Week 36 BJF Jul 20

 Ein wunderschöne guten Morgen liebe Geschwister, (A wonderful good morning dear siblings),

Sometimes you walk out of your apartment with a pair of sunglasses and
no umbrella because there's not a cloud in the sky and it's quite the
toasty day. However you return soaking with rain and confused because
nothing ever goes according to plan.

Elder H. and I decided it was about time we visited a pair of
less-active members out in a nice little boonie town by the name of
Wellerscheid. They're about 2 1/2 hours by bus so this was going to be
an all day kinda thing.
Once we reached the neighbouring town we proceeded to walk the next
hour to our destination. We began seeing quite a nasty looking
thunderstorm pulling up from the West so we knew how this was going to
end since neither of us had any sort of prep for the rain. But we were
committed and kept going.
Unfortunately our member friends had recently moved and we were the
last to receive the news. After a few other attempts we began the long
journey back but this time with rain blinding our path and lowering
our hopes.
After about 20 mins into our walk we saw a van pull off ahead of us.
At first we didn't think anything of it but as we walked past a young
man shouted out for us to hop in.
I had just joked about how Germans don't pick up strangers but I was
proven wrong yet again.
We then got acquainted with our new friend Daniel as he took us to our
bus stop. He was a native to the little town and as we spoke the
conversation turned to why two American kids are walking through a
thunderstorm in the boonies of Germany. Perfect chance to introduce
the Mormons haha.

As we spoke further I just felt like that was where we needed to be in
that moment. We didn't have a very in depth talk, he wasn't a golden
investigator, nothing miraculous. However we were set up to give this
guy a chance to serve, so he could make the choice to be selfless. And
hopefully hear the gospel when we get to talk again. The strange part
is the rainstorm suddenly stopped right as we were getting out of the
car, almost like it had achieved its purpose.

It's a silly story but it was a small proof to me that we don't know
everything, we don't see the whole picture, sometimes we don't know
why we're in a certain place or why we struggle with something. But
there is someone who does. He sees the whole picture and has set it up
just perfectly for each of us to play our piece in this great plan of
happiness. To help each other and to personally grow and improve. He
loves us and wants us all to someday return to our heavenly home
together. I'm proud to be a part of it, even if I'm not that good at
it.
Simply because we're all brothers and sisters, and we need to remember
how much we love each other.

I just wanted to share that story and some of my thoughts from one of
our crazy days. We also had a Picknick with the district at the
biggest park I've ever been to.
Yes, the video is related to the email header hehehe.

Hope you have a lovely week, Liebe - Elder Fuller

P.S. I think the Catholic Church is having us followed....by Nuns.
I've seen 40 or so in the last 2 weeks.


Ä

Some great companion-ships here!  German graffiti would be strange to see indeed.

Week 30 DTF Jul 17

Another week gone by. It was a good week, lots of work done.

We went to visit one of the members just to check up on him and share something to up lift him and his family. After we talked for a minute he told us he had to kill a hyena that morning, Apparently it was in his compound and the dogs went nuts (Everyone has dogs out here but not for companionship, dogs are the rest of the worlds alarm systems.). It's okay though, He hit it in the back with a panga so it ended quick but dang. but of course we had to get a picture with it. It was a younger one, kinda looks like an angry badger with a Mohawk. Also i think it is worth mentioning that all the shepherds out here are like 7 years old. you will see a herd of 30-40 cows and at the very end you will see this little kid who isn't even tall enough to see over the cow holding this tiny stick trying to keep these 300 pound animals in line, it's so weird. that's about it from this week!

 I love and miss all of you a ton! ​​

 

Week 35 BJF Jul 13

Ah! The Rhine in Germany. Viking Cruise anyone?!

Both sets of Elders replaced by Sisters this transfer. Elders F & H look okay with that!!

Holed up in a rock!  I bet it feels nice and cool in the shade.

Week 30 RLF Jul 17

Madrid Temple view from the CCM where she stayed for 6wks to train and learn Spanish.

 
Hola,

This week was pretty normal again, we have lots of potential here but very few people are actually feeling the urgency of the message, but whatever happens happens as long as we're doing our best to be obedient. 

The members here are angels and really supportive of the missionaries. We had a wonderful activity on Saturday and saw many investigators and menos activos come to enjoy the heat and the meat, it was a success I would say. 

I am learning so much here, it's truly amazing how the Lord can change us when we give up our will to him. 

I'm doing my best to appreciate things as they really are in their simplicity this week.  I've learned that the gospel is perfect exactly how it is and there is no reason to add or take away from it.  Things in their simplest form really are the best.  Especially when it come to the gospel.  

I love how the mission really helps you see yourself in a new light and absolutely gives one the environment and the tools needed to improve and change drastically in a short amount of time.  

We listened to a talk the other day, and it talked about being in the world but not of the world and how the world is constantly looking for comparison competition and not being good enough.  And I really felt that way without even realizing it, but the mission is the place you're not being compared to anyone but who you were before and there is no competition, as long as you're doing what the Lord asks that's all that matters, and because we are always doing our best for the savior he will always accept it as good enough be use it is all we have. 

If we give our will to the Lord and do what he asks without fear, he will show us miracles, all we have to do is follow the spirit, y de hecho i have a story about that.  

Zone Conference with training of all missionaries in the area.  Can you spot our favorite Hermana?

We had zone conference this week (which is when the whole zone gets together and president teaches us things, basically get spiritually motivated once ever 6 weeks, seriously it's like a spiritual feast)  and our president showed us a talk that President Holland gave at a meeting recently and President Holland was talking bout having the spirit as your constant companion.  

And he told a story about a boy who lived in Pocatello Idaho and one day stormed from his parents home and left on his motorcycle to go join the hells angels. He never went back to his parents house, and had a very rough life of drugs and alcohol.  His parents feared he was dead.  One day he woke up in an apartment that wasn't his and dint remember anything that happened for the past few days, and in the moment he felt something had to change but a few days later he drove to California and joined the local hells angels group there.  After nearly 20 years of hard living he was sitting in his trailer home on the front porch when he saw two mormon missionaries walking up, a flash of emotions filled him, fear, regret, guilt, pain, anger, and eventually hatred filled him and he was happy that he had two rottweilers who could chase those two boys away.  

And right on cue as the Elders approached the fence the rottweilers frothing at the mouth charged the fence closest to the Elders.  The man laughed as he saw one of the elders jump and back away.  They continued to walk past his house and the man felt safe, until suddenly the Elders stopped and one looked back at the man and said something to the other they talked for a moment and turned around to go back to the fence.  Right on cue the rottweilers jumped up and began to bark again but suddenly as the Elders got closer the dogs stopped turned around and went and laid on the porch next to their owner. 

The man at this point,  too shocked to say anything, listened as the Elders introduced themselves, then they asked him his name and he said it with a little bit of snap, then one of the Elders asked him where he was from and he said Pocatello Idaho. "you don't happen to know the keelers do you?" one of the Elders asked.  The man replied "yes, I do."  "they're my parents" 

The Elder then replied, "well sir, they're my parents too, and I've come here to bring you home."

After a long conversation that night on the porch the man found out from his brother, born after he had left home, that his parents had worried and prayed and fasted for him constantly over those past 20 years, only hoping that if he wasn't dead, he would somehow make it back home.  

And because that Elder was in touch with the spirit he knew he had to turn around and talk to that man on the porch guarded by vicious dogs, but be us eye had the spirit with him he knew God would provide the way. And he found his brother and he brought him home.  Eventually the man joined the church and was married in the temple and serves as a bishop in a ward in California.  

All because this brother wasn't afraid to follow the promoting of the spirit.  

I am grateful to have the opportunity to find my brothers and sisters and tell them, "our Father sent me here to find you and bring you back home" 

Those of us that have the gospel ought not to keep it to ourselves, because if we do we are not following the prompting of the Spirit and we are not helping our brothers and sisters to come back home again.  

We can each be conduits of the spirit and help others to find their way again, we have the truth, we have the gospel, we need to share it.  

As a full time missionary I know that we cannot do it without the help of the members, the members are the strength of missionary work, not the missionaries.  

I know it's true

Christ stands at the head

He is our brother and our savior

Let's tell the world 

Love, 

Hermana Fuller

Week 29 DTF Jul 10

 

Hello hello! this past two weeks has been strange! but entertaining.

First of all We had a funeral Here for one of the members grandmothers....well a lot of the members grandmother actually! She had a bunch of kids who had kids who had kids so half of the population here is her posterity. We were sad to hear she had passed she was a wonderful woman but she was 107 after all. But for the funeral we had to clear out an area for the funeral to take place, and since Mbukoni is 90% volcanic stone and 10% dust that meant moving a lot rocks. And how joyful we were when we discovered that under every other pebble was a hellacious scorpion! So since we are optimists, Elder Wilson (the one of the elders from nthongoni) and I decided that the one to kill the most scorpions would Receive a fresh machungwe from the other (machungwe is a Kenyan orange, but they aren't orange they are green.. so we have to call them that. my last companion was very adamant about that haha.).  Because when life gives you scorpions you make scorpion-aid..wait don't do that. We were working pretty fast and I was at about 10 but mid way through I got one on my shirt by accident and almost for stung haha so we called it good. I know what you're thinking, "He almost died for a weird African orange?" the answer is yes but that's just because machungwe are NICE. The serve went well though. 

Also! we had 2 Canadians in our zone of 8 Elders, and as it turns out, July 1st is Canada day!! and they insisted on celebrating to the utmost degree. We went all out! We put up the flag, sang their funky anthem, got some kid to prepare some chickens for us and had a ball. one of the elders even somehow got CHEESE for this dish called poutine which is basically chips with gravy and cheese. I don't know how he pulled that one off. But the night was wonderful and the Kenyans made me a bread necklace, i don't know why they did this  but i was nonetheless thankful. we also climbed one of those huge baobab trees which was a good time. It was super strange however because i did absolutely nothing for the 4th... I cheated on my own country for gravy and cheese..(Worth it).

Sadly Elder Otika and Elder Wilson got transferred, BUT i got a new companion named Elder Shongwe from south Africa and he is great. 

Love all of you to death! missing and praying for you all everyday. 

Cheers-Elder Fuller

For letters and death threats.

Kenya Nairobi Mission
P.O. Box 46162-00100
Nairobi
00100
Kenya

Week 29 RLF Jul 10

Week 34 BJF Jul 6

Ei Gude, wie?

First things first, we got a new mission President.
You know, the big guy in charge of the 180ish missionaries here around
Frankfurt and the entire missionary work for a third of Germany? Yeah
that guy.
His name is President Boyer. We got to meet him and his family for the
first time last Monday. I gotta say I'm pretty impressed. he's brought
his wife and 4 kids along which is different from Pres Stoddard who
was older and retired. It'll be quite the change here in Frankfurt but
I'm convinced it'll be positive. Being a mission pres is probably one
of the craziest and hardest callings in the church especially with
young kids, but he seems up to the task.

This week Elder H. and I have been seeing a huge difference in the day
to day. We're still not working consistently with anyone but we've
been setting up quite a few who could progress quickly. For some
reason a bunch of people are also suddenly throwing people our way
from all over. One referral came from Missouri, another from Poland,
last week a group of about 4 guys visiting from Utah gave us a name
too. Just goes to show the Big Man upstairs is working harder than we
are. We're pretty grateful for his help too, we certainly can't do it
otherwise.

Random story for ya this week. Yesterday we didn't have anything in
particular planned so after helping a member with a move we spent the
day dropping by on less-active members and some potentials. After half
a dozen or so with not so much success we were feeling pretty beat so
we thought we'd try to drop by on one last guy on our list then go
home.
As we were getting ready to hop on a bus a guy flagged us down and
suddenly started talking all about Jesus and giving us his number and
address insisting we visit him sometime. He seemed a bit crazy so we
didn't take it too seriously. We then ran for our bus and took an
uneventful ride, however once we reached our stop and got ready to get
off....lo and behold....it's the same guy!
About 10km away he literally was getting on the same bus as we were
getting off. It made no sense but we took it as a sign that we should
give him a call and set up an appointment.

And today we took a trip with the sisters and one of their
investigators to a nunnery. We got to see some monks sing Gregorian
style, explore a lovely place which has been around since 1096 A.D.
And then take one of those peddle boat thingies for a ride in a shirt
and tie. So therefore.....Pictures!

We also dressed up for the 4th of July, myself with red white and blue
attire. And Elder H with his festive socks that almost got him in
trouble haha. (The picture doesn't do them justice)

Liebe Grüße- Elder Füller

ß

Week 28 DTF Jul 3

Dear Daniel,

We are anticipating a hot 4th of July, surprise!

It makes me so happy to see you, I love your pictures. Thank you!

It is great the kiddies get to play with your rubix cube and wear your nametag. So relieved you got a better bike! By the looks of the closeup in the tree, it tells me your comp also climbed it!! How did you? Dad said you shimmied up the middle. Putting those angels to work overtime, I see.

Well we love you and missing you like crazy, of course. So grateful for the opportunities you have to touch so many other's lives for good. The goodness that is in you is limitless because it comes from God. Charity is within each of us, we just need to share it.

"The greatest form of Charity may be to withhold judgment."

I wish you all the best for a wonderful week!

Love,ma

💪😆😱😎

HEY! life is great here. Nah i was the only on to climb in, there are a bunch of terrific hand holds in the sides and back made by elephants i am told and it was a lovely time. I will be putting way more up next week and a video if i have time. Ben sent me some kool aid so im good on that! and be sure to go easy on those packages from here on out, the cost is killin me a lil bit haha. LOVE YOU SO MUCH! THANK YOU FOR THE PICTURES!!!! love you and miss you so much!

-elderfuller!!! 

Week 28 RLF Jul 3

Bon día 

I'm gonna be honest not too much went down this week but that's good sometimes we just need a week where everything is the same and we have no surprises.  

Although we did have one little miracle.  We have an investigator who de verdad is pretty much a flake.  And we're not 100% sure if he is interested or not.  But we taught him and invited him to come to church. Now in the past he said he would go and didn't so when we invited him we were not expecting a whole lot.  But it just goes to show you the Lord has a plan bigger than us and that he knows the people better than we do.  9:30 Sunday morning there's Johnathan reading and waiting in his bright pink shirt that says in purple writing, "I don't believe in humans" with aliens and a space ship and in that moment I felt more love for him than I have ever felt for any person.  I saw him for a moment as Christ saw him.  Although he is new to all this and doesn't really know how to feel comfortable in the world, in that moment I could see he was trying and he did have the desire to see what all this is about and why he felt so good when we were teaching him.  I saw his desire to be who God wanted him to be and I loved him for it.  He's a good kid, and I'm so excited to see how the Lord is going to help him grow and progress.  

I kind of realized this is how so many people are living their life right now.  People without the gospel, or even people with the gospel.  they really don't know where they fit in the world they don't know their purpose and they feel out of place and out of touch, but what the gospel does is it shows us all of our potential and it gives us a way to reach that.  Through faith and repentance, baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy ghost,  we not only find our savior and follow him, but we find ourselves and our purpose and potential.  We feel at home because we are. 

 when we follow the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fulness we reconnect and make a bond that will be the tool we need to fulfill our purpose here in this life.  

What ever it is that the Lord has been asking you to do recently, do it.  He knows you better, he knows what's coming.  Talk to him and ask him what it is that you need to do to be who you're supposed to be, and then when he tells you, do it, without fear and without question or doubt or murming.  

He knows me better nd I'm going to trust that what he did for me on the cross wasn't just for me to say sorry and mess up again but for me to actually change.  The atonement is there so we can realize our fullest potential, no matter what we have done or haven't done what we're experiencing or whatever it is, sadness hard times pain, its covered by the atonement.  I trust Him when he says it's covered.  

Love, 

Hermana Fuller 

Week 33 BJF Jun 29

Schönen guten Morgen, these last two weeks have been hard to remember.
The first one was mainly spend running around on the streets in the
nice summer weather. The humidity is about as thick back in Texas so
naturally we're sweating about 98% of the time. Germans don't believe
in A/C and for some reason they don't believe in fans either. However
this past week has cooled down significantly and now we're
appreciating the cooler weather much more.

As for missionary work we've had lots of fallen out appointments and
can't seem to find many new people so unfortunately I don't have any
huge miracles or success stories to share. Just little everyday
miracles and some pleasant happenings. Earlier today well buying some
new shoes to replace my age old pair one of the employees became very
interested in our shirt & tie business and asked if we're some sort of
preachers. After I tried on my new shoes another employee took it to
the register well this nice guy began asking all sorts of questions
about what we teach and if he can meet and learn more sometime. So
yeah lesson learned, everything we do as missionaries leads us
somewhere to meet someone. Even buying sneakers.

Last week (just a quick recap) we traveled out to Aachen, a city on
the border of Germany with quite a lot of history. So we thought we'd
go have a picnic by some Old Panzers which are close by the Aachen
Church Building. And that's what this weeks pictures will consist of.
We then got lost, confused, and then left behind by our train. I kid
you not the front car literally detached and left us sitting at a
random Bahnhof in between Köln and Aachen. But it all worked out in
the end and we had a party.

Last Tuesday our Ward mission leader (he's awesome) told us about some
crazy sale at an expensive store. So that's what we did today after
finding some sneakers and browsing a few other stores, Elder Holyoak
and I bought some very nice 200-300€ suits for about 25€. I kid you
not they are the fanciest suits we've ever had and they were legit
that cheap (about $27). I didn't think they could be sold for so
cheap. We're still freaking out. We'll do a little companionship
photoshoot sometime and I'll put those photos on next week, and yes we
bought matching colors #compgoals

We're now with the Euskirchen Elders preparing the most complex curry
I have ever seen, 6 weeks in the preparation. I'll let you know if it
puts anyone in the hospital.

Bis nächste Woche
Liebe -Elder Füller

P.s. Thank you for the lovely birthday wishes, I don't feel any older.

Ä

Week 27 RLF Jun 26

Woo-hoo! Here we are almost July.... Like... Wait hold on.  what???? It's almost July? But I just left and was in the CCM you're telling me I have 6 months on my mission tomorrow? Ladies and gents it doesn't seem real.

I'm here in Terrassa with my amazing professional beast of a companion and were contacting literally every person that walks the streets, we're calling people, meeting people, there exists not a moment we are not working.  And I am so happy.  

Sweating for the Lord is a great feeling. And boy do we sweat.  

Super crazy thing happened. 

So when I was serving in Girona we would have our district meetings in mataro sometimes.  So one time we were in the chapel and there was this lady who was super friendly and sweet, and so, ehow we connect that I was in the CCM the same time as her little brother! And we're like... No way...amazing!! And then.. It gets better, this was probably 2 weeks before transfers.  Then when transfers finally came I find out I'm being called to their ward in Terrassa!! So here I am serving having dinner in the home of this family who's son is one of my good friend from the CCM.  Small world right? 

 

Also Theyre from Argentina, and they love Yerba matte.  It's a huge thing there Argentina and a huge thing here amongst our missionaries.  So today I purchased, my first matte cup and Yerba. I'll attach photos next week.  I love it because it's a really easy thing that brings so many people together,  literally we have it everywhere all the time. In meetings for personal study, matte is constantly flowing.  

I feel extremely blessed here as well because we are so close to Barcelona, we get to visit often and see the beautiful city, although unless you're going to the beach shopping or eating there isn't much we have found to do in Barcelona Spain yet, but we will figure it out.  

Missionary work is so amazing and I know this is exactly where I'm supposed to be and I know the Lord when he tells us things, it's a sure feeling a feeling of yes, this is right.  Yes this is what I need to do. 

When you receive an answer from the Lord, there won't be doubt there won't be question, it will just feel good.  

I feel so grateful to be a missionary and give this time to my father in heaven.  He is so good and he knows what each and every one of us need individually.  

It's true yall 

Love, 

Hermana Fuller

Week 27 DTF Jun 26

I would love to see Dan's interaction with these cuties.

She is proudly wearing the badge of honor here. His companion in the background.

Yeah we are in the cool season here in Chyulu which is super nice. and yes it is was cooler here. i came in the hottest area during the hottest season so i have already been through the hardest there will be haha. The people are awesome, They are very inviting right up to the point when you ask them why they aren't coming to church then they get real real quiet. haha. but we are working with a lot of people. My current companion is from Eldoret here in Kenya, I am killing him this transfer though so next week i will be getting a new comp when we go into town. Usually we get up and do our normal studies and then clean the flat, then we do laundry and cook breakfast. here we usually play soccer at makutano Then go home. there isnt much do to out here. BUT NEXT TRANSFER WE ARE GOING TO TSAVO! tsavo is gonna be crazy!!  Love you a ton! pray for you all the time! thank you for your love and support.

-Elder Fuller

 

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