Plenty of Peanut Butter....

I got the package, thanks for everything in it. By the way, we definitely do NOT need peanut butter now, we had like 3 jars before you sent it, and now, ...alot, so thanks, but just a heads up. Cool tie rack, but I really would like that wooden one, from my closet, if you could find it, and next package? don't worry about it, I sound like a greedy little punk, just send stuff whenever, and whatever you want. Monsoon season! I miss it, but it is really hot here anyways, so, for Donald, we havn't really been meeting with him...at all, so if you are going to pray for someone, pray for Stani and her 2 boys, we are meeting with them again now, and it is going well again, This week went well, we committed NATHAN Muldez to baptism, he is that 9 yearo ld boy from the family whose dad was just baptized in March, and we are going with him through the lessons, but REALLY slow, he has adhd, and he has a pretty hard time reading and praying, and the mom, is not the greatest exapmle, way nice, but just a little...ummm...different. It should go through, on August 22, so pray for him and his family too. This week, we met with Stani, and had a good 2nd lesson ( Plan of Salvation) and she understood it all and said that it all made logical sense, and had a good time. We then went with her over to our Ward mission leaders house, and had FHE, and he made Korean food, and her boys came and played Wii, and had fun, also another lady, Frau Fisher, who comes to English classes came too, she had a good time, she is korean, and really enjoyed herself, she is not really an investigator, yet, but she is way nice, and likes us all. Sorry about not sending pictures for a while, i should probably do that sometime soon. Oh, I also had my suit taken in at a turk shop, Matt will know what I am talking about :} I have not lost weight or anything, it s just american, so I had it taken a little, and it is more acceptable now, I will do it to my other pants and suit next week sometime, it will come to a total of 100€ to have it done to all of my clothes, so not bad. Be sure to tell everyone hi from me, and tell Tausha hi especially :) Alright take care, Tschüß! Love Elder Bentz, the one and only! aka Mooker

In the Neighborhood

Hey! Thanks for writing, the package has not come yet, but maybe later today or tomorrow, I am still anxiously waiting, and 20 years old :) So Adam Anderberg got married!? that is sweet, and so did Season, How did the reception go? The work is going sweet here. This week was pretty cool, just to highlight one of the experiences we had...Last night we were at a dinner appointment with some members, at their home, and after dinner, Elder Lechtenberg and I shared a couple scriptures about the elect hearing the Gospel, and being prepared for it (Alma 13:24-DC 29:7) After the thought we asked if it would be ok if we would be able to pray with them, that people in their neighborhood would be open to the Gospel, and willing to meet with us. We kneeled and prayed in their living room and Bro. Peay offered a prayer and it was a really great prayer. We told them that we would do doors in their area for about an hour, and that we would come back and tell them how it went. They agreed to it, so we left and did their street, the next street down, across another street and all the way down the left side of the last street that we were going to do, and before we were there, we received a phone call from the other Elders and they said that they needed some more help with taking apart and moving some furniture for one of their investigators, so we said that we would go and help after we were done with these doors in this neighborhood. At that last house, I said that we should probably head back now, since the members offered us a ride too, but Edler Lechtenberg said we could do a couple more. So we crossed the street and went to that first house. It was just a normal door approach, but the lady started asking about our ''dialect'' and we then of course gave her the whole two years thing and why we are here, and she said that she LOVES the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, and would love to see them some day. We told her that we sing the same songs that THEY sing in church, and it would be great to hae you there. She was worried about having to come with someone, or not being welcome, but we told her that we love to have visitors, and we would actually come and go with her to church, cause they don't have a car, she said she would really like that, and we got her information, and we met the husband and their son too, and they were all really nice. I don't know if anything Fantastic will come of this or not, but I do know that people are prepared, all we have to do is the sifting to find them. After that experience, we ran back to the Peay's home, and told them, Sis. Peay was SO excited, and it was a really great time. The members loved it, and we were able to actually find someone in their neighborhood. All in all I would call that a miracle. The last doors, ya' gotta' watch for 'em. It was way cool, and it is times like those that make all of the rejections worth it. So yeah, I twas cool. Sounds like everything is going awesome at home, and tell Tausha hi, if she is still there. Take care everyone, and save some kringle for me! Tschüß! Love Elder Bentz aka Mooker

letter to Auntie Sharon July 8, 2009

Auntie Sharon, Thank you for the money, it will definitely be put to good use, and you are right, it will all always be worth it, no matter what we do, that is the beauty of the plan of God for us. The only thing we have to worry about is keeping the commandments and living up to our covenants, which is a lot easier said than done, but hey, what else are we gonna do here? Nothing that's as important as those things, I know that. We have been having some really good success lately, and way sweet people to talk to and teach, So yeah, Everything sounds great at home, and a fun 4th of July, I love 4th of July breakfast, we had one here, by ourselves, with some other missionaries, and it was way fun, we sang the star spangled banner, and the pledge of allegiance, and had pancakes, and bacon. Fun. Well Take Care Auntie Sharon, I love you. Tschüss! Love Elder Bentz aka Mooker

Happy 20th Birthday

Yesterday, we had zone conference, and went to Frankfurt for the day, it was way fun, and we heard from Elder Cossei´ from France speak to us, he is in the seventy presidency, and will go to Paris next week. We have a new investigator now, Donald, because we have a return appointment with him, and that should be good, we have had some pretty sweet contacts this week, and there should be something for us. The work is picking up around here. I will send Brad a birthday card tomorrow, and have some sweet pics in it. Sounds like Matt is adjusting well for getting off his mission? I can't imagine it will be too hard to do that. Pres. Earl, tell him I say hi back! So, Season Hale is getting married?! Who, Where, Why, HOW? that's great for her, she is way nice, tell me how the reception went. Hey, I bought the LDS picture book, it is pretty cool, I would suggest it. Well, not too much else to say, tomorrow I will be 20, and then no longer a teenager, so, no more immaturity, according to Ed :) So, Thanks for everything, and stay cool and safe. Tschüss! Love Elder Bentz aka Mooker

Plan of Salvation.....in sidewalk chalk!

Awesome news about Matt getting home. I am sure it all went how it was supposed to. Tell him to take care of my xbox and tv, I am definitely still expecting it to be there and in functioning condition when I get home. This week was pretty sweet, A girl in the ward brought a friend to church, Donald, and we had a really cool lesson with him, he seems cool enough, and promising, hopefully it works out, we'll see. We also drew the Plan of Salvation on the sidewalk next to the Rhein river, and contacted people using it, it worked ok, didn't get too many people to stop, and I don't think any contacts, except an email, so yeah, oh well, it goes on. Oh yeah, also for transfers, I AM STAYING IN WIESBADEN, Elder Harris is going to the OTHER American ward! in Heidelberg, but that is like the sweetest city in the mission, so it will be good. anyways, my new companion, is Elder Lechtenberg, from the MTC! so we are in the same group, and we are best buds, so it will be way fun.
I realize, that all of the birthday stuff will probably not fit into ONE flatrate USPS box, but maybe you could send TWO? please... I would love you forever, not that I don't and wouldn't already, but it would also give you some leverage for asking me to do stuff when I get home :) :) :) :) I love you. I am sorry that I sound like I am demanding these things, but I would really like to have 'em and of course, a letter from you and some other people saying stuff. So, yeah. Thanks for everything family, and especially mom, you are the best mom ever, and I am thankful for all of the stuff you have done, are doing, and will do for me. ( I know who decides stuff...) Well, I will talk to you again next week...write, at least, and until then, be sure to stay cool Bentz family. Tschüß! Love Elder Bentz aka Mooker

Matt is going home.....My time will come

MAtt sent me an email, it was really nice, and he said he might call me from the airport, so that would be cool. here is what he said, it is kinda funny, but good.
yo bro!well man I'm out on wednesday take care in germany man it goes by faster than you can even imagine it seems like an hour ago I was in the middle of an appointement with my thumb up my butt sayin nothin and understanding just as much! wouldn't trade it for the world! keep it real and man if you're not havin fun you're not doin it right! later!love, Elder Matt Bentz P.S. had another good german meal this week at a womens home here in the ward, she is from Munich made us sweet and sour meatballs in like a gravy sauce on top of mashed potatoes....it was way good but felt like I gained 100 pounds by eating it good luck man!
I remember going to the airport to get steve, it was way fun, and I am sure it will be the same. This week was good, went on a split with the Aps ( assistants to the presidents) and went with Elder Peterson, it was way fun, and got a couple contacts. The work is going well, and we are really focusing on finding this week, trying to get somebody new, and improved (ready to hear the gospel). Stani has not come to church, or even been in contact with us for like 2 weeks, and the Lym family are pretty much inactive, so yeah, kinda gay, but well see. It is true what you said mom. This experience is really for me, and the people that are getting baptized, but is a great time to grow and to become more mature in the gospel and in life. I am thankful for the mission, it is the hardest thing (altogether) that I have ever done and has great potential. but where there is potential to succeed there is also potential to fail, it lies with me to see what will happen, and that has been one of the toughest parts to learn out here, you have to decide your own happiness, and success. You work out your own salvation, that is so true, and granted, easier said than done, but we all have to try our best, and at the end of the day, that is what will count, our best. To give your best is to succeed. Thanks for being a great mom, and be sure to tell matt I said hi too, and dad :) take care! Tschüss! Love Elder Bentz aka Mooker

Service and Sightseeing on the Rhein

Regarding the switch from analog to digital programming,Germany did not do anything like the difital switch, at least not on our TV...uhhh...just kidding. I don't know if they did or not. Dad got a sword? sweet. (It's Matt's sword that he sent home from France) I will have to get him like a helmet or shield or sumthin then. I got a bunch of letters from the YW yesterday it was really nice. Sarah said that you lost like 40 lbs? thats great mom! Get dad on that boat! Yeah when Matt gets home, he can pretty much do whatever he wants with my Bass, just not break it. Well, this week was quite eventful. We helped 2 families out with moving back to the states, and they both had a lot to do. We went over to a families house on Friday, and mom, remember all those houses on "clean house" that were just terrible? this was one of 'em. I ain't kiddin'. There was so much crap everywhere, we spent like 3 hours on 1 room and the rest of the day just taking trash out of the whole house. I am really glad that you don't let our house get like that, It is like you have to try to make your house messy to get it that bad...ughhh. It was alot. The Family who took us out there though is way cool, The Larson Family, They have 9 kids and she keeps her house perfect. We went over there afterwards for dinner, and their house was amazingly clean. They also took us sight seeing along the Rhein and we got a bunch of sweet pictures that you will be receiving shortly, I will be sending home both memory cards for this next package, and I will just go and buy another one or 2 because they are incredibly cheap over here, sumthin' like 10 € for 2-4 gig ones, so yeah, don't worry about it. So that was all day for us, and the next day, we helped another family named the Owens and we had to rip down a whole back fence and a whole kitchen , everything from it. Cupboards and appliances. In Germany, when you move, you move. you take everything with you, Carpet, Tile, Kitchen sink, everything. So that was fun, but still hard work and had to transport it all afterwards. After that, They gave us like ALL of their food storage, so we have enough food for the both of us for the rest of the cycle, and probably the next one too, just gotta buy bread and milk and cheese now :) Today we have interviews, and in 2 weeks I will tell you what is happening with transfers, This cycle went by way fast too, 6 weeks is not really very long at all. This week some guy from Minnesota came to our ward for whatever reason and had us help him talk to some guy in German about him getting a family history book to help his genealogical research and it was pretty cool. The guy was in Köln and we talked to him on the phone, and then they took us out to lunch, sweet. I also was made aware of a letter from President Egbert that was sent to the Wuppertal apartment, My old comp. was still there, and he called me up and read it to me, so I will write him back, he said a lot about the stake and its goals for misionary work and wanted me to write him back with ideas and advice, so thought that was pretty cool, I got his return adress and everything so dont worry. Well, that is about it this week, we are trying to get Stani to come to church, and the practically inactive family that brought her in the first place,...wierd. It's not goin too well, also trying to find more people and that is as to be expected, but I feel like something is about to change, we shall see. Well, Take care and tell everyone hi from me, Thanks for telling me about Aunt Lera's death too, never really remembered her too much, but dang, 102 years old, good job. Tschüss! Love Elder Bentz aka Mooker