Different opinions: Wetzlar Week 16

November 23, 2015

Hello!

Mr D (mexican friend) Unfortunately we haven´t seen Mr D since that first night, our appointment fell out. We´re probably going to visit the language learning place where we met soon and see if we can find him again.

Refugees. Different opinions, very true. I would say that most of the opinions that I´m exposed to are positive. Germany is saving a bunch of people who Islamic extremists would probably destroy. Seems pretty good. This is the second time that people from the camps have come to church, they really like it communicating is just hard. One of our investigators (persons getting to know the church) Mr N, grew up in Germany but his parents are from Iran and he helped translate on Sunday. He´s awesome, it was so nice to have him at church, then he joined us and a great member family for dinner.

People with baptismal dates: Mr N has a baptismal date and is doing well. Progressing, happy, getting to know Jesus. The other day he asked why we talk about Jesus so much (in an honest questioning way, not intending it to be bad that we talk about Jesus a lot), we´re going to teach him the plan of Salvation this week and then he´ll understand more why Jesus is so important. He makes everything possible!

We hadn´t had contact with Ms C for a few weeks and were really worried, got a call from her last week and she said she was recovering from the flu. Herr H... Doesn´t quite understand priesthood authority and what the claim of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon entails... He says he´s coming to church next Sunday. Mr J is really busy with work, helping his son with his business. Other investigators are doing well too, Mr S (drink shop) is doing well and has more employees so he´ll probably be able to come to church soon.

Austin, camp stuff. Of course. I can´t even remember where I got the camp stove stuff, he can keep that. As for the chair, that has special memories, don´t break it or get it filthy, but go for it. [Dad Note: Austin’s scout troop is planning a 50mile hike this summer and Austin asked to borrow some of Hayden’s equipment]

Taylor asked if there are any specific things that I want from America. Some Christian rock would be nice (not the hard-ish Christian rock, keep it mission appropriate. I´ve got some sidewalk prophets and Jason Gray, which are good) The perfect push-up portable push up bars (i think they´re somewhere in my closet) would be great as well as an ab roller.

Is there anything specific that you would like for Christmas? Christmas markets are opening up :)

Love you all! Have a great week!

Hayden

Help People Make it to Church: Wetzlar Week 15

November 16, 2015

Hello!

What did I do for my birthday, Missionary work of course :) We gave a Book of Mormon to a really nice homeless man, talked to more people in the Fußgängerzone (pedestrian zone) in Gießen then went to church for a little party that a sweet member prepared. Cupcakes for dessert, they had candles with the number 20 in them :) Are Elder Regehr and I keeping fit... He´s gained some weight since he´s gotten here, I gained a little bit since we came together but have since lost it. It´s too dark in the morning to run and we usually do our own thing for exercise. The other day I went on a split in Hanua and got a really good workout. A member there got some weights and benches for himself and the missionaries and they´re in the church so we got there at 6 and I got to lift that morning. Nothing really heavy but it was nice :) Bench and front squat mixed in with burpees, pushups, dips, mini back and forth jog in the cultural hall (slippery floor) and plank. Fun circuit.

What a cool story from grandpa! If I lost a mission journal now, (I have a journal from age 14- 18 which ends with mission stuff then just about 3 more completed journals) that would be tragic. What a good example of faith and answers to prayer.

From my week:

I had my birthday. We taught our Jehovah´s Witness friends and Unificationist church friend which always motivates me to have very focused scripture study and study for people´s needs. Our awesome new member, Boakye (pronounced Boachae kindof, if that makes sense) from Ghana made it to church. Poor guy has had work problems and lots of stuff going on, he hasn´t made it for the last 3 months or so, he was so stoked to be there. We were really excited to. Elder Regehr and I were talking a little bit how it´s kind of interesting, one of our biggest goals as missionaries is to help people make it to church. We get so excited when people come! Why? You need to come to church and actually know and feel what it is to know if it´s true. Reading the Book of Mormon and praying are also absolutely essential. At church we feel the spirit, can receive answers to pray and take the sacrament (bread and water each Sunday, symbolic of the body and blood of Jesus Christ, as we do this we also renew the promises made when we were baptized). And it´s just nice to spend time with friends and family every week, bond over common faith and values, reconnect, etc.

When we were at Boakye´ his son G also made some tasty meet, covered with Chili pepper or something really spicy. It hurt but it was really tasty and I just wanted more. One last fun thing: two refugees from Iran showed up at church on Sunday and we started teaching them (have a lesson with them tonight too). One of them can speak a little bit of English but not much, the other speaks none. We communicated almost exclusively through Google translate. iPads, the Lord is hastening his work. The refugees are so humble and grateful, such a treat to teach them.

Till next week,

Love,

Hayden

Happy Birthday!: Wetzlar Week 14

November 9, 2015

Hello!

Thank you all for the Birthday wishes! I wish I had more time to write a nice personal response to everyone but emailing time is tight. I love you all too and I´m so grateful for your prayers and support. I´ve heard is said that "you should be the type of missionary that your mom thinks you are", I´m doing my best :) It´s a lot of fun and a lot of hard work.

On my birthday we´ll have a quick member appointment at night but nothing too crazy going on. 2 Days of Christmas in Germany though. And today is the day the Berlin wall came down 26 years ago (or so) maybe something fun will be going on. Good desserts in Germany... Lots of things, the bakeries are amazing. Ummmm there are lots of really good things with quark and fruit, wind beuteln (cream puffs). Lebkuchen and other Chocolatey goodness. 

Dalton is staying [Elder Mann staying in Hayden’s home ward]! Still so weird that he´s serving his mission in our ward. Probably do some good BJJ with him when we both get back. We have Sisters now too? Different. As far as dinner, we eat with members every Sunday in this ward, if we ask members we come by during the week too. There´s just so much to do, we really are focusing on getting people to church and having members at lessons with us.

EJ is 16 and spoke good English, also helped us with German a lot, it was fun to have him. Funny too, I met his dad on my first split in Hanau. His dad was talking about his son maybe doing a mini mission, then his son came to us. Fun :)

That´s so different to hear about soccer ending.. Someone should go join some other sport or club or something to give you something to do with your time on Saturdays.

Other things from this week..

I got your package, thank you so much :) I finished the Sugar babies and jelly beans pretty fast but the mike´n´ikes aren´t opened yet, cholulo sauce is so good. Other things will take me a little bit longer :) I have been consistent on Journal writing again lately (thank you elder Regehr) Thanks! 

We met a man from Mexico this week. He´s living in Gießen and his mom is in Berlin. Long way from home! He´s an alcoholic and shared his struggles with us. We listened then shared Alma 7:11-13 and told him how el expiacion de Jesus Cristo would help him. Tears were shed. Hearts were softened. An appointment was scheduled. Unfortunately the appointment fell out, but the experience was a huge testimony to me of the gift of tongues. He spoke almost no German or English and Elder Regehr and I speak very little poco pocito Spanish, but the spirit spoke to this man´s heart. a el Corazon. It was so cool.

To close with some thoughts that we shared with this man, I know that God lives. Jesus Christ, in pure, loving sacrifice and perfect obedience to the Father truly did accomplish the atonement. Addictions can be left behind. Friendships can be healed. Burdens lifted. Jesus Christ knows each of us individually and loves us unconditionally. That is empowering. That is my testimony. I´ll leave that in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen,

Love you all! Have a great week.

Hayden