Week 59- "PBJ"

One of the harder things on a mission is writing this email every week

-taught Gero again, hope he gets baptized in Hamburg

-taught two 60-year-old active gay men, they had us over for tea and cake on Saturday, was wayyy out of my element, to say the least, but they are reading the Book of Mormon so?🏻‍♂️

-got yelled at on a train hardcore by some rat who hates Mormons, America and trump

-other Köln elders shut down

-Bernhard came to church

-gave Bernhard a blessing, he has bypass surgery today

-helped the elders move out and clean #grosselderapartments

-helped a new missionary stuck at our train station because of a bomb threat

- ate maltoschin and lintol beans to close the week off.

Crazy week haha on our way to an appointment this man got on our train, as soon as he got on and looked at my name badge I knew it was coming. The first thing he says is “everyone on this train, these two men in white want my soul” heck of a way to break the ice if you ask me. My comp knows me too well so he came and stood between me and this man so nothing happened. He continued to go up and down the train saying that two American men are on this train to ruin this country. Just screaming profanity and everyone was so embarrassed. A lot of people were apologizing saying that not every German is like that. It was nice for once to see Germans apologize and ya just gained a lot of respect for the “normal” people. Also had a way sweet convo with a university student after that so ya.

After that, we went to an investigators house who ended up inviting his boyfriend over. So that was crazy in itself. Way out of my element. 

The people we are working with are doing well, pray that Bernhard survives his surgery and that Mario will continue to progress. Praying that these 2 baptisms go through next month. The sisters have a baptism Saturday and I was going to do the interview but we found some stuff out about here and so we had to skrrrttt that one over to President. He will be Skype interviewing her tomorrow.

An elder in the district is training a brand new kid, on their way home yesterday they got stuck in Köln because of a bomb threat. Never seen more chaos at a train station. We went and helped them out. So weird to see missionaries who graduated this year. 

Basically, all I have the desire to write. I love you all though and the prayers and support are much appreciated! Can’t believe September is around the corner. Time is flying

Elder Rothwell🦅⚔️

Germany Frankfurt Mission

Biegerstrasse 11

51063 Köln 

Germany 

Scriptures:

John 8:36

Acts 18:9

2 Nephi 30:8

Goodbye Köln Elders 

 GerMONEY

BVB Stadium, 3rd largest in Europe 

Just happy to be here 

District spicy African pepper challenge 

Week 58- "Oh to be a Spanish missionary"

what a mission trip it is to be here in Germany. 

Probably one of the hardest weeks of my entire life on all levels, and I’ve never been more grateful 

Some highlights right:

- zone conference

- back in Solingen for p-day (nuts)

- lost my wallet in Solingen #RIP

- on a split with a young missionary who almost got killed by an Arab 

- taught a very prepared man in the park, stay tuned for the boy Sahil 

- late night Saturday call to teach elders forum

- 4 miracle people show up to church #blessing

- participated in 2 blessings at church

- set another baptismal date with Mario from El Salvador 

- FOUND WALLET IN SOLINGEN (but they took all my cash, but who cares cuz a visa to live here is also essential)

- we are working with like 6 solid investigators right now making great progress!

Etc.......

The list could go on Holy. I learned so much about prayer, faith, and trials this week. I just want to share a few dope things this week.

I called a man in area book 2 weeks ago and he said he’d love to meet so I was on a split with a brand new missionary and we went and taught this man. His parents knew missionaries 15 years ago and were very close but he was so young he didn’t remember anything. We had a wonderful lesson with him and the spirit was so strong. The next day he texted me and said his parents would love to have all 4 of us Köln elders over to have an authentic Indian meal. So stoked.

4 people were at church! We had 2 random investigators that my boy Elder Kumpf in Munster found but they live here, Mario was there and a member translated all 3 hours to Spanish for him, Slusheel was there and then a random big family from England showed up. We taught both 2nd and 3rd hours so that was fun and busy. Participated in 2 blessings that day and at the end bishop just gave me and Elder Stacy hugs with tears in his eyes and was glad we kept the ward together on Sunday haha.

Last night I had one of the most spiritual experiences on my mission. I won’t go into much detail but we went to Mario’s house, from El Salvador. We brought 2 members who can speak Spanish with us. Mario’s mom and dad and Sister are all baptized. I will share how we found Mario in a later email when he is baptized. This man is a walking miracle. But his dad was also there for the lesson. The spirit was so strong and he is just ready to find God and Jesus Christ. His father opened up and said he’d been struggling with some commandments but said he wants to come to church in Köln. (It’d be so sick if his dad got back and worthy so he could baptize his son) just a great experience. I asked the dad to say the prayer at the end and I don’t know what he said because I can’t speak Spanish but he just paused and cried in the prayer and the room was on fire with the spirit. It was just crazy to be in that environment with people only speaking and understanding Spanish. Mario will be getting baptized September 8th :) SPANISH MISSIONARIES: I wouldn’t say I’m jealous but I’m jealous. Like wow just such a different culture than the Germans but I do love my good old Germans for who they are. It’s just so different. 

Anyways this is long enough. We get transfer calls on Friday and we will both probably be staying in Köln. I just have a testimony of prayer and faith. Without prayer, I wouldn’t have made it through this week, but I’ve never seen more miracles literally before my eyes than in these past 7 days.

Keep repenting people, it’s worth it.

Immer mit Liebe 

Elder Rothwell🦅⚔️

Germany Frankfurt Mission

Biegerstrasse 11

51063 Köln 

Germany 

Scriptures:

Isaiah 6:8-11

Proverbs 6:28

Proverbs 8:11

Acts 14:9-10

2 Nephi 9:49

Wuppertal

Indian gave us free head wraps

Miss these rats

Schwabebahn 

Week 57- "Eintracht"

I know I’m sorry. One more of these in your inbox hahaha

I was able to go on a split with the one and only Elder Bradshaw and then later in the week with Elder Walker who I went to high school with.

Some crazy cool stuff happened this week. We have just been praying for miracles like crazy and they have literally been coming out of nowhere. Bernhard is doing good but is stressed for his heart surgery but he’s enjoying Nephi hahaha.

We also got in contact with a less active family and it was so spiritual. We had stuff to do that day but I had the feeling to drop by them. They ended up being home and they even fed us this amazing lunch, and it was just a way spiritual time. Turns out that his nephew in Solingen is the one I and Elder Winsborrow worked with. Freaking small world over here. He was at church on Sunday too.

Saturday night we were just working out butts off and then out of nowhere this man stopped us and could only speak Spanish so we called an elder to translate. The guy is new from Ecuador and his father is Mormon and he was looking for the church here in Köln. Now we have a group message with him and some members who speak Spanish. And the other Köln elders found 4 people who only speak Spanish this week who are so excited to come to church! I wish I could speak Spanish so bad to communicate with these people. Oh, also the miracle family on the train is now being taught by the other elders in Köln. So hyped on that!!

Monday we had a very spiritual lesson with a man named Gero. He read Mosiah 4-20 and just was loving it. We reviewed the restoration with him and just bore testimony of every point. He was tearing up and loved it. We also talked about our own personal revelation. He committed to continue reading and to pray and ask God if it is true and if Joseph Smith was a prophet. Please pray for this amazing middle-aged German homie.

Just a lot of spiritual experiences this week. Zone conference was also great. Received a ton of revelation for Köln. I and my comp were called out at zone conference and they were like “hey you are responsible for the 6 million people who live in Köln” and for some reason, it got me so stoked. I’m just grateful to be a missionary. I’m tired as crap but it’s amazing.

“When spirit talks to spirit, that’s when conversion happens”

Love y’all. Bis nächste Woche

Elder Rothwell🦅⚔️

Germany Frankfurt Mission

Biegerstrasse 11

51063 Köln 

Germany 

Mormon 9:18-21

Mosiah 15:19-20

DOM 

bend jogging am Rhein

Less active gave me some dope stuff. BOM on cassette tapes in German

District at the chocolate factory 

Week 56- "Scharf"

Yo, not much for this week.

Our boy on a baptismal date is going to have to have heart surgery so we will have to push his date. He isn’t happy about it. But he’s doing well.

We had a way cool lesson with an old investigator who is awesome. Super smart middle-aged German man but he will be moving to Hamburg in 4 weeks so hopefully, the elders there take care of him after we meet with him these next couple of weeks.

I have a testimony of fasting holy cow. This week I was just fasting for a miracle in the area for any of the missionaries here and Sunday we were on a train. I was talking with this man who was like hey you are Mormons I need to learn more about you! But he had to get out at the next stop. And then this little kid came up to an Elder by me and was like hey my mom and dad want to learn more about god do you guys have w card or something? We were like yeah of course and he got off the train and then we saw his family of like 9 turn back and they were like we will call you!!! We were so pumped but they never called and then yesterday out of nowhere they called and were like when can you guys come over? So cool. I’m super excited for the other elders to teach them. God is a god of miracles.

Acts 5:38-42

Elder Rothwell🦅⚔️

Germany Frankfurt Mission

Biegerstrasse 11

51063 Köln 

Germany