It Just Makes Sense!

 Hello my family!

Good week this week, it was the last week of my first transfer here in Germany! Today we start our new transfer. We received a call Saturday morning from the zone leaders saying that we will be staying together here in Heilbronn! This will be Elder Merkleys 6th transfer here in Heilbronn, that is about 8 months! In most cases that is a good thing but there has been a few cases where we have talked to people and they say we have already talked to them, or at least Elder Merkley has. Good thing our area is pretty good size and that doesnt happen too often. But it will be great to serve another 6 weeks with him, I have learned a lot from him and he is a very good at leading by example. He really stresses that we speak German as much as possilbe. Its pretty hard at times and some days are better thans others but I know that is the best way to learn this language! A companionship cannot be prefect and things come up that you dont agree on, it is so important to get them figured out and right away. It is very tough to teach about such a wonderful thing as the gospel when you are not in unity. Its hard to feel the Spirit when you are not and I know that is the only way possible to teach is with the Spirit. You have got to find what works best for both of you and go for it! It just makes sense that you can only see success when you are wanting it as a whole and as one! 

There is a lot of things in this Gospel that just make sense. Thats the beauty of it. And it just makes sense that it does make sense because it is the truth! As we study the scripture and pray to our Heavenly Father we understand the simpleness of what we need to do. As missionaries it is very important to have our study time, it is one of my most favorite times of the day. Its when we can grow and strengthen our faith and so throughout the day we can use it as we testify of the truthfulness of this gospel. I was on an aus tausch (exchange) again this week in Ludwigsburg and we had a very good companion study time. We talked about the parable of the Mediator and it is such a blessing that we have a Mediator in our lives. Jesus Christ was the only one willing and able to take upon him the sins of the world. He lived a prefect life and then took every sin upon himself. He has done his part and now it is up to us to show our thanks, believe in him and always remember him. When we have the faith than and only then is it possible for us to truly repent. Only with real intentions that its possilbe to become clean through Christ. We become clean as we take his name upon ourselves and are baptized. We try are best to be like him and with the gift of the Holy Ghost we are able to endure to the end. It all just fits together and simply makes sense! 

Elder Merkley reminded me this week, its not just about enduring to the end but enjoying the journey. Not just on a misson but throughout life it is so important to enjoy our journey no matter how easy or hard because as we rely on the Lord anything is possible. He plays such a big role in our lives! As Moroni says, I will not deny Christ.

Love you all so much and hope you have a wonderful week. 

Elder Jerman

p.s. This weather here reminds me a lot like Utah. One or two days of great weather and then a week of raining cold weather! But its great! Till next week! 

In Ludwigsburg on exchange with Elder Thompson

Ludwigsburg Palace and gardens - a pretty place

His companion's letter says - 

 Yeah, so we found one new investigator this week. It was this Malaysian guy named Syanim. He was pretty cool, but he is Muslim, and he was having a really really difficult time understanding why we would need Jesus Christ to suffer for our sins. I have learned a ton about Muslims on my mission, and about what they believe, but it has just strengthened my testimony that we DID need Jesus Christ. The whole gospel just makes so much sense...unless you're Muslim, then it is apparently inconceivable. We also found a good amount of potential investigators this week, and have three or four appointments made out for next week, hopefully a couple of them will really happen. That is one of the most difficult things, we find a ton of people that give us their information and are willing to make out appointments, the trick is just actually making those appointments happen. I have had so much trouble with that on my mission, haha.
This week was a lot of fun, we worked really hard, and we found a lot of good people. I have hope that we will be able to continue finding new people here. We also have a couple eating appointments this week, which I am way excited about. Eating appointments are so much fun!