To start with, I am writing this email from a train. That will be important later.
This week was pretty great. Sister Quain is ready to go out and talk to everyone and it is so cool! The only problem is that she can't speak the language yet! We're working on it!
But really, her German is progressing and she has gotten good at starting contacts which is great, because that is the hardest part for me. And she loves it! So she starts conversations and I keep them going and then invite her to bear her testimony and life is good.
This week we finally got to meet our ward! Church was super great, and I got to see some people that I had met before when I was in Nürnberg! It was funny to see their faces as they saw me and went, "What? Sister John, what are you doing here?? Did you get transferred? When did that happen???" Needless to say, there was a lot of laughter, and a lot of smiles as I realized this ward isn't so foreign after all.
We had Zone Conference this week. Oh my goodness, it was so good!!!! Elder Adler (who is an Area Seventy from a city called Bielefeld) and his wife came and spoke to us about finding and having the faith to find, especially with the Christmas season coming up. It was so spiritual. I wish I could tell you some more, but I left my journal at home. We did some practices at inviting people on the street to watch the upcoming Christmas Initiative video from the church (Nov. 24 friends.... Get pumped ;) ), and talked a lot about casting out our fear of talking to people. It was exactly what I needed, because quite honestly, talking to people on the street terrifies me. It has since the beginning of my mission and I would rather teach the law of chastity fifty times in one day than have to go out and talk to people all day.
Which is what we do in Erlangen.
Every day.
You see the problem?
Elder Merkley talked a lot at the beginning of the conference about casting out our fears. He challenged each of us to write down two things we were afraid of, and then kneel down in prayer and ask for Heavenly Father's help in overcoming them. Elder Evans talked about the faith and really knowing and believing that there are people that the Lord has prepared for us to find and teach, and also that everything we do is helping to prepare someone else to be found and taught. They both shared very powerful testimonies and scriptures, and their talks were exactly what we all needed to hear.
Sister Adler talked about how the Gospel is so great and so huge, and it is for EVERYONE. Not just the sinners or the wayward black sheep that we help to come into the fold, but also for the white sheep who sometimes get stuck or lost or need a bit of cuddling sometimes. I would have to say that her testimony resonated with me the most, and I am so grateful that she was so willing to share it with us. Sometimes I forget (really it's all the time. You'd think I would have learned by now) that when my companion and I teach people that God and Jesus Christ are there for them in EVERYTHING and in EVERYPLACE, that that means that They are there for me as well. I do a really bad job at remembering that, but it's true! The Gospel works, and it works wonderfully. We just need to remember that it also works for ALL of us. All it takes is WORK. But that's another thought for another time.
So yeah, Zone Conference was AMAZING. Plus, Sis. Preis and Sis. Ochs made all of us lunch. It was SO GOOD. We were all very happy Elders and Sisters afterwards. And we had Sauerkraut!!!! I am pretty sure that it was the first time on my mission that I've had actual sauerkraut fed to me by a member. Oh well. Better late than never. :)
So for P-Day today, we have a very special day planned. Because we are on a train. And that train is heading to.... Wait for it.....
FRANKFURT!!!!!!
(Please forgive the face, it was late and we were on a train for 3 hours)
No, we did not get President's permission to go to Frankfurt for a P-Day. That is way too far, and too expensive. But, we do have permission to try and go and get my visa!!!! Which.... Didn't actually work. My papers from Nürnberg FINALLY got sent to Frankfurt (right as I left), so we get to try and get my stuff all done in Frankfurt and it did not happen. Apparently I'm still missing some papers and they're upset because some of the papers I need just happen to be in English. I'm sorry the company that is providing my medical insurance coverage is an American company and therefore speaks English. There really isn't a whole lot I can do about that.
Anyways, to make a long story short, Elder Markle and I decided that I'll just have to come to Frankfurt again another time to try and get my visa. If it doesn't work that time.... We'll try and process things in Erlangen, and I might get an unanticipated extension to my mission. Mal schauen.
It really has been a great week. Church was great, Sister Quain bore her testimony for the first time in German, and we got to come to Frankfurt for a very stressful, but also good P-Day. I know that the Lord knows what we need. He knows us perfectly, and He wants to help us. Sometimes, He helps us learn and grow by giving us challenges and trials that stretch us seemingly past our limits. But no matter what trials we may face, we have a promise that He ",giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them." (1 Nephi 3:7) We just need to look for His hand and the ways that He is helping us. Sometimes we have to look hard, but it there because He will never ask us to run faster than we are able. He will ALWAYS give us help. I know that to be true.
This week, make a list of the ways the Lord has helped you in your life. With the big, and the small things. Make a list of at least five, and then get on your knees and thank Him in prayer. It's perfect, because this week is Thanksgiving. So let's all give a little bit back to God. :)
I love you all. Thank you so much for your prayers and support. Have a great day, and a fantastic week!
Liebe Grüße,
Sister John
We were tired. I am still tired. We got up at 4:30. Have a great week.
Splits with Sis. Young. We had so much fun!!!
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