This is Deutschland (1st email from Germany)

                                          

Leaving Mission Home to travel to first area

 Well familz I am here in Germanz and <i can not believe it! 

I sure do miss zou guzs a ton though and have been thinking about zou this week! <it is prettz crayz to finallz be out on a mission in a place that <i am not fimilar with at all and being with no one <i know. Good things we have companions. Elder Merkley is his name and he is from Glendora California and he has been out about 10 months. <he was there at the train station readz to pick me up and off we went to are assigned area, Heilbronn Germany! <he has been here for about 4 transfers so he knows the area great which is good because <i just follow him everzwhere. But before <i get into that let me back track a couple dazs and tell zou about mz travel from the USA to Heilbronn. Last daz in the mtc was great and we took pictures with friends we had made and also are wonderful teachers. Sure did learn a lot and now is the time where all that practice is going into real life! We finished packing the night before and then got up around 4 to get everzthing set to go and ate a little breakfast and off to the buses we went. The drive to Salt lake was good and crayz to see American Fork and think it will be 2 zears until <i see it again. We got to the airport and got all our bags checked in and it was great <i got to call zou when <i did. We got on the plane and <i was verz excited for the take off! <it was a great feeling to finallz be on the plane and starting our long flight to the place <i well be serving for the next 2 zears. Take off was fun but <i got a little sick on the waz and was glad when we were in <minneapolis. <i sat bz a member so it was fun to talk to her. At the minneapolis airport <i talked with this Indian couple which was verz great and thez were impressed <i was leaving mz familz for two zears to do something for mz faith. <it is a great thing to do and there is nothing better <i could be doing in mz life right now. We then got on our big plane anf flew for 8 hrs. <it was a little strange we went up to greenland and so didnt go straight across the ocean. but we landed in Amsterdam at about 630 in the morning their time or about 1230 utah time. So when it was time to go to bed it was actuallz time to start a new daz! Didnt sleep much on the plane, it was uncomfortable and <i got up everz so often so <i could stretch! Thez gave us dinner and breakfast which was nice or dinner and a midnight snack. That was just a crayz night! Then we took our flight to <münchen and once there the mission präsident and some of the elders and sisters there picked us up! Verz exciting to see them and we put our things in the van and then the older elders took us to the train and gave us a book of Mormon and set us loose! wow it was crayz! But we just were excited and we spilt up and talked to people. <kind of weird for them because thez could see all of us all throughout the train but a good first experience. Then walked the rest of the waz to the church bz the mission home and we had lunch and had some training and had interviews with the <mission presidentand then that night went to mission home for dinner and then we all got assigned to our area and companion. We slept the night there night and then all took trains in our different wazs. kind of sad sazing goodbze to all the good friends <i had made in the mtc but good to start on what <i am here to do. The first daz with mz companion we went back to the appartment and dropped mz things off. We have a prettz nice apartment for the 2 of us. Then we went out and talk to people on the street and that night went to visit a less active. Cant believe this time is here but this is real life and even tho <i dont know the language good must keep mz trust in the Lord and move forward. Fridaz and Saturdaz we visited some smaller cities to trz and visit with less actives but no luck. We talk to people on the street and do door contacting. Europe is different and most everzone is not interested, it is good tho that thez are honest and speak what thez think. <mazbe it is a good thing <i dont know lots of german! <it is prettz hard to find people that is interested at all. But its so important to keep a positive attitude and have hope. The best waz to find people is through the ward, thez know the people here the best and can give great referrals. There was a baptism about two weeks ago and we actuallz have one next week! Which is so awesome, he just had set the date the daz before <i came and has stopped smoking! <i met him sundaz and he is an awesome guz! The work here does move forward and there are people here that are readz! We just have to find them! <its not easz and the language is hard but <i must have patient with mzself and know that it will take time and it will take hard work. So it is great being here and trzing mz hardest to talk to people and start to understand this language. Sundaz was great tho! We had church at 9 and it is about a 15 minute bus ride from where were live. We have about 30 active members and most are older couples, but one or two small families. We had preisthood then sundaz school and sacrement meeting last. <i introduce mzself and shared a short thought! <it went good and <i am excited to get to know the members! 

Quite the letter this week and hopefullz <i wrote all <i could so zou know whats going on over here on the other side of the world! <miss zou guzs but this work we are apart of can bless so manz lives. Cant wait to meet the ones the Lord has prepared for the gospel but <i must alwazs be obedience and worthlz to have the Holy Ghost lead me to them. 

Till next week! I love you!!

Elder Jerman

Arriving at the Munich Airport

Biggest group ever out of the MTC to arrive.

Ready to pass out Book of Mormons.

Loading luggage to head to the mission home.

Missionary meetings

Good food

More training

Arrival at the Mission Home

A nice meal

All the new missionaries that arrived in the Alpine-German speaking Mission

Elder Jerman with President and Sister Miles.

  Elder Jerman's first assignment is to serve with Elder Merkley (from Glendora, California) in Heilbronn, Germany.

From the Mission President and wife

 GREETING FROM GERMANY

Dear family of Elder Jerman-

We are delighted to tell you that Elder Jerman arrived safely in Munich this morning.  He is tucked away in bed now after a long day of orientation. 

We thought you might enjoy these pictures from this evening. His new companion is Elder Merkley, and they will be serving in Heilbronn, Germany. 

We are thrilled that he is here and are very impressed with his preparation and enthusiasm.  He will be a great missionary.  Thank you for all you have done to help him become the fine young man he is today.  We love him already, and we will do all we can to help him grow as a missionary and have a successful mission.  If you have questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us.  May the Lord bless you and your family at this wonderful time of missionary service.

Sincerely,

President and Sister Miles

Alpine German-speaking Mission

Mom's note

Jason is on his way!

After only 6 weeks at the MTC, 99 missionaries are bound for Germany today.  This is the largest number of missionaries the church has ever sent to Germany and the first group to go on only 6 weeks of language training.   There are 24 missionaries bound for the Alpine German speaking mission, 40 to Berlin and 35 to Frankfurt.  Jason was so happy to be a host missionary to 5 missionaries coming in last week with another big group of 800+ missionaries arriving.  We have heard that 1000 are expected tomorrow!

We got our phone call from the airport this morning. This is a bonus call for us.  He was up at 4:00am to be ready, then drove past our American Fork exit on his way to the airport.  He sounded excited, with a hint of "this is really real today"  Jason has only been on a plane one other time when he was a young boy, so even the plane ride sounds exciting for him and then the idea of stepping out in a new country to start his real mission experience is pretty amazing!

Here is a copy of a little handwritten note he sent home.  

"Had a cool experience this week with an investigator.  When I testified of God's love for me and his love for him, the spirit was so strong.  I know I felt the spirit and I believe he did too.  Oh how sweet the love the Savior and God has for us and they want us to know they love us.  But, we must ask.  Love to you all, Elder Jason Jerman

(This was sent at 4:48 am!)

hey I am going to get on around 10-10:30 this morning real quick to send off one more short little email, if you want to send any questions or tell what your idea is for tomorrow and calling you let me know! We are here in the laundry room this morning just beating the crowd of missionaries so I thought I'd just get on and tell you I will be emailing later today. Hope you have a great day! Love you all so much!

Elder Jerman

Fliegen nach Deutschland

Hallo Familie!

I dont have a lot of time today, we are keeping pretty busy but they did let us get on today and say our last goodbyes from the United States of America! Today we kind of have a regular day and we are just fitting in where we can to pack and get ready to go in the morning. We did not have gym today, Saturday was our last day which is too bad but we had time instead to try and get everything ready. It has been a great last week though here at the MTC. We finally got to be Host Missionaries!! Im so glad we finally got the oppourtunity and it was really fun hosting brand new missionaries and look back 6 weeks ago and see me in that same spot. I cant believe how fast time has flown here! Soon enough Ill be in Germany! Thursday we had a In-Field Orientation pretty much all day, from after breakfast all the way up to dinner. But it sure did get me pumped to go out and serve God's children. That is so great about a mission is from the time you get up to the time you go to bed you are helping God's children return to their father and that is what you are doing all day. Oh what the joy that brings, it is not an easy thing though. I know for sure it will be hard, but in the end it will be rewarding for both me and the ones I help return to God. Sunday was a good day with Depature Devotional and the regular Sunday Night Devotional. Then after we watched a talk by Elder Holland, it was a talk he gave on Thanksgiving Day here at the MTC and he had some of his grandchildren share their testimonies and the oldest had received her mission call and was coming in February. She was sitting two rows in front of me while we watched this talk of her giving her testimony and then Elder Holland bearing his testimony. It was so awesome and now the time has finally come to use all that I have learned. It is a little frighting but as I keep my confidence with trust and faith in the Lord, I know the he will use me in ways that well bless the lives of many. May God be with You. I love you all.

Love,

Elder Jerman

Last week speaking English

Well hello my good family,

I love you all and its good to hear all the great things you are doing! Man oh man we are in the "Red Zone" here at the MTC. This is the time that counts the most, you dont want to waste time thinking about what is to come, we've got to keep our minds on the work we are preparing with the people. We study hard with them not us, well us too but mostly for them. It has been a great week here at the MTC as we come down to our last weeks. I was just thinking about it and really this will be our last week speaking complete English with other people and with ourselves! So to prepare ourselves we have been trying to do "nur Deutsch Tage" (only German days) yesterday we really focused on that and tried really hard to only speak German. It can be tough at times and hard to always remember but it is really fun as we carry around are little dictionary books that has every word translated. We can speak English to other missionaries but we try really hard to just speak German with ourselves. I love it and that is the greates way to learn a language is to speak it. Thats all I will be doing in a week anyways.

Speaking of next week, we got our Travel Plans this week!! Ah it is so exciting!! We got them on Friday but all week we were hoping for them, it was just like Christmas but you didnt know when Christmas was going to come!! So exciting! We leave the MTC at 6 in the morning and take a bus to the SLC airport, we hope on a plane and fly to Minneapolis MN and then have a layover there, then we fly to Amsterdam Netherlands and get there at like 6 in the morning and have another layover and then fly on the our final distination...Munich!! We get there at like 11 in the morning but it will feel like 2 in the morning to us because of all the time changes but I am very excited to go straight to work once we get out there. The Frankfurters actually have a straight flight to Frankfurt, I dont know if I would like that. I will be fun stopping and resting our legs a couple times. Also something fun about the Frankfurters is they got a schedule of what they will be doing the first day and they get there and start street contacting with just them, all as new missionaries. Ooo that got me thinking how real this is going to get once we get there. I cannot wait though to serve the Lord with all of my abilities and talents. I will never be 100% ready but I will use what I have learned and rely and trust in the Lord because I know that is where the real success comes from. Having the Holy Ghost is so important, that is how we learn and he is who we teach with. Without him, we and the investigators could not progess.

Cant believe my time in the MTC is coming to a close, but cant wait to start a new chapter of my mission and preach the gospel to the German people ( Austrian and Swiss included)

Love you all, and keep your faith strong, I know mine will be super strong as I trust and give all I have when I step off the Plane in Munich!

Elder Jason Jerman

PS it was Elder Sponsellers birthday this week, very fun to kind of celebrat that ( as much as we could)

Also thanks so much for the vegetables, everyone loved them and I am now know as the "Heathly Elder who likes to share"

couple things for you mom

-last week I did not actually get to be a host missionary, elder Pierce is in another zone and only they got to

-hey one thing I would like but it doesnt matter if it gets done is that I have been craving my red and blue striped tie, its just like diagnaly stiped back and forth between red and blue, that is all I need just that one if that is not to big of a hassel.

-I did get you veggis with the ranch oo they were so good

-so yes I will call home and explain more in my letter I send home, I have to do it in the US and we leave slc at 10 and get to minneaplis and 130 and have a 3 hr layover there. I could do it in minneapolis so the kids could be home. let me know in a dear elder or something!

-ooo something cool about visa's with us alpine missionaries is we dont have to worry like the Mexico, we dont need the visa to get into Austria but we do have to get it, there is just no rush to get it

love elder Jerman

Exciting week!

My loving family,

Hello from the MTC, it has been a wonderful week and I have so much to till, hopefully my hands do type fast enough. I maybe should have taken speed typing more seriously because it sure would help but I'll try my best! But where do I start, well we are still without roommates which is is a bummer but we have just as fun because we go over to the room of the rest of our district and we are really becoming great friends. This Wednesday was fun and have new missinoaries come in, I didnt see Elder Tanner Clegg until Saturday but it was fun to see him and I've seen him a couple more times since. One must not worry if you dont see a friend on the Wednesday they get in, there are plenty of oppurtunites to run into them so its fun. Something very exciting this week was we changed classrooms! Our whole building is getting AC put in so we are in another building now which is very exciting. This one has nicer desk and chairs! But still we are very pack into a pretty small room with 10 people in there and their desk's but we manage. It is fun because we our room is next to some Fijians, they left Friday but we also have some ASL a few doors down, fun to get to know other missionaries serving throughout the whole world! Another exciting event was I dont remember what day but we all receievd a package from some unknow person and it said to open it all together so it was fun to have that little fun moment together opening mysterious boxes and all gettting goodies to share with each other.

This week we had the great privlage to hear from an Apostel of the 12! Elder M Russell Ballard came and spake to us, of course it is the one time we didnt make it into the gym on time to get a seat. It was just as good in the overflow though. It was so neat to hear an Apostel of the Lord speak to us, I could feel his Spirit as he testified of this great work as missionaries we are doing! So neat that he came! Also this week we saw someone else that a lot of people know...especially missionaries. It was one of the missionaries from the District!! We were in the computer lab having language study and we notice him outside the door, we all just stare in amazement that we are looking at a Mormon celebrity! It was fun, and I guess quite a few of them work here. We saw Elder Reis if you wanted to watch the District again and pick him out.

Now on a more serious note, I had a really great experience this week while teaching a investigator. She is actually one of our teaches but we were going to go in and teach the Plan of Salvation, that is what we had prepared but we went in and I got the feeling to ask her really what her big concern was and she said the Prophet Joseph Smith so we just drop our lesson and taught her about that. I felt the Spirit so strong as we testified or Joseph Smith. It is so important to follow the promtings of the Spirit and teach people not lessons. I have learned a lot this week about the Spirit and I think its so important for all of us to pray everyday to have the strength to act upon the promtings we receive even if its a small one. And its especially good for missionaries to learn now to act upon them now so when we get into the field so we will have the confidence to act upon the Spirit even if we do not know why, the Lord knows why and that is all that matters. Trust in the Lord and have Faith! Vertrauen und Glauben ist sehr wichtig!

Love you all and wish I had more time but I must say farewell for now!

Love Elder Jerman

ps I got released as District Leader, my popularity went down dramasticly, also thanks so much for the fruit! So fun to share something different!!