21 December 2011...Eleventh Letter from Austria

21 DECEMBER 2011

Hello friends and Familie!!!

This week was full of miracles. At my first area, I dreamed about a place like this. Where investigators come to church and people listen and where we bear testimony. There are so many amazing people we meet with to talk about the Gospel.

I don't know where to begin. They are so great.

Kiki is so funny and really honest. She is from Jamaica and loves fashion. We thought that she could make a clothing store called kiki with fashionable clothes for missionaries. haha. I am not sure if there is really a demand for that though...haa.

She has a baptismal date for the 7th of January. She feels the spirit really strong when she prays and when we visit. She says it feels like a fire.

Robert is a great 9-year-old boy and the son of a recently baptized new member.

He is like my little brother. He loves Star Wars and is really excited for Christmas and is ready for baptism on the 8th of January. I am so excited for him.

Viktoria is like a grandmother to us. She loves telling us stories, even though we don’t really have that much time to teach her. She is so great and really kind hearted. She makes me laugh so hard because she is just so funny and happy.

She is a little crazy and has a baptismal date on the 8th of January.

Georg has been meeting with the missionaries for the past 2 years and loves us. He really loves the gospel and talking about life. He will be baptized on the 10th of February.

Odu is a man from Nigeria and is studying here in Austria. He is very curious and is really easy to get along with. He loves to laugh and learn. We are helping him prepare to be baptized on the 14th of January.

These people are so great. Please pray for them. I am so grateful to be serving and representing Jesus while celebrating his birth and the great message of Christmas. I wish you a frohe weinachten

(merry Christmas).

Elder Sonne

12 December 2011...Tenth Letter from Austria

12 December 2011

My last week has been the most successful week of my mission! We set 3 baptismal dates and we taught more people than I have any other week. We are really getting the work done!!! We usually spend most of the day either teaching or going to teaching appointments and in between, we are finding and contacting everyone we can.

We taught 18 lessons which is actually really good for this mission. We had 4 investigators at church and have 4 baptismal dates.

We had the little kids give the primary program this week and I laughed and cried!

We have some new people that are getting baptized! Volker Schäfer will not be baptized this week. But, Kiki will be on the 7th and Viktoria on the 8th and Robert kraftl who is 9 years old, on the 8th, and Andreas Glaser on the 25th now!

The trains are super nice here... nicer than in Germany! The seats are super comfy.

I have no boots and we aren’t really supposed to wear boots unless we are given the permission of the president.

So let father know that someone here... actually a lot of people know Alma Sonne! Apparently there is a less active couple who read about him in the Ensign and want to meet with us because of that... haha i am still being beaten by my grandparents at everything on earth and he’s not even here any more. haha.

I want to go to the temple!!!

WHat 6 months ??!!! I mean I just got out :(

I love you have a great week!!!

5 December 2011....Ninth Letter from Austria

December 5, 2011

Dear Familie und Freunde!!!!

This week was completely filled with miracles.
First Is Andreas Glaser. On Tuesday, I called brother Andreas and it was really not going well for him. It actually had not bee going well for him for the past couple of months and Tuesday was the breaking point. He had a very sad and pessimistic outlook on life. He spoke of his troubles with his job, losing his girlfriend and everything he holds dear. He was really on edge and nothing that I said could calm him down... He ended up hanging up on me. It was not looking very good for Andreas. I called him again on Saturday and asked if he was planning on coming to church. He said yes and that he wanted to come for all 3 hours. He was there, before we were and he looked different. He was much better dressed and there was a light and happiness in his eyes that I have not seen since I met him more than 2 months ago. During fast and testimony meeting Andreas got up and bore his testimony about how the warmth and love he feels when he comes to church. He was crying by the end, I was crying by the end, and the entire bishopric was crying by the end of his testimony. It was so powerful and heartfelt. We then met with him later on Sunday night. He told us that he talked with the bishop and wants to be baptized on Christmas! He also said he wanted to stop smoking and drinking alcohol. He said he thought he could do it at the beginning of our meeting and half way through he said he knew he could do it! He has the goal to quit in 2 weeks. He was a completely different person... completely different. In a matter of days and one fast and testimony meeting Andreas went from someone who said that he never felt the spirit before to a person wanting to be baptized and change his life for the Lord.

Second there was Victoria- Victoria is a woman we met on the train this week either Wednesday or Thursday and got her number and gave her a book of Mormon. She was very excited to have the book of Mormon and really wanted to meet with us. We ended up picking her up from the train station before church and she loved the whole meeting. We are meeting with her later this week and are going to commit her to baptism.

Third- We met a man who. Hmm where to begin. He had been walking and hiking throughout Europe and Japan for the past 3 years. He has done about 20,000 km in the past three years and is a very spiritual guy. We gave him some pamphlets and prayed with him.
There are many more miracles that I cannot list.. Every second that I have the opportunity to be here is a miracle. The fact that we are children of a heavenly father who created a plan for us to be eternally happy with him is a miracle. The miracle of the gift of the savior and the father that sent him is the product of pure love from which we will eternally benefit and we will never be able to repay them.
It is true

Elder Sonne

28 November 2011 Eighth Letter from Austria

Liebe Familie und Freunde! 28 November 2011 Wiener Neustadt, Austria

This week was especially great, (mostly) because I am a missionary for the one true and living God. It’s really great having him as my boss. I was thinking about it the other day and I don’t think there has ever been a better boss than God. He is quite demanding but very rewarding. I love it!

So this week I had a shock. I didn’t actually realize how small everything is here in Europe. My ward mission leader showed me a cup that he got in America and it looks massive; so big just like everything in America. It’s really odd.

So Kiki! We have met with Kiki about every other day since I last wrote. She really has a desire to follow Jesus and start a new life over again! We had a really spiritual lesson with her on Wednesday. We spoke a lot about the spirit and she talked about how she feels; a clean feeling when she prays and then she described the feeling that she had as we were speaking. She said it was warm and it made her happy and then asked if we were feeling it too. hahah That was soo cool; such a special moment.

She is progressing really well and is very happy to be baptized sometime around Christmas! She really feels that it is right. At one point, she thought that we were Jehovah witnesses and we needed to clarify who we were and that we were separate from Jehovah witnesses. Everything is running smoother now and she is back on track.

The work is tough, but it goes on nobly, powerfully, and forever until the work is finished. I love it!

Enjoy your weeks!

Elder Sonne

21 November 2011 Seventh Letter from Austria

Greetings from Wiener Neustadt, 21 November 2011

The people are more in a hurry and don’t really want to talk because of the cold... but in the train I think they are about the same which I think is actually the best time to contact, when I have time to make some jokes and get their trust!
We meet with the ward mission leader every week. And there is a quasi program.
We have gotten a few referrals from members. There are more in this ward than most others... the members are so great!!!!

SO this week we found a person who asked us to be baptized again haha... her name is Holly Yolanda Deandra Doyley... but she goes by kiki! She is ridiculously amazingly prepared... she commits herself to do things and to pray about things and then says she will report them to us... and she came to church then stayed after for a little get together for a baby blessing wow she is ready and I think we are going to baptize her on the 25th of December... haha ya the people celebrate Christmas on the 24th bigger here though, so it’ll be perfect! I’m really excited and she says she is ready herself... I love the work here and it is really clicking now and people are coming back, like Anthon Bosezky from therapy and things are just working!!!

I have to go. I love you and have a great time together this week!

Elder Sonne

21 November 2011 Seventh Letter addendum from Austria

21 November 2011….AUSTRIA

A “normal” day in the life of Elder Sonne

So this a normal day haha:
630 wake up....
pray until 6:45
6:45-7 work out or stretch if I am sick... which I am
7-730 make French toast and eat it
730-8 shower and get dressed
8-9 study from the scriptures, mostly for the investigators, i read about a half a chapter a day then study preach my gospel and find good scriptures for my investigators!
9-10 companionship study
10-11 I read my German text book and memorize words
11-12 eat lunch
12-9 well this is the tricky one.... talk to loads of people probably give out a Book of Mormon or two and get a couple numbers; maybe make an appointment on the street.... meet with our investigators and miss trains and be really tired
9-945 wind down while I cook
945-1015 plan
1015-1025 get ready for bed put my clothes away
1025-1030 relax time…oh and then pray \ freak out that the apartment is really messy and breathe

I have to go... I love you mama!!! Have a great week and tell everyone I say hello

14 November 2011...Sixth Letter from Austria

14 November 2011….Wiener Neustadt, Austria

Yesterday I gave a talk and I had to cut out a pretty long story about the Israelites crossing over the Jordan River and how they had to put their feet in the river first before the river split.... I gave a 17- minute talk in German and could have gone on a lot longer.

It is pretty weird.

Work has been tougher this week. We normally contact people on trains and on the street and I have to say that I am actually pretty good at getting numbers in the train.

This last week, a miracle happened. We were walking towards the train station and I kept thinking I didn’t have my ticket. Multiple times this came to my head. But we were a little late and I decided to continue and thought that it was probably in my backpack tucked into some small pocket somewhere.... When we got into the train, I decided to sit by a guy and to try to talk to him and share the light of the gospel. I said hello and we exchanged pleasantries. I then had the thought to check for my ticket. No ticket. I didn’t have it. I let the man know who was now joined by his girl friend. I asked them what the charge was for riding without a ticket. They said it was pretty hefty and that the checker probably wouldn’t come because the stop was only 10 minutes away or so... so the checker actually ended up coming. And as the checker was checking the ticket of the person right before me, his back was turned to us. The man gave me a ticket and I gave it to the checker. It was fine and the girlfriend pulled out two tickets for the both of them and the checker went on. I said I was very thankful. I ended up giving them a Book or Mormon and getting their number and cheering with them (with my water and them with their beer) ha ha. But the point is that the lord really looks after each and every one of us and knows how to best help each one of his children.

Elder Sonne

31 October 2011 Fourth Letter from Austria

On Mon, Oct 31, 2011 at 5:21 AM, Scott Sonne <scott.sonne@myldsmail.net> wrote:

Dear familie und freunde,

This week has been especially full of the spirit! We taught a new family who were very interested in the gospel, the church, and the origins of the book of Mormon. They agreed to read the book of Mormon and to pray about it. The spirit was so strong in the lesson that I almost fell on the ground to go to sleep afterwards like Lehi after he had his vision. haha. The church is true and how great is it that we can talk openly to the heavenly father whose whole purpose is to bless us and for us to receive eternal life with him and our families! What a privilege and honor! I love working for him; he is the best boss. The Church is true and Jesus is the Christ, the living son of the living God and our older brother who can help us in every situation. Geniessen Sie Ihre Woche... Enjoy your week!

Elder Scott Joseph Sonne

24 October 2011 Third Letter from Austria

Elder Scott Sonne~ Wiener Neustadt Austria

This week was a typical week in the Alpine (Schaibisch, österreichisch, Byrisch,Schweitzer Deutsch) Speaking Mission! (No one speaks German here), but it was a tough week.

Most of our appointments this week fell through and it was unbearably cold a couple of the days. Despite the disappointments, there is no place I would rather be!!! I am so happy to be rejected over and over and over and over and over and over and over to find one person whom I can influence for the better! It is a once in a lifetime opportunity to speak with so many people and learn from them and to hopefully teach them about the life changing influence of the gospel.

This is the greatest work that has ever been done and I am honored to be herein österreich! The lord has truly prepared people in this area to hear and accept the gospel... to make covenants with God and live in the light of Christ, under the influence of the Holy Ghost and to be on the straight and narrow path leading to the everlasting fountain of love and eternal life. We are so blessed to be the children of God. This past week I have realized that being a child of God comes with responsibility.

I have decided to live each day to be able to say I gave my best and that I couldn’t have given more and that I helped as many people as possible to be happy. I think that this will be my goal for the rest of my life.

17 October 2011 Second letter from Austria

October 17 2011 from Austria

Dear famile und Freunde,
It has gotten very cold here in Wiener Neustadt! it was 6 degrees a couple days ago when we started out in the morning. I’m not sure what that is in American but I think its somewhere in the 40s. And it smells like snow here. It also feels much colder than that because we ride bikes in the wind... but its a good work out so its not too bad. The spirit keeps me warm.

SO this week has been very great! We set another baptismal date with a man from Kenya named Joseph. He moved to Austria 5 years ago and is 29. he has a deep relationship with God and is very excited to meet with us! He was so happy when we gave him the book of Mormon and to speak about god. Wow he is great. He kept saying that he really loved to feel the spirit and he occasionally cries when he reads the scriptures and prays! He is ready for the gospel!

Anthon Bosezky is leaving to get therapy on his legs for the next month or so and will not be here for his baptismal date. He wants time to read and to think about it. Which is good because he will feel that it is the church of god and that the book of Mormon is true. Because it is true!!! When Anthon prays, he thanks our heavenly father for sending his missionaries to him to teach him the gospel!

The week has gone by so quickly and we have been so busy iI am not even sure what we did. Oh yes, we participated in two priesthood blessings this week. Everyone is getting sick because of the cold and it was our privilege to bless two people by the priesthood and authority of God. I can really feel the love of God for the people when I participate in blessings. He is there and stands there waiting for us to choose him. He sends us scripture, the spirit, and the prophets to show us the way. It is our choice to follow them and be eternally happy or to not be eternally happy. The Church is true. Jesus is the Christ.
Bis aufs Wiedersehen,

Elder Sonne

First letter from Austria 10 October 2011

10 October 2011 Austria

Schöne Grüsse!
I am now here in Wiener Neustadt! This place is one of the furthest places away from my last area. It took about 10 hours to get here from my last area. This area is beautiful and it reminds me a little bit of America!!! Oh and I saw two pick up trucks my first day here..I feel like I am home. Its great here I have a new companion named Elder Talbot from San Diego area. He is a great missionary and is very hard working

My address is;
Elder Sonne
Kirche jesu Christi
Zehnergürtel 7/3/33
2700 Wiener Neustadt
Österreich

In this new area we have bikes! They are incredibly nice. We can get places so quickly! I’m super exited to spend less time traveling and more time teaching!!!
Yes...so the new dialect...they pronounce their A as O and their G as a K and their B is a P, so the word gehabt which means to have had something, changes to coped or about there. haha It's actually really funny sounding and some people sound like they are singing when they talk.. especially the bishop. He has a great accent! Well this area is primed for the word of God! We set a baptismal date on Thursday, my first day here. It is for the 13th of November! His name is Anthon Bosezky. He is from Austria and is 83 years old. He has really great insights to the gospel and is a very funny man. He didn’t end up coming to church but he will and is excited to hear the gospel.
And there is Christine Fuchs... Pronounced Christina. She came to church yesterday and I think she was crying after testimony meeting. She is having trouble with smoking but she knows that the church is true! She has had a really hard life and needs to feel the love of our heavenly father! We are meeting with her very often and i have a lot of hope for her!

And there is Völker Schäfer! He has a baptismal date for December sometime. He is a jolly man in his early 40s. He is very well read on everything having to do with the church and already has a great knowledge of the gospel. He said that he felt the spirit speaking through the apostles and the prophets at conference! wow! That is so great and he is so ready to be in the fold. His wife and kids are not too interested in the gospel however and we need prayers from them!

I am loving the area and can’t wait to really get to work here. I love being a missionary and playing for the lords team! It is so great to be here I think I may ask for a lifetime extension!
Bis Nächste Woche,
Elder Sonne

I am loving it here!!

7 November 2011 Fifth Letter from Austria

7 November 2011

Dear familie and freunde,

One cannot imagine what it really means to be a missionary for the lord. It cannot be described in a 1000 page book. It cannot be put into words. It’s tough and rewarding...the hardest and the best. It’s really great. One moment is full of success, the spirit of the lord and pure joy; the next is disappointing and discouraging. There is nothing better. haha. It’s crazy.

This week was not the most successful as according to the number of people or lessons we taught; however, it was successful because we were able to teach some people who really have questions about this life, the plan of salvation, and the meaning of the gospel. They (the Valas Family) are so prepared and I hope and pray they can feel the same burning spirit working through the light of Christ to illuminate their life and fill them with truth and happiness.

Yea we have been having really spiritual lessons lately and that is the only way the work will get done. I have just about gotten used to being rejected and stood up. I realize that all the trouble is worth finding one person who is ready to hear and accept the gospel. The work we are doing is difficult. We are asking people to change their lives. That is the whole purpose of the gospel and this life, but it is not easy it never was easy, not for Jesus, most definitely not for us.

Have a great week in America land.

Elder Sonne

Twelveth Letter from Germany 3 October 2011

Dear Familie und Freudliche Freunde,

Soo the transfer call came... and I am going to Wiener Neustadt in Austria. I am super excited!! I have heard that is the only area that you can see mountains from and that it is very beautiful... I’m not going to say that I miss mountains because that implies that I miss Utah... but yes I do miss mountains and I am very pumped to work there... Oh and apparently, they speak a more difficult dialect there than they do here... I thought I was called to the alpine GERMAN speaking mission... apparently it should be called the alpine schwaibish, byrisch, switzer deutsch, wienerisch speaking mission haha

P-day and the past couple of days have been super relaxing and I’m ready to get back to work. Was that not an amazing conference?! It is such a blessing to have the opportunity to have the prophet, a person like Moses who parted the red sea, speak to us. It is pure scripture coming out of their mouths! It’s like another Book of Mormon being written as they speak....

Anyway the talk about the need for the Book of Mormon was so perfect. It was good to see that I explain the importance of the Book of Mormon in a very similar way and use the same examples as the speaker did... It was cool to see that the gospel is true everywhere and people can be inspired across the world with the same inspiration because there is only one God and one faith and one baptism and one true church. The true gospel cannot provide two correct churches that teach different things. That type of thinking causes confusion and it doesn’t come from heaven.

I have been really thinking about the talks I have heard and about the missionary work and going through tough times and how I will be able to continue on... I continue to think about the scripture... Schriftstelle in Deutsch... where es steht well I think its a scripture... if the lord is with us, who can stand against us?? wow that gives me so much comfort and I love that scripture; if it is even a scripture, I don’t know. It sounds good though I’m pretty sure it’s a scripture.

The German comes and goes, depending upon how much I have spoken throughout the day... . My German is definitely improving and the Lord has really helped me to understand it as I give my best to try to focus on the people with whom I am speaking and as I truly study and memorize the rules of the language!

This week has been really great... I found a woman as we were getting off a train. Her name is Regita Schif. She agreed to meet with us and we committed her to baptism on the first appointment. It went picture perfect, but not quite as well as when Joe Schwarz asked us if we would baptize him, however it went really well! She agreed to be baptized on the 30th of Oktober! But, unfortunately I will be in Austria at that time.

Also, we met with the people we found at the street exhibition. Mathias and Anja Schoenfeld. We helped to do a little renovating on their house and talked about the Book of Mormon and faith and prophets while we were working on peeling paint off of a wall haha. It was really great and they fed us some amazing food.

Also during the week, Elder Hamilton and I spoke to a crowd of 15 or so 10 year olds who were pretty interested in us and our message...

I felt like an apostle in Jesus' time who had followings and crowds that waited on them! It was so cool! haha I love being a missionary!

The church is true. I know that it is true and it is our responsibility to tell the world about the greatest thing which has ever been established. The church of Christ! Bis Naechste Woche!

Elder Sonne

26 September 2011...Eleventh Letter from Germany

26 September 2011

Grütze familie und freunde,

This week has been just about the same as the other weeks.. some good and some bad... but with the help of the lord we can endure anything...

This week, we have received so much food from people... on Wednesday or Tuesday we got a 20-pound gift basket of vegetables from a less active member. On Thursday, we received three pizzas from one family and 2 meals worth of food from another family... we have actually ended up with more food today that we had a week ago after shopping... so we don’t actually have to shop for food this week haha.

My German has been getting much better this last week. I’m not sure why, but I think something in my head just clicked and I can pretty much communicate what I want to say. It occasionally comes aus (out) slow, however, it comes out eventually.... we had a street display on Saturday and towards the end, I started talking to some Americans and I couldn’t think of some English words to say because I had been thinking in German and speaking so much :) Also, during this street display, I found a couple who were actually very interested in the gospel and the Book of Mormon... He actually quoted to me Galatians 4 verse 10 to 12... do you have that scripture memorized?? It really caught me off guard because I was just about to quote it to him. It is about the gospel being laid upon a foundation of apostles and prophets... I also was telling him about Joseph smith and he said all right... that is great, but what does it mean to me? If God still speaks to men, shouldn’t he have a living prophet right now? YES HE DOes …it was so great... their names are the Schoenfelds!

So yesterday, I gave a talk in church.. It turned out to be the longest talk I have ever given because I was speaking super slowly... I spoke about the apostasy and the restoration.. I compared, as best I could in German, the apostasy to the darkness which covered the Nephites and Lamanites after the death of Jesus. It was so thick that the people could feel it. There could not be any light it was so dark. The gospel, the light and truth, came back to the world when Joseph smith had the first vision.. The heavens are once again open and we have the light of the gospel.. But most of the people in the world are still living in darkness.. They are living as though the restoration never took place. It is our responsibility to share the light... We are to be the light of the world. A city which is set upon a hill cannot be hid. Let our light shine and show people living in darkness to the light and the iron rod of the gospel. ... That’s the shortened version of it in English... it didn’t go over very well because I hand wrote it instead of just telling the story. My handwriting is awful so I could exactly read it; it was a little embarrassing but I got through it.

Today I found a talk from Elder Bednar in the apartment. In this talk he describes 3 ways to study the scriptures. The first is to read from front to back and understand the story and to feel the spirit. The second is to study by topic while reading from front to back. The third is to search by finding connections, patters, and themes within the scriptures. It was really good and it has changed the way that I plan to study. The church is true and I am so excited to hear the words of a living prophet who receives revelation for the entire world; For each and every person.

Bis Nächste woche!

Elder Sonne

19 September 2011...Tenth Letter from Germany

delicious lunch made by Elder sonne

September 19, 2011
Dear famile und freunde,

This week has been a roller coaster of experiences! First of all and most importantly, we were able to once more get in contact with my previous and golden investigator, Joe Schwartz and his girlfriend, Danielle.e hae been ringing their door bell for the past month and a half with no response... until mitwoch... Wednesday. We klingeled and they responded. We made an appointment for the next day. We found them in a pretty uneasy and depressed state. We taught them about the joy of the gospel and how they could find true and lasting happiness through the one and only church of God. We also taught them about priesthood authority and the importance of baptism. By the end of the appointment, the couple was beaming and we made an appointment for the next day. At the beginning of the next appointment, Joe asked us if we would baptize him!!!! Needless to say, that took me by surprise! After he said he wanted to be baptized, his girlfriend said, "ya, I would like that too!!" Yes, that was the miracle I have been praying for. That may be the first time that has happened in the country of Germany. haha wow... There is a small problem, however, they are moving within the next week and a half and will not be ready for baptism in that time frame.... But we are working towards that goal and they truly have a desire to be baptized and to be worthy for it.

We also met with Eckhart Steinat and he had been, as it says in 2 Nephi 32... feasting upon the words of Christ. He had post-it notes and had marked up all over the book of Mormon... When I saw his copy, I couldn’t contain myself and just started laughing uncontrollably. We asked him if he would be baptized when he finds out the book of Mormon is true and he said" you would really like that wouldn’t you" haha he likes to joke around and for some reason he just loves elder hamilton and I, although he hates America... anyway he said he would be baptized when he knows it is true!

We also made progress with Annette. We talked with her once again about baptism and she wants to eventually be baptized. She said she felt a special spirit at church a couple of weeks ago and knows that it is true... its amazing. She has also changed since our first visit. I can see more light and happiness in her eyes! She watched Jesus the Christ by herself and cried for 10 minutes straight. She said she didn’t know why she cried... and we told her" that is the spirit of God!!!!!!!" I love the work here.

Oh and Synthia doesn’t want to meet with us any longer and she gave back her Book or Mormon and the restoration DVD. It is unfortunate but we were in contact once more with Ziyeed who lives in the same complex. So it’s not a complete loss.

Not much else is new and I will report how everyone is progressing.

The gospel is true, but hard. With the lord nothing is impossible.

Elder Sonne

12 September 2011 Ninth letter from Germany

12 September 2011

Liebe Familie und freunde,

This week has been amazing and I have had so many great experiences.

Synthia first of all is not doing so well. She said that she does not have time to meet with us so we simply stopped by and shared a scripture. Her entire countenance changed by the time we left. At the beginning, she was not doing so well. She seemed almost in pain and sad, but by the time we left, she was smiling and was doing much better... I unfortunately do not think she will be ready to be baptized on the 25th :( We are planning on stopping by this week and somehow get her ready to be baptized!

We have been meeting with a less active member names br. seiler. He’s so great.. He calls me "Scott Sunshine" and was super funny this last appointment. He has a problem with cigarettes and we have been trying to help him quit and to be free from addiction. This past week we read the story of the anti nephi lehis and how they buried their swords or temptation in the earth. We related that to his smoking and he really wants to quit but he doesn’t think he can do it. We tried everything to have him quit. I showed him a picture of Jesus and put it in front of him so that the picture was right there. He didn’t want to quit for a couple of years and I said to tell that to Jesus and he talked to the picture and it was priceless and kind of funny in the middle of a really serious discussion. He is working on it and he can quit with the help of the lord.

It has been really difficult to get investigators to come to church... We didn’t have anyone attend this week and there aren’t many people progressing that we are teaching:( however we did have some really cool experiences this week.)

We taught Annette and 10 of her friends last Monday night and she seems to be getting more and more interested. We didn’t know it was going to be like a party... But when we got there, there were a bunch of people and food and stuff. The people started to ask why we were dressed up so weird and we ended up teaching the entire first lesson with the Joseph smith story... it went reasonably well and her sister is interested, We gave her a church DVD we had with us. We have another appointment with her on Saturday and are going to teach her over the phone during the week!

This week we also taught a new woman named Frau Fuehrtmueller. We tried to do a quick lesson and commit her to baptism but we ended up staying almost 2 hours and taught some pretty in-depth things about the book of Mormon and prophets and the restoration. She seemed pretty interested and it was fun to meet with her.

We meet regularly with a woman named Donna. Donna has been wondering about very deep doctrine and has been searching for mistakes within the book of Mormon. This week, she started to talk about the location of the new Jerusalem and arguing about Jerusalem and the promised land and so on and so forth. We stopped right there and had a testimony session for about 30 minutes. We (elder Hamilton, the member that was with us, and I) bore strong testimony of the truthfulness of the book of Mormon. We told her that we do not understand all the prophecies about the last days or about all the little things within the bible, but we do know one thing. We know that the book of Mormon is the word of god. We received the answer from heavenly father that the book is true and that’s enough. We dint have to try to prove the book wrong to know that it is true, or compare prophecies in the bible. It is true and we told her the only way to find out if it is true is to read the book with an open heart and pray about it... that is the only way.. That is final.

I hope she takes our advice and is open enough to receive answers !!!

We also met with a couple named the Schowalds. They are the most spiritual people... outside of the apostles that I have met... and maybe more spiritual than Eckhard Steinat... but I am not sure. We invited them to pray about the message and they are going to get an answer that it is true.

This week has been full of fun and we have many appointments this week and opportunities to bear strong testimony of the gospel... It is true and the work is going on.

I found a fairly long German word I thought everyone would enjoy. It is benachrichtigungssymbole.

The church is true and it is led by men who are led directly by God.

Elder Sonne

5 September 2011....Eighth Letter from Germany

Hallo familie und freunde ,

I’m having a great time here!!! and it’s pretty great to try to find people that will hear the gospel even if most of them don’t want anything to do with the church and the gospel. So the whole story with Eckhat...We started the waving thing a while ago and about 2 weeks ago, we saw someone that waved to us at a stop light and we hesitated to go up to the car. So, we decided that the next time we would go up to the car and give them a card or at least say hi....

so when we saw Eckhat waved back, we immediately ran and it worked out for the best.... Also during the lesson, he said that he felt something special about us when he saw us on the street! I love teaching the gospel.

This week elder Hamilton and i have so many appointments. I’m so pumped. Last week, we worked very hard and made many appointments with new people that we will meet this week. I’m so excited to invite these children of god back to Christ!!! We only need to keep up the work and we will see more and more miracles.

Yesterday I found some really interesting scriptures that I have decided to make my motto for this week. I don’t know exactly where it is because I’ve been looking up so many scriptures lately haha. but anyway the scripture is talking about the liahona and when lehi and his family were diligent and had faith, the liahona worked.... It was by the small and simple faith and diligence that miracles are accomplished... But when we slack off and are not so diligent and loose our faith, the miracles cease. I think it may be in alma 37:40 and 41 but I’m not sure... Speaking of miracles... yesterday a miracle took place! With a woman named Annette. I found her name and number on an old sheet of investigators. It was separate from the 'area book' but I decided that we should call her up and see if she would like to meet with us. She surprisingly wanted to meet with us the next day. SO we met Friday and taught her the plan of salvation... It went really well and she was interested. We invited her to church just the same as we invite everyone to church and... she came!!! However her commitment to come to church came with a condition, we would go to her church... A Harry Krishna 'temple' she said she felt a good spirit at church and she really enjoys the challenge and open invitation to ask God for yourself to find out if the church is true. We later went to the Harry Krishna temple. It was interesting to see how other churches worship God.... Afterwards, we tried to make an appointment with Annette and she said she would not have time this week to meet with us and didn’t want to come to church next week. I was really bummed out after this. I was upset that she was “kept” from the truth even though she knew where to find it. I was sad and frustrated and really down on myself and on missionary work. I thought that because I hadn’t said the right thing it was my fault that she wouldn’t be able to enjoy the blessings of the gospel. After we got home and broke our fast, she texted us and asked us if we had time today at 6:30!!! wow I was really thinking she had slipped through our fingers! The spirit really works on people. ... So the temple was a little different. They sang songs for about 2 hours straight; one of which was accompanied with dancing... haha it was great. They believe in an enigmatic being as God who has a split personality and isn’t a father of our spirits. During this service and one of their talks, I had the strong impression that we are children of a heavenly father who loves us and he is there waiting for us. I love that the church is true. It’s so amazing that we have the entirety of the truth. We have the organization that Jesus established and that has always been. We have revelation from god that leads the church and its so amazing. The doctrines of the book of Mormon help us to understand the importance of the savior and the true purpose of his earthly ministry. It’s so true. I love it.

2 September 2011...Seventh Letter from Germany

Grütize family and friends! 2 September 2011

This week has truly been hectic! Elder Hamilton and I have been really hard at work, trying to find someone who will be receptive to the good message of the gospel. And we have actually found a few potential people this week. I don’t even know where to start! First, we have decided that every single person in all the 25 cities or so we work in will know who we are... so we smile and wave to everything that moves. Cars, trains, buses, people on the street... elder Hamilton accidentally waved at a dog a couple days ago ha-ha. This new technique of ours has actually started to work.... When we say hi to people they often come up to us and ask us why we are so happy and saying hi to everyone. This past week, we waved at a man in a car; he actually waved back and was smiling. There was a red light shortly ahead and we ran to the stopped car with the happy man inside. When we got to him the light was just turning green. The man rolled down the passenger window of the car to talk to us. He said, in a very American accent, VERY NICE BOYS! I was so taken back and I told him who we were, in German, and he responded that everyone is a representative of Jesus. It was really weird! He actually pulled over on the side of the street and we made an appointment with this man for last Wednesday. It was the most ridiculous thing in the world. The appointment with this man was one of the most interesting lessons with which I have been involved yet. His knowledge of the gospel is astounding! He taught us the apostasy of Christ’s church better than I can and we simply picked right up from there and went into the restoration. I was awe struck. Sadly he does not want to come to church or meet with us regularly ... yet!! We gave him a book of Mormon and he said he would read it and we can meet in a couple more weeks! We have been having crazy experiences like this one throughout the past couple of weeks... I have never worked so hard in my entire life and my comp said the first 21 months of his mission combined has not equaled the amount of work we have been getting done!! It’s amazing.

Oh yea... this past week I set my first baptismal date... With a woman named Sinthiya from Nigeria. The story of how we met is pretty amusing. It was a very hot day and we had been outside trying to find someone to teach for some hours. We visited a potential investigator named Buh. He was not home, so we started to head back in the direction of the train station. I recognized the apartment of an old investigator and we were exceedingly hot. I had no more water in my bottle so I thought we could stop by to say hi and ask for some water! The old investigator no longer lived there, but a lady opened the door. We asked for water and she gladly filled both of our bottles. I then thought we could share our message of the gospel. At the end we invited her to church... and she actually came!-- for three hours. At which, baptism was discussed and prophets and covenants and everything that is perfect for investigators! We made two appointments with her for this week and were able to commit her to baptism and set a baptismal date for September 25! She is not sure she will be ready, but if she reads and keeps the commandments and prays she will be ready!!! I love this work.

22 August 2011...Sixth Letter from Germany

Grütze Familie und Freunde,

This last week was transfer week! On Wednesday, I got a new companion named elder Hamilton. He is from Cedar Hills Utah. He is a middle child of 6 and has been out on his mission for 21 months. He is hilarious and we get along really great! It's a lot better to not always be 100% serious all the time. When we are working, we are working and we need the spirit with us. But humor has really helped me to keep my head up and have a good time. He is no longer considered my "trainer"; he is called the "greeny buster". I'm not really sure what that means but I think he is supposed to break me in and get to work. And we have been doing some work!!!

On Wednesday, we spent most of the day in a little town called Winnenden. There, we talked to a couple of people who don't normally come to church, in particular, a bruder (brother) Seiler. He said he was not going to come to church this week and was going to go to a methodist church instead. We reminded him of the feeling and testimony of the book of Mormon and of Joseph Smith. We also discussed the opportunity to renew baptismal covenants through the sacrament. Although he said he wasn't going to come, he actually showed up yesterday and stayed for 3 hours. We have another appointment with him this week and hope to help him to come regularly!

Saturday was insane. We spent the entire day on foot in two cities, Backnang and Fellbach. We found a woman in Backnang, Frau Nees, that has interest in our message! We gave her daughter a book of Mormon a couple of weeks ago and she said she would be willing to meet with us:) She is busy the next couple of weeks but invited my companion and I to play some golf sometime soon :) haha so we will see how that works out.

Yeah its awesome... wonderful that we have the same organization that has always been in God's church. That is our special message. That we have the same church as was organized originally by Christ; that we have continual guidance in our church. It is a living church with current revelation to deal with the problems of today. The prophet and apostles continue to teach the everlasting truths of the doctrine of Christ. faith, repentance, baptism, gift of the holy ghost, and enduring to the end. However, we have new revelation about food storage and the dangers of pornorgraphy and drugs and tattoos and everything that comes up in the world; we have a prophet to lead and guide and interpret scripture and to bear testimony of the living nature of christ. We have the priesthood to administer the ordinances of the gospel. Just as the priests in the times of old were called by laying on of hands to do the ordinances, we have it today. Without it, there is no power to be together with our families and there is no power to provide the saving ordinances of the gospel; to give the rungs on the ladder of progression and be eternally happy with Heavenly Father and our family. I love the gospel!

Until next week, elder sonne!

Scott receives his "mission call" letter on February 9, 2011

On February 9, 2011 Scott went to the desk at Helaman Halls, where he is a freshman at BYU. He was looking for his "mission call" letter and they told him that it had not arrived. I had already booked a flight on Friday the 11th for him to come home to open up his letter in St. Louis. Meanwhile, a message is left on the voice mail of our home phone that the letter had arrived early that morning and they were waiting for him to pick it up. He texts me that afternoon, while I was at lunch, that he did not receive his letter. I went home before going back to work and found the phone message from the desk at Helaman Halls and just assumed that Scott was going to fly home and surprise us, so I did not say anything until he called me at work later in the afternoon and I realized that he was not trying to surprise us. The desk at Helaman Halls had told him that the letter was not there! I told him about the phone message left that morning and he went straight to the desk and they handed him his mission call! Consequently, I found out about the arrival of Scott's mission call before he did.

Elder Sonne arrives in Munich....Mission Home picture on 12 June 2011

Elder Sonne with President & Sister Miles in Munich on 12 June 2011

Elder Scott Joseph Sonne is called to the ALPINE GERMAN SPEAKING MISSION

JUNE 2011-JUNE 2013

15 August 2011...Fifth letter from Germany (addendum)

August 15,2011….Monday

I have not bought a camera yet but i am planning on buying one today!

Yes exactly! Faith is a gift that comes from obedience... From obedience, reading scriptures, praying, going to church, and basically being in situations that we can feel the spirit and when we are obedient, we are worthy to have the spirit with us... I’ve learned that faith is truly amazing; it is by faith that miracles are done. In 3rd Nephi, Jesus says that he literally could not show the people in Jerusalem the miracles he showed the Nephites because the people did not have enough faith. In Ether it says that by faith was the atonement accomplished; by faith the world was made. I don’t understand it at all, but I teach about it everyday!

This week we had another street set up. I ended up meeting a guy with a St. Louis shirt on. He goes to school in Carbondale. He is a really cool guy. His name is Christian and he is an atheist. haha He speaks perfect English and I was able to teach him on the street for about an hour. He is a super cool guy and he will be in Missouri in a couple of days. He said he would gladly welcome missionaries there so I will give his information to the office so they can teach him out there. But it is great to know that there are still people here and everywhere that the lord has prepared and are willing to listen to the gospel. I gave his brother in law a copy of the book of Mormon and we had a great conversation. It was really nice to teach in English... by myself and just say what I know is true and to try to help others understand the same thing.

Oh man, Garrett is in Ghana wow. That would be so nice. Every single African we see here we try to talk to because they are so open to the gospel. Just about every single African is willing to meet with missionaries! Its amazing. He is very lucky in that way. And Travis is in the MTC...That’s so great.

P.S. we have been teaching a woman that wants to know everything about the gospel and the really deep doctrine. Its crazy and I have been studying the pearl of great price. hah it’s great.

I love you and let everyone know that I am doing well
and loving it in Germany!

Elder Sonne

15 August 2011...Fifth letter from Germany

Date: Monday, August 15, 2011, 5:52 AM


Its good to hear that you were all okay from all the bad weather... it seems like every time we drive back from Michigan there is awful weather!


Yea, so the Muslim leader is super busy and we are going to be able to meet him and go to the mosque on September 1st. The other Muslims are leaving for Saudi Arabia and anther doesn't want to meet because its Ramadan and he is fasting and is tired.


So transfers are on Wednesday and i will be receiving a new comp. his name is elder Hamilton. I don't know very much about him but I'm excited!

We were able to get a hold of more people this weekend and have more appointments for the week. We also have a new member who was just baptized 3 months ago that can speak Arabic and can help us with some of the middle easterners. he is very willing and a great guy.

This week i decided to read some from the account of the people who experienced Jesus coming to visit the Americas. It was interesting that Jesus speaks to them 3 times. The first two times, the people cannot understand the words which were spoken. But the third time, because they were looking steadfastly and listening for the voice that they could hear the words of the lord. This is what I experience everyday. Most of people are so far gone that they cannot even feel the spirit as it pierces them to the soul. But the ones that do, they do not understand the feeling of the spirit at first. As missionaries we are to bring the spirit to the people we teach and teach them to recognize that the feeling is the spirit. Then we ask the people to pray to know if our message is true. When they do this; when they truly,steadfastly look toward the source of truth and truly ponder and truly seek an answer with faith and a sincere heart and real intent...it is then that they understand the words of the Lord. They understand the truth of our message: That God is our heavenly father, and just as he called prophets in the bible, he has called a prophet once again for the people today. The lord leads and guides his church through this prophet. This is the truth and the ones that understand this are the ones that ponder and allow the words of Christ to sink deep into their heart like Enos and wrestle with God to know if it is true. And by the power of the holy ghost they know it is true. By that power I know that the true church is restored on the earth. I love it .

8 August 2011...Fourth letter from Germany

From: Scott Sonne
Date: Mon, Aug 8, 2011 at 4:32 AM
Subject: Re: from Frankfort to Waiblingen
To: Peggy Sonne

Schoenen guten tag!

Oh wow i really miss Michigan! and the whole family!... haha but being out here is soo fun! Everything here is reminding me of Michigan, I saw a house the other day on a bluff and it reminded me of Michigan, the smell of the houses here remind me of Michigan, the weather, and everything reminds me of Michigan! I'm really loving the work though!...
To answer your questions...

yes i get to exercise every morning but its the first 30 minutes of the day so i'm still mostly asleep and need some time to wake up before i start to exercise! Either way, I get quite a bit of exercise everyday from all the walking we do.
I study scriptures in English... We have an hour for personal study and i study for that time in English, then we have an hour for companion study, and then we have an hour to study German, during which i study out of a German text book for 30 minutes and read the scriptures and preach my gospel for the other 30 minutes.
The other day I saw a boat on a trailer for the first time... that reminded me of Michigan too.


This past week has been an emotional roller coaster! On Wednesday, I was hating life and the only thing i wanted to do was go to sleep and take a ride on the boat. I have been getting down on myself for not being able to speak German very well and not being able to carry a conversation in German. On Wednesday, I just sat there while my companion and a German talked for 20 minutes about the gospel. I felt like i had nothing to offer...But I stuck it out for the rest of that day. The next day was better. The next day after that was even better. The past couple of days have been really great. I have learned that if i trust in the lord, relax and really try to understand the content of the lessons, I can be happy and really help people come closer to Christ. I know the gospel, but its hard putting everything in order and then putting it through a strainer called German to try to tell someone about it. I usually end up just saying that its great, its great, its really great.. haha. But my German and teaching skills are building... slowly.
We really couldn't get a hold of most of the people we teach and a bunch of appointments fell through this week, but i know if i pray with faith, we will be able to explain the truth and convey the spirit that changes lives!
The members here are so great. A young couple named Felix and Katie (from America) took my comp and i to a little restaurant called chefs last week after emails. They are so cool. They help me keep my sanity and we talked a little bit about B.Y.U.... I've been really starting to doubt if there is life beyond a mission. It is great.
Another family called the Metzners have taken my comp and I in so many times and have fed us so much and even gave us a ride from the train station when it was raining. Another family, the Müllers are soo cool. The son, Micha is the ward mission leader and one of the friendliest (and good) guys I've ever met. He speaks English and that helps us when we have meetings. The daughter also speaks English and is hilarious! The parents are the nicest people. Last night i almost felt like i was at home. Even though its not quite like being with family, they're so kind and treat us like sons and siblings. Its really comforting, especially since i cant be in Michigan with all of you! So the ward is great and I'm loving it here!

We unfortunately were not able to attend the mosque this last week! There was some mis-communication with the mosque priest and the people we are teaching. So when we went to the Muslims we are teaching, with the intention on going to the mosque, we ended up teaching Siheed about the restoration (thankfully in English). Just when we were about to get to the first vision, the priest came into the room with 7 other Muslims to see why we wanted to come to the mosque. We said why and ended up teaching the priest about the restoration and the plan of salvation. Elder Patchett, myself, and him were speaking in German while the other 7 or 8 people in the room could not understand a word of what we were teaching. They just all stared at us for the hour we taught him. It was a little nerve racking at first, but when we realized they had no idea what we were saying, it wasn't so bad. The priest seemed pretty interested in the church and we are going to try to get another appointment and baptize him so then he will teach the others in Arabic or Somalian and then convert his whole congregation. That would be so cool; I'm excited for our next visit! The three people who promised to come to church this week didn't. We couldn't even ask Joe to come because his phone isn't working and he doesn't keep appointments.
At testimony meeting yesterday i had a really special experience. I realized that everything that God tells us to do is for our benefit, for our happiness. Just like when Jesus says the sabbath was made for man and not man for the sabbath. The commandments and everything that god has given us is for us to learn, grow, become like him, and receive eternal joy with him in heaven. He loves us so much and when we disobey him, we are only hurting ourselves. This really hit me hard during the meeting. It was one of those subjects that I always knew was true...that the gospel is for our benefit, but now I know without a doubt that he loves us and that his whole purpose, to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man, is a plan for us to be happy. I know that. The church is true and Heavenly father loves us so much.

auf wiederhören,
Elder Sonne

1 August 2011...Third letter from Germany (addendum)

August 1, 2011…Monday

I had an exchange this week and went to Heilbronn, a little bit larger city than the one I live in. The people there seem more open to the gospel. As we were going door to door, a couple young kids walked by and yelled something about the bible I chased after them and we ended up talking about some really cool stuff and they want to meet. But it isn’t my area so the other elders get to teach them. We had a street set up this week.
I probably talked to 200 people. Most of who did not want to listen to me at all. But my German and confidence really improved as I talked to more people! I got two numbers from it and it was super fun!



So yesterday some of the members made us burgers, and they were actually very good. Other than that, they make German stuff that is really good. I’m not really sure what it is but its delicious haha.
Some of the landscape here is amazing! There are very green rolling hills and little villages scattered abroad; I love it! It’s so German.

no bikes yet.. mostly public transportation

I love and miss you mama. Oh and I was reading in alma, I think chapter 56 or 57 and the story of the stripling warriors reminded me of you. I doubt not because my mama knows it! love you thanks for everything!!!

1 August 2011...Third letter from Germany

liebe grusse meine familie, 1 August 2011

These past couple of days have been tough because I know that all of you are heading up to Michigan. Yesterday at 8, i was thinking about what you all would be doing in Michigan and figured you would be eating brunch together in Frankfort... or maybe at cherry hut i don't know. It made me a little sad but i realize the German cooking is just as good if not better than the food in Michigan so it all good. Oh and I've been getting hooked on cherries. I eat cherries all the time and it reminds me of Michigan.. even though we never really eat cherries there, it still helps.haha I hope everything goes well and you have a great time in Michigan. Ill be out here serving the lord! There is no place I'd rather be (than in Michigan) to be honest. But I'm loving the work here.
I miss almost everything about Michigan, but i am very excited not to be involved in solving the boat problems hah.
Its good to hear that you got the right tires on Eleanor.. Did you bring her up to Michigan?

The ward is great and we get dinner appointments 2 or 3 times a week and every Sunday!

hah German... its coming very slowly. I thought that i could learn a lot by speaking with the people, but just about the only words i have learned is ich bin catholisch, i am catholic. haha its not that bad but i can say that phrase flawlessly. oh and my German learning time is cut off just about everyday by one thing or another. by district meeting, or appointments, or exchanges, or something so i'm not learning very quickly. I wish i had rosetta stone it helped so much. About the only thing i have been doing to understand German is I pray... I pray a lot. Now i can usually understand what people are trying to say and i can contribute to the lessons and contacting.. My companion still thinks i cant talk so he talks incessantly with the people and i can only get a few words out.

My companion and i have a very large area to cover... many cities and it takes about an hour and a half to get to some places in our area, while other places are impossible to reach because of the lack of public transportation to some of the areas. so we mostly ride trains and buses which is very nice but also very frustrating because it takes so long on the train that we cant spend enough time teaching people.

haha wow you left STL so early.. you made it out before 12.


So these are the investigators: Joe Schwartz, Frau Klein, Frau Braun, Bu, Siheed, and Ralph.

Joe is having trouble with his girlfriend and he is very stressed out. We are hoping he will break up with her and i think he is about to. We have not really been able to get many appointments with him or get a hold of him because he gave his phone to his girlfriend and it is turned off. We set up 4 appointments with Joe this week and he only was home 1 of the four times. I have really seen a lot of opposition come upon him since we started to meet with him, however i know we have been getting through to him and he is loving the lessons. Joe just eats up the scriptures. I don't think he is reading what we assign him but it seems like he is reading everywhere else. His new favorite scripture is Alma 51:14... i think you'll enjoy that one. Its not very spiritually uplifting, but Joe calls it heftig or heavy and then says its tip top. he says everything is tip top. |I think he thinks that's some sort of American expression. In our only lesson with Joe this week, we shared some uplifting scriptures and just tried to lift his spirits. The spirit was not right (not the right time) to commit him to baptism so next time we see him we will set a date for him to come into the fold of god and begin his journey along the straight and narrow path! Its so great to help people come closer to Christ!

So Frau Klein: She runs her own little bed and restaurant type business... with only one employee. So she is always stressed out with work. This last lesson we read Alma 32 and helped her understand faith. I could really see the understanding in her eyes and everything seemed better. She said she would most likely come to church, but she didn't. She simply needs to start coming closer to Christ on her own; we can't drag her any longer! She needs that step of faith to read and pray and come to church!

We are currently teaching a couple of Muslims! one is named Bu, one Abraham, the other Siheed. We made a deal with them that if we go to mosque with them, they will come to church! haha so were going to the mosque today haha. Don't worry, my companion is a martial artist haha. wow i love this work. After that we are going to teach them a lesson so they can see the difference between the spirit and... not the spirit. or a different sort of spirit. hah All will go well though don't worry and don't tell mom about it.. haha but they want book of Mormons and its great!!

I lost my camera and i need the power cord that goes to my ipod player! i dont need peanut butter, we found some last week!

Sincerely,
Elder sonne