My First Week In Germany

So I'm here and it took forever! After three flights that added up to a total of 15 hours of flight time and going into a different time zone, I made it!

 

Right when we stepped off the plan we where picked up by President Kosak and he is really cool! He can speak English which is a huge relief. He also can kill a man in a variety of ways with his bare hands (he lived in East Germany and Russia before the Berlin wall came down).

We spent our first night in a cool little hotel above a bakery. That next morning we where given our areas and our new companions. My companions name is Elder Bretzing, a very big goofy guy from Anaheim California! He has only been out for 3 months but an interesting fact, he used to work at Disneyland! That's all I know at the moment, but more to come next week.
 

I'm now in an area called MeiBen, in the heart of East Germany. If you google it you will learn about the MeiBen Dom, a giant cathedral and the MeiBen porcelain. What you wont see is our apartment, mainly because it is so small and smells really weird! Also Meissen has the strongest dialect in all of Germany so pretty much every thing I learned in the MTC is somewhat worthless here. I actually taught a whole lesson in nearly perfect German but they didn't understand a word....... yeah! (sarcasm) but that is okay!

Albrechtsburg and Cathedral

 

Meissen is south of Berlin on this map really close to Dresden right on the Elbe River

 

We went finding yesterday which is pretty much talking to everyone and anyone you see on the street and we got yelled at a lot and we talked to some drunk guys. I did talk to this guy named Herr Hönege and I just asked him what brought him joy in life and he answered his family. He went on to tell a story about how he lost his whole family and he doesn't know if he will ever see them again. I bore a short testimony about eternal families and set up an appointment with him tomorrow, so I will let you know how that works out.

We also taught a Christian preacher from Kenya who in the past was on the investigator list. Apparently missionaries had talked to him a few months ago but then he moved and had lost contact with them. He has read the Book of Mormon and had been preaching about it on the streets, so hopefully that will all work out too!

I want you all to know that I know with out a doubt in my heart that this church is true, and that it can help anyone in any situation!
 

Oh hey, my new address is
 

Kalkberg 6

01662 Meissen

Deutschland

But...if you want to send me a package ;) my address is

Germany Berlin Mission
Zerbster SraBe 42
12209 Berlin
Germany
 

I took a ton of pictures but this sketchy internet café wont let me send pictures I will figure out how to do it though.

I love you and thank you for your prayers and for your letters and emails!

Elder Schmalz