Disappointment

Hallo,

saw an LDS license plate and thought that was pretty neat

For those of you who knew how well I bowl, I am sorry; for that part of me has been lost somewhere on the train from Oldenburg to here. For in Oldenburg, I could definitely please a crowd of children celebrating a birthday. But not here in East Germany. Today we went bowling as a district and might I say, excuse my strength in language, I sucked. I can't even begin to explain the amount of times the ball helplessly rode down the lane in what is called the "gutter". My spin that I mastered during the summer of 2016? Gone. My ability to get a score higher than 60? Gone.

if you look closely in the back you can see a large group of children cheering us on at bowling

The other parts of my week were much better though. Wednesday was yet another German holiday. It was national "don't be home when the elders try to come visit you" day, so everyone we tried to visit wasn't home. That’s alright though, later all 4 of us elders went and ate with Schwester Musehold and had a grand ole time singing “Called to Serve” like a German teenage girl would sing “Despacito” by Justin Bieber.

Me and Elder Oliver worked a lot on Persian this week. That is because, there is a temple trip coming up this Friday-Sunday with all the Persian members around the temple and our mission, and only the missionaries who can speak "level 6" Persian get to come with. Well I made it up there and get to go to the temple this weekend which will be amazing. Also an amazing opportunity to hear a Sacrament meeting all in Persian too.

We met with a very interesting man this week. We eventually were able to teach him through the first lesson and get all of that squared away through just a very odd appointment in which many odd things were happening. We then talked later to some members, just to find out he met with the missionaries here 4 or 5 years ago and did the same thing to them. He also told some interesting things from him and kindly suggested we be careful with him.

We made s'mores on Friday for spiel Abend, so that was pretty sick.

I was given the opportunity to give a talk this past Sunday. I thought it went quite well, especially because I wasn’t roasted by my companion this time. I spoke about the power of the Holy Scriptures. As I studied I thought to myself, what is the real point or goal of the scriptures? Why do we even need them? Well their goal and purpose is to testify that Jesus is the Christ, and the son of the living God. We need them because the only way we can understand that and receive a testimony of that, is by reading the words which they have spoken to us. Just thought that was a neat little thought. Go ahead and ponder on that one if you so please.

Well, we've got a big week ahead of us, enjoy the rest of your summer my legends.

our army of mini figures

Elder Glenn Johnson

Kirche Jesu Christi

Plauer Straße 11d

Brandenburg an der Havel 14770
Deutschland

Die Woche des Tempels

I’ve talked about the temple in like my past 3 weeklys, but technically none of you can complain, because complaining about the temple is borderline blasphemy. Well, this week wasn't really the week of the temple, but we did go. We can speak more about that later.

We had an unexpected/unplanned appointment with our fav Arabic family when one of our appointments fell through and they happened to be home, that was great. We actually had a sister from our mission call in and speak to them to kind of explain a little better what we do in a language they could understand good. We also played some good ole European football (soccer) with the kids and destroyed them like usual. I'm not even sure why they even try against me, they don't understand how much soccer I placed when I was 6.

We actually didn't even eat once at our apartment the whole week, just filled with eating appointments and being in Freiberg, so I’d say that’s neat. We ran into a group of African dudes who were speaking English very loudly in the Bahn, and it was nothing less than humorous. One of them was telling his friend that his mom is excited to see him because he doesn't eat KFC, but makes him and his friends all eat corn and rice, so they've all lost weight. The original also told him he was going to go to KFC right then and just eat it right in front of his face, it was quite the situation to witness. Gotta love those angels.

Well, let’s just get on with it and get to the craziness of getting to the temple. Well after a night of not too much sleep, we wake up bright and early to head on over to Berlin very early. On our ride all the way through Leipzig, Chemnitz, and then to Freiberg, we didn't run into any problems which was quite surprising. No delays—nothing. Until we got off the train in Freiberg, I pat my pockets making sure I have everything, and don't feel the phone. Can this really be? We ran back on the train before it left and checked our seat and, phew, it wasn't there so it had to be with us somewhere. But no, we checked all through our things and there was no phone to be found. So it must be on some train somewhere in Germany just riding around. So we had no phone, no way to contact anyone if something happens, but nevertheless we made it to the temple in time to be in the endowment session with Sister Musehold, as she does it for the first time. It was a very sweet experience for all—these worries of not having a phone and whatnot just go away in the temple and just live there in this place away from the worldly things. We did two back to back sessions which was quite tiring but very worth it. The House of the Lord is definitely the coolest place to be it was great to be able to go again after 8 months without being able to.

good times in freiberg

Dresden is cute

took this ICE to Leipzig, rip Oldenburg 
(Inter-City Express train with speeds up to 185 mph)

We finally got a new phone today and everything's just slowly going back to normal after that craziness this week.

That’s about it though, so enjoy your week I guess?

Tschüß

Elder Glenn Johnson

Kirche Jesu Christi

Plauer Straße 11d

Brandenburg an der Havel 14770

Deutschland

T-4 days till the temple

!سلام

Well this week was just fantastic. Again, we met with our favorite Russians, and were treated with some very nice Russian food (and tons of it). And had with them a nice little lesson on prayer and how they do it as Muslims and we told them how we do it, but all in all we had a grand time. We're looking forward to our next lesson with them

Our next legendary family also invited us over this week--the Arabic one. We came over and nobody was home, but the kids were out on their bikes, so we went and asked them where everybody was. Since they had also no idea, we went to the Spielplatz and played a game of soccer in which the little boys destroyed us both. Afterwards, we went and checked and the rest of the family was there, so we got to say hi and make out an appointment for them not to forget this time.

We also met with another couple people this week, nothing too crazy eventful though. We finally caught our friend from Africa who had a lot of potential and we were able to finally make an appointment out with him, so we're pumped about that one.

So it's finally here!

This Friday we are making the trip out to Freiberg for the temple!!! I'm super excited, but it's really about the new convert and not too much about us, but we're still pumped, because neither of us has been in the temple since we got to the mission a loooonngggg time ago (for him). You will hear alllll about that next week for sure, don't be too excited.

That's about it for the week to be deadly honest. Today we went out to Oranienburg, where the Sachsenhausen Concentration Camp is, and my oh my that was neat. It was crazy to read all the stories about the people who were murdered here, and people who escaped barely--neat stuff. I will drop some pictures here for your enjoyment.

some after-concentration camp Doner

not too sure what this is

big memorial

actual campgrounds

the housing

a previous mass grave

I hope you all have an alright week.

Yöurs trulie, élder Johnson

Elder Glenn Johnson

Kirche Jesu Christi

Plauer Straße 11d

Brandenburg an der Havel 14770

Deutschland

R.I.P Jens

Hello everyone, it's me here again.

It is pretty rainy and cold here in Eastern Germany, unlike most of you who are being roasted in these 117 degree days. Speaking of rain, we had a pretty good week. First off, to relieve you of your trouble and worries, I am honored to announce that I will not be transferred, me and my Lego buddy are staying together for another good 6 weeks or so. We went to a wonderful eating appointment with our favorite Russian family an der Havel, and we had some great food. They are very strong in their faith in Islam, so we weren't too sure what we could do with them, so that we’re not just going over for free food and socializing. Well, what is our real goal as missionaries? Exactly, to help others come unto Christ and Heavenly Father. Some might mistake this purpose as baptism, but baptism is just one step in the ultimate goal of coming unto Christ. We decided we can still fulfill our purpose with them by helping them read in their Qu'ran, pray more, and strengthen themselves as a family. Although it’s not what most people would see as mission work, but if it helps them come closer to God, then that exactly is.

it's 4th of July somewhere

Today we went to an American store in Berlin, might I say I felt at home it was quite amazing. It's this random little shop in Berlin and it has everything from license plates (not Arizona) to American flag towels. We all ended up getting a lot of sodas. I got some cream soda, real Dr Pepper, grape soda, Barq's root beer (better than A&W), just wonderful. They didn't have hot Cheetos though 😔. If any of you ever have some money laying around you don't want, you know where I live, send some hot Cheetos on over. We also visited a church in Berlin where Elder Oliver's great great something grandparents were married, pretty sweet. He's really excited to post about it on Facebook 😊.

the lute

a church

the inside of before-spoken church

Something sweet that happened this week, was when we had an appointment set up with an earlier investigator who apparently is always out of town but had time for us on Sunday. We went over there, and lo and behold he was in Berlin for the weekend. Since he lives near our Arabic family friends, we decided we might as well just go visit them, and it went awesome! They were home and welcomed us in and we got to have a good conversation with them and make an appointment for this week. We might end up needing to take the same path with them as we do with our Russian family, we will see.

Well, to prepare for a lesson this week, I studied a little bit of forgiveness. Something that I really enjoyed, is what it says in Collosians 3:13-Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any: even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye. So, if you have someone you haven't forgiven for something they did to you, don't hold on to that grudge and forgive them, just as Christ did.

Well, have an alright week, not too good not too bad ok

Elder Glenn Johnson

Kirche Jesu Christi

Plauer Straße 11d

Brandenburg an der Havel 14770
Deutschland

Zone Conference

Berlin Zone

Elder Glenn Johnson has his face squeezed in behind two sisters in the front row! He's hard to find otherwise!

The Week of Eating Appointments

Hey, Happy day, everyone!

I don't really know which day it'll be for you, so happy day. Anyways, a lot this week happened. Two topics in particular.

We were invited 7 different times this week to eat with both members and non members. I say it almost every time, but this branch truly is legendary. Some of the highlights: in our dinner appointment with Sister Musehold, we were able to make out a date for the temple! July 21^st will be the day, I'm super excited.

With the legend, Hasan

On Wednesday, we had no dinner appointment set up, but as we were walking to the tram to go home after contacting a few people, we were stopped by a really nice and dope Russian father who we see almost every week at our service, and he invited us right there on the spot to come to his house! We were able to have some Russian food with them, and share our beliefs, with a turn appointment for tomorrow! ...A miracle for sure!

On Thursday from the walk to the train station from our lunch with Sister Jaserick, we got destroyed in a rain storm. I mean absolutely destroyed, we were basically walking in small pools.

Which brings me right in to the next interesting part of the week. For some reason, it has rained almost every day here in our little slice of Germany. On some days, it was so bad that we were getting absolutely soaked. In Berlin, the autobahn had to be shut down and people evacuated because the floods were so great. It was okay though, because we just get more points every time we have to walk back to our house dripping wet and freezing cold.

Tomorrow happens to be one of the most important days in history, the 4th of July. Some might say that history started on July 4th 1776, and everything that "happened before that" is made up, and they'd be right. Considering our lack of Americans/American supplies, we will have a hard time celebrating. But we’re Americans, we can make something fun out of anything.

with the 4th of July tomorrow, this picture is only necessary

Well, stay safe then, don’t do any illegal fireworks—ha!

Elder Glenn Johnson

Kirche Jesu Christi

Plauer Straße 11d

Brandenburg an der Havel 14770
Deutschland