February 24, 2014

This has been a pretty awesome week from what it sounds like back home. I love hearing about how well everyone is getting along, even when it isn't going along as well as we would hope.

I'm very interested in the travel trailor, and it sounds like I left the country just in time for all of the exciting hockey in Utah to start taking place! But at least it is getting better, and that is wonderful to hear.

On Monday we stopped by the queen’s palace just because I had never been there before, and there were some elders with us that wanted to see it who were staying the night. Then we talked for a really long time with an Islamic man on the street, and realized after some time that I was doing a good portion of the talking, and felt very secure in my Danish. It is exciting to see the improvement, and what a blessing it has been.

Tuesday we started off the day with some language study at an investigator who has been investigating for a long time named ‘C’. She is a very energetic lady, and is really good friends with all of the missionaries... even if she has never met them before. She also gave me a compliment on my pronunciation, and told me not to get cocky. I felt really good after our little appointment. She is on hold for missionary lessons right now, but the assistants are working their way back in to teaching her.

I took a nap that day because I was absolutely exhausted from being sick (at the office nurses request, I'm not just lazy), and then we went to a members home who is one of the best cooks in the ward who has all of the missionaries, and temple presidents, and their wives over. Way good time, way good food. Elder Redd can really pound the food too, so that was fun.

Skipping to Friday (sorry not very exciting there in between), we got a ticket from the public transportation here. Helped a family in our ward move, and had a really fun meeting in the evening with a man named ‘M’ from Africa that always has hot chocolate, and these little cakes for us when he lets us in. This time he was a little tipsy, and had us end with a standing prayer as we all clasped hands in the middle high in the air, and he praised Jesus. It was awesome. I love that guy.

Saturday, we did the whole Fastilavn holiday that they do here, you'll have to look it up, it's pretty dark. Kind of like a Danish Halloween, except they beat a barrel with a cat in it (now it's just candy ;) Crazy Danes haha. I did the limbo, had some fun with the little kids in the ward, and then we went to an eating appointment with one of the members who is just the sweetest old women. Her brown sauce and potatoes that she makes are just to die for. NOTE: Fastelavn evolved from the Roman Catholic tradition of celebrating in the days before Lent - similar to Carival, but after Denmark became a Protestant nation, the holiday became less specifically religious. This holiday occurs seven weeks before Easter Sunday and is sometimes described as a Nordic Halloween, with children dressing up in costumes and gathering treats for the Fastelavn feast. The holiday is generally considered to be a time for children's fun and family games.

Sunday we had the lesson in Elders quorum, and we actually did way good! There was a Swedish guy visiting and he said that he could understand me better than most other Danes, and I was like dang, I missed the wrong Scandinavian country by just a couple of miles hahaha! Just kiddin'.

The work is working. 'T'is our only investigator right now, is still progressing, slowly but surely, she just needs to gain a greater desire, which is hard to teach, but we know she is going to get there.

Love y'all!

Elder Pitcher

February 17, 2014

It's really nice to hear about your week, and I know Mom and Dad come first and that this week has been a bit different, just with everything brought to light so I appreciate that.

The package came through fine, and I loved every bit of it! One thing though, don't worry about sending Sarachi, you can buy it here for cheap actually, but everthing else was fantastic!

Monday- I played handball, Denmarks favorite! And I actually scored a lot of goals, it reminds me a lot of boxball actually, so I was able to apply a lot of the same skills.

I got nice new shoes. They're Eccos, and really nice. Also bought hair clippers since the ones you sent me fried in the higher voltage, hope that's ok... I actually am starting to get well known in the mission for cutting hair, and not just my own, I've cut a few elders including E. Francis, and Wright. Guess it runs in the family.

Also invited Therese to baptism, and she said yes, if she finds out it is true.

Got flat Stanley also from Kylee.

Tuesday- Made ‘K’ baptismal chart, he had a mood swing and dropped us again not giving up on him though. Contacted a man after Elder Redd jokingly remarked that he would have been baptized.... I ran after him after he said that and it turned out he was from LA and was really interested in what we had to say. I had a 30 min conversation on the street and I'm emailing him. Little miracle after the heartbreak with ‘K’.

Wednesday- Elder Redd checked into the commune, so he's official in København now! Got some photos with flat Stanley.

Thursday- Zone conference, I remarked 'The sun is out!' and the mission president turned it into one of the most emotional experiences I've heard. He changed it to 'yes Elder Pitcher, the SON is out' and completely brought a spiritual kick to the face to begin his lesson. Pres Sederholm is so inspired.

Went on splits with Elder Williardson from Amager, and an odd lady from Bornholm talked with him for 20 min. while I tried to figure out our way back to an area to contact, poor kid. But later in the splits he got his Danish complimented for the first time! It was awesome to be there for such an exciting moment for him in his mission. He was on such a spiritual high after that it was so cool.

Friday- Had dinner with the Franks and what an awesome couple they are. [This is a couple we know from home who went to Denmark on a business trip and took a package over with them for Teagan] So happy they came to visit, and they even knew someone one of the assistants knew from back home. What a small world.

I'm going to have to say, one of my favorite parts about the package was the ziploc baggies, you just can't find them here, and I didn't realize how much i would miss them.

Sunday- Therese came to church, and I used Dad's prophet lesson in guest class, it went really well. It's a little bit different in Danish though I might say. I also got sick over the weekend, but I'm feeling much better now.

I'm starting to just write down experiences in a little book I keep with me for emails now, so let me know how you feel about it! I hope all goes well, and want you both to know that I love you so very much and can't wait to hear more from you!

February 10, 2014

NOTE: We have a friend who is going to Copenhagen and has offered to take a package to Teagan. She and her husband are also wanting to take Teagan and his companion to dinner.

If she has our address then she is going to have to ring to get in, the office is just on the second floor and the door will normally be left open. She just needs to let Sister Hansen know that she has a package for Elder Pitcher, and if she needs our phone number that is who she can get it from. I can't promise anything because we are usually pretty busy, and I'm not sure what the regulations are on that, but it would be fun.

Daytime pics are hard to get, because we are working during that time, and the sun only comes out for a few hours, if at all because of cloud cover. I'll do my best though.

Elder Redd and I are getting along way great! We've had a pretty fun first week. To be completely honest, I was super stressed out the first couple of days, but just like with anything, if you just keep working eventually you will forget about feeling intimidated, and just go back to have fun again. That doesn't take away from the fact that I'm still a little stressed out, but it has definitely subsided some now that I'm into the swing of things.

NOTE: Tay and Shasta were told there is a concern with their baby after the ultrasound and they are going to a specialist this week. It may be nothing, but we are having a family fast.

I love getting to see how well everyone is doing, and will definitely be joining in on that fast tomorrow.

We had an experience just the other day that is pretty cool that I'll try and tell you about real quick. We started to run out of groceries this week because it was our first time buying together, but we just figured we could scrape by and not have to worry too much. Then, two days ago we went to go help this member's non member mother for part of our service focus that we are doing for this month.

We got over there, and to our surpise they gave us a heeping mass of pizza that we got to keep the extras of, then in the evening while stopping by member families to share a quick spiritual thought about service, one of my favorite families (Toft Family) told us to just stay for dinner.

A whole day and a half worth of meals to some underprepared missionaries. When you work hard, the Lord blesses us in many ways.

I'm trying to forget about myself more, not just because it helps me keep the focus off of being stressed but also because it feels good to serve others. Sometimes people who don't recognize the spirit call it the 'warm fuzzies' you get. How cool would it be if everyone knew that that was actually spiritual conformation that God is happy with us helping each other?

Yay! missionary thoughts and stuff ;) Love you Guys so much, and I hope all goes well with the Ward and the Family.

Love
Elder Pitcher

February 3, 2014

It's been so exciting to hear from you guys, and get pictures this week! It seems like the family all in all has grown up way too fast! I can't believe it! Everyone looks so classy, and happy, and it makes me really grateful for such wonderful parents who have taught so much about life, and the gospel, and how it's all the same thing.

It makes me really excited for the future too to see all of my little nieces and Carson growing up to carry on the same knowledge that their wonderful parents are now passing on to them.

I'm getting all misty eyed over here, but I just kicked my mission daddy onto a bus to Århus, so I feel like I have reason to be a little emotional today.

I'm going up to pick up my companion soon, Elder Redd, and I don't really have a lot of time to talk about my week today, so I'm really sorry about that, but I did have a really interesting last week with Elder Francis.

I gave a blessing on ‘K's home this last week because he said that he has had an exorcism performed on him in the past, and like some of those bad feelings are still in the air. I might be giving him a priesthood blessing tomorrow too if he still isn't feeling himself.

He missed Church this week so I'm hoping everything is alright, but just so you all can know what to pray for me for.

From what I've learned and heard about Elder Redd, we are going to get along really well. Sounds like he's kind of more chill kid like me so I'm excited to see the success we can have, even as I'm a little nervous taking over my first area.

That's probably about all I can do for this week, but I want you to know that I love you both so very much, and will be sending pictures, so don't you worry yourselves ;)

Much love,
Elder Pitcher