"I'll go where you want me to go dear Lord"

Small church, in a small village for the small town folk

Hey Family!!!

Happy 2014! Into the new year we go, great to hear about your holiday break and now back to school and work you go. Fun to hear about your great week and all the fun activities that youve done. We also started off the new year in flying colors and I am not joking about that one. For New Years Eve we had district meeting that morning and great to talk about our favorite scripture stories and relate it with everyones, it was actually really cool how they all related. That night we went to a members house for spend the time with them, play a few games and have a good time. We actually had the opportunity to be out till 12 and be with the family and celebrate the new year. New Years is one of the only times people can buy fireworks here and so do they ever get some fireworks! As the time came and went the whole town went off shooting fireworks, I couldnt believe it! There was so much and everywhere you looked there was smoke and bright colors in the sky! It was fun to be able to experience and then get home safe that night.

Wednesday we got a text from Rita wishing us a new year and also asking if we could come by and pick up some things we had given her for her baptism. She invited us in and we talked for a little while, she explained how she has found peace in her church and would not like further contact. It was pretty heart breaking to hear those words from her mouth as you look over the last few months and the great progress she had made. We bore testimony but you could tell she didnt want to expect it. I must say it was one of my hardest times of my mission, but I found strength and love that God loves everyone of his children and we must understand the great power of agency. That even when people dont expect the truth after they receive it is true we shouldn't like it discourage us because that will weaken our faith. We must trust in the Lord that they are now in his hands and as we pray and have hope for the future, it will work out in His time and His way.

Things are going well with Samra and Marius, we have met with both of them this week. Unfortunately we didnt get to start the stop smoking program with Marius because he left with family for the weekend for the new year. We will have to move his baptism back a few weeks but I know we will get him into the water! Samra is also doing well, I love going there and seeing her scriptures just filled of things marked and notes here and there. She really has gotten into the Book of Mormon, we just need to get her to church more often. She hasnt come for a while and now with the holidays over we can focus better on these people and also finding the ones prepared! We went by the less active family we spent Christmas with and we talk about their son who is 9 who is not baptized yet. There is great potential in this area to grow.

On the subject of this great area of Rosenheim I have some news that we received this week. So this past weekend was transfer calls which we get every 6 weeks. Elder Smith and I were thinking for sure we would stay another one together, one being his 1st little bit here and also you usually stay two together when training. But Saturday morning rolls around and we get an unexpected call from President Miles, he told us that Elder Smith will be staying here and actually be working with Elder Hoggan and one other Elder coming here. Rosenheim will have 3 Elders working all together, they will be busy and have some great work ahead of them. I am so excited for them and the great work they will do here. For me, president has asked me to pack my bags and head off to..... Stuttgart and be a Zone Leader there. We weren't expecting that at all and I didnt think I would be leaving so soon but I am so grateful and humble for this time I have had here in Rosenheim to learn and serve these people here. I know the work will go on and the success will move forward. My new assignment will be a great challenge but a great opportunity to serve the people of Stuttgart. Much faith and trust needed but I know the Lord prepares a way to be successful in all the he calls us to do. We are all called and no calling is greater than another, it is the same work and we are all involved. We are must trust in the Lord because he does in us. The gospel is the answer and path for all, as we live and stay on this path we will gain all we need to serve, and love others and help others return to our Heavenly Father.

I love my family and so grateful for you all! Have a great week as we start this new year!! Love you all.

Much love,

Elder Jerman

ps how was the snow? because we have none here, they have had to put snow on the mountains for skiers, they just do one trail and so its no snow on the sides but fun to see!  We have seem some people with snowboards and skies on trains and just the other night coming back on train we saw a hilll lighted up and people going down! There is no snow on the ground and we are wearing just our white shirts today! its actually not cold at all! We left our apartment this morning with no coat on! Just our white shirts and tie! The sun is shinning 

Thanks for the wishes for the new year and same to you! We really are a blessed family more than we will ever know. Being here I have been humbled to see families in many different situations from moving to a new country and having no job, not much money and not even knowing the language, its neat to see the unity in the family and how important that is. I am so thankful for my family and will ever be grateful for it. 

For me, well I have received a new calling of being zone leader and its great to be at the beginning of this year and taking on this assisgnment. I want to serve the missionaries I have the opportunity to serve and love and learn from them, I want to be an example of Christ that will bring light into their lives and work as a missionary and help them be lifted. It is a great calling but I know with the Lord it is possible.

 Elder Jerman and Elder Smith (using the camera timer) walking up a hill with forest on our sides