Week 38 - Life in Cottbus Week 20

This week was another week full of being extremely busy, but also not being extremely productive.

On Tuesday we got to meet with a less active member, "K", who is really cool. We have been working with him since I got to Cottbus, and he has been making some serious progress this transfer. Other than that, we did some finding <funny_story> A woman stopped us to let us know that she knew who we are. She was super nice, but really just wanted us to know, and I quote, "There are really lots of nice people out there who want to hear your message. I'm just not one of them!" So that was interesting. </funny_story> Other than that, our ward mission correlation meeting (or whatever it is called in English) fell out, and we had choir.

Wednesday we were in Dresden for interviews with President, man I love him, but that was our day.

Thursday we had a service project in the morning, went by on an investigator who lives far away to drop off an invitation to a few ward activities, and then did our studies. That was the day.

Friday we had a ward party, which was fantastic. One of our new investigators, "M", came, and had a really good time. I'm glad, because it was honestly super uncomfortable. But, all is well.

Saturday we had a piano concert with a very talented missionary, Elder Blackham, who is in Forst, as well as a very talented opera singer from Görlitz. None of our investigators made it, so that was a shame, but we did get to introduce ourselves to a few non members who came.

Sunday was full of church and other Sunday activities!

And today we did a deep clean of our apartment and ate some Döner. Be jealous that you have no Döner in America.

And that's about all I have the motivation to type this week. It was really a good week, certainly better than last one, we just didn't really get much done.

Naja, have a great week!

Elder Austin Spaulding

Germany is beautiful. These were in opposite directions at the same time last night.

Spaghetti Ice with the son.

XD, last year my coworker drew
this while I was lifeguarding.

Cool picture quotes from various sources:

Cool German graffiti.

Week 37 - Life in Cottbus Week 19: The Black Hole

Liebe Freunde, Familie, Angehörigen, Männer, Frauen, Kinder, Erwachsener, und Andere... You all fit into at least one of those categories, so that pretty much covers it.

This week is called the week of the black hole, because things came together in a way that we got almost nothing done. All of our appointments that we did manage to make out ended up falling out, and then Saturday there wasn't enough missionary to go around. We are still alive though.

Turtle quest with Elder Jordan

I got to give a talk this last Sunday about what it takes to understand each other. I'll only share a quick part of it.

One of my favorite books is called Ender's Game. In this book the earth is under attack. The main character, Ender, prepares himself to defend the earth. In wisdom he says, "I think that I will need to come to love my enemy in order to defeat him. I can't imagine that in the very moment that I understand him perfectly, that I will not love him."

Our situation is a little bit different. We aren't trying to destroy anyone, but we can still use this example. As he wrote the book, Orson Scott Card understood that love and understanding are part of the same thing. As we try to show more love, and earnestly try to understand others, we will come closer together and find more love for those we work with.

As you all go through this week, I challenge you to find a way to show love and find understanding for those you are with.

Have a good week,

Liebe Grüße,

Elder Austin Spaulding 

Week 36 - Life in Cottbus Week 18: Россия трудно!

Hello friends and family, P-Day has been busy today. We had district P-Day and went to the Rosengarten in Forst. It was really cool, and there were some really pretty flowers. They were so vibrant that they look unnatural on camera.

I don't really have much time to write, so I'll summarize my week quickly. I got to start learning Russian this week, it's hard. More on that in the future. I also got to have a really cool Austausch with Elder Blackham. He taught me a lot. Other than that, the week was full of fallen out appointments, so it wasn't too eventful.

Selfie in Poland!

 Have a good week!

Liebe Grüße,

Elder Austin Spaulding

Week 35 - Life in Cottbus, Week 17: MY SON IS PRETTY. LOOK AT HIM

His first Döner on his first day.... I'm a much better father than my father was!

Weird German food the next morning... Check!

He fell asleep on the train... Jetlag is a beast. He is adorable.

He pounded down his first Türkishe Pizza like a champ!

First comp inventory! He's basically all grown up already!

Sorry about that..... My son is wonderful.

Now that you've seen him, learn about him.

Elder Jordan is from Sandy just like Elder White. He's frisch 18, his family almost has mine beat out at 9 children (he is number 2). He isn't too much of a nerd, so we can't connect too much on that front. He really likes Moana, and I'm confused every time that he plays the soundtrack because I don't know any of the songs⁄stories. But... I love him. I'm already astounded at how much progress he has made with the language in the few days that we have been together.

Other than my son and transfer day shenanigans, the week was pretty bland, so I'll leave you with some pictures of those things. Also, Elder Sinclair, one of these is for you.

Liebe Grüße,

Elder Austin Spaulding

I think that this is a sign...

Elder White was moving fast!

Goodbye, Elder Sinclair!

Goodbye to my simultaneously darker and lighter counterpart!

Have some Sister Jarett-Clark.

This is called an inside joke. If you don't get it, that's okay.

Snails are good.