WEEK 9-28-15

Hey Family,

So as you can read from the title, we had a lot of fallen out appointments.  We have had almost no lessons with friends this week.

So that gave us a lot of time to get to know the area more.  I was also on an Exchange twice this week and we were able to visit a district meeting in a city called Lübeck this week.  It was actually pretty cool. Because it is the city where my trainer served for a good chunk of his mission.  It was a gorgeous city.  And on one of these exchanges, we were in a small city called Neumünster. It is actually really funny, we had like no success there.  Everyone kept saying no and there were not that many people to begin with.  If we saw anyone in our sight, we would talk to them.  We even did the old fashion approach of going door to door.  And after every slammed door in our face (a one man who wanted to invite us to his church) we made our way back to the apartment. It was not a fun experience but I kept thinking during this whole time (this has to be like a Mormon Message type of thing). It was actually really cool, as we were walking back to the train station to meet with the other missionaries, we happen to talk to one of the last people on the road and he had interest! So the missionaries will be able to meet with him this upcoming week.

Something that has really helped me to stay occupied and to keep me busy is setting small goals for the day.  Of course, I have big long term goals, like what I would like to study and what I want to do.

But with these small tiny daily goals, that is really where I can keep my mind focused on my goal.  Like for example, we try to always find someone new each day who would have interest in learning more about the gospel. Somedays we do not find anyone,  but that doesnt stop me from being focused on my goal and that day goes by really fast and at the end of the day, I am mostly super exhausted.  But in a good way.

So if you feel like you need some help on the daily tasks and what not, try setting daily goals.  And they can stem from more long term goals.  Also mom what is really going to help is daily reading in the scriptures and if you can get everyone around, to really hold a family home evening.  I have seen that those are the big points that are helping some of the greatest families I have seen out on my mission. 

Well, I got to go.  We are teaching a German class here in Kiel and so we have that after this.  I love you all and now that I sent pictures, I hope I can get some pictures in return! 

Love

Elder Bretzing

P.s. So have you figured out the whole trip yet? It sounds like things are started to be set in stone or something. It would be nice to know what you are planning on doing. But if not, no worries.  I'll keep doing what I have been doing.

Little Elders still enjoying a fast car or two

 

WEEK 9-21-15

Hey Family, 

Well this week has been really exciting.  Lets start with how the beginning of the week went. 

I met my new companion, Elder Morton, at the Hamburg Main Trainstation.  Elder Morton is from Sandy, Utah.  He is actually really cool.  We really hit it off with each other  the first time.

I knew him a little before  from other events in the mission so I am excited to work with him. It was actually really funny, because everyone that comes from the Zone in Kiel will all come down to Hamburg during transfers, so we got to have a train ride all the way up together.  From what he has told me, we have alot of work to do and that things are starting to look up. And we sure did see some miracles this past week.

Ok, so Kiel... Well, it has rained everyday since I have been here.  I have seen the sun for only 2 hours total.  It is super cold up here and it is a beach city which is a major plus and I am super grateful for Heavenly Father sending me here when it is cold so I cannot waste time at the beach.  I have not seen it yet but I have heard it is really cool.

The ward is also a little different.  It is smaller and there was a branch nearby that was closed down so we have people who live in Kiel and people who live in an area called Rensburg.  But as I was sitting at church this sunday, my first sunday here in Kiel, I remember feeling nervous.  And during sacrament, I had this immense feeling that God is very mindful of why I am here and it was almost like  "Hey get to know everyone here and help them!" So we made out alot of appointments with the bishop, ward mission leader, and other people.

So we are getting to work.

Ok Miracles, so I do not have too much time, I am actually finishing my emails at an McDonalds because they has wifi and we are watiting to go on an exchange with some missionaries.  But, we have seen soo many miracles.  Through talking with people on the buses, we have found 2 families that are super interesting in learning more about he gospel and about family home evening and how they can have one.  So this week we have return appointments to teach them a little more.  We also have some really cool friends of ours that I still do not know all their names but I will get to know them!

But everything is off to a wonderful start! I am excited for it!

Ok, now with the things going on at home.  What legal things are going on? Do I even want to know? Is it about dad? And that was a big schock about Jeff and Nadine.  But it sounds like he has his head on right if he is looking for a better job.  When I read that, I kind of just looked up from my ipad and said, ok looks like there is another little neice/nephew that will be waiting for me at home.  But I am excited to get to know him/her. 

Well, I love you all!

Elder Bretzing

WEEK 9-14-15 TRANSFERS

Hey Family, 

Well the day has finally arrived.  I have been transferred from Hamburg!  I am going to a city called Kiel!  It is more north and from what I have heard it is like a beach city.  I am excited but it is hard to leave Hamburg.  I have been here for so long it feels like my home.  It is weird to think that I have spent almost 8 months here in Hamburg.  But I have good feelings about Kiel.  My new companions name is Elder Morton.  He is a missionary with alot of energy so I am excited about that. 

So this week was a lot of saying goodbye.  Goodbyes are always hard but I know that our relationship will stay strong.  But let me tell you a little bit about this week: 

So this week in Hamburg, we had an event called "Die Nacht der Kirchen" (night of the churches) and it is a religious event where all the churches in Hamburg open their doors after their service and they allow anyone to come and see their church.  So those who want to see the churches, they are more than welcome to come and see.  Well, here in Hamburg, we are NOT allowed to participate in that.  The committee who runs it here in Hamburg tells us that we are considered "non Christians" (Which is balony) and so we are not able to participate in this event.  However, we decided that we wanted to participate and do our thing as well.  So we had a "Open House" during this time.  We just told everyone that it is not called "Die Nacht der Kirchen" but we are having an open house.  And we gave about 4 tours!  And they were some big groups of people.  It was a really cool experience.  You know, alot of people do not like to talk about religion with us on the street, but they are interested to have a tour of the building and see what is going on.  I tell you, it was really cool.  And we had members there with us and it was such a great event.  It does not sound like a lot with 4 groups but we were so happy that people just showed up.   

It is also very weird to think that it has almost been one year since the passing of grandma.  I hope everything is going ok back at home.  It has really helped me to keep going as I have been improving my prayers.  So that is where my strength has come.  I know that there have been days where I did not even feel like getting up from the prayer position, but we are not alone when it comes to our burdens and hardships.  And lately, I have had a major focus on improving my early morning and evening prayers.  That is where is my strength comes from.  I know that someone is lifting me up and helping get on my feet.  But that continues to come as we do the things and have the desire to follow the Lord and His counsel.  

Ok, so to answer questions:  No, I have not received an email from Jeff yet but tell him to send that.  I evaluated that picture that you sent me and I saw a baby photo in the background of a ultrasound, but that is from Chad, right?  Anyways, some clarification is needed there.

 

Well, I love you all family and I hope that everything is well.  I will send you my address next week in Kiel.  And wish me luck that when I see the beach I dont become a beach bum!

 

Love,

Elder Bretzing

WEEK 9-7-2015 SHORTEST MISSIONARY LETTER TO DATE

Hello Family:

Ok do not be mad at me but I had no time this week to write emails.

But I still love you and miss you. I hope all the photos made up for the loss. I am still alive and everything is ok. Transfer are coming up and I do not know what will happen but we will find out next week! 

Foster is doing great and we are super excited to work with him. His next goal is to go to the temple we are going to help him out with that!

Love you all!

With love,

Elder Bretzing