Fun in Sharing Time: Wetzlar Week 3

August 25, 2015

Subject: Sharing Time

Hello!

Happy Tuesday, this week I´m actually going to the temple, not last week.

This week we had so much happen! We did 2 splits [note: a Missionary companionship splits up with another Companionship (exchanges companions) for a day], one with the Zone leaders [note: A Zone is a geographical grouping of Districts which is a grouping of Companionships. One Companionship in the Zone is designated as the Zone-Leaders and each District has a District Leader] and one with the Elders in Hanau (Taylor, [Hayden’s older brother] knows Elder Hales I think, I was with the Elder whom Elder Hales is training). Elder Merkley. So cool to see how well he´s doing, 3 weeks in [the mission], talking to so many people and the only German he has learned was in the MTC for 6 weeks and now in Germany for 3. The gift of tongues is real.

We also found an Armenian family and taught them this week. We taught them about the restoration [Video], the Book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. Sadly, the day after we got a call and the father wanted to meet with us. We were really excited at first, thinking that they had been praying or reading the scriptures and had a good experience with that. Unfortunately, he had googled the church and saw/found a bunch of lies and bad things about the church. No longer wanting to meet. That was tough. We had a talk about these things and encouraged him to go to our church website or ask us instead. Why trust the internet, you don´t know whoever would publish these negative things, you know us. If you hear about a restaurant and want to know how the food actually tastes, you don´t go and ask the competitors, you go and eat the food if you actually want to know. Or you ask someone who works there what they put in the food, something like that.

ON a more positive note, my companion and I taught sharing time in primary this past week. SO MUCH FUN!!! We shared with junior and senior primary about how miracles come after faith. Or Miracles don´t necessarily lead to faith when people choose not to believe. We used pharaoh and Moses, "Let my people go" had the children jumping around like frogs and flying around and stuff for a few of the plagues. We also read 3 Nephi 7:19-20 where Nephi rose his brother from the dead and worked miracles in the name of Christ. With senior primary we had a more active discussion, but both groups of kids were so much fun, I love primary!

Fun news with The car, soon to be cars. That went so fast! I feel like school was just ending and you guys are back! Emily is with MR. Harnett!!!! [note: Hayden’s high school AP-US History teacher] AHHHH He will love her! I hope she will love his class. So good. Dalton Mann in our ward too [note: Elder Mann is a Missionary just arrived in Hayden’s home ward. Talyon Perry, Haydens friend, and Hayden both know Elder Mann from classes at BYU – small world], I was in that Book of Mormon class with Talyon and him at BYU too. As far as pictures, the problem is that I usually write my emails on the iPad, so I don´t have access to send pictures. As soon as we email at the church again I´ll get some pictures over to you.

Have a great week and fun starting school!

Love,

Hayden

 [NOTE about Primary:  Children between the ages of three and eleven meet as a group under the direction of the ward Primary presidency. The children offer prayers, read from the scriptures, and give short gospel-related talks. They learn gospel principles through role playing, readers' theaters, choral readings, buzz sessions, panel discussions, and other activities. They also learn and sing music selected from a children's songbook.  (this is the “Sharing Time” portion of the Children’s meeting time. Junior Primary is 3-7 year olds, and Senior Primary is 8-12 year old)

The children divide according to age for small group classroom sessions. Age-appropriate lesson materials are selected to help children grow in understanding gospel principles; learn that the Heavenly Father and Jesus love them; and prepare to be baptized, receive the Holy Ghost, and keep their baptismal covenants

Classic Missionary: Wetzlar Week 2

August 18, 2015 1:55 AM

Hello Family!

We ended up pushing our temple trip off to next week, we wanted to do it on a day that worked well for everyone in the district [note:geographical organization of a grouping of 3-5 missionary companionships with a District Leader], so the 25th it is. We just had a busy p´-day [note: Preparation day, one day a week to do washing, shopping, etc] so I didn´t write most of my emails in a place with an internet connection, thus you´re receiving this on Tuesday anyways. 

I´ve felt a lot better physically this week, still a bit stressful finding things. (my companion isn´t the best with directions and I´m not better, we´re both working hard to pay attention, figure out where we´re going and be punctual). 

I´ve really enjoyed meeting and getting to know families in the ward, the other missionaries in the area, and working on readjusting to lots of change. One fun addition over here in Wetzlar, bikes! I feel like such a classic missionary over here, biking down the street with my side bag flapping in the wind ;)  

Other than that, so far Elder Domine and I spend a lot of time searching for new people to teach. It can be tiring, but it´s wonderful to see how on long days the Lord will give us sweet uplifting experiences to help us, persevere, stay diligent. 

Carry on! Have a great week,

Love,

Hayden

New Ward, new companion, sick?: Mainz/Wetzlar Week 23/1

August 10, 2015

Hello Family,

This week has been positive and good, a bit stressful adjusting to so many new responsibilities and new things in the new area, but it´s going well. Elder Cloward and I had a fun last few days together, I got pictures with some good friends (wish I could have with more). Got my bags packed and on Thursday I moved up to Wetzlar with Elder Domine. He is such a sweet person. So patient and loving. We had a couple fun days of working together then Sunday came around.

The morning was really hard, I just thought I was stressed or something and because of that that I had a stomach ache. During the church day I struggled to pay attention, had a head ache and just did not feel good. I left priesthood and threw up, so that was kind of comforting, "ok, I don´t have a headache and feel terrible because of stress, I´m sick". The Elders Quorum President over here gave me a sweet priesthood blessing and that helped. We canceled our meal appointment and went home. I called the mission nurse (she is SO nice) and she gave me some advice, then Elder Domine, so nice, said, " wait, give me the phone". "What can I do to help Elder Blanchard". Just so sweet and so good. Asking me how I was doing, patient, helpful and loving with the whole situation. God knows who we need to serve with, I am learning so much and loving my companion.

Today was a bit tight on emails, thank you everyone for writing me, I´ll get back to you next week on Tuesday, we`re planning to go to the temple.

Love,

Hayden

I'm Leaving Mainz: Mainz Week 22

August 3, 2015

Mom and Dad,

This week was a lot of fun, and yes, it was my last full week in Mainz. On Thursday I will be headed to.....Wetzlar! Mainz is the city of Johannes Gutenberg and Wetzlar is where Goethe was born, or so I am told, fun cultural side note for you :) I`ll be with Elder Domine (not totally sure about the spelling of his name) who is from Northern California, Walnut area. He was with Elder Rowe (from the Rancho Santa Margarita) in the MTC, so just 6 weeks less than me on his mission. I´m excited for new fun experiences and good things in a new area. I will miss this ward and the people here SO much though. ahh.. Yeah, they are so good, supportive, loving, just awesome.

To answer you´re questions, the families who came last Sunday (2 ago now) just came, nice surprise for missionaries and members alike. We have appointments with members often enough, but as far as investigators we don´t have anyone right now who we consistently teach. On Saturday though the missionaries in our area- my companion and I, the sisters and the Langen Elders- had a street display. As a team we distributed close to 20 books of Mormon and talked to a lot of friendly people. Yesterday Elder Cloward and I found someone with whom we will be soon meeting. Well, he and his new companion.

Since it was fast and testimony meeting at church I also shared my testimony, love for the ward, and gratitude for my time spent with them. A huge foundation of my testimony is the happiness that the gospel brings to my life. Reading the scriptures, prayer, and doing my best to live according to what I know. I love sharing that and being a missionary, loving people and doing my best to do God´s work.

Thank you as well for the update or trips and family fun, even though I don´t respond to all the little details I do appreciate it :) 

Love

Hayden

Desire to Learn: Mainz Week 21

July 27, 2015

Subject: desire to learn

Hello Family!

Weddings! Sarah and Nils, so good [note: Hayden’s Cousin Sara’s wedding was end of July in Utah] ! Elder Cloward´s older brother was married last Tuesday. While he´s been on his mission his brother got engaged then married, totally possible for Taylor. Keep me updated :) We were in the temple in Germany at the same time they were probably in the temple getting married. Have a fun trip and a good time in Utah then. Thanks for the update on Emily too, glad to hear she´s having so much fun out there.

On my side of the world: Unfortunately we haven`t had contact with Marco for a while, we don´t really know what´s going on in his life. Elder Cloward and I are still together for at least another week and a half. Transfer calls are on Saturday this week [8/1], don`t send anything to Mainz.

Actually, as a rule for anyone sending me packages (don´t be shy) Send them to

    Elder Hayden Blanchard
    Corneliusstraße 18     

    60235 Frankfurt am Main

    Deutschland/Germany

       [for us Americans a ‘ß’ is a double s or ss]

We´ll see, should I stay or should I go? Other things going on, 2 small families came to church on Sunday and are interested in learning more so that was exciting for our ward. Today I worked on setting some goals and making plans for my study time. Preach my Gospel talks about how getting good results from your study depends on having a strong desire to learn, studying with “real intent” (Moroni 10:4), “hunger[ing] and thirst[ing] after righteousness” (Matthew 5:6) and searching for answers to the questions and concerns of those whom you teach. So much of that simply has to do with having a desire to learn, grow, and improve. I want to be a better missionary, to teach better, to work harder and really do what God would have me do out here.

Till next week,

Love,

Hayden