June 30, 2014

Another slow week for numbers, but after talking about it with Elder Madsen, and thinking about it a little bit more as a companionship, we really have been putting a full effort in. Summer vacation, and people not holding appointments have really been a hindrance on the lessons, and people we normally are teaching.

In any case, it's opened up a lot more time for us to be able to find new people like ‘M’ from the Congo whom we are now teaching, and another interesting man named ‘J’ who created an online dating service for people with dyslexia. Very interesting people.

We are working hard and trying to make things work even though people are dropping like flies...

Anyway, this week we have our interviews with Pres. Sederholm in our apartment here in Viborg so I'll have to remind you how it goes next week.

Thanks for sending the history info, it's very helpful! You should hop online and write down a few stories about those people and add some photos. Familysearch is a great ressource :)

I was touched to get a phone call from President Sederholm last week to let me know just how everything was going with ‘Cap’ ;) It sounds like he is really pulling through, and I'm always getting better and better news so it sounds like he really is a fighter.

Last night I had a dream where I was talking with someone some time after my mission at a family gathering. They asked if I wanted to join in to some sort of board game to which I replied that I had already promised my nephews that I'd be going outside to play basketball with them.

I'm not sure if it's any kind of inspiration, but I saw both of my nephews last night running around in the front yard with me playing basketball, and it hit me like a brick when I was explaining what had just happened when I woke up and started talking to Elder Hafen about it.

I know everything is going to turn out fine :)

I hope you guys are proud of me. I look forward to hearing from you again, and want you both to know that I love you a lot. Have a great week!
Ældste Pitcher

June 23, 2014

That's Awesome!!  NOTE: Elder Pitcher’s nephew (Corbin) was born 6/19/14.

I'm so happy that all is going well.  I will continue to hope and pray for the best and look forward to more news about my new nephew!  It's been great to hear that everything is going so great at home even if you've been taking a few hits (shoulder, Corbin's surgeries) it seems like everyone is pushing through it... I must say I'm no exception. 

It was one of those weeks where people seemed to all go on summer vacation at the same time and a lot of our appointments, even the ones that are pretty regular, fell through, and we ended up contacting and just stopping by people for a lot of the time.  It has been an awesome week too though in a lot of ways and I wouldn't want to sell it short. 

We have one women that we have just started meeting with from Brazil. Doesn't speak much Danish, and no English, but she knows the missionaries from back home so she is excited to be meeting with us again and plans on coming to church in the coming weeks. 

We also had the chance to meet with our English class group again (they had 'taken a break' last time we checked) in a little bit different setting, and this time on a wider level. I think all of the people from the Congo know each other in this area because a lot of people that we had recently contacted from the Congo were there also. (some were still interested, others not so much ... a little awkward, but we were loving it haha) 

They want to set up a class where everyone (all the Congo people) can come and mingle with each other, learn English, talk with us, and play soccer. If this goes as well as it sounds, I've got a lot to look forward here the next few weeks.

Other than that, Elder Hafen and I are still getting along great.  He's really good at making pizza and so we've been doing that every Friday during weekly planning.  I love our tiny little district of six.  I'll have to get a picture of us all soon. 

This week is looking up though, I hope everything back home is shaping up as well. 

I love you both so much! 

Ældste Pitcher

June 16, 2014

This was a great week. We have started meeting regularly with some new people, one man named ‘E’ from the Congo and his wife (they invited us to their wedding in August haha) whom are Seventh Day Adventists, and love talking about religion, another women from Brazil named ‘S’ whom grew up in Brazil talking with missionaries and said that this was the first time she had seen missionaries in Denmark and that she would love to have us over to talk, and then of course ‘O’ and ‘L’ whom we met with last week.

This week’s meeting with ‘O’ and ‘L’ was another awesome one! They really take care of us, and when we went in to talk about the restoration THEY led the lessons. We had challenged them last time to read the introduction, and also from the book, and then to pray to know if it is true. They not only read the intro, but the 3 witnesses testimonies and the 8 witnesses testimonies, and started into the book! They had so many great questions, it was a missionary paradise.

Then just yesterday we went to our folke kirke priest friend ‘B’s gudstjeneste because it didn't conflict with our church time (I hope that's ok). She was really excited to have us there, and she said it meant a lot. We plan on meeting with her again soon, and hope that her daughter whom has shown some interest will be able to sit in next time as well.

All in all it's been a pretty great week, and Elder Hafen and I are getting along swimmingly... minus the swimming part ;)

I also bought a suit.... It was actually a really good deal and I needed one here pretty soon because it was starting to get a little worn.. The pants were a little tight and the sleeves a little high, but I just happen to know the best seamstress on Jylland, Sister Reuter in our branch is a wiz with the sewing machine and told me she would love to help me out when I asked. She has been fixing missionaries up for a while now it sounds like, and I know she loves doing it so it's a win win for sure :)

We also had another great lesson with ‘K’. Not sure if I've mentioned him before, but he is an artist, very hip young investigator who has been investigating for a while. I connect with him on a level I can tell a lot of other missionaries beforehand haven't been able to. He really feels deeply about the concept that we all one day have the potential to be like God ourselves, and it's something I feel personally I've been able to level with him a lot on with bearing testimony during lessons. Somehow it always turns back to that and both Elder Hafen and I are able to really let the spirit flow into the lesson. It's great :)

I'm loving it here a lot, and I don't remember if I told ya'll last week but I'm pretty sure that I'll be staying here in Skive for the next transfer. Talked with Pres. Sederholm in church (who told me to greet you all and wish Tay and Shasta the best by the way) last week and he said the areas will be splitting again with the coming 6 missionaries next transfer and that one of us will be going to Skive and one will be going to Viborg. Likely I'll be going back to Skive is what you can pull from that ;)

I have loved my time here though, and really look forward to another round here. Love you both so much!

Ældste Pitcher

June 9, 2014

You scared the crud out of me. I thought my dog was dead. You should go back and read that and maybe reword it so your boy doesn't get strung out next time haha.  Good to know that he is doing ok though. NOTE: The dog got out of our yard and was hit by a car (hurt but not badly).

Sounds like a pretty busy week.  I'm really glad that you got to visit with Miss and Levi.  I'm really proud of those two.  They have been working really hard recently along with a lot of my other friends.  It's exciting to see that many of them are now choosing the mission thing too.  The mission field needs my bros. :)  

This has been a really good first week for Elder Hafen and I.  The highlight of my week was getting to go up to Thyholm to visit 'O' and 'L'. I think they sent you some pictures on your email as well so you will have to let me know if you get them.  They are awesome people.  

So we got this referral from the Elders back on Amager about a girl that they were teaching's parents who live up in Thyholm.  They said that they would be calling us so I didn't really think much of it, but they told us that this could very well be an awesome appointment if we were able to set something up.  

They called and were just the nicest people ever.  We set something up and were there on Saturday.  

Only in our first appointment and they already fed us twice, once before, and once right after helping them with some service, took pics of us to sent do our parents, and said that they would LOVE to get a Book of Mormon from us to read, and were very gracious about that whole thing.  

They have the most beautiful transformed summer home ever with a gorgeous look out.  I felt like a prince at their house.  They took care of us, and I can really tell that they are hip with the young folk ;)  

They actually kind of remind me of you guys quite a bit.  They are photographers, empty nesters, and are very active people.  If you guys were Danish, this is you ;)  They were great.  

My second favorite appointment on my mission by far, and that is only behind Christmas eve with a member family with a father for a professional chef so that's something haha.  

I try and fit it all in mom, and sometimes I just can't.

Just know that I love you both anyway, and I'm still working hard.  I want you both to be proud of your missionary.  

Loves and stuff

Ældste Pitcher

June 2, 2014

Hello Parents!!

This has been a great week here in Viborg.

It seemed like the common theme for this week was the Word of Wisdom as we committed ‘J’, and also some of our other investigators (‘T’ ‘R’ ‘J’, all good friends) to live the Word of Wisdom. 

I think ‘J’ got a little discouraged because she is afraid of driving into other cars without her morning coffee, and is almost just satisfied with sticking to her catholic roots so hopefully we will find some blessings there, and ways to work around her fears. 

Nonetheless we are still working with all of them on it, and it seems like ever so slowly it's progressing, but still going forward at least :) 

It seems like you guys have had a pretty awesome week, and hope that all is well with Jenny and Johnny's family now!  That's a little scary. 

It has been really good to see pictures of all of the kids, and I was actually telling Tia this earlier, but it feels like I've been pretty children deprived since being on my mission.  So sad that the rules have to be so strict about missionaries being around children, but I understand.  I guess I just miss all my little nieces and Carson making havoc everywhere ;) 

I'm excited to hear about BYU and hockey, I'm really looking forward to the upcoming season! 

I just got my new companion Elder Hafen today, and he is a real stud.  He was in the group just after mine, so this is my first junior companion.  He played basketball, went to school up in Idaho Falls at Idaho Falls High School, and has been serving in Sønderborg up until this point on his mission.  We get along really well, and I'm looking forward to working with him for the coming 6 week transfer. 

Pictures on the way for this last week!  :) 

I love you Guys so very much, and hope that you are holding down the fort real good in the WJ ;)

Med kærlig hilsen
Ældste Pitcher