Word from Nürnburg Oct. 24, 2011

schöne grüße – nice greetings

What's with all of the missionary injury? I knew about the G's nephew. It was big news at ZoKo and they told us that he was only home for a very short time before he got sent back out. I knew A and F were a thing. I think it was like that since freshman year of high school. IDK if they were always an item but they were always together. I don't want to get sent home because I know how hard it would be to come back out. There were a couple other missionaries that went home from our mission due to surgery. One isn't returning because he needs a 6-month recovery and he was already more than half way done. That would be tough. Schöne Grüße on the F and A.

Star Wars sounds great! I've seen it in the stores. It looks awesome.

What would I want to know about your mission... I think just the fact that it is an emotional and spiritual roller coaster. I don't think anyone can be fully prepared for it. It is the hardest thing I've ever done but also the best. I can't describe it but there seem to be several aspects. Yeah, there are the glory stories but the part that taxes you I never really grasped. I know when I finally do go home that the whole experience will feel like a dream. The real world and the MTC already feel that way. I don't think what anyone could have told me would have prepared me. I'm just glad I have my Tschüß book because I think that will be the one thing that will have captured my mission the best. I don't know what you could have told me, Dad. But I definitely want to know more about your mission.

This last week was crazy. I fell apart physically myself. Something I ate towards the beginning of the week tore apart my insides. I haven’t been the same since but I think I'm leveling out. I was able to handle a Döner on Friday so that is good news. Nothing to worry about but that was the highlight of the week - Yuck. Missionary work has been struggling. We don’t really have any investigators and don't know yet where to find them... but we are still seeing success!

I think Elder A and I will be getting lederhosen today. We really hope we stay together for Christmas so that we can make Christmas cards and send them to our MTC teachers and other people. I know that shouldn't be the main reason for wanting to stay together but it would be a bonus.

I got to ride home with president the other day from Würzburg back to Nürnberg. That was an hour of awesomeness. And he bought me a Kit Kat.

Lots of love! Tschüss!
Elder Evan

Nürmberg - Building On The Water and flowers

Word from Nürnberg - October 17, 2011

You may think that your weeks are mundane but it's always big news to me. I feel bad that I probably don't give nearly as much info as what happens here. Sadly, I see everything as just another week in the life of a missionary. I would like to avoid that though. So let me tell you about something awesome from this last week, namely yesterday after church. These past two weeks I've kind of noticed from experiences and stories from the other Elders that the relationship between the members and the missionaries wasn’t really there. So to our surprise, the ward council held a surprise meeting after church strictly for missionary work. The member in charge began bearing his heart and soul out to us about how we need to work together as members and missionaries and that they were sorry for not being on board before. It was really cool. When I was in Wesel we had 1 eating appointment every other week and from what I heard from other returned missionaries that wasn't the best. I got here and the Elders didn't even get that many. Then the relief society president was talking about how we are going to be getting 2-3 eating appointments a week and...  It was just really cool. I love the members. I'm always terrified to talk with them but once I do I'm glad I did. Every member a missionary!

We have a senior couple here in Nürnberg that is in charge of the institute center. They showed us all of the Mormon.org TV ads and told us about all the attention the church is getting. It sounds and looks way cool. President also said that the website will be in German at the start of the year. We should get those ads here in Germany! No one knows anything about the Mormons here accept for the fact that we are a sect, we practice polygamy and ride around in horse driven wagons. False. We do have a member here that is a cop and sometimes police will stop us and ask us if we know him. The truth will definitely come from the members who are asked the questions or just tell it vor by themselves.

Elder Peterson's Christmas
present this year - lederhosen!

Thank you, thank you, thank you! Should I get dad some lederhosen as well?  Dad, I feel like I never knew a whole lot about your mission. Just a couple stories here and there. But there is so much more that goes on! You're keeping secrets. Or I just never asked before.

I love you all very much and pray for you all the time! Keep spreadin the word and lovin life! Love you! Tschüss!

Elder Evan