Word from Erfurt - Dec. 27, 2010 & The Christmas Call

12-27-2010

So transfer calls came in just an hour ago! I am staying in Erfurt with Elder Owens and Elder Feher... But my trainer, Elder Dieduksman is heading down to Nürenburg to be a Zone Leader there. It is way sad but I know that it is right. I will then be companions with Elder Hohman who is from Utah. I've had several interactions with him during splits and he is totally different from Elder Dieduksman. This will also be his  last cycle which is weird that they are transfering him to Erfurt to be a Zone leader. They call that ghosting. I will have a different trainer for my last cycle as a golden which will be weird. Like being raised by two different fathers. Trainers are known as Fathers here and Goldens are the sons. So Elder Hohman is my stepfather. Crazy! Elder Hohman does like going out and doing stuff though so I might get some more sight seeing in. Not today though because Elder Dieduksman needs to pack :(

I loved the Christmas call but I have to admit there was just not enough time. Time was so precious and I feel like so much more could have been said! And I didn't really get a chance to talk to Grandpa or really adequately tell you how much appreciated my Christmas gifts were. I think I looked through the calendar like 20 times and I got some sweet pics with my Harry Potter tie. It looks awesome when I wear it with my gray sweater and wear glasses... and use a wooden spoon as a wand... and do dueling poses... but I digress! Long story short, Thanks! And I have things waiting for me at home! Kathy gave me a German Christmas pin and some money. Also gloves and a hat which I cannot wear sadly :( But if you get a chance to talk to her you should say thank you for me and I will do the same in a letter. I also got cards from Sister Hess and the Thomas' which I appreciated a lot.

I'm not sure what happens on New Years Eve but I know we are not supposed to go out after like 6 or something due to the drunk people. We had a pretty good Christmas though and that was enough for me. We made duck for lunch and used all the thanksgiving food you sent for our special Christmas meal. I got some really good pictures which I will send soon. They are better than the ones I already sent I think. I'll be glad once we are in the normal swing of things. I have a feeling that time will just go fast and faster.

I don't really know what else to say! You would think that a lot would have happened since we last talked but not really. We've done a lot of hanging around and the work doesn't pick back up till tonight at 6. Even then, Elder D might still be packing. I will get out there and see the sites, I promise.

Elder Evan

Dec. 25, 2010

Note from mom - The Christmas Call


It was wonderful to be able to talk to Evan today.  The missionaries are allowed two calls per year - one on Christmas and one on Mother's Day!  And naturally the families look forward to those two times of the year!!  We were able to put him on speaker phone which was really nice.  Honey, Babe, & Pork Chop each got a brief time to visit with their Uncle Evan.  G-pa, Heather, Chelsea, & Robb each got a chance to talk as well.  After that our end of the call was predominately taken up with Dad and Mom, and of course, Evan on the other end.  OK!  I was the biggest phone hog.  But hey - I did give birth to the kid!  I figure I'm somewhat entitled.


Altogether we managed to talk for a little over an hour, but with all the excitement of hearing his voice my adrenaline was running high, so I remember very little of the actual conversation.  There's a nine hour time difference between us and him - later on his end, which can present a challenge.  I'll try to share at least a couple things from the conversation (which is probably all I'll remember anyway.  He did say they were supposed to go to a church members home for christmas dinner.  Apparently this family lives in a rural area and the missionaries were going to be there for the slaughter of the Christmas dinner goose.  Unfortunately, there was a big snow storm and the Elders were unable to make it out there.  I was rather disappointed myself when I heard about this.  I would have loved to hear Evan relate the story on that one.


I asked Evan about the place where they go for internet access to read and send their emails to home and the mission president.  I don't know exactly what I expected it to be like, but it wasn't at all like he described.  He said the owner of the internet "cafe" is from India.  The place has a very India like atmosphere and they have to walk through a doorway full of beads when they go in.  Again - not at all what I envisioned!


After asking Evan about his mission president, he related a humorous story.  He said his mission president speaks very good German, but having previously lived in Texas, his German has a Texas twang.  Anyway, Evan got a kick out of it, but all kidding aside, he says the man is inspired and seems very nice.  Of course, given Evan's penchant and talent for imitating accents, he proceeded to speak to us in German with a Texas twang.  And, I have to say, "It was great!"


Well, as much as we enjoyed talking to him, the hour went by way too fast.  How soon till Mother's Day?!

Word from Erfurt - Dec. 20, 2010

Dec. 20, 2010

That is indeed our phone number. _______________. Definitely try it out if needs be. The country code is 49 I think, and you might need to know an area code. But to be honest I have no idea how that works. Elder Dieduksman's Mom called this morning. It was pretty funny. We're the only two using that phone though and his family is on the same time zone we are so you can call pretty much whenever. The 25th is the busiest day but you can still call I think. The first presidency approved Skype for calling home but I think it is too late to try and figure out what to even do for that. Next call we can try. 6-8 our time we'll be at the Branch president's house. So if you call around 8-9 our time that might be better, but whatever works. You could even call on the 26th if you wanted to. It might be too late to plan for that though, IDK. Try the number though! I don't want to miss the call. Elder D almost missed his last year because his number didn't fit in his family's phone plan. Luckily he could do it at a member's house.

Caroling has been one of the craziest experiences ever! So many weird and socially awkward people live in these apartment complexes where we carol. Lot's of cool things happen... but weird stuff too. For example! It was my turn to talk so I klingled and waited for the door to open. It opens and I start talking to this lady who I didn't realize was naked at first. Completely naked. Then I turned away and looked at Elder D who looked back at me. I tried to say something but couldn't. There was this long awkward pause and then Elder D said, 'Wir gehen weiter (we're moving on).' And we left! I don't think she was all there. Elder Owens said we sinned because we turned away the naked. Very funny Elder Owens. My brain is scarred for life!

On the other hand...

We talked with this one guy who didn't speak very good German and at first wanted to turn us away because he didn't understand why we were there. But once it was clear that we were singing he agreed. He happened to be on the phone at the time when we sang and this person on the phone was like, 'come over to my place and sing for me!' So we ran across the street while this guy was shouting directions from his window and eventually found the place. This lady was so cool! She was from Iraq and spoke perfect German. She's catholic but just loves talking with anyone about Christ, especially at this time of year. Now we have a return appointment with her! It was so random but really cool.

Our singing has gone a long way. We've spent a long time preparing this one song and sang it at our ward party. While caroling this concierge lady loved it so much she asked us to come to her church and sing it. Which we did! IT was so cool. It was this tiny Christian church where everyone is like, 'Praise the Lord!' 'The Lord is good!' Stuff like that. It was weird at times but also really interesting. Oh! And that ward party... So there is this one Elderly Man who is a member and has a 30 year old lady friend (weird I know) who is an investigator. And she brought these chocolate ball things. I was sitting with Elder Owens at this one table and he tried one. He said it was interesting and unexpected. In the Elder Owens way of saying things he's like, 'Try it, just try it Elder Peterson.' So I did and it was unexpected and interesting. Right after that Elder Feher comes over and is like, 'Don't eat the chocolate balls. I'll tell you why later.' What were the odds! Elder Owens and I laughed at the situation but apparently there was Rum in these so called chocolate balls. Und natürlich the missionaries didn't find out till after they ate them. Hey I ate Rabbit too. That was later though.

I am warm. Right now I think I'm good on thermal garments, but thanks for the thought! Right now I am in love with this only using a comforter thing. So wonderful!  Note from mom - most places in Europe don't use top sheets on there beds. They just use a bottom sheet with a comforter on top.  Terry loved this as well when he served in Denmark years and years and years ago!  He claims there's no top sheet to get tangled up in!

Love you all!

Elder Evan