Dec 21, 2014

 Dear Family:

 M. is doing really good she came to church again and we have an appointment with her tomorrow. She has questions about the church of the Devil haha so it should be interesting. Dad that stuff that you forwarded from Chelsea about Solomon Hancock was awesome. My MTC companion, Elder Griffey, is a descendant from his brother Levi and would talk about him all the time so that was cool to see. Love ya too TJ cant wait to see you on Donnerstag. Kacey way to push through until the break I usually quit about a week before the break but don't tell mom that haha. Jake way to go that is a great percentage!

Montag we went into Kufstein, Österreich! It was beautiful.

Tuesday I had an exchange with Elder Evans, My trainer. He got transferred back into our zone and distrikt so he is my DL again haha. It was fun to work with him again. It was like old times except I was talking a lot more than I did the last time we worked together. We did street contacting all day and we had some really good conversations but no new investigators. 

Wednesday we had an appointment with D. and we taught him how to pray. I used an analogy from the friend. I said that a prayer is like a sandwich and that you always have the bread at the beginning and end ''Dear Heavenly Father..... In the name of Jesus Christ. Amen'' and everything in between is what you want your ''sandwich'' to be haha. It was great he really liked that. 

Thursday we went to Ml.'s and his son was there it was fun to play with him because he responds in either German or Spanish so sometimes he would say something in Spanish to us and we wouldn't have a clue what he was saying haha.

Freitag we were contacting all day and just got stuffed haha but that's ok. We were using the Er ist das Geschenk cards and nobody wanted one it was really weird. One lady talked to us and I asked her if she celebrated Christmas and she said ''Nicht Direkt'' a pretty weird answer and I asked her why she said she celebrates indirectly and she said it was because Christmas isn't about the tree or the gifts its about Jesus and I was like FINALLY! SOMEONE IS GOING TO WANT THIS!!! and the i told her that we agree with her and we tried to give her a card and she said she didnt need it and that we were of the Devil and such but whatever haha. Needless to say we didn't get her Number.

Saturday we taught G and B. and I have a great story about that but it wont be that great to read so I will just tell you in person on Thursday. Nothing crazy happened it was just funny but I will tell ya later

I love ya guys see you on Thursday

Isn't this the coolest pic ever?

We found this cool ledge in a wall and decided to be dorks.

Dec 15, 2014

Hey Family we had a really SICK week haha. Ok I will try not to use that word but when I get typing fast I cant make any promises. Jake sorry I forgot to wish you a happy birthday last week. I didnt forget about it, I just forgot to tell you. I realized I had forgotten when I was planning for Friday and saw it was the 12th haha. Sorry. Tj- They have really cool things in Germany for christmas. The decorations are different and way cool. They have Christmas markets. They also have two Santa's they are called St. Nikolaus and Der Weihnachtsmann. St. Nikolaus comes on the 6th of December and leaves a present in good kids shoes and some coal in bad kids shoes. Der Weihnachtsmann comes on the 24 like Santa. Christmas is also a little bit backwards here. On the 24th they open presents and they have 2 days for Christmas the 25 and 26. Heiliger Abend (24th) is the most important that's when families really celebrate the birth of Christ and there are Christmas Masses in all of the Churches at midnight. Its pretty cool. Kacey was that the most intense baby sitting job ever haha. Mom sorry you barely missed your 4.0 but your grades just have to be good enough haha. 

Monday we had a less active appointment but he showed up late so we only got to talk to him for about 15 minutes before we had to go home.

Tuesday we were doing Vorbei's (I dont think there is an actual word for that in English, it just means that we were going by on people) and while we were doing that we saw a car accident. That was pretty cool.

Wednesday we had our Christmas conference and it was awesome. President Kohler shared stories from his mission and Sister Kohler shared experiences from her mission. President Kohler talked about how we need to use this special time because people are more open to talk about the Savior. We also got some cards that have a video link on them. Its called ''Er ist das Geschenk'' or He is The Gift. President Kohler had to make them because Europe didn't get any cards from the Church. We are using apostate cards . That's the joke in the mission right now.  We ate food. (Rote Kohl, Ham, and potatoes) then president Kohler pulled some strings and was able to get a copy of "Meet the Mormons" and we watched that. It is the only copy in Europe.  My favorite part was probably the very beginning when the showed video clips of TV shows making fun haha it was hilarious.  

Thursday we were on the streets all day no one was able to meet with us all week so Thursdays planner was completely blank (I hate those days) so we hit the streets. We gave out a bunch of Er ist das Geschenk cards and it was really successful. We didn't get any phone numbers from it but a lot of people were really appreciative. Most of the time people make you feel like you wasted their time but not when we were using these cards. It was cool.

Friday was our appointment day haha. We had 4 appointments. Its the most I have ever had in a day and all the people live in different parts of the area so it was a lot of walking and running to catch our trains. M.'s lesson was the coolest. We had a really good Joint teach that lives in the same Dorf as her and he was an AP in Switzerland back in the day so he knows German and missionary work pretty well haha. I was great for M. because a lot of the time our German isn't that great and the answer to her questions get lost in translation but Bruder Döring really came through for us. On Sunday the Dörings said that they stayed and talked with M.for a really long time. Ward connections are building up way fast!

Saturday I built a roof haha. I was in the heart of the Alps building a roof on a classic Bavarian house. it was pretty cool to think about haha. We also had our ward Christmas party and St Nikolaus came and all the kids were scared haha. They all got presents from St Nikolaus. Then St Nikolaus called up the ''Rosenheim Elders'' and we got loaded up. The ward loves us. We have like 10 pounds of chocolate and sweets in the Apartment... We are going to be so fat...! 

Sunday M. came to church and told us that she has read in the Book of Mormon some more and was confused about ''the church of the Devil'' in 1 Nephi...We have a lesson with her tonight so that should be fun answering this one haha. M. and his wife came to church together it is so awesome. I really think that they will be completely active soon.

Today we got permission to  go into Austria!! it is going to be fun and beautiful as flip! I am going to the skinny part of the country where all of the big mountains are! should be fun.

Love ya a bunch!

-Elder Carr

Dec. 7, 2014

Dear Family

OK this is going to be a short email because we couldn't really get anything going but that's mission life sometimes . Jake congrats on Spokaloo man. Tj way to win the candy dude haha. Sorry to hear that Tyler got in an accident.

 Ok the scripture I want on my church plaque is 3 Nephi 5:13. Its a mission scripture and I like it a ton. Its way cooler in German so if you could also do that it would be great. How much snow is over there right now? We have zero snow. Its all rain really cold rain. The mountains have snow and look awesome when you can see them through the fog. Christmas in Germany is Amazing. I love it. I am definitely bringing some of these traditions home.

We made a Christmas card for our ward and it is pretty good. I will send one home. On Tuesday we used our lunch hour to explore the Christkindlmarkt in München.  On Thursday we went to M's and had a great lesson with him about prayer and he shared more experiences about how prayer has been helping him a lot recently and how it helped him when he was a missionary. Friday we met with Bruder D. He is a less active from Brazil. We talked about scripture study and invited him to our ward Christmas party this Friday. Hopefully he will come. Saturday we helped M.'s wife move. Her parents are pretty anti but it was good to have us there so they saw that we weren't that weird or anything. Her mom made some really good Bayrisch food. I freaking love Bayrisch food I think I would be ok if I stayed in Munich zone my whole mission because the culture here is great and the food is even better haha. 

Literally all of the note worthy things that happened this week. 

I miss you guys a ton and I will let you know when I can Skype.

-Elder Carr 

Dec1, 2014


HOLY FLIP! I AM SO EXCITED FOR STEFAN! SWEDEN!!!!!!!!! THAT IS SO NUTZ! Thanksgiving looked awesome. I cant believe Tyler, Shannon, and the grandparents are moving up! I glad that it was 70 degrees for you because it definitely not over here haha. Our heating is out half the time so its like waking up in a freezer haha but thats ok because it makes me grateful when it does work. I don't know when I will be able to skype yet I have to see what families we are with. I can skype any day from the 24-26 but ask Stevie first when she wants it so I can try to plan it around that and It will be during the morning for you guys. I will keep the stokers in my prayers. Jake keep on winning those matches. Glad you had a great Thanksgiving TJ.

So heres the Week:

Right now Germany is in the Christmas spirit but no one wants to talk about Jesus haha. But the Christmas market opened up this week and they have some great stuff in there.

Monday: We taught Familie A. and that was basically it. It was a really chill P-Day.

Tuesday: Tuesday we had a district meeting and I have a great story about that but I have to save that one for after the mission because it is just so good and it probably shouldn't be posted in a Blog or anything haha. (I promise that I will never forget this story so don't worry.)

Wednesday: We had a lesson with D. and he explained to us that he isn't ready to be Mormon and we already new that. But we continue to work with him and hope that he will start making progress again.

Thursday:We had an eating appointment that was it.

Freitag: Contacting and Vorbeis. Boring day.

Samstag: OK NOW THE WEEK HAS BEGUN. So we got a phone call at 6:35 and it was the Zone Leaders with transfer calls and I found out that I AM STAYING IN ROSENHEIM FOR A FOURTH TRANSFER! I am so happy that i still get to be here. I am so excited to celebrate Christmas in Bavaria! It is going to be awesome. So we had 3 lessons on Saturday. It was the most lessons that I have taught on my mission in one day. We were running for trains and watching the clock all day haha. First we taught Mo. and we talked about prayer and it was a great lesson. We just set it all out for her that the only way that she will find out that this church is true. We then went to E.s and that was interesting. At lunch Bruder L. called me and gave me a talk on sSnday so I accepted and it worked out fine. Last of all we taught G. and B. and they poured out all of their struggles on us. I was way overwhelmed. I am just a 19 year-old kid. I don't have any real-life problems. But it is good that we are there for them and hopefully the little simple help that we give will help them. All we know is the Gospel. Pure and simple and that's all we can share. We don't provide a solution for problems we just provide the way.

Sonntag: I had a talk about the BOM and I blessed the sacrament for the first time in German. M. came to church again! we set up an appointment with him for Thursday and he told us thanks for our prayers and he said that he and his wife are back together! MIRACLES! I love it. That family is the biggest reason I am happy I am staying because I feel like they are going to make so much progress this transfer. We then went to a family in our ward and celebrated the 1st Advent with them and it was great.

So re-cap: I am staying in Rosenheim, Christmas is awesome, and the church is true.

Love ya

-Elder Carr       

first advent meal

Bavaria

Nov. 23, 2014

Hallo meine Familie!

I can't believe Alex is going to Japan. That is perfect for him. I CANT BELIEVE MTSPO IS IN THE SEMI'S! that is crazy! Ja so the lady who sent You pictures was just some Mormon lady that found us going to distrikt meeting. Don't tell anyone this but I hate running in to American Mormons here. AMERICANS are so loud and it draws so much attention to us when they start screaming about how excited they are to see missionaries. It doesn't really help Mormons look normal to the Germans haha but I know they do with good intent. I can spot out an American like no ones business haha. The other Elders were Elders Evans, Smith, and Bakewell. We all serve in the Rosenheim Ward and live in a four man together except Elder Evans is in Heilbronn now. PS my package got here thanks so much!I cant wait to hear where Stefan is going. He is pretty excited I think. My Comp, Elder Kastendieck, is pretty cool. He only has about 4.5 months left on his mission. He is a fitness nut. We run Every morning so I have lost even more weight. I am less than I weighed my Sophomore year of High school. haha. I was about 175 LBS this week and to put that into perspective I was 193 the morning I left for England. I thought i was going to put on a ton of weight here but I was wrong haha. We eat really healthy at home and then we eat all the traditional German food at members houses and that the only time that we eat bad so it works out. Kacey Nice job on your tests! Jake sorry about your nose I know how that feels haha. I will pray for your friend. TJ bowling looked way fun! Thanks for your thoughts on gratitude. 

Last Monday We had interviews with president and he asked me if I would want to stay in Rosenheim for one more and I said ,,ja of course I love it here'' and he was just like ,,ok we'll see what happens'' haha so I have no idea if I am getting transfered or not. 

Last Tuesday had a Besuchsabend- so like a visiting evening? we went by in splits with the Bischofschaft and the elders quroum president and visited less actives in our ward. We went to Familie S. and taught a lesson about the family. The are both RMs and have 2 kids but they aren't married... Weird situation in my opinion. But we talked with Br. S. and he said that the ultimate goal was to get married so hopefully we will see some good progress there. We are going to try and meet with them this week.

Wednesday we had a lesson with Mo. and we talked about the organization of the church. We talked about prophets, apostles, 70's and everything else with scriptures to back up everything and she asked tough questions like usual. I didn't understand what she was asking most of the time so I was absolutely no help at all haha and Elder Kastendieck's brain was fried after the lesson haha. She came to church this Sunday so that was awesome. She has a lot of issues with the apostasy and why God would leave his church without leadership. If you have anything that can help me with that let me know.

Thursday we went to Tegernsee to visit M. and had a great lesson about scripture study with him. He said that it has been going bad with his scripture study and he wants it to be better. He also said that he wants to be active again it was a sick lesson. He than fed us and told us stories about his mission for about an hour. I think it is really good when we go over there because it reminds him of when he was a missionary and when he was taught by the missionaries. He is awesome. He also came to church this last Sunday!

Friday we had a member appointment with Schwester B. and I had the spiritual thought. I should her a picture of our family and then one of my senior pictures. (the one when I am by the Horses sitting on the fence). I explained about building the fence and how I needed my Dads help and instruction to build it and make it happen. Then we tied it in to how we need our Heavenly Father's help and guidance daily. It was a good spiritual thought.

Saturday we had a great day planned out but everything fell through so we contacted and did vorbei's.

Sunday I Had the gospel principles class and I felt like I was back in the MTC because I was struggling to get thru. My German was awful haha. But M. and Mo. both came so it was also a great Sunday.

Love y'all and can't wait to talk to ya around Christmas!

-Elder Carr

PS I cant believe Tyler and Shannon and the Grandparents are moving Up! Are they in our Ward?  

Nov. 17, 2014

Sounds like stake conference was awesome! We also had Pfahl Konferenz on Sunday and it was way cool. Jake your wrestling pics look great! Kacey sorry that who actually were sick. That is so cool for Stefan! I can't wait to hear where he is going but let him tell me haha. 

Last Monday we went out to Oberaudorf which is right near the border to Austria and we climbed a tiny mountain called Hoch Eck but we were able to have some amazing views at the top. I will send pictures.

We had a pretty cool week. We went finding in the city the other day and there were two dudes throwing an american football around in a park. Elder Kastendieck and I went up to the and started talking and I was throwing the ball to the other guy while Elder Kastendieck was talking to him about the gospel it was way Awesome! We got his number and are planning on contacting  him this week. Looks like football was good for something after all Mom haha. I also got to teach them the real way to throw it too because it was so painful to watch them throw it the way they were.

We taught G. and B. this week and we had a pretty good lesson. Right now we are working on the restoration with them and it is a slow process because they don't really care for the bible and they aren't really giving the BOM a chance but what can we do. So hopefully we will see some great progress there.

We went and taught E. last week and I think we are going to take a break with him. We walked in and he was drinking and he was trying to hide the bottle from me and he just isn't keeping commitments. He has had a really rough life and it feels bad to drop someone when they are already out flat but I think that is what he needs right now. So we are going to have a lesson with him next week and just lay it all on the table and let him know why we are there and that we are teachers but he won't learn until he does these things for himself.

We Taught D. and we taught the Plan of Salvation and he really liked it I really hope he finds a job so he will stay in Rosenheim because I know that eventually he will want to be baptized. But if he goes back to Milan than I think most if not all contact with the church will be gone.

Ich habe euch Lieb!

-Elder Carr

Nov. 9, 2014

Dear family-

Dont worry about the letter last week mom I had to come back to the church later and then I printed it off so I still got it last P day.
 This week was pretty slow again but not as slow as last week. We went and visited M. a less active and we went in there BOLD AS FLIP! We read president Uchtdorf's Talk ''Kommen Sie zu Uns'' and when I started reading it I realized how bold that actually was. We basically called him out on why he hasn't been in church and I could feel that we had entered a land mine but I listened to the spirit and basically showed him how much we love him and need him in the ward and it turned into a great lesson, but it was super scary for about 10 minutes.

 We also taught Mo. this week and I think that she is going to get Baptized some day but I think it is going to take a lot of time. Just pray for her that she will keep making progress. We saw D. in church and he told us that if he cant find a job in two weeks that he is moving back to Italy and I think if that happens we wont pursue the church on his own. Pray for D. that he will find a job because he truly has the most potential of all our investigators and I would hate to lose him and have him never find missionaries again. Just keep those two in your prayers. That's all that really happened this week. This coming week should be packed though. We have at least on appointment for everyday this week and we don't plan on slowing down so it should be a great week. I am really excited to not be street contacting all day everyday and to actually get to teach... in a building... were its not FREEZING haha. Sorry I don't have very much more to tell ya but that is really all that happened. I love you guys a ton.

-Elder Carr