Der Herbst

Family!

Dont you just love this time of year? It just makes me so happy and maybe just because we have had some really great weather this last week but its a great time of year. We have had sunny days pretty much every day this last week which has been nice and the sunshine goes right to my heart and warms me! Love it! The colors are also way pretty as we take a train to different parts of our area and see the mountains and colors of the trees. But on that note we did really have a good week and more than just having good weather we also had some great appointments and lessons. We start off Tuesday with an unexpected exchange that we did with the other two Elders here. It wasnt planned but that morning we decided to do it and it turned out very well. We were coming back after visiting a referral that wasnt home and had a little time in a city to door and on our 2nd door we come up the path and two younger people are on lawn chairs enjoying the sun and we asked if they had any interest listening to our message and they look at each other and then said yes! So we gave them a small message and shared a Book of Mormon with them! That never happens that someone wants to listen especially young people!! We had our German class that night and since we were on our exchange both us didnt have keys to the church it was the other two so we had our first 10 minutes of class in front of the church. Good thing we had good weather this week! We had a appointment this week with an investigator we lost contact with for the last month and so it was good to meet with him again and we had a member with us so that was good to start a relationship there. He said he enjoyed the feeling in the church and it felt like home (had the lesson there) but not planning on changing his ways anytime soon. So important for these people to realize these feelings and know where its coming from because many do have these great feeling but either dont know what it is or just shrug it off. We all feel the Spirit differently and he teaches us in many ways and we must realize that for ourselves as we do those 3 things where the Spirit can be with us most. Study, prayer, and church! We sometimes underestimate the importance of these fundamental but key to conversion these 3 things are!  We had another lesson with our investigator Rita who is one we are working hard with to help her understand and have those spiritual experiences for herself. She came to church yesterday as long as a less active family that we are helping to reactivate! So it was a great time at church yesterday. We are seeing the blessings of the Lord as we keep on going and never give up. Those promises are there and we learn lots from the Book of Mormon of the promises the Lord made for those people. We too have made promises with the Lord and as we keep our side he is ready and willing to keep his side! The blessings are in store!

Two neat experiences this week, both on the train and both coming back from the same city (just different days) We go to Traunstein quite a bit and so it gives us a good opportunity to speak with people there. Now we cant contact on trains but only start up a conversation and hope it turns to the gospel. One night coming back we were sitting crossed from a lady that had also got on where we did and I had the feeling we needed to talk to her. I kind of ignored it for a little while and thought it was nothing new because that seems to always be my thoughts. Then I thought again that she needs something that we have. So I finally humbled myself and asked her where she was going. We started talking and found out that she was just coming from her brothers house that had passed away this last week. It was so neat to tell her about what we know to be true about life after death and to share scriptures with her that gave her comfort. Its so neat to always be learning in how the Spirit speaks with us and how its usually through those small but good thoughts. All good things come from God so we shouldnt worry when it comes to doing something good! There are many of Gods children in time of need and so neat to know he can put them in our path in the time they need it most and to have the gospel which can heal any wound. The other experience happened last night coming back on the train and this time we made a stop and a group of people came in the train and a woman passed by and said, "hey its the missionaries!" oh man I knew this train ride was going to be a good one. It was a mom and her son from the states but so fun to talk with members from American which rarely happens and to get hear about missionary work being done around the world. This work is moving forward and we are all apart of it!

Love you all so very much and have a Happy Halloween.

Liebe Grüße,

Elder Jerman

Exhibit of Alexander the Great with Elder Jerman the Small (look closely)

In response to some of our questions, he also wrote: 

What did you do today for P-day?  Its been a fun pday as this morning Elder Hoggan and I went to a museum type thing. Well it was a specity for a couple of months and so we went today! It was on Alexander the Great. Always fun to do something like that which I enjoy! Here is a photo from it! Its a little hard to see me as we had to get the whole thing but Im there if you can zoom in or something. and then another photo of elder Seamons and I in munich in the inner city, . and then the beautiful colors on a train ride as we were going to a city.

Fall colors out the train window

What about Halloween in Germany?  yes they do have it here in Germany but it is not as big as in American and its more on the scary side and not the fun dress up as princess and go get candy which is too bad but they have it just not so big and not near the many decarations and such.   I always loved dressing up even if I was older but still having fun.  so glad america knows how to make it fun!   oktober has gone way quick just like every month so crazy how time goes but you keep living and going with a smile on your face.