Learning...

(taken from his latest email)
We are now teaching a family of five in Vienna! Sonia Ackerman is about 25 years inactive to the point where she doesn't remember much. Her three kids are 16, 14 and 10. They are solid. We passed out "For the Strength of Youth" to them and they liked it. But Sonia is actually the cleaning lady for the Burton's and one day Sister Burton just talked about church and it led to this. It's amazing how something so simple can harbor eternal consequences.

Something I learned in the last few weeks that makes so much sense to me is the real purpose for the spirit world. I knew before, but it was still a little fuzzy. Once as I was explaining it I started to understand and found this coming out of my mouth. Life is not fair, and death isn't either, but God makes it fair. And he does it through the Spirit World. Then I thought, oh ya that's true! There were some spirit led words no doubt. You learn when you teach.

The mission has been great for me. You see things through a different scope and I like it. I am grateful for my education because I think it has given me a greater perspective. A specific class I took about the development of humans has led me to see people for who they can be rather than who they are. This keeps me positive.

We have been great. The mission is difficult, frustrating and wonderful.

I know that God lives and loves us. That's all you need to know to get through.

I will leave you with the answering machine recording of an old black inactive lady in our ward: "Remember that God loves you and so do you I. Shalom"

Zone Conference Pictures

A Few Things...

(taken from his latest email)

One of the hardest things I witness here is the people who are too smart for their own good. They learn by thinking rather than feeling. It's hard because unless they quit, they won't allow the feelings they have to sink in. The thing our church has is the spirit of our Heavenly Father which helps us to remember what was before this life. It shows us truth. When things are talked about that makes sense or are true, we are able to feel that. It's funny when people bring up anti things they read, that is contrary to the church, and when asked, the feelings they have are not peace but confusion. If everyone would just take a second, breathe, and ponder about the truth that is being brought forth, the whole world would be baptized by September.

I am learning about myself. I think it's important to know yourself before trying to teach others. Sometimes they happen simultaneously. More than sometimes.

more things:

-This one is scary. I called myself Elder Church for the first time on my mission. It's always been Bryce. I dropped something in the bathroom the other day and instead of saying, "gosh dang it Bryce!" I replaced it with Elder Church. Who am I?

-There are a ton of frogs here.

-I rode my bike for the first time!

-2 things that I say now that I have never said before: "Sorry ma'am, we don't work here..." and "Sir it's ok you can park your car there. We aren't in fact, cops, you can park here."

-The mission has caused me to retrogress to the peanut butter sandwich. Cucumbers and meat are too expensive.

I love you family! And everyone else who is reading, I love you too.