Zone Conference...
Well this Zone conference was pretty good. I enjoyed it and I think that President Schwartz took a few things that I said into consideration.
I learned a few more things that we can do with people in regards to contacting (which I still loathe). And I learned some other creative finding techniques which I am half tempted to use.
We found out that Elder D. Todd Christofferson is goong to be in Düsseldorf and we get to have a 2 hour meeting with him! It's actually only for the missionaries in the Düsseldorf and Dortmund zones so its going to be a really small meeting. I am excited for what he has to say.
There was one thing (actually 2) that the Dortmund ZL said that was interesting. He said twice that we just need to forget who we are in the work. I was sitting in the back thinking, "No, thats the opposite from the truth." I didn't say anything but I kinda whished that I did. It's something thats stupidly insignificant so it seems, but out here, it's all about the mindset.
Of course it was fascinating to note how a few of the missionaries got up for the testimony meeting just to suck up and brown nose to President Schwartz. Those kind of things always happen, but I just ignored it. Haha.
I got a few letters, which I am writing drafts for responses and coming up with ideas for what kind of stories I should include.
This week has been so crazy. Mostly just politics/drama. Our district has taken some hard hits with investigators. M'Gladbach had both of their investigators leave them and we have been having a hard time with people progressing. Our investigator (yeah, we have like 1) is really having a hard time right now. Unfortunately, we as missionaries can't do anything for her. She has to make a desicion. Hopefully she makes the right one.
Right well that's about all that happened this week. I feel so burned out, I just want a break. I dont know where I am supposed to find all this energy I need.
Questions!
1. Do school age students wear uniforms to school over there?
No, actually, people working don't usually have a dress code either. Normally they just wear street clothes. It's pretty interesting and informal, unless of course you see a businessman or something.
2. Do they have minivans over there?
Surprisingly yes, but they look like turtles and don't look like American cars. Thats one of the first things I noticed, that German cars look funny. I dont know what American cars look like anymore. Haha.
3. What is your favorite saying in German that you like to use?
Probably "genau" (exactly) or "Das stimmt doch gar nicht!" (That's not true!) I think that with every companion I have been with, I have used a different phrase or saying or movie quote.
4. Do you have any favorite scriptures that you'd like to tell us so we can look them up this week?
5. Do you use a German Preach My Gospel book? Y
eah, I don't use it that often though. I dont' have time to sit and search for what I am looking for. I usually just study in English and when I have a word that I don't know in German, I look it up.
6. Do you have a German set of scriptures that you use everyday?
Yeah actually. I use the Book of Mormon, Pearl of Great Price, and D&C, and a German Bible. I have been using the Martin Luther translation of it. I like it better than the one I got at the MTC. It's the one that Joseph Smith said was the most correct translation. I am still working on getting an older text version which doesnt have any of the revisions that the new one has.
7. How often do you clean your apartment?
Weekly. It usually gets pretty dirty, so we clean it when it gets too unbearable.
8. Do you have a laundry facility in your apartment?
We have a washer in our apartment and a drying rack. That's about it.
9. How many wards are in Wesel?
1.
10. Does your mission president know English? Y
ep, he speaks Denglish all the time though. It's really funny.
Thanks for the good questions this week! Friday is Hump Day!
Elder Trevor Baker
Monday, February 27, 2012
February 20, 2012 Letter to a Family Friend
Here's a letter Trevor sent to us that he's going to send to a family friend we just got back in contact with. He knew Trevor as a little baby in Western Samoa. I just liked the letter so much, that I thought I would post it for all to read. --Kris Baker
I got an email from my dad and he said that you might have some interest in some aspects of mission life out here in Germany.
Well I guess first thing is first, I will let you know about the cities I have been in so far. I have been in Krefeld ( Near Duesseldorf ), Wesel ( Also near Duesseldorf), and Nuermberg. Krefeld and Wesel were nearly completely destroyed during the war so there is not much in respect of historical sites, but they are still really cool cities. Nuermberg was actually Hitler's main city and it was there that he built a massive complex of buildings and an arena. I wish I had some pictures of it. It looks just like Germany should look like. There is even a castle too.
Well the rumor around here goes that Germany is a hard place to serve a mission. Every mission is hard, but I know that Germany is the place for me to be because the trials there are suited perfectly for me and my weaknesses. The Lord really does lead his church by inspired leaders.
As far as "success" goes around here, it is hard to gauge it in terms of the visual "fruits of your labor." The statistic is that out of every 1000 doors knocked, there is a baptism. The way that I measure success is that if I come home from my mission without a single baptism, without a single person that I ever talk to take any steps closer to Christ, and without any recognition or praise, I would still consider it a success under the one condition that I learned something, and made myself a better person by applying what I have learned.
Personally, I have not experienced a baptism of anyone that I have taught. However, there are a couple of people who are ready to be baptized and are working towards it. There is an investigator in Nuermberg named Rebecca. She is 17 and was doimg a report in school on Mormon women. On one Sunday, she just came right into sacrament meeting and asked if she could learn more. We of course said yes and proceeded to teach her the missionary lessons. We had finished with the first three when we asked her about her report. She said that she already finished and was learning more for herself. At this point she was almost done with reading the Book of Mormon. Later we asked her if she had a testimony of the Book of Mormon and I asked her to explain what she felt. She said that she felt relly calm and that it felt nice whenever she thought about it. It is truly amazing the power of prayer that we can recieve answers from our Heavenly Father. She now has a baptismal date on the 18th of February, the day after she turns 18.
There is also an investigator we had in Krefeld who was contacted on the street about a year ago. His name is Eckhardt. He is an older guy but extremely intelligent. I actually couldn't understand him for the first 3 months I met with him because he likes to use really complex German words. Well after about 6 or 7 months, he finally came to church and started making progress. Then once he started progressing, his life went to total chaos. He got evicted, his mother-in-law passed away, he lost his job, and he got really sick. By this time I am in Nuermberg and the Elders lost contact with him for a while. When they finally came back into contact with him, he said that he needs to be baptized. He finally recieved his answer. During this proccess, he said that what the missionaries taught him destroyed every concept of religion that he had before. He said that this isn't just another shallow religion, but that this is what he was searching for. The Elders are setting a date with him as I write this letter!
Of course those kinds of stories are the things that really make it worth it being out here. There are always the punk kids who decide they want to yell "Sect!" at us or even the occasional beer bottle they throw at us. Last week actually there were a bunch of kids that were harrassing us. Nothing came of it, but it does happen. Sometimes we make fun of them by making the situation really awkward for them. Haha, it's great.
With all of the crappy things that can go on here and even having to live with the rules ( some of which I don't like, but I won't go into that), being out here really is the best thing I have ever done. I don't think I can ever say, "Going on a mission was the best thing in my life." But I can say that going on a mission is the best thing I could ever do for my life. It has taught me so much that I could write volumes on what I have gathered. It has taught me what really matters most in life, and it has taught me where I am weak and where I am strong. I have learned how to deal with stress, frustration, and pride. All of these things aside, I have learned most of all about myself. I have learned who I am, where I came from and where I am going.
There is a quote from Truman G. Madsen and it goes
like this:
"One begins mortality with the veil drawn. But slowly he is moved to penetrate the veil within himself. He is, in time, led to seek the Holy of Holies within the temple of his own being."
-Elder Trevor Joseph Baker
I got an email from my dad and he said that you might have some interest in some aspects of mission life out here in Germany.
Well I guess first thing is first, I will let you know about the cities I have been in so far. I have been in Krefeld ( Near Duesseldorf ), Wesel ( Also near Duesseldorf), and Nuermberg. Krefeld and Wesel were nearly completely destroyed during the war so there is not much in respect of historical sites, but they are still really cool cities. Nuermberg was actually Hitler's main city and it was there that he built a massive complex of buildings and an arena. I wish I had some pictures of it. It looks just like Germany should look like. There is even a castle too.
Well the rumor around here goes that Germany is a hard place to serve a mission. Every mission is hard, but I know that Germany is the place for me to be because the trials there are suited perfectly for me and my weaknesses. The Lord really does lead his church by inspired leaders.
As far as "success" goes around here, it is hard to gauge it in terms of the visual "fruits of your labor." The statistic is that out of every 1000 doors knocked, there is a baptism. The way that I measure success is that if I come home from my mission without a single baptism, without a single person that I ever talk to take any steps closer to Christ, and without any recognition or praise, I would still consider it a success under the one condition that I learned something, and made myself a better person by applying what I have learned.
Personally, I have not experienced a baptism of anyone that I have taught. However, there are a couple of people who are ready to be baptized and are working towards it. There is an investigator in Nuermberg named Rebecca. She is 17 and was doimg a report in school on Mormon women. On one Sunday, she just came right into sacrament meeting and asked if she could learn more. We of course said yes and proceeded to teach her the missionary lessons. We had finished with the first three when we asked her about her report. She said that she already finished and was learning more for herself. At this point she was almost done with reading the Book of Mormon. Later we asked her if she had a testimony of the Book of Mormon and I asked her to explain what she felt. She said that she felt relly calm and that it felt nice whenever she thought about it. It is truly amazing the power of prayer that we can recieve answers from our Heavenly Father. She now has a baptismal date on the 18th of February, the day after she turns 18.
There is also an investigator we had in Krefeld who was contacted on the street about a year ago. His name is Eckhardt. He is an older guy but extremely intelligent. I actually couldn't understand him for the first 3 months I met with him because he likes to use really complex German words. Well after about 6 or 7 months, he finally came to church and started making progress. Then once he started progressing, his life went to total chaos. He got evicted, his mother-in-law passed away, he lost his job, and he got really sick. By this time I am in Nuermberg and the Elders lost contact with him for a while. When they finally came back into contact with him, he said that he needs to be baptized. He finally recieved his answer. During this proccess, he said that what the missionaries taught him destroyed every concept of religion that he had before. He said that this isn't just another shallow religion, but that this is what he was searching for. The Elders are setting a date with him as I write this letter!
Of course those kinds of stories are the things that really make it worth it being out here. There are always the punk kids who decide they want to yell "Sect!" at us or even the occasional beer bottle they throw at us. Last week actually there were a bunch of kids that were harrassing us. Nothing came of it, but it does happen. Sometimes we make fun of them by making the situation really awkward for them. Haha, it's great.
With all of the crappy things that can go on here and even having to live with the rules ( some of which I don't like, but I won't go into that), being out here really is the best thing I have ever done. I don't think I can ever say, "Going on a mission was the best thing in my life." But I can say that going on a mission is the best thing I could ever do for my life. It has taught me so much that I could write volumes on what I have gathered. It has taught me what really matters most in life, and it has taught me where I am weak and where I am strong. I have learned how to deal with stress, frustration, and pride. All of these things aside, I have learned most of all about myself. I have learned who I am, where I came from and where I am going.
There is a quote from Truman G. Madsen and it goes
like this:
"One begins mortality with the veil drawn. But slowly he is moved to penetrate the veil within himself. He is, in time, led to seek the Holy of Holies within the temple of his own being."
-Elder Trevor Joseph Baker
Monday, February 20, 2012
February 20, 2012 Guten Morgen
Well hello!
So there are a few things that I thought about during the week that may interest you all. I know I am just about halfway done (and in all reality, with the three weeks being subtracted from transfers, my halfway mark has now gone by.) So anyways, I was wondering if any of you were wanting souveniers. I wasn't going to go out and buy them right away, but if I see something that someone would think is cool, I could pick it up for them. I was thinking scarves. They are about 10 euro each and they sell a bunch of different kinds. I was thinking that I could get a few from the various soccer teams out here. Just about every major city has its own team and they look pretty cool too. Let me know what you think.
I have already started collecting the pins of all the states I have served in... they look way cool. I am pretty sure that I told you that though. Gosh, things seem so repetitive.
Well I found out some more info about the baptism in Nürnberg. Rebecca got baptized on the 18th, and Elder Jongejan baptized her! She actually asked him to baptize her! It's so awesome! I am so pumped for her! I even heard that she brought her family to church, as well. Ahh, it's so cool! Feelings like that make the mission worthwhile!
Things here in Wesel haven't changed since I was last in the district. The same investigators, same hard work. I actually know the missionaries personally who doored out 5/6 of the city itself. It's pretty unbelieveable.
So I am going to send you all the email I am sending to President Schwartz. I feel like It would give you a few insights about how things have been going. Please forgive me for the awful prose. You are free to share it and everything. I spent a while on it, and it would be a shame if my ideas go to waste. I talked with a few of the other missionaries in the district, and they said that I hit the nail on the head.
Now for the questions!
1. What did you have for dinner last night? (Dad's question)
We actually had an eating appointment with the Müller family. We had pancakes. Not just any pancakes, but pancakes with other things on them like meat and cheese and pizza sauce. It was really good. I would suggest finding a different batter recipe though otherwise it would be a little funny for you all. haha.
2. What kind of place do you get your groceries at? (Dad's question)
We shop at a store called REWE. It's pretty cheap, but it gets the job done.
3. Have you gone to any castles yet? (Dad's question)
The only castle I have ever been to was the one in Nürnberg. I took a bunch of pics of it and I think I sent you a few of them.
4. Have you met any of the German aristocracy? (pre Kaiser era) again...(Dad's question)
Uh, what? I know I am supposed to be culturally affluent by now, but I have no idea what you mean... haha
5. Do many people walk around Wesel or do most of them drive?
Everyone walks. The innercity area is always packed.
6. Do you want us to send you our testimonies that you can put into a Book of Mormon? We can include a picture if you want.
I don't know how many people here can speak English... No one that I teach can. Maybe an activity like that would best be served if you gave them to friends back home?
7. Did any funny ladies cut off your tie last week? haha
No. I think it was just blown out of proportion. It was mostly old ladies.
8. Have you driven a car over there yet? (Dad's question)
Nope. The German dirvers are crazy. I kinda dont want to. Haha.
9. Have you gotten any blisters on your feet from walking?
Back in Krefeld. We use a lot of public transportation here.
10. Have your shoes worn out yet?
Nope!
11. Does your mission president have kids? Are they all grown?
I know he has at least 2 sons. I met both of them back in Nürnberg. I played soccer with one of them. Yeah, they are all adults.
12. Are you taking your vitamins?
Yes, kinda. I take them as often as I remember them. Which is often. Don't worry!
13. What are some of your mission rules that you can describe for me?
My favorite one is: Don't be stupid.
14. Did you get any new rules when you got your new mission president?
Mostly it was just a change of policy. He reviewed the previous rules and decided whether or not he liked them. Most of them just stayed the same.
15. Have you gotten sick since you've been on your mission?
Like once in Nürnberg. I will attribute that to the weather at that time.
16. Are you happy? control your gushing, please--lol
Haha, yes I am. We all have ups and downs. It's funny, most people think that missionaries are like robots whereas the weather, work conditions or anything else doesn't affect them. It does actually. Haha.
(Katie´s)
What do you eat on a regular basis?
...Rice... Vegetables... and Döners. Google it.
Like what do you normally have for breakfast, lunch, dinner?
breakfast=oatmeal lunch=rice or pasta dinner=whatever is left around the house!
How many missionaries cover an area?
Usually only 2.
Are there more than one set of missionaries in one ward or is it one set per town?
It's just one set per city. Except for some of the bigger ones. They have sisters there.
And if there are more wards than sets of missionaries, where do you go to church on Sunday?
We go to the closest one.
Do you talk to your neighbors in you apartment?
Not unless we need something. Like a key for the basement.
How has your testimony been strengthened by serving a mission?
By scripture study and the application of the principles of the gospel.
When/who decides when you go on splits with other elders?
The district leader does and sometimes if you are in a leadership position, the zone leaders will organize one.
Thanks for all the questions and I look forward to talking with you on Mother's Day (it's coming... soon... haha)
Elder Trevor Baker
So there are a few things that I thought about during the week that may interest you all. I know I am just about halfway done (and in all reality, with the three weeks being subtracted from transfers, my halfway mark has now gone by.) So anyways, I was wondering if any of you were wanting souveniers. I wasn't going to go out and buy them right away, but if I see something that someone would think is cool, I could pick it up for them. I was thinking scarves. They are about 10 euro each and they sell a bunch of different kinds. I was thinking that I could get a few from the various soccer teams out here. Just about every major city has its own team and they look pretty cool too. Let me know what you think.
I have already started collecting the pins of all the states I have served in... they look way cool. I am pretty sure that I told you that though. Gosh, things seem so repetitive.
Well I found out some more info about the baptism in Nürnberg. Rebecca got baptized on the 18th, and Elder Jongejan baptized her! She actually asked him to baptize her! It's so awesome! I am so pumped for her! I even heard that she brought her family to church, as well. Ahh, it's so cool! Feelings like that make the mission worthwhile!
Things here in Wesel haven't changed since I was last in the district. The same investigators, same hard work. I actually know the missionaries personally who doored out 5/6 of the city itself. It's pretty unbelieveable.
So I am going to send you all the email I am sending to President Schwartz. I feel like It would give you a few insights about how things have been going. Please forgive me for the awful prose. You are free to share it and everything. I spent a while on it, and it would be a shame if my ideas go to waste. I talked with a few of the other missionaries in the district, and they said that I hit the nail on the head.
Now for the questions!
1. What did you have for dinner last night? (Dad's question)
We actually had an eating appointment with the Müller family. We had pancakes. Not just any pancakes, but pancakes with other things on them like meat and cheese and pizza sauce. It was really good. I would suggest finding a different batter recipe though otherwise it would be a little funny for you all. haha.
2. What kind of place do you get your groceries at? (Dad's question)
We shop at a store called REWE. It's pretty cheap, but it gets the job done.
3. Have you gone to any castles yet? (Dad's question)
The only castle I have ever been to was the one in Nürnberg. I took a bunch of pics of it and I think I sent you a few of them.
4. Have you met any of the German aristocracy? (pre Kaiser era) again...(Dad's question)
Uh, what? I know I am supposed to be culturally affluent by now, but I have no idea what you mean... haha
5. Do many people walk around Wesel or do most of them drive?
Everyone walks. The innercity area is always packed.
6. Do you want us to send you our testimonies that you can put into a Book of Mormon? We can include a picture if you want.
I don't know how many people here can speak English... No one that I teach can. Maybe an activity like that would best be served if you gave them to friends back home?
7. Did any funny ladies cut off your tie last week? haha
No. I think it was just blown out of proportion. It was mostly old ladies.
8. Have you driven a car over there yet? (Dad's question)
Nope. The German dirvers are crazy. I kinda dont want to. Haha.
9. Have you gotten any blisters on your feet from walking?
Back in Krefeld. We use a lot of public transportation here.
10. Have your shoes worn out yet?
Nope!
11. Does your mission president have kids? Are they all grown?
I know he has at least 2 sons. I met both of them back in Nürnberg. I played soccer with one of them. Yeah, they are all adults.
12. Are you taking your vitamins?
Yes, kinda. I take them as often as I remember them. Which is often. Don't worry!
13. What are some of your mission rules that you can describe for me?
My favorite one is: Don't be stupid.
14. Did you get any new rules when you got your new mission president?
Mostly it was just a change of policy. He reviewed the previous rules and decided whether or not he liked them. Most of them just stayed the same.
15. Have you gotten sick since you've been on your mission?
Like once in Nürnberg. I will attribute that to the weather at that time.
16. Are you happy? control your gushing, please--lol
Haha, yes I am. We all have ups and downs. It's funny, most people think that missionaries are like robots whereas the weather, work conditions or anything else doesn't affect them. It does actually. Haha.
(Katie´s)
What do you eat on a regular basis?
...Rice... Vegetables... and Döners. Google it.
Like what do you normally have for breakfast, lunch, dinner?
breakfast=oatmeal lunch=rice or pasta dinner=whatever is left around the house!
How many missionaries cover an area?
Usually only 2.
Are there more than one set of missionaries in one ward or is it one set per town?
It's just one set per city. Except for some of the bigger ones. They have sisters there.
And if there are more wards than sets of missionaries, where do you go to church on Sunday?
We go to the closest one.
Do you talk to your neighbors in you apartment?
Not unless we need something. Like a key for the basement.
How has your testimony been strengthened by serving a mission?
By scripture study and the application of the principles of the gospel.
When/who decides when you go on splits with other elders?
The district leader does and sometimes if you are in a leadership position, the zone leaders will organize one.
Thanks for all the questions and I look forward to talking with you on Mother's Day (it's coming... soon... haha)
Elder Trevor Baker
Monday, February 13, 2012
February 13, 2012 Weeks are flying by!
Wow, another week has just gone by. These things honestly go faster and faster with each passing week. Actually, in just a little over 2 weeks, I will hit my year mark of being on a mission. It is crazy.
There hasn't been anything this week in terms of awesome stories. Just the usual, fallen out appointments, and meeting with the same people. I did, however, have an eating appointment yesterday and had a great time. The ward mission leader invited us over and we had ward correlation meeting or whatever it's called in English. Then we had a really good lunch and played a game. I think we spent a total of 3 hours there. Haha.
Despite the lack of cool stories, I do have a couple of cool quotes. I was listening to a talk from Neal A. Maxwell about spiritual ecology. He talked about how sinning is comparable to the strip mining in West Virginia that leaves the landscape scarred and someone else to clean it up. It was really eye opening... or rather mind opening.
I also listened to a few talks from Hugh B. Brown, about America of course, and about honesty. He said, "Sin has many tools, but a lie is a handle that fits them all." And that is so true. He also said, "Profainty in my opinion, is an evidence of poverty of intellect."
I have been learning a lot (I say this a lot) about people out here. It's so fascinating. Learning how people tick is one of those things that help later on in life, so I have come to find out.
So now for questions! I really like these ones this week.
Who cuts your hair?
That changes in just about every area I am in. I will either find a member who can cut hair (Nürnberg), or I will bum some hair clippers from my comp or the apartment and do it myself.
Do you wear a hat outside?
When it gets really cold, I just wear my beanie. It helps out so much, usually on the 40 minute walk to church on Sundays. The wind gets going and it tears my face up. I look like an Eskimo or something.
What is your favorite tie?
My black one. It never gets stains on it! It's polyester too so it doesn't start to sag like the silk ones.
Are you tired of wearing your black suits yet?
...Yes. You were right.
Do you need anything?
No, if I ever really need anything, I can get it here. Money would be nice, but of course, I am not going to be pushy about it. It's already expenisve for me to just be here.
Do you have a pillow? (I have to ask that now that I know you didn't have a pillow for what, four months?)
Yeah I do, but its pretty gross, so I put 2 pillowcases on it. Haha.
Do I need to ask if you have a blanket? haha
No.
How long has your companion been out?
He is one transfer older than me or in other words, a little over a year.
What is your companion like? (Katie's question)
The only word I can think of is loud.
What has been your favorite place to live? (Dad's question)
There are things that I like about every place. I can't really nail down one specific area that I like the most.
What stage of culture shock are you in? --Honeymoon, Hostility, Humor, or Home
Definitely home. I sometimes catch myself getting into a routine (such as a bad habit) and not noticing it for a while.
What are common first names for people in Germany?
Müller or Hanz. Those are the first that come to mind.
Are your church meetings all in German?
Yep, every single one.
What are the names of the districts in your mission?
The only one that I know of is the Duisburg district. I don't think they all have names or if Nürnberg had a name...
What cities are in your district?
Krefeld, Wesel, Mönchengladbach, and Duisburg.
Who is your district leader?
Elder Bullard--he is a huge ginger.
Who are the missionaries in your district?
There is me, Elder Baum, Elder Bennet, Elder Bullard, Elder Hall, Elder Hardwick, Elder Metcalf, and Elder Rampton. I didn't mean to put them in alphabetical order; it just happened like that. Hahah.
Does your mission president have any notable sayings or quotes that he always tells you?
Yes, "Wir müssen "outside of the box" denken. You can just google translate that one. It would be funnier than if I explained it. Haha. Or, "Ich habe es gevideotaped."
There hasn't been anything this week in terms of awesome stories. Just the usual, fallen out appointments, and meeting with the same people. I did, however, have an eating appointment yesterday and had a great time. The ward mission leader invited us over and we had ward correlation meeting or whatever it's called in English. Then we had a really good lunch and played a game. I think we spent a total of 3 hours there. Haha.
Despite the lack of cool stories, I do have a couple of cool quotes. I was listening to a talk from Neal A. Maxwell about spiritual ecology. He talked about how sinning is comparable to the strip mining in West Virginia that leaves the landscape scarred and someone else to clean it up. It was really eye opening... or rather mind opening.
I also listened to a few talks from Hugh B. Brown, about America of course, and about honesty. He said, "Sin has many tools, but a lie is a handle that fits them all." And that is so true. He also said, "Profainty in my opinion, is an evidence of poverty of intellect."
I have been learning a lot (I say this a lot) about people out here. It's so fascinating. Learning how people tick is one of those things that help later on in life, so I have come to find out.
So now for questions! I really like these ones this week.
Who cuts your hair?
That changes in just about every area I am in. I will either find a member who can cut hair (Nürnberg), or I will bum some hair clippers from my comp or the apartment and do it myself.
Do you wear a hat outside?
When it gets really cold, I just wear my beanie. It helps out so much, usually on the 40 minute walk to church on Sundays. The wind gets going and it tears my face up. I look like an Eskimo or something.
What is your favorite tie?
My black one. It never gets stains on it! It's polyester too so it doesn't start to sag like the silk ones.
Are you tired of wearing your black suits yet?
...Yes. You were right.
Do you need anything?
No, if I ever really need anything, I can get it here. Money would be nice, but of course, I am not going to be pushy about it. It's already expenisve for me to just be here.
Do you have a pillow? (I have to ask that now that I know you didn't have a pillow for what, four months?)
Yeah I do, but its pretty gross, so I put 2 pillowcases on it. Haha.
Do I need to ask if you have a blanket? haha
No.
How long has your companion been out?
He is one transfer older than me or in other words, a little over a year.
What is your companion like? (Katie's question)
The only word I can think of is loud.
What has been your favorite place to live? (Dad's question)
There are things that I like about every place. I can't really nail down one specific area that I like the most.
What stage of culture shock are you in? --Honeymoon, Hostility, Humor, or Home
Definitely home. I sometimes catch myself getting into a routine (such as a bad habit) and not noticing it for a while.
What are common first names for people in Germany?
Müller or Hanz. Those are the first that come to mind.
Are your church meetings all in German?
Yep, every single one.
What are the names of the districts in your mission?
The only one that I know of is the Duisburg district. I don't think they all have names or if Nürnberg had a name...
What cities are in your district?
Krefeld, Wesel, Mönchengladbach, and Duisburg.
Who is your district leader?
Elder Bullard--he is a huge ginger.
Who are the missionaries in your district?
There is me, Elder Baum, Elder Bennet, Elder Bullard, Elder Hall, Elder Hardwick, Elder Metcalf, and Elder Rampton. I didn't mean to put them in alphabetical order; it just happened like that. Hahah.
Does your mission president have any notable sayings or quotes that he always tells you?
Yes, "Wir müssen "outside of the box" denken. You can just google translate that one. It would be funnier than if I explained it. Haha. Or, "Ich habe es gevideotaped."
Thursday, February 9, 2012
February 6, 2012 Long letter with lots of info!
So this past week has been pretty fun. Can you believe that I have been out for 11 months?! It really feels like just a couple of months ago, I was stepping on that plane to Salt Lake City...
Well anyways, this week we got a call from a member of the branch presidency asking if we can come to the church to translate English for some people who would be setting up a computer.
We were told to meet there at noon, but the morning of, we get a call saying that they are already at the church. At this point its 11am. We haven't left the apartment yet, and it takes us 40 minites to walk to the church or we take a bus in 30 minutes and ride it for 20. -.-
Well to our luck, the branch presidency member was on his way and said that he would pick us up. Fastforward, we finally get to the church and the senior couple are setting up the computer. Now it's time to set up the internet! Yay!
We all know how complicated it is to set up internet and install the drivers for the wireless USB adapter---especially for a church owned computer. So anyways, after we call a computer tech in England, we get it all sorted out. (For all the techies out there--- the problem was that we were logged in as a patron and not as an administrator.)
What was interesting was the hour long conversation with the member from England. We talked about where we were from and as we all know, Laie Hawaii comes up. (I swear, every story starts like this..) He was living with a bishop of one of the wards out there on the Point. We talked about all the local commodities and such and had a pretty good time. He said he was working for one of the hospitals there doing something for information tech in about 2001.
He also told me he lived in Mesa, AZ for a while (where his wife is from). I didn't ask where exactly though.
SO thats the most interesting story of the week. Small world, especially when you are Mormon and from Laie. And awesome, can't forget that too.
So I guess I have some goals for this upcoming transfer. Probably the biggest one is that I want to get better at planning. I have started to get better at planning already this transfer. I have also been getting better at writing everything down.
Well a couple of statistics here... It's about -8 to -10 degrees Celcius here every day now and when the wind picks up, it's straight miserable. I never thought my ears could get so cold! I think it's taking a toll on the skin on my face too. Every time I walk into an appointment, people say, "Woah, your face is red!"
Well we got transfer calls (Again! these things are flying by so fast, and it's something for which I am grateful. I am going to be staying in Wesel with Elder Baum for another transfer. It's a good thing in my opinion for both of us; we both could use a little stretching.
I am in the process of sending some stuff home. Probably a Bible by book rate so it's really cheap and my huge coat. Just a heads up.
And I promise that I am working on thank you notes for the stuff I got for Christmas! I got them a couple of weeks ago, so I am trying to work out the resposnes. Thanks again for everyone sending me stuff!
Let's see, thats about it in Wesel. We still have the same 2 or 3 investigators that aren't progressing but want to. It's a long drawn out story that I will have to save for when I get home. But at least they have the desire, even if it doesn't override the laziness for lack of a better term.
Also, on Friday, we were going to an appointment in Kleve (1 and 1/2 hours away) and to get to his house (in the freezing snow) and found out he wasn't there. Great so to get back, we are supposed to catch a bus back to Emmerich and then a train to Wesel. We are about to board the bus and they decide to switch drivers which took way longer than it needed to.(trust me this is relevant) and we leave 5 to 10 minutes late.
So we finally get to Emmerich to catch our train (which we thought had left) and we see it sitting there. So we run. We run all the way to the door and when we got 10 feet from the door, the train starts to move and leave. The train comes once an hour :(
We call that lost in the Deutche Bahn game.
So we go to our next appointment (which is on the other side of our area only to find out that she isn't there. Aweseome. Then we have to run to take a bus back to the train station in order to get to our Bible group later that night. We make it thankfully and have a good rest of the evening.
So yeah, that was Friday. I am probably meant to take a lesson in patience.
So if you can tell, this email is a little scatterbrained. It may be because I have started to take down notes of everything cool that happened.
Well, I appreciate al of the support you all give me. It's really nice to hear words of encouragement. That's some of the best encouragement there is. (Especially when the only thing on your mind is girls. It's getting worse, but I hear that's normal. Haha)
So for some questions...(Mom sent these for Trevor to answer).
Are you still living under a Gamestop store or was that your last area? (the irony kills me!)
Yes, I see advertisements for all the new games that come out. I even asked when Mass Effect 3 comes out... haha. March 9th in Germany...
Do they do anything over there for Valnetine's Day? I mean they have the best chocolate, so they should capitalize on it! haha
Well they have something called Karneval, which is mardi gras except its celebrated everywhere. They have a tradition that goes with it that girls run around and cut off ties and kiss whoever they cut ties off of. I find it ironic. President Scwartz said that it would be an opportunity to get rid of a few old ties. haha
Where did you say Elder Baum is from?
He is from West Valley Utah.
Did you and Elder Mayle get to go to the baptism in Krefeld? I think that would be SO cool for you to be able to do!!!
I will have to ask. But I think we will be able to go.
Is Elder Mayle your district leader or zone leader or what? Has he trained anyone since you?
No, he is just a regular missionary now. He likes it better.
What has been the hardest thing? (besides missing me, of course! lol)
Excercise--not running. Gosh, it kills me.
What things have surprised you about living in Germany?
How much its like America, just with a different language. And of course the random cultural oddities.
Would you like to live in Germany again someday after your mission?
That depends... I love America too much.
How old do you have to be to get a driver's license over there?
18
Have you made anymore fabulous culinary creations like the Krefelder Kraken?
Sadly no. BUT I want to make the Wesel Valkyrie which is just another name for the Kraken.
How many people live in Wesel? (I want more pictures of the place. It sounds pretty)
60,000 people.
What were you drinking in the cup you were holding in your picture you sent last week?
Haha, water.
Well thanks for the emails and I will catch you all next week!
By the way, I loved the questions!
Elder Trevor Baker
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