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We left some bread in the oven for an Afternoon. Totally on purpose....not! It was sad cause it stunk up our appt, and we didn't have any bread to eat when we got home...just charcoal.

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Tea Party- We were supposed to have it with this poor guy and watch Finding Faith in Christ, but he didn't show up. So, we drank tea, and ate apple pie from this bakery
A few notes: -here, the only restriction in the WOW is on green and black tea. All other teas are allowed.
-bakeries are more frequently seen, cheaper, and taste better in Germany than in the US

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Klingelin' it up (doorbell= klingel, which means literally to ring out)

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May pole...Pagan stuff.

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Making Sunday dinner

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Good Mickey Mouse

Bad Mickey Mouse

Email

"I got transferred. I am going to east Germany to the part of the mission we acquired from Berlin. Its called Weimar. Apparently it is famous and pretty. We shall see.
Today we played a 6 hour game of Risk with a less active member family. It was pretty fun. Still no luck on the coat, but I dont really want to lug it around till it starts getting cold, so I am just gonna hold off for now.
I get to go to Frankfurt tomorrow, cause my comp is getting a new missionary to train (fresh out of the states)... So I get to spend the night with the Zone Leaders. That will be awesome. And then I get to travel most of tomorrow across Germany. Wish me luck."
Elder Daniel Schuetz

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Elder Horlacher picking blackberries

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blackberries

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funny sticker- literally "function you only" ie: Are you only just going through the motions of living?

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dead mouse (side note: dead mau5 is a techno artist)

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another pic from a nice home

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This one's a picture of one of the members' homes. They are pretty well to do.

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beheaded people...?

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GOLD- I think it's pretty cool that my middle name is graffitied all over Germany (I've seen it like 10 times, but this one was coolest)

FYI

"As far as Christianity goes there are 2 options in Germany: Catholisch (Catholic) and Evangelisch (everything else). Most Evangelisch folks are of a Lutheran denomination, but it's pretty much a blanket name for any other Christian faith. One unique thing about Germany is that the number of Catholisch and Evangelisch Churches are about the same. Luther started the Reformation, so that movement is strong here. But before that, Catholism was all over the German map as well.

Generally more people in the south and west regions are Catholic (ie: where I am now), and people in the east are Protestant and also atheist (due to communism).

Only members of Catholic, Lutheran, and LDS churches are allowed to legally prosylyte here. There are members of the Jehovahs Witnesses that try and hand out pamphlets, etc. But they technically aren't allowed to go door to door, street preach, or talk about their religion in public. As for us, we have to have a special license to prosylyte. It certifies that we have taken a 4 year course (seminary) and have a "diploma" in Christian doctrine. "

- Elder Daniel Schuetz

Email

"Pics...are kind of annoying. I will try and see how much a small package would cost to send. I have 2 flash drives of pictures here. Meanwhile, here are 2 to tide you over.

1) AXE- "because no girl is called 'hey you!'"
2) Us teaching Bro. Peters. He is a blind man, who was in the hospital for a while, so we couldn't teach him. There is actually a surprising number of blind people here. Anyway, he had been taught the all of the discussions except the Word of Wisdom. He is an avid smoker, so it was a shock for him to learn that not smoking is a commandment from the Lord. But he promised to try and quit, so we shall see. We are giving him a ride to church.


As for this week, we went through the contact list that missionaries had compiled over the years. We have gotten 2 new appointments from this method this week. I hope they go through...


Oh, we are getting some new world-wide mission-traning method explained to us this week. It's supposed to revolutionize the work and some missionaries are excited for it. They already started it in South America, and now they are bringing it to Europe. I get to find out on Wednesday.

That's it for now."

- Elder Daniel Schuetz

Excerpt from Letter

"Just chillin' in a German train right now (called a "bahn"). Not much has happened this week. We did meet with a very biblically educated Catholic guy. Only he didn't believe in the Trinity. We got him to try the BOM, so we'll see how that goes.

Blackberries are ripe here & they grow all over the place, so you can just pick them and eat them. Beside that, not much is new, other than finding out my backpack isn't waterproof. Hopefully more will happen next week."

- Elder Daniel Schuetz

Email

"A cool thing happened this week. Schwester Vogel, a lady who hadn't been to church in years called us up and said she had a dream that she, her friend (also a member), and 2 missionaries she didn't know were sitting at her kitchen table, teaching her and her friend. So we made her dream come true so to speak.....We taught her, and then I got to give her a blessing. She wanted it in English, so I felt a little more free on what I could say.

And that Sunday she came to church. She said her friend would need a little more time, but that she would eventually come. I am really impressed after talking with her. She lives about half an hour from the church building, her parents are totally anti everything mormon, and she is having some health difficulties. I guess it's cool to see that the Lord can work in mysterious ways, and can give you spiritual experiences, even if you aren't expecting them.

Not much happened this last week other than that, coupled with lots of rejection.

This week however, will be different. We are trying to accomplish the mission goal of 20 lessons/companionship. It appears especially difficult in this area, since apparently it has the history of not being very fruitful with lessons. However, we are gonna do it.

Today, we are going to the Harribo Gummi Bear Factory, one of the highlights of Solingen. That should be interesting.
Hope all is well in Irvine. I am praying for you all."

-Elder Daniel Schuetz

From letter

The new thing this week is nicer weather (not as hot). Not many people wanted to listen to us though, and the few that did wanted to argue beliefs rather than come unto Christ. My German is definitely improving though. I learn new words every day. Some of them more pleasant than others...

Excerpt from letter

It's been pretty crazy this week. It seems like I've been ever-busy. My new companion is Elder Horlacher. He's a pretty hard worker, so nothing has really let up. There was a Utah family at church this week. We got to translate for them. The ward seems ready to begin their own missionary program, so we are planning on starting with a few families this week, because member referrals are most likely for baptism. - 7/19/20

Letter Excerpt

There is also a gummi bear factory here called Haribo. Apparently it is a well known brand, but I have never heard of it.

Excerpt from letter

The city I am in is famous for sword and knife making. There are about 4 factories here for making weapons. They are pretty expensive though, and I don't think I could bring them home on the plane.

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Elder Miller

7/12/10

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Elder McArthur
7/12/10

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Elder Gunnell (he is 25. He decided to go on a mission when he really had a desire to. Super great missionary), Sister Botcher and her companion, and Elder Merrill
7/12/10

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My plate of food. Some pasta and salad with unlimited bread.
7/12/10

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Elder Miller. We went to this expensive restaurant called Vapiannos. Expensive in Germany is 10 Euro a plate or so...Most restarants are cheap.
7/12/10

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missionary message....actually a sticker.

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Our District. This picture turned out bad, but everyone is in it.

Our District again. This time, Sister Botcher and I got cut out. It was kinda weird cause we just set the cameras on a table and did it with the timer.

7-12-10

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Elder Rogers- He is a Zone Leader with Elder Gunnell. Super solid missionary also. He is going home however. He will be dearly missed.

7/12/10

Email

On my end, some interesting things have happened. The missions are now combined. The 90 year old sister Pickelein got baptised and confirmed. And my first cycle is over (6 weeks in the field). My companion is getting transferred after serving 1 year here....life is going to get tough, cause he knew this place like the back of his hand, so I never learned which busses/trains go where, etc. I also never really used the phone, so I don't know the good people to bring with to appointments, etc.

Normally, you get 2 cycles with your golden trainer, but I am just getting one. But I am kind of excited for my new companion. Everyone seems to think I will get along with him really well.

We found a lady with 2 little babies that wants to hear our message. She has taken the first 2 discussions and may come to a ward Summer Party on Wednesday.

We also got contact with this lady who initially had no interest, but wanted us to help her move. Well, that didn't really work out, cause they moved before they told us they would. However, she was impressed that we kept coming back, so she agreed to meet with us. She is also bringing 5 or 6 friends who want to hear whats up with our church helping people. Jehovah's Witnesses don't really do that, so they want to know who we really are.

Hope life is cool in Irvine, cause the weather is ridiculously hot and humid in Germany. We have an elder from south Carolina and he says the weather reminds him of home.....

-Elder Schuetz

Excerpt from letter

Written 6/28/10:
"... In other news, I haven't been getting much sleep recently. If you watched the Germany vs. England game, you will understand why. Cars honking, people blowing horns, yelling, chanting, & getting drunk. In addition, on days where Germany isn't playing, there are decent populations of Italians, Spanish, & Africans to supply noise pollution at night. Needless to say, missionary work is difficult during the World Cup..." :-)

Excerpt from letter 7/5/10

"I got cussed out on a bus - in English yesterday. He basically said 'Go back to Utah'. Which was funny because neither me nor my companion are from Utah..."

More Pictures

Here is the weekly pic update


Here is the sign for the knife shop we went to
. We went to the shop for pocket knives, shaving knives, etc., but they also have one for kitchen knives...


some knives...

more knives....

and more knives....

some big knives....

The döner guy. He's pretty cool. He like missionaries, because they all come to his shop for the best döner.

Here is cow. It's on a spit, but it is vertical, and the meat is shaved off. kind of like shaved ice, only there is a heater in the back that slow cooks it.

Here is the chicken one. it's not as good. All of the meat is according to hallal standards, though. So it's Muslim Kosher.

2 pics of Remscheid, The city we contacted in. Lots of leadership members, but everyone who isn't a member, usually wants to stay that way. I saw a funny graffitti thing written in English on the train that day. It said: "Eastside? Westside? REMSCHEID!" Pretty good, huh? There is a lot of cool looking graffitti here. A lot of it is artwork. Some communities have paid graffiti people that come in vans filled with tons of different paints

cloudy day

I don't know if you can see it, but this van's back door is totally broken. A garbage truck backed into it, and glass shattered, interupting our morning study. The guy didn't seem too mad, but I didn't think to get out my camera till he cleaned up the mess and was driving away...

My comp on the phone

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A graveyard we tried to contact people in. I must say, graves are much better taken care of in Germany. The graveyard in general seems like a mixture of Paganism and Christianity...but it's interesting.

WW2 graves

A close up of a WW2 grave

some random 10 ft (or 3 meter) tall cross

awesome sunset @ our apartment

2 of my comp during morning study. He is a slight insomniac, so I forgive him. :-)

Here is one of the church. the chapel is off to the right.

And this last one is a picture of my new Solingen knife. It cost a pretty penny, but it was worth it

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A German version of the musical "Wicked".

This was a sad picture. So apparently, Subway has an All-you-can-eat deal going on.....only on Sunday. Lame!

Capri-Sonne. Here, they have coke flavored, vitamin enhanced, and cherry flavored varieties...at least that is what I have seen so far.

Our District...sorry its blurry. someone else took it.

A bug that resembled a miniature cotton ball. And it had wings...really weird

Me and Elder Miller on our Golden Split! More about that day in the next email.