Knocking Doors, Just as the Savior..

Another week in the Old City of Ravenburg, and the week goes as the following...

Tuesday, Distrikt Versammlung in.. Austria! That was really exciting, now I have touched all three countries, haha! I guess my mission is complete then, nur spass! We then got a little lost trying to find the Bahnhof and ended up missing our train and had to wait an hour or so until the next one. We explored a little of Austria, talked to some people, and enjoyed our time in Austria or should I say Österreich.. Same place, different name in German, of course. Came back to Germany and did some Vorbei´s, sadly no one was home. We tried though..

Wednesday, similar as Tuesday, spent from 10-4 contacting on the street, talking to everyone, not much interest, not enough time, work, work, work, busy, busy people, I can understand them. But sometimes I wish they understood the importance of our message and how truly this Gospel can change and make people better!

Thursday, We got a little tired of contacting, I mean who wouldn´t, after 6 hours of contacting the day before, so today... We tried dooring. The amazing thing was that we actually had little blessings here and there, miracles simple and sweet. We went into one apartment and We found a young man, and he said, Oh, yes! Please come again, I am busy today, but any day from 8-11am please come by,I would be really interested in knowing more about this church. We were really confusingly happy and went to the next apartment complex. First person that rang, He gave us his name and number and told us to call him. And if he didn't answer to come by sometime in the morning and explain more. Again we left confusingly happy. The day was drawing to an end and we decided to try one more apartment. A young woman came down and told us that she belong to a Free Church or something. She didn't seem very interested, but at the sametime she explained she had many questions. My amazing companion, Elder Zepp explained this fascinating story of a young boy who also had many questions. He prayed and received a message from Heaven. He told of Joseph Smith and the young woman, seemed to be in awe! She took a Book of Mormon and told us to come in a few weeks if she had questions. That day was a mini wunder für uns!

Friday, More dooring, found a guy really into Science, and we spoke to him through the intercom system of the apartment complex for about 30 minutes, talking about the creation of the world, to evolution, angels, praying, anything and everything. He was really interested and want to come by our church sometime. We taught a newly baptized member, and taught him about the temple, and the meaning, and why we prepare, and why it is so incredibly sacred to uns. Somemore contacting afterwards, walking around, sadly it was dark, and people think we are pretty scary at night time, I guess...

Saturday, We did some Vorbei to families and potentials in Markdorf, not many people there, or people with interested. We went out at lunch time, and everyone was eating and didn't have time to really hear us.

Sunday, Zweig Konference! Wooo! Branch Conference! We heard messages on missionary work and giving missionaries referrals. Oh man! I was so grateful for that message, especially after contacting and contacting, dooring and dooring. Hopefully, this sparks some missionary work into the members hearts. We talked about strengthening families through, family home evening, pray, scripture study, and then genealogy. I was inspired to get into that, and I will!

That was my basic week, I hope you all enjoyed. This week with all the contacting and speaking with so many, This image came to me. 

I guess I love Greg Olsen's artwork, but as I do certain things I understand Jesus more. I understand perhaps, a little of his frustration, perhaps a little of the patience He felt for his people, and felt a little, the power and sadness of Rejection that I am sure He felt every single day of his life. I look at this picture. Jesus patiently waits to have someone, anyone open the door. He knocks with faith, not knowing if anyone will even answer, but He knocks anyways. He knocks because He loves us. Why do I knock everyday at people´s doors? Because I try to feel and do as the Savior did. I try to love the people with all the love I can muster. I stand, once again, all amazed. His love for us, and his love for us individually, ME, personally, He loves ME. How can he? I sometimes wonder. I am imperfect. I have flaws, many flaws, How can He love me? Yet He loves us all. He loves us all that He will stand at the door and knock, whether it be for 5 minutes, 5 hours, 5 days, 5 years, or eternity, He will knock. I love my Savior and Redeemer with all my heart, I know Jesus is the Christ. And while He may be rejected, He sees us through that window in the door, hoping we will even glance at him, just one moment think of him. Let us all take a moment to reflect on him.... His life, his deeds, his miracles, and his life of sacrifice. Again, I love Him.

I love you all, and have a strong testimony of these things.

Love,
As Always and Forever,
Elder Hunter Annen

The Rear Window....

"I'm just sayin', how do we know it's an Ice Age? Because..... of all... the Ice!"

This week two movies came to my head in Ravensburg. First was the above quote.. Except I will change it a bit... "I'm just sayin', how do we know it's Ravensburg? Because..... of all... the Ravens!"

Holy Cow, there are so many ravens here, its a little insane! Well this week has both been really hard and yet really relaxing. Monday was a normal P-day, emailing, shopping, packing up, Family home evening where we taught about testimony, played a small game together, ate then went home. Tuesday, we had distrikts versammlung, and boy was that sad. Saying goodbye to many people I won't see for a long time or atleast until after the mission, I do not really know. Then We headed to a less active Family that I had really grown to love. I told them I was leaving and I was so sad. Really, it is amazing how much you can learn to love someone in only 6 months, then boom! Off to a new area.

Wednesday, we had to eating appointments, one with a Peruvian family and the other a German family. I had really grow to love the first so incredibly! She made us a cake with pictures of us, with words like Elder Annen we love you and we will miss you terrribly. Oh it was such a happy and wonderful time. Then they invited me to Peru in 3 years, so wooh! I hope I can see them again. They are such a wonderful family.

Thursday, saddest day, saying goodbye to all the Elders who have become my greatest friends, Elder Hassley, Elder Roberts and Elder Sanft. They are some of the most wonderful people I have ever met. With me going to Germany and not staying in Switzerland, traveling was a little crazy. But I got to take a bus, which hopped on a ferry and got me here to Ravensburg! Whoot! All safe and sound!
Friday, I was told out of no where... Elder are giving talks this Sunday and you should each prepare 20-25 minute talks...uuuhhhhh... What?! I can say a few sentences but not speak that long in German! Haha, but what a great experience it was.. We met up with a Newly baptized member and read the Book of Mormon together and explained a little of Nephi seeing his Father´s dream of the tree of life. We explained the symbolism, and what it ment to us personal and had a good spiritual time together.
Saturday We spent driving all across our area, knocking on doors, vorbei on potentials and investigators. Not going to lie, at times it is difficult to be rejected over and over again. I begin to understand Christ more though. His love, his saddness that people do not want to listen to him but loves them enough to keep going and keep trying. Then We went by a Weniger Activ, not home, and went home.

Sunday.... Dun... DUn... DUN!! Time to give a talk and see how many people are actually in this branch. My talk went great, I still cry like a normally do;) I talked about trials, why we have them, what to do in them, and blessing that come from them. I related that all to Joseph Smith and his first vision, it was a beautiful time for me. Our branch is... lets see... 1,2,3,4....20 people or so. So quite small, but really interesting to be in such a small organization of the Church. We also went to some old folks homes and gave the sacrament to some members there. Really a beautiful time there, singing songs, giving the sacrament, all so beautiful. 

Oh shall I tell you about my companion? Elder Zepp. Oh haha, he is a fun guy, he is really fun. He is a German, can speak pretty good English and he is a character. I really like him. 

So... Why do I call this email, The Rear Window? Well good question. Our Apartment reminds me exactly of that same apartment. It's so awkward. I can see a street where the same people from the neighborhood are coming and going and really the whole set up of these apartment are the exact same. It is really scary. 

And yes that was my week. I hope to hear from you all and wish you the best. I love you.

Love,
Elder Annen

A New Plan

Remember when I called home and said I would be in Switzerland my whole Mission? Well I am sad to inform you all that I have indeed lied to you, so I am sorry and ask for your forgiveness. This past week we had transfer calls and I am now going to Ravensburg, Germany, which is right across the Bodensee from Kreuzlingen! I am really excited, but really interested to know why Heavenly Father would send me there.. From what I hear, Ravensburg is a small branch.. Any guess how big it is? Anyone? Well, I have heard it is about 16 People big, and that the missionaries give plenty of lessons and talks all the time in this branch. I am not going to lie, I am really excited. I feel just like Dad when He served as a Branch President.

This past week was pretty normal and really slow waiting for the Transfer calls.. Transfer calls are the most intense call that we as missionaries ever receive. I would compare it to actually receiving your Mission call, so exciting and dont know what will happen!

Anyways, this week was busy with Austausches in St. Gallen, eating with our great members and their families. I am trying to think of something unique to share, but this week was really missionary normal work! I cant think of anything else. Oh! Yesterday, my Last Sunday here in Kreuzlingen was the saddest Sunday of my life! I got up to bare my testimony and just remember being almost in tears the whole time. I have grown to love this ward. I love them because yes, first they fed us and second, no just kidding! I love them because of the great love and friendship I have with all of them. I said goodbye to a few families and the one things that melts my poor week heart is saying goodbye to all the young kids. I had a few run up to me, throwing their arms around me and being so sad I was leaving. That just broke the flood gates of my tears. I was really sad and yet that is the life of a Missionary I feel. Jesus had the samething I believe. I bet He wished so greatly that He could stay with Peter, James, and John. I bet He wished He could dwell with the Nephites. His time was come though. And now I understand just a little more what His thoughts were. I love being His servant and being on a mission. It was the greatest decision I had ever made. I love you all, and hope to hear from you soon.

Love as always,
Elder Annen

A Week of Laughter

This week was.... exciting! Haha, a great new years, and a week, yes a week full of laughter:)

On New Year's day, we had a great awakening at 3 in the morning. Elder Hassley woke up and thought he heard something, so he got up, headed downstairs, took a step on the ground floor and found that the floor was covered in water. He ran upstairs, woke us all up, Elder Sanft, Roberts and Hassley grabbed towels and started to dry the floor while I took the more logical approach. I grabbed my straw glasses and started to slurp all the water up;) What a stomachache I had afterwards. A pipe had broken and flooded our entire apartment. Luckily it was fixed and all was well in Zion.

That sameday we went over to a members house. Build a snowman they said..... And a grand snowman we made, it was at least 10 feet tall, with a huge body, potatoe eyesm carrot mouth and nose, and a flower pot for a hat! It was amazing, taking us about an hour and a half, it was beautiful! I felt like Grandpa Annen with all of his famous snow sculptures, and here I was with this huge snowman, I guess I have some of his swiss blood in me or something:) The funniest part, was my companion... As we pushed the huge bottom segment of the snowman.. Well wait.. First all 5 of us got a hold on this boulder of snow.. On the Count of 3, push, okay? 1..2...3! Push!! We all heard a rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrriiiipppp and hahaha, my companion had ripped his pants, I felt bad, but I felt so bad that I laughed really hard. It was so sad, yet, I couldnt stop laughing:) Then later we played games and ate. That was very fun. A night to remember.

Have you all seen the Mormon message of New Years? If not, here is the link https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2010-12-21-new-years-look-not-behind-thee?lang=eng
Watch it before reading any further.... Dont Read any Further I said... Jeremy I know you want to read further but STOP! Yeah you! I mean YOU stop reading further...

Don't look back, what a powerful message.. I think that is the grand message of the video. Dont look back. I think we can look back, but why? If we do we should see all of last year as a wonderful time of experience, a time to grow, a time to learn, a wonderful year, no matter what happened that year. I love that message, and that everyday is literally the beginning of the rest of your life. Enjoy it, enjoy life. Come what may and love it. Everytime we get on our knees and ask for repentance, we use the atonement, we can change. And have a new beginning everyday. The Atonement is a wonderful gift we have all been given.

I love you all


Love,
Elder Annen