(Mom Note: Sorry, I'm a week late, but you'll get two instead of one.)
We were going to go show a member from the Wiesbaden American Ward (where Sis. Montgomery just came from) around Nürnberg. But she sent an email this mornin saying she was too sick to drive and we'll have to try it another day. But that just means we get full email time today. :)
First off, to everyone who sent me an awesome letter of encouragement, happiness, and general well-wishing; thank you. There is not enough time to send each and every one of you letters back to say how grateful I am for you love and support personally, but I am so grateful. Yes, missions are sometimes hard. I'm sorry if I was complaining last week. But really, I a, just so grateful for all he love that has been expressed this last week. It is absolutely amazing. Thank you all so very much.
Speaking of love, let's move past the cheesy stuff on to the cool things that happened this week!
We had Zone Training! Woo hoo! Also, I realized that I never explained what kinds of meetings we have going on as missionaries which is really sad because we actually had a worldwide missionary broadcast at the beginning of this transfer (Jan. 20) that was super cool! It was basically a re-teaching of the Fundamentals you learn in the MTC and it was super powerful! It was so cool!
Anyways, that was a cool meeting. Then we have Zone Training about once a month and Zone Conference once every three months. We should be having another one of those pretty soon so that will be exciting. But on Thursday we had Zone Training and it was super awesome. We had a really good discussion at the beginning about what it means to be focused and what things could be distracting and how we should stay dedicated to missionary work. It was super powerful and I am really grateful for the leaders in my mission. They are awesome, inspired Elders and Sisters. And President Stoddard is pretty cool, too. We actually got to go on a split with Sis. Stoddard after Zone Trainig and it was awesome!!! We taught Elena, and I went over the lesson plan with Sis. Stoddard before our lesson but when we started the lesson, the plan went out the window. It was crazy and scattered, and I was so worried that we weren't going to even get a bit of doctrine in, much less an actual lesson. But then Sis. Stoddard bore her testimony and it was SO POWERFUL. It was amazing and super cool. After she bore her testimony, Elena calmed down and we were able to talk about he importance of reading in the Book of Mormon. It was really amazing, and I was so glad we could have Sis. Stoddard with us for one lesson. She's so funny and awesome. I love her a ton.
We met with a less-active couple this week and invited them to come join the temple prep class on Sunday. They didn't (yet) but I'm very hopeful. We've been meeting with them for a while and we have a really good relationship with them. They really do want to be sealed together for time and all eternity, but they have some habits they need to kick before get can go. Sis. Montgomery did an awesome job at challenging them to get ready to go by the time the Freiberg temple opens in July. They still need some help and motivation, but they know that we love them.
It's been a pretty good week. We've been focusing on working with the members and it's been awesome. It is incredibly helpful when the people you teach have friends who are members and who are not sitting down and teaching them the missionary lessons every week. We can be friends and love you and help you, but we're here to teach and that is our first priority. The members can love you and be friends and don't have to worry about teaching the lessons. It usually works out and it's super awesome. I am so excited.
This is kind of short, but I just wanted to let you all know how happy I am. Really. I know the last few weeks have been kind of rough, but I have been strengthened and helped by so many people through prayer, letters, hugs, and so many other things. It has been incredible. And just think, if I can feel that much love from so many people, how much love does our Father in Heaven have for us? It's incredible to think about.
I love it here. I love Germany. I love the people. I even love the language (even though I still can't speak it perfectly yet). I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to represent our Savior, Jesus Christ, and teach people about His restored Gospel. It is an absolutely amazing experience, and I am loving every second of it. Especially the hard moments because that's when I learn the most. Most importantly though, I love all of you. I love my family and friends back home, and all of the people who might read these letters that I don't know yet. I know that you are a spiritual child of God and that He loves you. He loves you and wants nothing more than for you to make the choices that will lead you back to live in His presence. I know, because I have felt His love more and more as I make correct choices and learn more about Him and His son, Jesus Christ. This entire experience on earth is for us to learn and grow. And yeah, it's hard. But if we could remember where it is we came from and where it is we're going back to, I think that we would all agree that it is completely worth it.
I love you all, and I am really so grateful for all of your support and prayers. Have a great day, and a fantastic week!
Love Always,
Sis. John
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