18-19 October 2012

Dear Family and All,

The weather here is amazing right now!  We had a few extra minutes yesterday before we met with the Elders and Stefan, so I said let's just drive and see where we end up. We got clear to the top of one of the hills surrounding Stuttgart and it turned out to be quite an exclusive area with beautiful homes and views of the city. It is called Killesberg. We even toured the home of Theodor Heuss, the first National President of Germany. He was elected in the early 1960's.  It is a very simple home and has been turned into a museum. 

Monument in Killesberg

We drove a little further and came to an area of parks, jogging trails and a massive tower made of stone all looking out over the city. The fall colors were beautiful so we took some pictures before heading back to the Institute. 



Fall in Stuttgart



We had another great meeting with Stefan and he shared a little of the process he had gone through for a number of years investigating many different churches.  He told of how he had an experience feeling the influence of the Holy Ghost some time before but he didn't know what it was. He said that now he knows that it was the Holy Ghost.  He just soaks up everything the missionaries tell him.  There is usually another member at these meetings as well. This time it was Danny Breuer.  He also happens to be the president of the YSA Council.  He is 27, a returned missionary from England and a great young man.  He needs an amazing wife.  Anyway, he challenged Stefan to read the Book of Mormon from cover to cover.  Then we all bore testimony about reading the Book of Mormon everyday.  We even pulled up Pres. Benson's talk in 1988 about flooding the earth with the Book of Mormon.  It was. A great meeting! 



Stefan at his baptism with his mother and sister



Today we revisited a missionary apartment and measured for a new oven.  Then we had to go back home because I forgot my missionary badge and Dad forgot some papers we needed. Then it was off to another city to visit another missionary apartment. We ended up being 15 min late because we couldn't find a place to park. Then we went to the apartment with their number but it was the wrong one. There just happen to be 2 apartments next door to each other with the same address. Things are numbered really weird here!  Anyway, the Elders had fixed lunch for us. So we ate before we did the inspection. It was the cleanest apartment yet.  Good job Elder Strickland and Elder Hustead( who happens to be from St. George).

We had a little break and then on to meet Sr. Moser, our new home teaching assignment from our Bishop. She is about 53 and has many serious health problems. She has been less active for many years and the Bishop wants us to teach her the missionary lessons.  Her mother is an active member of our ward and was there to let us in today.  Sabina has seizures , diabetes and a number of other problems. We had a nice visit and will probably try to see her every week. 

Tomorrow we are off to Ulm to visit another apartment.  



Italian Restaurant in Ulm



Then we will drive on to Munich and do a little sightseeing for the rest of the day. Saturday, President Monson will be there to speak to the Saints of the area. The tickets were very hard for the mission president to get for all the missionaries. Ours are for standing room only unless there end up being a few empty seats somewhere.  One bishop in our stake is sending all the Primary children ages 8 to 12.  The parents can't even go, only the primary teachers. I feel a little guilty taking the room that someone else could use since I have seen Pres. Monson a number of times.  He even came to our ward building once for Marge Christensen's funeral and since Dad was the Bishop, he got to sit right next to him.  Anyway, the tickets for the meeting were very hard to get because they couldn't find a bigger building for the meeting. Everyone is very excited that Pres.Monson is coming to Germany.  He will be speaking in Frankfurt on Sunday and that meeting will be broadcast to several ward buildings in our stake. In fact the broadcast will be the only meeting in our stake on Sunday morning.  So we will get to. Hear the prophet speak twice.

Well, I had better sign off and get home to pack. We have to be up early in the morning and be on our way. 

We love and miss you all,

Elder and Sister Benson