Week 27 - Life in Cottbus Episode 10: A Disturbance in the Force

So, this week at ZoKo we learned about some exciting changes in my mission, but I'll make you wait until the end of the email to read about those.

Other than those changes, ZoKo was a blast! It was a mini ZoKo, so it was just two zones, and we didn't really see each other (It was separated, but the other zone came from pretty far away to use the
temple). (Shout out to Elder Seamons!)

Elder White being fabulous in front of the temple

 That's right, I got to go to the temple! It was actually kind of weird, it was my first time bringing names that I found for myself. This time I got to be baptized and confirmed for them, and next time (whenever that is) I will have the opportunity to do the other ordinances for them! It was super cool and spiritual.

The rest of the week was just BUSY. We have been having a great time working with our friends on baptismal date, and we have had tons of other appointments to top it off. With #FürstdesFriedens we have had plenty of work to do, and we have done a street display and hope to do a few more in the near future.

Have ye some #FürstdesFriedens.

(I'm not exactly sure where this came from, but this is President and his daughter with their sweet ride. It's been floating around the mission.)

Yesterday at general conference we had four Americans show up in the ward. Two of them served in the Hamburg mission a number of years ago, so they could German, but the other two spoke no German, so we translated for them during sacrament meeting.

And now it is today! We are getting ready to head off on an Austausch, and then another one in a few days, and then the transfer is over. Crazy stuff. Can't believe I'm approaching seven months already, it
has been one heck of a ride, but a good one.

Anyway, exciting⁄disturbance in the force stuff. We found out on Tuesday that our mission has gotten a green light to begin online proselyting. My mission is one of the few, and one of the first
missions in the world, but I hope that it begins to spread out quickly, because it will totally change the pace and effectiveness of the work. It will let us teach people far away more frequently, have
meaningful contact with investigators every day, and let us really develop friendships with people we teach and work with.

I still need to receive a special training for it, so it will be a few weeks before this all starts, and I'll know the specifics later.

I am simultaneously scared and excited, because I know that it will really help the mission, but It has been really nice to get away from it all for a few months. Anyway, prepare yourselves to see me crawling around Facebook again in a few weeks. Hopefully I'll be able to spread some gospel to you guys at home as well.

Cool, I guess being in Germany means seeing a working steam engine randomly at Bahnhof?

A house (of cards) leaning against itself must stand? Or something?

Liebe Grüße,
Elder Austin Spaulding