Baptisms are so happy!

Baptisms are so happy.  I have a theory that it is imposible to frown at a baptism.  Totally impossible because of the insane amount of happieness.  It's like riding on a waverunner.  Yeah, try frowning on a waverunner.  Doesn't happen.

Anyways, Schw. Ro**** and Br. Me**** were baptized on Saturday!  It was all wonderful.  We put the program together and everything went fantastic.  The spirit was so strong and you could feel the love coming from the new members.  I'm glad ya'll got the video!  Robert showed me that and sent it to you and I hope you all liked it :)

Well this week has been the most stressed filled week of my life.  Not kidding.  Getting the ward to the baptism and figuring out a couple of problems with the baptism, moving the date to saturday 2 days before and straightening a few members out.  It all worked out in the end :)

Oh haha on Tuesday (just letting you know) I went to see an Orthopedic Surgeon for my shoulder because it's been killing and I can't really lift it.  It popped on Tuesday and it's feeling better since but it keeps happening.  Turns out, he thinks I have a genetic disorder where my ligaments that hold my shoulder into place are streched so my shoulder can move in and out of socket.  He did some stuff with my right shoulder (the left one is the one that hurts) and turns out the same thing is wrong there too!  So it is probably genetic somehow.  Anyways he told me I needed surgery and it would happen in America.  I asked him a few questions like if I would hurt it more if I just stay and be careful and he said it probably wont get worse as long as I keep it safe.  So I plan on getting a blessing this week and I will have to have surgery (so says he) sometime but not in these two years!!!  Heck no...but Elder Künzle has to help my put my coat on and my backpack on.  What a stud.  Don't worry I'll be fine with my Icy hot patches :)

Don't freak out!  It's not that bad promise.

This week we also had a lesson from Br. Burkhardt.  WOW.  This guy keeps pulling more amazing things out of his sleve.  We had a 1.5 hr discussion about random wonders that I had questions about and he answered all of them with out thinking twice...

Enrico and Brother Burkhardt

Love,
Elder Hays

This mission thing is crazy . . .

Well this monday is a holiday in Germany so we are doing emails today...fun right??  This week has been so so so crazy...oh man...

So I will start off with Tuesday...it wasn't too good.  We have a fantastic Bible hour and Herr Ap*** is there all being awesome and stuff.   Everything is going well so far then he asks us if he could tell us a story and we say yeah.  I won't tell you the story but Herr Ap** won't be getting baptized this next week...On the other hand.  Schw. Ros*** and Br. Mer*** are still doing awesome!  I really hope that they have really taken this seriously so that they can be strong members.

Wednesday we had district meeting in Halle with the Halle Elders and sisters.  We did a district finding afterwards and had some fun with that.  I really like Halle because they have a University there and there are a ton of college students and they are the people who actually listen to you.  I was on exchange there so I stayed overnight with Elder Brightenshine and Elder von Eida.  We had some good times.  We had a lesson with these hippies and ahh man was that sweet.  I love hippies...they look like that hardest kids in town but have the heart of 10 men.  It was cool to meet them.

Thursday was just a lot of finding in Halle with not too much success.  Walked around talking to everybody and nothin...

Friday I was back in Groitzsch with Elder Künzle and we got bikes!  Finally!  We still have a car but we have a limit on how many Kilometers we can go each month so we have now bikes to help us keep under our limit.  So Friday morning we start out on our bike adventure heading for Kitzscher (30 KM) (Take into mind that these bikes are basically two stone wheels and a steel bar inbetween them.)  Not the best in the market.  Well, after 2 hrs of biking we finally arrive in Kitzscher.  Our appointment falls out.  So we start on our way back to go to some contacts on the way back home.  We get about 5 KM and Elder Künzle's bike breaks down.  Dead.  We are in the middle of fields about 5 KM away from the nearest town.  So we called Enrico to come pick us up.  He comes and we through a bike in but can only fit one in.  So I hop on the bike and pedal home with Enrico and Elder Künzle in the car.  Ah man was I ticked.  I was about to throw the bike accross the freakin field but I just took out my whininess on the road.  Finally get home in time for language study and I'm done.  So we made a bowl of chocolate milkshake...no not a glass.  A bowl.  Like the one that Grandma puts potato salad in at thanksgiving.  Downed that in 3 sec.

Today!  Today was swell.  We had called a man named Herr Scho**** earlier this week and made an appointment out with him and he said of course!  We have lunch at Omi's and head over to this guys house in Zwenkau.  We pull up and he lets us in.  We then find out that he is a Catholic Priest.  I got so excited.  We had a super lesson about our church and what it is about.  Talked about why we are different and he said that it makes sense.  He took a couple pamphlets and said he would read them.  We will see what happens.

That was our week.  Not sure how I feel about it quite yet but all I know is I'm ready for bed.  I've never been so tired in my life doing this mission thing.  It's crazy.  Anyways.  I hope you are all doing well and If I have time on Monday I will shoot some pictures over.  Thank you for the letters!  I got them today and they really made my day so thank you very much.

I love you all!

Elder Hays

Pday after the skype

Hello familie,

It was so so so wonderful to see you yesterday.  I cried a little bit after but not too much!  You all looked wonderful and I hope that I didn't make you late to church.  Church is good for you.  Keeps you unspotted from the world.  yeah...

I'm doing well as you know.  Went to the gym with Enrico today!  That was amazing.  Worked

out for 2 hrs or so and also talked to this guy there about the church for another 30 min.  Good P-Day so far.  In an hour or so we are headed to Omi's to move some plants around in her garden and then probably clean up around the apartment.

I felt like I got to talk to ya'll for like 5 min but it was so nice seeing your faces.  I love you all and keep us missionaries in your prayers.  Keep me updated on how Hunter is doing as well.

Love you!!

Elder Hays

Here is the pic of the courthouse in leipzig.  Just sayin...if that is how big the courthouses are on the earth...I can't imagine the judgement table in heaven...ahh man...hmmm

Mother's Day Skype

So great to see him!

Just a little clip of our conversation about what he eats while he's our tracting doors.

Can't wait for Mother's day!

I am scheduled to skype this Sunday at 16:00 my time.  I don't know exactly what time that is for you but I think that's like 8:00 in the morning for you.

My new comp is awesome!  His name is Elder Künzle from Solothurn in Switzerland.  We have completely different personalities but we both like to work hard and we have respect for each other.  We have a blast and work well as a team.  He is 25 and has 6 months left on his mission.

I'm am doing awesome!  I am really really stressed though.  Before Elder Guccione left, he was taking care of all of the baptismal dates, making most of the appointments out and trying to show me how to do everything.  Now it is all on me.  I'm am pulling it through but it is a definitely 10 hr straight job trying to help our district out and trying to keep our investigators, let alone trying to find new ones.  We have done like 2 hrs of doors this week because of everything going on.  It's been nuts.  I'm doing alright though.  Loving the work.

Cleats would be nice but they aren't really neccessary?  I mean if you have room than sure haha.

I really can't wait to talk to you!  I'm so so so excited to hear you guys!!

"22 Yea, he that ^arepenteth and exerciseth faith, and bringeth forth good ^bworks, and prayeth continually without ceasing—unto such it is given to know the ^cmysteries of God; yea, unto such it shall be ^dgiven to ^ereveal things which never have been revealed; yea, and it shall be given unto such to bring thousands of souls to repentance, even as it has been given unto us to bring these our brethren to repentance."

This scripture really hit me this week as Elder Künzle shared it with a member.  I really tore it apart and figured out everything.  Sometimes we dig through D&C or Revelations to try to find the real mysteries of God but why not just follow this scripture?  Whoever repents, exerciseth faith, bringeth forth good fruit and relies on God through prayer shall be shown all things.  I was reading in 1 Nephi and the angel showed him everything!!  It was because he did all of these things!  We need to involve the Lord into every aspect of our lives and we will understand things and be shown different things that we never would thing be possible.  I leave that as my testimony.

I'm rockin' Omi's glasses after helping her in
her garten with Enrico.  

My companion Elder Kunzle

Johann Bach is buried in Leipzig!  Sick right? 
Totally touched his grave...

Know that I love you all!!  Happy Birthday Erika! I will see you on Sunday!