Netherland/Belgium Mission] , Wow that came fast, another missionary headed out from the Las Flores ward. Connor and Tommy coming home pretty soon too [Friends returning home from Chile and Seattle repectively] .

This week I led a discussion at a missionary meeting. 'teaching people to teach how Elder Bednar (an Apostle of the Lord) teaches'. I did my best, doing my best to use the tips I was trying to teach as I tried to teach them :) Do you like the word usage there? Main thoughts, basically that he invites the spirit as he teaches, and he loves people. Having good questions prepared when leading a discussion is really helpful. Not questions that are so broad that they don't go in any specific direction, but also, not so specific that you're playing jeopardy with the class. It was fun :) Loving people, and helping people who have a desire to grow to build their faith is wonderful. I know that as we invite the Spirit, the Holy Ghost to teach, hearts will be touched and people will change and grow.

Have a fun week! Be safe, remember who you are, all of those good things!

Love,

Elder Blanchard

PS. I uploaded pictures, have fun. Working on taking more, I carry my camera with me more often now [request made by mom and dad].