Closed U-Bahns, Miracles, and I am Famous for Brownies Now

Last week, the biggest event in the history of the Frankfurt Missionaries' lives, was that FINALLY the U5 started running again.

This week, the saddest event in the history of the Frankfurt Missionaries' lives, is that the U5 is once again closed due to even MORE construction.


This is right outside our apartment. They are going to be working during the night. It's fine. We're going to buy comp ear muffs. 

As far as the week goes, it was super great! We had two splits, and I did a drit split win the International Sisters, and then split with Sis. Van Vleet from Wetterau in Frankfurt! It was way cool, and we saw a lot of miracles during both splits. Sister Van Vleet that me a lot about contacting and talking to everyone. 

This week, we were supposed to meet with a girl that we met with last week, but we needed some Chinese pamphlets and it was Saturday night, and our appointment was right after church. We had NO time to try run to the mission office to get some on our own. So we texted all e missionaries in Frankfurt and promised them brownies if they would let us have one of the Chinese pamphlets. About 10 seconds after we sent that text, we got a call from the Assistants asking us how many pamphlets we needed and which ones did we want? It was great. My official mark on this mission will be, "that sister who made REALLY good brownies." I think there are worse ways to be remembered. 

Mom, I did get your package. It was lovely. I keep forgetting to tell you, but thank you so much. I ate the last of the Reese's today, and I managed to make the Gardetto's last a week. Thank you. Thank you for the socks. They were exactly what I needed. More color that I can mismatch to my heart's content because we're officially in boot weather and no one can tell. :) Thank you also for your letter. I really appreciate it, and I was happy to get it. :)

This week, I have been speed reading through the book of Ether in the Book of Mormon because while there is some really great stuff about faith and trials and such, I really hate the wars and pride. Sister Jameson and I had a talk about it and how the people's pride relates to commercialism today. It also may or may not have been related to a talk about whether Christmas music was allowed in the apartment before December or not. :P 

But really, the patterns in the Book of Mormon continue today. Something devastating happens, and everyone is humbled and starts to look towards God again. As we start to rely more on Him and His power, we are blessed and our lives improve. As our lives improve, we start to get caught up in the world and in worldly things. Then we become prideful and stop looking towards God and our lives get harder, but we are too prideful to look toward God or anyone else, for that matter. Then God does something to humble us again, and we start the process over. This pattern happens in our communities, our world, and even just with us. It's interesting, and with Halloween coming, I'd like to invite you all to take the time to enjoy the season and not even start thinking about the commercialism of Christmas before it's time (which is definitely not before Halloween). 

Anyways, I love you all! Have a great day, and an awesome week!

Liebe Grüße,

Sister John


                               Split with Sister Van Vleet! She's adorable. :)

I got a letter from the Primary!!!!! It seriously made my day, and I am writing them back. But it might take it a while to cross an ocean. :)

P.S. My companions just reminded me that we had TWO zone trainings this week. WHAT. That literally feels like at least two weeks ago. But we had them. We are studying the Atonement and our relationship with the Savior as a mission this month. Both Zone Trainings were centered around that, and it was really cool to see how the Spirit was different at the different trainings. In Friedrichsdorf, we had a Zone Testimony Meeting and it was way powerful. In Frankfurt, all of the Themas were super great at highlighting a different point of the Atonement. Elder Van Dam (from my MTC group) did ten push-ups for every person in the zone to have a cookie. Even if they didn't want one. It was powerful. And he was so tired by the end of it, but it was a way powerful lesson. 
Jesus Christ already suffered for our sins and weaknesses. He has already paid the price. So don't go making life even harder for yourself by acting like He hasn't. 


I love you! Have a great week!