December 31, 2012

                Anyways, this week was great. We spent a lot of time with Yuri since it was Christmas and everyone else was gone. He read from Alma 26 to Helaman this last week, and loved it, so hopefully that will help. Other than that we are on the search for "the elect of God". We found a cool guy yesterday. I stopped him on the street and just asked him "Wie geht es Ihnen?" or how are you? and he stopped and said "Zeugen Jehovas" (Jehovah’s Witnesses) and I said, nope. We are Mormons. And then he was a lot nicer. Apparently he had had bad experiences with the Jehovah’s Witnesses, but had really good experiences with Mormons. So that is a shout out to the members of the church! Way to go! It was really cool, and we have an appointment with him on Thursday.

                Oh and guess what? A guy I found in Richterswil on exchanges just decided to baptized. His date is for the 17 of March. That is so COOL!

                Today I read John chapter 9, and I loved the response of the formerly blind man to the questions of the Pharisees. To these men of the law, trained in scripture and logic, this unlearned man said, 24 Then again called they the man that was blind, and said unto him, Give God the praise: we know that this man is a sinner.

 25 He answered and said, Whether he be a sinner or no, I know not: one thing I know, that, whereas I was blind, now I see.

                I love this response. This man didn`t know everything. In fact his knowledge of Christ was very limited. But one thing he did know, and of that he was certain. And that is what he shared. Like this blind man I give my testimony of what I know, of what I have experienced. I know that Jesus is the Christ, that through his infinite atonement we can overcome all things. All that is unfair can be made right again. I love my savior, and I love the work which he has commissioned me to do. This truly is the work of the all mighty God. Of this I am certain, and this is my testimony, in the sacred name of Jesus Christ, amen.

liebe

Elder Terry

Sister Miles took this picture of Elder Terry in October 2012

December 17, 2012

(Elder Terry started his email discussing the Christmas phone call...boring details for all of you following this)

                Anyways, guess what? I forgot to tell you but I played the piano for sacrament meeting last week. I wanted to tell you thanks for forcing me to learn piano, and sorry I was such a terrible student and gave you such a hard time. And I totally ruined it for Sidney and Riker. 
                Next piece of news. Yuri wants to come visit us next summer in Utah. He is planning on coming in May. Can he stay by us when he comes? 
                Now about this past week. It was way cool. We went caroling on Friday with Bru Lucero and his daughter, and it went well. We went by on an old investigator, and she was very happy and invited us to come back in January. We also had the ward Christmas party on Saturday.  That also went well. 
Funny story. We found a family from Eretria last week, and we visited them. And as we arrived they were drinking coffee. (that is a huge part of their culture. They drink legit coffee. They make a little fire in their apartment and everything) and of course they offered us coffee. We declined, and so they offered us tea. We asked what tea, and his wife starting making it as he searched for tea bags. Turned out to be black tea, so we declined to drink that as well. We finally settled on water. It was pretty funny because he kept pulling out different kinds of tea but they all had black tea in them. 
                Things here in Chur are going well. We had a lot of snow, but then it melted. Now it is pretty warm.
Anyways, I have a real testimony that Christmas is the best. In German cultures the 4 advents (weeks leading up to Christmas) are a time to reflect and prepare for the next coming of Christ. I like that. This really should be a time where we reflect and take an accounting of our lives. I know that if we do that we will find ways that we can make room for Christ in our lives. I love this church, and I LOVE MISSIONARY WORK!!!!!!!!!

Liebe,
Elder Terry

December 10, 2012

Dec. 10, 2012

Dear Mom,

                Well first off, this is going to be short and good. Short because we are actually in St Gallen and we are going to a Christmas party, so I don`t have tons of time. But here is the run down of important things. I sent you a package today. I wanted to send it last week but we got too busy. So it might, with a lot of prayer and a little luck, get there before Christmas, but probably not. It will probably come after. Sorry :( but I still love you, and it will all be okay. I forgot to label all of it, so next week I will tell you what stuff belongs to what people. 

                Then, this week was really awesome. Reason number 1. We went to the temple. Temples are true. 

Reason number 2. It snowed. Everyday. 

Reason number 3. I had an exchange in Winterthur and it was really cool. We also went caroling as a zone in Winterthur. It was a lot of fun. As we were walking down the street to where we were going to sing I was trying to keep my eyes and mind open and find someone who really needs the gospel. Because we were in a big city and in a big group of missionaries, it wasn`t possible for me to talk to everyone. So I needed to find the right person. I said hello to a young lady, and then kept walking, but something told me to turn around. So I turned around and began to talk to her. She was really cool. Atheist, but she was really looking for answers. I was able to get her information so that the missionaries can give her a Book of Mormon and help her to come closer to God. It was just a really cool experience, and really funny, because I stopped to talk with her, but no one else of the missionaries stopped, and after talking with her for a few minutes, no other missionaries were in sight. But don`t worry, I found them and all was well.

                Anyways, like I said, this email is going to be short. But don`t forget that I love you!

Liebe,

Elder Terry

December 3, 2012

Dear Mom,

                Well this letter will be really short because we are going to a real Christmas market today in Einsiedeln. I will take a lot of pictures for you. Sorry I haven`t sent a lot of pictures. I bought a new camera, and have been taking a lot of film, but unfortunately, I couldn`t send it through email, and I haven`t had the time to think through a new solution. I will be able to show you the film soon enough anyways. 

                PS I changed my mind. There is something I want for Christmas. The Conference Ensign. I still don`t have one :( I feel like I am slipping into apostasy. And we are watching the Christmas devotional on the 23 of December. Oh, and there is still no snow in Chur, but in the mountains around it. But Zürich has a lot of snow. Like 10-15 centimeters. For Americans that would be like 6 or 7 inches. 

               Anyways, this week has once again raced past. I can`t even remember what we did. We are continuing  meeting with Kurt. He is making a lot of progress and should be baptized soon. We were hoping actually that he would be baptized this coming Sunday, but there arose some complications, so some time in January seems more likely.
Yuri is doing well, he came to church yesterday and loved it. And just finished reading Jarom. He is going to get baptized really soon, he just hasn`t realized it yet :) we also had a great appointment this week with a family in Lichtenstein. They are Pentecostal, and super bible fans, which makes the Book of Mormon and the whole restoration difficult for them to comprehend. But we read together in the Book of Mormon and at the end of the appointment they told us, "I don`t know if this book is really from God, but everything we have read today is true." hopefully  they will continue  to read more and more and more and more, because the Book of Mormon is the best. 
                We also had a good appointment with Ngawang, our friend from Tibet. He always asks really interesting questions. This week he asked us if it is okay to kill animals or insects. Because it is not allowed in Buddhism. We tried to answer it, but he wasn’t really satisfied. Its not really something we even talk about at church. I guess everyone has to find out for themselves. But I suggest reading in D&C 49: 18-21. It was fairly enlightening.
                Well what is important is that the church is true! We really are led by living prophets and apostles, but what I really love is that they don`t tell us every little rule or do`s or dont`s. Rather we all can know for our selves, through the Holy Ghost, what is right. That truly is one of the greatest blessings ever. I love you and have a great week!
Liebe
Elder Terry

picture of The Switzerland missionaries with Elder and Sister Nelson (who are Sis. Miles's parents). Elder Terry is on the fourth row, left center, in the yellow tie

November 26, 2012

Dear Mommy,

                Well, we had a good trip down to St. Moritz. There wasn`t much to do there since all the summer stuff is closed and none of the winter stuff was open, but it was still really, really beautiful. Let’s see.... my Thanksgiving was rather unexciting. We didn`t really celebrate at all, so it was just another day. But it sounds like you had a lot of fun for thanksgiving. That is good :) 

                I really am having a hard time remembering what we did this week. The time flew past. We had a finding day in Zurich. That was pretty good. I enjoyed it a lot, and we had a lot of fun. We tried to do some Christmas caroling but it wasn`t so successful. But we did find a really cool young man from Brazil who was really excited to learn more. He was the first person I talked to during our finding day. You know it is going to be a good day when the first person has interest. 
                Other than that we have just been focusing on our investigators. Yuri says thank you so much and that he loves you and that you are the best! (for the bengay) He is doing good. We were able to have a pretty good serious talk with him, and it helped me realize more clearly what his challenges are and how we can help him. He pretty much just needs a social conversion and he will be baptized. So that is what we are working on. We are trying to get him invited to family home evenings and such so that he can have the support necessary to make the changes in his life. 
                Kurt is doing good as well. We talked a lot with our branch president and he thinks Kurt can be baptized before the end of the year! So that is awesome news. We will see how it goes this week. We are teaching the word of wisdom tomorrow :) it will be good.
                We also met with a cool young guy named Iqbal. We had given him a Book of Mormon a while ago, and he had googled it and had watched a lot of anti-Mormon stuff, like "hi, my name is .... and I am a ex Mormon" I guess that that is like the anti mormon.org site. It was interesting how people would twist and turn truths, and how partial truths are really lies. anyways, moral of the story, we were able to straighten out a few misunderstandings, and Iqbal committed to reading in the Book of Mormon and meeting at least one more time, although he is busy with school and couldn’t say exactly when. But it went really well. We have a lot of really cool potential investigators who we just need to meet with :) and we are prepping for Christmas time. We are going to go caroling a lot. 
                Anyways, time flies, I can`t believe it is almost December again, sorry this email sounds really boring as I read it, but oh well, I guess it will help you increase in patience and love. Don`t forget that I love you! You`re the best!

Liebe
Elder Terry

November 18, 2012

Dear Mom, 
             Well first of all I didn`t get transferred, and neither did Elder Nielsen. We get to stay together for another transfer. Isn`t that awesome? and thanks for the stuff for Yuri! And yes, I will be in Chur for Christmas! We are excited. anyways, I suggest you go to the German Christmas thing because we are going to Germany in the summer so you won`t really experience a German Christmas. Sorry
             Well this week has been a busy and exciting one. First off, I bought a new camera,  so you will see that on my bank account. But it was totally worth it because I take like a video clip a day. It is sweet. Anyways, this email will be a little bit shorter than normal because we are going to St Moritz for p day.
            Anyways, here is the news from Chur. We have discovered a new religion. It is called Bahai? (Actually it is Baha'i) At least I think that is how they spell it. I don`t have enough time to explain everything that they believe, nor do I know that much about it, but it sounds pretty interesting. Anyways, we met 2 people that are this religion this week. One was a bit nicer then the other. The nice one is named Herr Broder, and we were able to meet with him this week. Unfortunately he didn`t want to make out an appointment with us, but he felt the spirit, and pretty much couldn`t deny that we are the true church of Jesus Christ. He was previously Catholic, and at all of the points that caused him to convert to Baha'i we either had similar beliefs or better beliefs. I think it made him a little scared. Hopefully he will contact us this week. that would be awesome. Anyways, we are busy looking for the elect. This is the work of God, and I absolutely love it. There is nothing better in the ENTIRE world. Sorry this letter is so short, but I still LOVE YOU LOTS and LOTS!

Liebe
Elder Terry

Pictures are of Goldens and Trainers  August 2012
Elders Terry and Nielsen  August 2012
Terry, Schmidt, Carter  August 2012

November 12, 2012

Dear Mom,
                I got your package, and I waited until today to open it. It was fantastic! Thanks so much for watching out for me, and thanks to everyone who wrote something :) I have the best family in the world!
                Well this past week has been exciting and busy. We have started to meet with a family in Lichtenstein! They are pretty interesting. They are super faithful, but Pentecostal, and really bible oriented. Not really sure how interested they are. They like to try to teach us from the bible. I must admit, it is really hard for me not to bible bash with them. But we are doing our best, and the Lord will do the rest! 
                Things are also going well with Yuri. He is making progress, slowly, but surely. I think sometimes as a missionary I forget how hard it can be to change. For me it is so clear that if the Book of Mormon is true, then get BAPTIZED! It is hard to remember that there could be 1000`s of other social or even doctrinal issues that the investigator doesn`t even mention. If fact, when you think about it, it is a miracle that anyone converts at all. There seems to always be challenges and concerns, yet those who hold to the iron rod come through alright.
                We are also having a lot of fun with Ngawang, our investigator from Tibet. He really wants to study in the Book of Mormon and find out if we are telling the truth. He also cooked Tibetan food for us this week. It was good. 
                We have another busy week a head of us this week, and transfer calls are on Friday. I am hoping that now that Elder Sanderson and Elder Sullivan are the assistants that they will send me to Italy :) that would be awesome! hahaha but we will see. 
                This week was also a week of miracles. Every day we met people in the most random areas. Monday we should have had an appointment with a guy named Rolf, but we show up and he wasn`t there. So we went streeting for 40 minutes and then I said, "I am hungry, lets go buy a chocolate croissant " so we walk in the store and the guy we wanted to meet with is standing right there! He had to work and sent us a text message, but our phone didn`'t get it. So that was cool. Then Tuesday we were on a train and as I got off I saw that an old man gave a younger girl a book about Jesus. I waited until he got off, and then told him that I appreciated that he would talk about his faith. He was a really cool guy, and we talked for a while, and then he said that he needed to go to some Brokies (second hand stores). That was cool because we needed to find some because we need a new rug, so I asked if we could come along for a while. We were able to talk to him a lot, and the more amazing thing, at the first brokie we go to we walk in and see a potential investigator from another city who we have been trying to contact. So we were able to talk with him. Then Thursday we were streeting and talked to a man who turned out to be a less active member who the ward had lost track of and had tried for the past 2 years to find. All I can say is that I am grateful for a Father in Heaven who sends us his tender mercies to let us know that we are on the right path. I know that God guides this work, and his hands are in the details! The church is true!

Liebe
Elder Terry

November 4, 2012

Dear Mom,

                Well sorry that you are battling sickness and tiredness, but doesn`t it make you grateful for a universal resurrection where we will finally not get sick or tired anymore? The gospel is the greatest :)
And so is being on a mission. This week flew by, I woke up this morning and thought that it might be Friday, and then realized that it is Monday. Crazy. I think I am trapped in some kinda crazy time warp/wrinkle in time that is distorting by ability to perceive time. But anyways, on to more important things....
                Well let’s see what happened this week... First off John, our cool Nigerian friend got deported. He called me today from the deportation camp, and at the end of the month he will be sent back to Italy. He will call us when he gets there, and hopefully the missionaries there will be able to teach him farther. 
We met a cool guy named Yawad. He is from Syria and he came up to us last Monday and said in very broken German that he wanted a book. So we went home and got one in Arabic and gave it to him. He is almost finished with it, and came to church yesterday, the only frustrating thing is that we can`t really communicate at all with him. But don’t worry, we will find a way.
                Things are continuing with Yuri as well. He is still in love with the Catholic Church, but little by little we are teaching him the restored truths of the gospel, and they are changing him. 
                We also went to the temple this week. It was fun to be in Bern again. I love that city :) and the temple was awesome. It is the best place on the world.
                We also had finding day this week in Richterswil. It was good. We found a couple of cool people, including a funny guy named Jonas. I asked him what the purpose of life for him was, and he explained that he was atheist and didn`t really believe in God, and then I asked him if he knew anything about the Book of Mormon? He answered that he watched South Park, and knew about the Book of Mormon from a couple of episodes, and I was able to convince him that he should take the Book of Mormon and read it for himself. Hopefully he will do that and will be able to find answers to his questions and problems.
                This week I have been studying a lot about change, and how we can change ourselves through the atonement of Jesus Christ. I don`t know how you, or anyone else feels, but sometimes I feel like I am stuck in the same old routine, and that it is ridiculously hard to change. I searched the scriptures, looking for some secret knowledge that I knew would unlock this mystery for me. I spent a lot of time studying it, and even more time pondering about it, and it was truly a testimony to me about the simple but eloquent truths of the gospel as I read in Helaman 15:7-8

 7 And behold, ye do know of yourselves, for ye have witnessed it, that as many of them as are brought to the knowledge of the truth, and to know of the wicked and abominable traditions of their fathers, and are led to believe the holy scriptures, yea, the prophecies of the holy prophets, which are written, which leadeth them to faith on the Lord, and unto repentance, which faith and repentance bringeth a change of heart unto them—

 8 Therefore, as many as have come to this, ye know of yourselves are firm and steadfast in the faith, and in the thing wherewith they have been made free.

                This change of heart was wrought upon the Lamanites through faith and repentance! That is the Gospel of Jesus Christ! The third missionary lesson! It can`t be that simple! But thank goodness, it is. The gospel of Jesus Christ is a divinely appointed plan of action. It is God`s way of changing us. A change that is so complete, a full change of actions, thoughts and even desires. I testify that faith and repentance are the way to overcome all challenges of life! I am so thankful for a loving Savior, who suffered, bled, and died that I might, through his tender mercies and grace, change my life, step by step. I testify that this church is the Lord`s personal church, led by his appointed prophet. And I testify that missionary work is the best! 

Liebe
Elder Terry

pictures:  Elders Terry and Nielsen at Lake Arosa
Lake Arosa
McRaclette Burger
Swiss Days at McDonalds

October 29, 2012

Dear Mom,

           Well sorry this letter is going to be short. But we are going to go to Arosa, a town in the mountains today because it has been snowing heavily the last 2 days. It is really cool. I love the snow. This week was pretty fun. We had interviews and that was cool. Pres. Miles told me that because of the change in age for missionary service they aren`t giving out any more extensions. Elder Sanderson, Elder Sullivan and I are the last ones to get extensions. Cool right? anyways, this week was really good. But I don`t have enough time to explain why. Suffice it to say that the church is true. God lives, and he is involved in the details of our lives. Change is possible through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I love you and have a great week!

Liebe
Elder Terry

October 22, 2012

Dear Mom,

                Anyways, this week was really interesting for us as well. Here is the shakedown. So Pres. Miles has decided to try something new, wait, that was worded improperly, THE LORD has inspired Pres. Miles to make a few changes in the mission, mostly that for the foreseeable future we will be having district meeting on Wednesday instead of Thursday, and after district meeting we will make a district finding day, where we spend the next few hours working in that area. This week we worked in Zürich. Man, it was interesting to contact in the city again. It was a lot of fun, and we found a lot of really cool people. Not to mention that on Tuesday I was in Richterswil on an austausch (I must say, I love not having to do austausches every week.) then Thursday we had 2 service projects, Friday we had appointments all day, Saturday appointments and weekly planning, and yesterday we went to Zürich for a broadcasting of Pres. Monson’s address in Frankfurt. So there is my week. All summed up in one paragraph. That is just the unimportant details stuff, now is ready for the good stuff.  (love his English?)
                First Yuri; You know in Star Wars Episode 2 where Obiwan says to Anakin, "Why do I get that feeling that you will be the death of me?" sometimes I feel like that with Yuri. Ha ha ha ha just a joke, I really love this guy. We visited him 3 times this week, and he is making a lot of progress. We talked about the Sacrament, gift of the Holy Ghost and prophets. He knows that it is all true, knows he should be baptized, but he just won`t do it. He came with us to Zürich yesterday, and Pres. Monson blew him away. I asked him what he thought of Pres. Monson, and he said "When he talks, it is like Christ is talking. Now I know what it means to be a prophet" he is making a lot of progress, but please oh please, keep him in your prayers. 
                We also are making a lot of progress with Kurt, an investigator who is really cool. He is illiterate, and has some learning disabilities, but he is really smart and a cool guy. He is also making progress, although slowly, but that is understandable.
                Also John, the Nigerian that we found last week. Man he is a funny guy. On Thursday we met with him, and we challenged him to bring some friends with him. Next appointment he brought 3 friends. And they were pretty hilarious. 2 of them weren`t super interested in what we had to say, but one was, and we had a super good appointment with him yesterday. We discussed the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and they loved it. And the end of the lesson John told me, "You tell the pastor here that he now has two new members. We will be here every week!" Obviously we still have a few things to teach him about church organization, but he will get there. 
                As for conference, we have now listened to them a lot, (we have a car, and what better to listen to) and after listening to Pres. Monson`s conference addresses as well as his talk in Germany, it has again been impressed on my mind that he truly is a prophet of the Lord. He is an amazing example of the influence one man can have if he follows the promptings of the Holy Ghost. And that is what Pres. Monson does best! 
                Well I hope you have a great week, we are having some amazing fall weather right now, and it is amazingly beautiful, so I hope that it is like that back home as well. I love you!

Liebe
Elder Terry

October 15, 2012

Dear Mom,

                Well I am glad that you were able to find my voice recordings. I tried hard to make it interesting, but the only time that I could remember to speak in it was when nothing was happening. Lameo right? As for Elder Reid, he is the funny military man. 
                This week was an interesting one. Let’s start with Sunday and move backwards. So yesterday we had church, like usual. The first councilor in the branch presidency is from Orem, and his parents came to visit, and they brought me some Skippy peanut butter. Life is good :) Weird that they live in the same place as you. Kinda. they live by Harmons. 
                Other cool stuff, the branch president asked us to take a present by on a less active member because it was his birthday, so we did that. And he was home, and we were able to visit with him for a while. We visit him quite a bit actually, normally at least once a week, and we helped him move this last week, and so we have a good relationship with him, and now he is starting to read in the Book of Mormon again, and hopefully he will come to the broadcast of Pres. Monson next week (pres Monson will be in Frankfurt next Sunday and his talk will be sent to churches in Switzerland) so we are pumped for that. But back to the less active member, he asked us to give him a blessing to help him come back and it was a really spiritual experience. Really cool.
                We also found a cool guy from Nigeria named John. He actually has already been taught almost everything by missionaries in Italy, but now he is here. it was funny because we met with him yesterday and he called the missionaries in Italy and I got to talk with them for a while. They were in Rome. Anyways, that was cool. 
                We also have Yuri still. We taught him twice this week. He asked his Catholic priest on Tuesday if he could be baptized by immersion in the Catholic Church, and..... the priest said no. But Yuri still has a few concerns with our sacrament service, but hopefully we will be going with him to see pres Monson next week as well, and that will surely help. 

                Well besides those cool things, I have really been trying to do as Pres. Monson said in Priesthood session, and see people’s potential and what they can become, and to be honest, this was one of the hardest weeks of contacting of my mission. No one seemed to want to listen. And it was heart breaking. And needless to say I started to get frustrated. But then I heard a really inspired quote from Bruce C Hafen of the seventy. He said " we can`t expect to have Christ`s love for others without experiencing in a small part Christ`s suffering for others, because in reality the love and suffering are but 2 sides of the same coin." This really struck me hard, and helped me to realize that the heartbreak and difficulty aren`t signs that we are doing something wrong, rather evidence that we are developing more charity. This new point of view has really helped me in the past week. I give my witness that Christ does love us, enough to die for us, and that truly is "wonderful to me". 

Liebe
Elder Terry

Pictures from July 2012

Here are some pictures Sis. Miles recently posted.  They are from District Meetings and Zone Leader Meetings held in July 2012.

                          

October 8, 2012

Well let me tell you about this week.....
                                1st for anyone that missed it, the prophet, the only man on the world authorized to use all Priesthood keys that we have at this time, spoke to us. As well as the apostles. And it was awesome! You asked what my favorite talk was? Well we weren`t able to see the Sunday afternoon session because it starts at 10 pm here, and Elder Bednar and Elder Scott talked in that session, and they are normally two of my favorites, so I reserve the right to change my vote once I have heard those talks, but here is my review of general conference.
                First clearly Elder Holland is really very good at giving great talks. Definitely one of his spiritual gifts. But the talks that I liked the most were actually both of Pres. Eyring’s talks. I don`t know what exactly it is, but when I look at Pres. Eyring the one word that comes into my mind is humility. I can literally feel it emanating from him. His talk in priesthood session was amazing, about seeing the potential of those we lead and serve. And then his talk about submitting to the will of the Lord was probably my favorite talk of all of conference. Pres. Eyring is an amazing example to me of the principles he taught. 
                My next favorite were both of the talks by Pres Monson that I heard, so the Priesthood session and Sunday morning session. His talk at priesthood session seemed to be like an extension of Pres. Eyring’s talk, talking about how we need to see the people around us. I have been studying a lot about that recently, about how willing and able God and Jesus Christ are to forgive us, to trust us, and to believe in us. NEVER EVER EVER do they say, "that is too hard for you. or you can`t repent, you can`t change" but they ALWAYS seem to be saying "you can do this!" Like Elder Holland mentioned, Christ committed the priesthood keys, the earthly leadership of his church, into the hands of a man who had the week before denied him 3 times. Talk about trust, talk about forgiveness. Christ clearly had a vision of what Peter could become. 
                I also liked that talk about "selling your soul for 25 cents?" as well as the talk about "temple quality". They both really taught me the importance of personal integrity and complete and full repentance. Like the temple workers, I must replace any flaws in myself that I or someone else (that is way harder) discovers. Regardless of how small or unnoticeable, or how costly it might be. I must do it, because repentance is the only way to happiness. 
                Anyways, the rest of the week was really cool as well. We went to the temple on Friday, so that was a good general conference preparation. Also on Friday was transfers calls, and I am staying here and so is Elder Nielson, no big surprise. 
                As for your question about walking in the rain. Like you said, we have a car, and we live in Switzerland, which has the best public transport in the world. We really only walk in the rain if we want to. Otherwise I would dare suggest that we can get within 400 to 500 meters on any appointments with buses and trains.
                Cool experience of the week. We visited some members in Lichtenstein this week. So now I have officially been a missionary in 4 countries. Our investigators are doing good. We had a good appointment with Yuri this week, so he is doing good, and hopefully we will find some really cool prepared people this week. Don`t forget that I love you a lot!

liebe
Elder Terry

October 1, 2012

Dear Mom,

                Well, thanks for the stories from the missionaries. (The full-time missionaries spoke in our ward yesterday and both are converts.  One had an amazing and sad life story) It truly is amazing to realize what some people had to sacrifice in order to accept the gospel, and then I feel almost ashamed for how easy it was for me. But the bottom line is that the church is true, and regardless of who we are or where we come from, the gospel has the answers to our questions and our problems.
                This week was an interesting week. It went by really fast. like I can`t really remember what happened, I swear I was writing you just yesterday. But I will try to give an accounting of my days, for progenitors sake :)
                Well we are working hard with an investigator named Yuri. He is a super cool guy from Chile, Catholic/Frei Christ (sorry I can`t remember what kind of a religion that is in English. Pretty much a "we are saved by grace not works" idea crossed with a rock concert?) but he reads daily in the Book of Mormon, and he knows that it is true, but refuses to believe that there is only one true church. "God has many evidences of his love" is what he loves to tell us. We had an appointment this week with him and our branch president, and we talked about the priesthood, and it went really well. He understood the concept, but somehow the application still isn`t there. Hopefully we will be able to really help him to feel and follow the spirit. 
                Other than that things are going really well. We have a lot of investigators, and hopefully we will be able to help them come closer to God. Wow, good summary of missionary work, I know. But I really can`t think of anything else to write about. 
                Anyways, sorry this weeks letter is on the lame side, but hey, if Enos and Jarom and Omni had written more then there wouldn`t have been any room for Alma, and if they can summarize an entire lifetime in a few pages, then one week in only a few paragraphs isn`t so bad, right? 
                Don`t forget that I love you, or that Jesus is the Christ. All I can say is that I love Him with all of my heart, mind and strength, and I hope that I can follow the counsel Mormon gave his son, "may Christ lift thee up, and may his sufferings and death, and the showing his body unto our fathers, and his mercy and long-suffering, and the hope of his glory and of eternal life, rest in your mind forever." That is both my goal and my testimony.

Liebe
Elder Terry

September 24, 2012

      Well first of all thanks for the birthday card for elder Nielsen. We got it today and he loved it. 2nd I found elder Chapman in München bahnhof. (train station) When I went to Munich to pick up elder Nielsen he was also there because it was transfer day. 3rd, well I filled out all of the papers and such for a swiss license, now I am just waiting for it to arrive in the mail. It should come this week. and yes I withdrew the money, but it was only 200 franken. crazy translation fees. I needed personal money to send you the voice recorder back, and I thought I needed it for a swiss license, but they didn't ask for any money, so we will see if they send me a bill, and I figured I would withdraw more money because sometime soon I will buy more souvenirs and I need to send a lot of stuff home, so be prepared. One day soon you will receive a huge package in the mail. :)

              

  Well, this week has been really amazing. Mostly because we had 4.6 investigators at church yesterday! Kebrom, Kurt, Bernard, and Yuri with his 2 kids (they are the .6) It was great! And it really just showed me that God is leading this work, and he knows what we need and how to do his work. Another cool experience yesterday helped me learn that as well.

                So when we went to München to pick up our new companions, Pres Miles met with all of the trainers and he talked with us about the importance of studies. He told us to never miss personal, companionship or German study. Even on Sundays. That was hard for me, because in the past with all of my companions we counted church as our studies and with the training program which includes 2 hours of comp study, our Sundays would then be shot. Church from 10 to 12 (church is only two hours in Chur (Did I tell you that?) then talk with members, walk home, get home at 13, eat lunch til 14, then comp study for 2 hours and German study for 1 hour. Now it’s already 5 o’clock. Day is over. I didn't like it, but hey, Pres. Miles is the guy with inspiration, so what could we do? We had to obey. So yesterday was a day like that. We even had ward council after church, so we didn`t get on the street until 6 o’clock. But the very first person we talked with was a lady from Germany, and she told us she is searching for the truth, and wants to meet next week. Then the next person we talked to was a man from Pakistan, and he and a friend both wanted to learn more, and then we finally got to the guy we wanted to go by on, and we couldn`t find the right door, so I just knocked at a random door, and it was an old lady and her son, both from Eretria, and they let us in and wanted to learn more. Within 15 minutes we had found 5 people who wanted to learn more about the gospel. It was both amazing and humbling. It really showed me that I know absolutely nothing. All of my skills, all of the experience I have, all of my knowledge, it all surmounts to nothing, if I don`t have the spirit. I have knocked doors and streeted for 9 hours without a break and haven`t found 5 interested people. Yet the Lord can send them all to us, one after another, all because we (mostly I) humbled ourselves and followed the counsel of the Lord. I testify that this principle holds true in all aspects of our lives.

                The Lord can do more with 15 minutes then we can do alone in an eternity. The Lord can do more with 9/10 of our income then we can do with all of the money in the world by ourselves. The Lord can do more with 6 days in a week, than we can do alone with 7. But the natural man doesn't see it that way. So often we only see what lacks or how little we have. Like the widow and Elijah, sometimes it seems like the Lord asks us to offer up everything, when in reality He is trying to give us everything. I testify that if we will give what is required of us by the Lord and our priesthood leaders, then like the widow our oil and our flour WILL NOT FAIL. "For with God is nothing impossible." That is my testimony, and I know it is true. Thanks again for all you do, you are the best mom ever!

Liebe
Elder Terry

More Random Pictures

Here are some more pictures from Sister Miles's blog.  These were taken in June I think, when he was still with Elder Sanderson.

September 17, 2012

Dear mom,

            well I am writing you a letter from Chur! In the library, but they have a really weird keyboard, so there will be a lot of spelling mistakes, and my letter might be a little bit short. but there is a lot to tell.  (I corrected the spelling errors, sorry just my little OCD thing. I didn’t correct his grammar though because it’s fun to see how hard it is to think in another language.)
            1st, as we were in Zürich last week to get me a drivers license, a lady stopped us on the street, told us she was a member from Canada, and she has a 9 year old daughter who wants to be baptized. Can you say MIRACLE? The silly driver’s license place was closed because there was a big festival, but somehow this lady found us in the middle of the crowd. And we gave her info to the Zürich elders, and now the 9 year old has a baptismal date! Oh yeah.
            We also met with Elder Nelson this week. It was really cool. Man that guy is smart. I don`t think I have ever met someone who knows so much as he does. He told us a lot of cool stuff, about repentance and how we can give all of our hearts to the Lord. Apparently the Greek word for repentance is metanueo or something like that, and it means that we must have a change of knowledge, change of belief, change of spirit and change of breath. It was really interesting. He said a lot of other good stuff, but this keyboard is not so functional.
            Now, on Thursday we were finally able to work in our area, and man, the Lord had a lot of miracles in store for us. So Thursday we were on the streets, and we talked to a cool guy from the Salvation Army (random facts and questions, did you know they are a church? I always thought they were just a charity organization or something. And remind me sometime to tell you about the origin of the Salvation Army) anyways, we gave him a Book of Mormon and had an appointment last Saturday, and we will meet with him again this week. We also invited a guy on the street to come to church on Sunday, and low and behold he was there! And he liked it and we have an appointment with him this week. We also found a cool guy named K_____ from Eretria, and he has family, and wants to learn more.  All and all it is really good because the work here is starting to move forward. It is just awesome. And our gml is super pumped to do missionary work, and is getting the members excited. Man this work is the best. There is nothing better then working with our Heavenly Father to save the souls of men. This church is true. I testify that the Keys of the Priesthood have been restored, without which there can be no church of God. I testify that through the ordinances of that Priesthood we can access the purifying, redeeming, changing power of the Atonement, which ordinances are requisite to enter the kingdom of God. I encourage everyone to ponder on the power of gospel covenants as we partake of the sacrament weekly. I hope you have a great week, and that you feel better soon :)

Liebe,
Elder Terry

With Elder Chapman

Driving to St. Moritz with Elder Nielson

St. Moritz

September 10, 2012

Dear Mom,

                Well this week was definitely something new. I have to admit, it has been really weird. The whole training, whitewashing, and having a car thing is a lot of changes, but we are starting to get a hold of it. On Monday we got to know our one investigator, Y____. He is from Chile, and is super cool. Unfortunately he had a really great relationship with the elders before us, and was really hurt that it was whitewashed. So at first he didn`t want to meet with us. But our GML and his family invited us to play soccer with them and Y_____, so we got to know him. He has started to like us but it might take awhile. So in the meantime we have just been trying to get know the members and find new investigators. We have found some cool people, but unfortunately we haven`t been able to make out any appointments with them. GR..... oh well, its part of life, and I am learning to be more bold and to explain better our purpose and how we intend to help people.

                Fun experience of the week:  We had to drive 2 hours through the mountains to get to some members. But it was beautiful. They live in near a city called St. Moritz. Supposedly it is famous, but I guess not famous enough that I knew what it was.  But the 1928 and 1948 winter Olympics were there. It is really beautiful. But 2 hours one way in a car is WAY TOO LONG. I was going crazy. Literally. I brought our area book with us and was hoping that I could call some people, but low and behold, not so great reception. Who woulda’ thought?

                But guess what? Leichtenstein is in our area! And we have members who live there. And supposedly it’s against the law to preach the gospel there. We will see :) So if I suddenly withdraw a lot of money it is so that I can bail my way out of jail :) hahahaha jk. Maybe :)

                Okay enough about the area, we really did experience some miracles this week. We were on the streets in Sargans, a cool town, and we met a lady that is from Portugal. We made out an appointment with her, and on the next day we brought her a Portuguese Book of Mormon, and asked if she knew anyone who would want to learn more. And of did. So we made out an appointment for Saturday and she promised to bring her friend. On Saturday we went to the appointment. M______, (the Portuguese lady) wasn`t there, but her friend was :) cool huh? We have the numbers from both of them, but no appointments for this week, but we will set up some appointments. (funny German note. I almost wrote "Make out appointments" because that is what you say in German. I think that all new missionaries find it funny because it is "make out".)
                Another cool story. We visited a less active sister, and she really wants to return to activity. We are visiting her this Wednesday and will set a date for when she wants to go to the temple.

                Well Tomorrow Elder Nelson of the quorum of the twelve comes to Zurich, so we get to meet with him tomorrow and Wednesday. I am so pumped. It is going to be great. Well I hope that you have a great week, I love you!

Liebe

Elder Terry