Week 16 - October 26, 2017

What a fun and interesting week here!

First off... thanks so much for the birthday wishes and packages and cards! like seriously, holy cow thanks! So awesome. 

This week did not go according to plan whatsoever, but that is alright! Last p-day, I called our boy, Kevin, and he was on a bus to Luxembourg haha! He went up there this week to help a friend because it is the last week before school starts. Because of that, we haven’t had any contact with him since and his phone doesn’t work up there. That means no baptism this week. We are going to have to move it back a few weeks. Pray for Kev!

On Friday, we went to Friedrichsdorf with our Zone Leaders for a split and it was seriously so fun. I went with Elder Warr, one of my best buddies in the MTC, and we did a ton of contacting in the fuß and then taught the first lesson to a nice old man that is searching for truth. We woke up the next morning and went to a baptism that the sisters had there in Friedrichsdorf and that was seriously so cool to see an actual concert baptism!! After the baptism, we came back to Hanau and had a Street Display for a few hours with the sisters and zone leaders. We get smoked on the streets out here in Germany but it is a blast.

We had two service projects this week. That is always fun to do for families and be able to just do some manual labor in normal clothes and that usually means that we don’t have to worry about dinner because they feed us.

For my b-day, we woke up, worked out, showered and then Elder Bringhurst cooked me up a way good breakfast and wrote me a way nice note! He seriously is such a homie. I love the kid. We had district meeting and had a really good lesson about accountability and why we account for things. President Monson has a quote in the new chapter of Preach my Gospel that I love! “When performance is measured, performance improves. When performance is measured and reported, the rate of improvement accelerates.” We have seen that with our goals we set and when we are accountable to each other and to the Lord, we always see blessings but not always in the way we think! After that, we had some finding time and then had dinner at Vapianos with the sisters. It was so cool because now the checkout lady and her co-worker are investigators of the sisters! They both asked, “What are you guys doing out here in Germany?” then the sisters told them that we love teaching people about what we believe and Jesus Christ and the workers were like, "Wait! When can we meet and hear about this?!?" It was a way cool experience!!

It was a dope week! I had a ton of spiritual experiences, lost contact with our person of baptismal date, had a way good split, got roasted on the streets of Germany and was made fun of by a group of teenagers, turned 20, but most of all had a fun time doing it! “Best job I ever had”🏼

Shipped out a bunch of Halloween cards this week so hopefully they get to y’all!

Heaps of love for you all! Thanks again for making this week special for me. 

Scripts O the week:

Helaman 3:35

"Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility , and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh... "

Alma 7:23

"And now I would that ye should be humble , and be submissive and gentle; easy to be entreated; full of patience and long-suffering; being temperate in all things; being diligent in keeping the commandments of God at all times; asking for whatsoever things ye stand in need, both spiritual and..."

Mosiah 4:30

"But this much I can tell you, that if ye do not watch yourselves, and your thoughts , and your words , and your deeds, and observe the commandments of God, and continue in the faith of what ye have heard concerning the coming of our Lord, even unto the end of your lives, ye must perish. And now..."

Psalm 118:6

"The Lord is on my side; I will not fear : what can man do unto me? "

Service at the Fam Rögners

Zone Leader Split

***also we get Facebook tomorrow! hit that up!***

Week 15 - October 19, 2017

I didn’t know so much could happen in one week but this week was crazy!

After p-day, we went to the church to teach Kevin the 15 step stop smoking program and it was just so cool. He totally agreed to stop smoking and drinking and he was way way humble about it. We were so happy for him!

On Friday, we spent the whole day with Kevin. We went to his place and cleaned it out!! It took us around 4 hours to clean his place but we got all of the ash treys, dumped all of his coffee and alcohol and headed to the grocery store. We helped him grocery shop and stocked his whole fridge and cabinet with good healthy food! He was so thankful for us for spending the whole day with him and helping him clean and shop so he made sure that we stayed long enough for him to make us some homemade quark with raspberry’s and some way good sandwiches. 

On Sunday, we had a great day at church but Kevin didn’t show up so we were worried for a while! We went to the Ferreira’s to teach Jaoquim for probably the last time before he goes to Portugal. He is coming back to Germany in February. Hopefully, he gets baptized!

That night, we talked to Kevin and he told us that his mom left him a note Saturday night of like basically disowning him because he is not what she wants him to be and she thinks that us, missionaries, are brainwashing him. That was super sad but he was like, “I know you guys and the ward will always support me and I know that this is the right choice even if my mom acts this way.” Kevin is a beast!

We had a sleepover at our apartment with 4 other Elders so we grilled them up some burgers and had a way fun night. Our apartment is the smallest in the mission but we somehow managed to sleep 6 Elders in it. It was so much fun. 

On Monday, we heard from Elder Clayton and Elder Ballard. I could write 10 pages about that experience. Best thing ever! I’ve never been so pumped and spiritually pumped in my life. They were just basically saying that this mission is ready to Find, Teach, and Baptize way more. Elder Ballard told some funny stories about how Preach My Gospel came about and how hard it was to get the 12 to all agree on it. Shaking Elder Ballard’s and Elder Clayton’s hands was incredible. Something I’ll never forget for sure. Such spiritual beasts!!!

Tuesday-Wednesday, the assistants had us down in Frankfurt for a split and it was so freaking fun! We saw a ton of way cool miracles! Elder Chamberlain and I found and taught a guy who was curious about the church and took the first lesson way well. He even accepted baptism!

It was such fun week! I have also loved the birthday packages and cards and handwritten letters! Those are seriously the best things to get out here! This week I graduate my teen years and enter the 20’s.... scary crap! Love you guys and have a good week!

 Oh also... 2 Elders in our district last night were held up at knifepoint. A dad and a 15-year-old had a little too much to drink and decided to hold a knife to the Americans with white shirts and name badges. They made it out ok and the police helped them out. This world is nuts

Scripts of the week:

3 Nephi 12:15-16

"Behold, do men light a candle and put it under a bushel? Nay, but on a candlestick, and it giveth light to all that are in the house; 

Therefore let your light so shine before this people, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven."

Alma 37:36-37

"Yea, and cry unto God for all thy support; yea, let all thy doings be unto the Lord, and whithersoever thou goest let it be in the Lord; yea, let all thy thoughts be directed unto the Lord; yea, let the affections of thy heart be placed upon the Lord forever. 

Counsel with the Lord in all thy doings, and he will direct thee for good ; yea, when thou liest down at night lie down unto the Lord, that he may watch over you in your sleep; and when thou risest in the morning let thy heart be full of thanks unto God; and if ye do these things, ye shall be..."

Proverbs 3:5-6

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding. 

In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths ."

Hellman 3:28-29

"Yea, thus we see that the gate of heaven is open unto all, even to those who will believe in the name of Jesus Christ, who is the Son of God. 

Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared... "

Mormon 9:18-20

"And who shall say that Jesus Christ did not do many mighty miracles? And there were many mighty miracles wrought by the hands of the apostles.

And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles. 

And the reason why he ceaseth to do miracles among the children of men is because that they dwindle in unbelief, and depart from the right way, and know not the God in whom they should trust."

" Your beloved Elders contacting on Marktplatz in Hanau #HanauHoopers "

"Us cleaning out Kevin’s place. He played us some Mumford & Sons and some other dope music. (We weren’t mad about that at all)"

The whole mission crew

The whole mission crew

Some of the mission homies!

Some of the mission homies! 

The original MTC group all together!

Week 14- October 12, 2017 “Got 99 problems but a comp ain’t one” (jay-z)

Heyyo!! What’s good player haters?

This last week has been so solid! We had a lesson at Kevin’s house(our investigator on baptismal date.) He made us dinner and we had an awesome lesson. Afterward, he didn’t sleep at all Saturday night and he still came to church the next morning! Haha! I was laughing my head off because he was in a full suit just sweating from riding his bike to church and he didn’t even sleep the night before! Ah man, he is just awesome and he stayed all 3 hours of church and didn’t even take a smoke break, even though he really wanted to! Keep our man, Kev, in your prayers!

Missions are so crazy! I can’t even describe it in an email it is so hard for me. The people I've meet out here and the experiences!! We went to a psychiatric hospital because a man really wanted to pray with him. He’s such a sweet man so we did and while we were walking out of there, I was just like wow I’m so blessed but also... Where the freak can I get the opportunity to do that with someone else in a different country and language other than the friggin mission trip man! Just crazy, fun stuff. 

We had interviews with President Boyer on Tuesday but we got stuck at the Frankfurt train station with all of our trains falling out so Sister Boyer came in clutch and drove us there AND back. So funny being in a minivan in the middle of Frankfurt. I felt like I was back home with my mom driving around. So funny! 

Yesterday during studies, I was just reminded that I can only control myself and what I do. I can’t take away peoples' free agency to make decisions and do things; I can’t control what happens back home, what my friends or people close to me do, and especially the people out here whether they listen to us or not. All I can do is control what I do. It was such a good reminder because one of the greatest gifts we have here on earth is free agency, and with that is how we grow and have experiences that strengthen us. If used in the right way, it brings us closer to our Savior, Jesus Christ, and it makes us a better people in general. Man, I love studying the scriptures just such good stuff!

Also, Elder Bringhurst and I have nothing but good times. I love it so much! I don't know if it will ever hit me that I’m on my mission. It's still so crazy to me.

This next Monday, Elder Ballard is coming to the mission! I guess we are getting Facebook and Facebook messenger in our mission for online proselyting! How crazy is that? Add me as a friend on my normal Facebook because it’ll soon be my Elder Facebook! I’m so pumped to hear from an apostle of the Lord that is specifically speaking to our mission. Can’t wait! 

I always feel like an idiot writing these letters. Never know what to say because there is so much that happens in a week but if ya made it this far... thanks!

Thanks for all the emails during the week! They mean the world to me. 

Have you all much love!

Bis dan! Tschüss!

Some solid scripts:

Ether 4:15-16

"Behold, when ye shall rend that veil of unbelief which doth cause you to remain in your awful state of wickedness, and hardness of heart, and blindness of mind, then shall the great and marvelous things which have been hid up from the foundation of the world from you—yea, when ye shall call upon... 

And then shall my revelations which I have caused to be written by my servant John be unfolded in the eyes of all the people. Remember, when ye see these things, ye shall know that the time is at hand that they shall be made manifest in very deed."

2 Nephi 31:20

"Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."

2 Nephi 2:27

"Wherefore, men are free according to the flesh; and all things are given them which are expedient unto man. And they are free to choose liberty and eternal life, through the great Mediator of all men, or to choose captivity and death, according to the captivity and power of the devil; for he... "

P.s.

Ohhhh man. My comp has a song from my favorite band Mumford&Sons doing a cover song of Come thou Fount! It’s incredible. Idk when or where they did it but it’s awesome. I’m sure it’s on YouTube or something. Check it out.

https://youtu.be/MVHVY4oY-7c

Familia Reimer!

Not every day, or ever that you see a Hummer in Germany

"On our way to pick up my visa and E. Bringhurst was like yo Roth check out this car!"

"Was in a German thrift store and they had way old random American stuff and Alabama and Auburn Flags! So random, but shout out to my dad and his mission he served in Alabama. "

Week 13 - October 5, 2017

Wow it’s been an insane week. Last week we met a guy named Kevin. He is a 24 year old German and all I can say is he has had some rough experiences in his life and he is so humble and ready for this gospel he is just loving it! He invited me and Elder golden to watch a little bit of conference last Saturday at his place. It was great. He has taken the first 2 lessons really well also! And he was at the ward activity with us last night and was like how can I help and he helped cook and clean up like freak he is so awesome!!! Could talk forever about him! Andddddd we have a baptismal date with him on the 29th of October so pray for Kevin! He has some smoking problems but we will help him all we can and just like how it was said in conference that through Christ EVERY wound can be healed! 

Transfers were on Tuesday and Elder Golden got transferred up the Cologne (köln) and Elder Bringhurst my homie from the MTC came down here to Hanau! We have had such a good time I love him! And his German is way good and ahh just so excited for this transfer with him. He is from St. George and went to snow canyon high school and played rugby and basketball. Just a stud I love him. 

We watched priesthood session and Saturday night and Sunday morning sessions of conference in Offenbach with the missionaries and then we have sacrament this Sunday and then we watch the sunday night session. Conference was amazing like holy cow just super humbling and perfect for me. The focus on the light of Christ and the Book of Mormon was just so profound! I hope everyone loved conference! Like god has given us a perfect book and modern day prophets how cool is that?!

Crazy awesome week this week I have felt super blessed! Like my dude Kendrick Lemar says “Sit Down, Be Humble”

"End of being trained treat and my new Garmin Viviosmart HR watch/early birthday present for myself"

"Last district finding activity"

Elder Rothwell and Elder Golden with Kevin

Elder Rothwell and his new companion, Elder Bringhurst