July 15, 2013, Kiel

Dear Family,

Hey so let me catch you up on some of the things that have been happening this week. Last week on Monday, after we finished emailing, we headed out to G W's place to give him a blessing. He had called us and asked us if we would give him one because he was sick and wasn't feeling too well. We were happy to do it...It's not very often that you get this kind of opportunity to serve others on a P-day, so that in itself was a blessing not only for us but also for G. His girlfriend T, was also there and was able to see servants of God using proper priesthood authority for the first time in her life. He's doing better now! It's funny, they had told us that Anika is getting married and asked me if I knew her, but from the name I had no idea who she was. Of course I remember her! That was such an awesome hike up Red Mountain when she visited us! Wow, you should give G a call sometime, I'm sure he would love to meet up with you while you're here in Germany.

 After that we were able to give Sister M (senior couple) a blessing with Elder M. It was a good day of service. We play Fußball (soccer) every week and had those American members come and play on Tuesday night. It was a lot of fun, and it reminded me of how different Americans are from Germans - or Europeans in general – ha-ha. Someone asked me this week what my favorite part of Germany is, and I said, “The people!”, lol! I love them! We've also been blessed with super nice weather. I love it here when it's sunny, but there's something about living by the ocean...it doesn't stay sunny for too long, lol.

   Our investigators are doing well. We had good lessons with C, E, V, and T. They are getting a bit closer to baptism, but still seem so far away. E leaves tomorrow for china. V is having a tough time getting the desire to pray about the Book of Mormon. But T is doing great! A lot of members are on vacation now, so it's tough organizing joint teaches, but we're doing well finding new and open people. We did some more finding in the area we were told to, and called a member to pray for us before we started. We spent a whole hour in one building. We taught 2 people in the building for at least 25 minutes each. They were really interested and want us to come back again this week. So we're going to bring a member with us, J It's going to be sick!

 I went on an exchange in Heide and spent a long time doing doors. We had some pretty cool conversations with people, but then found one lady from Switzerland who was something special. She had been inside the Swiss Temple before it was dedicated, moved to Germany, and hadn't heard of the church since. She took a Book of Mormon from us and said we could visit her again. Her husband had passed away and we taught her about temple sealings. She was really touched.

   Oh, funny experience. We were in the train going to Heide, and we heard a young couple speaking English, so we stopped speaking German, and started speaking English to to see if they would talk to us. The stopped talking and just listened to us. Then the boy said, 'Hey excuse me, are you guys speaking English? I'm from America!', -  ha-ha it was so funny! We invited them to sit with us. The girl was German, but had been an exchange student in Michigan where she met him. He came up to visit for 2 weeks. He's like, 'I'm so glad to be able to talk to someone. I can't speak or understand German at all!' It was really cool. We were able to talk about the church and why we were on missions. Good opportunity to talk about Christ J!

Hey, I hope you have a good time in Germany. I would love to see you Mom and Dad, but let’s wait until I'm home J.  Ha-ha. I mean, I really only have a little bit of time left, and these emails are good enough for me! I love you and hope you stay safe and continue loving the time here in Germany.

Oh, schöne Grüße (greetings) from Volker in Pinneberg. Oh, and tell Oma and Opa that I love them and that I have permission to visit them sometime on a P-day whenever they want! We'll also be in Hamburg this week in the Wartenau Gemeinde (Wartenau, Hamburg Stake Center) for a Leadership Training Meeting lol. Crazy knowing we're so close to each other! Ha-ha. I'll be in Hauptbahnhoff (Hamburg Train Station) at around 9:00 AM and at 5:30 PM...just in case you accidentally want to run into me, (since you are in Hamburg now, anyway), ha-ha!

Love you, 

Have a great week!

Elder Christopher Luening

July 8, 2013, Kiel

Dear Family,

One of the big things in Kiel is that the members LOVE us, ha-ha. I've been here since January 1st and I'm way tight with the members. We spoke to the Bishop and asked him where we would find people who would become strong members. He prayed and told us an area. We have a family that we prayed about and talked to and told that we want to do more missionary work with them, and asked them to pray for a street in this area where we could start our finding. They gave us a street and a referral for that street and now we are teaching them! It's so sick. We've only had one lesson with them so far but it was at the member’s house that actually lives in the area we're working in, so it was perfect. It's all inspired work,J.

Something way funny happened yesterday too. We went to check up on a contact but they weren't home. They lived in a building that we Elder R and Elder L tracted while we were on exchanges. So the people weren't home but we heard talking in the door next to them and I asked if we should try it. Elder R couldn't remember if they answered or not but we decided it would be way awkward if they had. So we laughed and decided that I would do it myself and he would go upstairs and we'd see what happens. I talked to that guy for 15 minutes, and then his wife gave me a freshly baked banana pancake! Ha-ha! She's just like, “Here you go!”  Man, it was delicious J. The man said that he had a Book of Mormon, that he's Buddhist, but will read the introduction again and think about the importance of the book. Blessings of risking the awkward, lol.!

Our investigators are struggling. C, our 3 week investigator seems to be the only strong one. E is leaving for China in a week, and won't hit his baptismal date. He'll be gone for a whole month, so he'll have time again to really ponder and consider until  he comes back. We're going to challenge him to be baptized on September 1st. - 3 weeks after he's back from China. V is staying idle. He's not progressing, and he's not changing. We fasted to find out how to help him and we're still waiting for some kind of answer. We know it'll come, but we're frustrated with how he won't take it seriously--- wake up, and find out if the Book of Mormon is true. He won't pray about it. He needs to be told by someone else that it's important. Other than that the work is moving forward. Gordian and Tina are still awesome.

I had no idea that you were leaving this week to visit Oma and Opa. I hope you got in contact with Brother Bentke in Forst. I hope you have a safe trip. Thanks for everything. You guys rock, and I wish I could write more but I'm out of time! Have a good holiday!

Love Elder Luening

July 1, 2013, Kiel

Dear Family,

I need to start by saying that this week has gone by really fast!

We're working a lot with the members in the ward and we've been seeing a lot of success from it. We asked the Bishop to pray for an area in the city where we should find people who would become new members of the church. He then reported back to us a week later and then we asked a family that we are working really closely with, to pray for a street where they feel we should start doing doors. We now have 5 potential investigators from doing one hour of doors. We're really excited.

Also when we went there, we were given a referral from the family. When we tried to contact him but he wasn't home. Then the family talked to us at church yesterday and invited us to come over to meet the people at their house! It's a German man and women who aren't married but have a baby. They don't live in the same apartment, they live across the hall from each other, and they’re about 40 years old. We had an awesome lesson with them and answered a lot of their questions. We then told them that our job is to teach people the Gospel lessons and if they'd like ,we could teach them the lessons so that they can find out for themselves if it is true or not. They accepted and are really excited to start meeting with us! We're really excited to start teaching them!

 We also talked with E., and asked him about the baptismal date that he picked. He said he picked the 21st of July, but might want to do it sooner depending on when his math exam is. He talked to his professor who said he could take an easier exam, and wait until October to write it. He's really happy about that and we're going to meet with him this week and talk about his date and preparations for the Taufe! (baptism).

We contacted someone that we gave a Book of Mormon too, and they are going on holidays for 2 weeks but want to meet with us when they are back.

There was a baptism in Neumünster that we were able to attend. The lady is about 55 years old and super solid. Her date was actually supposed to be in 3 or 4 weeks, but the missionaries challenged her to just do it this week because she was ready. She took the leap of faith and agreed. Similar story to what happened in the Trail Ward (with Sharon), eh? Makes you think about how the spirit works with investigators and can move them to do what is right!

Love you guys and hope you have a great week!

Elder Luening

June 24, 2013, Kiel

Love Elder Luening

Dear Family,

   Mom and Dad, I really love you and appreciate everything you've done for me. This last year is going so quick and I'm super excited to see what is going to keep happening in this life of mine and in the lives of others. I'm really impressed at how great of parents you both are. I'm always amazed at how you raised us. I know it wasn't easy, but you made sure we had the Principles of the Gospel planted within us. Thanks for everything that you've done for me and what you continue to do. I know that I still have a lot to learn, but I have a new perspective on things that is continuing to change each day and through each experience.

   We aren't affected by the high water here in Kiel. The cities that got hit were the ones on the Elbe.

    It's been really tough bringing our investigators to baptism. We have 2 that are completely ready but won't commit to a date because they’re scared. E. is such a great investigator. He's reading, praying, coming to church, coming to institute and coming to Family Home Evenings at 3 young married couple’s homes each week. His tests are almost done, and then he says that he's going to quit smoking and be baptized. He's such great guy, and he participates and socializes freely.

     We're having trouble finding more people to teach. But I know the Lords looking out for us and that he's going to continue to help us as we're prepared. “Kieler Woche” is this week. We're going to go check it out today. There are a ton of people here from all over the world. IT's really cool! I love you, and I'm sorry it's not a long email this week, but I'm trying to reach out to others through email too which is limiting my time to write you.

   My mission is the “best, most enriching experience” – better than anything else I could do instead. I always imagine what would have happened if I didn't come out here into the mission. I would have never ate from this fruit (the love of God) that was available. It's true. All of it is true, and I'm so thankful for the Gospel in my life, and for the prayers of all you guys because I believe I couldn't have done it without you. 

    Love you and have a great week. Do something fun with all the free time you now have and with the house being empty, lol. Don't get bored!

Love Elder Luening

June 17, 2013, Kiel

June 17

Hey guys,

Thanks for the emails and for the update! Wow, Charlene I'm so excited for you and I know you're going to love your mission! It's so exciting! That was a great blessing that you received, and I'm grateful I was able to read it. We'll keep in touch by email!

   This week has gone by so slow...and I'm having troubles remembering what we did, lol. We did a lot of things but it seems to be all mushed together. We are still meeting at least twice a week with E. We're going to a Family Home Evening with E. tonight at Jared and Ariana's (young married couple who got married last fall). There will also be 2 other young married couples there (E.s, and Z.'s who also don't have kids yet). Ariana's also going to invite her aunt and uncle who aren't members, and they've asked us to give the spiritual thought.- great missionary opportunity J!

We organized our former investigator list and mapped out where everyone lives using “Google Maps”. Then we numbered them all on the map, printed them off, and put their names on a list telling us who they are and what street and number they live on and if they have a telephone number. Now, whenever we are in an area, we can quickly check if there are any contacts in the area and go see if they still have interest. It's so convenient and so effective. We went by on L. to say “hello”.  She called us 2 weeks ago and told us she would like to study on her own for a while, so we thought we'd just say “Hi” since we were in the area finishing up the doors there. She was really friendly and thanked us for coming by. It was a positive little visit.

 We talked to some interesting people at the doors but none who we could teach again. We went to a Stake activity in Plön because some members brought friends and had asked us to be there to meet them. It was a lot of fun and the weather was beautiful. Some members came from Delingsdorf and I got to quickly chat with Thorsten Z.'s wife, Connie! How cool is that?! Thorsten wasn't there , I can't remember why, but I met their son and we took a picture together. You'll have to talk to her if you want a copy because she took the picture on her phone, lol. That was funny, though, running into her and being able to talk a little bit.

Things are moving forward with V. We had a powerful lesson with him yesterday about the restoration. We wanted to make sure that he understood it and that it made sense to him. And it did. The spirit was pretty powerful in the meeting, and I asked him if he had prayed to find out if the Book of Mormon is true. He said he hasn't because he's caught in between not wanting to and  wanting to find out if it is true. He said he's not scared, but just nervous to find out if it's true or not. No word can describe the feeling I have, he said, lol. He laughed about it and we committed him to do it. I know he knows it's true. He just needs to find it out for himself, by asking!

   I'm so glad that I've received an answer through the spirit that this Church is true. Joseph Smith was really a prophet of God. I've learned so much about him and about what kind of a man he was. The message of the Restoration is a miracle. I know it's true, and I know the Book of Mormon is true. The story of Peter walking out onto the water is always clear in my mind. I love that Christ answers Peter by telling him to come unto him, and Peter being so focused on Him that he does. In Alma 5, Alma testifies that the Lord Jesus Christ is calling to us to come unto Him, and that if we do we may eat from the tree of life, (which fruit is the most joyous to the soul 1 Ne. 11:23) for the good Shepherd is calling us and wants us to be a part of His fold. I know that as I continue to bring forth fruits of righteousness and keep focused on Him and His marvelous work, he'll continue to make me an effective instrument in His hands.

   I love you guys, and I hope you enjoy this week and reach out to help someone receive some of the light that we all have inside of us. This light that we've received from our faith on our Friend and Savior, Jesus Christ. 

Love Elder Lüning.

June 10,2013, Kiel

June 10

Hey,

So sorry about last week - that I didn't write you guys much at all. No, it didn't have to do with the floods here in Germany, but now that you mention it, you can check out the mission blog and see all the work that the missionaries have been doing in helping with keeping the floods under control. http://germanyberlinmission2012-15.blogspot.de/

The main reason that I didn't write is because I didn't have much time. We went to Laboe on Monday J.  I was so scared that I was going to get transferred that I wanted to see the beach and go up the tower that's out there. Lol, and guess what? I didn't get transferred! I'm staying another 6 weeks here in Kiel!! Woot!

Last week we went to Berlin on Thursday at 5:00 PM and were in bed by 11:00 PM after picking up some other elders at the Berlin train station with the A.P.'s. Then we were up at 6:30 AM, and in a meeting from 9:00 AM-4:30 PM, then on the train to Kiel from 6:00 PM -12:15 AM, and finally in our beds by 12:45 AM.

Then all of Saturday we had planning and meetings with our District and District Leaders...we were exhausted! Thank goodness that it's now P-day.

   Last week we had E. at a Family Home Evening at a young married couple’s house. (K's). We shared a spiritual thought about ways that we can live in a “manner of happiness” found in 2 Nephi 5. It was great, and then we played a goofy game where you make up dances, answer goofy trivia questions, draw pictures, and do a bunch of other funny things. They fed us dinner too, and E. liked it a lot.

We then had E. at a member’s house yesterday too, to watch 'The Testaments'! We chose Jared S and his wife Ariana (both 25 years old) as members that we want to do a lot of missionary work with. We told them and they said that it was like an answer to their prayers because they'd been praying about receiving more opportunities to share the gospel. So they’re 'In'! lol. It was a nice home to be in and to feel the spirit. It was good for E. because now he's getting a bit closer with the members. He tells us all the time that he's really thankful for the church and learning more about it because he enjoys the feeling that he gets from us and from reading in the scriptures. His English exam is in 2 weeks, so we're trying to help him get ready for it.

V. is also doing well. We're going through the Gospel Principles book with him and soon we're going to have him prepare lessons to teach us so that he has to think more and learns more J.

Thanks so much for your emails. I really appreciate it and I printed them all out last week so I could read them. You guys rock. That's tough about what happened to Jeremy. I'll be praying for him. That's so tough! I couldn't even imagine having to go through something like that. I'll write him a letter.

 I'm so excited for you, Charlene...9 more days until she's outa here!! She's going to love it. Some might say the MTC is an emotional roller coaster, but even if it is, she'll love it. I love you guys and don't worry about me. I'm doing fine. Have a great week! I'll write to you next week.

Love Elder Luening

June 3, 2013, Kiel

 Hey guys,

Something came up and I can't write much this week. Well, actually not at all.

E. is still making progress! And yes I'm loving Kiel still. Transfer calls are on Saturday and I hope I stay one more! Please pray that I do stay, lol, I don't want to leave this place.

I'm sorry I can't write but I'll explain things next week. I love you guys so much, Hope everything goes well for you this week! You're always in my prayers.

Love Elder Luening