Week #2 in Osnabrück (16 September 2013).  Reese started his letter this week with wonderful news.  He learned that a beloved investigator from Chemnitz was baptized and joined the Church.  His wife is already a member and he has been investigating for many years; he finally felt right about being baptized.  Reese wished he could have been there to participate but was absolutely joyful it had happened.  What a wonderful blessing to this brother, his family and to the Chemnitz Ward.  If it is possible to discern from a letter, Reese was walking on air.

The week in Osnabrück sounded filled with different efforts to develop a pool of investigators.  It sounds like Reese and Elder Mitchell are working hard.  They've had a bit of success in meeting and teaching.  As Reese described it: "All in all, the work is really starting to move forward here. I am excited about it."  They also had a chance to meet the branch president and Reese was very impressed with his energy and vision.  The branch president had actually served in the Provo Mission a few years back.
 

Week #1 in Osnabrück (9 September 2013).  To start, here is a photo of Reese's Osnabrück apartment:

Reese said it was nicer than his place in Chemnitz but they had a bit of cleaning to do after their arrival.  It sounds like the missionary work will be a bit slower, at least to start.  Osnabrück has a healthy branch--Reese said about 60 members--but he did not have a chance to meet many of them this week because they had a district conference in Oldenburg.  He's anxious to get to know the members of the branch.  Those he has met so far (he was able to go to Institute), he really liked.  The branch building is actually quite close to Reese--only about a five minute walk from his apartment.

Week #28 in Chemnitz (2 September 2013).  Reese learned that this will be his last week in Chemnitz.  He is being transferred to Osnabrück, which is on the west side of the mission about 100 km west of Hannover and in the Oldenburg Zone.  Osnabrück has a branch and is in the Oldenburg District of the Church (no stake).  Reese's new companion will be Elder Mitchell who has been serving in Annaberg-Bucholz, which is in the Chemnitz zone.  Reese and he actually worked together as companions for a couple of days while they were both waiting for Goldens (Elder Karlen with Reese and Elder Savage with Elder Mitchell).  Now they will be serving together and replacing the two current Osnabrück elders.  Reese was excited to have the chance to serve with Elder Mitchell and also pleased to learn that his new district leader will be Elder Smith, who Reese grew to like when Elder Smith was serving in Hohenstein-Ernstthal in the Chemnitz zone.  (Elder Smith is in Bad Bentheim right near the Dutch border.)  It's a bit of a Chemnitz Zone reunion and I think they are excited to serve together.  Here is a photo of Elder Mitchell, on the left, which was taken when he picked up his Golden, Elder Savage, on the same day Reese and Elder Karlen began serving together:

The week in Chemnitz sounded like a productive one.  Lots of meetings with investigators, some of whom were making real progress. Reese mentioned they had district meeting in Mittweida on Thursday and then the district visited Kriebstein Schloss (Castle) for the rest of their p-day (they had taken a 1/2 p-day the previous week).  Here are two photos from the castle:

After transfer calls on Saturday, they had dinner with the ZLs at "Vapianos," which Reese said was delicious.  Here are three photos from the dinner:

Elder Karlen very generously treated Reese to dinner.  Reese will miss him when he leaves Chemnitz.  They've had a good experience together.  I think they both hope a couple of their baptismal commitments will come through in the next few weeks.  Too bad Reese will not be there to participate.  Reese said that he was excited to be going to Osnabrück but:  "I will miss the ward in Chemnitz."  He surely will.  Here are a few photos of Reese with ward members who have been kind to him during his time in Chemnitz:

Chemnitz has been a wonderful place to begin his mission.  We are truly grateful to the ward, his companions and the many kind investigators he has met.

Week #27 in Chemnitz (26 August 2013).  It sounded like Reese had a productive week, although it was filled with some joy and some sadness as investigators made progress or slipped back.  Reese is starting to feel like a transfer--which the President suggested was likely--is imminent and he's going to miss Chemnitz.  He went on a Tausch with Elder Collins in Mittweida but they couldn't do any finding because Elder Collins had misplaced his ausweis (permit).  Reese was a bit jealous of Elder Kreizer and Elder Karlen because they apparently had a very productive day working with investigators at the university.   Here is a photo of Reese in the center of Mittweida, where he has been on several Tausches during his time in Chemnitz:

Here are a couple more photos from the week, one with some members who Reese has enjoyed getting to know and another of a meal with the zone leaders:

Week #26 in Chemnitz (August 20, 2013).  Reese described the week as "solid."  They continued to teach several investigators, a couple of whom have baptismal dates, and to work with recent converts.  There were some ups and downs but Reese was cheerful about the progress of the work.  One of their investigators has read the entire Book of Mormon and has a testimony of the gospel.  It might be a while, however, because his parents aren't yet comfortable with him joining the Church and he wants to honor their wishes.  Reese sent a picture of their Chemnitz chapel:

In one curious event, while tracting in Adelsberg this week, one kind older couple insisted that they take a 10€ note and buy lunch.  Reese and Elder Karlen resisted but finally relented.  This was a first.  Reese also mentioned a couple of dinner appointments, including one with a student investigator at which they ate Biryani, an Indian food, with their fingers. 

As far as P-Day, Reese said:  "Today was the best P-day I have had I think. We . . . met the ZLs and Kumar at Zentral and went out to Augustusburg!  We visited a castle [Augustusburg Schloss] and went down an alpine slide.  We also explored the city and it was just a lot of fun. I will not soon forget it."  Here is a great photo of Reese and Elder Dzierzon:

And here are a few more photos from the day:

L to R:  Reese, Elder Ashby, Elder Dzierzon, Kumar, Elder Karlen

Reese closed his letter with the following:  "All in all, it was just a solid week.  I really am doing pretty well and am enjoying it in Chemnitz. I hope that all the people who have baptismal dates will keep making progress and get the answers they deserve."

Week #25 in Chemnitz (August 12, 2013).  Reese said that he and Elder Karlen had "another awesome week.. . .  This week was really just as incredible as the last. We keep seeing a lot of miracles and I think we are continually blessed for acknowledging them.  That is one thing I have specifically noticed this week. When you really are thankful, you will be blessed further."  His letter was filled with investigators and teaching opportunities.  They seem like they are having a great time.  Reese had a ZTM (zone training meeting) this week, which he said is "always fun."  Here are a couple of photos from the ZTM that were posted on the mission blog.  The second photo is labeled "individualists." 

On Saturday, they met with an investigator who had received an answer to prayer and they were able to set a baptismal date. Reese said it was so "straightforward" that he "was caught off guard. . . . I should be expecting those awesome answers but I haven't heard one to this point." The same day they had a couple of other nice experiences with investigators. Here's how Reese described the day: "Saturday was the stuff of legends. Brazil status." (For those of you who are not soccer fans, Brazil is a soccer powerhouse.)

I close with a photo posted by President and Sister Kosak on the mission blog.  I don't know the elders but it is labeled "Harvest in Hildesheim" and captured for me something powerful about what Reese and his fellow missionaries are doing in Germany:

Week #24 in Chemnitz (August 5, 2013).  Reese's email this week was titled "A Week of Miracles."  He and Elder Karlen had a wonderful week of missionary work with a couple of great experiences with investigators, one of whom has been investigating for several years.  They also found a German family while tracting to whom they gave a Book of Mormon and who asked them to come back.  On Thursday they had district meeting with President Kosak, which Reese really enjoyed.  Here is a photo of his district with Sister Kosak (President Kosak must be taking the photo):

He also had an interview with President Kosak in German that he said was "pretty neat."  The next day, during a Tausch in Mittweida, they had an opportunity to give someone a priesthood blessing which resulted in the person whom they blessed immediately feeling a lot better.  Here is a picture of the train station in Mittweida:

Reese also sent pictures of an odd swing/teeter-totter that he and Elder Karlen had found, as well as one silly picture of him and Elder Karlen:

Reese also mentioned that he, Elder Dzierzon, Elder Karlen and Elder Ashby had donned their "bird shirts" (see below) and gone to play volleyball with an investigator.  I suppose the shirts speak for themselves:

It sounded like a wonderful week about which I'd love to write more of what Reese told us but the investigator experiences feel a bit too private.  Reese concluded his letter:  "I am doing really well six months in. Pretty crazy, right?  I love it.  Love you both."

Week #23 in Chemnitz (July 29, 2013).  Reese had another solid week of missionary work.  He was pleased because one recent convert, who had experienced a tough couple of weeks because of criticism from friends, really came back to fellowship in the church.  It is exam time at the university and Reese mentioned they dropped by one student investigator:  "We decided to go to his door, have the BoM already open, then give a really short thought (Mosaih 4:27 - fitting for a test taker) and say a prayer."  Reese said that it had been very hot (up to 36 Celcius) for much of the week:  "Sunday was so hot, and we still have to wear jackets at church. Germany needs to get some AC stat! . . .  It was sooooo hot this week. I hate the heat. I cannot sleep very well. Sometimes it feels like I am dreaming but I am awake and vice versa."  Here are a couple of photos of Reese with his district and with some members outside the Chemnitz chapel:

Week #22 in Chemnitz (July 22, 2013).  Transfer calls were this week and Reese found out that he was staying in Chemnitz.  He said that "Chemnitz is a great area, so I cannot complain."  The had the "mini missionary" for a part of the week and it turned out that he had actually been an exchange student in Provo and had seen Reese at high school before.  Small world.  Here is a picture of Elder Karlen and Oliver, the "mini"-missionary:

They did their usual service at the Tierpark (Zoo) and Reese went on a Tausch with Elder Dzierzon, who is one of his favorites in his district, partly because he is good at having "fun without taking away from the seriousness of the calling," which sounds like a wonderful trait.  Reese mentioned that, on Sunday, "We sang with the choir in sacrament. Two American business men came from Washington and [I translated for them.]  I realized how weird Americans are. I am now Euro I think...."  Here's a picture of Reese and Elder Dzierzon:

Week #21 in Chemnitz (July 15, 2013).  Reese said that the week had been a full and busy one and that he was "thankful to be in a bigger city."   They had a zone training meeting and here are two pictures from that meeting:

Afterward, Reese and Elder Karlen went to KFC at Chemnitz Center for an American chicken feast with Elder Bendixen and Elder Frenkel (Hohenstein Elders).  Here are three pictures from the lunch.  I suppose one can't have a cultural experience every day.  Reese said he ate so much he used his own funds:

Week #20 in Chemnitz (July 8, 2013).  Reese had a solid week, although without the wonderful success of the prior week.  Still, he and Elder Karlen continued to work hard.  They celebrated the 4th of July with a district lunch with burgers, chips and rootbeer floats.  After lunch, they set up a street display but apparently a group of hooligans bugged them the entire time and it didn't work well.  Reese and Elder Karlen have begun singing in the ward choir to get closer to the ward members.  He commented that this week they were the only two men in the choir, which he noted was quite awkward and quite difficult.  Here is one photo from the week:

Week #19 in Chemnitz (July 2, 2013).  Reese took P-Day on Tuesday this week so that he, Elder Karlen and their Chemnitz district could attend the Freiberg temple.  Reese said they had a great time at the temple.  The session was actually in Czech but Reese listened to it in German on headphones. Here is a photo of his district at the temple:

 

It sounded like they had a wonderful week of missionary work.  They taught several Germans and a couple accepted challenges to be baptized.  It sounded like he and Elder Karlen were working hard and having fun together. At the tierpark (zoo) this week, Reese worked with Elder Brindley, who is 6'8".  He sent a great picture of the two of them that I can't locate.

After one of those rare, awesome mission weeks filled with joyful teaching, Reese concluded his letter by saying:  "I am doing pretty well. I think it is fun to work with Germans, finally.  I am enjoying my mission and I finally feel like I won't really run into many problems with German.  I still have a long way to go before it is perfect, but it is fun to be able to talk with all the members and to not be as scared on the street. I am pretty tired all the time, but I know it is the good kind of tired. I still think of the law of consecration a lot. I finished Jesus the Christ, and am now going to start reading more in the D&C. I am excited.  I read the Pearl of Great Price.  I . . .  like how our church is continually learning....."