June in Germany

Hey....a.

So I'm not sure if I told you last week, but we got transfer calls, and I am staying Lauenburg at least till August. And, in the first week of August Elder Simmons goes home, so most likely I will stay at least six weeks after that, which means I may be celebrating my birthday in good old Schleswig-Holstein (the state of Germany to which Lauenburg belongs.).

But in this last week we had some mild success. Remember how when I came the program had 0 investigators? Well, we have 6 appointments with non-members scheduled this week already, 3 of which are actually with multiple people. It's pretty cool to see the work in this area slowly turn around with some grit, spit, and a whole lot of duct tape.

We also received our LAST weekly email from President Kosak today, President Fingerle arrives on The 30th. President Kosak says that he has received 98,600 pdf pages of letters in the last 3 years of
service from his missionaries, every single one of which he read the week it was written, and every single word of which he now plans to re-read. Well. That is about 10 pages a day, every day, for 3 years. That seems impossible, till you consider that at certain point in his mission, there were 300 missionaries in his mission. Every one writing even only 1 page a week, in 3 years 250 missionaries could write 40,000.  Then there are the missionaries who insist on writing like 3 or 4 pages every week...then the sisters...
Being a mission president would actually be an amazing amount of joy, But that is certainly a lot of work, just that by itself.

Still loving it...still having a hard time with my allergies...still wishing that would stop...still dealing with a trunky companion...but hey, no situation is perfect. And it only gets better. Until transfers.

Viele Grüße,
Elder Burton

36.5 Truths from Germany

So, coming to and passing my 1 year mark since entering the MTC, I feel impressed to share some of what I have learned over the past year. At first I wanted to write a great theological paper, but then remembered that I don't speak English or German. Then I wanted to share scriptures and quoted about experiences of prophets and others, but then I realized you don't need me to read those things to you. And so I decided to just share with you my testimony. And what is a testimony? It comes from a knowledge of the truth.

I wanted to give 365 truths, one for each day. Then j realized how freaking long that list would be, and no one would read it. Then I wanted to do 52. One for every week. But then I realized that weeks are not the primary source of counting for me right now. Transfers rather. And so, I decided on something a little smaller, which maybe will still allow me to express a little of what I learned during the first half of my best 2 years.

And so, without further adieu, 36.5 Truths I have learned 365 days into my Mission:

1- I love Germany.
2- Baptisms happen. Even in Germany. 
3- It is possible to live on Bratwurst and Sauerkraut.
4- 10€ is enough for 1 week. When circumstances are dire.
5- European Fashion is better.
6- Germans are a secular people.
7- Seven days in a week are not enough. Too much to do.
8- "I ate enough." Said no missionary. Ever.
9- "Nein" is the German's favorite word.
10- I'll never be scared to ask a girl out again. Rejection is meaningless.
11- No effort is wasted.
12- Who you are is just as important as what you do.
13- There is no such thing as being lucky or unlucky. Just inspired.
14- Family is the foundation for everything.
15- Germany is officially the best language.
16- I need sleep.
17- Rain is great. I like rain.
18- This work needs more than work. It needs miracles.
19- Nineteen is not too young to work miracles.
20- 2000 kilometers are not enough to drive each month.
21- I'm ready to not be living with a guy 24/7 anymore.
22- Any car would be nice to have personally. I don't need a sports car.
23- Utah is a bubble. But a pretty one.
24- Two Years isn't long enough. To much to do. Wait...
25- Driving 130 Km/H on the Autobahn is FUN.
26- Missionary Pop Music Sucks. I miss jazz.
27- Trunky companions are the Worst.
28- Germany is one of the greenest places. Who needs Iceland.
29- Germans love dogs.
30- Thirty Kilometers is too far to bike to go door to door.
31- Unless a prepared person lives there. 
32- The Gospel changed lives.
33- The Church has been restored.
34- Jesus is the Christ.
35- A testimony tried may turn into knowledge gained.
36- I am the happiest I have ever been.
36.5- I may not know what is going on after my mission...✈
But who asked, anyway?


Viele Grüße,
Elder Burton

Planting Seeds in Lauenburg

 Hey, just thought I'd share 2 success stories this week that you can pass on to everyone else if you'd like.

 1. We found this cool guy named Franklin, from Nigeria. He is really awesome. He met the missionaries for the first time in Nigeria, in 1980, and lost contact during a war or something. But now he wants to learn more again, and we are hoping he comes to church next week. So, hey, a seed was planted for him a long time ago and far far away. Hopefully we can harvest now.

And, 2., we found a former investigator names Adrian, from Mexico. He is also really cool, is working here as a doctor, earning some money and living with another Mexican doctor named Alberto. They both want to learn more about the church and want to come, but live about 2 hours away. They have a car though, and both say that as soon as they find time they will come. They are so cool. Hopefully things work out soon.

Love you all!

 Last Zone Conference in Hamburg with President Kosak.