Mario's Baptism

Just something you'll never forget. Can't wait to tell you guys about this when I get home.

Pre-game show

Latino Gang

Post game

Squad

Week 63- "Como Estas mi amigo"

Do you believe in miracles?

This week was awesome I could say a lot but imma just tell the story of Mario. 

August 11th me and my companion had a long busy day and were coming home to do a personal Study and language study at the end of the day. For some reason I had an impression to go out finding so we did. We just prayed that we could find someone who needs the gospel now. We contacted that night and saw no success. On the way home my companion had some homeless guy come up to him asking for money and I walked ahead. At that point a little latino man ran up to me and said “Mormon Mormon!” And I was like yes of course. He could only speak Spanish so I called an elder who could speak Spanish and he talked to him on the phone and told him that we have church here in Köln. He told him he is from El Salvador and is living here with his father now, his mother father and sister are all members.

August 19th Mario came to church for the first time.

August 22nd we taught Mario the first lesson with 2 Spanish speaking members. He told us then that he knew this was the true church and that the Book of Mormon has to be true.

We continued to teach Mario.....

September 23rd Mario brought his father back to the church with him. 

September 26th Mario was interviewed to be baptized and was so happy. We got him all fitted for his white clothes. He was so happy. The Elder who did the interview said that that was one of the happiest men he had ever interviewed.

He told his boss the “he no longer works on Sundays because he is a member of the church” so amazing

September 29th Mario should be baptized and The next day confirmed.

Mario has been taught by me and Elder Stacy, Elder Felix from Portugal who can speak Spanish, we have 3 members that have helped translate sacrament and the lessons for him and also had a Skype call with the Spanish elders serving in Heidelberg. Talk about team effort here.... 🏼

Mario is amazing. Haha he has a 6 year old daughter and 4 year old girl living with his woman in El Salvador. He is here working to send them money and he doesn’t know when he is going back. He said he will get home and baptize his wife and his kids when they turn 8. 

I just have a testimony that the gospel is true. It’s easy to have faith and be a saint when life is going great and smooth. But I know that when life goes to the dumps is when faith and gospel principles should be lived and applied most. God is good, this gospel is amazing. I’m so glad we have the atonement and covenants we can make with god while we are here on earth. 

Life is good, even when things aren’t.

Pray for Mario this week. We hope everything works out! He asked me to baptize him in Spanish so I have been practicing all week hahaha pray for the boy. I love you guys. Have a good one

Elder Rothwell🦅⚔️

Germany Frankfurt Mission

Biegerstrasse 11

51063 Köln 

Germany 

Scriptures 

Mosiah 5:10-13

Alma 12:34

Street display in Aachen with the squad

Mario loving speaking to some Latinos 

Mission trips 

Boyer’s are goals

Heidelberg bosses helping us out with Mario 

Week 62- "Ya Know"

Nothing too crazy this week.

Went on a split with one of my favorite Elders from Brazil, we taught Mario and had a good lesson. Explained to him the importance of coming to church if he wants to get baptized. Mario is just so funny, he loves when we come over sooo much but he is at the point where he just needs to come to church to progress.

Sunday was dope, the 3 Fondja Boys came to church!!! The ward was like how the heck did you elders pull that off? It was pretty funny. We were like well when you actually visit people and get to know them then they realize this isn’t just a Sunday church. Tucker also pulled me aside and asked me to give him a blessing after church which was awesome. And then was asked by 2 more missionaries at zone conference for blessings. I love that we have the power of God on the earth so much. 

Since Monday I have been pretty dang sick but we had a ton of work to do so that has been a little hard to keep up the energy, but the Lord gives strength to those who ask for it. We taught family home evening at a members house Monday, met with Bernhard on Tuesday and had a really good lesson with him. He is also way excited for his baptism on Oct. 13th.

Rest of the week was just the norm and then zone conference. 

This week I have been thinking a lot about what the prophet has been saying regarding gathering Israel and preparing ourselves for when the lord comes. Like honestly we got to be getting close to that day. And I just had the thoughts of ya know if the savior came tomorrow or next year am I who I need to be to live through that? Am I doing the things now to prepare myself for that or am I just doing things I want to do? It was a pretty interesting self-evaluation for me. I am so glad to be on a mission and involved in the gathering of Israel every day. I don’t want that mindset to change through my life either. The world is literally nuts, it’s crazy out there. I hope we can all hold on to the iron rod in this mist of darkness we live in right now, and if you’re not then come back to it. If your friends or family aren’t doing it then freaking grab them and try and bring them back. We already know what side is going to win at the end of the day, but we need more souls on God’s side staying on the straight and narrow.

Use the gifts God has given you for good, we are going to be held accountable at the last day for what we did or didn’t do with the gifts God has given us.

I love this work, freaking hyped on it sogar.

Have a good week!

Much love 

Elder Rothwell🦅⚔️

Germany Frankfurt Mission

Biegerstrasse 11

51063 Köln 

Germany 

Romans 6:23

Pics: (got another film roll developed)

Some boys

Mühlheim bridge

 Köln, Cologne feat. Japanese yomie 

Elder Felix whipping me up some homemade Brazilian tortillas on the split

More boys 

Week 61- "GeUchtdorfed"

We have p day today because we have interviews with President tomorrow. Yesterday Elder and Sister Uchtdorf visited the mission and did it all in German. Was so sick. I was going to attach my notes but I’ll save you the trouble.

Last Saturday we had a dope lesson with Mario and he is so pumped to be baptized this next week. Monday we went with our man Tucker playing pro ball over here. We did a goby for a family that we don’t really know that hasn’t been coming to church. Turns out they don’t come because their son plays on Sundays for the same organization as Tucker but the youth team. So it was cool for Tucker to bar testimony of going to church and all that good stuff. Was just a way spiritual time. We transferred for them to communicate. 

The rest of the week was just appointments and then Elder Uchtdorf in Frankfurt. Was great to see mission homies again. Sister Uchtdorf started speaking English at the end and told the Germans to learn English because that’s the language of the Restoration and then Elder Uchtdorf was like well ya but the message of the Reformation was all German. Way funny haha. He taught us a ton about the reformation and were a lot of things took place here in Germany.

Solid week, we have another really busy one ahead. Keep praying for Bernhard and Mario!

Elder Rothwell🦅⚔️

Germany Frankfurt Mission

Biegerstrasse 11

51063 Köln 

Germany 

Scriptures 

1 Cor 1:27

3 Nephi 18:24

D&C 35:8,14

D&C 64:33

Winsborrow 

Whitney

Köln late night vibes

Frankfurt Germany Mission 

Solingen Bridge

Week 60- "Sei Hyped"

Just realized this didn’t send yesterday.

Cray week man.

Transfer week and the sisters had a baptism so we basically ended up planning it all and taking care of it Friday. Treated ourselves to a way good Indian restaurant afterward. Ran into some dudes in a band from America. Hopefully, I’ll add the pic on here. 

Saturday the baptism went through and then Sunday she got confirmed which was great! No councilor showed up to it was just me and bishop on the stand. Some random girl from Alpine was at sacrament because she is here on vacation and then we had an American couple move in so they were they were there. They are so sick. He is now playing basketball for the team here in Köln. They met while he was playing ball in Michigan and he baptized her and they’re now married in the temple. They said they want to come and contact with us and have us over. About time someone wants to do missionary work! Americans are amazing. 

We had a few good lessons, got invited over for a way good homemade Indian meal, Bernhard is still recovering and Mario is really busy with work so pray for those men that we can get them in the water ASAP so they can have the wonderful gift of the Holy Ghost. 

Had a zone leader split and those are always interesting. Mission leadership is always a funny subject in this mission. We just try not to take ourselves too seriously out here. Freaking good time though.

Tuesday Elder Uchtdorf and his wife visit our mission and we are so excited. It’ll be so good, I hope he speaks in German but I doubt it with him traveling with the area presidency. We will see. Also, we are getting a senior couple in the mission that is the grandparents of my boy Kade Copeland. It’ll be sick to meet them.

God is good. The plan of Salvation is perfect. Study the scriptures and pray every day to feed your soul. Read your patriarchal blessing, try and reach your potential. Ask for priesthood blessings if you need it. The priesthood is restored on the earth so that we can use it!! Take advantage of it.

Bis dann 

Elder Rothwell🦅⚔️

Germany Frankfurt Mission

Biegerstrasse 11

51063 Köln 

Germany 

 Hermano!!

Film pics developed great #OlympusMJU or die

Rock on

Köln 

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