June 18, 2012 Fit Transfer

Well, I think we are somewhere in week 3 in this transfer. Already! Its crazy how fast things are going around here.

So Elder Johnson and I are starting a new workout program and diet. And as of 1 week, I have started to get a bit of room in my suit pants and I have lost about 3 kilos. I know it sounds like a lot, but it's been great. I have been getting up in the morning to work out, and we eat more whole foods with equal amounts of protein, carbs, and veggies. It consists of about 5 smaller meals a day. 2 of them are snacks that hold us over until the larger meals. Then we stop eating 3 hours before we go to sleep. It's been great. I haven't been tired during the day at all, and I am back down to 185 ish.  This week we are starting to work out a little bit more. Last week was a bit of a easing into the diet and exercise. It's been good.

As far as missionary work is concerned, we have had a lot of success with the day of invitation. We contacted about 70 less actives in one day. Most of them even wanted to come more regularly, too! It was a great experience.

Investigators are progressing slowly which is good. Looking back at where they started, its a miracle they made it so far. We are almost there!

I hope you liked my pics!

1.  Have you made any embarrassing mistakes in your German yet? 

Yeah, all the time. I can't think of anything in particular, but it happens a lot. 

2.  Do they have Father's Day in Germany? 

I never heard anything about it. So probably not. 

3.  Do the French speaking missionaries come over to teach the people in your area? 

I haven't seen them since the last time they came, and that was about a couple weeks ago.

4.  How are your pointy shoes? 

Still pointy!

5.  Have you made any new baking creations lately? 

Peanut butter cookies. It's 1 cup of peanut butter, 1 cup of sugar, and one egg. That's it. I can't eat too many of them cause I would get way too fat.

6.  Did Elder Mayle go home already? 

He goes home in 4 weeks! It's so crazy, he called me last night.

7.  How do you say, "Have a great week!" in German? 

Schönen Woche noch! 

8.  If someone sends you a letter to the mission home, do you ever get it? (Brother Tinkham is sending you one.) 

Yeah, but it takes forever. I got like 3 letters from him during transfers. The problem is I don't have time to write letters! 

9.  What fun things are you going to do on your p-day this week? 

Well, we have Zone Conference. I get to have an interview with president, too. I haven't seen him in about 5 months.

10.  Have you had any zone conferences or district conferences lately? 

District meetings are every week usually Tuesday. Zone Conference is next week.

11.  Will you send me some pics of you and your new companion soon? 

yeah, I will get those done so you can put it on the blog.

12.  Have you heard from Sean lately?  

yeah, actually, he emails me pretty regularly every week. He is doing great at his job and is keeping himself busy.

13.  Have you guessed yet where Carissa is going???? 

To be honest, I just looked at the bottom of the email. haha.

Well have a great week, I love you guys, and the pictures looked great!

-- 
Elder Trevor Joseph Baker

June 11, 2012 German Language Progressing!

Well, a new transfer. Transfer 11. I turn 21 in this transfer.


I got a really nice compliment from Sister Niesen today. She asked me where I learned how to speak such good German. I have been getting that compliment a lot lately. So talk about a energy boost. My companion actually said the same thing like 2 days ago. I think I finally have the language under control!


Progress with investigators is slow as always, but it's slowly moving forward.


In the case of less actives, we have made significant spade work with the day of invitations on Sat. The high Council and some people from the stake came and we visited around 100 less actives. We came into contact with a lot of them and are now in the process of compiling all the data so we can update the lists. There are of course people who don't want to be bothered and have asked for their names to be removed, but things like that happen.


Yeah, other than that, this week has been packed full of riding in trains getting to district meeting, going by less actives, and having a few appointments with our main investigators. It's been rather busy, but that's good.


1.  How is your new companion?  What's he like? 

My new comp is pretty cool. He just came from Wetzlar. He is a pretty big guy, he used to play football for college in Utah. For the life of me, I can't remember what school it was.

2.  Where is he from, etc.? 

He is from Bountiful. Überfluß in German. He also says that I am the fact master. I have a fact apparently for everything.

3.  What do you think you will do to celebrate your birthday??? Spaghetti Eis again? 

I will probably drop it somewhere in the ward so some members will take the hint. If they don't take it, I will check out some other options. I think its on a Sunday this year. Maybe I will take a nap for my birthday. That would be nice...

4.  We are reading in The Book of Mormon, too.  We are finishing 2nd Nephi again.  Where are you at now? 

Oh man, probably around 2nd Nephi. The Book of Mormon challenge is beating me up right now.

5.  Who drew the tree of life chalk drawing?  That was so cool! 

That was Elder Romriel. I don't even know where he is right now. He was in Bitburg at the time.

9.  Do you speak or hear French very much where you are at now? 

Yeah, like on a daily basis. I can only say a couple sentences in French now. Like, "I don't speak French."

10.  Do you think Emma should take French or German or Spanish or Latin at Butler next year?  

In my opinion, she should take German. I am debating right now on whether I want to buy some Latin learning materials in German so I can start learning Latin. I feel like German and Latin are big stepping stones if she wants to study other languages. I would take German over Latin of course, but my perspective is a little skewed. :)

Well, I gotta go and email president. Love you and have a great week!

-- 
Elder Trevor Joseph Baker

Kirche Jesu Christi
Germany Frankfurt Mission
Corneliusstrasse 18
60325 Frankfurt am Main
Germany

June 4, 2012 Transfer 11!

Well let's see.


Transfer 10 is over. I am now in transfer 11. Sick!


So this week has been super busy. We got transfer calls, and I am staying and Elder Wilkinson is leaving. I am getting Elder Johnson, Elder Garlick´s companion from the MTC.


I spent a good amount of money on souveniers in Idar Oberstein today so I may need an advance payment on my birthday present. I bought a Stein, a german beer mug with a lid and a pin of Idar Oberstein´s city crest. My church shoes fell apart so I needed to buy a new pair, which look really good by the way. They are really pointy. Haha. I also bought some of the cologne that I have had my eye on for the past 6 months. Or rather my nose on. So yeah. Money would be nice.


Something kinda not good happened today, but please don't freak out. I was walking up to the castle in Idar Oberstein and I felt a jolt of pain in my right knee. I am not sure what it was but it happened a couple of times today. I am keeping a really close eye on it and I am also going to let president know about it. I am not sure what it is, but I hope it's not serious. I will let you know if anything happens, but for now, please don't worry about it.


I feel like I am finally comfortable with the language! It's cool. So that's one step.


1.  Did you find out about transfers? 

Yep, I am staying and Elder Wilkinson is going to Darmstadt to work with a new missionary.

2.  What was the best thing that happened this week? 

Elder Wilkinson got transferred. Haha. Just kidding. I got some peanut butter and brown sugar from the Elders in Bitburg. That was nice.

3.  Did you go anywhere fun for p-day last week? 

We finally went to Idar Oberstein. I will send pics in a minute.

4.  Are you teaching anyone right now? 

Yeah, we are still teaching our main pool of investigators plus a couple new ones. Please forgive me for not talking about them much. I don't really feel comfortable using names or specific problems and challenges that they have. It just feels wierd.

5.  How often do you go knocking on doors to find investigators? 

Hah, not very often. We have plenty to keep us busy working with the ward.

6.  What are you studying right now in your personal scripture study? 

I am trying to get through the Book of Mormon right now. It's slow work. Haha.

7.  Did you get a chance to check out the new Bible videos the church has made?

No, I haven't. Wait, I saw one or two after General Conference. They were really well done. I liked them.  I don't have time throughout the week to check them out, but I can look at them on Pday. I don't use the internet much for proselytizing. 

Well. I am sending pics. Have a great week!
-- 
Elder Trevor Joseph Baker