Another letter from Elder Seamons! He has a new companion, Elder Jerman!

Hey Guys,

Well another week has gone by and it sounds like you are all still alive. Sorry Ben and David that your games didn't go as well as you had wanted, but i hope things will go better for you this week. Sam you beat Marsh Valley!!! Thank Heavens!!! And it sounds like you also got to play a little varsity time too. Super cool man!!! Keep up the good work and congradulations with your cross country meet! Dad said you did really good, keep up the work man, it will pay off next February (STATE CHAMPION!!!) David, you got to tell me what position on the back line you are playing, so that i can know kind of how to help you better. It sounds like to me that your team is not keeping their shape on the back line, and also not marking up on people. If you are playing outside deffender, make sure you are always a little bit ahead of the center back, or the middle deffender and make sure also that you are even with the outside deffender on the other side. If you are the middle deffender, back sure you are a little bit behind the two outside deffenders and also that you are even with the other center deffender (if there one). Shape on the deffensive line is super important in order to properly deffend the goal. Don't mess around with off sides, it's too risky, just try to stay in front of the top forward and always make sure that he is marked up. Practice your 1 on 1 deffence with Sam. That will help you alot, even if he does play football, Sam can dribble pretty good and he is a lot bigger than you, so you will have to be aggresive, and smart. Also, remember that "keep away drill" i did with you Sam and Ben where i would dribble the ball and keep it away from you guys? Try doing that with Sam, Ben, and Jonathan. I think it would really help you with "pressure situations" and ball control. Cool im sending you a letter this week so look for it in the mail. Ben, whip your team into shape!!! Be the leader that they need on that team, and try (if at all possible) to play so well that it makes up for some of the not so good players on the team. Good luck this week bud!!! JONATHAN!!!!!DUDE, you have your first game this week! That is so exciting, good luck and let me know how it goes!!! JACOB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I miss you buddy, sorry school is being dumb, i'll say a prayer for you. Hang in there man! 

My week:

Monday: Had p'day and then went on a couple of forbei's. Nothing to exciting.

Tuesday: Had Zone Training, really great, had dinner by the Schönwald family and had German Class. We have two German students now, and we finally found some stuff on the internet in there "middle eastern language" to help them better understand what we are trying to teach them, because both of them only speak a little english. It was super cool, and i think they are finally understanding, what we are trying to teach them. Cool!!!

Wendsday: Elder Armstrong had to finish packing in the Morning, then we went to the De Fillipo's new house and helped them paint and prep their floors for tiling. We were there the whole day and i think (i hope) they appreciated our help.

Thursday: We went to Munich to drop Elder Armstrong off, and pick Elder Jerman up. He is so cool! We have gotten along great so far, and hopefully things get even better. We went by on a referal from one of our members, had a lesson, and now he is a new investigator!!! So exciting! Unfortunately, he will be out of town until the end of this month, or the beggining of next month, but he told us he would read in the Book of Mormon before we meet next time. It was awesome, his name is Martain, and everything he said to us was so Golden, his beleifs and his confusion with some of the Practices of the Catholic Church made us both feel that this is what he has been looking for, to answer those questions and concerns he has in his life.

Friday: We did weekly planning, and went on a couple forbei's, then that night we had a really awesome lesson with Schwester Kissler one of the less actives we are working with. She has had a really tough life, and it has been hard for her the last couple years having her daughter move away for college and also have alot of surgeries repairing her knee and arm. We talked with her about putting our trust in the Lord and what that means. We also talked about how we can gain comfort through the Atonement because Jesus Christ really does know what we are feeling/going through. Our joint teach Bruder Greenhalgh was awesome and helped resolve alot of the concerns she was having. Good day.

Saturday: We did some more service for Frau Ford, she hasn't read in the Book of Mormon yet, but she told us she read a little in English 40 or 50 years ago. We invited her again to read in it and also invited her to church. Hopefully something comes of this one day, i really do hope so. We also had a lesson with the Ojo Family on the Plan of Salvation and it was super awesome. We brought the Newly Weds Thomas and Geresich Lubke and they did an awesome job teaching. The best part of the visit was when Geresich invited the Ojo Family to walk to church with them in the morning. They said yes, and it was an answer to our prayers, cuase we had been praying for something like this to happen. For some of the members to reach out to them and help them get to church.

Sunday: Well, the Ojo's didn't end up coming to church, but Schwester Kissler did (3 weeks in a row). We went by the Ojo's later and it turned there youngest two were really super sick. Elder Jerman and I gave them both blessings, and they seemed to be doing a little bit better by the time we left. If you would, please keep Benita and Bennett Ojo in your prayers, they really need it. We went by also later that day on the Furyk Family that day (he had just gone through another round of Kimo last Monday) to see if we could help them, but he says even though thinks are rough, he knows the Lord really is there for him. He shared with us his "conversion story" and let us know that he will never forget God. It was so awesome to see such faith in a man regardless of how much pain/trials he is going through right now. If you could, keep Family Furyk in your prayers also. They need it.

 

So ya, that was my week. To close i want to just share a little bit of Bruder Furyk conversion story with you cause i thought it was super cool. He said he and his wife were at home one day.His wife was super sick and they had called the Docter to come by and check her and as they were waiting, they heard a knock at the door. Thinking it was the Doctor Bru. Furyk opened the door and there were two elders there. He told them that that his wife was very sick and that they needed to go away. He shut the door on them, and about 5 minutes later they heard a knock at the door again, thinking again that it was the Doctor, he opened the door and it was the same to elder again. They quickly asked him if he beleived in God and he said of course, they then said they could give his wife a Priesthood Blessing if the truly beleived it could help her. He said that he and his wife felt like it was the right think to do, so they allowed these two elders to do so. He said as soon as they were done with the blessing, the pain his wife had immediately went away, and she was as good as new. They then started investigating the Church and were eventually baptised. To this testimony and story of Bru. Furyk i would like to add my own testimony of the power of the preisthood. I trully know with my whole heart that it is indeed the power of God. It is the power he used to create the heavens and the Earth, the power he uses to touch and change the lives of people, and the power which leads his church here on the earth today. I am so thankful that i was able to grow up in a house where the preisthood authority presides, To have a Father who exercises his that authority righteosly and who has lived a life that has kept him worthy and able to exersise that preisthood worthily. Thanks Dad, for all the father blessings you have given me throughout the years. I know it is because of them that i was able to do as well as i did in school, sports, music, and just life in general. I am especially greatful for the blessing you gave me the morning before i left to the MTC. I don't think you know how much it meant to me, but i want you to know it has indeed changed me as a person and as a missionary. Everything you said in that blessing was what i needed to hear, and i know that because of that blessing you gave me, that i will be the missionary that you, mom, and Heavenly Father expect me to be. Thanks again for all that you do for our family dad. I love you and mom so much and hope you never forget it.

I wish you all the best week ever, and pray you have success in all that you do. Take care and remember i love ya all a lot!!!

Letters from us to Joseph..........a brief glimpse into our life!

I just realized as I was posting Joseph's letters, that I am missing a lot by not posting our letters to him.  Everyone writes their own, so I think it's kind of a unique glimpse into their view of life at the moment.......maybe it's like keeping a journal without knowing it!  I would love to cross that off my list!

Here is our last one:

Dear joe

How is Germany?  I t sounds fun. School sucks. The only fun class is Mr.         Young's. We lost our game saturday. It was stupid. If you took away half a quarter we would have won.I only got to carry the ball  4 or 5 times the rest I was blocking. Still, I got 45 or 50 yards. they had some really big kids. He was huge. Our next  game I am determined to win no matter what rven if I have to take the ball myself.I hope you have fun. Do some good.

Ben

( I am mad at Ben---he said he wrote you a really long letter.....hmmmm, he's going to need to work on the definition of long here.)

Dear Elder Joe,

Well busy week this week and for the next couple of weeks. I played JV and Varsity this week in football, we lost both which is not very good at all, but the good news is that I got my team's one and only sack of the game. We had 12 people academically ineligible for the first game because of the grades that they had last semester, so with only 6 total lineman allowed to play, most of them backups I got to play the whole game without any breaks at 4:30 in the middle of the day, it was not fun, If it had been a little bit cooler I think I would have been fine but it wasn't and the sun dranined the energy from me. Anyway I did get to do varsity but only got to play a couple of plays but I did lay somebody out on Kick Return so that was good but not much happened after that. Well we play Marsh Valley this week so we better win or I think the coaches just might blow up ( even though we did better than last year I thought the coaches were still pretty mad). Well school is school so thats alright and none of my clases are insanely hard (yet) so I'll just keep doing everything I can to keep doing good in school and in football. Oh you should also know in one of the plays of the JV games I did manage to get somebody's helmets off on one of the plays I thought it was pretty cool and so did my teamates but coach thought I had been to rough in the play and told me I was lucky that the ref didn't see it and flag me.  (I think Jacob may have erased some of Sam's letter, sorry!!!)

Samuel

Dear Joseph,

What's up. During my soccer game, coach made me captain of the defence and my defence wouldn't listen. And another kid told the defence to do the exact oppisit I said. Such as I was trying to move the defence up so we could raise the offsides line, but the kid told them to stay back when the ball was on there side and another tme I told the defence to spred out and they only shuffled like 2 feet. And another time a preson on the other team had the ball and there was another person by him so I told the defence to pull up so it would be an offsides but no they didn't listen and cost us a goal. So what sould I do? And mom accidently sent my white shirt to the DI so I had to wear a plain white shirt at my game. So see ya.

                                                                                                       David

Dear Joseph,

I went to my soccer practice on wednesday. we went to the movie called planes it was not as good as cars. I watched the Dark night yesterday (he wasn't supposed to!!!!).  Ella got baptized. I went to Ben's game on saturday. I learned the 13 Article of faith. I Did secret sevice I made moms bed.           Love  Jonathan.

Dear Joseph,

Well I guess the 2 Jepsen sisters cant take it anymore of you being so far away so this wednesday they are flying to Italy to at least be back on the same continant as you for the next three months.  Ha, ha.  Anyway they are doing a study abroad program with BYU for this trip to Italy.  You need to figure out how to email us some pictures so that we will be able to recognize you when we see you again.  Who knows your head may look like uncle Jon's and we wont be able to recognize who you are if we dont get any pictures. Ha, ha again.  I am a comedian.  I cant remember if we told you that 2 weeks aago they released Paul Mckay as scout master and put in bro. Kurt Iverson as scoutmaster and paul is now the High counciler from our ward.  Then again it was about 2-3 weeks ago that Joseph Seamons was released as stake young men's secretary.  The sports section showed USUs crosscountry team running at their invitational and it said that Coby Wilson took 8th place and was the fifth manfrom usu to cross the finish line.  It also indicated that he is a red shirt freshman this year.  But anyway that sounds like it could be good for him to finally make it to school after so many years.  Sam and Ben had their first games this week and they both did well on a personal level but their teams lost their games by a fairly wide spread.  Sam had to line up against a kid that was 4 inches taller and 60 lbs heavier than he but still did well he got one solo sack in the JV game and played better than 85% of the whole game on both offence and defence.  Ben did well as a back they used him mostly as the big bruiser back their to hit anyone who made it back to him; but anytime that they decided to give his the ball he plowed forward averaging 8-9 yards per carry.  He played a lot on both O and D.  They only pulled in out of the game at the end to allow the other players on the team the manditory 10 play per game the league rules require.  Well summer is soon winding down and fall will quickly be upon us all the major work is done in the fields and it is time to button up all the loose ends,  so I hope that fall is a long one to do so.  Jacob will be beginning preschool and kindergarden on tuesday so I'm sure he'll like that when that happens.  Keep working hard on your language studies and put yourself out their talking to the people and little kids and the Lord will bless you in yours efforts and make up the differance.  Take care  of yourself and  eat right and healthy.                                          love,   Dad

Dear Joseph

It seems like we are getting a late start/end to writing our letters tonight, so I will hurry and get this done, hopefully before midnight! 

We loved your letter last week.  It sounds like you are doing really well and of course, very busy, and a also feeling a little better about your German.  I hope that you were able to have a good teaching week this week, and I hope that Familiar Ojo made it to church!  We prayed for them and I put their name in the temple, so we're hoping they made it there.

It has been a good week and is gradually getting busier as we add games, practices, lessons, etc., into our school schedule.  This week I am going to be taking Jacob to school on Tuesday and he is going to morning Kindergarten.  They still don't have an Aide for him, so they weren't quite ready for him to begin, but it looks like I will just go and help on the first day and see if they can find someone soon.  We'll have to have him out for 90 minutes in between Kindergarten and Preschool, so I think I will be staying in town quite a bit everyday!  We'll see how it goes.

This week Samuel and Benjamin and David all had their first games of the season.  David's was on Tuesday, so I went and took Jacob with me, since everyone else had practices and dad had to be to mutual on time.  I don't know that I got to watch a lot of the game, because of course, Jacob kept me pretty occupied.  I tried french fries, chicken nuggets, large drinks, etc., to see if I could entice him to sit by me and watch the game, but I guess that was just not enough to keep him down for very long.  Anyway, the parts that I did see it seemed that David was doing a good job of being all over the field---much like you were as a Defender.  He's a little frustrated with the Defender line, as most  of the other kids are not nearly as aggressive, but there is one other kid, Ramone, on his team that is doing a pretty good job as a midfielder.  The forwards seem a little slow and weak, but I'm not sure, since I'm watching David the most.  Their footwork seems a little slow still, so hopefully that will improve.  I think they were disappointed, because the team that they played was a pretty inexperienced team, but they still lost to them.  They did some good things though, so hopefully, they can build on that. 

Samuel did well at his game, but unfortunately, a lot of his line was out because of grades.  I think Samuel played a different position, but seemed to do well with it.  He didn't look like he felt very good to me---but it may have been the heat or something.  Anyway, I didn't think he look as energetic as he usually did.  He did have a little encounter with another player and got chewed out by his coach for grabbing the other kid's face mask----gotta love the seamons' temper!   Hopefully, he will try to restrain himself next time!  Benjamin's team seemed to have similar problems to what I saw last year in that they come out really strong, score, and then basically shut down when they are scored on.  I'm not sure.  I thought Ben looked okay, but maybe not quite as aggressive as he should be.  I didn't see him carry the ball, but dad said he did well.  Anyway, I hope both of these boys have better seasons this year----this may be a long fall if we have the same record as we had last year!  Jonathan is always quick to point out that they will probably lose------how did I raise such a pessimist?  I need to leave that kid home unless he changes his attitude!

We had Glenn Beck come and speak at the Worm Creek for a fund raiser for the theatre.  I guess he owns a farm up in Weston Canyon now, and offered to do a fund raiser for the theatre.  There were a lot of people there so I think we did pretty well.  I've never heard him talk before or heard any of his programs.  I've only read some of his books (The Christmas Sweater, I think you read this also, since I have it.)   Anyway, I thought he said a lot of good things, and Ben and Sam thought some of the ideas I got from him were pretty extreme, but that's okay.  It's interesting to hear some opinions of people that are out in the world and look upon our area as a refuge and place where people are quite sheltered.  I guess we are and we need to be ready for whatever lies ahead, but I'm not sure if I'm all that paranoid yet, maybe I should be.  Anyway, it was interesting.

Dad and I went to the temple saturday after we got back from Benjamin's game.  We hopped out of the car, beat everyone into practicing and picking up apples and then jumped back in the car an hour later to head to Logan.  Kind of a crazy day, but I haven't been to the temple since Shelby was married, and it was the last day of the month!  Anyway, we got to see the new temple movie.  I really enjoyed it.  I think it had quite a different feel to it and as a result I looked and understood part of the ceremony differently then I had before.  One of the things I liked best about the movie was the part of the Savior.  For some reason, his voice was just what I pictured the Savior's voice would be like, or just what I thought the Savior would feel like.   It was a kind, quiet, and very gentle voice, yet it still held strength,  It's hard to explain.  But I guess it was just the spirit that I felt in listening to his responses to the Father and then as he taught.  Anyway, it meant something more to me this time to see a representation of the Savior that I felt represented my own feelings about him.  Also, Eve's encounter with Satan was very different and I understood things differently in their responses to each other.  Maybe because Eve seemed much more emotional in the film and firmly desiring to do what was right and yet deceived because of that desire by Satan.  It made me think a lot about how Satan gets to us.  It isn't the out and out evilness that deceives us, it is when the right information is given to us and changed just a little to get us going down the wrong path sometimes, even when our desires our good.  I think Satan makes us feel cornered sometimes and that there isn't anything else that we can do about our circumstances or decisions that we have to make.  He may make us feel trapped or despondent or troubled about our circumstances.  For example, if we are sinning or having a particular problem or trial, he may make us feel that there is no way out or no other way, other then what he is showing us or what we are thinking.  I guess maybe that made me think that we have to be careful and make sure that we are always following the spirit or prayerfully consulting with the Lord in decisions and directions that we are going.  Because the Lord can see things differently then we can and the Lord's way is not going to make us feel trapped and incapable of changing or going a different direction.  I think that's why I liked the Savior's representation so much, was because I felt hopeful, peace, relief, safety and love everytime the Savior was shown.  Maybe that is how people feel when they are trying to make changes in their lives---especially, if they are trying to change to live the gospel, they may feel trapped in sin and the direction their life is going, but the Savior brings relief and peace.  He can show us how we can change, he can make us feel safe and secure and happy.  And he knows the right way to go, and will show us the way is easy and simple, something we can't do for ourselves with our limited knowledge.  Anyway, it was interesting to think about the ceremony in a different way and I felt that there were many things I understood, or want to understand better next time I go. 

The fast meeting today was very good.  Bishop Westerberg gave his testimony on the sacrament and talked about how, when he was Bishop, that he had to listen very carefully to every word of the sacrament prayers to make sure they were correct.  He then said he realizes that he still does the same thing and the sacrament has come to mean so much more to him as he listens to every word and thinks about the Savior and renewing his covenants.  Sis. Betty Jo Jepsen continued on with this same idea and talked about how the whole plan of salvation is really contained in the sacrament prayers because they talk about how the Savior has provided the atonement for us and that we are to think on him and his sacrifice and how it will provide the means for us to return to our Heavenly Father.  It was very thought provoking.   Sis. Greene talked about how much the Savior loves each of us (she recited the words to "If the Savior stood beside me"), regardless of where we are on the path, and used experiences that she had with Robbie's accident and the many miracles they experienced as he recovered.  Eldon Wilcox and the Bishop talked about how grateful they were for the many people in our ward that do their calling and their jobs and help others in the ward.  How we all have a part to play in helping one another---be it cleaning the church, visiting each other, teaching each other, or being where we need to be.  Sis. Wilcox talked about the importance of visiting and home teaching and what a difference it can make in our lives when we have good home and visiting teachers that watch over us. 

I visited with Pres. Rounds yesterday at Ben's game.  He looked a little fragile to me.  I guess they were able to get all of the mass out during the surgery, but they still will have to do chemo and radiation treatment to make sure that they didn't miss anything that will come back or continue to grow.  He seemed a little frustrated with his circumstances---the most frustrating being the fact that he had to go to the bathroom all the time because of the steroids he's been on, and that he can't work out---(that was probably his number 1 complaint!), and that he can't drive anywhere by himself.  It is interesting to see how such a vibrant person as Pres. Rounds is enduring this trial----I'm sure it is very frustrating to him to have to be so dependant on others right now, not be able to do things that he is used to doing with a very fit body and kind of feeling like he is in limbo right now as he looks forward to treatments that may make him feel even worse.  We are lucky to have good health----a blessing we sometimes take for granted until it is taken from us.  He and his wife both asked about you and are certain that you are doing a great job, because they think so much of you.  You are lucky to have had such great people in your life----I know they have made a difference in who you are and what you will become.  That is a great blessing in your life to have associated with men such as Pres. Rounds and others in the stake presidency and stake leadership positions.

I also talked to Emily, who just returned from Alaska, where she was a railroad tour guide.  She is taking online classes from SUU and we find out that she is actually in my online music class.  Kind of funny how we are all interconnected.  She is a cute girl and I wonder if she will serve a mission, I'm sure she would be great.  I forgot to ask about Collin----I'm assuming he's on a mission right now, but I wasn't sure where he was called. 

Okay, I better get going and see if I can sneak through Grandmother and Papa Joe's back door so I can send this to you.  Remember to tell me if there's anything you need/want.  I will send some of these ward missionary letters to you.  I guess Marco was companions with the Elder Wilberg that was hit by a car in Malaysia and died this past week.  I think Marco had trained him and was sad about his death.  I guess many people were fasting and praying for his recovery, even the Apostles, and yet he still went---his parents issued a statement that said they felt that he was continuing his mission on the other side of the veil.  I'm sure that he is, but that would still be a tragedy to lose your son as he served his mission.  So, be safe!  You are doing a great work and we love reading your letters and seeing the growth that is taking place in your life.  You have been so blessed, even through the tough times, we are so grateful for your faithfulness and desire to serve the Lord.  I know that He loves you so much and is pleased with your efforts and he will bless you as you serve him.  Have a great week!  Love, Mom

Another letter from our missionary! Love Mondays!!!!

Hey Guys,

Hows it going? Sorry to hear the games didn't go as well as everybody would have liked. I hope you learn from your mistakes this week so you WILL win next week. Wow Ben, that is impressive 50 yards on 5 carries!!! No offense to your coaches, but i think they might be idiots, cause if you do the math if you would have carried 15 times you would have had 150 or there abouts. Anyways, i hope they let you run it more this week, and i wish you guys a win this week (mom said you aren't playing as agressive as you were last year, whats up with that!?!??!) Sam, sorry to hear about your lost man, that is rough to play at 4:30, but hopefully it cools down and you guys won't have to play so early next time. Keep hydrated, from what you said, it sounds like you didn't have enough liquids in ya. I would recommend drinking alot of Power/Gatorade over the 24 Hour period before you play. I know i did that sometimes and i could deffinately notice a difference in my level of energy. Good luck next week, hit hard, play harder (don't loose to Marsh Valley, please!) David! Sorry about your game man, if you are Captain of the deffence line, you got to be nice. Talk to everyone on your back line before and after the game and make sure they understand why you are telling them to do what you are telling them to do. If you are playing center back in the middle, then you can see more then anyone else on the field, if you are on the outside fullbacks though, you need to listen to the ceterbacks, cause they can see more of the field then you can. Also, don't get to obsessed with off sides! Don't try to pull up to pull somebody off sides, it is super risky, and i know when i played, more often then not, when we tried it, it didn't work. Just play smart deffense, don't mess around/worry about off sides, just listen to your coach, and make sure you are always between the front forward and the goal. I'll write you more later!!! Jonathan!!! Good luck with soccer and violin you stud!!! Keep working hard in school and be nice to everyone. Jacob!!! Good luck with Kinderschule!!! I hope you have a great time, be nice, and make sure you are always smiling!!!

 

Cool my week:

Monday: We did a FHE with a less active family in our ward, the Sonnabends. It was really fun, they have two little (1 and 2) who are super funny and both speak better German then i do (how is that for a moral booster?) We had a great time and Elder Armstrong gave a great lesson on Ward Missionary work.

Tuesday: We had District meeting then we had a finding day. I went with Elder Young and we actuallly ended up teaching a lesson to a former investigator together. It was kind of wierd cause i was the senior companion, so Elder Young was depending on my German to get us through the lesson (the blind leading the blind). It went pretty well though, and i understood most of what he was asking us. We also had GMK and German that night (we have 2 German students now!!!) Great day!!!

Wendsday: We had lunch and did service for an older lady in our ward. I gave the lesson on how we need to trust in the Lord to endure through our trials. It went good, we did Garden Arbeit. Went well. Later that everning, we had a Lesson with the Ojo Family, did the Restoration, and had dinner with the newlly weds Thomas and Gerecksich Lubke. Thanks for putting the Ojo Family's name in the Temple, they really need it.

Thursday: We did Service all day in Kiefersfelden, super fun, we had seven missionaries there working, got a lot done. I miss cleaning the ditch, moving pipe and hauling hay.

Friday: We had a really cool experience, we brought one of the less active members in our ward, Schwester Morgner who can speak spanish to come with us to Traunstein to do a lesson with Familie Krugel cause Schwester Krugel can only speak spanish. It went really good, but took an hour and a half longer then expected (those spanish people can talk for quite a while). It was awesome though, cause i think/hope in a way they will reactivate eachother, kind of wierd to say, but they talked a little how "if you come to church i will come to church" sort of talk. Nice!!! We also went and helped Familie De Fillipo paint more of their house, it was super fun! Also, we got transfer calls on Friday, i am staying in Rosenheim, but Elder Armstrong is going back to Hog (his third time there). I get a new compaion, Elder Jerman. He is from Utah and Elder Young went to school with him. Says he is pretty cool. We have transfers this Thursday.

Saturday: We did weekly planning and went and helped Frau Sherer with her yard and assembled a bed together. Super fun, she calls us her Grandkids now, and shared with us a cool experiece that i will tell you about in a minute.

Sunday: Had a great fast, great testimony meeting, and everybody was sad to hear Elder Armstrong was leaving. He bore an awesome Testimony on Member Missionay work and i know it touched a lot of people's hearts, it sure touched mine. Ojo's didn't come to church again though, we went by later that day, but they weren't home. Im not sure what to do, something really needs to happen with them.

 

Anyways, that was my week, to close, i would like to share with you Frau Sherer experience and share testimony daruber. When we were there, she was telling us that the first day we came by her house, she had been praying that morning that God would either send her a big wad of cash, or somebody that could help her with her house and yard, cause she couldn't do what needed to be done. It is important to note, that Frau Sherer is trying to get her house ready to sell, but she is over 70 and has nobody else, no relatives no children no nothing, to come and help her. She said a few hours later, we came by and knocked on her door and after a little while asked if we could help her at all. We came back later that week to help her and ya you know the story from there. Hearing that was a huge testimony strengthener to me that this is really the Lords work and we are really instruments in his hand in helping his Children 1. Draw closer to him and 2. Give and help them with the things in life that they truly do need help with. I know if the Lord was here right now on the earth, he would be doing the exact same things we are doing. Visiting those of his Church who have gone astray, and inviting others to come follow him as he goes around helping others. Remember we are all missionaries, the prophets have said it countless times and as it says in D and C 4 "if you have the desire, you are called to the work." You guys don't have to go tracting or such things, but i promise you if you will truly prayerfully look for the oppurtunity to be a missionary, the Lord will give you oppurtunities to be an instrument in his hand to answer the prayers of others.

 

Ok, i've got to go. Take care you guys, have a great week, remember how much i love and pray for you, and most importantly WIN THOSE GAMES!!! (oh and i guess being happy is important too)

Bis Später,

Elder Seamons

Jonathan's Baptism pics

Jonathan was baptized on Aug. 3rd by his brother, Samuel and confirmed by his dad, Jeff.  We are so proud of Jonathan!

Letters from Elder Seamons!

LETTER FROM AUG. 19TH, 2013

Hey Guys!!!

Well, another week is already done and by the time you read this the first day (or couple of days) of school will be over. Sounds like it was a good last week before school and i hope you guys are somewhat ready to start school! Good luck y'all! David, your playing competitive soccer!!!!! HURREY!!! That is super exciting! Im so happy you will have the oppurtunity to play down in the Utah leagues, you'll learn so much, and improve alot to (not that you aren't already really good). Don't get frustrated if sometimes you loose, or if sometimes the reff makes bad calls, just play your very best and i promise, things will always work out! Don't get any red cards! Sam, i would like to know who is starting varsity linebacker, cause im actually really suprised your not. Im trying to think of who would be starting, and i honestly can't figure it out (if it's Willie, im gonna blow up!!!). Make sure you always play your best, and work hard so that they have no choice but to start you!!! Your a stud, i pray you have a awesome season! Ben, im serious about the whole 1500 yard thingy, i want to hear about all of them! You owe me! I pray you also have a awesome season and that you guys will make it to "THE MINI DOME" this year. You and Sam make sure you both hit hard, but play fair and be a great example for team, if you do that, you will see alot of success this season (no potty's mouthes either! Doesn't help anybody!) KOOL! Jonathan, your growing up so fast mini man, second grade....wow, i remember those days. Have a super great time in 2nd Grade and remember, girls reallly do have cooties! Stay away from them!!! Good luck with soccer too! Jacob!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!Have a great time with your preschool/kindergarten school! I hope you learn alot and nice to all your classmates and teachers! Your the best Jacob, remember that everybody loves you!!! And Jacob, make sure you give Charcoal a hug from me everyday and tell her i miss her, thanks buddy!

Cool, well i wish everyone a wonderful week, and i hope its not to heptic for you mom and dad!

My week was pretty good, i was privelaged to go on two austausches (exchanges) this week, one with Elder Abbott from Neutting and also one of the Zone Leader Elder Orchard. I learned so much from both of these awesome Elders and one thing that is really cool is Elder Abbott and i think we are probaly related! He kinda looked like Great Grandfather in his younger days, so i asked him where his ancestors were from. He said down in the Masquitte Nevada and also St. George area, so taking that into account, im pretty certain we are related some how. Cool huh? He is such an awesome Elder, he is only a transfer older that me, but i still learned so much from him. We had that exchange on Tuesday/Wendsday. The other exchange i had with Elder Orchard was on Friday/Saturday. I went to Munich and worked with him in his area. He is such an awesome missionary, i can really see why he is Zone Leader! We literally talked to everyone we saw, and even though hardly anybody would talk to us, we both saw the fruits of our faithfulness later that day during a lesson with one of there new investigators. That lesson was so awesome! The girl we had the lesson with name is Annessa. She is 25 just graduated from college and is going to start teaching as an English and Geography teacher this fall. She works at the Alianz Arena right now (home of Bayern Munchen Football Club) and is a die hard fan, says she goes to literally all there games home or away. She is fluent in English and lived a year in Alabama as an Exchange student. She didn't have much religious background, but is really honestly searching for which church is true. It was such a cool experience, it was nice being able to express myself with no language boundaries, so that she really understood what we beleived. Ah man! She is so prepared to hear this Gospal! I just wish she lived in our ward boundaries! Stink! But im super excited she has the oppurtunity to learn about this church, i know it is what she is looking for!

Some other highlights of the week were we did some more service for the older lady we found week before last on Saturday. She is super nice and so thankful for all that we do, but i really don't know how interested she is in our message. We'll keep trying. It's kinda of bad, but she swears like a sailor (in English) and as bad as it is, it kind of reminds me of, well home (don't take that in a wrong way). Keep her in your prayers! On tuesday we also went by on one of the Potential Investigators we gave a Book of Mormon to who lives in Traunstein. He hadn't read, but we had a really great Gospal Q and A session with him. It lasted about 30 min. so i take that as he has some interest. He welcomed us to come back in a week or two, so hopfully, he will have the desire and time to listen to our message next time we meet with him. Great kid though, keep him in your prayers please (Andreas). We also had a Eating Appointment with one of the families we went by on last Sunday. The wife told us that last Sunday she had prayed that the missionaries would come by that day, and well we did! It was cool to hear that story from her and really raised my hopes about, well everything. She says she doesn't come to Church because of work, but she will be retiring in the next few years. She also has a Coffee drinking problem, says she knows it is wrong, but says she needs to do it to stay awake for work. I hope we can work with her, and get her somehow to chuch. The huspand just got done with kimo and he says he is always tired, that is why he doesn't always come to church. They are such an awesome couple though, i pray the best for them and really help we can help them with all their trials.

Well, those were really the highlights of the week, i won't bore you with the hours of tracting and contacting had. But i want you all to know that i have a testimony of this Gospal, and i really honestly know that the Holy Ghost is real. I know that he is a member of the Godhead and works through promptings and feelings. I know that he really does dwell with us in our everyday lives, as long as we are obediant and have recieved that ordinace of the Confirmation of the Holy Ghost. He has the power to influence people, to testify of truthfulness, and to help people know what they should do next. It is so cool to see him change the life of others, it is definately one of the greatest things about being the missionary is seeing him work in others to convince them that this is the Church of God, that Jesus is the Christ, and that what we say is true. One of the biggest things they talked about at the MTC was making sure that we are listening to the promptings of the spirit and saying what God wants us to say. I have to admit, i got pretty paranoid with myself and wondered almost constantly if what i was saying and if what i was doing was indeed a "prompting" from the Holy Ghost. That might sound kind of weird, but it was really stressing me out. However, towards the end of my MTC exericnce we had the oppurtunity to watch a clip from an address that Elder Bednar gave at the MTC a couple of years ago. In it he gives a story about him when he was in the mission field and Elder Packer came to take care of some church business. Im not going to have time to irriderate the story, but after he is done with the story, President Bednar tells the missionaries, "you don't have to recognize in the moment that what you do or say is indeed a prompting from the Holy Ghost. Just be a good boy and be a good girl and i promise you everything will work out the way the Lord needs it to." You'll have to read the whole story to understand the context, but it was such a releif and help to me to know as long as i was doing my very best being as obiedient as possible, that the Holy Ghost would indeed give me promptings i needed to be an effective missionary.

Well i got to go, again, i hope you all have a wonderful week! Keep working hard in all you do and remember how much i miss and love each of you!

Viel Spass!

Elder Seamons

PS: If you guys have a chance, could you try to get me Sawinski's Email address. Thanks! Also i was thinking alot about this, if Sam wanted, he could get in touch with the missionaries in our stake and tell them that he would love to go on Joint Teaches or splits with them. Im not sure how much that is needed over there, but i could tell you right now if somebody that was a priest over here came to us and told us that, we would be exceedingly joyful like to a point that i can't even explain. That is one of the hardest things over here is getting joint teaches, so ya, if you want to help the work, let the missionaries know you would love to do that with them. They would be so thankful!

LETTER FROM AUGUST 12, 2013

Hey Guys!

Sounds like another busy but fun week! Im glad you got my letter, i wasn't sure if it would get there. Sounds like Lyceum was fun just like it was last year! Sports and school are starting up this and next week, good luck to all of you and have fun with 9 monthes in Gefangnis (prison)! Na, school's not that bad...most the time. Cool, ya, good luck again and....may the force be with you!!! (wow, thats really cheesy, sorry)

An die Wocke:

This week we had a Wedding for one of our members. It was really cool to see how involved the ward is with weddings over hear. We (meaning the Elders) were incharge of setting up all the decorations and taking down and cleaning everything afterwards (so ya we were the slaves) but it was super fun and we got alot of free food out of that. We set up everything last Monday and then spent alot of Saturday cleaning up and "reputting the church bad together". Fun though. The man from our ward who was gettting married name is Thomas Lubke. He is a convert of about 3 years and married this gal whose name i can't remember or pronounce, but she's from....uh that same country that Yanni's from. I can't rem....Armenia!!! That was it! She is super cool and speaks really good english (no German). She served a mission in Chicago and ya she can play the piano super good. The wedding took up a big chunk of our week.

This week was kinda sad though. The appointments we had set up fell out, but we were able to find this really cool old lady on Wendsday who we ended up doing service for on Saturday (garden work). She lived in Manhatten for about 20 years, but she can't speak that much English anymore. It was kind of funny when we got to her house on Saturday, cause she didn't think we were really actually going to come. We gave her a Book of Mormon and she said she would read a little from it this week. I pray she does.

Yesterday was really cool though. Not that anything breath taking happened, but we went by on about 6 less actives and i feel like we got a lot accomplished. They were all really nice, and we have appointments or at least permanant contact with most of them now. I was super glad, cause lately, we haven't had to much success with less active for bei's. We also walked about 8 miles to find all these people, but it was sure worth it!

Another cool experience i had this week was with Elder Young (the other new Elder). We went out contacting with eachother last Friday and i was really nervous at first cause we didn't have any "experienced" Elders with us. But, we didn't have any problems talking to people, and were able to place a Book of Mormon and find a really cool lady who said she would come to church in the next couple of weeks. So cool, and it was such a testimony builder to me that the Lord really does provide a way to do what he commands, even if we can barely (or think we can) talk to people in German.

Well, those were really the Highlights of the Week, i don't want to bore you to much, so i'll stop there. But i want you guys to know that i love you so much and i love this Gospal too. It is really miraculous to me to see how simple it is, but yet, so many people choose not to live it. I read a story this week in the Bible (you're probaly all farmilier with it) about a Babylonian General who has leporacy who goes to Israel to be healed by the Prophet Elias. When he gets to Elias' residence, Elias sends his servant out and who tells him to wash in the River Jordan 7 times and he would be made whole. The General is offended that: 1 Elias wouldn't even come out to talk to him and 2 That he gave him such a so to say "dumb thing" to do. But as he is heading back to Babylon, one of his servants says something like this: "Master, if the Prophet had ask you to do some great and difficult task you would have done it, but he asked you only to do something simple, so simple that you refuse not to do it. Why don't you try it, what is the worst that could happen?" In the end, this General does as Elias says and is healed. I found this really interesting that just as Elias gave a small and simple task, the Lord does the same for us. This Gospal is not difficult to live or do. The Lord has provided a simple way to live, simple tasks to do, and yet sometimes we act as if he has commanded us to do something difficult. I understand that sometimes it can be difficult, if we have allowed ourselves to slip from what we know is right and stop doing the simple things that the Lord asks of us such as reading in the scriptures, personal and family prayer, FHE, etc, but the wonderous thing is it is us that makes the tasks and journey difficult, not him. It is yet another testement of our Heavenly Fathers and our Saviors love, that they have made the path so simple and easy for us to return to them. They have not asked something difficult, but something so easy that yes, even a child can do.

I love you guys so much and pray for you everyday. I love hearing from you, and i hope you know how much it means to me. Take care and good luck with all your lifely endeavors!!!

Elder Seamons

LETTER FROM AUG. 5TH

Hey Guys,

Well, another busy week for you, no suprises there. Im glad to hear all is going well, and that WE HAVE A NEW BAPTISED BROTHER (that would be you Jonathan). That is so cool you all got to experience that again. Im glad Sam got to baptise Jonathan cause i know what an awesome experience that is. I remember when i got to Baptise David how honored and privilaged i felt to be able to perform such a sacred ordinace for somebody i loved so much. Wow, what a great week, i hope you have another one as cool as this last one (probaly won't be as cool though, seeing as nobody is getting Baptised, oh well, i guess you can try)!

 

Well, school is just around the corner and it sounds like everybody isn't quite ready for summer to be over! I don't know about you guys, but these past three monthes have really flown by, seems like only yesterday you were dropping me off at the MTC and now, wow, so much has happened.

 

Tiffany and Spencer are leaving all ready, so cool, they will both be awesome missionaries! Sorry your football camp wasn't "difficult" enough for you Ben, but im glad you got to go and that you will be able to play LB and RB this year for your team. I sent you a letter last week Ben, so hopefully you will get it some time this week. Anyways, good luck all yall with Lyceum this week. Hope you have as much fun as we did last year! (Oh and mom, good luch with all the little kids. I'll say some prayers for your sanity!)

 

My week was great. I am renaming this week the week of service seeing that we did service project 4/7 days this week. Cool here is how my week went.

Monday: We went and helped a investigator of the other Elders paints her house. It was fun, and her little boy reminds me of Jonathan. He fell in love with Elder Armstrong and wouldn't leave him alone most the night, then when he finally left Elder Armstrong alone for a little bit, he came up to me and just sat there and told me for about 20 minutes how cool Elder Armstrong is. What a Character!

Tuesday: We had District Meeting the i Elder Armstrong tousched with Elder Kinghorn who is working in Neotine right now. So i got to work in Rosenheim with Elder Kinghorn on Tuesday and Wendsday. He is super cool, he's from the Lone Peak High School area, and he studied Chemistry for a Year at BYU. He's been out a year, and man, he is a really good worker. We contacted all of Tuesday, and found this really cool lady who lived in Canada for several years so she spoke really good english. We gave her a Book of Mormon, shared some scriptures with here, gave here a chapter to read, and told her we would call her back next Tuesday (tomorrow) and try to set an appoinment up for Wendsday. She was so nice, and really seemed like she had a lot of interest in the Gospal and our Church. Such a cool experience!

Wensday: We did some garden service for the Schöwalds, an older coulple in our ward. They are so funny and super nice! They have thirteen kids including two foster girls that they took into there family who both have Down Syndrome. They younger of those two girls still lives with them. She comes to church every week and even though she is really shy, when we sing those Church Hyms she's got here book out right there belting out the tune. It is so cool! Later that day we tousched back ya, that ended our day.

Thursday: We did some more service for the City of Kiefersfelden clearing/repairing some hiking pathes. It was fun, but it kind of made me think is it really that important to have these hiking pathes clean enough to eat off of? I guess it is just a German thing, but the people we talked to who were hiking while we were working seemed to be very greatful for what we were doing, so ya, i guess we did some good. Later that day we had dinner with Rita, and we were going to try to do a lesson, but she really just wanted to talk about her life and learn more about us, so i guess that was ok. I don't know if i told you guys this, but she left yesterday to Thailand for the next five weeks, so i'm really praying she will still be interested when she gets back, and that she doesn't hear anything in Thailand that would discourage her from investigating the Gospal. We did give her a card with our favorite scriptures on it, and she told us that she would read them on the plane ride over there. I really pray she does.

Friday: We did some less active work in Traunstein and went and visited Sister Timm who was having her 95th Birthday! She is so sweet, and reminds me a little of Great Grandmother. She had a lot of visitors including the Bergermeister so we didn't stay very long, but she was sure nice and tried to get everyone she talked to there to come talk to us and join our church. Man, what a lady. We also had dinner with this other less active family, the Krügel's. That was deffinately the miracle of the week. This is the family i wrote who said they loved the Book of Mormon, but didn't beleive Joseph Smith was/is a Prophet. I gave them  Amos 3:7 as a commitment last time, and you know what? They read it together and excused themselves for saying that Joseph Smith was not a prophet. I was actually surprised when they said that, and asked, "so you beleive he was/is a Prophet then?" and they kind of looked at me like i was dumb and said, "of course, it says right here in the scriptures that he would have to be a Prophet." So it was an amazing miracle. They also said they would start coming to church once they got a car in September! So wonderful! Now, we just got them to beleive in the Word of Wisdom, and we should have some solid awesome AKTIVE members!

Saturday/Sunday: Help Brother De Fillipo paint his new house the whole day. It was really fun, and we got to know him alot better. His wife and kids actually came to church on Sunday, but we still have a lot of work we need to do with him. If you could, keep them in your prayers. They are such an awesome family, and i think the wife really would like to come to church every week if her huspand would. Also on Sunday, we had Stake Preisthood meeting. It was really good, and President Miles gave an awesome talk! In his talk he shared a story about one of the Missionaries who came over here with me who met a Spanish couple on the plane, and because they couldn't speak English and he could speak Spanish reallly helped them out and gave them a Book of Mormon. Turns out that last we, this couple got Baptised! What a neat experience and testimony builder that story was for me. Another miracle i started to notice yesterday, was the fact that i can actually understand almost everthing everyone was saying during that meeting. It was actually quite a shock to me, and it may have been just because it was Gospal Talk and plus the fact that i was fasting to understand/use the language better, but it was so nice to be able to say when that meeting was over, "i understood what was going on!" Cool Beans!!!

 

Well that was my week, i've got to get going, but want you guys to know how much i know the Scriptures are the Word of God. There is a reason that Prophets have said that the Book of Mormon should be the foundation of our testimony, and also that we should read from it and the Bible everyday. I really saw that this week with the Krügel family. I know the only reasons we were able to overcome the Joseph Smith Prophet issue was one 1. We were and they were extremely blessed by God and 2. They already had a Testimony of the Book of Mormon and Bible. With less actives, i am starting to understand that it all comes down to if they have a Testimony of the Book of Mormon. If they do, it is a lot easier to reactivate them you just have to rekindle their fire, and teach them how to keep it going, but if they don't, we are litterally starting at level 0 trying to help them find that testimony that should have been there befor they got baptised. I love the scriptures with my whole heart. It is one of the biggest things i look forward to everyday is to have the time to study them. They have changed my life, and i am so grateful that God has given them to us in orde to learn and grow. They are the word of God, and are indeed a roadmap for our life, but like any Good Map you have to open it and study it to know where you should go.

 

I love you guys so much! Good luck with everything this week, i hope you have some amazing experiences, and don't forget you are always in my prayers!

 

mit freundlich Grüßen,

Elder Seamons

MTC Pics that Elder Seamons finally sent!

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