Week #18 in Chemitz (24 June 2013).  Reese said they had a jam-packed week.  And a hot one.  Apparently, the temperature got up to around 36 Celcius (almost 97 degrees Fahrenheit).  On Thursday, they took a train to Leipzig for a Zone Conference.  Reese thought it was a great conference and was particularly energized by the emphasis on scripture study.  He said that, since the conference, he had been reading slower but much more effectively.  He also enjoyed the testimony meeting. Here are two pictures from the zone conference, the first of the entire zone and the second of the training portion of the meeting:

It sounded like they met a few new investigators, a couple of whom expressed sincere interest in the gospel.  It will be fun to hear of any progress next week.

Week #17 in Chemnitz (June 17, 2013).  Reese had another good week.  On Tuesday, he put Elder Pack and Elder Roberts (from Annaberg) on a train.  He then spent a couple of days with Elder Mitchell who is serving in Annaberg, which is to the south of Chemnitz.  They spent some of Tuesday and Wednesday in Chemnitz and then taught a lesson in Annaberg.  On Thursday morning, they woke up and headed for Berlin where he met his new companion, Elder Karlen.  He is enjoying Elder Karlen.

The big news of the week was that on Sunday they were able to baptize a university student who Reese and Elder Pack had met just before Easter.  Reese was able to perform the ordinance.  Reese also introduced Elder Karlen to Doners:

Here's another picture of Elder Karlen, just before knocking his first missionary door:

 

Week #16 in Chemnitz (10 June 2013 letter).  Reese learned this week that Elder Pack will be going to the mission office in Berlin and Reese will also go to Berlin to pick up a "Golden," a new missionary.  It sounded like a good week.  One beloved investigator continued to make progress with the Word of Wisdom and came and enjoyed the full block of church meetings.  Reese said that they were out tracting and a man screamed at them for ringing his doorbell.  Reese noted that they had a permit (Ausweiss) for knocking but the man still ran inside to call the police.  Reese said they moved on but noted cheerily that in Germany calling the police requires paying a fee.  Reese said that, as part of his service at the zoo, he had to dress up as a mouse (Elder Haas was a lion), and play with a group of disabled children.  He said it was fun but hot inside the suit despite a relatively cool day.  He noted his newfound respect for Disneyland workers.  Here is a photo of the two of them and then one of Reese:

Reese also said that on Thursday, after district meeting, they did a street display that mostly involved singing without much in the way of interest. Oh well.  Here are a couple of fun pictures of his Chemnitz district:

Because Elder Pack was leaving for Berlin, they visited a few friends at the university to take pictures.  Here are a couple of those photos:

On his last p-day with Elder Pack, the district went bowling.  Here is a picture of Reese with Sister Schmidt and Elder Dzierzon at the bowling alley.

Reese was pleased that he managed to bowl a 202 and join the 200 club in Germany as well.

On Thursday (June 13), we learned on the mission blog that Reese's new companion will be Elder Casey Karlen from Glendora, California.  Here's Elder Karlen's "I'm a Mormon" page.  Here's the regular photo of Reese with Elder Karlen and President and Sister Kosak:

Here is one more photo of all the June 2013 trainers together in Berlin:

Week #15 in Chemnitz (June 3, 2013 Letter).  Reese said that Chemnitz was one-half underwater because it had been raining for 2.5 weeks.  Half of Zwickau had been evacuated.  Here are some photos of the flooding in Chemitz:

It sounded like they had a good week.  Brother Liu went with them on a joint teach that Reese said had gone very well.  Another investigator came to a young ward member's baptism and had a good experience.  They continue to teach an English class every Thursday evening.  Here is a picture of Reese at the English class:

Reese also put a few more pictures in dropbox.  Here are three.  We're choosing to assume the first picture is Apple Beer. :)  Ahh, the life of a missionary.

Week #14 in Chemnitz (May 28, 2013 Letter).  Reese wrote one day later than usual because they took their p-day on Tuesday so they could go to the temple in Freiberg.  The big news for the week was that one of Reese's investigators accepted the gospel and was baptized.  Here are a couple of pictures taken just before the baptism, which Reese said was attended by about 30 ward members:

L to R:  Reese, Litse Liu, Elder Pack

A copy of the program from the baptismal service:

Reese has been teaching Brother Liu since he arrived in Chemnitz.  (Remember the story of Reese and his companion foregoing chocolate while their investigator was giving up coffee.)  I think this was a happy day for him. 

As I mentioned above, Reese also went to the temple.  He and Elder Pack not only did a session but were able to do confirmations in German and serve as witnesses for baptisms for some members from Poland.  Reese sent along these photos from the temple:

His district also went to the temple.  Here are a few pictures of Reese and his district at a beautiful garden in Freiberg:

Reese and Elder Pack

L to R: Sister Schmidt, Sister Pitek, Elder Pack, Elder Dzierzon.

L to R: Pack, Dzierzon, Ashby, Rasband

 L to R: Pack, Dzierzon, Ashby, Rasband

   L to R: Pack, Dzierzon, Ashby, Rasband