Germany Week 18

Tell Jerry Powell "hi" from me too. And that it turns out I didn't really need to practice because the keyboards in our gemeinde play by themselves. :P Nah, I've definitely had to plunk my way through a lot of hymns out here. I hope she's doing well.
My week was good. I've had absolutely no problems getting around on Busses, largely because we almost never take them - the time in the story I told you is the only time I've used one since Elmshorn (And there we only used them once or twice). Here we mostly use our car and our feet, but otherwise we use the trains (When we're going to Osnabrück or Hannover or wherever). And we don't have bikes here.
Last week I bought a charger cable for my camera, which was luckily waay cheaper than I expected, but I haven't really taken pictures yet. Sorry ;P And My Old man hat definitely doesn't have ear flaps - I believe the term "newsies hat" might summon the proper image. Elder and Sister Thom call it an Elder Morris hat, but I don't imagine that'll help you much.
Our Thanksgiving here was fantastic. Sister Thom made a proper thanksgiving meal for us using improper German ingredients. It was suuuper delicious and amazing. I highly recommend Ehepaars. The Osnabrück Elders and the Zone Leaders (with whom we'd just been on Tausch) were there too. It was a real blast. And a particularly nummy blast.
Wednesday after District meeting is when we tausched - So I went up to Oldenburg with Elder Evans and Elder Johnson was in Rheine with Elder Ririe. I had a great time with Elder Evans. He's a really cool guy. First we went to an appointment with a recent convert and talked about patriarchal blessings - she was really cool and really excited about the gospel. Then we rode around on bikes, street contacting. That was not my favorite activity. Add to the stress of talking to people on the street some constant starting and stopping on a bike. And mix in my clumsiness. Then throw in the fact that that seat was really uncomfortable. and that it was too loose and shifted into some really uncomfortable positions.... It was alright though. We actually made out 4 appointments.... Then we went to do some doors. At the first door - well, technically the 2nd door, but the 1st door at which anyone answered- this guy just let us in when we said who we were. It was funny too, because he didn't say "come in" or anything, he just said, "is it alright if we meet in this room downstairs, because I live alone and don't keep the heater on upstairs." We were, of course, willing to oblige. He knew a little about the lifestyle of mormons and had been impressed by their activity in communities and everything, but knew little of our doctrine, but was very interested. He was very sincere and thoughtful and we had a great discussion with him as we taught the first lesson. Then, as we really got to the Book of Mormon, he asked, "So you're saying that this book is good enough, that millions of people have believed it and joined your church? Would you be willing to sell me a copy of this book?" That is one of the best questions someone could possibly ask. We gladly gave it to him for free. They made out an appoinment for a couple weeks, because he wanted time to read it and be prepared for the next meeting. It was super exciting.
So yeah, those were some highlights of the week.
Yesterday was the First Advent, kind of the official beginning of the Christmas season. President Pimentel has also put together a really cool program for December centered around the Advents, concentrated on inviting people to Church, and as always, Finding, Teaching, Baptizing, and Keeping. It's going to be an Advent of Miracles. Yesterday we also got the Ausstellung display for our Gemeinde (I don't remember if I said it before, but the District President liked them so much he ordered one for every ward/branch in the Oldenburg District) Now we've got to call the city governments to find out where we can do it, because the places that we're supposed to have are currently being used for Weihnachtsmarkts.
Weihnachtsmarkts are super cool by the way, and very nummy smelling - they've just started going up the with advent of first Advent. Rheine doesn't seem to have one, which is weird - maybe they'll just put it up later or something? Anyway, I'm getting pretty excited for Christmas.
I'm really excited to be here serving my mission in Germany where the Christmas traditions are so strong - I think it will be a marvelous opportunity to really pay attention to and appreciate the true significance of Christmas - the birth of Jesus Christ, the savior of the world. I know that he did come to the earth, that he is the only begotten of the Father, and that through him we may find everlasting peace and joy. I love you all, and I know this Church is true! Happy Christmas!