Week 28 - "Never Coming Home"

This has been the craziest week of my entire life. I know no matter how hard I try to convey what happened this week I’m not going to do it justice so I’m just going to dive on in.

Buckle in folks.

Friday! Had an awesome lesson with on of our new investigators. She is from Indiana, but is here as an exchange worker thing. (Shout out to my boy Bettridge in the Louisville mission that covers some Indiana territory). We talked a ton about our heavenly father and prayer with her and yeah she’s just awesome. She actually went to the temple open house in Indiana for our temple! So she had a ton of temple questions. Thank goodness this lesson was in English hahaha no way we could’ve answered her questions auf deutsch. I now have a strong testimony of temple open houses though. 

Saturday had a DOPE Street Display in Solingen. We tore that place to shreds contacting for 3 hours straight in the freezing cold and found some really really cool people that we are stoked for!

Sabbath day. We taught a really good priesthood session on President Eyring’s last general conference talk “fear not to do good” literally everyone needs to read that. Had a personal spiritual feast in sacrament and during the last hymn I was on fire singing “Israel, der Herr ruft alle” (israel israel God is calling). After sacrament we walked to our bus stop headin to a member appointment. We were chilling at the bus stop and the car across the street was trying to pull out into the road but I thought he couldn’t really see so I gave him a thumbs up when the path was clear. The guy turned off his car, got out and went BALISTIC on me. He’s just like “ do you have a problem with me!!!” Just cussing up a german storm and all this with random English F words and I’m like woah bro chill out I was just trying to help. At this point he is ticked. He opens his back door and proceeds to pull out a HUGE AX!!my first thought was “holy S*** that is like literally the biggest ax I have ever seen.” My companion and I were shocked. The thing had to be 4 feet long not kidding. Light tan wood handle with a huge chrome head. The thing was straight out of a zombie apocalypse movie. He proceeds to threaten me and I’m like what the heck is your problem we are waiting for a bus man calm down haha. He does some weird thing and puts it back in his car and we just stay there and he’s like what are you still doing here. And I just say “clearly still waiting for our bus” He then opens back up his door and pulls out the ax and starts coming for us. At this point I’m like alright I don’t mess with this crap I’m out. We kinda just ran off and then later walked back to the bus and went to the members house hahahaha. It was the craziest thing ever. The members were shook. And then we talked to the zone leaders that night for call ins and they were shook hahaha. They were so confused why we didn’t call anybody or the police and we were like well we had missionary work to do

Monday was a normal day and Tuesday I went on an exchange in Wuppertal with Elder Call and we had a blast. Taught some lessons and had a crazy experience with one of their now dropped investigators. He went off about Joseph Smith and was saying some extremely inappropriate things holy cow. Then after the lesson he tried to hypnotize me. The guy is a hypnotist professionally hahaha. WIZARDY Elder call is still a new missionary so he was in shock and idk if he had any idea what was going on but I told him to just pull out the iPad and film it. The guy couldn’t hypnotize me though so it’s all good.

Yesterday was crazy. Went by a less active that bishop requested we go by. We get there and then the less active that we visited a month ago shows up (the one that held the knife to my throat as a joke) and they were just going crazy. Elder Winsborrow was laughing so hard he was crying. It felt like it was a remake of the movie StepBrothers. I’m not kidding they were so hard to control together. We tried to hard to. One of them has blood cancer though and the other is like way sick too so they’re going out with a bang I think. They went off about a funeral for a cat that they made, one of them at one point took my cup of tea and put it between his legs saying that he’s warming it up, then he hissed at me and I saw a beer in his bag and I was like woah what ya got there buddy? He didn’t like that I said that haha. We ended with a prayer and as we walked out he did the hitler sign and saluted us. I guess Elder Winsborrow secretly filmed some of our visit. They’re some of the funniest videos I have ever seen!

If you’ve made it this far I’m super thankful for you. Honestly that wasn’t even half of the crazy things that happened this week but that’s all I can write without it getting too crazy. The best part about it all for me is that it’s all happening in German. All of these things on a daily basis are in a foreign language, in a foreign country and I’m 20 years old just still trying to figure life out and giving these people all I can. Find the lambs, feed the sheep! You literally can’t make this stuff up. THE MISSION TRIP BABY WOOOOOO LET’S GOOOOOO⚡️🏻🦑

Never have I been on my knees in a week more though. We were super blessed this week to be able to find 5 new investigators. That for us out here in Germany is huge. The lord has been blessing us like crazy and we have relied on him a ton. Pray for our new investigators, they need it! We have really high hopes for them. 

I love my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and my loving Heavenly Father. I know this Gospel is true and I’m loving in such a special time being able to be a full time servant of the Lord here in Germany.

Thanks for the emails and support! I love you guys. Have a dankkkkk week!!!

Elder Rothwell🦅⚔️

Germany Frankfurt Mission

Sedanstr. 2

Solingen, Germany

42719

Scripts offffffff the week y’all:

Alma 32:26-27

Alma 5:52 & Mormon 6:9 (⚔️)

Sacrament prayers guys!! Take some time to read these and listen in sacrament especially before taking the sacrament. Holy cow... don’t take these for granted!

“Fear not to do good” -President Eyring

Pictures, these things do no justice. I need a GoPro or a film crew

Street Display in Solingen

On a split with my dude Elder Call 

Always good when you knock on a door and leave with a banana and 2018 calendar

 Schlossburg last week #windstorm

Week 27- "It's Pday"

I don’t know how to get all of this week into one email. I’ll try and keep it short doe

On Friday, we had a Zone Leader split and I was with Elder Fawcett. It was seriously so awesome. He only has a transfer left so the guy was just a seasoned Vet out here I was soaking it up. We just contacted on the University campus all day. It was way cool to just talk to kids my age about faith and religion. We also taught two first lessons there just on a bench next to classrooms. One of the girls was Chinese and has 0 religious background but she definitely did her research about the Mormons .   One of her questions was, “I read that you guys don’t drink green tea, and Chinese people drink a ton of green tea. Is that why we have communist controlling our country and god has forgotten us?” And it was like really funny but so genuine! One of the best lessons on my mission. We prayed with her for the first time in her life and just bore testimony of prayer and our Heavenly Father.

On Sunday, I gave a talk. Sky showed up to church again! He has been loving church. Afterward, we went to a way cool members house that is half German and half 

Phillipeano. Way good food and we talked to the member who’s brother is inactive and has a 10 year old girl who isn’t baptized and he wants to set up an appointment for us with them! We are pumped!!

On Monday and Tuesday, we had some really good lessons with investigators and found some solid people that we have really high hopes for!

On Wednesday, we had an awesome zone conference and then my man Elder Hughes came on a split with us and then stayed for p day with us! We found a lady from Hanau (my old stomping grounds baby) together and she wants to meet next week. Elder Hughes just works magic. Kid is a beast of a missionary. Freaking love him. 

Today we had p day and there’s crazy wind storms so like we have just been stuck in the middle of no where all day but we are all Gucci now! 

This week me and Elder Winsborrow have just been counting our blessings with the people and experiences that the lord has been giving us and leading us to. And I know that only through our faith and work he has been blessing us. It’s been crazy awesome to see. This gospel is literally the coolest thing ever. We just see and love miracles on a daily basis. It’s almost like holding on to an electrical fence out here. Like the first part of the mission you’re like woah this is different and then eventually you just get use to being spiritually buzzed for two years I think. Maybe not the best explanation but that’s how I feel hahahaha⚡️

Love all you guys. Thanks for making it this far through the email!

Wir sehen uns. Maybe......🏻‍♂️

-Ya boy

Elder Rothwell🦅⚔️

Germany Frankfurt Mission

Sedanstr. 2

Solingen, Germany

42719

Scriptures O da Weeekkkk:

Just read the Book of Mormon. 

Pretty solid book if ya ask me. You could find out for yourself too though. Like 4 real

 ZL split was too good!

Sky keeps coming to church! Gotta get this kid the Priesthood

Half German half Phillipeano fam

 Miracle taxi driver. The dude is straight getting baptized.

 Schlossburg. Just glad to make it out alive

 Schlossburg

Week 26- "Another one of those weekly things"

We had a good week here!

Had some good appointments this week and then we did a ton of finding holy cow! But we met a ton of really cool people and expanded our pool of people to teach for sure. We have a ton of hope for these next couple weeks of the transfer. Hopefully, we don’t drop the ball on these people.

Sunday was hilarious. We went over to an investigators house for dinner and he made us this way good Macedonian meal. He has these two little kids that are literally non stop screaming and hucking things. During the middle of the meal the 3-year-old son just started turning purple and making these groans and his mom is like “what are you doing.” He just screams back “making kaka” haha I started dying. The kid just literally not giving a CRAP. Eating dinner, drinking coke and dumping his pants all at the same time. We tried to get a lesson in with our investigator while his kids were running around screaming. Plus his wife is a JW so that doesn’t help much either but he is a way cool humble guy who has some serious potential.

We also met this guy on a train on Tuesday who is married to a woman from Vermont and she was raised Mormon in a foster home. I guess she has seen missionaries around Germany and she always tells her husband how cool of guys they are. Hopefully, we get to meet her. This guy is one of the coolest guys I’ve met here so far. He had a ton of questions and on the train, he just asked the picture perfect question “So what makes you guys different than all the other churches.” Wish we could have had a camera crew filming this whole thing. Plus it was all in English, which was a dream. The only sad part was his phone was dead and they just moved here to Solingen like just barely so he didn’t have his address memorized. But he took a Book of Mormon and was super stoked. We are praying we can get in contact with this guy somehow!

Other than that we just had a ton of finding time this week and did a ton of less active go by’s for the ward. Had interviews with President and he is just the best guy ever!  Elder Winsborrow and I are having a way good time together. Freaking love the kid! We have seen a ton of blessings this week and are beyond grateful for them. I know that God works through us according to our actions and our faith! This work is the work of the lord and I’m honored to be apart of it.

Idk who sings the song but I think it’s from Moana. “How far I’ll go” or something like that. Anyways that’s like the best song I’ve heard in a long time. Always lifts the spirits

Shout out to T-Mac who just entered into the MTC! 

Thanks for the emails and cards this week. Love you guys so much!

Have a good one. Yeeetttttt♿️

Elder Rothwell🦅⚔️

Germany Frankfurt Mission

Sedanstr. 2

Solingen, Germany

42719

Scriptures man:

Alma 34:17-27

"Therefore may God grant unto you, my brethren, that ye may begin to exercise your faith unto repentance, that ye begin to call upon his holy name, that he would have mercy upon you; 

Yea, cry unto him for mercy; for he is mighty to save. 

Yea, humble yourselves and continue in prayer unto him. 

Cry unto him when ye are in your fields, yea, over all your flocks. 

Cry unto him in your houses, yea, over all your household, both morning, mid-day, and evening. 

Yea, cry unto him against the power of your enemies. 

Yea, cry unto him against the devil, who is an enemy to all righteousness. 

Cry unto him over the crops of your fields, that ye may prosper in them. 

Cry over the flocks of your fields, that they may increase. 

But this is not all; ye must pour out your souls in your closets, and your secret places, and in your wilderness.

Yea, and when you do not cry unto the Lord, let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually for your welfare, and also for the welfare of those who are around you. "

Alma 34: 38-39

"That ye contend no more against the Holy Ghost, but that ye receive it, and take upon you the name of Christ; that ye humble yourselves even to the dust, and worship God, in whatsoever place ye may be in, in spirit and in truth; and that ye live in thanksgiving daily, for the many mercies and... 

Yea and I also exhort you, my brethren, that ye be watchful unto prayer continually, that ye may not be led away by the temptations of the devil, that he may not overpower you, that ye may not become his subjects at the last day; for behold, he rewardeth you no good thing. "

Copped this from someone’s front yard after we taught a lesson. Looks great in the apartment.

Dat crib lyfestiiiiiiilllllle 

A pic with an investigator and his family!

Christmas packages. #sharktie thanks fam

Just trying to preach the good word

Week 25- "Surrounded by Savages"

These people are Savages here. The stuff you see out here man, just can’t make this stuff up.

On the 30th, we doored houses forever and on of the last houses, as soon as the door opened, Elder Winsborrow’s foot slips and he crushes 3 potted plants on the doorstep in front of this guy. I had no idea what to do so like any good missionary would do, I just started talking about the Book of Mormon hahaha. He wasn’t having it and Winsborrow felt soooo bad but the guy was like way chill about it. So Elder Winsborrow just hands him 5€ because that’s all he had and we just left. I think I laughed for 10 minutes straight after that. 

Angelika was baptized in Wuppertal on Saturday!! She is such an awesome lady and already has introduced 2 of her friends to the missionaries over there. Her baptism was the most prepared thing I’ve ever been a part of. We had 2 briefings before the service even started then a member at the end gets up and just goes off about how the Bible would be nothing without the BOM. “Bitte schön with The Bible people” Haha all the visitors and friends for Angelika were like what in the world...? All of us missionaries were pumped.

On New Year’s Eve, we were awake from 12-1 because it was near impossible to sleep. I've never seen so many fireworks in my life. My respect for Germans went through the roof. We are just in tiny little Solingen and everywhere you look stuff is exploding. I can’t imagine what the big cities looked like with fireworks. 

Monday and Tuesday were just wet and cold but we had a ton of fun! Elder Webster and I taught this guy who’s a hypnotist but like he’s way awesome. He’s pretty crazy but he accepts the gospel really well and loves missionaries. Then he committed himself to read the BOM and come to church this week. He says “you guys just have power” haha I also told him if I ever see him again I want to be hypnotized

Oh boy. Last night coming home on the bus was something else. I talked about the drunk guy on the bus a few weeks ago. He told me about Christ and all his little spirits that are here. Anyways that guy was running to catch the bus. The bus driver is just a savage so he just drives away when the dude gets to the doors but the light about 100m down the road turns red so he has to stop. The guy is still chasing the bus and he gets up to it again and the light turns green. The bus driver takes off AGAIN! So this guy is beyond ticked, he’s yelling and he kicks the bus but he trips and falls in between the curb and the bus and it RUNS HIM OVER. hahahahaha we were on a bus that ran someone over! The whole bus starts freaking out so the driver pulls over and the guy who was catching the bus just pops off the street, walks to the front of the bus, shakes hands with the bus driver and says “alles klar” and takes a seat. This guy’s hand and arm were wrecked and all bloody. The cops show up and everything and the dude was like “I’m fine, I have my tissues. I just simply want to go to the train station.” So the cops left and away we went. For the rest of the night, Elder Winsborrow ans I were just in shock. You literally can’t make this stuff up out here. 

Ahhh menschenkinder. The new year is awesome! I’m pumped that I’ll spend it all on my mission. I have set a ton of mission and personal goals for myself and am super excited. As I’ve been studying prayer this week I learned a ton about faith and having a prayer of faith that allows God to just pour blessings on us as long as we do what we told God we are going to do. My mom sent me a sweet quote this last week. 

“Character is the ability to carry out a good resolution, long after the excitement of the moment has passed.” -Cavett Robert 

Keep that in mind with your goals that you have for yourself this year. Normally by February, I've forgotten all my New Years goals haha. This year I really want to carry them out to the end and see the results and progress I’ve made. 

I freaking love his gospel and being a missionary. I’ve already learned and grown so much these past 6 months! Crazy. 

Love you all! Thanks for all the Christmas stuff that keeps coming🤙🏼

Also, everyone say happy birthday to my mom on the 6th! Freaking love that woman!

Peace out🏼

Elder Rothwell🦅⚔️

Germany Frankfurt Mission

Sedanstr. 2

Solingen, Germany

42719

Scripts:

Mormon 9:21... Just read Mormon 9. It’s  

"Behold, my son, I cannot recommend them unto God lest he should smite me." 

Moroni 7:48

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, pray unto the Father with all the energy of heart, that ye may be filled with this love, which he hath bestowed upon all who are true followers of his Son, Jesus Christ; that ye may become the sons of God; that when he shall appear we shall be like him, for we... "

Rhine Rhein River

Pre-game bus stop hype

E. Winsborrow with tp stuck in his hoodie feat. the snow 

Top of Wuppertal Student housing with my boy Webster

Wuppertal

Food Brother burgers man

BVB Stadium Tour today with my boys!!