Monday, September 30, 2013

Germany



This week seemed a lot of fun for all of you. It always makes my week so much better knowing that everyone is doing well. Shoot time flies... ha But, I know you guys are just enjoying life.
So Saturday we had the opportunity to play some basketball. There is a small park here in Bad Homburg and so we got the Elders from Usingen and a couple members and then we all played. It was really cool because we got 3 new contacts from it. I am soooo out of shape.. WOW! Haha and also the next morning I have never been so sore in my life. It was a lot of fun playing and I was really excited to at least play basketball for once.
This week we also did a lot of walking so I am very tired and sore.. We dropped by some less actives and they weren’t there or they tell us to leave. Elder Smith and I walked and talked to a lot of different people and not much success came about that. So that was okay. I don’t have a whole lot to write this week. I just want to leave you with one thing though.
While teaching Thomas and Shirley this week I have done a lot of studying about families, and how important they are in God’s plan. Shirley has had the question about eternal life and Heavenly Father’s plan for us. Studying this week strengthened my testimony on families and how they are important to me. I love my family so very much and I would do anything for them. I know Heavenly Father put us in these families so that we can learn how to love and become like our Savior Jesus Christ. I miss you guys dearly. Teaching Thomas, Shirley and David are incredible. I wouldn’t change this opportunity for anything. I know that they will continue to build their faith. They are some of the most incredible people I have ever met.

It’s not as long today. We are headed up to Königstein with Thomas, Shirley and David. Thomas got work off so that they could spend the day with us. I will definitely send pictures next week. Everything is going good here.
Love you all

Elder Emery

Monday, September 23, 2013

Liebe Familie

Alles Gute Hier in Duetschland. Another week has passed. Another great week to mark in the books. I am glad to hear that everyone is safe and that mom is home safely. That would be such a neat experience painting in the temple. The temple is an amazing place no matter what. I am blessed to still be serving here in Friedrichsdorf where the temple is. Its such a beautiful place and the Germans are so humble and love the temple.

This week was more of a struggle week for us. This week we had 5 appointments fall out and it just seemed this week the German wasn't there. Some days speaking German is really easy and then other days nothing seems to come out and make sense. This week was definitely one of those struggle weeks for us but we made the best out of it.

There are some days on the mission that are the best days of your lives and then some days where nothing seems to go right.. The Lord definitely tests your patience and is a task sometimes. But you really learn how to just take everything how it is and laugh about it. There is a mormon message actually about that. I believe its called, "Come What May and Accept It." Sometimes in our lives we wonder why things come up. But if we take it as something to learn, then things become a lot better. The mission teaches you a lot about yourself. Dont look forward. Take it 1 day at a time.

Thomas and Shirley are yet still incredible.. I don't even know what to write about them anymore because they are so awesome. They just love hearing from us and are seriously the nicest people I have ever met. They have become family to us and they accept us as one of them. Shirley is making a ton of progress and is almost there. She just says she needs to find it for herself now. But she is searching and praying and receiving answers to those prayers. Everything is going well with them. We teach them again 2 more times this week.

Apart from the 5 appointments that fell out this week everything is going good. Its definitely been a challenge but it's been good. Elder Smith and I get a long really well. He is such a funny guy and I am grateful for him to be my companion. Our German is about the same and so sometimes when we are talking with people it gets really funny. Because its not perfect but we understand almost everything. Haha so there have been some funny moments. But the mission is something you must enjoy but yet get the work done.  OHH... And I have gained 6kg.... which is 12 pounds.. yeah thats been a little rough :) haha

If you get the chance. Watch the Mormon message, "The Will Of God." It is such a powerful Mormon message and there are a lot of things to learn from it. It is one of my favorite Mormon messages. I am a changed person now. I figured out the things I needed to. I am more friendly and love talking to people. The mission humbles you so much. I have been humbled. I know our Father in Heaven has a plan for all of us.

Machts Gut!

Love you all



Elder Emery
 The world's largest car show was here in Germany and so we were able to go to it last P day! It was a lot of fun.


Monday, September 16, 2013

Germany



Wow, everything just seems like a blur lately.. The weeks go by so fast. It sounds like everyone is doing well yet again. Staying busy that’s for sure. We are also staying really busy here in Germany and the work is starting to pick up. I love this work and I have never been this happy and it’s been awesome.
This week was a little hectic for some reason but it turned out to be a good week. Since Elder Lindsey is gone it’s been a little weird for Elder Smith and I because it seriously is like starting up a new area. Elder Lindsey knew everything about the area and I would just follow in his shadow. But now Elder Smith and I are somewhat new so it’s been a lot of fun getting used to all the train schedules and bus schedules. We find ourselves running all over the place a lot and barely catching trains. Also, we actually bought a couple bikes and they are probably from the 80s. My bike is sweet. Its purple with a brown colored leather seat that says "Texas." So I named it the Texas Ranger.. haha and Elder Smiths is probably older than mine and looks like an antique bike.. We have a lot of fun. But yes we are being very careful so no worries. But like I have said it’s been a little bit crazy at times but we have a lot of fun.
Elder Smith is another really cool guy. I have been so blessed with 2 awesome companions out here in the field. He is from England and has a sense of humor. I can’t lie though.. Sometimes it is so hard to understand his accent because it is so strong. We have fun and he is also a very hard worker. It’s always cool getting new companions because there are always new ideas that come in and then we just find new ways. We get along really well and it has been fun.
Thomas and Shirley are also doing really well and made a lot of progress this week. Shirley like I have said had no background whatsoever on religion and so we have been teaching her from the foundation. It’s been really cool to see their progress and It has been so much fun. They both are so ready for baptism. Kind of a cool thing. We actually set Oct 12th to be their baptismal date.. Shirley was not quite ready for that date but Thomas has been so excited. We told them to pray about that date and to let us know how they felt. Thomas always answered with a firm yes and was going to actually get baptized on that day without Shirley.. We told him to pray about it one more time because we thought it would be cool if they got baptized together and it would be a more special feeling. Thomas ended up texting us the next day saying, "Hey Elders, while I was praying for that date last night I fell asleep, but I have been feeling strongly that I should wait for Shirley to get baptized with me.. I know Heavenly Father wouldn’t want one of his children to feel left out and so I will wait for Shirley to get baptized with me."   That was really such a cool thing because we know that would be such a cool thing for them to get baptized together. But Thomas is ready and is waiting for his wife Shirley to get baptized with him. We are so excited and happy for them. It is so amazing how on the mission you meet someone and they feel like family. Shirley is so ready she just needs to believe in herself. It has been awesome teaching them and I will keep you all updated.
You know, the mission teaches you a lot of things. I have realized in my life how many blessings I have received and how humble it has been. The other day while I was reading the story "The Fourth Missionary" (Thanks Parents) I began thinking how I can become a better missionary. I have been praying for guidance to help me be better. As I was reading in another talk given in General Conference it said the words "Sacred Calling" and that made me think about missionary work. I began thinking about those 2 words for a while and that’s what being a missionary is. Being a missionary is a "Sacred Calling" It has been so humbling and I know that this work is the Lords work. So many missionaries take it as a vacation time. I take it as the Lords time. Every day is the Lords time and my whole perspective for the rest of my mission is different. I love the Lords work. I know this is his work. He is leading and guiding us every step of the way. We just have to allow him to work in our lives.
One last thing; we are really using a lot more online stuff lately like Mormon messages and such. One thing that came to me that I would like to share is Service. Everyone, please look for service opportunities. The greatest joys in life come from when you are serving others.

I love you all. Thanks for the prayers. I am praying for you always
Elder Emery




Friday, September 13, 2013


Hectic Week

First off, Happy Birthday to Treyton.. And happy anniversary to Jackson and Cherese. Crazy how time flies and I am so grateful for them in my life. Things here in Germany are going great and the success keeps moving forward.
This week we had transfers. Elder Lindsey left me.. So I am not being trained anymore. The first day I was super lost because he usually did everything for me.. But I received Elder Smith this week. He is from England and is 6 foot 4... Haha so it's kind of funny with 2 big giants walking down the road contacting people. He is such a great kid and I am thankful to be serving with him. It has been weird though since Elder Lindsey has been away. Like I said, he had done everything for me.. And now the role is flipped. My German I am forced to now talk, so it's coming faster and faster. Its been cool to see and the gift of tongues is real.

Right now we are still teaching Thomas and Shirley.. They are seriously the most prepared family ever and It has been such a privilege to be teaching them. We set a baptismal date for October 12th and Thomas accepted it. Shirley has no background whatsoever on religion so we have been teaching her a little bit slower but she is just as ready as Thomas is, so hopefully that day will be the same.

The work here in Germany is moving forward.. This week was a little bit crazy. Sorry I don't have time to write much more today. But I love you all and I am grateful for this work.
"The best relationship anyone can have is with our Heavenly Father."
Love you all

Elder Emery

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

Awesome Week



Thank you everyone so much for all the birthday wishes. It was such a great birthday and I absolutely loved everyone’s letters. It sounds like everything is going great and everyone is just enjoying life. The birthday was a lot of fun we went over to the Robertson’s who are actually from England. They are such a cool family and I will forever be friends with them. They pretty much took me in as their son that day so that was really cool.
The baptism went through!! The first baptism I have seen and taught Jose all the lessons. It was really cool to see his progress and see how happy he was. A member in our ward actually baptized him so he would get in better with the ward. The ward is really taking care of him and they are so happy for him. He is such a great guy. After he was baptized, he whispered to us that he has never felt that way in his life and that he feels like a new person. It was so humbling and I will always remember that experience teaching him.
Transfer calls were this week and... Elder Lindsey will be leaving me! I have learned so much from him and we are seriously like brothers. He has taught me so much about missionary work and about myself and I am so grateful for him. We will always be really good friends. He is going down to Heidelburg to be a zone leader. So I will be staying here in Friedrichsdorf.. My new companion is Elder Smith. He is from England and I have heard he is an awesome, funny guy. So I am excited to meet him. I am glad I am staying here in Friedrichsdorf because we are teaching so many great families and the ward Is finally coming together. I love missionary work.

Thomas, Shirley, and David are honestly some of the coolest people! I have never met a better prepared family then them. A cool story about them: So they are actually a referral from the Robertson Family from England I was telling you about. Their son David and the Robertson's son, Tom, go to school together and so that’s how they met. The Robertson family invited them to a Ward Activity we had and the members just started greeting them and that’s where it started. Elder Lindsey and I had a lesson back in the first of June with them to see where their interest level was and they said they are super interested in religion but at the time they were leaving to Malaysia for a whole month and that they would like to meet with us when they got back. A month passed and we have met with them ever since about the 2nd week of August. Thomas had a little background of the Bible but wasn’t really religious. Thomas is from Germany and has lived in a town called Koeppern all his life. He met Shirley who is from Malaysia and is one of the nicest ladies you will ever meet. They have been married for about 10 years now and have a son David who is 7. Shirley has no background of any religion because her family I believe were Buddhist. So we have had to explain a little bit more in detail about everything. They are such a great family and have us over to eat about 2 times a week and just love learning new things. David sometimes participates in the lessons but usually just being a 7 year old he goes in his room and loves staying active. We have taught them about the first 2 lessons out of Preach My Gospel and they are just soaking it in. Actually a cool side story.. Thomas was searching on the internet about the church and he read about the Word of Wisdom.. He told Shirley he read something on the internet about how Mormons don’t drink alcohol and so he went to his fridge and got all his alcohol and said to Shirley that he can’t drink it anymore. So he took all his alcohol to his parents’ house. Just stories like that keeping up. We just received a text from him asking about the Baptism Requirements he needed to know.. We haven’t even set a baptismal date. But they are such an awesome family and I am excited to still be able to teach them
Anyways, thanks for all the support and love. I am so appreciative of the people I have in my life. I have never been this happy in my life. I feel like I am helping people and it has changed me. I also want to say a big Happy Birthday to my Grandma Parris. I had the great opportunity to be born on the same day as her. I have learned so much from her and I have been so blessed with her in my life. Thanks Grandma for everything and again Happy Birthday. I love you all.
Elder Emery