Germany Week 92

Oh the ridiculosity!

You know what was super crazy? On Wednesday at district meeting we witnessed what I like to call the "death throes" of Elder Sullivan. He gave a Thema at his last district meeting. It's so weird that he's going home. Having someone that you went into the MTC with go home. It's even weirder for Elder Olson since he was his companion there. Our whole group got automatically extended, but Elder Sullivan removed the extension so he can start right up with school when he gets home. I'm totally geeking out about it. After district meeting, the district went to McDonald's but we didn't order anything and went to Burger King instead. It was totally worth it.

 The next day was also pretty close to the top of my crazy list. Last week Saturday we got a call from the APs that we would be spending our Thursday driving to Berlin to get our tires rotated. Yeah, baby. It was exciting to have another crazy road trip, but it was also super unfortunate because that's the only day we usually have appointments and we had to cancel them. The drive itself was actually really stressful for me - just being nervous on the freeway, and especially once we were driving around in the dead center of Berlin and our Navi couldn't find the address of the church. We somehow managed to get there safe and sound. Then we stood there for about 15 minutes talking to an Ehepaar (married couple) that was there while they did the car maintenance, and then we got to leave. Totally not worth the three hour drive. It was also pretty disheartening because I knew a few good friends were like twenty feet away from me in the Leadership training meeting that was going on, but I couldn't just barge in there to say hello. Then once we were a little ausserhalb (outside) Berlin we pulled in and ate Burger King for the second day in a row. Welcome to America! When we got home we blitzed some neighborhoods in Halberstadt with the rest of our brochures. That was nice to feel like we'd done something at the end of the day. Overall though, we were both pretty irritable - the day (aka the drive) had been tiring and unfulfilling. On top of that, I was starting to get nervous for the transfer call coming up on Saturday. But we were able to talk and cheer each other up in the evening. I am so grateful for Elder Olson. We're really able to help each other up, and that makes things so much easier.

not exactly what I had in mind for the finished product,
but I guess this can still decorate the Halberstadt
apartment until someone throws it out...

 Friday morning was really nice. We went and did some more painting. Most awesomest thing ever. ;P I really enjoy it. I finally got everything blocked in, but there's still a ton left to be done. But as we all know, it's not about the painting, it's about the peacocks. There were a bunch of kids running around there measuring stuff for one of those "the weather is nice and the teacher doesn't want to be cooped up with you all in the classroom" school projects. It was pretty funny to listen to them while painting. There were a lot of people out that saw me. Don't know what they thought of it though. There was one guy who came up and talked to me for a minute, that was cool. We didn't make it so far as the gospel, but he wanted to look at the painting and asked where we were from. Whether or not my public flocks to the font, it's definitely been a great experience.

 Saturday morning we waited on the transfer call. And then we waited some more. And a little bit more. They're supposed to call between 9 and 12, and at 12 our district members started calling us to talk about what happened to everybody. But we hadn't gotten the call yet. Well, we sort of had at like 11:50 - the APs called, but it only rang once. Either Elder Olson accidentally hung up instead of answering, or Elder Bangerter hung up. So we tried to call 'em back a couple times, but they were of course busy. So a few minutes later, Elder Bangerter called again. He was like, " I see you were trying to contact me." Then he was like, "Wait, has president called you yet? He said he was going to call you." At first I thought he was just joking with me, because as everyone knows, President only calls the people with unusual assignments, like Zone leaders. He continued, "Well, you and Elder Beck will be coming into the Office. You'll be doing normal missionary work from at least 6:00 to 9:00, but during the day you'll be helping coordinate everything with all the new missionaries coming into the mission." Now, I've recently heard it said that every mission in the world has an Elder Beck, but it just so happens that our mission has at least two. I had already heard that the Elder Beck in Köthen would be training, so I surmised, and Elder Bangerter confirmed it, that I would be with the one that just got to Leipzig and kind of reminded me of Brother Rasmussen  Then Elder Brandley will be coming to Elder Olson in Halberstadt. That's pretty funny too, because Elder Brandley is going home with us as well, so even though I'm getting transferred, Halberstadt will still get a double homicide white wash. In the word of Bruder S, "Hilfe!" I don't know Elder Brandley all to well, but he seems really cool and I think Elder Olson and him will get along really well. Plus they already know each other - They were bunk mates for three weeks in the MTC.

What a thought inspiring sign

 After the transfer call, the district came to Halberstadt, where, after a nice meal at Subway (silly Americans, you can eat that stuff in America), we doored a bunch of the places we'd given brochures to, and were able to make out three appointments. It's been a long time since I've had that. I suppose strength in numbers is helpful. It'll hopefully be a good starting point for Elders Olson and Brandley.

 Sunday was really nice too. The Stake Patriarch came and spoke to us. He gave a pretty in depth talk/sunday school class on the temple and patriarchal blessings. I got to give a quick tschüß (goodbye) testimony to the branch, which was also nice. After the meeting, R and H got their patriarchal blessings. It is so extraordinary how they're making such good progress in the gospel. And the fact that they sought it out themselves makes it even better. Afterward we all (Elder Olson and I, the Patriarch and his wife, R & H) went to the S's/S's for an awesome lunch.

Scenic Schierke

 In the Evening, Elder Olson and I headed off to a little town called Schierke tucked into the mountains of the Harz - It's a gorgeous place, everyone says it reminds them of a miniature park city. Just with German architecture and witch decorations all over everything. Tomorrow night's Walpurgisnacht, I don't know what that actually is, but it has some connection to Goethe's Faust and the Largest Mountain in the Harz, the Brocken, and lots and lots of Witches. Elder Olson calls the city Tauschdorf, because he always takes people to work there while on Tausch, but that was the first time I made it up there. I was like the last in the district to make it up there. It was gorgeous, and nice to load up on some nature before delving into Berlin.

 I don't know exactly what I'll be doing in the office, but I'm pretty excited for it. Actually,

Step into my heavily forested office

I'm really excited for it. Maybe once I know what I'm doing, I won't be. ;P I will certainly be more comfortable than I am on the streets. I'm definitely glad I still will be doing that stuff though. I wouldn't want it to be like a surprise 6 week early release. On Tuesday morning I'll be jumping on a train to Berlin with Elder Sullivan - we'll both be heading to the office, but I think I'll mosey around there a little longer than he does before going home.

 I love you! The Church is true!