Caroling, Christmas, And Change

Hallo Alle! Frohe Weihnachten!

 

Sorry I didn't get an email out last week (if you didn't notice, even better), but now I have more to talk about so get comfortable.

 

Last week was a lot of fun. On Tuesday we went caroling with our district in front of Bahnhof (train station), and it was a lot of fun but FREEZING cold. My fingers literally almost froze off, so we only did it for about 30 minutes. Because the COVID rules are getting a lot stricter, and you have to wear a mask even at some outside places, we were worried that we were going to get fined or stopped, so when a police van started circling us we were pretty nervous. I just imagined the news footage of the Polizei pulling up and throwing 6 missionaries singing Christmas carols into the van. As the police car came back around we thought they were going to tell us to stop, but they just rolled down their window and gave us a thumbs up, which was awesome. We got the stamp of approval. 

Then on Wednesday we went caroling with the sisters at a nursing home which was a lot of fun. We went from floor to floor with the manager of the place singing a couple songs for the few people gathered in each lounge area. It sounds cheesy, but it was so nice to be able to bring the Christmas Spirit to a lot of people who are probably alone for Christmas. 

 

On Thursday we went to another Christmas Market in Oberhausen which was really cool. I also bought a cool nutcracker (picture attached). Later that evening we also went caroling with the district again at the Christmas Market in Duisburg. It was a really fun and cool experience, and Elder Stettler was able to have a nice conversation with a man who was homeless and said that the music helped him feel a lot happier. One of my favorite things about being on a mission is being able to serve people 24/7 for two years. It's really an incredible opportunity.

 

We also made an awesome Christmas video with one of our members (Piet) as Santa. Let my mom know if you want to see it.

 

Then it was Christmas EVE!!!

 

For Christmas Eve we had brunch in the morning with one of our young adults and the sisters at the church and we made french toast, eggs, potatoes, and a bunch of other stuff. It was a lot of fun, and we all got to talk about all of our Christmas traditions and it was a lot of fun. We went over to the Ahrens family for dinner and Piet cooked some awesome gourmet food (would never expect any less from him). We were also fed really well at the Hollenbach's (awesome family) on Christmas day, and at the Ahlemeyers, also an awesome family, on 2nd Christmas Day (I swear Germans find excuses for holidays everyday). All of our members are awesome and we have gotten so many gifts, including LOTS of sweets and chocolate, and even a board game, which was really awesome. It was a really fun couple of days, and I hope everyone had a chance to learn more about Jesus Christ and what Christmas really is about. 

 

We also had transfers this week, and I am staying here in Duisburg but Elder Stettler left for Trier :(. But my new companion is Elder Breinholt who is really awesome, and we actually already knew each other from the flood service week and are already good friends so it'll be fun.

 

Also this morning we had breakfast with the Bishopric and they sang happy birthday and stuff so that was pretty awesome.

 

Anyways I hope you all had an amazing Christmas and that you have an incredible New Year.

 

Wir sehen uns!

Tschüss

Elder Lando

 

1. Last picture with the District

2. Yummy churros

3. Me with my new scarf that a Sister from the ward knit

4. Our Christmas Eve brunch

5. Us and the Hollenbach Family (with baby Felix)

6. Us at the Ahrens Family (Piet is the gourmet chef)

7. Another one

8. A crazy decorated mall

9. Us and Santa Piet









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