June 11, 2012
Servus Zusammen! 

 First of all, Mom and Dad I hope you are enjoying your Anniversary back east. It sounds like you are having a lot of fun visiting all the different places. I think you both really deserve this vacation. Dad a couple of weeks ago Elder Field, two members, and I went to go help a single sister paint the frames of her doors and windows as she gets ready to sell her house. I got designated as the official painter and they asked me to come fix most of what they did. I've learned a lot from you in that aspect.

Well, as of now, Sebastian Field is back in England. It was really, really sad to say bye to him at the train station. I think it is safe to say that he might be the most important companion I ever have. I learned a lot from him, had so much fun everyday, made sure to work as hard as we could all the time, and overall, he put me on the right track for the rest of my mission. He has definitely been an incredible influence and a friend I'll keep in touch with forever. We ended our time in Rosenheim on a fantastic note: Monday we went to Kehlsteinhaus (Hitler's summer house) with our district -or we tried to anyway, we didnt have enough time to hike all the way and there was quite a bit of snow- and then had Fondue that evening, we had a great district meeting on Tuesday where we cooked curry and then had to stay up till about 2 in the morning to help him pack and do Tschüß Bücher (Farewell books), Wednesday we took care all other things we needed to do and had his last appointment with Familie Bobi and Bruder Hunger as a joint-teach. Thursday morning was a mix of wierd feelings as we went to Munich to have our last meal at Pizza Hut with Gregor and Debbie Jentzsch from our ward (Mom and Dad they are the ones who let me use skype at their house). It definitely felt like a definite end to one chapter of my mission when he headed to the mission home.   I thought it was hard to say bye to Elder Davies (don't get me wrong I still think Elder Davies is an incredible person and I would love to serve with him again), but it was really hard to say bye to Elder Field. I can already tell I will look back on him as one of, if not my favorite companion. He did a lot for me and we were really good friends. He told me that I was one of his companions that he wants to keep in touch with all the time after the mission. He already sent me a letter in the mail. He also told me that I was the only companion he never had an arguement with during their companionship. You guys will really like him when he comes to visit. After our appointment with Familie Bobi on Wednesday, Bruder Hunger told us that we were one of the best missionary teams he has ever seen. Whether that,s true or not it was still really nice coming from a guy who returned from a mission with his wife two years ago, and has served as a bishop and stake president. All of it came from Elder Field's influence though.

Before he left though, a train from Stuttgart came in with my companion. Elder Young is from O'Fallon, Illinois which is right next to St Louis, Missouri. He is very energetic and friendly. Once again, I'm the shorter companion (this time by a lot). He is very big into acting and singing (his brother is in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir). He has been in Germany one transfer longer than me and so our experience level is about the same. He has already had Elder Stapleton as a companion and so had heard a good deal about me before we met. Our German is about on par with one another; we decided he is better at understanding people, but I'm better at speaking. He is a very good missionary and I think we will get along very well (he went to BYU, so getting along well is a given). It is very different to have another American accent in the apartment instead of Elder Field's British one.   It is definitely weird taking over the area and introducing it to someone new. I took Elder Field's bed, desk, and bike when he left to kind of make it a change for me and because they are all better. The area might have to be patient as we figure everything out being as young as we are, but it will fun and a great learning experience.   As far as the work goes, this week was a little slower because of the transfer. We had a lot to do between Elder Field leaving and Elder Young coming, but this next week should be really good.

I am in luck. Bruder Hunger had some old shirts he wanted to get rid of and asked Elder Field and I if we needed any. They fit me well.  So yesterday in church something really cool happened. Mom you taught Natalie Motto and all her sisters at Oak Canyon so you know them. Her and her family happened to be in the Rosenheim ward. Apparently, her Mom served in Frankfurt and her Dad in Hamburg for their missions and so they wanted to come back and visit Germany. They live down the road from the Pearces so we were able to talk about Sean and how he was doing in New York. It was really great to see someone from back home. Sister Holmstead is the one who came in my group from the MTC and had her picture taken at our dinner with the Mission President. Elder Ronna (the grandson of Grandma Bodily's friend) is one of the APs here in the mission. He picked me up from the airport. He is going home after this transfer.

Well that's about it on time for today. Thank you all for your prayers and support. Being on a Mission has been such a great blessing in my life and I haven't even seen all there is yet. I have had so many great influences in my life who have helped me reach this point and I'm so greatful for all of them. Love you all.   Elder Bodily Gott sei mit euch bis auf wiedersehen