Woche 9

Total SCHWARZ outfit. I forgot my change of shoes for after our PDay AND Sister Godwin has been having shoulder trouble so the only bag that fit both of our things was this backpack hahaha 

We had a lesson and Abendbrot at the Marx's with Desiree this week. We talked about living prophets and revelation again and went over the commandments and afterwards she told us about how she left the Catholic church and what she wanted for her daughter. Bruder Marx just started talking and eventually asked her if there was anything that she found odd or strange about the church or its teachings. This is where I love members. The things that he was able to share with her were much more helpful than anything we could have said. She expressed concern about seeing only one kind of 'perfect' family in the church. Heavenly Father expects our best but if we were perfect, we wouldn't be here. I loved the willingness to share that this family has. Their house rules for guests are as follows: Serve yourself. If you go home hungry, it's your own fault. And feel and at home but don't act like you do at home. 

"In moments of fear or doubt or troubling times, hold the ground you have already won, even if that ground is limited." -Jeffrey R Holland

While teaching English class this week Sister Godwin couldn't believe that yall could be replaced with you when referring to a large group  I haven't laughed that hard in a long time hahaha

I'm sure that many of you have read the talk 'The Fourth Missionary'. I'd invite you to read it again. Look for the traits you have and the traits you want. Then look at the consequences of both. 

Seek to be the Fourth Missionary in all aspects of life. 

Life is hard, not the gospel. 

The Fourth Missionary's dominant desire is to do what the Lord wants him to do. 

Your greatest work: your most important creation is and will ever be you. 

Because we have our agency, every day brings more choices for us to make. Are we just taking the decisions as we go and hoping it's right? We're responsible for who we become and what we do in this life. My greatest creation is something I know I have to plan for. I want to believe that I can change through my Savior. I want to have a vision of what characteristics and qualities I want and then work towards them. I can't want and hope to become the missionary Heavenly Father sees if I don't plan and make changes. 

Some of the new companionship goals we set this past week are: 

- learning a new hymn each week in German

- memorizing the Glaubens Artikel (one each week) (Articles of Faith) 

- seeking to have the Spirit more strongly in our apartment so we can have more focused studies and be more prepared for lessons 

- talk to everyone! ** this is a continuous goal. Forgetting myself and just opening my mouth can be so hard when you think about it. So mostly I don't think haha I'd rather be embarrassed multiple times then miss the one person that was ready to talk to us 

- healthy= happy Sister Godwin plans to run again when she goes home so we've been doing 2-3 miles everyday. I enjoy it more than trying to workout inside where both of us end up falling asleep in child's pose. Yoga is not for the sleepy. 

We accidentally had a dinner appointment with our Mainz elders this week.  Whoops. The members wrote an appointment on the sign up sheet under the wrong column and the husband & wife spoke to both sets of missionaries separately so we ended up all grilling together! They have a swing with a fifteen foot rope attached and Waldmeister juice (green syrup mixed with water... Italian soda-like) = wonderful evening.

 

The elders shared thoughts about Christlike attributes and how taking on Christ makes us better missionaries. 

I also learned that yo mama jokes aren't any funnier in German but apparently it was worth a try hahah

Another principle is to be cautious with humor. Loud, inappropriate laughter will offend the Spirit. A good sense of humor helps revelation; loud laughter does not. A sense of humor is an escape valve for the pressures of life.

I love Elder Richard G Scott. Finding the balance between acting in a way that's worthy of my calling and still being myself is sometimes tricky. But when sometimes I get too serious, this is a good reminder for me. I wish people laughed more. I wish more people knew how much it helps every single day. I know a good day for me is being obedient and laughing. Those two things guarantee happiness for me :) 

Because I'm trying to have more positive humor, puns have become a go to. I wouldn't say they're my forte, more of my fortissimo. 

Der Man denkt und Gott schenkt. (Man thinks and God gives)

Just ask and Heavenly Father is ready to give. Believe that He not only can, but that He will. 

Quiet Zone

Liebe Grüße

Sister Riser ❤️