Week #24 in Osnabruck (17 February 2014).  Reese said that "This last week was mediocre as far as numbers, but we worked really hard."  (We are proud of his willingness to continue to push ahead despite the challenges.)  The big news of the week is that Reese learned he would be transferred to Hannover.  His new companion will be Elder Atkinson.  Reese has loved his time in Osnabruck.  As he put it at the conclusion of his letter:  "It is a great city, but mostly the branch is amazing.  I will miss this place for sure."  (We will be forever grateful for how kind the Osnabruck saints were to our son.  They are an extraordinary group.)  Below are some photos of Reese with some of the branch members he grew to love:

 Finally, here are a couple of photos of Reese's Osnabruck district at their last district meeting:

Week #23 in Osnabruck (10 February 2014).  This week saw some nice progress with contacts who look like they may begin to seriously investigate the gospel.  They also tracted out a long-lost member of the Church from Bulgaria with two children who may start coming back to church.  This has happened to Reese several times and it really makes him happy.  They also had a zone training meeting during the week.  Reese talked about seeing Elder Ashby, pictured below, with whom he served in Chemnitz and who he really respects.  Elder is heading home at the next transfer:  "It was fun talking and reminiscing with Elder Ashby.  It is crazy to think that he is going home in 2 weeks.  I remember when he hit his year mark (I think I was at 3 weeks or something). Time goes by really fast."

Finally, Reese sent this one curious picture:

Week #22 in Osnabruck (3 February 2014).  Reese had a good week for missionary work.  He said that finding had not been as productive but their investigators made real progress.  In fact, they had five investigators come to church, which was probably the most he has seen during his mission.  They also had a zone conference in Hamburg and Reese noted how fun it was so see so many familiar faces--Elders Dzierzon, Duncan, Karlen, Ashby and Kreitzer.  Here are a couple of photos from the zone conference:

Reese concluded his letter:  "All in all, the work has really been picking up lately. I hope that we can keep it going. . . .  It is weird that I am almost at my year mark. It doesnt really feel much different. Just keep working hard, you know? Love you!"

Week #21 in Osnabruck (27 January 2014).  Reese said that he hadn't met his 1000-conversation goal but that he had spoken with a little under 600 people during the week.  He said:  "We had a lot of good conversations.  I was really happy about that, because we were able to get some solid contacts and investigators.  I guess I didn't really think I would make it, but I knew that I just had to be talking to everyone.  I am not going to keep counting, but just try to keep it in my head to talk with everyone."  Reese had the chance to split with one of the zone leaders--Elder Stephens--and they were able to make out 6 appointments and got 3 additional contacts.  It sounded like a great night.  Later that week they met a wonderful investigator from Ghana and had a great discussion filled with the spirit.  Reese was plainly thrilled with the progress in Osnabruck. No photos from Reese this week but below I include three photos from the Hamburg leadership training from the prior week:

 

Week #20 in Osnabruck (20 January 2014).  The work continues to be challenging but Reese is working hard.  They had a leadership training meeting in Hamburg that Reese said he enjoyed.  Here is a photo of Reese on the train and a photo of Elder Hale:

The week was again full of finding efforts and an investigator couple came to church for probably the eighth time during Reese's service in Osnabruck.  Reese said:  "I am going to try to talk to 1000 people this coming week. Gotta find some investigators! . . .   It looks like we have some serious finding ahead of us. I am really hoping that we can find some good investigators. We want to get our teaching pool up to 20 people. That is going to take some real work, so here goes nothing!"

Week #19 in Osnabruck (13 January 2014).  Reese said that the district had gotten together for lunch at Vapianos before Sister Brown and Elder Mitchell headed out to their new assignments.  I think he like Vapianos because he included a photo of his lunch:

It was a harder week of work with a lot of finding efforts but not a lot of success.  Reese related in one passage:  "We did some doors up in Schinkel and almost got the police called on us. Not the first time... We gave out one Book of Mormon. . . . Saturday, more doors, and another guy almost calling the police on us. I promise, we are not doing anything wrong!  It is very frustrating to explain that we have permission and forms to be doing doors. We always say we will leave because we don't want to be a disturbance and we try to explain that we have permission."  The conclusion of Reese's letter gives a glimpse of a missionary life in Germany where hope and optimism battle with challenges:  "It seemed like everything was finally looking up and then it came crashing down. I guess I am just excited to be starting a new week.  I love Osnabrück, and the branch here, but I feel like the work is brutal.  I just need to finding the 'missing link.'. I hope I can soon!  Love you both."

Week #18 in Osnabruck (6 January 2014).  Reese titled his letter "getting rolling" and it sounded like they had a nice week of missionary work.  Reese learned that Elder Mitchell is being transferred to Marzahn in Berlin.  (Sister Brown was transferred to Leipzig.)  Reese will miss Elder Mitchell.  He was a good companion.  (As parents we are truly grateful.)  Reese's new companion will be Elder Hogan who is from Massachusetts.  Here is a photo of Reese and Elder Hogan:

Reese mentioned that he wasn't able to sleep on New Year's even because there were too many fireworks.  Here are a couple of photos of the fireworks that the ward mission leader sent to us:

The week was otherwise full of finding efforts that yielded a couple of appointments and the opportunity to give out a few Books of Mormon.  The work sounds hard but they are staying at it and cheerfully moving ahead.   Here is a photo of Elder Mitchell packing for transfers and then a photo of the Osnabruck district at their last meeting together:

Week #17 in Osnabruck (30 December 2013).  Reese and Elder Mitchell made french toast with buttermilk syrup for Christmas breakfast and seemed pleased with the effort. Here are a couple of photos:

I like what Reese said about their district goal-setting:  "I have thought a lot about this the past couple weeks. I have decided that there is a difference between goals and visions. Goals depend entirely upon you. Yes, you should have the vision to baptize every month, but that is not something that entirely depends upon you. Goals should be something measurable.  You can come home and say "I met my goal," or "I did not meet my goal." Simple principle but I think we miss it a lot. Sometimes you have a great month without a baptism, but that does not mean you have failed on your vision. I think with the goals we set, we will have a lot more success with our vision."  

Here is a fun picture of the Osnabruck elders and sisters at a lunch appointment:

And here is a photo of the remains of Christmas morning in their apartment:

Week #16 in Osnabruck (23 December 2013).  Reese continued to be upbeat and cheerful in his letter:  "It is fun to talk with a lot of people about Christmas and see what they believe.  (We use it for finding lately.)  I am thankful to remember Christmas for what it truly is - celebrating Christ." He was a bit disappointed because an investigator who has felt such a great spirit about the gospel did not come to Church but the branch had another missionary farewell that Reese enjoyed.  On Christmas Eve, we received the following three photos from the ward mission leader of Reese, Elder Mitchell and Sister Hayden and Sister Brown.  They look like a joyful and good group of missionaries.  Merry Christmas to all!

Week #15 in Osnabruck (16 December 2013).  Reese began his letter with "Wow."  They had an exciting week of missionary work, highlighted by the opportunity to teach three lessons to an investigator who indicated he had a desire to be baptized at the end of the month.  It sounded like a wonderful experience and Reese was plainly joyful.  Reese also had his Christmas Zone Conference in Hamburg this week.  Here is a photo from the mission blog (Reese is toward the back on the right):

At the HoHo ZoCo, Reese was thrilled to learn from Elder Karlen that another college student, whom they had found in Chemnitz, was baptized.  Reese also took these photos with other elders at the HoHo ZoCo:

Reese and Elder Duncan, his trainer

Elder Karlen, Reese and Elder Duncan

 Reese and Elder Dzierzon

Reese and Elder Noorda

Elder Mitchell, Reese, Elder ?, Elder Noorda

The Bremen train station.

On the 14th, the Osnabruck branch had a Christmas party.  Here is a photo of Reese, Elder Mitchell and the sisters singing a part in the Christmas program.

The last highlight of the week was a flood in their bathroom.  A hose broke on their washing machine and resulted in about an inch of water.  Reese said:  "We McGuivered a vacuum hose to make the leaking water go into the sink and then ran upstairs to our landlord."  A couple of hours later, it was fixed by a handyman.  Reese was just happy they made it to the Christmas party that evening.

Week #14 in Osnabruck (9 December 2013).  The work was a bit slow this week with what seemed like more rejection than opportunities to teach.  Still, there was one wonderful event.  One of the sisters' investigator's was baptized.  Reese was able to do the baptismal interview and had a nice experience.  He said:  "The baptism was great.  I am really excited for the sisters; they have been working really hard."  Reese noted how happy the new convert looked and observed:  "Just another testimony that it is true.  It is pretty neat to see others find the happiness they were looking for."

During the week Reese had to travel by train to Oldenburg for a day for "district leader school."  He said it felt a bit strange because he was the least experienced district leader.  Reese said he was looking forward next week to the 1/2 mission Christmas party in Hamburg during the week, which he dubbed "HoHo ZoCo."  He also sent along a couple of photos to show his mother that he had received a recent care package, which included a cheap Christmas table-cloth and paper tree.

 
She also sent some "Reese's" Peanut Butter Cups, a long-time favorite, that were apparently a source of fun for Reese and Elder Mitchell:

Reese also said that it had snowed for the first time during the winter on Friday and he took this photo out the back window of their apartment of the snow falling on their neighborhood:

Finally, Reese said that for p-day they had returned to the Christmas Market and he sent this photo of a large Christmas tree in the city center:

Week #13 in Osnabruck (2 December 2013).  Reese headed his letter this week with "The Gospel Will Find You. Always."  He and Elder Mitchell had a wonderful experience of finding a member who had been baptized, moved soon after his baptism and lost contact with the Church.  He saw Reese and Elder Mitchell at a bus stop, came up to them and said that he and his family had been reading the Book of Mormon every night.  It turns out he was moving to Bremen but he is now in touch with the missionaries and his ward there.  They also had a couple of good teaching experiences with other investigators, one of whom came to church for the third time.

Reese also mentioned that he had been interviewed by a journalist in front of a live audience of 25 students.  The interview will be posted in a local paper and blog.  Before he did the interview, Reese received permission from President Kosak and from his ward mission leader.  It sounds like an interesting experience.  I'm proud of him that he had the courage to do it.

The week also saw Thanksgiving.  Reese commented that the day had been "true American missionary status," with two eating appointments.  They ate a Thanksgiving meal with a kind American family and had a wonderful time.  Reese did say:  "Instead of pumpkin pie :( we had sweet potato cupcakes.  They were awesome, but I miss pumpkin pie."  I think it's the first time he's "complained" about food in Germany, which he has truly loved.  After the Thanksgiving meal, they went immediately to another dinner appointment and managed again to eat plenty of food before, Reese said, they "rolled" home.

Finally, last week, Reese had indicated they were heading off to the Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market) for an evening p-day (they worked during the day so they could take the evening).  This week Reese reported that the market had been "awesome."  Here are a couple of photos from the Christmas Market and a picture of Reese with enchiladas he and Elder Mitchell made and of which they were quite proud: