Anyway, you sound like you had a great time at the Ranch.
Sad that not everyone was there, and that Bryton was hurt. But it is still a
blessing that we still get together as a family in such a beautiful place like
that. I'm not going to lie, I have this fear, probably an irrational fear, but
it's still a fear...I have a fear that I'm going to get home and they are going
to sell the Ranch or something and I won’t be able to go ever again. :( Besides
that fear, I loved loved loved all the stories and pictures! Thanks so much for
sending them to me! I am missing a picture of Uncle Brent though! Someone got
one, I know they did:) No, but really, I'm so so grateful for that place. It
means so much to me, just because of all of the memories there. And that they are
with family! It's a very special place!
As of for my week....
Montag: We did FHE with Lucy:)
Dienstag: We met with Michael. We are honestly kind of stuck
with him. It just shows to me how much we need goals in our lives to progress.
So make goals! We also met with Frau Dhillion! She’s the one who asks us all
about our family relationships. SO...we decided to read the Family a
Proclamation to the World with her. It was actually really cool to tell her all
about how our families are built on the foundation of Christ. That our parents
actually care for each other. That we actually spend time together. That we
pray and read scriptures together. She was honestly amazed, and said that she
would really love to have that in her family. I hope that we are helping her
heart be opened slowly so that we can teach her a little bit more about the
Gospel. We then got to meet with Sch. Dörlitz and the Elders came with! So that
was fun! Elder Schofield is a little bit new on his mission. (I say new, he's
been out for like 5 months...) But he's frustrated with the language a bit. I
don't blame him! We then met with Lucy! We talked about the Sacrament and what
the prayers really mean. She could answer every question even better than I
could. She is ready!
Mittwoch: We got to do some doors today! I've really never
been "dooring" before. It's not very successful here and we didn't
ever really have time, so we haven’t gone. BUT...this transfer, I felt like I
needed to set the goal of finding someone while dooring. There was a specific
place that we felt like we needed to go to, but, we couldn't find out how to
get there! Streets are crazy in Germany. We talked to a teenage girl about American
clothes and we will visit her next week again before she starts school. It was
funny because she answered the door in her bath robe and with her hair in a
towel. People aren't shy here! We also met with Lucy again (we were trying to
keep Satan away from her) and we talked about Lehi's dream. She could also tell
us the story, what everything means etc. She basically taught our lesson! We
then met with the Meckels and we talked about the Articles of faith. They have
been sleeping in their garden (like 30 mins away from their house. kind of like
a back yard for them) for like 3 weeks and so it's been hard to meet with them!
But they were good and we got a lesson in!
Donnerstag: We met with Michael and just talked about
blessings. We are at a loss with him. Then...LUCY'S BAPTISM!! Not going to lie,
I was kind of stressed. Getting everything ready, making sure everyone got
there, food, plan, and music. Wow. I was a little stressed. Even when she got baptized.
But, everyone was there, and everything worked out! The ward is really
supportive and there was like 40 people there! I was pretty amazed! I had the opportunity
of helping her get ready after she was baptized. At that point, right after she
was baptized, I was still a little stressed. However, I shut the door behind
me, and turned around and Lucy was just standing there smiling and soaking wet.
I felt SO peaceful. I asked her how she felt and she said, "I feel
perfect. I feel sinless, I feel happier than I've ever felt before." I
couldn't help but smile and forget my stress. It was such a testimony builder
to me to know just how important baptism really is. She had been coming to church
actively for about 9 months. She had almost all of the blessings of being a
member. Just that one simple thing though, made the difference!
Freitag: We had Distrikt Meeting. After this meeting I was talking
to Sister Medley, who I’m sure by now is SO sick of hearing all my thoughts;)
But, I was just explaining to her that I have a really different perspective on
missionary work after this week. A few things had made the difference. 1.
Seeing Lucy baptized 2. Reading some talks sent to us by our Sister Training
Leaders about temples and 3. Distrikt meeting. Seeing Lucy get baptized just
gave me hope. It gave me hope for every person that I've ever met on the
street. They can have these blessings! It's possible! It’s so close! Reading
the talks all about temple and missionary work was really eye opening. I KNEW
that the temple is our ultimate goal, but I hadn't ever really felt it. I felt
happy and excited for Lucy that she got baptized. But that’s not the end. I'm
even more excited for her to go to the temple! Our new converts NEED to go to
the temple! They need to feel what it feels like there so that they can be
strong in the Gospel. I love this new focus from our mission! Then, At District
Meeting the Zone Leaders talked about attitude of missionary work and that it’s
not about finding 50 investigators in a week. But that it’s finding that ONE
that week that will make it to baptism! It was just a really good learning
week! I wish I could write all my thoughts and feelings down, but it’s just not
the same as feeling them for yourself. We also had a picnic with Lucy and we
ate PB & honey sandwiches. I have missed those. Then, we got to start our
exchanges with the Sisters in Chemnitz! Sister Hahn came here with me! She's
been in Chemitz for 6 transfers now. That is HALF of her mission in ONE area!
Crazy. She is amazing and has a really good attitude though!
Samstag: With Sister Hahn we taught Michael with Sch. Kretchmar! Then we ate Potatoes and Quark. Like sour cream stuff! We then taught Lucy. We decided to talk about Priesthood blessings because she would be receiving one the next day. I LOVE talking about the Priesthood. On my mission I've come to a greater appreciation of it. Every time I teach an investigator about the Priesthood and how important it is, I share the story of when I was born and how Dad gave Mom and me a blessing and how everything worked out. It also talks a little bit about this moment in my Patriarchal Blessing, which to me, makes the Priesthood just that much more meaningful. I cry almost every time I tell this story...surprised? Me either.
Sonntag: Kirche! Lucy was confirmed! We committed her to
write down the things that were said and what she felt and thought as the
blessing was being said. She did, and what she wrote was amazing. Her testimony
is so strong and she knows how to listen to the spirit. After church we went to
our member appointment. It was a family with an 11 year old, and a 12 year old!
It was fun! We shared out favorite member message with this family. We share a Mormon
message in German called "Was zu bestehen" I don't know what it's
called auf English. But, without fail, if the Spirit is in the home it makes
someone in every family cry. And I cry every time. It is just about how the
love of Christ is ALWAYS there for us! I love bearing testimony of the Gospel
to families because I've seen it have a huge effect on my family!
All in all this week was amazing. Plus it's starting to get
a little cooler and it smells like rain. Maybe it's just because I'm a
missionary, but every time it rains I think of the Primary song "Like
earth right after rain". You know what one I'm talking about right? But, I
LOVE that song because it reminds me of how I felt right after I was baptized.
I felt clean and pure. Like Earth right after Rain.
Have a great week!! I love you so so much!
Liebe, Sister St. John
Ps. we did a service project for our GML here today where we
shoveled a lot of rocks/sand into the basement of a building that they are
repairing. So, I got some hard work in for what I missed at the Ranch!
With Lucy before her baptism.
With Lucy before after her baptism.
With Nele, one of the Meckel kids.
With Sister Hann.
The best district ever!
We have great zone leaders!
And the zone leaders make me look really short!
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