Tuesday, July 7, 2015

Monday July 6, 2015 Gera, Germany

Well, I think one thing in common with us this week is that it was HOT! I honestly think I have been sweating for a week straight. Also, for some great reason, Germany thinks it doesn't need AC. It does. Also, it’s a great feeling to get out of the shower and never be really dry...ugh! Not going to lie, I like the dry heat better! The humidity is only good if you are by an ocean. Anyway, you sounded like you had a great week full of summer fun. Having cousins over is always fun. Enjoy every moment! 

As for my week....
Montag: The Meckels fell out and so we had an extra hour of P-day, and a few hours free to work. So...Lucy called us and she was in the town! We went, got some dinner, and then went to a park to have our own little Family Home Evening. Sister Medley and Lucy stuck me in this spinney thing and spun me till I was way dizzy. They decided to film me trying to get out of the spinney thing and the video is pretty funny! I wish I could send it to you. After that we had a really spiritual lesson. We love Lucy! She is like our best friend!

Dienstag: We went by on a member in an old folk’s home, and he was busy, so we couldn't visit him. Then we went by on a contact. He wasn't home. We then taught Michael about obedience. We found a video, its president Uchtdorf giving his testimony. Of course in English, However, HE translated it into German! So, we heard Pres. Uchtdorf speak German. Very cool! We then Taught Frau Dhillon from the Bible, and she fed us food with raw tomatoes. I managed to eat them without throwing up. We then had an appointment with a new investigator Claudia. She is 19 and very open to learn. She also accepted that when she knows it's true, she will be baptized. 

Mittwoch: Diskrikt meeting! The Elders made us root beer floats because it's the fourth of July week! They had some root beer extract or something, and it actually tasted pretty good! After Distrikt meeting we went by a member in Werdau and she wasn't home. It was SO hot this day. Honestly like upper 90's and so humid. I was wet. Everyone was just wet. Gross. We got home, and ate lunch. What? We actually had time to eat lunch? That’s weird! We did some studies, which is actually one of my favorite parts of the day, and then did some finding! Not very many people were out though because it was so hot. Extreme weather conditions...not prime for missionary work. 

Donnerstag: We taught Michael about trying his faith. We felt strongly that we needed to invite him to be baptized on the 25th. Before we invited him, we read a few scriptures and we got on the topic of how Sister Medley and I don't have a perfect knowledge of the Book of Mormon, or the Gospel, but that we have a testimony of it and that’s what’s important. We then invited him. He said yes! And He said before he thought that he needed to know everything in the Book of Mormon, but that now he knows he just needs a testimony. He doesn't quite have a testimony yet, but I know he will get one before the 25th. We will be working a lot with him these next few weeks. We also taught Sandy, he is also a new investigator. Then had German and English class. That’s fun! We have like 4 or 5 young guys come from the Middle East. Syria, and Iran, and Iraq. It's interesting to hear how things were for them there. They are cool! I will send a pic of them. They think my blonde hair is cool. Then...we taught Raymond. Our African. Also, Tony, a newly returned sister missionary came with us! She served in Ukraine! It was a pretty horrible lesson because he doesn't let us talk and isn't willing to do anything...we decided to drop him after the lesson. However, Tony is awesome and misses her mission! We went out to dinner with her and ate at this American style little diner! 

Freitag: We made some Tauf (baptism) calendars for the Meckel kids. Put scriptures on every day, and things they should be doing every week. We also had weekly planning... which, oh my goodness it was SO hot in our apartment. We live on the top floor, and there is NO AC! Honestly....Germans and their energy saving. We had an appointment with Herr Strauss. We showed up at the park. He gave us the Book of Mormon back. Told us he didn't need it, gave us some presents, and said he wasn't interested. That it wasn't for him, but thanks anyway. I cried. We visited a less active, Sch. Wolf. She was kind of baptized without a testimony. We will have to work with her like an investigator. Sad. Then, Sch. Riemann had a lot of people over at her house, so we didn't get a good lesson in. Also sad, and a little frustrating. Sister Medley also tried to talk to a lady on the Bahn and the lady got up and moved like in the middle of the conversation. haha! It was a had to be there moment. We were done with this day. 

Samstag: AMERICA DAY!!! We wore red white and blue with the rest of America! There is a cool scripture about our country in Ether 2:12. It talks about how our country is the Promised Land, but only if we serve God. A German told me the other day that 50% of Americans go to a church every Sunday. I like to think that 45% of them are LDS. We talked to a man this day who talked to us about how he thinks America is going to start world war three. He was very concerned about it. I think he will be dead by the time that happens, so he shouldn't be worrying about it. (He was very very old) We got to visit the Zaumsagel family! They have a house in East Germany. Very cool! We taught Michael the Word of Wisdom, with Sch. Kretchmar as a joint teach. Michael and Sch. Kretchmar wore red white and blue for us. Very funny! Then we went and had a lesson with Lucy! We got to go to her apartment! It was really fun to finally see where she lives. There really is the Spirit in her room! It’s amazing the feeling from outside just walking around, and being inside a house with the Spirit there. 

Sontag: If this tells you how hot it really was, we only had 1 hour of church because of the heat. We ate with the Brykaski's. They just came from a trip from southern France on some island. The pictures looked amazing! I want to go sometime. He is also a good cook, so we enjoyed ourselves. Then we went with Lucy to a garden party from Frau Dhillon. She had lots of friends there and it was good to get to know people in a casual way. Lucy brought her guitar and Frau Dhillon wanted us to sing and play something. We sang Love at Home. It sounded bad, but…people were curious what it was and we got to talk about why we were in Germany and all of that fun stuff! We then went finding and had 5 good conversations. Which is when someone will actually talk to us, we teach a gospel principle, and invite them to do something, like meet with us, or look on our website. This is more success then we have seen in a while! We got home, filled the bathtub up with cold water, put our feet in, and then did studies. 

This week I realized how thankful I should have been at home in Utah for a lot of things. One being AC. Actually that was the main thing. Also our freedom. We live in a good country. Or at least you do for now. I’m thankful that I am on a mission. Not going to lie, sometimes it's hard to keep my desire to be out here up. Of course I would never just up and come home because it was too hot one day, but sometimes it’s hard to just be out. I’m sure you can imagine that, but I think unless you have been on a mission, you won't really understand it. I am also thankful that the Savior is always with me. I just have to call on him. He is always there. He helps me be motivated, He comforts me when I miss my family, He helps me when I don't know what to say, He loves me when I feel alone. Never take the Gospel for granted. No matter your situation. At home, on a mission, just remember how blessed you are to have this wonderful Gospel in your life. I love you all! Have a great week! Don't die because of the heat, and I will try not to either! Enjoy your AC! Ich Liebe Euch für immer und Ewigkeit (I love you forever and ever). 

Liebe, Sister St. John

 Us with tony! We got milk shakes and burgers!
 She didn't say, but we're assuming this is the group of Middle Eastern people that come to English class.

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