Week #17 in Oldenburg (24 November 2014).  Reese continues to be happy in the work.  The exciting news of the week is that the two daughters of the sister who was recently baptized themselves want to be baptized.  Reese was excited for them and was pleased with how integrated they were with the branch, noting that the older daughter had attended an overnight youth activity during the week.  He also had the chance to attend district meeting in Osnabruck.  It's always a treat to return to an old area.  Reese mentioned they taught one investigator on her doorstep rather than in her house because their joint teach wasn't able to make it and they aren't allowed to teach single sisters.  Reese wrote:  "That is a tough rule, by the way, but obedience is important."  As mentioned last week, they had a Turkey Bowl on p-day.  Here are a couple of photos from the Turkey Bowl of what appears to be a happy group of missionaries:

 

Week #16 (17 November 2014).  Another joyful letter from Reese full of progress for investigators and visits to Bremen for a district meeting, to his own district meeting, and to Hamburg on Sunday evening.  He closed his letter:  "It has been, as usual, another solid week in the O-Zone. We are having a Turkey Bowl with the zone today, and I am really excited. Time is going by way too fast.  Love you and have a great week!"  One of the week's surprises was a Sunday evening performance by "The Piano Guys" in Hamburg.  The Piano Guys are an LDS group of musicians who do all kinds of fun music videos, some of which are viewable at this link.  Here is a photo of the gathered missionaries.  Reese is toward the back on the right: 

At the event, they had a mini-reunion of former Oldenburg Zone Leaders and took this photo:

From L to R: Elder & Sister Benson, Elder Brown, Elder Savage, Elder Rasband, Elder Schaal, and Elder Youngblood.
 
At the recent mission leadership council in Berlin, there was another reunion of sorts of mission leaders who attended Timpview High School.  Here is a photo of the group, sporting T-Bird wings:

From L. to R.:  Elder Randall, Elder Rasband, Elder Christensen, Elder Karpowitz, and Sister Blake.

Week #15 in Oldenburg (10 November 2014). Reese was joyful in his letter, quoting his former German companion Elder Schaal and saying "this week was bombastic."  The wonderful news was the baptism of the sister who first learned about the Church on the internet several weeks ago and who has come to church and eagerly learned all she could about the gospel ever since.  Reese reported that he "had the privilege of baptizing [her], and it was awesome. She was absolutely glowing afterwards and there was a lot of support for her there."

On Wednesday they had a Zone Training Meeting.  Here are a couple of photos:

Reese also told the story of singing happy birthday to an investigator who said "it was the first time in her life that someone has sung to her. I guess it showed me that sometimes I take the little things for granted."  Reese also said that "[a]nother thing we put into motion this week is a study of Preach My Gospel in the whole District Oldenburg. We went to District Council on Sunday and proposed it. We are going to start in January and study one section together per month in all the branches.  Elder Schaal and I had that idea, and we had a goal for October that every member gets a copy of it, and we are super excited that it is finally getting rolling. I hope that we really can stay at it, and create some more unity in the District!"  He concluded his letter:  "I'm excited for the work in Oldenburg, and the members here are eating it up. Life is great, and I'm continuing to enjoy the mission. Have a great week!"

Here are a couple of more photos from the week.  It looks like they had a fun Halloween party.

Week #14 in Oldenburg (3 November 2014). Reese reported another "solid" week.  The most exciting news was that the wonderful sister they have been teaching decided she wanted to be baptized the following Saturday.  On Wednesday, Reese returned to Osnabruck to conduct a baptismal interview, which would have been thrilling news for the branch, except that the baptism ultimately did not happen.  Too bad.  On Thursday evening, they took the train to Berlin and stayed with the Tiergarten elders in anticipation of the mission leadership council the next day.  Here is a photo of the council:

 
Because it was President Kosak's birthday, all of the leaders and all of the missionaries serving in Berlin did a flash mob and sang "Lead Kindly Light" at lunch.  They had three investigator families at Church and then after church had the chance to give a priesthood blessing to a recently baptized member of the branch.  Reese closed:  "Great week and the next week is also looking great.  I'm excited for it."