General Conference in Germany

So, as I am sure you are aware, the highlight of this week was general conference. I figured, for my weekly letter, I could share with you some of my notes from that occasion, and a quick thought or two about them:

Elder Jeffery R Holland:
''We are always expected to help ourselves, and to lend hand to those in need as well.''
''Go About Doing Good.'' Elder Poch and I need to find more service projects.

Elder Niel L Anderson:
''Spiritual questions deserve spiritual answers--from God.''
We are here to answer peoples questions--and to help them seek those answers from God.

Elder Dallin H Oaks:
Staying firm in the faith is not bigotry. Be kind, be courteous, and loving. But do not back down from that which is ordained of God for the fear of man.
Where can I strengthen my faith, and my resolve? How can I continue to do that in a loving way?

President Thomas S Monson:
''A man without a purpose is like a ship without a rudder.''
Am I following my purpose to the best of my ability?

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf:
The Beginning of Wisdom: ''Lord, is it I?''
Where must I improve myself? What can I do this week, today, right now to make myself a better disciple of the Lord?''

Something else I learned that was not actually said to us, was the idea that we do indeed still offer sacrifices to the Lord. An investigator asked, that if we were the true church of God, why we don't have Levites that offer up burnt sacrifices like in times of old? I realized during one of the talks on the Aaronic Priesthood, that the Sacrament is the continuation of this tradition of sacrifices in our day. The calf was already slaughtered, Christ has offered the ultimate sacrifice. Instead of looking forward to the Atonement as the Levites did though, we are remembering it. Honoring it. Interesting.

Now, other stuffs that happened this week:

This week we spent a day traveling all over Hessen. We visited the cities\towns of Eschwege, Sontra, Bebra, and Rotenburg on der Fulda. Lots of fun! We didn't get a lot accomplished, but we saw a lot of our area that neither of us had seen before, and visited some members that we needed to visit. All good.

I also had the first opportunity to lead my area this week! What I mean is, we had an exchange with the Zone Leaders, so Elder Poch went to Hanover for 2 days. The other Zone Leader and I stayed in Kassel, where I decided where we went, how we got there, and what we did for 2 days. It was way fun! Also a lot of work, and stressful, but I did not get us lost, and we even were early for 1 appointment!! Cool!

In connection to that, I am now on permanent phone duty. I.E., I always have the cell phone with me. It is a little stressful too, but few things are more fun than looking back on a conversation you just had in a foreign language and realizing it really isnt too foreign at all.

Again in connection to that, Did I mention that I can speak German?? We got a new Gemeinde Missions Leiter this week--Ward Mission Leader--and he complemented my German a lot. He said that most missionaries are out from 4 to 6 months before they speak like me. Which is fantastic. I have been out for 2. Now I just need to stay ahead of the game.

Oh yeah, quick explanation of conference. I have seen all but the Sunday night session. We watched the 2 morning sessions live, Saturday evening and Sunday evening in the church building. We watched the other sessions together as a ward on a projector Sunday morning and afternoon, instead of Church. It was a lot of fun!!

Elder Poch and I did actually watch them all in English, because there are 2 new members of our ward who don't speak German! Francis, who moved here from Mantova, Italy--do you know it Dad?--and Julia who moved here from BYU, but is originally from the Ukraine. She reaaaaaly didn't like the one Russian member of our ward, for obvious reasons......but that's ok. She will live.

And about the back roller....I really don't know where I would buy one here, so if you could ship that, it would be wonderful. Sorry about the trouble.

Well...that's all I got. My foot is doing much better, rolling it on frozen water bottles is great. Have I ever told you how much I love bubbly water?

How, and this week I get to go to Hanover again, and next week I will probably spend a day in Hamburg, and may a night in Stade, a town close by. Elder Poch has a leadership training meeting in Hamburg, and it is zone training meeting in Hanover.

I am starting to think of sending a package home, with some cool old books I have found, some chocolate, and maybe some christmas stuff for ya'll...Mom: let me know if you want me to send home Christmas ornaments. I know that sounds cray-cray this early, but the Germans are obsessed with Christmas, so they are already selling stuff for it. Weird.

Oh, and I would not be surprised to see Justiz there! He loves Choir, and the time is right! I though he was going to the Mexico MTC, but I could easily be wrong.

Ich wünsche ihnen alles gute und frieden in alles dass sie tun. Tchüss! Love You! --Elder Burton