December 30, 2013

I had a really awesome Christmas. The Kleins were an awesome family to be over at for Christmas Eve, and they really made us feel like we were part of the family. We spoke Danish for the most part, but made sure that we would speak english if we had to. Their kids were lots of fun too, all teenagers so I felt like a normal teen again. It was super 'hyggeligt'.

I love the Danish culture. Denmark is such a beautiful place too. The buildings and architecture here are just awesome.

We also had a good post Christmas. We went to 'C's (one of our investigators) with her crazy dog, and cats, and self, and we had sushi, and played card games with her daughter and with the assistants and the sisters, it was lots of fun.

We got done with singing all of our Christmas greetings to people, and overall it was really successful. People really enjoyed it.... for the most part, and there were a lot of good things that came out of it.

So, now to Dads gift.
Dave: Teagan and I exchanged 'service to others' as our Christmas gift and he said that he would give me the details of his gift today. I have already given him the details of my service gift, but this is Teagan's blog, so I'll not share it here. Suffice to say that it was special to both of us.

The day we went to the hospital to sing for 'K' was a day of miracles one right after the other.

To start, 'K' looked much better from what she did before, and she really seemed to enjoy our song which is a miracle enough, but that was just the beginning. While we were singing, I opened up the circle to make sure that the whole room could hear since there were three other older women and a nurse in the room.

The women all really appreciated it, and the nurse even asked us to come and sing to her coworkers after explaining that it was only their first day in the hospital on Christmas, we figured we could bring some Christmas cheer. She told us to meet her back there in an hour, so we went down to the lobby to wait, and while we were down there two more things happened!

Sister Hale asked an older women in the lobby if we could sing her and her daughter a Christmas song, and she said that would be great. She sang with us, and broke into tears midway through the song. Come to find out at the end of the classic Danish hymnal, that this women’s husband had just died and that was why she was in the hospital. The sisters left her with a card with our church address and phone number on it, as they thanked us again before leaving the hospital.

Then while we were sitting down in the lobby area a man came and sat across from me. I opened up to him and wished him a merry Christmas time in Danish, and he responded in english and said, 'yes, but I'm kind of tired' I was really confused but insisted on talking with him, and then asked in Danish what his name was, and the response, again in english was 'I ask myself that quite often' at this point I'm thinking this guy is absolutely nuts, and can see that even though he speaks Danish, there is no way he is going to speak it with me, so I broke into english and started talking with him and asked if he would like to hear a Christmas song.

He began talking about how he had been a model, and professional skier and just before I could ask him more, he said enough about me, and let’s get to the song.

We sang, he smiled, we finished, he thanked us and left. The man never went into a room in the hospital, just came in talked, listened, and left. It was the weirdest thing, but another part worth mentioning in this story.

Then we finally were able to meet up with the nurse again. She took us through the catacombs of the hospital to a little break room where all of the nurses were at. They were all extremely happy to have such a warm Christmas greeting seeing as how they had to work on the day of.

The assistants talked with her, and gave her a card. She will be meeting with the sisters next week, and hopefully she'll bring some of her coworkers as I invited her to do.

The day was just a day of Christmas miracles, and it all came from just one idea that Elder Francis and I had. I mean, nobody would pass up that kind of service opportunity as a missionary anyway, but it was special to me to see the direct effect of the service we decided to do. The Lord really does put people in our path when we just try to act.

Oh, and also, we had a bomb explode in front of our apartment two days ago. It was just like a tampered with firework that someone set in the little garbage can out in front of our apartment. Elder Francis and I were walking back to our apartment from an appointment at the church to pick up some things, and as we turned the corner to go to our little cove where the door to our apartment is we heard someone yell something up to one of the apartments in Danish, and then a HUGE boom, followed by a cloud of smoke.

As we slowly walked forward to assess what had just happened, chunks of plastic and the metal lid were still up in the air before finally hitting the ground as we walked on. We are lucky that we weren't right next to it when it went off. Luckily nobody was hurt. It looks like it was just some vandalism, except I did see a car speed off afterwards, but like I said, more likely than not, it was vandalism.

We saw a few other garbage cans in the area that reached the same fate so yeah ... Litter is everywhere down there now.

We went up to the office right after that and they were all freaking out, because they had heard it too, but I think they just kind of figured it wasn't a seemingly immediate threat to anyone, so we are ok.

Just a crazy story, hope nobody freaks out over me sending this. I'm totally safe, and like I said before, no damage done except for a little eardrum pressure, and one less place to throw my trash away, as if Denmark doesn't have enough garbage cans already.. geez.

Awesome week, lots of good appointments, and plenty of interesting people. I will try and get these pictures sent home here soon, maybe I can just make a quick trip to the office to get them sent home so I don't get too backed up.

I hope all is well, and it looks like you guys had a lot of fun on Christmas, even if you weren't doing what you typically do.

I love you guys so much!
Elder Pitcher

Christmas Day 2013 ... skype from Teagan!!

We really loved our chance to Skype with Teagan (Elder Pitcher) today!
We are so grateful that he is doing what he's doing and having the great experiences he's having.
Stay focused Teagan ... we love you!

Momma gets the chance to visit with her favorite missionary.	Dad gets to put his arm around his boy.
Sister Rogers, Sister Hale, Elder Pitcher and Elder Whitlock sing "Silent Night" in Danish. It was awesome!

December 23, 2013

I love you guys. Read through both of your emails, and looked through all of the photos, and all in all just cried in the middle of an emptied out, beauty and the beast style library because everyone is going celebrating the first day of jul.

I loved hearing the update and want you both to know how proud I am of you. You get to tell me a lot how proud you are of me (cause I'm awesome I know) but I feel like it is very underated telling your parents how proud of them you are. Maybe just not done enough, or maybe I just haven't said it enough, but I am very proud of the both of you.

This week has been a lot of Christmas Caroling for members’ friends, and a happy time of remembering the true meaning behind the holiday. Looks like ya'll had a pretty classic Danish Christmas feast too!

I am so excited to start celebrating today! The whole town is just shut down.

Lille jul aften tonight, then jule aften, then Christmas!

We have a big old Christmas tree, and I'm going to have to email pics to you later in the week again sorry. I hate this library.

I bought O.J. for the morning of, and I can't wait to speak to you guys on Christmas.

So Elder Francis and I will be using up the 8 o’clock block which means about noon for ya'll back there. I hope it all turns out as I'm sure it will.

Found out that the president lets people go ice skating sometimes, I might jump on that.....

I taught primary this last week. The kids understood me for the most part even if I didn't always catch what they said. Recently I feel like kids, and communicating with them has been a huge way to help me get on good terms with members and just everyone. The preschool experience, and having so many wonderful nieces and nephew have been such a good thing for me.

The theme park was freaking awesome. Can't wait to get ya'll the pics. There was one ride that goes like 5 Gs, and I could see snot just pooring out of my face as this thing spun us in huge circles. You could feel the fat on your sides moving to your front. It was pretty gnarly. Then there was another one that just drops you. Beautiful view of Copenhagen from the top too. The lights were something else.

I've been contacting people more on the street lately. Nobody is receptive from the street, but sometimes I'll hand out a card and a book, and that is enough for me to want to keep trying. We went down into a stoner ridden guitar shop last night to sing for some old geezer rocker guys, and it was a little frightening to have the sisters there with us. Just hoping they wouldn't put themselves in that kind of situation without Elders there.

Anyway, I still love it here, and I love the people very much here too. Look forward to seeing your beautiful faces!
Elder Pitcher

December 16, 2013

Dave: I had mentioned to Teagan that I was following serveral blogs of other missionaries in Denmark including his zone leader Elder Wible and a Sister Rogers.

You're going to love this. Sister Rogers just transferred into my district. Maybe she'll mention me. I don't know. I get along really well with the sisters though, and I've heard she's awesome so I'm looking forward to having her in the district. Just funny that you mentioned that.

Elder Wible is transferring out of our area, so he won't be our zone leader anymore.

I've been better with the journal. The emails have kind of been my journal too, so hopefully you are keeping all of those as well.

Dave: I told Teagan that I did not want him to buy me a Christmas present this year, but would prefer that he perform an act of service and keep me in mind as he did so ... I would do the same for him.

The service thing has been going good. I tried to help an older man in his walker get down from an ATM pedestal that he was having a go with, but it is frustrating because the people here are very stubborn. I asked, 'unskyld, har du brug for nogen hjælpe?' he sternly said 'nej' and continued to struggle off of this thing as we walked on.

Like you, the idea has been residing more with me after you sent the last email. It has shown in a few smaller things, like cutting Elder Wrights hair, even though mine was the only other head I've ever done before (I did awesome by the way, I think that hair cutting runs in the family) and also bringing my companion some medications and his water when he was feeling sick the other day, but like I said these are just the small things.

There is a woman by the name of 'K' that is sick in the hospital right now. She has a friend in the ward named 'M' who is the Danish version of Grandma I swear. 'M' has asked us to go with her to visit 'K' and share with her the discussions.

We go at about a rate of 5mph on our bikes with 'M' leading the charge through the blistering cold, so slow that we are almost tipping over. She's just such a strong old lady. The first time we went we didn't really know just how bad it was going to be. 'K' is very ill, and it is likely that she might not make it more than a few more months.

She has been very lucid for most of the time due to the morphine, and on our last visit 'M' even asked us if we thought it was worth it to keep teaching her now that she wasn't able to be awake for what was being said. I told her whatever we had to say in this life, would be to her benefit, and that even if she isn't receiving it now, she would have that opportunity in the next.

Elder Francis and I then thought of something at the same time, and we are now going back for Christmas as well. We are very excited. We're hoping she pulls through for that long. I'll be sure to keep up with the service idea, and report back to you on how the visit with 'K' goes.

love
Elder Pitcher

December 9, 2013

I really want to see Frozen, or is it Frost? It looks good from the billboards.

I received my packages, and I love the Christmas party idea. Sounds way fun.

Dad, I love the Christmas gift idea and I will be sure to follow up with that.

I'm waiting to open most of my gifts until Christmas, but accidentally peaked at the list on the top of the package, and really had need of that first bag of Takis, and a haircut, so I took out just those two things, but for the most part it is a surprise so I'm excited.

I'm sending just a few things home, and hope that you like what I send home for you Ma.

I love the family photos as I'm sure I already mentioned. I will be trying to get more pics out to you, and it isn't the email, it's the computer that is having the problem so hopefully I can work it out.

I will definitely be able to skype from the Bernaskos house so be ready for that probably Christmas morning/noonish since we are about 8 hours ahead of you guys, and we will be doing it at around dinner time.

I will probably be having one of the most decked out Christmas weeks here too. The Danes hold nothing back on their Christmas week. They are all already getting super into the season, and it is so fun to see. It makes me wish you all could be here for one Christmas.

This last week has been a little slow, because of the weather mostly. We had to go in early one day because the wind was so bad, and it's been hard on bikes because the ground is slushy. Not really snow fall yet, but a lot of rain, and sleet. Kind of lame. That day though we stayed inside and made a couple hundred sugar cookies to take to people with a Christmas message so it wasn't a complete waste of time.

Cool to hear about Dylan! That is so exciting for him and it looks like he is enjoying himself there now. (Dylan is a friend of Teag's and the son of Oly, Teag's hockey coach. He is playing in the NHL for the Florida Panthers and scored his first NHL goal this past week)

I was reading my scriptures in Danish this week and then realized that I had just read an entire chapter without having to 'slå op' the dictionary and just about cried.

Had a good lesson last night too with 'FA' again from FC København. We challenged him to talk a bit about the church during the holiday when he goes back to visit family in Nigeria.

He offered us tea..... That was an awkward no. I guess it isn't uncommon though for people here, even in the church to do something like that, which is too bad.

Anyway, just wanted to let you both know that I love you, and that I love my mission still. I'm only kind of going crazy sometimes.
Elder Pitcher

December 2, 2013

I went to the cemetery where Hans Christen Anderson was buried, it is right next to our apartment, but for some reason I can't load the pictures of it. I didn't have time to go look for his site.

I loved getting all of the pictures and stories from the family thanksgiving!! It looked awesome, and I'm so excited to hear about all of the new life coming into the family. Crazy to think there will be so many little ones I've never seen before that will be there before I am.

My Thanksgiving was a good one. I ended up making homemade corn dogs and little smokies with 'T', Amy's uncle, and not paying any attention to the NFL game that was on behind me haha. Really though, I did my best.

We got to go to the Frederiksberg slot which is this Mansion built for King Frederick IV; we got a free tour, because one of the tour guides is a member, and offered. We got to learn a lot of cool stuff and take some awesome pics which again are having a hard time being sent....

I would love to tell you all of the stories, but I'm running out of a lot of time.

This last week has been really hard. People haven't been holding onto their appointments, and things like that, but I think we've kind of made up for it with some of the service things, and member visits we did.

We helped one lady move from a 4th floor apartment (top floor) to a 6th floor apartment (top floor again) My back is still in a little bit of turmoil, but it gave us something to do to help someone, and it felt good when we were finally finished.

We are looking forward to this next week though, and have a lot of follow up appointments with those same people planned, så hele lukke!

I just want you guys to know that I am doing fine, and that I'm still loving the work. It's crazy how quickly everything is going by now, and I can't believe how long I've already been in the land. It makes me a bit sad that I don't know the language as well as I would like sometimes, but I am getting better, and the ward mission leader, along with a few others, have complimented me on my accent, so that is kind of cool. I just wish I understood a little bit more; which is interesting because I've heard that in most cases it is the understanding that comes first.

Anyway, all with time, and Christ just as the favorite scripture says :)

I love you both lots, and I'll work on the pics, I promise.

Love ya bunches

Elder Pitcher

November 25, 2013

The mail is reliable, but it takes like 2 weeks around Christmas time. I'm thinking about sending one home, so please send me requests from the Family and you both. I'm writing both Mom and Dad in one email so I hope you aren't too offended, because you both get the longest emails, and I don't want to write two of them.

The packages also have to be under a certain amount of money each or they will confiscate them ... hope they weren't over $80. I'll be sure to write Carson.

Got our bikes finally. I love mine, I'll send Pictures of it. I hope the bike was less money than you were expecting. I actually got a really good deal on it for being a new bike and in Frederickborg. They are normally closer to 7000 krones after all of the mandatory lights and stuff are put on, but I got mine for about 3000 krones.

I actually had initially made a deal with another guy at a bike shop close to us for a used bike that would have cost about the same as the new one, so I dropped him, and now it's super awkward when I have to ride past his shop, but it's whatever.

You are right. My rule is that if you want to get an email, then you need to write me first, but I will always get back to you, if not one week then in two for sure :)

So you know how before I left we talked about the whole women in the priesthood thing? I encountered it last night with this Icelandic lady in our Apartment complex who has been receiving lessons, and now says she doesn't think she is interested because of the separation of men and women in the church.

Despite all of our best offers to provide her with more information, she was clearly set in the way that whatever she had read on Wiki whatever was the info she was going to listen to. I was super frustrated, but know that she enjoyed the first lesson with the Assistants who live with us (Elder Whitlock and Elder Elsbury) and that she is still keeping an open mind about us for the most part while she is looking for answers. Just have to be patient.

We also did speed contacting last night with the assistants since they have a van. My idea. Basically we were doing chinese fire drills except with a gospel message to a random person added on. Loads of fun, and people really got a kick out of it, even if they weren't really interested in our message.

I love you both so much, and want you to know how much I can see all of the help you've given me in preparation of the journey that I'm now in the midst of.

Love you both so much
Elder Pitcher

PS I also bought a new side bag that was a little expensive because my old one ripped and was giving me back problems. This one is awesome, and is what all of the Danes Wear. Super durable Swedish brand called Fjalleraven.  

November 18, 2013

It is so crazy that I have already been out here this long. It makes me feel like I almost don't have enough time here to do all of the stuff I would like to as a missionary. Here is my update that I should have sent you last week.

So last week I got on a plane, slept for the entire travel time except for getting told by this Indian guy that we didn't believe in Christ, and also when it was time to eat.

Denmark is incredible! We got into the city, almost went the wrong way on the gågade (walking street with shopping malls and stuff) because our Mission President's wife accidentally started to drive on it (which is normally ok, except when there is a big Soccer game riot going on like there was) but she flipped around and then took us to see the Kristus.

Absolutely beautiful!

Then I stayed the night at the mission home, and got introduced to my trainer the next day. Elder Francis who is just awesome. We get along so well, and he helps out so much. We actually first met before at the Kristus church which was cool, I kind of got a preview of my trainer before hand.

Funny thing was, after meeting him, I got my hopes set on staying here because it seemed like a great area, and he was a cool guy. I even told the Mission President that I would like to stay if it were my preference which is kind of cool.

I then got to do loads of different things for the first time; like give out a Mormons Bog to a Muslim guy (which there are a lot of here, and it's interesting too, because I've seen they are a lot more receptive to the message than the Danes are).

We had an awesome appointment with Amy W's Uncle, who I didn't know was Amy's uncle until yesterday at Church where I also talked with Amy's grandparents in broken Danish. I can't believe I didn't catch this so much earlier. She even told me that they were all in this area!

We also have been talking a lot with this non-active pro soccer player from Nigeria named 'F' who plays for FC København in the champions League. We got to share an awesome spiritual thought with him, and his friend 'S' (real name) and actually taught 'S' the first lesson. They both came out to a week activity called CUV which is basically like Young Single Adults, and I got to play ping pong with them, and they both are amazing.

'S' doesn't seem to be very excited about making any commitments,and has told us that he isn't really that interested, but we will see.

I guess there is also this young African girl named 'E' who plans on getting baptized here within the next few weeks, so I might get to see my first baptism here soon!

Then there was our appointment with the 'B' Family. Wow! They are this active Family from Ghana, and they love to feed the missionaries. We weren't allowed to leave until the food was gone. And there was a lot.

They have a Little boy named 'D' who can speak English, Danish, and this African language that they all speak, and he switches between them all of the time. He's the funniest Little kid, and he and I are reading the same Little Disney comics to understand Danish better. Ha ha.

The sister missionaries brought an investigator named 'M' who is also from Ghana, and knows the 'B's well. Any questions he had were answered by the 'B's as we sat back and ate, because there was no way we were going to get a word in in such a boisterous conversation - hahaha :) I guess that's just the culture though.

It was an awesome time, and the atmosphere was so much fun.

We have such an awesome Ward here. We go away from every eating appointment feeling like we couldn't eat another bite without bursting. Part of the dining etiquette here is to always take seconds, so that also makes it a Little bit harder to shove that much food down.

We had our Thanksgiving day the other day, as part of our Zone conference, and we even had a turkey bowl as part of the fun, and I played QB for my team.

It was freezing cold, and raining in typical Danish fashion, but that wasn't about to slow down all the fun we had.

Then, later in the evening was our Thanksgiving feast followed by a fun skit for a talent show where I was the girl with a RM on a date to Olive garden and my companion was my thoughts (it went well, lots of laughs), and then to finish off the evening was another eating appointment with the most beautiful newly wed couple I've ever seen.

So with full tummies we rolled ourselves over. These people will have model children guaranteed. They made carne sade, and of course I had two helpings. ... ugh, it was so good, but I was SO full, and then on top of that, with beads of sweat dripping down my face, I had to give the spiritual thought. But, I got complimented on my spoken Danish, and that alone made it all worth it. 'Du snakke meget godt Dansk!' was enough to make my day:)

The Danish people are amazing, and they are so encouraging of when you actually try to speak Danish. They are a wonderful people with a beautiful language.

So that was last weeks update, hope you liked it. Now for this week, I've been on two splits so I haven't been in Frederiksborg as much, but I have still had some good experience with an Elder Christensen, and an awesome family named the Molebecks that we got to go visit while up with the Zone Leaders.

We played soccer with them, and ate tons of food, and had a really great spiritual thought. I think their daughter actually leaves for her mission to Idaho next week.

After that we had a long bus ride back to the train station, where I got to sit and listen to this adorable little baby laugh her head off because of the faces that we were making at her, and because she was laughing, we were laughing, and pretty soon everyone on the bus was laughing right along with this little baby. So funny, it was awesome to get a good laugh in.

That is pretty much it for now, but I hope you all are still having fun even though your pride and joy isn't around;)

Love y'all
Elder Pitcher

Questions and Answers

What do you think of your Mission Pres and mom? What are they like, and do you see them very often, living so close to the mission home?
Mission President and Mom are the bestest. Super fun and helpful.

Where is your companion from and what is he like?
Elder Francis is really helpful with everything, and has a lot of good advice. It's good because me and him can share good jokes we get along so well.

Did you get a coat? Do you need heavier boots, etc?
I got a coat, and I've heard boots won't be necessary, and nobody buys them :)

How is the work going? How do you contact people?
Awesome, lots of people to try to talk with. We get lots of rejections when talking with people on the street, but we still have a lot of people to talk with that are less active, or are still investigating.

What is your ward like?
The Ward is Huge here. But that's just because it's Copenhagen, and the people are awesome. They love having us, and always try and help us out.

How is the language coming?
Good. As good as it can for only being here for two weeks I guess. I give all of the spiritual thoughts at dinner appointments, and I speak as often as I can so it's getting better. I'll send a picture of my language study from Disney comic books also. They help with the context questions. haha

November 11, 2013 First letters from Denmark

November 11, 2013

(Part of a letter written to his sister)
 ...I'm happy to hear that things are going well with you and your chilluns and hubby.  I loved getting to hear about all the fun little adventures that you have been up to, the stories are always the best.

I love Denmark, the city of (drum roll please) Frederiksborg in downtown Copenhagen ;) is absolutely awesome.  Cold and wet all of the time, but awesome.  I love it here. The language is taking some getting used to obviously, but it is amazing to be trying to speak it, and the people here are so great too.

We are teaching a less active guy right now who plays for the local professional Club soccer team, and also another less active who looks just like Paul....... weird. just weird.  How was Catching Fire??  :O  it's a pretty big deal in Denmark, and I think it premiers this week.  I saw your girlies costumes in some photos mom sent.  That was fun.  I love you so very much!  Thanks for updating my profile and stuff too:)

(Part of a letter written to his brother)

...The first week out here has been awesome! I have a great trainer, Elder Francis, and he's really helpful.  I've already given out my first Mormons Bog (Book of Mormon) on the street, and am getting better with the language (I think).  Lots of people that we teach here have actually ended up speaking English which is a nice little first week present for me, but I'm hoping that changes so that I can actually start to get that complete immersion feel.

I have the opportunity right now of teaching a less active who plays for the local pro soccer Club.  It's pretty cool, and he is an awesome guy.  We actually got the opportunity to teach a member present lesson when he was there because his friend 'S' was asking a bunch of questions.  So we got to teach the first lesson, and give our spiritual thought.

I love it here.  It's cold and wet, and quite a culture shock, but I wouldn't have had it any other way.  I'm so proud of the way that you have committed yourself to everything that you have been up to lately.  Everyone has good things to say about the awesome things you have accomplished over the last little bit with football, and work, and it makes me want to improve myself.  You've been an awesome example to me....I just wanted to let you know how happy I was to hear from you!
Love,

Elder Pitcher II  (get it? ha ha ha)

From the Denmark Mission Office

Received 11/8/2013

Elder Pitcher has arrived safely in Denmark.

His first companion is Elder Francis. They will be working in Frederiksberg in Copenhagen.

We are pleased to have Elder Pitcher serving in our mission! Thank you for sharing him with us!

Den Danske Mission

November 2, 2013

So today is my half p day, and in only a little over 24 hours, I will be on my way to the most beautiful country on earth (in my very humble opinion).

I am honestly so excited to get going. I know that it is going to be so hard leaving, but I wouldn't have it any other way, because I want this to be a growing experience, and because it is what the Lord wants me to do.

For all of my missionary friends, I just want you to know what fantastic examples you've been to me, and how grateful I am to have gotten to know some of you so well, even if I only got to know a few of you just a few months before. You have all had a significant impact on me, and again I just want to let you know how grateful I am.

I love the Danish language, I love the beautiful country of Denmark, and most of all I love the Danish people! I cannot wait to get out there.

My MTC experience has been awesome, no doubt, but now that I'm getting so close, the only thing left to do is leave.

I hope that MY PARENTS wink wink nod nod;) will be able to hook everyone up with my mission blog that they have set up so that everyone can follow along a little bit with where I'm at, and some of the pictures and stories I have to send home. From what I hear it is pretty awesome. I don't really have access to it right now, but I'm looking forward to seeing it because I know that they've done a good job.

I love you all very much, and hope you aren't too worried about me out here, because I'm having the time of my life:) again, thank you all for being such great supports to me.

Love,
Elder Pitcher

P.S. if my parents don't send out the link, they're emails are in the mailing list of this email, so email them and get on their case until they send it:)

October 29, 2013

Again I have neglected to bring my planner with me that holds all of the important info from the week, but not much has happened other than getting our travel plans.

We will be flying through Dallas, then to London, and then to Copenhagen. I can call you guys from the airport so hopefully during my half p day in preparation for the departure date, I can let you both know what time I will be calling.

Sounds like all is going pretty well at home. I was happy to see that everyone was doing well through the pumpkin carving party. Looks like some fun.

You guys will have to let my friends know also about my blog so that they can stay caught up if they so choose, I'm sure some of my closer friends would appreciate it.

I love the socks, and takis, and the salsa party was great. I made a sand castle with the sand, I'll have to show you that.

I am loving my MTC experience, but I'm to the point now I think when I just want to be in Copenhagen already! I love Danish. I just want to speak it all of the time, and I've been trying really hard to do so.

From what the word is, we will be contacting on the first day in the mission home. Sleep deprivation aside, I'm really looking forward to that experience because after all that is what I'm here to do!

Thank you guys for all of the letters and everything. It is awesome to have so much support, and I have felt so blessed.

That's funny about sister Grundvig working with Sister Taylors father. She is such an awesome teacher, if not my favorite, even though they are all amazing. She's a fun personality and has helped me a lot.

I love you guys!
Elder Pitcher

October 22, 2013

Oct 10/22/13 1:31 PM

Hej!

This week has been awesome. I have seen increased language speaking ability.

I had all of the stuff highlighted out of what I wanted to respond from your letter but I left it at the residence hall so I'll try and do my best.

I can't get access to any other internet pages other than the approved church websites ... sorry everybody. You may just have to regurgitate as best as you can.

The hockey game sounds like it was good times! I thought that was pretty funny that there was that one player [one of the Grizzlies defensemen’s name was Teagan] that was so fitting to the night and that he got an assist. I hope the tradition was fun, and I can bet I was there in spirit.

Is everything ok at home? Last night one of the elders in our district walked into our room last night and said he felt impressed to come in and ask if there was a person who was in need of a blessing. I hadn't felt the necessity of one, but for some reason I was prompted to ask this inspired elder to give me a blessing. It was the craziest thing, but it put a peace over our room, and before we knew it, we watched two other elders give their first priesthood blessings, I gave two others, and the entire room was given a blessing before the time for bed came.

I just wanted to know that everything was ok because right as the blessing began I felt the impression that maybe there was something going at home that I would need some extra strength to hear.

I'm sure things are fine, but I just wanted to be sure. It was a very powerful evening last night.

I'm looking forward now to this package, and I'm really getting my hopes up so it better be good... just kidding, no pressure.

I am just happy to be getting so much support from everyone. It's almost too much, I feel like I can't respond to everyone in a timely manner.

I had an awesome teaching experience this last week with an "investigator" who was struggling to find why the gospel was so applicable to her, even though she could feel that there was good in it. It was interesting how I was able to say things and relate to her in Danish without feeling a language barrier. I don't remember if I already told you about this story, but it was pretty awesome.

We get our travel plans here in just a few more days!! Craziness! And then I'll be out of here in just another few days. I love it here though.

You will have to send me some pictures, I don't think I've received any from you yet. Anyway, much love.

I love you guys so much :)

Elder Pitcher  

October 15, 2013

Oct 10/15/13 2:28 PM 

Please do it for me! [We asked him if he wanted us to start a blog for him] I would love to have someone do that for me, I just don't ever have the time to write things down. I love having so much support, but it is ridiculously hard trying to respond to everybody. I would love to have that blog idea though if you would write on it.

I loved the pumpkins and my district loved them. I'll send you a picture of mine and Elder Wright's pumpkins in another email also send TAKIS. Gas station sells them, they are the best and the only thing I can't really get my hands on. MEGET TAK!! TUSIND TAK!

Send me pictures of the family pumpkin carving when it comes! I loved the pictures you did send!

I've been trying to get handwritten letters out to everyone, but it is coming slowly.

I can't remember if I told you, but as far as the language is going, I can bear testimony, say prayers, and say the complete first vision all in Danish! I was actually able to use the first vision in a lesson this last week and the spirit was so strong! The spirit bears testimony of truth in every language. I feel much more confident in understanding what our teachers our saying in our lessons, and teaching "play acts" and I feel like I am reading off of a script much less, and let the spirit guide rather than just shooting in the dark.

I love our branch presidency, and our teachers. They are all like much more tender loving hockey coaches.

In a devotional, one of the 70 was talking and he joked that we would hear that night how English was supposed to sound and it made me think of how awesome you guys are for doing that whole Tuachan thing... if that is how it spelt. Sounds like you guys had an awesome time.

My writing skills are very slow I know because I'm trying to jam a bunch of stuff in here, so hopefully my jumbled up thoughts written out in my planner throughout the week make at least some sense.

Can't remember if I told you guys about the story about the prison in Denmark, but basically there was this felon who stole a senior couple car and felt bad so he brought back the car and turned himself in. Turns out he was wanted in 3 different countries including Denmark, but because the prisons there are so laid back (PlayStation, 15 year sentences for killing people, and a white line rather than a fence) and because it was a Friday afternoon, they told him to come back in on Monday since they were just about to close for the day. I thought that was pretty funny, and he still turned himself in just fyi.

Our visas are all good in our entire district. Turns out we all had them from the beginning, but were still freaking out because every Danish missionary before us had to go stateside for a while. We'll all head out together though, and it's just a wonderful blessing.

You guys need to go check out the Danish birthday song, learn it, and then never go back. It is the coolest birthday song ever. It kicks our b-day song in the buns. Also their Christmas (Jule day) is way cooler. It's like a week long, and they do the thing where they sing holding hands around the Jule day tree. Kind of like in the Grinch stole Christmas. As it would turn out, Dr. Seuss got that from the Danes, and made it into a Whoville thing.

I got an awesome new pen. You both should look into them. They are called Zebra Telescopic pens, and I'm never going back to using another shammy pen again because this is the best, and the coolest.

There is a Legoland in Denmark! If I end up in that area, I'll have to get something out to Carson for sure.

Our District's hobbies also include funny hat wearing, beat box jamming, barber shop quality harmonies, and obedience of course.

My Companion and I ARE ZONE LEADERS, so much power!!!! :) hahaha. We are so excited, and we can't wait to start into all of the many responsibilities. I think we both could tell when Bro. Hodges called us in for an interview what was going on. We get to help a bunch of new missionaries get settled too which should be fun.

If you were thinking about sending homemade salsa, that would be awesome. But that's just to say if that is still and option.

I love you both so gosh dang much!

I love it here!

Pictures are on the way.

October 8, 2013

Oct 10/08/13 12:33 PM 

Such a spiritual experience for me to sing under Mr. Dehaan again. And then it hit me even harder to think of all of the missionaries that he knows he is leading across the globe that he knows personally. What an awesome experience for him. 

Elder Demordaunt accidentally decked a Sister Missionary in the face. We were walking back from the temple and he saw a friend from school who was honking at him, out of excitement he threw up his arms and smacked the poor sister square in the face completely on accident. He immediately apologized and all was well. 

Got to go to the temple today and do initiatories. I love and miss you guys so much and you should have a hand written letter coming to you soon, but just so you know I have been doing great! I love that sermons in a sentence book you got me, and I have already been able to utilize a few things, and snagged a talk idea from one. What a nifty little missionary tool. 

My comp is still as awesome as ever, and we share a lot of good laughs. I just look at him as like a friend from back home because we get along so well. I'll try and see if I can get some pictures to you guys. 

 Jeg elsker jag! I love you guys so very much! 

Elder Pitcher

October 1, 2013

Oct 10/01/13 9:25 AM 

Momma! I love and miss you so much! But I'm not homesick at all ;) I am having an awesome time, and I have loved every second of it! 

I had a bunch of things to tell you, but I left my notebook with all of my info back in our room so I'll try to relay as much as I can to you right now. 

The language is coming along, the gift of tongues is so real. Also known as tungemalsgaven, with the "o" over the "a" :) 

I love my first comp, we get along so well. I'm not sure if you got my first letter yet, but Tuesdays are my p days, and my comps name is Elder Wright. He went to Sacramento with me. He is from Orem, about two minutes from here. He was actually Mr. Orem from what I heard, so look him up. 

 Our district is so close, it is great. We hang out whenever and wherever we can. 

Quick funny story, the first day we were here, the MTC President’s wife was talking and she was telling us about calling each other "Elders" and "Sisters" rather than "guys". She said there are still guys, but they aren't here, they are at home dating your girlfriends. Pretty funny. 

We have 8 elders, and one sister. Poor Sister Henderson is stuck as a solo, but she is a good sport. Elder Demordaunt in my room is an awesome kid; someone to sing in the shower next to in our shower stalls, and everywhere else for that matter, so that part of me hasn't changed. 

I am getting up earlier, going to bed earlier, eating better so don't worry too much ok? I'm a good kid, and I'm taking care of myself. I seriously am having the best time of my life here, and I cannot wait to get better at the Dansk. 

I have some pictures so be sure to share them with family. I hope they get through ok. I get to work out with my comp because he also likes to, which is nice. Sorry for my poor sentence structure, there just isn't a lot of time here, and I have a TON of emails to write. 

Let Nana know I love her so very much and what an incredible lady she is. I wish her the very happiest of happy birthdays, and a few very merry unbirthdays as well when I'm gone. 

Dear elder works great, I don't care too much if it is hand written or not, as long as you let me know what is on the up and up. I loved the package, it was very sweet and I love having the snack food now that there isn't so much of it around. I also wanted to let you know that I found a penny on the floor today right after I got done telling my comp about the whole penny thing with papa and showing him that picture of him. He shared a nice laugh with me and we continued to clean. 

He has been here with me mom. I wanted to wait to tell you about this after I got into the MTC, because I didn't want to watch you bawl the day before I left, but when I went out jogging Tuesday I felt a presence that I hadn't ever felt before. After long debate with myself while running through our neighborhood it was clear papa had been out on the jog with me. Even though I had my headphones in, and I couldn't have said before that time that I had felt papa with me, this experience sealed for me what I already knew, that this was the right thing to do. I'll continue to keep up with my journal so no worries there. 

 Jeg elsker dig! 

Elder Pitcher 

p.s. MacLean was in the room next to mine the Tuesday before I got here! He was going to be my host, but they moved to west campus. I got to talk with him a bit after a devotional and he is doing well. Also got to talk with Peyton Starks and he heads out soon, if not already. He is a stud, they are both going to be awesome missionaries. 

p.p.s. My teachers are awesome, and I had a cool experience getting to send out the Swedish Elders who we got close to this week, by doing the classic singing of hymns out loud in their room. Very spiritual. Sorry these are all so broken up. My brain is scattered. Lots to do. Loves bye ;)

We begin.

My wife and I have seen several missionary blogs and decided that while Teagan was in the MTC and unable to start one himself that we would start it for him.

He likes the idea and we will be posting from time to time the things that he would like us to post.  Perhaps, with the new way the Church is using social media he will be able to do the posts himself.

We have added his farewell talk (audio - see link on menu bar above) and his Eagle scout video which he received just before his mission (I imagine with the lowering of missionary service age to 18, that will happen a lot).  In any case, we hope you'll be able to refer to this blog from time to time and see how Teagan is doing.

We love and miss him a great deal ... and he misses us, but (and I quote from his last letter after 4 weeks in the MTC - Missionary Training Center), "I haven't stopped loving the MTC yet ... I feel like I'm at an advantage ... because I know my reason and purpose for being out here and I'm confident that the Lord will take care of the rest after my willingness and love for the Danish people."

Well ... that says it all ...