Transfers

Well, I am going to be in Karlsruhe for the rest of my mission. There is no way out of Narnia. They burned the wardrobe...luckily it´s Narnia. I love it here!! Things have been going really well! We ended up going to the grave ceremony for a man who passed away recently...ended up just being Catholic Mass....interesting to say the least. Ah well, I can now say that I went to mass in Germany. I don´t want to be the bearer of bad news or anything but the things they do make absolutely no sense. I have been reading in the Bible and I would say easily half of the things that were done in there were against exactly what is stated in the Bible. They did have a good message about helping other Christians though, I was very happy about that. Each and every one of the missionaries came out of that room with a different feeling XD I was just struck by how many people there are out there who really do believe on something. I sometimes forget that when I walk on the streets of Germany and see the things that go on. At the same time between the other Elders you had one wanting to call everyone to repentance....another who didn´t understand anything that was being said at all, and then the last wanting to just leave the place. I really wish that I had taken some courses or studied more about other religions in the world. I still need to learn everything about my own. There are so many cool little things in the scriptures, that when you piece it together your whole outlook on the Book itself changes. I feel my testimony changing so often. There are some key principles that will always remain the same, but there are other things that can´t help but change as I learn more about my savior and what he did for me. Hahaha it´s kindof brutal realizing how little I know every time I come out of a new situation that I have been in. I have got a long ways to go...for that I am grateful though. I really have come to enjoy learning. I love seeing things from a different perspective. I still need to work on seeing things that way when I am dealing with others but I hope that one day I can be good enough about it that I can help people a lot more. Ah well, this week has been great! The stitches should be coming out in a couple of days and I will probably have a pretty gnarly scar. I hope not, but it is very possible. Meh, I´m just about bald anyways it´s not like the hair would have been growing there in a couple of months XD I love you all, have a wonderful week!

Tschüss!

Elder Lee

Stitches

Well mom, if you understand what my leading entry is about than I can let you know that all is well and that I am not dead...completely. This week has led to more and more exciting things. I now know what the inside of a German Hospital looks like...not as exciting as I thought it would be but ah well. In other news we ended up getting to visit an Anti-Christ. It was great...probably because we didn´t meet her...but her son was there and he was a recently returned exchange student with Mormon friends in America...we will be returning this week. Let us hope that there is plenty of success in store. He plays tennis so maybe I can shape up my game a little bit and use it to contact some more people haha We also ended up getting a new investigator this week. He actually was an old investigator in our area book from 2009...well done missionaries from back in the day.

We ended up meeting with him and he thought I was German...he then asked from what area I was from and I said America. He just about lost it when I told him I had only been here since January. Made my day. He´s an older Gent though, so I am pretty sure he is partially deaf. Good thing he can look at Elder Sollis´s and my pretty face. They have some serious converting power...lol This wonderful man started off with telling us that he was going to be Catholic no matter what we did....psh, we played the Holy Ghost card and now he´s going to be reading in the Book of Mormon with us. I put him as being baptized within the next year. Also, Elder Sollis has been really sick the last two weeks. I feel pretty bad for him, keep him in your prayers if you can. I got to read a little bit in the Old Testament this week...some seriously weird situations going down in those days.

I then watched a Mormon Message where they interview people about the story of Lot and his wife. Great video. I am grateful every day for the power to choose. I hope that you all choose to continue forward in the faith and to not look back. Or else I will be using you to make a sweet marinade for my steaks...lol Have a wonderful week!

Tschüss!

Elder Lee

P.S. If you didn´t like my joke...don´t look back. 

Here are some cool pics that I was able to get...and my head...sorry mom, I´ll be more careful next time hahaha

Well..

This week was a bit of a bust and I won´t even have that much time to write this letter out...soooo Elder Sollis and I both ended up coming down with the flu this week so I will give you a quick rundown of what happened...
Monday: P-Day...feeling a little sick, do some contacting, plan, go to bed.
Tuesday: Bed
Wednesday: Bed
Thursday: Two Appointments...bad idea, Bed
Friday: Bed
Saturday: More Bed...level of sanity almost down to the level of 0
Sunday: Church, Appointment, Bed
Today: Feeling much better, ending recovery
All in all I would say it was a solid week folks. I love you all, I miss you. I miss mom giving me soup when I am sick and I miss feeling healthy hahaha I got to read a ton of scripture though, can´t beat that!! Have a great week everyone!!
Tschüss!
Elder Lee

With an Eye Single to the Glory of God

Wow, what an epic week it has been. Can I just say that conference was just incredible! I seriously have never enjoyed conference so much!! It just gets better and better every single time. Just so many things that I can learn and apply. Gee, it´s just great! I´m hoping that everyone had a chance to see conference this time around and if not, you should. They gave such good advice and some really needed council for many members of this church. It is a weird feeling being in the position of a missionary at this time. I really loved the talk that President Uchtdorf gave about asking the question "Father, is it I?" It really was much needed council for me because very often I have been focusing all of my efforts on everybody else. I do find it very important though, that even when we are focusing on others it is good to perform a "self check" It is definitely important that we have a testimony of the things that we are preaching about every single day. I really found that self-evaluation is paramount in these times. Are we really on the right path? Do we really believe in the things that we do? I can testify that things really do change drastically when you understand the meanings behind them. The search of my mission has been to really get to know Christ and to understand his Atonement. The more I think about it the more I realize that it is a lifetime pursuit, but what a great thing to strive for!! I was so impressed with the council that was given. I really can´t wait for the next issue of the Liahona to come so that I can read through the talks over and over again in my free time. There really is nothing quite like diving into the gospel and just swimming around in it all the time haha. I really hope that each and every one of you reads over those talks again there is always more truth in those words than we originally have received. Just like the prophets of old in the Book of Mormon those who speak today speak the inspired words of Christ. They truly are the revealed word of God. I really feel that the focus on building a proper foundation and building it now is reason for me to think that in the next little while the persecution that will come will increase, and it will increase a lot. Build yourself on the rock of our redeemer. Christ. There is no doubt as to why those who spoke focused so much on these things. Stay on the right paths. Learn to recognize Heavenly Father´s voice. It is no coincidence. Those who stray from the path will fall. That is the destiny that lies therein. Like I have previously stated in past letters "Choose ye this day whom ye will serve" You all have the council of those who are not only incredibly smart, but are wise. They are led by God, and as President Packer stated, "The Lord is no stranger to his servant." He leads and directs his church. And he does it through the prophets, just like it says in Amos 3:7. The Lord sticks to his guns. You can be sure that he will be on the other side waiting for us and we can choose to be ashamed or we can choose to be the type of servants that he needs, move forward in faith, endure to the end, and then live with him again. Decide now and never look back. We already know the kind of reward we will receive if we do. (Relate to Lot´s wife if you are having trouble thinking of a proper example haha) Sometimes we may not think that it is going to be easy but just like it talks about in Alma 32 faith is that seed that we plant, but first we must plant that seed. You must put in a little bit of work to get that seed in there, and then that seed will grow inside of you "until the perfect day". The words of the prophets are incredible. Study them daily. It really has changed my life being out here and doing that. Those who have forgotten their testimonies should watch this conference. You have been given a sure way to obtaining that testimony again. If you want it, he´s there, and he can help you with it. No matter what other people think, no matter what other people have done, no matter what you may or may not understand, don´t give up the opportunity of a lifetime, don´t waste this chance to really know God. There is no if in the statement previous because there is no if when it comes to God. He is there. He does love us. He is the Father of our Spirits. He has called his Prophets in these latter days and He leads this Church. The faults and lies of men will not, and can not, taint that truth. He is all powerful and never ending. Satan will lose. We already know that. So let´s quit giving him the time of day when he wants it. I know I am preaching to the choir but maybe someone will stumble upon this somehow and read it. Hopefully it will help them and you understand where I stand. I´m cheering you all on, thank you for the help I received when I needed a little bit of cheering for myself. I am more grateful every single day for what I have chosen. The things I have felt and seen have confirmed to me more than once of the divinity of Christ, his mission, and his role in saving the sons and daughters of man. Now is not the time to doubt. As a missionary called of God I can promise you that when you follow the council of his servants, when you read their words and pray upon them you will receive that "Spiritual Answer" That Elder Anderson talks about. You will not find answers in that category unless you go to the source. No matter how many times you talk to Judas about Christ you will still never experience the wonder of speaking with him personally. (The same with Joseph smith. You´ll never know the truth until you go to the source)  It is an exciting time, I´m so grateful that I can be a part of this wonderful work. There is nothing quite like seeing the light in someone´s eyes who has come to know at least a piece of the truth. My mission became worth it when I saw it in my own. Make it a mission of your own to see it in yourself. I love you all, have a wonderful week!! 

Tshcüss!

Elder Lee