Elder Monroe

Monday, October 23, 2017

10.5.17 New Stuff and New Goals

Ladies and gentlemen Elder Monroe got a new companion! His name is Elder Taylor from Idaho. And he is way funny and we work really hard and well together. I look forward to working with the guy some more. Just went out yesterday and set out like 4 so 5 appointments and life is good right now.

We've set new goals and we have high expectations for this transfer. Things are already looking up. Got a cool appointment with a French family. She showed us to her house and wants her and her husband to hear the lessons. So cool! Her name is Jessie Pierre. That's like 100% French.

The other day we had dinner at a Mexican place. It tasted legendary and I miss my Mexican brothers. We were supporting this fundraiser for all the Mexicans that were effected by floods and hurricanes and I guess earthquakes. It was for a good purpose. The person that managed the fund raiser is an investigator of the other Elders and she is extremely friendly.

General conference then happened. It's way different in Germany, as it lasts two weeks for us. We watch the last session on the second Sunday. The others ones on this last Saturday and Sunday, and might I add that Elder Oaks just did an awesome job of roasting people trying to change the churches standards for today's problems. What a guy. I am glad he did that because someone needed to. We just hung out in a room by ourselves with chips and salsa and enjoyed the sessions. Really relaxing and great.

Yea I guess not too much happened. Worked hard and enjoyed the week.

Elder Monroe

1 General conference environment

2 us with our ward mission leader eating Mexican food.

3 we got a ride from our ward mission leader and we just crashed... The other way.

SORT ENTRIES BY

JOURNAL

10.19.2017 Mission Reunion

 This last Monday we had a huge mission reunion so to say. We all went to Frankfurt to hear an apostle of the lord speak... In person. Really cool and he wanted to shake all of our hands! So that was way cool. Really an honor for me to shake Russell M Ballard's hand. He is a spiritual giant. He came and gave advice and support for our mission. 

We also met everyone in the mission, which means we met everyone from the MTC. It's been six months since I have seen a few of them and let's just say it was way weird. Way cool to meet them again. 

This last week was a rough one. We set up about four or five appointments this week and they all fell out. So let's go for next week. 

Then we had a referral who lives an hour from us. We called him and he set up and appointment with us at three. We get there and we both heard what he said, wrote it down as soon as we heard it as well. Get there and find out it is at two... So he laughed at us and took the book of Mormon at least and then said he was too busy this week and all next month and left. What the flip. Lol. 

Learning how to cook here. Chili con Carne boss here. Haha that is like all I can make. Chili and noodles are good here. But my favorite things are those little pizzas where you just throw them in the oven because usually my companion and I are way to tired to cook anything else. 

Man when you realize that not too much happened this week because we were all on the streets. It's funny what these name tags do. Right as you talk to someone they look really close and right as they see Jesus christ they book it and run. For instance we doored a glass door. A lady comes to the door, looks through the glass and just stands there looking at our name tags. We wave and say hi, but she nods her head and walks back into her house. Like what the heck. 

And sisters ! My companion and I always make fun of the ability sisters have. We are on our way back to saarbrücken from Frankfurt and two sisters just sit next to this old guy on the train and they don't even have to say anything. Lol. The old guy just smiles at them and just engagés in conversation with them. Boom potential. 

Me and elder Taylor decided to try that. Hey that's way cool. We sit next to an old guy and the guy grunts at us so we were talking to him and he closes his eyes and grunts again. Darn it. Maybe if we grew out our hair we'd have more success or some thing. Like Samson. 

Yea so that's really about it today. Nice about the family and hope they are all good. 

Elder Monroe 

Friday, September 29, 2017

Sept 7 The hand of God

This week was very successful. We have met some really impressive people. I am looking forward to baptisms here in Saarbrücken. There is so many people that are ready, you just got to find them.

We have met this guy from Eritrea. His name is Isaak. He has an insane story. He was once a soldier for the army of Eritrea, and currently Eritrea is having a horrible Civil War against themselves as well as religion. He says he killed many people and saints, bishops, only because he had to as a soldier. It was his job, but he couldn't stand it anymore. He fled and was inspired by saints who he killed to follow christ and his teachings. He then started his own following of about three hundred followers. But he has no church. He found us on the street one day and looked at us on his bike. He smiled and said

I see a light in you. I feel the Holy Ghost in you and your eyes are bright. Which church do you belong to? I currently don't have a church and wish to find one. May I join yours and see if I feel the holy ghost there? If I do I will join.

We obliged and gave him a book of mormon, and when he saw it he was a little scared at first, but looked at it and says,

If I feel the light in you, what you are saying must be true. But I must read and find out. I need to know what I am joining.

He came to church in a wonderful testimony meeting and felt the spirit so strong. He told us he was so happy and felt like this is the right church. He than asked us how can I share this book to my people of Eritrea? They are scared of other books besides the Bible, but I will slowly share this book. I want others to have a testimony of Jesus christ. Can I also invite my followers to your church?

We obliged once again and had a wonderful lesson. He brings his notebook to lessons and takes notes on our lessons. During the lesson I heard his stomach growl very loud. I asked if he was hungry. He has been fasting three days so that he can feel the spirit. No wonder why the lesson went so well.

He is definitely a blessing in my life, and I know he will be in others to come. He says when he reads the whole book he will be baptized, so it will take a little time.

Another is a man called Alex from Kyrgyzstan. He is a seeker for truth. He says if it is in the Bible I will believe it and I believe I can get an answer from God. He is very humble and has extremely hard questions, so when we have lessons I always have to give myself assignments as to what to study because most of the time I don't know the answer to his questions. Really great to know him and he really enjoys our time as we do his.

The hand of god is truly in the lives of others as I have seen. It truly makes me grateful being apart of this work. For there is no greater call.

Much Love

Elder Monroe

Sept. 14 another week rolling smoothly

Got another way good investigator. Her name is Valerie and told us she wants to be baptized, but has to check out our church and learn about it, and she likes it. Woo! She is German but wants English practice, so our lessons revolve around English and German. She is so ready.

Isaak is also on fire. Just comes to lessons and we are always excited. He asked us if he can bring 15 friends to church who want to come... We just need to talk to bishop to prepare the ward for these changes... Hey this is pretty sweet. This will literally add a 1/3 more to church attendance.

He kinda had a hard idea of being baptized again by a guy with authority, since he was already baptized. He said he needs to pray and find out. We thought that was a good idea. Haha. 😉

We have been doing lots of less active work here as well. I feel like everyone of them is moved... Lots of long travel only to find out they don't live there anymore. Flip.

We get along well with this ward. It is a very good ward and it's even better to see those less actives you invite come to church. Many of them want to, they just need support and they are so friendly when they see us.

Oh yeah.. We freaking have this weird guy who is like 70 years old called Mario. Never baptized, but is nuts and comes to church sometimes. For example he came in a Spiderman costume. Bishop chased him out of the church. Haha. And we have blocked him on our phone at least five times or more, but always finds a new way to contact us. Literally once he said that he is trying to move to Utah, but he changed his last name to trump and wants to marry trumps daughter. We told him good luck with that. He said thanks.

We have destroyed some Muslim Bible bashers. I honestly hate bashing, but when they set appointments just to bash, bring it on. I have never felt so prepared and blew him out of the water. It drives me nuts when they try to prove us wrong with the Bible when they don't believe in the holy ghost and Jesus christ as the son of god. Boom roasted. It is just another firm testimony to me that this church is true and can be defended in every principle and every way, because this church is true and the book of Mormon is flipping awesome.

I am learning a lot here. This place is great. I think I am getting used to it here... Kinda. Haha. Getting really cold here and getting out the winter clothes.

Much love

Elder Monroe

And we went to trier today. So so cool and so much history. I will definitely check it for Christmas... Gonna be here for it. Awesome. You guys have to check it out. So legendary and we got lots of pictures...

Aug 21 Blessing of marriage

So we went to a members house. His name is Bessem. He has a heart if gold and his à Muslim convert and makes friendly rap. He isn't all the way there but just so friendly. He asked if he could say a blessing for us. We said we would love one. Then he said a prayer about when we finish our missions that we can find a beautiful lady to marry and she will be perfect and will have beautiful children. A beautiful virgin. I was kinda reminded of the joke I heard in the MTC.

1 Nephi 11:10,15

And the Angel said unto me what desires thou?

And I said unto him, a virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins.

I just kinda looked up in the middle of the prayer and was like

Hey thanks. Will do man!

So for what has happened that is notwendig.

We were dooring in this catholic neighborhood. Horrible idea. We door for three hours and one guy kinda listened to us and took our card at least. He didn't let us in and we just talked on his porch. The others all said they were all catholic. Rough.

One of them really was interesting though. She was a little over sixty it looked like wearing lots of make-up and really tight leather black clothes. Like painfully tight. We asked her if she wanted to hear a message of Jesus christ. She was like (in the weirdest highest voice ever)

Oh I am sorry. I am so busy and my children aren't home. It is so hard cleaning the house and it's so stressful.

So as my call states that we are called to serve, I asked her if we could help her with any problems that she may be having. Her reply...

Oh you m'en are wonderful young boys. No but I think you are so sweet. Come by another time and we will see about it......

TCHUSSY GUSSY!

Then blew us a huge kiss and winked, closed the door, and me and my companion just stood there in awe. We had no idea what the crap just happened. We freaking ran into a cougar. And for the elders who are reading this letter, TCHUSSY GUSSY is actually real. Tschüss in German means bye, but adding the GUSSY in the end just makes the whole situation worse.

Then another fun one. My companion is an interesting guy. I think I am learning lots from him, like in the other way haha. He wears this long trench coat thing he calls the black mamba. He is a little out there and loves this thing to death so he wears it everywhere, despite Germans giving him so much crap about it. So for example we were contacting people on the streets/shop Platz. Then two trashy looking female druggies in their teens and a druggy guy comes up to Elder ockey and asks.

Do you sell speed?

What?

Do you sell speed?

I am a missionary! Can't you tell?

Then this guy booked it, but my companion stopped him and asked him spiritual questions as to why he does that. The guy said his coat was big so he thought he was hiding drugs. Gave him a Mormon card, they went into a store, alarms went off everywhere. Hate it when you steal stuff lol.

Then another guy who was high on cocaïne (he had lots of energy and was dancing around as he talks) told my companion his cape looks cool and likes his Harry Potter costume. Haha. My companion didn't like the roast so much. It's what you learn on a mission. I still have fun with this guy.

We had Interviews with President. He is always a great guy. He told me expect to see more changes in Saarbrücken. I know we can change this place. It is a rough place and really fun at the same time.

Still working with Isaak. Hope all goes well for him.

I just realized something on my mission. Lots of people aren't there all the way, but without that life wouldn't be interesting. Everyday I meet someone who does the most ridiculous things. Perhaps he tries to cut someone's fingernails. Perhaps a guy in lederhosen tries to make his journey somewhere in a Peter pan hat but goes home because he is too tired, or an old guy with a motorcycle helm on who steals empty bottles to recycle it for money, or drunks scratching the sides of lots of cars with the trunk of a sapling. Or just turks in general haha. It is ridiculous. I was missing out on all of this when I was home. I wouldn't be in any other place. Germany is my dream mission and what do ya know. I love it here and I love the people. I can speak pretty good German and it's coming faster and faster. It's a lot more comfortable being here and of course I still have lots more to learn. Life is good, and it only gets better.

Much love

Elder Monroe

This transfer has come to an end. These things fly by extremely fast and going on to number five. Let's see what happens this next one.

Kind of a hard week this time. Lots of people just don't have the interest here. They are just not the best commitment people here. Haha but there is still lots of people to talk to on the streets of saarbrücken.

It reminds me of the amulonites and amalekites. Out of all the work the Aaron and his brothers did only one was converted. But it really is a testimony to me that every soul is great in the eyes of God. We're gonna at least find one here. That is my goal and we go out everyday to find this one soul.

Anyways I absolutely love the members here. My favorite members here is the Kennedy family. They are so friendly and are about to have a family(so they are a young family) and they come out from Utah. He loves biking, and so he has four very nice bikes on his walls and we enjoy talking about trails and he tells me all about the legendary trails of Utah haha. I love these members here and they are very supportive of us. Always grateful for good members and amazing food. They really make the mission awesome.

I try so hard not to laugh out loud when I walk the streets here. Just this mom who let's her six year old girl drop her pounds and pee on the stairs of the house with everyone there waiting for their train. What the flip!? Haha.

I have been reading the Bible in German as well as the book of Mormon. Elder Jones showed me something really cool. In the German translation, in John 21 where Jesus asks Peter do you love me? In German the translation is Liebst du mich? Which means in a literal sense...

Do you truly love me? (In a deep and loving way).

As you know the story Peter says yea lord I love thee. But in the third time in the German translation Jesus asks.

Hast du mich lieb?

This translation says do you love me? (in a brotherhood sense). There are many different levels of expressing love in German, and it really made me think. Jesus truly showed love to his apostles as well as us, and he literally is our older brother. I never really thought about that and I truly love the German language, especially in terms such as this. I never really thought of loving him as a brother but it was something that affected me. Just a cool fact.

Investigators, well let's just say we are looking for more. Lots of people don't like hearing they have to be baptized again. Haha. Just press forward.

Much love

Elder Monroe

1 freaking hate this lady cause everything I introduce myself.

Oh! Like Marilyn Monroe!

2 met some weird guy in the forest in a hike and demanded that we hugged trees to show respect to the forest because they are our brothers... Here is Elder Jones hugging a tree. He invited us... We were his guests.(The odd guy in the forest) Never thought I would hug trees on the mission.... Haha

3 Forest was still pretty

Sunday, September 24, 2017

Sept 21, 2017

1 Nephi 11:10,15

And the Angel said unto me what desires thou?

And I said unto him, a virgin, most beautiful and fair above all other virgins.

I just kinda looked up in the middle of the prayer and was like

Hey thanks. Will do man!

So for what has happened that is notwendig.

Oh I am sorry. I am so busy and my children aren't home. It is so hard cleaning the house and it's so stressful.

So as my call states that we are called to serve, I asked her if we could help her with any problems that she may be having. Her reply...

Oh you m'en are wonderful young boys. No but I think you are so sweet. Come by another time and we will see about it......

TCHUSSY GUSSY!

Do you sell speed?

What?

Do you sell speed?

I am a missionary! Can't you tell?

Still working with Isaak. Hope all goes well for him.

Much love

Elder Monroe

Thursday, August 31, 2017

hello once again

This place is crazy. I really don't know where to even start. I will honestly say I am overwhelmed. It's a good thing, but it is insane.

We had about thirty members come to church last Sunday. Our less active member list shows about 330 who didn't come. And many that we did meet who are less active, know the church is true, but there is always something little that stops them from coming to church. For example this one Italian lady. She just lost her husband, and so she doesn't come to church because she is afraid that all of the members will try to set her up with someone new. But then she feels alone and she has no Priesthood holder in her house and doesn't understand why women don't hold the Priesthood. Then she told her fourteen year old son that he needs to check this church out for himself. I don't think he really has the interest because his mother doesn't. So, this is interesting.

Another already knows the church is true, she just doesn't wast to go to church. Asked her why not, she just doesn't want to travel. Really wish we can help out some of these people.

Something cool though happened to a less active family. We were planning on how we can get these people back to church. They just need a boost to come back to church, and as we said that they called us and said hey when can you guys come over and have dinner? Cool, so we will see them tomorrow.

We find lots of appointments, lots dont show up. Just gotta let it in the lords hands. We try to set at least two or more appointments with people on the street. Just gonna say the most effective thing is going to the restoration of the church. I can't count how many times we have taught the first lesson on the street, it is super cool to see how many people actually just like the idea of hearing the restored church. They love it, even those thugs with piercings all over their face. It's just a matter of meeting them again after that. Haha.

Having lots of fun here, and my companion does work hard. We do have our differences, but we are effecient.

Not really much more to say. We ran to the French border today. Cool. Our district leader really teaches me a lot, he is great to have around us and we work well together. Look forward to keep working with him.

I hope the pictures work this time. Sorry for the other pictures that didn't send... Haha.

Strange place, let's see how this goes.

Much love

Elder Monroe

Thursday, August 24, 2017

saarbrücken

Well looks like I have been transferred, as my last companion is now training. Congrats to him, but now I am in the land of saarbrücken. I literally feel isolated from the rest of the mission. It is right on the border of france(we can literally walk to France) and we have some members in France as well, giving me the chance not only to serve in Germany but France as well. I can't understand anyone here because either they speak French or Portuguese. No more Muslims it looks like.

This place is extremely beautiful. From the slums and pits of Duisburg, to a small city and Dorfs (villages and farms) everywhere. Rolling hills of green, farms and forests is everywhere. This is literally culture shock once again.

The city is really old, so all the apartments and stores are also really old. They are all made of brick and stone, looking like a more 1700's style of Germany. Just a little graffiti ruins a little bit... But that's everywhere in Germany.

Our new apartment is amazing. I thought my last apartment was massive, this one is way bigger, wood floors, huge balcony on the second floor to chill, wifi, way sweet beds, a freaking dish washer, and life is good.

My new companion is an interesting guy. His name is Elder Ockey, totally from Utah and has a lot more energy than I do. I will just say that. He loves talking and is usually just a happy guy in general. I think I can use that to help me learn a few new things. Plus he is one hundred percent fluent in German and Spanish. He sounds way good and helps me speak with people from Portugal.

There has been lots of problems in Saarbrücken. I guess lots of offenses has happened here with the bishop, as he tends to run his church as a business, causing the membership here to plummet to the ground. Lots of less actives, and we have two sets of missionaries here now trying to repair what the last missionary did I guess, as he was like the bishop and Stern to the members.

Our next pair is the AP as our district leader, he just finished his position as AP and president sent him there to take charge of things as well as training. Elder Jones is serious about goals and I really look forward to working with him. We literally met with our mission leader here and he said this city is dead, so we get the opportunity to change that.

It was very hard for me to leave Duisburg, but hey. New opportunities ahead I suppose. This is going to be a really interesting transfer and lots of new experiences. Great living circumstances, hard serving circumstances.

Dad, just gonna say you look way old. Haha love ya guys.

Much love

Elder Monroe

Thursday, August 10, 2017

Lots still going

Last week was a bit rough actually, but this week in general we have gotten a couple sweet investigators in our area.

One of them is named Danquan from Ghana and is an avid follower of religion. He is fifty years old and has been looking for the right church for quite some time. He then told us he needs to ask God if this church is true. We readily agreed.

There were moments when he even praised Joseph Smith and said he needed to do what he did. I think he shows lots of potential.

Another is a friend of Matu Sanns in our ward. His name is Daniel Thiel, an avid soccer player who even is payed to play, loves BVB, and is really helpful with my German. We like the same things and we get along so well. He likes to keep me informed who is winning soccer games and tells me what I need to know about German soccer. Just a really friendly and way cool guy.

Our poor new Yorker is having trouble trying to be a member. He has problems with his family and they told him they didn't support him being a Mormon. He already knows the book of Mormon is true and reads it faithfully everyday. I think we just need a little more time with him to soften the poor fellow up and help him make the decision.

Now! For some interesting moments you might like to know.

We were in Krefeld and everyone did the noes goes without me knowing, and I had to contact these two guys from Nigeria. No problem they are usually the nicest people in the world. Go up and have a nice conversation with them. We became good friends in a matter of seconds. They both didn't speak German, only a little.

Then all of a sudden I realized it was a soccer game today and that means everyone is drunk. I would believe that 80% of Duisburg was drunk that day, and some of them were in Krefeld. As I was talking a German drunk went up to me and said.

Oh! RELigion peoPLE?

It all went downhill from there. The guy knew I was a Mormon, so he started saying that we have more than one wife. I declined and he said.

I am gonna prove you wrong... With the internet!

I smiled and put our card on his iPhone with Mormon.org. He lost interest in that idea really quick. But then the African people backed me up! They had no idea about what Mormons believe and they said yeah they have one wife. He is a cool guy! You are so wrong man!

Awesome. Then the drunk realized he had long fingernails and asked the Africans for fingernail clippers. They had some on them for some reason. He clipped his nails.... Then began cutting my friends nails! My friends flipped out and Elder Burch and the Krefeld elders just sat back and watched the show. Finally the train showed up and they all went away. There goes a couple of good contacts. 

Good to see that the family is doing well. Took bad that dad has to stay in jackpot for a while. I guess the little climb over the last hill is the hardest, but there will always be a nice downhill somewhere. Ha! I bet dad misses wells now!

Much Love

Elder Monroe

Duisburg during contacting near the Rhine

US chilling with Brüder Suhl

And also some great ice cream. Spaghetti ice cream.

Thursday, August 3, 2017

More Success

Always finding success! Set a baptismal date with our new Yorker guy and he loves to talk. Then we set more soft commitments! Really good to see.

We have also been sending referrals everywhere from Istanbul and England. We have invited countless people to church and we will see how that goes.

President Boyer is quite the guy. He is a Stern president and wants success. For example in zone conference one elder remarked how sometimes he has to drop people because of their lack of interest, but then they remain friends and still support them as friends... Bam president totally roasted him in front of everyone and flat out said after a mission you can make friends, now we gotta work. He did more moments like this and it was crazy. We will see more happen I can imagine.

Thanks for the package! Pop tarts saved me. Haha and also the countless other things. Everyone blew outta their mind when they saw it in a blue bag besides a box. It wasn't shipped so to say. Thanks Jessica Smith.

Anyways I have found a little Idaho here in Germany. I was on a split in the area of Wesel and they have this town called Emmerich which is pretty much farms and houses and a bunch of little stores. No apartments praise the lord. They even had a home depot there. I felt like I was in America. Really quite refreshing.

In Germany it is allowed to throw all the furniture out in the sidewalk next to your apartment so turks/missionaries can take it. Needless to say we have a big sweet picture of ballet dancers, an office chair, bio trash can, and a sweet Light huge design thingy. I don't know what it is called. Our apartment is really souped up.

OH yeah and a cool fountain thing with plants and water going down the stairs. Epic.

I think I am learning how to enjoy the small things in life. Kool aid is exciting, American socks I found are exciting, life is simply exciting here I suppose.

Anyways love you family.

Elder Monroe

Our lamp thingy

My favorite little guy called a Jerome. He was just baptized.

Little Idaho with even more trees.