Week #9 Thank you Mr. Gardener!

Hello Family and Friends!! We made it two months!!!! It is kind of weird to think it has been that long but it is so cool that I am here in Germany. Every day, I put on the tag and I just get so excited!!!! Yeah, missionary work is a blast. 

A little more about Ulm. It is election time in Germany and signs are everywhere. People try to give us pamphlets and you just pretend to be interested. I mean you do not want to be rude but I think they would realize we are not German citzens. One cool thing about Ulm is that there are two different parts: Ulm and Neu Ulm. Neu Ulm was an addition to the city but it is actually in a different state. You have to cross the Donau (the river) to get to Neu Ulm. With it being the same but different cities, there are different laws in each part. In Neu Ulm, it is okay to feed the ducks. In Ulm, yeah, it is against the law. Kind of funny, right?

We had zone conference which was fantastic! We had lots of instruction about diligence, working with members, and the Atonement. I love our leadership! They are such incredible missionaries and they are examples for me. At the end of the conference, we sang the EFY medley. This time, the words seemed different. To actually be a missionary while singing that song touched my heart. It reminded me of times in Primary and Priesthood that prepared me for this. It reminded me of friends, family, and my parents that change my life and prepared me for this mission. It was a wonderful moment for me and I left with an urge to share the message that I love!

As for this week, it was up and down. I guess that is normal. You have to have rain in order to love the sun, right? The good moments dealt with my friend Godwin, the Prophet Joseph Smith, and the Book of Mormon. Godwin was with us on Sunday and we watched the Restoration. I recommend everyone watch it for FHE. It is so good! It reminded me how much I love Joseph Smith and how much his actions has impacted my life. The Book of Mormon has also been inspiring for me this week. In an MTC devotional, Elder Bendar suggests to take a copy of the Book of Mormon and read it with a question. As you read, you mark the answers. I read a lot this week and found so many answers! I love the Book of Mormon! It is such an incredible book and a powerful testimony of our Savior. Read it everyone! We have such a treasure that we cannot afford to forget. 

The down part about this week was German. At times, I am kind of disappointed. When I do not understand or I cannot respond well, I get a little bit discouraged. To be honest, I was not interested in learning a language when I was filling out my papers. I really wanted to preach the Gospel in English. However, the Lord had a different plan for me.  There is a really good talk by Elder Christofferson that talks about this. He tells a story about Elder Moyle (an Apostle years ago) who had a small bush that he trimmed and he imagined that the bush was complaining that he (the gardner) hurt him (the bush). Elder Moyle replied , "Some day you will thank me. For loving you enough to cut you down." Read the whole story. It is fantastic. Anyway, I think I will thank the Lord someday for loving me enough to cut me down or in other words, assigning me to speak German. It is the struggle I need, the burden I need to learn from. As we trust the Lord, more miracles occur and we will understand. 

Hope you guys have a wonderful week. You are in my thoughts and prayers. We will see talk again soon. 

Elder Mason Evans. 

PS.

I got some piano music from a sister in our ward and she is a fan of Rob Gardner!!!!!! Finally, someone in Germany loves Lamb of God like I do! 

Classic selfie on the train

 Our many, many Books of Mormon in several different languages 

  Truth be told we do have a piano in our apartment and I have been using it.

 The complexities of the German transportation system

 You know those school zone signs we have in America? This is the German version

 A music school

  That is what we call a yufka wrap. Stuffed with meat and cheese. You get them at Kebaps.

Silly Elders after a wonderful meal

Another picture of food! It is called Lamachun...I think that is how it is spelled. It is like a pizza wrap with shreads of beef, lettuce, cheese, and sauce inside. Also found at Kebaps ;)