May 7th 2012

Hello everyone! It's crazy, it feels like it's been like 2 weeks since I emailed last! I hope things are going well for everyone.

 

Things have been kinda crazy, but good. Still picking up more German every day, but having a hard time understanding a lot of people. I need to be patient though. I know it will come eventually. It is odd to me that I can communicate ok, I just can't understand. Seems like normally it's the other way around from what I hear. Usually people talk about being able to understand but not being able to speak it. I guess I simply haven't had enough exposure yet to native speakers.

 

We have a grill out on our back deck. ... I don't know if I told you that already... It's been fun though. We have roasted some marshmallows and tried to do hotdogs once, but they didn't really taste like hot dogs... :P

 

We had a baptizm yesterday! It was a pretty cool spiritual experience. Everyone was all excited and I felt a little awkward not being even close to as excited as they were. But it doesn't really feel like my baptizm because I only showed up to watch it happen. I didn't really get to help it happen. That's ok though. The litle bit of participation I did get was very cool. It was a very spiritual experience.

 

I still don't understand most of the church meetings. I'm getting better and better at conversations though. As long as the person speaks clearly, doesn't use big words, and doesn't say too much at once, thereby giving me ample time to process each question and statement, I can actually carry on conversation rather well. I know that I am messing up a lot of conjugation, but that's ok. They still understand me.

 

Another tricky thing about the German language is that they have two forms of the word you. The formal version is 'Sie', and the informal is 'du'. When someone is a young teenager or younger, or one of your peers, or a close friend, you use the 'du' form. Otherwise, it is respectful to use the 'Sie' form. If you try to use the 'du' form with someone, especially someone rather older, that you do not know, they can get rather offended, depending on the person. It's a tricky thing... Also, close friends that you use the 'Sie' form with might feel that you are being unecessarilly cold and formal... It's ok though. I'm slowly getting used to it. :)

 

So as you all may know, mission rules vary greatly depending on your mission president. One of the changes that my mission president has decided on, is that it takes just as much time and distraction, if not less, to write an email, as it does to write a letter. Thereby, we have express permission to take up email correspondences with all those that would normally write us letters. We therefore do not really set aside time for letter writting, only emails. If you do want to keep in correspondence with me, please feel free to email me at mmiles@myldsmail.net. I would be happy to hear from you.

 

Along those lines:

-Grandma and Grandpa Miles, please do email me.
-Grandma Diane, I plan to respond to your letters via email at some point. Forgot to bring your letters along with me today. X/ Please feel free to write me. I'd love to hear from you. :) 

-ShayleeAnn, I sent you an email in response to your letter. I hope it got to you. Couldn't remember if I got your email address right. Hope to hear from you soon. Let me know if you didn't get any email.

-Erick, I want to write you back via email, but I don't have your address. Please email me and I will make sure to respond to your letter. Looking forward to it.

-Molly, I also am lacking your email address. Prompt supplying of such would be greatly appreciated. I would love to hear from you.

-Any others that would like to continue writting me, I would love to hear from you! Talk to you then. :)

-Again, that address is mmiles@myldsmail.net.

 

The food has been a bit different, but not too much so. The few eating appointments we have had so far have been stomachable and at least mildly enjoyable. :)

 

We are rather well off financially, and are able to buy rather good food thereby for our appartment. That's been nice. The cereal tastes totally different. Will have to find new favorites...

 

Been reading a whole lot in Jesus the Christ lately. It has been really cool to read. Really eye opening and explanatory. Love it love it. I would once again encourage you all to read it. :) Also, do all that you can to read from the scriptures, particularly the Book of Mormon every day. The modern-day prophets have promised a LOT of blessings for doing so. And there are NO excuses. Even if it means taking ten minutes out of your sleep before you go to bed, I can promise you that it will be worth it. Heavenly Father will always help you find the time, or help you get the rest you need in spite of having stayed up the extra few minutes. You'll thank yourself for it. :)

 

I love you guys. Thank you so much for your support. Make this week a wonderful week. You always have the choice. Keep Christ close. He will always watch out for you. And lastly, remember to love. :)

 

Oh! One more thing! I don't know if I've shared this already, but there was a sister back in the MTC that shared a cool idea. Someone told her that whenever they are taking the sacrament, they listen to the water cups drop back into the tray, and they are always reminded of the sound of drops of blood that Christ so lovingly suffered for that person's sins that week. She said it changed the sacrament for her forever. Now it has done the same for me. It brings me so much more reverence and focus. I hope you all can benefit from similar Christ focused thoughts during your Sabbath-day observance. :)

 

Talk to you next week!

 

-Elder Miles, Lieutenant Mikey, Michael, Calcium