Monday, June 22, 2015

Monday June 22, 2015 Gera, Germany

Hallo! How are you? Everyone sounds like they have all had a super fun week! Really, thank you everyone for the emails, and pictures! It means a lot to me! Chelise sent me a video of Mykell hula hooping, and I was amazed that she actually remembered me! I feel like I’ve been gone for a REALLY long time, so I guess I’m just always surprised when the littler kids remember me! Also, I thought I would let you know that seeing pictures of all the Aunts and my sisters is making me feel really ugly! Geez. Everyone is so beautiful! I’m like the ugly duckling of the bunch! Ok, I’m kidding...kind of. Maybe because I have the Spirit with me so strong it helps me look a little better than I actually do! Ok, but in all seriousness, everyone looks very good! And I believe I saw a picture of dad wearing a shirt I have never seen before. I’m impressed Dad! Branching out a little bit;) 

For a quick update about Germany. It’s cold here. Probably in the upper 50's lower 60's every day. Plus it rains almost every day. I now know why Germany is so green! But, I have to say, I’m not very jealous of the 100 degree weather. I would rather have it in the 60's! That’s about all I know about Germany right now. Oh! I also know a LOT about the DDR now! Do you know what that is? It's East Germany, behind the wall. I get told stories every day on the street! I should write some of them down! They are very cool! 

So, for my week....

Montag: We were supposed to go on Tausch. However, the sister from Chemnitz missed their train, and there wasn't one for a long time. So they got here late, and just decided to sleep over! This was actually really fun! Especially because It’s a new sisters program and we got to tell them all about it! We all 4 went and gave Schwester Dörlitz a flower because she likes flowers and does a lot for us. 

Dienstag: The sisters were still here! We did studies, bought a Bratwurst! Oh! It was sooo funny! Sister Hahn wasn’t planning on staying over, so she didn't have any missionary clothes, (they came straight from playing b-ball) so they were in their work out clothes. She borrowed a skirt and shirt, but she didn't have any shoes, none of our shoes fit, so she was just walking around Markt with just socks on! It was pretty funny! We then went on splits! I went with Sister Moffet! We found a couple of new contacts, and it’s always fun to learn some new things. Sister Moffet is very good at giving advice. I had kind of felt like I fell into a rut of missionary work, and that I wasn't really progressing personally. She gave me some really good tips. One of them was "change your prayers, and it will change everything". This week, I have witnessed this to be true. Prayers are answered. By saying sincere prayers, we see miracles. If you are feeling in a rut in life change your prayers to be more meaningful! I promise it will help! We also had Geminde Abend this night! Lutz, a less active gave the thema. It was very cool to see him share his testimony that he hasn't shared in a long time. I think it was good for him to realize that he still has his testimony! 

Mittwoch: We missed our bahn, so, this made our WHOLE day late. We got late to Sch. Kretchmar, and she took us to this member who now lives in an old folks home! He's 80 something and learned English in school and likes to talk to us in English! It’s pretty amazing that he can still speak it! Sch. Kretchmar then invited us over to eat. Even though we didn't have an appointment with her, she had everything prepared like she was going to feed us. People are funny! I ate a new vegetable. It’s called korabie (have no idea how to spell it) and it was good! We don’t have it in America! We then went to an appointment with Frank. I love him. He makes puppets and worked illegally for the U.S. army somehow. But, he also frustrates me. He talks a lot, and doesn't let us teach very much! We somehow got the restoration in! We then went to Schwester Rieman, another less active. Her husband who is a non-member was there. He asked a lot of questions that were actually good questions, just hard to answer. Bruder Krause is good friends with this family! He is now our new Ward Mission Leader and we are very excited! We then went to English, played scatigories. People here can already speak perfect English! Sometimes they even teach us some new fancy words! 

Donnerstag: distrikt meeting. We almost got on the wrong train, but luckily the zone leaders saw us, called us and told us to run over to the other part of the train. Trains.... anyways. Good distrikt meeting about planning, and preparing. The war chapters are good for this topic! We were then planning on going home and doing some stuff...but, there was a Chinese guy who got kicked off the train at our layover stop because he bought the wrong ticket. Luckily he spoke a little English so we were able to help him buy the right ticket. In doing that we missed our layover train. So...we were stuck in this little town for 2 hours with this Chinese guy. He was very nice, showed us pictures of China. Cool. We also found the best bakeri I’ve ever been too! I hope we have another train fall out there again! But we finally got home, quickly went to Frau Dhillons house for a lesson. We taught about Jesus and the atonement. She doesn't like when we use the Book of Mormon, so we just used the Bible. It was actually a little hard! 

Freitag: Our lesson with the Meckel Family fell out! But, we got to talk to Schwester Meckel and got some things settled. We go over every Monday at 17! Good! We did some finding, then went with Lucy and walked a dog from the shelter here in Gera. He was cute. I miss animals sometimes! We had a short lesson, and talked more about goals. Lucy has really good goals, better than the ones I think of! She helps us out a lot! We then had Herr Strauss. During our lesson we thought he was going to drop us. We just bore testimony, and then he asked when we could meet again. That was a miracle. Then, my favorite part of the week...weekly planning! 

Samstag: We had a ward "Get to know you" party! It was fun! We got to play sports with the little kids! It reminds me of playing with my cousins! We then met really quickly with Raymond. Very African but very cool! We still aren’t sure how much interest he has in our message, because he keeps telling us he doesn't want to change! We will see what we can do, or, what the Spirit can do for him! 

Sonntag: Church! We were there for a long time today because Bishop wanted to talk to us. Then we went to a member’s house and I ate fish with scales on it for the first time. I was joking with sister Medley in the morning because we knew we were eating fish, and she doesn't like fish...I said that it would be funny if it still had the scales and stuff on it. I need to be more careful with what I say. It was actually good! And you don’t eat the scales, if you were wondering. We went finding for a while. We haven't found anyone new in a long time. It’s a little frustrating. But, life keeps going, we just need to keep doing our best! 

Well, I don't know if I have a very good spiritual thought this week. Sometimes a feel a little spiritually drained. And emotionally drained. And physically drained. But, I’m still doing well! Remember to always do your best in all that you do. I've learned that that is sometimes all we can do. Trust in heavenly father, He really does know what’s best! Sometimes I wish I could explain things in person, but I guess that will come! Oh! And on Saturday we got transfer calls! I’m going to…just kidding. I’m staying, and Sister Medley is staying! She will be the longest I’ve had a companion. The Lord knows what he is doing! I feel so blessed to have one of my best friends as my companion also! I need to remember to be more grateful! Love you!! 

Liebe, Sister St. John

 Some scenery!

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