Hi everyone!

 

So this week was crazy.

 

New Years Eve is like a bomb. Everyone has their own, big fireworks. It is insane. We were invited to our branch president's and had a fondue party. That was a lot of fun and tasty too. Then we went home and watched the fireworks from our attic. Good times.

 

The next morning we took Elders P and U to the train station. Sad to see them go but excited for them as well. They are going to the complete other side of the mission and they are going to stay together. Really cool. The rest of that day was scary. The city is like shut down on that day. Like a zombieland! We had an eating appoinment with a cool member and then went by on a lot of contacts and made out a lot of new appointments.

 

Wedesday we exchanged. I stayed and worked with Elder B. That was fun. He is a very energetic, young, spiritual missionary and we had a busy day planned. We had some good lessons and new investigators found. R dropped us but we found two cool new people right afterward so that was our reward. The Lord always prepares something if you work for it and look for it. Really fun, successful day. One where you feel like it wasn't even work, it was to fun to have been work. It was a joy.

 

The next day we had a sweet joint teach. We brought our ward mission leader, who is going to the Alpine mission in April, and taught B. She is a single mom who met missionaries a long time ago but never really progressed because they always lost contact. We taught the gospel of Jesus Christ and how she can be saved. We talked a lot about baptism and she expressed regret and the desire to change. She asked if she could come to church before she made any decisions and we said of course! Her little girl got sick so she didn't make it but next week she is going to come. Way cool. After that we taught english class and then had a game night in the church. Fun stuff!

 

Friday we woke up at 4 because we had to go all the way to Berlin for the zone leader council. That was a cool meeting. They just made two new zones so there were a lot of people there. President started an impromptu soccer game at lunch in which my comp and I dominated, which made everything better. The meeting was very interesting and we got a lot of ideas of how to help our zone and learned about our mission's focuses. We are going to read the Book of Mormon together as a mission to create unity which is really cool. The Book of Mormon is so powerful and I'm excited to do that with the mission. Besides that it was great to be with president and other mission friends there.

 

From then until Saturday we exchanged with the assistants. That was a lot of fun. Elder B, my mtc comp is one ap and the other, Elder F, is also a great friend from the MTC. That was a great time for so many reasons but the coolest was just to see the growth in each other since the MTC. We taught lots of people, well, on the streets of Berlin. Got some solid new investigators too. One lady I was able to refer to Marzahn, cause I knew East Berlin so well. Elder J, who I was in an apartment with back then, taught her last night and she is now a solid new investigator! That was just great. I like to teach people who are ready to hear.

 

After the exchange we traveled home. That was a bit of a nightmare. There was a medical emergency on the train and we were delayed there and when we got home we had a flat tire. All this and we needed a salad for dinner after church in the morning. Long story short we had a hilarious time picking up the salad, changing the tire, and getting home in the rain.

 

Church was great! The S family came! The kids loved primary and the adults seemed to like the meetings although it was very different to what they are used to and it was a lot to take in. Soooo great to teach a family again!

 

Later that day we had a first appoinment with another family. They also have two children. We taught well and with the spirit and it was a really great lesson. They are excited to learn and come closer to God and to meet next week. They aren't sure about baptism yet but are willing to meet and pray and read and try it all out. Wayyyy cool lesson. All I can say is we are being super blessed right now. I love teaching families.

 

This week was all over the place but sooo great too. 

 

This week we have a zone training meeting and a few exchanges. Should be great!

 

Love you all and have a great new year in the Lord!

Elder Clayton