October 14. I love the Fall!!!

hey do you know the mission blog address? if not, it'sgermanyberlinmission2012-15.blogspot.com.

There are some pictures there of what's been going on in Berlin anyway... Some updates but not too many. I will try to get more pictures and stuff to you. I am sorry I haven't sent any recently. I can't believe how much less time we've had. I've barely taken any pictures... So I need to get them from everyone else in the district. Oh well.

Somaya and Ben have 4 boys. Suliman is 14 and doesn't know very much english or German so it's kindof hard to teach him. He's sweet though. Sonad is 6 Anas is 4 and Aladin is 4 months old. 
They love having us over but we are having a hard time teaching. I don't think they realize why actually we are here. They did give me a Quran though. Haha I will get pictures to you later. We will be visiting them this week so I will get some. 

Grr. Disgusting politics. I am glad that I don't have to worry about stuff like that right now. 

Yes! The fall is absolutely beautiful in Chemnitz! There is a bus we catch every sunday to go to church and the street is lined with huge oak trees that have turned completely flaming and are shedding their leaves. I will try to send pictures soon. I am getting them from Sister Schmidt later and printing off a bunch today. 

That is so great about Aaron. I remember getting my blessing and not remembering what was said, but the feeling I felt when I received it. I don't think anyone can ever forget that. It's something so special and so wonderful that you don't doubt that the instruction is exactly what God wants to give you. 

Apple cider?!?! Man. I am so jealous. Lumpia?!!?!? Double jealous. I wish we had time to make yummy stuff like that. 

Thank you for feeding the missionaries. Especially Lumpia! Haha you probably do this already...  but DONT make the missionaries eat everything. And don't dish them up. Haha I have had to eat WAY too much food because the members just give it to me. I'm banking on losing 15 pounds by the time I get back to the states. 

Aren't the testaments great?! I am so glad you watched it with them. We have an investigator, Noreen, that loves stuff like that. She will be baptized around Christmastime. She needs the stamp of approval from her parents though. Well... she doesn't NEED it. She wants her parents to be okay with her getting baptized. she is wonderful and has a cute little Doberman pincer named Schneewitschen. (Snow White). Haha 

Have fun in California!!! Say hello to the beach for me!!

haha I knew you would be counting down the fast sundays. I am not sure what's going on with my transfers. I called the office and they told me that my release date was the 29th of July but I'm not sure. I kindof have the feeling I should be home in June? I will probably discuss it with President Kosak later this transfer. We have interviews coming up.

Yeah, actually, I was able to go to the temple this week! I loved it. Remember that time we went to do sealings in the bountiful temple? It was kindof the same as that. It's kindof freaking me out how often I see Justin in my life. But something interesting. Breanna got to talk with Elder Bednar and Justin forwarded me the email his mom sent him with some of the advice Elder Bednar gave Bre. Here's a part of it:

1.  Do not go to school to play the grade game.  Go to class and learn how to learn, not just how to pull an A.  He said too many youth are going into school, only caring about the outcome, they are not learning, gaining knowledge.  They are just cramming to get a grade and then forgetting everything they learned.  He told her to seek knowledge and if she did this in college, she would always have a thirst for knowledge.   

2.  If you are reading the Book of Mormon and find it boring, it is because you do not know the language.  The Book of Mormon has it's own language and you must learn it to enjoy it.  Keep studying and praying and the wonders of the book will open before your eyes and you will love and cherish it. 

3. Do not run from marriage.  Marriage is divine and ordained of God.  Too many women are running from marriage.  It is inappropriate, inexcusable and faithless.  :(  He said some people find their eternal companion their freshman year, some their sr year, and some after they have entered the work force.  The timing is the Lord's.  Do not turn away when you have been given this gift.  Do not create lists to be accomplished before marriage or give the Lord a timetable that you will agree too...

4.  He made her promise that when she finds a boy that she likes and could see a possible/maybe future with him.  No later than the third date, she must promise, to look the boy into his eyes and ask him, "Do you have pornography problem?"  He said, "if he blinks nervously, stares like a deer or stammers even slightly, you RUN and do not look back.  Any man involved in pornography will only bring heartbreak and sorrow."  He said you may think you can help, but you can't. 

I have been trying not to think about it and how close it might be, but it keeps coming up. The big M word anyway. I know I have time. Goodness sakes, I still have a long time in Germany! But the more I serve out here, the more I want a family that is strong rooted in the gospel. I see examples of it in the wards I'm in, with the families I work with and the attributes of the wonderful missionaries around me. 

So who know's if it will be Justin or not, but the more I try not to think about it, the more prominent it becomes. I realize my role more and more. In the home, in the church, everything is coming into place and I don't know what to really think about it.

That is really neat about Elder Curbridge and what he talked about. I have noticed that, too. When we use uplifting language, we are happier, more focused on our strengths and more willing and able to serve others. Scripture study is awesome. We are reading the Book of Mormon as a mission before Christmas with a focus on the Atonement. I have way too many thoughts about it to write here, but I become more and more grateful for the Atonement every day and my love for the Savior is growing every single day because I have to USE the Atonement every single day. I feel like my weaknesses are highlighted the more time I spend here. Thank goodness for our Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ who love us more than anything in the entire universe. 

Love you!