Yea yall, so this has been one of the most craziest as effective wise as well as I don't know wise. Like really I don't know. For example...

This week I... 

Have been proposed to. 

Asked on dates. 

Oh yea and of course I got to play for Elder Rasband! That was great! 

Anyways there is this crazy woman around here who found me and asked... 

"what comes after love?"

And I was like I have no idea. Hey do you know where KFC is? 

But then she just flipped out and asked me to marry her and stuff so Elder Golden pulled a quick one and just gave her their card and said phone number and booked it. Haha worst idea ever, because now she calls them like five times a day and asks them for "Monroe" and starts speaking French as to where I am. They blocked her of course but it keeps showing records that she keeps calling. Haha! I'm invincible.️

And then one day we were contacting near our apartment and the rain was insane. Like so hard the first five minutes my umbrella exploded and was placed in the trash. The was depressing. She and I went through lots together. :/

But like anyways I was still contacting people and I contacted a girl who actually looked pretty cool! Then I noticed she was sobbing and kinda asked if she needed help. (Elder Hunter was nearby contacting someone else.) she just stood there and honestly just started sobbing even more, so I like tried to help her and asked for the problem. She didn't want to say so I gave her my card with my phone number and said if you need to talk let me know. 

Well two hours later or so she starts texting me. First she apologized about the situation and then we talked to see how we could help. Then she told me how nice I was and how handsome I was and wanted to go out and I was like shoot. So I explained as a missionary I can't really go on dates... So she asked if we could be best friends... So I explained what we do more as missionaries and such and how we don't go the movies for a while and stuff like that until we go home. She didn't understand but was still down for the lessons. Cool. 

Next day was the appointment with her and I was looking for her and thought I saw her. So I smiled and waved... Apparently it was someone different and she smiled and waved back too! Well turns out this lady lived with Mormons for a year in Utah and she loved them so much. She is from Iceland and wants to see the Mormons here and have the lessons. We will see but that kind of blew my mind. Haha

Then we found the real person. Her name is Alva and we had a good lesson. She listened and had great questions. She is currently a progressing investigator and keeps commitments. 

And for the Elder Rasband conference... Well let's just say it was awesome! So much power behind his words. The idea of where our works on the mission, how perhaps we may not see much in the future but the missionaries in the future will benefit from our works, and how much of an effect we have had on the work. We find lots of investigators, but not too many are baptized, so he gave a little pump up speech. 

He also stated that we change our attitude and how effective we are with our testimony of Jesus christ and who he is, and this atmosphere leads to a loving and obedient mission. We are already quite obedient, but now it's time to clean the places where we can do better. True love comes from christ, and when we develop that we can grow a relationship with our investigators and members like no other. 

Oh and then we had stake conference and I met EVERYONE from Duisburg. I missed them so hard. Man and Ali (the guy me and Elder Burch searched a suit and tie and all that jazz for so he could go to church) was there! He goes to church every week, every activity, and is very involved. He just needs to be baptized! For some reason he is too scared to be baptized but also wants to serve a mission as an Arabic speaking missionary and boy, we need them! Man I miss that place. I even got to meet the crazy awesome old guy Bruder Suhl, the guy we would hang out with every Friday and read the scriptures with. 

Everyday now seems to be booked, as we have four appointments a day. These are our normal schedules. So far it's been good and life goes on. 

Much Love

Elder Monroe

Clock is ticking

Hey yall so transfer 10 came by and I got a new guy. His name is Elder Hunter and yea! We will see what happens.

Otherwise we had many lessons today. People who are ready it seems, for example our great pal Cassandra is meeting us still and trying to come to church, except the problem is this Sunday is stake conference so that's a bit of a problem as it is in Düsseldorf. Looks like we have to wait till next week. She cracks me up and she is interested. Let's go. 

Another one is Gero! Who might actually come to the conference with Elder Rasband! Like I didn't even say "hey come along." but just that we couldn't set up an appointment on Saturday morning as we had an important meeting with an apostle of God. Apparently that piqued his interest and he really wants to go. I can't say no. 

Oh yea and I just sent Elder Stark home. That guy has been extended twice. Don't even know how that is possible but it is. It was fun serving with the guy and "may the force be with him." haha

And I guess another thing yall might enjoy is when Elder Stark and I were trying to get on a street train near our house this man was  driving by and his trunk randomly opened, and cartons of beer just launched everywhere. Like all over the cars and everything behind it. Everyone on the train just started laughing way hard, but what was really funny is that there was already a guy there in his Machine cleaning the streets and all he did was simply turn around and just wash the street, nothing happened. Everyone got back in their cars and it was back to normal. I guess this happens a lot here because most the time I am on train, people just bring beer on the train and then they either throw it somewhere or just drop it and then the train smells like beer the rest of the day. Like I have become way acquainted with the smell of Alcohol and Marijuana. Haha. I don't know if that is a good thing or not.

Had another cool experience on the train. Someone once again spilled his beer all over the train and people came to my seat for safe haven and such. Then these other kids came around my seat and asked me. 

"Woah! Are you a priest!"

(My companion was on the other side of the train talking to someone.)

And I was like yea! In a way. More of a missionary. 

And they thought it was so cool. And then as they asked these questions, other people listened and started asking questions. Like I had an audience of 8 people. And as they left I gave them cards because sadly I had no time to get their info and they nodded, smiled, and went forward. Coolest thing ever. Maybe we should bring ten year olds with us or something.

Other than that that was really all that was remarkable this week. Let the good times roll. 

Love yall

Elder Monroe 

I think I'm gonna die

Well yours truly is playing a piano piece for Elder Rasband the Saturday after this one. Elder Ritchie will be singing as I play and my brain hurts right now so send prayers my way. My pride is going to need it here pretty soon. Just gonna say. Haha!

All is good up here in Paradise! We had this huge ward meal festival thing from "around the world". As almost all of our members are from somewhere across the world, everyone brought food from their country including Madagascar, Albania, Turkey, everywhere. Our bishop though came wearing his wedding ceremonial clothes from Eritrea(his wife is Eritrean) and that was quite interesting! I'll just say that, especially his dance moves haha!

We had a lesson with one of our new investigators Cassandra and she is making progress. She is so cool and ready for the gospel. She was previously Buddhist, so previously she wouldn't kill anything, which meant flies as well. And then the flies went crazy in her house and she decided it was either her or the flies, so she sent an email to the Australian group of Buddhists... They replied with a blank email so she burned them all. Haha! She still wants to be religious but doesn't know which way so we are there for her. She wants to come to church!

Than this random Chinese girl I met on the train was just staring at me for a while on the train, so I was like "hey whats up?". Apparently she lives in my building and we told her to come to church and stuff and she was like

"Why not?" That's exactly what I thought too! Haha. She is really cool and her name is Yui. And we have a teaching appointment as well with her at this bread shop in our apartment building so it's really easy to say hi. Cool stuff.

Right now at the moment we are on our way to Leverkusen but bad news... I lost my wallet lol. It must have fallen out of my pocket on the bus but no worries I know exactly what bus it was as well as when I was on it so we should find it very soon, and we were the only ones on the bus so that should relieve a couple more concerns. Prayers everyone. 

We are also on our way on a higher note, to see some dope monkeys! Apparently there is this park here where people and monkeys get to hang out with another and chill. So far this week has been very eventful and insane is what I can definitely say. 

Oh yea and one of my investigators started writing me from Saarbrücken. His name is Daniel from Egypt and he was that one guy I was talking about a long time ago. Apparently he has interest on the church again and asked me when church starts because he wanted to check it out. So that was pretty cool! Then he asked me if I need help financially and stuff, but yea I don't need money haha. Hope he went to church... Don't know yet. 

Other than that it is a real good week.

Love yall and hope it's good. 

Elder Monroe

1. Us at Cologner dome

2. Goat pal

3. I miss my bird! 

4. This epic ride where I lost my hat and someone had to ride it again and save it

Fast Month

The ward has been kind enough this month to do a "fast month" for us this month, and where one member fasts a day and then another does as well the next day for specific blessings for us. So far it's been pretty good.

We went out once again in the soaking rain and we found two great people, one in particular who seems really quite ready and enjoys the standards that we live by. It was just extremely odd how friendly people were that day. Especially in the rain. They just stood there without any umbrella and just ate it up. Awesomeness. 

As for another guy we found this guy called Oleg, who is from Ukraine and had interest, as we sent him this always there video for Easter about christ. 

He just replied. 

"Who are you guys?"

We answered and he remembered us and asked if he could have the lessons again and asked where we were. I just answered General conference and he asked if he could come. So yea he totally came for conference and loved it. Then we had a lesson with him the next day and is making commitments. Hope to see more success from him. He seems quite solid and all the members like him, so that should be great. 

Conference was great. The famous "stand up" part really got some members. (Some spoke English and watched it in English with us.) Poor brother Marki just stood up and started sobbing. It was great. Haha the spirit was quite powerful that session. I loved it.

Easter time was an interesting time to do finding. Let's just say we got roasted. Haha they asked us as religious people why are we talking to people on Easter and not celebrating it... I think they just wanted to get rid of us. 

Not really much to say. Just a normal week with member appointments and activities from the ward. Let's see if we can do amazing things here. 

Love yall. 

Elder Monroe

1,3 Places we contacted

I have already met a couple of really friendly people here in Köln; one of which I believe is already ready for the gospel. We shall see.

We were in the City of Leverkusen on our way to an appointment and I just had the feeling to talk to this guy, turns out he wants to be a missionary and come closer to God. He is a German student with already very high standards and we explained to him everything about the book of Mormon, and how it brought us closer to christ. 

He loved it and asked for a copy so of course we gave it to him, and not long after he (as we got his Facebook) he started asking us questions about the book and did a lot of research on it. We were a little afraid but he came across the section of the baptism of little children... And he loved it! And he keeps telling us about it so that's cool! We hope he makes progress. Just a cool little miracle that we saw.

We were also giving these invitations out to our ward conference to some members when we ran into the house of this older man from turkey. At first I thought he was an odd guy, but he invited us in because he keeps telling us everything he was grateful for because God was there for him, because he was literally broken apart and placed together. Craziness. He wasn't supposed to survive but somehow did, so in his gratitude he goes around and collects bottles. (Bottles cost money here. Around 25 cents a bottle). With the money he collects from bottles, he buys vegetables and fruit and rides around on his bike with this food and gives it to the poor people who need it. He says he is extremely happy with his life even though he lives in a very trashy room. (Think of a small garage.) And thus garage is already full of fruit, vegetables and glass bottles that he has collected. It really increased my perspective with what I should be grateful for and how I can be more serviceable myself. His life was literally a life of service. I hope we meet him again.

Other than that our area where we are serving is quite enjoyable. I so love it here. Like everyday is simply so nice. I can't explain it. The members are just so friendly to us and I am happy with what I am seeing. I think these next couple of days is where we get to focus on finding by the university as that is where we live, but we have just been so busy with member appointments! I dunno, I guess that also goes along the lines of gratitude here for me.

So yea! Gratitude and service. I decided to focus more on this subject after I met the man and my scripture for the week now is.

Mosiah 2:17

When ye are in the service of your fellow beings, ye are only in the service of your God.

I love it here yall! Hope you the best. 

Much love 

Elder 

Culture shock part 3 - Transfer to Cologne

Hey yall so I got transfered to Cologne, aka a freaking huge city of a million people and I have no idea where to go or where to start. I guess I can start with my first day.

The moment I got off my train with my suitcases and such I watched a hobo get in a fist fight with the train ticket checker people. That was intense. And then I went to buy food at the KFC here and this chick was waiting for her food and was a pain to the lady working there. Then she screamed and yelled, picked up her sandwich and threw it in the trash and ran away. This old German guy though made me laugh so hard. He flipped out with his hands over his head and just started screaming and ran up to me and pointed at her as to what the heck just happened. I didn't know either. Elder Koch if you are reading this he sounds just like you when you scream.... Haha! 

Oh yeah and the train station was also on strike so we couldn't take the trains and such. It was a great first day. 

I will always miss saarbrücken. Lots of good memories were had there and the members were way hard to say goodbye to. I loved them so much. Great people and I will always remember what they did for me and taught me. 

For example with the investigators there as well. Gulmeral, or in other words the lady we taught English to saw me going to the train station with my luggage and she flipped out and said it wasn't fair that I had to go and that as I was a "volunteer" I didn't have to listen to the president because that is not what volunteer work is. Haha sorry about that, but then she gave me an ackward hug and I had no idea what to do. White handbook would have roasted me on the spot. I felt the book burning through my soul. 

Now for Cologne. Our apartment is massive! Well okay but we live on the 15th floor on a huge building so we have a sweet view of the entire city of Cologne and my new companion is Elder Stark. He has four weeks left so I will be sending him home pretty soon so I am doing all that I can do know how this city works and how to even balance my time. We have no time to contact as we are constantly on our way to appointments at the church for activities with the members and such. Lots of young people here to in the church that are awesome! So much food! It's a miracle! Elder Stark loves cooking and he cooks fast and huge Mounds of food. It's heaven on earth. Apartment is sparkling in cleanliness and life is good. (And this guys personality is legendary. He is hilarious. It's gonna be sad that I only have four weeks with him.) 

We have massive groceries stores right next to us like a place called Real (walmart) and barber and restaurants at our apartment complex. This is so much fun and easier here. Like I feel guilty not contacting for multiple hours a day, because that was all that we did in Saarbrücken. Here I just do a lot of contacting on trains and honestly said, I need it. My contacting on trains is trash! Haha the guy gave me his number and such but I felt so ackward and I know he did as well. I have lots to learn here.

On a higher note the members adore us here. First couple of people I met were way open and just cooked us food. It's nice! 

I don't even know what to say right now other that I am happy, excited and totally lost. This place reminds me so much of Duisburg. In fact they are right next to each other. The church looks exactly like the one in Duisburg and I got hardcore area trunky. The city smells like it to. Haha I guess big industry and stuff like that will always be the same. 

Really all to say, oh and BTWs Saarbrücken. We got Elder Ritchie in our group. He's being trained here haha. 

I love yall! My third area is going to be a blast! 

Elder Monroe 

1.Elder Deus and Elder Stark. These guys are amazing. 

2-4.Saying goodbye to a couple of awesome members. It was a stab in the gut when Bohan said he would really miss me and didn't want me to go. Ya gotta hold back tears for that one yall. It was a good seven months. 

5. The Bonn University. 

 

Best Email Ever

Yea so things are looking up here for us this time around. Not only is today my year mark but this week was probably the best week I have ever had for finding. But here is really what happened.

Starting on a low note Stalin just told us he doesn't think it is possible to live the law of the Sabbath day because of work and we took off his Baptismal Date... But he is still willing to meet with us. So we haven't officially lost him yet,but it looks like it is going that way. 

Phillip is just really busy as well, (that's just the problem of having college investigators) but he is also still willing to meet.

But on a higher note! The Espinoza family gave us a very long text, just saying how much they appreciate us and love the spirit we bring. They invited us again over to their house and I just love their family. This family will probably be the hardest family to say bye to when I go... If I go. (Transfer calls is in a week)

Then we decided to go finding by their house, when we were about to door an area and an older lady who lives in this large complex saw us through a glass door they had there. Turned out it was Sister Franz! And we told her we were just dooring and I totally forgot where she lived but she quickly rushed us inside her house where we found out that her husband was lonely and needed company. So we chilled for an hour and ate cookies while talking about his mission stories back in the day. Turns out this man converted the entire ward of Hagen back in the day and he always visits the members there whenever possible. His stories are hilarious. Old Germans are the best. 

Now with finding, we literally got I dunno how many potentials and investigators. Me and elder Neighbor are killing it here. For example last week we were about to go finding and this guy who lives in our neighborhood (second contact the first one we also got his number) just let us in. As we were teaching him some lady at the bottom of the stairs needed help bringing groceries up and our friend we were teaching says

"I got help!"

So we helped her out and we found out she was also American! And she liked us and had interest on the church as well so we have a dinner appointment now with our friend and this woman with her family. Pretty awesome. 

Then we met this old lady on the street who was just loaded with bags and backpacks. She was carrying groceries home for a long ways so we talked to her and she said she said she always noticed us on the streets and such and she loved how happy and friendly we are. So on that note we took her bags and helped her carry these bags and such a very long way up a mountain and she was really grateful. She spoke a little English with us so we told her we just started an English course! She said she would think about it, but then she came! We had a wonderful lesson prepared and she was so happy! It was so awesome, because we were playing a game where we drew a paper out and we would draw it. (Pictcharades). She got the last one and it said.

"What is your favorite book?"

She said she couldn't answer that question but commented that she loves books that help her find answers to life's questions and help her become a better person. So we just looked at each other with big eyes and Elder Neighbor explained his favorite book, aka the book of Mormon. She loved it and read a bunch and now she wants it! So we set up another appointment with her to read some more of the book. 

Now another miracle is this random guy we met on the street who said. 

"Mormons! I love you guys!"

Great! So we talked with him and then he lead us into a Cafe and had an awesome lesson with him where we answered his questions and now he came to the conclusion that he wants to live in Utah.... Lol. But he says he wants to repent and make changes in his life as well as read from the book of Mormon. Than he showed us to his house and is desperate to meet again, but literally at the moment we are so crammed pack with lessons we had to adjust our days around. What an awesome feeling. 

Another guy was a referral from the French elders! He has already made so much progress but he lives closer to Saarbrücken than he does to the city of metz. (Metz is in France). So they called us up and we just got another solid guy working on Baptism just like that. Mokrane is his name and I look forward to meeting with him. Let's turn this mission in a Mexico mission! Haha (regarding success and such).

Really cool seeing these things in life. My year mark came around and time we are checking out the zoo again today. Last week we checked out an American diner where it was all 50's style and American 50's rock was in the background. It was legendary. I ordered a six patty burger. (720g) and that was pain. It was massive. Like every bite was pain, but amazing. Kudos to you Elder Neighbors mom for paying for a luxury dinner!

Oh man. Life goes on I hope it keeps getting better.

Love yall

Elder Monroe

1. Massive burger of doom.

2. Chilling in the mall 

3 We looking good

4 with all American Diner

Once again... Your ups and downs

Man it's been another rough but good week. I am just going to say this mission is bipolar. It really feels like it.

I am just going to say we have had lots of days where we had three appointments and they all fell out and it was one after the other. And it is so weird. Everytime someone sets up an appointment with us, all of a sudden all of our investigators write and say they have time with us. So that's great. We are just at the point of setting solid appointments with our investigators.

We had another very good lesson with Stalin. We kind of roasted him on reading and praying and he took it seriously and came to church the second time so that's always awesome. But then he dropped the bomb on us saying he doesn't really have too much time to meet with us this next month so we are fighting with him on that one as well as his schedule. It's starting to turn into that stressful part of the transfer. :/

And we invited like 3 Investigators to our Nye family meal plan but ya know... They all called us and said they can't make it. Schande. That's a rough one but we still had a good appointment with their family anyways.

Now back to our favorite Espinoza family. We still meet them weekly but we had a very important yet extremely powerful lesson with them regarding the priesthood and how we use it in our families. We talked to Darin (the father) and how it is an honorable calling, in which we tend and care for the family. We showed the video "Power of God" and the church did an excellent job on that video, as it is a video where Thomas S Monson shared the importance of the role of a priesthood holder in the family as well as those around the world. Darin usually just loves talking and is a great energetic guy... But this time he was very quiet and the silence in the room was so powerful you could have heard the dust hit the floor. There were three dogs and two kids in the room who were usually quite loud, but after this moment everything was quiet and the kids randomly just got very quiet. So legendary. Than he looked at us and the poor guy was sobbing as we bore testimony to him and the power of the role he holds. Apparently he (not too much details) had struggles in the past as well as with the family and they were under stress with a few things as a family and caused conflict. He said that he needed to hear exactly what we had to say and will continue to make changes in himself. He than began to thank us and really appreciated what we did for him, but in reality the man and his family has done so much for me. I love this gospel and how it has changed the lives of others including my own. Many people we meet say all the problems and war come from religion and there is no need for it, but as a witness of this truth I say otherwise. A pure and righteous belief in God is when we show charity and love to all, and is easier and more powerful when we follow the commandments of God and live it. Only by the experience of living it and understanding what the scriptures say will change a man to live righteously. As Elder Ballard says in Pursuit of Happiness. "Confusion and misunderstanding is the reason why all wars and contentions happens". This misunderstanding leaves when we pray, read, and live it.

Another book along with the book of Mormon that is awesome to read is "A marvelous work and wonder". I would recommend it and if you want another testimony booster about the church, it is awesome.

Now to end on an easier note... As a missionary we meet people. And you know, one understanding from the mission I have received is that there are strange people out there. I don't think I wanna hang out by Johanneskirche anymore haha. There is this huge church here that is famous in Germany and all of the people that are either high or drunk hang out there. I don't know why but they do. We contacted someone there and was way cool. He wanted to know if God was there. About to get his information but this Very Big Russian guy comes behind us and he is totally drunk. He can't stand up straight and is literally tripping all over the place. Just think of an overexaggerated drunk and you got him. Our contact freaked and left and it was literally just me and this guy. He had a large cigarette with weed in it and he kept asking me for a lighter. Obviously as a missionary I am too poor for that stuff and said I don't have anything. Over and over he asked me and yea, I got nothing. But he was SOS drunk that he kept dropping his cigarette on the floor and he accidentally kicked it and ruined it. Than he realized he had no cigarette. So he asked me for a cigarette. Didn't have one sadly and he was desperate to get a cigarette from me. Then he said he wanted to fight me, so I replied I am not good enough to fight. Sorry. :/

"Oh... Okay."

Than he asked me again for a cigarette, so I got one of those pass along cards and rolled it up like a cigarette and gave it to him. The sucker took it and then asked for a lighter. Didn't have one, so he told us he needed help going in a direction cause he can't walk straight. So we help him out and then he goes up to the Rathaus and starts taking a leak. So we book it and he chased us for a good way. But we good cause he couldn't think straight.

Anyways that was our week really. Hope all goes well. 

Much love 

Elder Monroe

1.Sunset home from zone conference

2 Darin is the guy on the right

3 Yours truly

4 smore sunlight.

Egg sauced Cholula

Man I will honestly say I have had the worst meal ever in the history of man, and it wasn't from members. Members usually make the best meals here, but I'll be darned my poor companion made the worst set of eggs. Haha! The pan did it, as he usually cooks good normal eggs and all, but this time he used a pan he found and such and well, I don't have food poisoning or anything like that. So for dinner last night we had eggs in a pool of Cholula sauce and I about died. Simply said. He was laughing so hard cause he said

"You don't eat that you hurt my feelings man!"

Anyways aside from that I thought it was important to say cause that is now officially the worst meal on the mission. Count me spoiled. 

Anyways this week was a very busy week as well as successful week. We met with Stalin again and we are trying to help him identify how we know who a real prophet is instead of a false prophet as well as getting that answer from God. We are now at the point with him as we were with Ameer so I am a little nervous. 

Another man is Dessy he is from Philadelphia and he is your typical black American guy. He speaks German to so it should be no problem bringing him to church. We literally contacted him in German. For example. 

"Hallo! Ganz kurz..."

"Yo Whaddup!?"

Our eyes just got way big and we became way good friends like that. He told us he has got a few problems and stuff and wants to be closer to God. He is such a great guy. Haha and we gave him our number and stuff and he messaged us through Facebook. 

" Hey send me your number bro!"

So we are teaching this American guy here who is awesome haha. 

Another guy is the older man called Peter Mai who is really interested in how the Bible and the book of Mormon relate and work together. He makes time to meet with us and also helps me learn more about the similarities between them. 

Our boy Phillip had another lesson with us and we taught about the plan of salvation and such. He loved it and just loves us guys. Man it was great. He enjoyed what we had to say but gave me some interesting questions regarding culture and ethics... Gotta love those questions and more to study. We will have our next lesson with him and the Nye family. It is always good to see Melora and Kevin, really weird that I am now doing perhaps a lesson with them and our investigator. 

We also had another lesson with Elder Neighbors sister who is trying to come back to church. Man it went so well and I will say Elder Neighbor gave one of the most powerful testimonies I heard. His sister began with all these concerns and why she can't come back and all this jazz, but Elder Neighbor was quiet for a while and just blew up the atom bomb of testimony. Great to serve with him and grateful for his influence.

It feels great to be doing great and successful work here. We talk to everyone here and these lessons here are only a fraction of what we saw this week. Power of faith and dillegence is truly a testimony and blessing that I have seen here. The work is going forward and things are changing.

Love yall

Elder Monroe

1 Studying on our porch in the sun

2 Cholula with eggs

3-4 Clear skies! 

Haha yeah this transfer was way unpredictable. Seems as though Elder Monroe is staying and working with his third companion here in Saarbrücken. What are the odds. I am currently companions with a guy called Elder Neighbor who comes from Henderson. I told him from wells and he kinda laughed and said all of his friends hated wells. I asked why and he talked about our FFA meats team. Yours truly had the privilege to serve on that team. Haha. Awesome.

We totally redid our apartment and it looks so awesome. It looks like a house where a family lives in and not missionaries. Just gonna say. 

Our district has changed. My boy Elder Felix left and is replaced by... Elder Felix! Elder Felix the second is being trained here and comes from Brazil. He is way awesome and speaks Portuguese when we need him.

But funny story... 

As we were trying to get Elder Felix the firsts stuff on this luxurious high speed train, we quickly got on to put his suitcases on the train for him. We turned around... AND THE DOOR CLOSED ON US AND TOOK OFF! We weren't supposed to be on that train, Elder Felix was... And we had no tickets... So if we were caught we would have to pay a major fine. 

BUT MIRACLES! 

No one checked us and we got out a kaiserslautern and took an hour long train ride back. Way scary and an adrenaline rush haha.

Anyways Stalin came to church and loved it! And then he went home and asked us through text, "how to I keep the Sabbath day holy?". Little things like that are way awesome. That guy is great. Making progress to Baptism.

Sadly at the moment I am pretty sick and yesterday was a sad day to stay home... But Elder Neighbor just fixed up the place and it's pretty comfy here. Elder Koch and I also went on a split and killed it. Six very good potentials and what was funny is that three of them that we met knew each other, and we met them at different times and they all said "you talked to my friend! Can I come with in the lesson?" so we will see if we meet them. If so, miracle.

Poor Philip at the moment is way sick haha. The guy lost his whole digestive system down the toilet. Haha. But we have an appointment with hin anyways as well as Annika. Cool beans.

Last pday instead of the retarded bee place we checked out a real castle on a mountain and the valley was beautiful. This guy flipping lives there and works there. He makes us pay four bucks to check out his house! So yea my goal in life is to live in a castle and make people pay four bucks to come in cause yea... Why not? 

Anyways another six weeks to go here. By the end of this transfer I will have been here for 30 weeks...

BTWs got the contacts

Much love 

Elder Monroe

1 Me on the phone cause we got no tickets...

2 Before the phone call on the train... Lol

3 Cool castle

4 🙃

BTWs don't get the wrong impression of the picture lol. I promise my "smolder" is better than that. I was waking up on the train only to see Elder Felix taking a picture if my beautiful face haha. And that was really the only picture that I had for the week. Don't worry there is more.

So for last pday we went to check out a "castle". Our "maps me" stated that there was a huge castle in the middle of the forest so we decided to try it out.

Well after our epic expedition through the forest and rain (I swear it rains everyday here. I miss the sun.) We hiked 5 miles to get there and find out...

It's a freaking bee laboratory with hippies living everywhere. Okay nature preservation people are on part with hippies and they looked like them too. So we looked for the quickest way back and that's all I will say haha. Just look at the pictures. 

Now for the title of the email, Stalin is on fire. He flat out told us he wants to be baptized as a member and is reading lots from the book of Mormon. Man and he is Fellowshipping well with our mission leader Pascal. Stalin of all people. Just taught about the gospel of Jesus christ and he lived it and understood it. But on the downside I don't think I will be here to teach him in the future. Transfer calls are this Saturday and I am literally 100% sure that the call will come. I have been with Elder Taylor for 18 weeks, but hey. Still don't know what will happen.

We have been speaking with so many people on the streets lately. Probly just continue saying that I miss "normal" people. Actually everyone is normal here. Maybe it's just Mormons I miss haha. Or people that don't dance around me or brush their teeth haha. Black teeth are starting to gross me out.

Phillip is also on fire. We have three solid investigators who just make me happy to see that God has trusted to have me be put in the way of three amazing people who are ready for the gospel. But like I said, hate to see me not being able to teach them in the future, but will be happy for the fact that I did help them on their way, and that is what's important. 

Oh! And for a story. Our downstairs neighbor is an interesting guy. I don't know what was wrong with him, but will just state he is an abusive man and alcoholic and such, and he usually flips out every night at around the time we go to bed and is up until 3:00 in the morning, but a few nights ago he just lost it haha. He just screamed and yelled and as I lay edge on my bed, I heard splinters and wall just breaking everywhere. Pots and pans it was nuts. Then he walked outside of his apartment and wrecked the apartment complex door and just kicked the glass through. He just got kicked out of the complex I think haha. All of the neighbors were terrified of the sucker but for some reason this weird dude loved us missionaries. Seriously, if you are strange here you love the missionaries. Maybe we are also very weird cause we fit all categories. 

Here are my friends... 

❕Train drunk🍻

❕High bike guy

❕High turk friend who says he will go to church this Sunday as well as last Sunday and the one before (I honestly hope he doesn't if you get what I mean.) 

❕Homeless Pam with visions (I just called her Pam) 

❕Grandma with a beard who is a witch. ☹️

❕My vampire friends (they love me but they scare the crap outta me with their fangs.) 😲

❕Orange Mohawk hard Rock guy who wears the same clothes everyday

❕Evil Knievel who walks around the mall with a burning stick and chases us. (sometimes) 👎

And probably more but I can't remember the rest. But I will admit my favorite one is the train drunk. He makes my day and always sings me a merry ol song on the train when I am with him. Haha! He tries to hug me but I don't let him cause for reasons. 

Anyways for another story, contacted a guy and said his name was Thomas Mann. I learned a lesson from this guy haha. He said his name was Thomas Mann and lived in the Dorf way far out in a strange path, so we went there to meet him... 

Freaking Thomas Mann in German is "John Doe" for us. He totally trolled us and sent us to the wrong house and there was no connection home but a bus leading to the middle of nowhere leading us home. We lost the entire day. So we found on the way. 

Really all I can talk about. Who knows? Might be in a new city this next week. Really pumped to find out. 

Love yall friends and family. 

Elder Monroe 

1. The door the neighbor kicked

2-3 Route home from Bee laboratory 

4 Cool place in Saarlouis 

Well I am still here in Saarbrücken. Seven weeks to roll. Anyways we met some interesting guys this week.

We have been focusing our finding on the university campus. I guess it's not illegal to contact there, so we just go there and talk to people. Why not. 9/10 they will stop and have a conversation with you. It's amazing. We just go over there and set up a few appointments and they actually come. Just hope they stay solid.

Anyways! Another guy we met was way interesting. This guy from Iraq lives in this student apartment, and we did a little dooring there. My companion just felt like hitting the top floor, so the first door we knocked on was this guy and all we said is. 

Were talking with people about God... 

COME IN I NEED TO TALK TO YOU GUYS!

Sweet. So we came in and yeah... Talked about God. 

This guy though, is the most emotional guy ever. For example. 

Then you guys knocked on my door... SOB😭

And people experience hard things... But that is okay! SOB.😭

I NEVER HAD FRIENDS UNTIL I MET YOU!... SOB😭

I dunno, he looks like a normal guy but hey. Sweet! This guy is cool. Haha. Right after our fifteen minute lesson he just gave us hugs like we have been friends for eternity.Lol. Who knows. 

Then he said he was a member of the Muslim church and this other weird Islamic church that I never heard of, and he simply denied them right there. Cool, lets baptize the guy.

Ameer is still flipping awesome. He is making lots of friends in the ward so I think it will be an easier transition for him to come into the church. One already flat out told him that they will drive him to church because of bad train connections on Sunday. His name is Timo and we just invite Ameer to come with us for dinner and we play games with each other. Really cool. 

And this guy Bohan who just got baptized here is also making lots of friends and he is one of my favorite guys ever. Just your awesome Chinese guy who is super smart and hilarious. I think when I do have to leave this place it will be hard to go, but we are not thinking about that right now. 

We have lots of Christmas appointments and this is awesome. The members here are starting to like us a bit more. That's always nice.

Well guys. I guess I will see my beautiful family once again this Christmas. I love you guys. Excited to see yall again. 

Much love 

Elder Monroe

Here is our pal Ameer and us at church

And I opened one package. Socks smelled amazing ma. Haha smelled like home. (Don't worry I am waiting for Christmas haha. Elder Taylor won't let me open them. He also says thanks haha.) 

Another week flew by and Christmas is totally coming up. Nuts. This week was honestly just fallen out appointments and teaching Ameer. He really makes our week a thousand times better. Haha.

One day of this week was way interesting. We had five appointments set up for one day, and they all fell out. Made me be a lot more Stern with the people I contact to make sure they will be home and if they really have interest. We shall see how this goes later. Other than that we have found a couple more people. Just need to see if they have the potential to actually make progress. 

So far this Saturday is three Baptisms, all self referrals and just miracle stories. I am excited for them. 

This next month we have 3 more Baptisms on the way. One including our buddy Ameer and we are so excited for him. He is now living the word of wisdom, and learned the truthfullness of the word if wisdom, because he said as he lived it he feels so much better and has more energy. Another testament that God's commandments is only for our benefit.

We had another lesson with him and he invited his friend with him this time, so at first we were a little nervous. We weren't prepared and usually another Muslim who is there that we didn't know was sure to Bible bash, but that wasn't the case. He was very friendly and speaks fluent English. Didn't ever interrupt our little lesson and his name is also Ameer, so we will call him Ameer number 2. Haha. Ameer 1 invited Ameer 2 to the three Baptisms of our new members as well as the Christmas dinner this Saturday. Hope all goes well there.

Our district leader will be going home this weekend and it was good serving with him. He sold me his watch for a way good bargain. It's one of those 160 dollar watches that connects to the phone and monitors what I do, has weather features on it, just cool stuff on it for forty bucks. And new batteries and tools were included. Sweetness.

Our mission got iPhones and that was nuts. It's way high tech. Samsung A5 and has so many features and capabilities on it. We connect to people through WhatsApp, hear people on the phone actually, and can set Internet Hotspots with the phone. An entirely different world of missionary work. Also for all you missionaries who read this, haha, I knew we were getting iPhones since last transfer. Love the tech elders.

But this transfer is close to an end. Positive I have at least one more here, but as usual, don't know yet. But president practically confirmed I will be staying one more here in our last interview. This next transfer is seven weeks. So this will probably be the longest moment in our mission, but who knows.

Really all about the week. Enjoyed meeting new people. Cool stuff. 

Much love yall. 

Elder Monroe