The last 2 letters from our missionary!

Hey Guys,

Wow, sounds like y'all we everywhere this week! I don't think we were ever this busy when i was home. Cool though, that is really cool that Ben got to go to that music camp. Ya, Sam Shumway and Rebeca Willey are both really good violin players, and ive never heard of anybody playing a whole concerto on one string, that is pretty cool! Sounds like Dad had fun on the Scout Adventure. That whole tripped sounds like it was pretty awesome without a single boring minute. And im assuming that Sam was the only one home the entire week? Nice! Tell him good luck with football and such, sounds like he's already doing really well. And Mom, that is pretty daring to take the "little boys" camping by yourself, im impressed! Sounds like you had some pretty awesome expreiences together, and yes, im glad the bear didn't eat you! Im so glad to hear Betty Jo will be able to come home, with so much faith, prayers, and fasts from the ward and her family though, i new things would be ok.

Sweet, well it doesn't sound like this week is going to get any calmer with yall going to Shelbie's Wedding and such. I got an invitation (i think Grandmother sent it) this week, but (es tut mir zer lite) i don't think i will be able to come, but im really glad that i got an invitation. They both look really happy, wish them happiness and good luck from me!

I've got to tell you guys straight up, im really starting to miss going to the Temple. There is just a feeling there that you can't experience anywhere else in the entire world. I am so thankful that i was able to spend my last Saturday with you mom, dad, Grandma, Gradmother, Papa Joe, and Uncle Greg in the Temple doing the work for our ancestors. It is an experience i will never forget, and it really helped me feel that "Spirit of Elijah". So Cool!!!

Thanks also mom for sending those shirts! I haven't got them yet, but they are much needed! This week has been, well, zer Heiß! I don't get it, i feel like i am constantly in a sauna, it is so weird and it doesn't get any colder at night! And no offense to Germany, but ya think with all the smart people that have come from this country they would have figured out how to put swamp coolers, or air conditioning in these buildings! Ya i don't no.....

My week was pretty great (as usual)! We had another good lesson with Rita establishing how the three most important things for her to be doing right now are praying everyday, going to church every week, and reading in the Scriptures everyday. She commited to doing all three, but wasn't able to come to church this because she was visiting her parents in Frankfurt. She commited to coming to Abendamal Versamlung diese Wocke so ga i really hope/pray she will come. If she got to know some of the Members, im know we could get that geistig spark we need to help her have that desire for baptism. A favor from me, if you guys could keep her in your prayers, i know it would help her have that desire to progress in the Gospal, thanks! We also found another girl that flat out said, i have interest in religion. We set out an appointment with her on Saturday, so hopefully (prayerfully) all will go well and we can say the things she needs to hear. We did some more less active work this week. On Monday we helped Schwester Morgner with her flowers and garten. We then had lunch with her (great food, oh man) and gave her a lesson. We then went to the Rathaus with a member of our ward Bruder Hunger and were able to get some more service set up for this Friday and next week. I got to tell you guys, Elder Armstrong is really good about getting and setting up service. Im so thankful that we are companions and for the effort he puts in helping me and finding service for people that need it. The service we will be doing is more clean up work from the flood. It will be fun, im really looking foward to it! We also we able to have a lesson with the family that found us in Traunstein that said they were members. We didn't beleive them at first, but they showed us their Tauff Sheine (Baptismal Certificates) and well now we have two new members in our ward. Unfortunately, it is going to take a lot to get them reactivated. We gave a lesson about the Book of Mormon and how important it is and they beleive that. The problem is that they don't beleive that Joseph Smith was a Prophet. They beleive God gave him the ability to translate the Book of Mormon, but he is not a Prophet. We really didn't know what to say, we tried expainling things, but the spirit wasn't there. They were pretty determined that there was nothing we could say that would change their minds. Finally, i just bore my testimony about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, and Elder Armstrong said that we all have Agency and we are not there to convince them that Joseph Smith was a Prophet, but we are there to invite them to find that knowledge out for themselves through prayer. As bad as that sounds, they aren't bad or wierd people, from what they said it sounds like they had some bad expeireices with the Church in Venesuala. They were open to having home teachers though, and they said we are welcome to come by anytime we are in Traunstein. We also were able to meet with an inactive Family called the De Fillipo family. They are so nice and so cool (there little girl has a humor like Jonathan, she cracked me up). They actually lived in America for five years while Bruder De Fillipo did his schooling (lived in Beaver Utah for a little while too). We didn't really give a lesson, but we were able to set up some time at the end of August and September that we will go help them finish tiling there new house (there building a house, and by German standards, its really big) and help them move in. We don't know exactlly why there inactive, but hopefully we can help them and in some way touch their hearts so they will come back to church.

That is basically everything, the miracle lady Maria is making good progress with the other Elders. She came to Church and is keeping her other commitments. I just wanted to share with you the reason she said she came to Church. She said one night she had a dream that she was standing at Bahnhopf, all the sudden, a small blonde haired boy came to her and told her to follow him. He led her to the Church and told her that she needed to go there. She also told Elder Armstrong, that she has had other dreams about heaven and such, and that they all in a way point to the things taught in our church or about our church. I thought it was really cool, it reminded me of a section in The Docterine and Covenants where it talks about spiritual gifts. We all do indeed have spiritual gifts, and it is so cool to see how they help each and every one of us not only in our daily lives, but in our conversion process. I am so thankful for all the gifts (both temporal and spiritual) that my Heavenly Father has given me. I have been so blessed in my life and am so thankful for the mercy and love the lord has given me. I know Jesus is the Christ and that his way is the way that leads to happiness. I hope i will always be able to be an instrument in his hand because i am starting to see that there are only two ways to really experience true happiness in this life and they are in the family and in doing what Jesus would do, namely sharing his Gospal and serving others. This past week after the day is over and i have a couple minutes to think, i think about why i was sent here to Germany, and everytime i do that a thought comes to mind that after my mission, im coming back here. I don't know how to expain how i know that, but it is a feeling/knowlege that i can't deny, and that i wanted to share with you. There is purpose for everything that happens in our life, and we can indeed find it, if we will stand back for a minute and count all the blessings we have in our life. I love you guys so much, and miss you like crazy. I wish you the best in everything that you do this week. Take care and know you are in my prayers.

mit freunlichen Grüßen,

Elder Seamons

PS: We got transfer calls on Thursday. Im staying in Rosenheim, but unfortunatelly we are losing one of the other Rosenheim Elders. He's going to Vein, but in his place we are getting a Golden (meaning Greenie). Fun stuff!!!

Hey Guys,

Sounds like you had a pretty great week, and it sounds like you are all really busy. Wow, i didn't know Sam was going to a speed and power camp, i thought it was a football camp. That is super cool though. Im also glad to hear Sam learned the key to running faster is moving your feet faster! That is pretty.....profound! Tell Sam to tell me more about it, i want to know what happened down there. Wow, everybody is getting so old, Sams a preist, Bens a teacher, David's almost a deacon, Jonathan wird sich tauffen lassen, and Jacob can swim! Kind of wierd! David blacked out this week?! That's kind of crazy, i hope he is ok. Sounds like Ben is starting to realize that when you go on a hike with the scouts, you can be certain its at least a couple miles longer than what they origianlly said it was. And that is super cool Jacob can swim now! Wow, everything is changing back home.

Well, i wish you all the best this week with music camps, sports, pipe, and everything else. Oh and i did get your package and envolope this week. Mom, if you want to go ahead and just send four shirts that would be great, just take the money out of my account for the shirts and shipping. I would buy some over here, but in reality, if i wanted 4 nice white shirts i would have to spend about 200 euro (bout $300). So i think it will acutally be cheaper this way. To answer Dad's question, i have my birth certificate and everything else i sent in. If you need it just let me know and i'll mail it home. Yes, Nathan can use my temple clothing, i hope it will fit him ok. I have my white tie and white pants with me though, so ya, sorry about that. And Macy is going on a mission!? Super cool, i bet she goes to one of the German missions, or Ukraine, or England.

Anyways, my week was super great! We had zone training on Tuesday and all commited to have one baptism next transfer. It won't be easy, but it can be done!!! All the missionaries in my zone are fasting for it next month, so ya, i don't have a doubt that, God willing, we all have baptisms next transfer. Crazy story yesterday though, we had a lady walk into church just wanting to see what the church is all about. Her name is Maria, and i think she had an awesome experience at church gestern! The members we so good to her, so she is off to a great start. We have an appointment with her tonight, so pray all goes well! Unfortunately, we will have to turn her over to the other Rosenheim    Elders after tonight because we figured out she lives in their part of the geminda boundaries. Thats alright though, as long as she is being taught, it doesn't matterwho is teaching her. The only sad part from gestern was that Rita didn't come to church. We had a really great lesson with her on Friday over the Resteration, and after some encouragement, she gave a beutiful prayer to close. She promised us she would come to church, but she texted Elder Armstrong during church and said she wasn't coming. It is so sad, i know she would be so much happier if she went to church. The members could help her feel loved and that is exactly what she needs right now. So if you have time, say a little prayer that Rita will come to church this week. 

Also, i am naming last week the week of service/the week we didn't have to make lunch. We had mittagessen appointments with members everyday last week, and we had three days of service with less actives. I have to say, i was so thankful that we were 1 Able to serve people this week and 2 Able to do some physical hands on labor. Ive got to admit, i really miss some days moving pipe and hauling hay and working at Trails West. In a way, im a lot more comfortable with that labor that i am trying to contact people all day. That is something i really got to work on, i still really have trouble just...talking to people. Im getting better though! 

This week also looks like it will be great. We found some people last week that i think will really have interest and we are going to go by them sometime this week. Hopefully there as interested as i thought they were.

I'd like to share with you a couple of thought i had this week. Several times throughout this week, when we were contacting, we invited people just to read a Chapter from the Book of Mormon and to pray if it was true or not, or we have asked if we could even share one verse of scripture from the Book of Mormon. Almost everytime though, people would tell us no, i don't have time, or no, The Bible says not to, or some other reason that just makes me frustrated, but to the 2 or 3 people that actually said yes to are questions are the people that we going back to and the people that actually have interest in our church. It just really made me think this week of how powerful the Book of Mormon is. Everytime we have been able to share something from it, we have been able to touch the heart of that person. It is such a powerful book, and i know it is the Word of God. I often wonder if i should just go stand in the middle of the town square and start loudly reading from the Book of Mormon. It would be interesting to see how many people would stop, listen, and feel the powerful influecne of the Holy Ghost. I testify the Book of Mormon can help each of us in our own personal lives. There is indeed a scripture in The Book of Mormon for everybody, everday, and every moment of that day. I can feel that in studying the Book of Mormon, i am changing for the better. And am becoming the person that Heavenly Father needs me to be. I am so grateful to be a member of this wonderful Gospal, and am especially greatful for the wonderful family i have because they all have the Gospal in their life. I'm greatful for the sacrifice of my ancestors who sacrificed so much for this church and for their posterity. For the decisions they made to join the church and sacrifice time, family, and basically everything to have the light of the Gospal in their lives. I know i am who i am today because of this Gospal and because of the sacrifice of those who came before me. 

Well, i love you all so very much, and i hope that this email finds you well, happy, and .....hungry? Thanks again for all that you do, and know you are always in my prayers.

Mit freunlich Grußen,

Elder Seamons

Elder Seamons July 8th letter!

Hey guys,

Well, looks like everyone had a good time at the 4th of July last week! We kind of had our own little celebration. We woke up went outside and i played the star spankled banner as the other two Elders in Rosenheim sang and Elder Armstrong commentated. We got some pretty weird looks from the neighbors, and i think one guy was considering calling the polizei. Fun though, thanks again for sending those little flags.

I haven't got your package yet and i was talking to one of the Elders and he said he didn't get his Christmas package for six monthes, so hopefully it will get here soon, but as of now i haven't got your package.

The fourth of July was also a really good contacting day for us. We found 4 potentials two of which (a daughter and her mom) are extremly interested in religion, but said they could only meet with us when her huspand is gone. I guess he is Muslim and doesn't like them investigating other churches. The mom is from Russia, and the girl is in the 3rd year of school and man, she knows her Bible! We gave her a Book of Mormon and honestly, i think she might read the whole thing before we get there sometime this week. 

Yesterday was also an amazing day. We had a great fast and testimony meeting, and a great church meeting in general. Our Bishop, Bishop Keinz, gave a great testimony on missionary work, and we actually got a new ward mission leader this week. His name is Mattieus Herber, he served a mission in New Jersey from 04-06, so he's pretty young, single, and loves to  do missionary work! He had Elder Armstrong and I over for dinner last night (the other two Elders were at an eating appointment) and after that we asked him if he could come by with us to try and give a lesson to a lady (sie heiss Rita) that we had found on the 29th of June. We went over there and Elder Armstrong and i tried to give  a "0" lesson, but about half way through, Mattieus jumped into the first lesson and covered from Dispensations through the Book of Mormon. It was alright thought, it was what she needed to hear and i was grateful that a real Duetcher was able to explain these marvolous things to her amd man, the spirit was so strong! 

There is another expericene i would like to share breiflly. On Tuesday, we had a finding day in Munich and i went on splits with one of our Zone Leaders Elder Orchard (by the way he is super cool, he plays basketball for USU, went to Highland High School in Utah). As we were making our way back to the s ban, we stopped and talked to one last person on the street to try and contact them. They were so amazing! The family is from Hungary, and the only person that could speak German in their family was a little boy about 10 years old. The coolest part was that the father had seen us walk down the other side of the street earlier and according to the interpretation of his little boy, he knew we were Men of God. They then offered to feed us even though they were in a hurry to get back to Hungry. Unfortunately, we had to turn it down, but they insisted on buying us water. Again, i can't really expalin the feeling i had during that experience either. I had never felt so loved by someone who i didn't even know and to whom i couldn't speak the same language too. That family is so ready for the Gospal and i the only thing i wish is that i could teach them! They are golden. 

There are so many wonderful lessons and other experiences that i have learned this week that i wish i had time to share with you. But i would just quickly like to give my testimony on the power of the Spirit and the power of the fast:

With the experience with Rita, i know the only way i was able to say the things i said was through the spirit and i am so grateful that the Lord saw fit to give me the oppurtunity to be an instrument in his hand and be able to testify through his spirit. I know also that the spirit was so strong because of the fast, prayers, and sacrifices that are being made in behalf of the missionaries and those that are searching for the truth. The power of the fast is so incredible. When i fasted yesterday, i was fasting for the ability to be a more effective missionary, and boy did i see the fruits of that fast! I also know that i was able to say what i said becuase the many prayers and fasts that are being made/given for Elder Armstrong, myself, and those who are truth seekers. I am so grateful for the love of the savior that i have felt this week. For his willingness to help, comfort, and bless me with success even though i am nothing. It is amazing to me to see how much love the Savior and Our Heavenly Father truly have for us. I know i am being blessed more than i deserve, and i can't help but stand in awe of the greatness and glory of God. A few scripture verses comes to mind in the psalm of Nephi (2 Nephi 4:15-35) "My God hath been my support he hath led me through mine afflictions... and he hath preserved me... he hath filled me with ihis love even unto the consuming of my flesh...Rejoice o my heart and cry unto the lord, and say, o Lord i will praise thee forever, yea my soul will rejoice in thee, my God and the rock of my salvation... yea i know that God will give leberally to him that asketh. Yea my God will give me, if i ask not amiss therefore i will lift up my voice unto thee, yea i will cry unto thee my God the rock of my righteoussness. Behold, my voice shall forever ascend up unto thee, my rock and mine everlasting God. Amen."

I love this church with all my heart. I am so grateful that God saw fit to put me into a wonderful family who had the Gospal in their lives. I have been so blessed by you guys, and i want you to know i love you with all my heart. Take care and i pray you have the best week ever!

mit freundlich Grüßen,

Elder Seamons

July 1st letter from our missionary---Elder Seamons!

Hey Guys!

Thanks for your letters this week! Good do hear everyone is doing well. Well it sounds like the whether over hear has been alot different than the whether over there. It rained everyday last week and i don't thing it got above 24 degrees Celsius ( i think that is like 75 degrees fahrenheit) so ya whether was great. However, the week before, i forgot to tell you, it was like 36 celsius three days in a row and man, i thought i was gonna die! So i bought some cheap short sleeve white shirts and they were nice the first time i wore them, but now im starting to see why they were so cheap. So, if you find any nice

short sleeve white shirts online, maybe you could let me know or maybe you can help me figure out how i can get them. Thanks, that would be muchly appreciated cause i have a feeling, that it is not gonna stay nice like this forever.

Well Sam if my calculations are correct, your Birthday should be on Sonntag so HAPPY BIRTHDAY ON SUNDAY!!! Hope you have a great birthday and that one day when you can actually drive (legally and lawfully) that youll be able to go on a date! I was gonna try to send you and Ben a package, but in talking to other people around here, you might not get it, and if you did, it might take about a month. So tell mom and dad that you and ben can both take $50 out of my account and go by yourself something that you want. Anyways, happy birthday again! (Keep me posted on weights, football, wrestling, and Kennedy Hyde.)

Ben, your birthday should be next Wensday, and i also hope you have a great G/Tag! Like it says above, i was gonna try to send you guys a package, but i don't think it would have worked out very well, so ya, $50 bucks bro spend it well! Have a good one and keep me posted on what goin on with you (football, pinning Sam, etc.). 

David, sounds like soccer camp was great. What did they mean by you act like me as a deffender? Are you bosy like i was telling everyone what to do, or do you have sweet skills like me (haha)? Well i hope you keep working hard with your soccer skills and i hope you have the chance to play club soccer this fall or next spring! Keep me posted on how everything goes!

Wuz up Jonathan? That is so cool that you are getting baptized soon! Remember, you can't say notty words after you get baptized other wise you'll look like Sam and Benjamin (just kidding, don't take it personally)! That is super cool that you are going to let Sam baptise you. Tell him not to hold you under the water to long, otherwise ill beat him up (again, don't take that personally Sam, nor take that as a challenge, i highly doubt i will be able to beat anybody up by the time i get home)! Im glad that you got to go to soccer camp, and ya the shark game is fun! Im glad your play went well and that you had fun. Keep up the good work, and let me know how everything at home is!

Jacob! Hey buddy! Thanks for writing me, im glad you found my picture do i look ok? Im glad that you are having fun going swimming with the boys, mommy and daddy. I hope you keep working hard on your swimming so that when i get home we can go swimming together! Take care buddy, keep those other boys in line!

Hey Dad, sorry i don't have much time. But i quickly want to thank you for your letters, and thank you especially for all that you have taught me over these last 19 and some odd years. Im sorry at times i wasn't the best for you or for mom, and if i could do it again i would change alot of the things i have done. Im so thankful for all that you have done for me and the rest of the family. You work so hard to provide for us, and im sorry that sometimes i made you feel that i wasn't grateful for what you have done for me, but i want you to know that i am truly grateful for all that you have done for me, and for all that you have taught me throughout my life. I want you to know that i really look up to you Dad and that i hope that i can grow to be the man that you want me to be. I hope all is well at home, and remember that i love you tons!

Well thats all for now folks, take care and remember i love you!

Elder Seamons