Harvest Time in Germany!

Harvest time in Germany!!
Ish...

So the cultural highlight of this week was definitely when we went with 3 men of our ward--Brüder Richter jr., Richter sr., and Albrecht, and drove to a old barnhouse in the forest. We then proceeded to eat--and eat, and eat, and eat--all you can eat schnitzel, sausage, ground pork soup, wurst, pork ribs, raw pork--yes, raw pork--and various other pork-oriented meat dishes, all that had been slaughtered the day before. Less then 14 hours actually. Why?

Schlachtefest!! Which, of course, translates as ''Slaughter Party.'' Part of ''Oktoberfest,'' Which is actually now halfway over. It is the last week of September, and the first week of October.

Anyways, other stuffs.

Last week I did find a set of C.D.s on sale at Müller, titled: ''Das Beste Cello.'' Exactly as it sounds, it is a 3 disk set of just cello music. Lovely. Love it. Love. I have already listened to all 4 hours twice, and might be starting to bug Elder Poch with it [hehehehe].

What else....Oh yeah, my back hurts. Significantly. All of it. It isnt good, walking around all day with a shoulder bag on, with a copy of the German Book of Mormon, which is bigger then the English proselyting version, much bigger, and also a bible, a study journal, an umbrella, several registration papers, a tiny tiny english book of mormon, and sometimes my own triple-combination German scriptures. It is hard sometimes. My back is getting much stronger, and every night I use a heat pack that I found in the apartment to help my back relax as much as possible, but sometimes I can't do morning-sport--push ups and situps usually--because it is too stiff and painful in the morning. I may switch to using a backpack for a while, if it doesn't start getting better. Not sure yet. Präsident Kosak does ask us to use shoulder bags, but I am sure will be more then willing to give me special permission if it is causing me any pain at all.

And, my feet. Unfortunately, my right arch is acting up again. It spends a significant amount of time during most appointments we have cramping slightly, and stuff. Not too painful, but worrying. I roll it on a frozen water bottle sometimes, and that helps a lot, but I was wondering if Sam or anyone had some good stretches I could do, both for my foot and for my back. that would be brilliant.

Sam:Its the Bears. Like I wouldn't know when there is a game. ;)

Oh, btw, I heard that they have called missionaries out of several countries in Africa, and Eastern Europe. I was wondering if someone could send me a list of the missions evacuated. I have lots and lots of friends on missions right now, and yeah...

About the temple: The mission rule, is that you may go to the temple on P-day, once every other transfer, if you can accomplish it within p-day hours (Finished with the session, back in your area before 18:00.) So, my companion served in Zwickau, which is really close to Freiburg, and did get to go to the Temple, but there is no guarantee that I will be able to. I cannot in Kassel. Actually, our Ward Temple week was a couple weeks ago, and they went to the Frankfurt temple!! We are much much closer to Frankfurt here then Freiburg. We really should be in the Frankfurt mission...

So on P-day we usually have a lot of stuff to do...so we have about 3 or 4 hours of free time total, after emails. Most everything is closed on Mondays, actually, like museums and stuff. So what we usually do is go shopping and explore the Innenstadt, or down town, for a while. We have gone and seen Herkules and the WasserSpiele, as I told you, and I will probably do that again sometime with my next companion. But yeah. mostly exploring and shopping.

Speaking of shopping, I hope I am not spending too much...something I do have to buy in the next few months is Long Johns, and maybe another jacket. I don't really have a medium, dressy jacket. I hope that is okay...hopefully also, I will run out of thing I need very soon. Long Johns and a jacket, and I should be set...and A Tschüss book. I am sorry. Eventually I will have bought everything, right?

My language is coming along very well actually. Obviously not fluent yet, but I can understand the majority of what is said to me--slowly and clearly at least. Seriously though, I can understand all of our investigators, and speak with pretty much anyone on a one-on-one conversation. I do have a little trouble with a member of ours from Bauern, but that is okay. he just does it to worry me.

That's all I have today...OH Except, I am actually running a Halloween party for our ward now--since it was my idea--and have to organize it and stuff. Elder Poch and I have some good ideas, and stuff, but if you can think of any cheap, easy, cool halloweenish things I could do, send me the ideas!! More details to come later.

Looking forward to General Conference this week--rumor is that they are letting the speakers speak IN THEIR NATIVE LANGUAGE if they so choose, and providing subtitles for the rest of us. Totally hoping Elder Uchtdorf speaks in German. Ich Freue mich wirklich darüber.

Sei sicher, sei zu frieden, sei glülich. Ich hab' viel viel Lieb für Sie. bis nexte Montag. Tchau!

Hey, Familie!

 Hey Familie Burton(s) and Thorup and People who I don't know who nevertheless read this blog because you love me and love missionary work!

I had a birthday this past week, and it so happened that it was the same day as ''Gospel Kirchen Tag'' Here in Kassel. In English, ''Gospel Church Day!!''

That means that there were literally thousands of People in the streets, crowded around Little stages set up for choirs, jazz bands, and performing Groups from all over Europe. Because so many of the Groups were international--including one from Florida--all the Songs were in English, and it was awesome!!

There was one particular jazz band actually that we stopped and listened to for a bit that I loved. Loved. It made me happy. A birthday gift from God.

Also, we baked the cake. And it was Delicious. Elder Poch sends his thanks. We ate all of it--all of it--in 2 days. Not healthy.


anyways. also this week, I found the coolest Thing ever...you know how my favorite books are Robert Jordan's Wheel of Time series?

I found it. Audio Book form. Auf Deutsch!! It is actually just the second half of the first book, Das Auge der Welt, the Eye of the World, but it is nearly 6 hours of German practice!! For ONE EURO!!! Awesome. I am totally gunna Keep searching for the first half of the book, and if i cant find it, order it when I get home. I must, have it. must.

Now, I have a request. Elder Poch and I have heard a lot from various Germans, Poles, Turks and Iranians about ''The Alliance of the Willing,'' ''America is worse then Israel,'' and ''Fracking is destroying the world.'' Will someone please please please send me a world update? Just a brief overview of what the heck is going on? I know you are trying to Keep your letters to me spiritual and stuff, and trying to help me Focus on the work, but I am Hearing way to many opinions, harsh judgements, and criticisms over Events that I don't ever know could happen, much less already have. What is going on out there?

We do have 1 new very interesting investigator this week. His Name is Pietryznsyksisynyw........or something like that. We cant say--or spell--his Name, so we refer to him as Herr Piet. He is really really cool, Comes from Poland, and is totally prepared. We ran into him on the street while contacting former investigators, and he--as it turns out--has only lived in Kassel for about 3 weeks. He has also been researching churches, because he finds it interesting, for a Long time. He was baptized Catholic, but since they have a Special tax for you if you belong to most churches here in Germany, he ''Stepped out.'' He declined Membership in the records of the church to get out of the tax.

Anyways, he is interesting in our church, it helps that we don't ask Germany to make our members pay that tax, and he promised to read the book of Mormon we gave him in Polish. Another appointment or 2 this week, who knows?? Could go a Long ways fast.

Eden, the woman from Africa, kinda is fallen out now...hasn't shown a lot of interest the couple times we have met with her, won't read the BOM...yeah. Oh well.

I have nothing else...I do so much every week that it is hard to remember all of it...I write down all the really cool stuff, but still...

and our appointment with a less-active just fell out...lovely...


anyways. Love you all. Be safe. Thank you for all the packages and birthday love, I really appreciate it! Maybe I will send Pictures again. Maybe. I am awful lazy.

--Elder burton

Fast Days, Long Week, Lightning Months

Starting to notice a pattern?
Fast days, Long week, Lightning months,

So, first the bad News. A friend of ours, a man named Udo Aschenburner, died this last week. Sadly, I do not have any Pictures with him. He was a super nice man, and we believe he died of a heart attack. He gave me a couple really cool things, namely a mug and a pin, and I will miss him. He was awesome.

Good news: The letter from mom came through!! Oh, and I actually already received a package TODAY. I assume it is my birthday package, and it came through super super fast, but it is here. Weird. Fast. It works!

I don't have a package from Sam and Jason though...

Now, as Präsident Kosak says, the Laundry List:

~ I was actually told this week, twice, that my German has a Little bit of a Dutch Accent to it. Weird. It still sounds ''American,'' but like I learned it from someone from the Netherlands. Not sure where that came from, but its awesome that I am good enough already to have a recognizable Accent!! I think...

~ A man also spoke with us on a Train this week about the Book of Mormon, and he said: ''Darin zu lesen ist komisch, es fängt immer on mit: ''Und Es Begab sich.'' The Translation of what he said is actually, ''It is weird to read the Book of Mormon, it always starts with: And it came to pass.'' They have that same joke in German!! Priceless.

~ Elder Poch was actually a Little trunky this week. He wants to go home and get married. Poor sucker. Ill beat him up, and we will get back to work. Did you get in contact with his Family by the way? He gave his mom your number I believe...

~ It was also Comic-con this week in Kassel. Yep. With the women Walking around in almost nothing, and everything. Very distressing. I say way more Nintendo characters then I expected to actually, including Link, Zelda, Ganandorf, Bowser, Diddy Kong, and many others.

~ Do you remember that in the Revolutionary War, the English hired mercenaries from Germany to fight against the Americans? They were called the ''Hessians.''
AS you may recall, I am currently serving in HESSE. Connection?
The missionaries (Mom is pretty sure he means MERCENARIES.) that fought against the Americans were hired from a man in Germany, who at that time was Lord Wilhelm, LORD OF KASSEL. I am serving in the very City those mercenaries were hired from.

~ I have decided to start memorizing a lot of Psalms. They are all really cool, and really calm me down when I am stressed or worried. The Catch?? I want to do it in German. It is soooo hard, but so cool!!

''Und ob ich schon wanderte im finstern Tal,
fürchte ich kein Unglück.''
''And although I already wander in the dark Valley,
fear I no misfortune.''
or: ''And though I walk in the valley of death,
I fear no evil.''
So cool.

~ I also got to meet David A. Bednar this week.  How cool was that? AMAZING.
The Picture is on the Mission blog, you should look at it. I am near the middle, right behind all of the sisters. Nice Placement.

Something from my notes from that Meeting, by the way, is:
''You have to work not to Forget.''
''Repentance is about getting better all the time.''
''The Lord doesn't deal with Congregations. He deals with Ones.''
''Don't be objects, waiting to be acted upon. Be Agents, exercising your right to act.''

That's all I got this week...I gotta go. Out of time. Just so you know, I am not Holding anything back. This is how I feel. I don't know how better to express my emotions...When the Lord says, Take no though for yourself, he is right. I think about myself so Little, its hard to talk about myself...

Love you all, Thanks for all the Support!
Elder Burton

Pictures of Elder Burton and his zone

These pictures were uploaded by President and Sister Kosak earlier this week -- Thomas is hiding in the back.

A German Angel

Hey People!

So first of all, I received 2 packages this week. Shout out to the Dalley Family for the love they sent me, in the form of a Card and tie holders and an amazing talk from D. Todd Christopherson. Thanks a bunch. I really enjoyed it. 

Also, the package from you, my Family came through. Whatever you did worked. Just, from now on, put Kirche Christi on it. ;) We put my Name temporarily on our Mailbox, so it worked out, but it would be better from now on to do that.

I did love the package though. The bread/Cookies were a Little stale, but oh well. The branch will LOOOOOVe the Root Beer extract. I garuntee it.

I did not, however, get any letters yet....................................Not sure about that.

So, My week:
I memorized the Scripture D&C 84:88 this week. Well, sorta. I tried. I believe it says:
 ''und wo euch jemand emfangt, da wurde ich auch sein. Ich wurde zu eurer rechten Hand sein, und zu eurer linken. Mein geist wird in eurer Herz sein, und meine Engel rings um euch, um euch zu stützen.''

I felt this in my Service this week, especially as we were accosted on a Straßen bahn (bus) by a very large, very drunk, very black man. After swearing at us repeatedly, he pulled of my Name badge, tossed it in my lap, and proceeded to make threatening motions with his Hands, such as slicing my throat, roughly slapping the side of my head, and knocking on my forehead with his knuckles, as well as swaying back and forth, and Spilling beer on my pant leg and shoe. By what he said, it was obvious that he was targeting us because he was a Muslim, and we had the Name JESUS CHRIST on our badges. He did not like that.

 After about 5 minutes of this, the Straßenbahn Driver actually came back, and told him to leave us alone. I was very very grateful for this, and as soon as the drunkard left, a middle-aged German woman came and quickly sat beside us. I was confused at first, but it turned out that she came not only to tell us that she admired us for not reacting violently, but to ensure that the drunkard did not return. It was a small, tender mercy, but a mercy nonetheless.

Something that I did not tell the woman, that I wish I could now, is that I truly felt the love of the Lord through her at that Moment.

 It was my first opportunity to truly stand against true persecution in the Name of the Lord, and he had immediately shown me his love afterwards, in the form of this German woman. She, at that Moment, was my angel, um mich zu stützen.

Hopefully this week I can return the favor, not necessarily to this particular German Lady, but to one of God's children. This experience helped to remind me that no matter what we do, if we can lift one Person up today, bring just one Soul a Little closer to Christ, through word or deed, we have fulfilled our purpose, and the Lord is pleased.

And who knows who may be eternally grateful that you merely showed that you care.

Other stuff that happened this week:

I stubbed my thumb playing Volleyball. It is amazing how much you use your thumb. And how much it hurts sometimes. It is almost better now, but seriously...

We went and saw the Wasser Spiele!! Google it. I cant really explain it. It was awesome though. On the way to the Wasser Spiele, we saw the Kassel Stadt Golf Course. Yep. It was gorgeous. It made me want to go golfing.

Oh yeah, and I wanted to let you know about my Book of Mormon Reading. The whole Mission actually just finished reading the Book of Mormon together--I joined in because I was further then they were when I got here--and now I am starting over. I am currently in 1st Nephi 4, and am trying to read 1 chapter a day. This month I am also studying the book of Genesis every day, the creation as a whole, and some General conference talks our Mission president gave us. It is good.

Well, lots to do this week, particularly today. I will do my best to send Pictures next week, it just takes so Long...anyways.

Love you all!! Be safe!! I'll take good notes on Elder Bednar for you!

Elder Burton

Kangaroo Meat, German Joseph and Personal Light

 I had an extremely Long week This might Sound normal, but is was Long. I will just run through my experiences here.

On Thursday, I had the opportunity to go to all you can eat Chinese Food after Volleyball. There were lots of good Foods that I actually enjoyed, and then there was...Kangaroo. Yep.
We were with an investigator named Andrej, and a member named Sven Egly and we all decided to try Kangaroo meat, since we have never had it before. Elder Poch later described it as ''Muddy'', which is a completely accurate account of the flavor. Weird.

That night actually, we listened to the German Version of ''Joseph and the Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat.'' That is interesting. You should look it up sometime, it is really fun.
Also, I had a companion Exchange this week with an Elder Thompson. The bikes we were riding--in Göttingen--broke down, and the Pictures of the greasy me is the result. We did have an interesting talk about Light though. In relation for some studying material given to us in preparation for Elder Bednar coming on the 13th, I read a talk from Boyd K Packer entitle ''Candle of the Lord.'' Can mom put it on the page in the same Little section she put the Tale of Three Trees?

Anyways, I believe I mentioned this talk last month, but the overlying theme is that we are the candles, and the carriers, of the Lords light to another. Without us and our faith, he cannot, will not, touch the hearts of the children of men.

Thats why I am here. It kinda sucks sometimes actually, stuck in Germany, so far from home, so tired and sore and stuff. But it Needs to be done. The candle must be carried, the light must go forth, and I must help others, and help myself as well.

I know you all are super busy, I dont wanna take up to much of your time. But thank you so much for all the Support you have given me, to help me reach where I am today. I hope I can make it worth it for all of us.

--Elder Burton