Look!

Dear Zach,

Tonight, just at dusk, I walked down some steps and about a block along Main Street of Bad Vilbel to the store where I bought shampoo, bar soap, toothpaste, and lotion. When I came back along my street, this is what I saw.

It was almost dark, darker than the picture looks, so it was hard to hold still. But you can see that the beautiful moon was peeking through the rainy misty clouds. I imagined it was shouting out your name and it made me smile! I hurried to get my camera.

It will be fun when the trees have spring leaves, I think.

I love you!

Bamma

Fun

I have been having fun. It snowed today and is still snowing... I don't really like the snow. I want it to leave. How is the weather in Germany? Your house looks amazing. I wish that I was there!!! I had a good day at school today and am enjoying my new lunch working job, selling the milk! I get to just sit there drawing and writing and then give juice and milk to people!!! And then at the end I have to put all the left over milk in the walk-in fridge!!! It's so much fun.

I'm Here!

My wonderful Zachers,

I made it. The flight seemed to me to take forever, but I think it was because for my body it was daytime, though we were flying over the ocean in the pitch black night. So I didn't feel like sleeping much.

But yesterday was wonderful. I am in a little village of Frankfurt called Bad Vilbel. Bad means "bath," so it means there are some sort of springs nearby. Lots of places in this area are "Bad" something or other. In fact, the state is called Baden-Wuertemburg. Cool, huh?

It's now the middle of the night here, but I just barely got my computer to work on the wireless. Someone told me yesterday that they left the code on the bulletin board in my little apartment, and it works! Yay!

Here is a picture of my bedroom.

And here is a picture of the front of my house. My door is the second from the left. Other people live behind the other doors. Cool looking, huh.

This is a wonderful place to be. I miss you.

Bamma

What was the flight like?

Hi Bamma, tell me everything! Was the flight really long and tiring?

I like this

Zach, I discovered this quote a couple of weeks ago at Church. I love it. Tell me what is your favorite part.

Elder James E. Talmage, who served in the Quorum of the Twelve, shared thoughts about how his ordination to the office of deacon affected him:

"As soon as I had been ordained, a feeling came to me such as I have never been able to fully describe. It seemed scarcely possible, that I, a little boy, could be so honored of God as to be called to the priesthood. . . . I felt strong in the thought that I belonged to the Lord, and that he would assist me in whatever was required of me.

"The effect of my ordination. . . entered into all the affairs of my boyish life. . . .When at play on the school grounds, and perhaps tempted to take unfair advantage in the game, when in the midst of a dispute with a playmate, I would remember, and the thought would be as effective as though spoken aloud---'I am a deacon; and it is not right that a deacon should act in this way.' On examination days, when it seemed easy for me to copy some other boy's work. . ., I would say in my mind, 'It would be more wicked for me to do that than it is for them, because I am a deacon.'"

Isn't that cool? I am so excited that you are getting so close to being ordained a deacon. I am so sorry I won't be there. But I am counting on you to tell me about it. It is a serious thing to be called to act in God's name. That's what I am called to do on this mission. Act in God's name. I carry His name on my badge.

I love you. I pray for you every day.

Bamma

Hi Bamma 3/3/08

Today at school we had no math or centers! WOO HOO!
That is the worst parts of my day so... I'm happy. I am working on our patriotic program. It's crazy. I have to do so much. I have the introduction speaking part (the same part as tyler) and then have to hop onto the stage with the show choir (the first to do the songs) and then I have to go get a kid named Elijah Labit. I sing 9 songs in all! CRAZY!!!
I love you

Zachary T. Knell

One Week Down

My marvelous Zach,

I've finished a whole week at the MTC. They have taught me how to use Preach My Gospel, a wonderful book, to prepare lessons to teach people. Now this week I have training on my specific job with the young people.

Mostly I want you to know this is a wonderful thing. I can feel Heavenly Father's spirit here in the MTC, even though sometimes I remember that people are imperfect. (Even me).

I loved seeing you on Saturday. I hope your visit with Ben went well. I love your good friends and your working to be kind and caring to them.

I love you.

Bamma