September 16, 2008

Doug, Elder Austin Just wrote this e-mail to another couple in Italy who is serving there on a mission. ....and so I will pass it on.........Life here.......Germany


Life in Germany has been anything other than boring and yes, it is a bit cooler here thanin Sícilia. The hottest it got here in the Summer was about 86-87 degrees Fahrenheit and then only for about 3-4 days. Mostly it was in the high 70's or low 80's, not quiet as hot and humid as I remember it being on my mission but than I was mainly in coastal area during the summer months and that would account for the high humidity. Right now it has cleared up after a few days of cloudy overcast weather and it must be around 57-58 degrees. Not bad for an Autumn day but give me Italy from Oct thru Mar and I would be happy.

We get news occasionally about the banking economic fiasco at home and I hear that the market swings are hugh but fortunately I haven't been in a position, nor have you, to pay much attention other than to tell my children I think more bad news is coming.. You're right aout the ignorance theory and I'm a prime example.

good luck to your brother. Serving in the Outreach Institut has been an experiences getting pushed around by the learning curve. We had no formal training until we had been here 2 months. After that we had more of an idea of what was expected but the number of Young Single Adults we deal with and that are inactive is large so we have developed a plan to concentrate first in the ones close to us (Our Institute Outreach Center serves 8 wards/branches) that are anywhere from 15 mintues to an hours journey distant. Our schedule is that we sponsor a family home evening with refreshments every Monday night here in the Center, than on Wednesday we have 2 Institute classes, Thursday and English Class, Friday a movie or game night and Saturdaýs Sport. In between we work with the missionaries giving lessen or doing meeting on the streets (Street Display) and I serve on the Stake High Council and am assigned to sheppard a ward besides visit all the other wards and branches assigned to our Outreach Center. I also home teach and Sister Austin visit teaches 8 families and she also has been called to be a geneaolgy advisor in the family history center here in our ward so one day a week see puts in her 4-5 hours there. It can all be tiring but every now and again something great happens and we forget that we'd rather be home with the kids and grand kids and thank Heavenly Father that we are here.

This area of the Church was isolated for almost under communist rule yet the Saints were faithful and actually served 3 year missions. The story and acconts are amazing and I like to tell them they were just like the pioneers who colonized Utah and indeed they are. President Monson wrote a book called 'Faith Rewarded' which is about the East German Saints and his work with them and how they inspired him with their devotion. If you can get a copy you would enjoy it. Now having said all that it is still very difficult work finding converts here and the mission has about 250-300 a year (130-140 missionaries) and many of these are foreigners who have come to Germany to study or work. And you are right, culturally there was some adjustment to work through and even though I speak German relatively well the dialect here in this part of Germany is heavy so it has, along with my hearing disability, taken me some time to become comfortable with the language. Siste Austin still struggles and will till we leave.

Otherwise it's a beautiful place to serve and the people are generally friendly if not openly so, and almost always courteous and polite and helpful if they think you do not understand. On the roads they can be a bit impatient because they assume that we know the driving laws and since I have German plates on my car they assume I am another German at the wheel. On the Autobahn the rule is stay in the right lane unless you are passing and do it quickly and you will be ok. I have a Tom tom GPS navi unit that I brohgt with and it has been very helpful on numerous occasions in getting to the right destination. Streets here are norrow by American standards but not quiet as narrow as the one I remembe in Italy so you have to stay alert because people , even large trucks stop and part anywhere.

Wish we had a nearby US base and a few friends there. There is always a few things tht would be great to buy that are not normally available here or are very expensive. I triend to persuade my son-in-law who is an Air Force C-17 pilot to fly in some supplies but he just laughs.

Anyway the time seems to be flying by quickly an soon we will be counting down to next year at this time. It would be fun to pop on down to Catania and have you guys give us the tour since October is not a good sight seeing time here in the old country. Well, keep the faith and keep us in your prayers and we'l do the same.

Elder Austin