Auf Wiedersehen - the Last Letter

Hey everyone!

This is nuts! This week has been incredibly trying. I didn't know that I could feel so many emotions at once. But I am happy because I can say that I made every day count and I did my best to serve the Lord. I love being a missionary and I will never regret a day of my mission. This was the best decision I have made for my life and I am excited to apply the things I know into other phases of life. 

I know that the gospel is true. It is the center-point of my life. Jesus Christ is our redeemer and he loves us. Joseph Smith was the Mighty Prophet of the Restoration. I have loved watching the lights turn on in other people's heads as they hear the things he taught and did. I have come to love the scriptures with all my heart. I get excited to read about Christ and the other prophets. 

I love my mission dearly and I am sad to come home. But luckily I have a loving family and great friends to make it a softer landing. I love you all and am grateful for your support! I'll see you on Friday!

Elder Eldredge

Mission Conference

Hey!

This week was awesome! There were sooo many missionaries at our conference in Munich! I basically got to see all of my friends that I haven't seen in a while. There were also a lot of missionaries that I didn't know because I have been in the Vienna zone for so long. I learned a lot and it is always fun to be in long train rides with other missionaries. 

We also had a lot of appointments this week so we kept ourselves busy. This last week just flew by so fast I can barely remember it. I am really enjoying my time though. This week will also be really quick. We are getting a good amount of invites and our friends are wanting to meet more regularly. I will also be giving a talk on Sunday.

Today we are playing Frisbee together as all the Elders in Vienna. I am really excited. I will send you a picture of our group from last time we played. 

It is a good life as a missionary. It is going to be a good week. I'm glad you all had a good time at Bryce canyon! Can't wait to go with you next year!

Love you all!

Elder Eldredge

Cold and Snow

Hey!

This week was great! We have been having a lot of snow in the last few days. When we woke up this morning there wasn't any snow left on the ground but then it started snowing really hard and now we have a few inches! The wind is soooo cold! It has been pretty fun though. We're considering making a snow man today.

We have been trying really hard to work with some of our less-active members and we are having real success with them. We had three of them in church this last Sunday! We still have a lot of work to do with them though. The Europe area has a goal of doubling the active membership in 2015. Our ward is really motivated and we are given a lot of support in teaching them. 

This week we have a good amount of eating appointments coming up, plus a HUGE mission tour meeting this Thursday! Most of the mission is going to be there so I will get to see lots of my friends. We get to take a train at 6.30 in the morning. We will start the meeting at ten, it will go for a few hours and then we travel home again. We should get back to Vienna at around 9.30. I can't wait. 

Elder Nelson and I are doing great. We get along no problem and we really enjoy our time together. He is awesome. Everything in life is going just great. I love being here. 

I hope that you all have a good time at Ruby's inn! Stay warm! I love you all!

Elder Eldredge

Abinadi and Joseph Smith

Hey!

This week was a lot of fun. We spent a lot of time in members homes, which always makes the day better. We really have a wonderful ward here. We also spent a lot of time on the streets and in the trains just talking to people. 

On tuesday night we left the youth center and on our way home we met a nice lady named A-----. She was really interested in learning about us so we made an appointment for the next day. She came early and we had a really great lesson. She was very touched and asked thoughtful questions. She is gone for the next month on a trip so I won't see her again but I am excited for her to learn more later. 

As I was reading in the Book of Mormon the other day I was impressed by the prophet Abinadi. He told the priests and king Noah to not touch him because the lord would not suffer that he should be destroyed "at this time"(Mosiah 13:3). This, plus what he says in verse 10, shows that he knew that he would eventually be killed for preaching these things to the wicked priests. He showed great faith by doing it anyways. This reminded me of the prophet Joseph Smith. I am thankful that he was willing to do everything that he did in spite of all the persecution. 

I hope that you all have a great week! I love you all!

Elder Eldredge