Morgen Sport (morning exercises). It being winter and all that jazz, we couldn't see our
clothes, scriptures, shower or anything. So we swapped hours and had
personal study in pajamas by the eerie glows of our iPads. Splits with
Sister Funk always entail some sort of adventure- it keeps things
interesting haha The 23 hours were fantastic! We took part in a
service project organizing clothes for the refugees here. And I got to
go to correlation meeting-woot! It was encouraging and fun to see the
success they're having in Frankfurt
We also had zone training this week where we got to see the Christmas
Initiative!!! So ridiculously excited!! The zone leaders and sister
training leaders dressed up as elves and Santa's nephew and gave
wrapped up presents of our new 'Ein Erretter ist Geboren' Kärtchen. ("A Savior is Born" card.)
Loved it!! We were also invited to prepare and study for ourselves to
discover why. Why Christ was born, why we need Him, and why we should
have a personal relationship with Him. In a leavers (returning missionary's) testimony that was given, someone shared that we have a Savior because God loves us
enough to let us need one. We aren't perfect and can't be perfect but
Heavenly loves us and cares enough about our success to let us make
mistakes, have life experiences, and need repentance everyday.
It's great to be in Frankfurt zone and have the opportunity to see
Präsident and Sister Stoddard pretty often, they're such wonderful
examples and do so much to contribute to our success as a mission.
The Frankfurt sisters have a Bulgarian investigator who speaks no
English and very little German. We had a lesson in an Internet laden
skyping with Elders in Bulgaria. We weren't able to understand or say
much so our contributions were mainly flashing thumbs up haha It's so
wonderful to feel the Spirit in the unexpected places :)
A good reminder from Sunday School was that our talents are a gift! These talents that were given to develop and use are what Heavenly Father uses to allow us be answers to others prayers. Us not using them or under appreciating them is like us giving someone a present and them sticking in the back of a closet or worse. I love how individual the talents that we have are.
Music and the Spoken Word was fantastic! We sang some German folk songs and also a song that Sister Fugal wrote called 'A Witness of His Love'. She's submitting it to the Church soon. It was a beautiful
program with the theme 'Ich bin ein Kind Von Gott'. ("I am a Child of God") There will several renditions of that Primary song along with Bischof (Bishop) Staiger speaking to us about divine natured the origins of the song.
I love being companions with Sister Bates. She has the greatest
stories. My favorites this week include the time her Physics teacher
taught about the center of gravity by dressing up as a pregnant woman
and all the times she's Sie-st children on the phone. Love it. In the
mayhem of the most recent Mainz game, she and I lost each other amid
the mass of fans getting on and off the Bahn. So we had a little time
on our own. It was different and strangely frightening, I'll need at
least another year before I'm ready for that haha
Sunday was a beautiful, beautiful day :) We got Advent stories to read
for everyday this month and our progressing investigators came to
church!! It was fantastic!! We spent the third hour in PV with
Michelle and her kids :) Then Birgit surprised us, after saying no a
couple times, she called us right before FHE last time to say she was
ready and where should we meet! She brought her daughter Lara too :)
Take advantage of this Christmas initiative and opportunity we have!Get to know this video, study and discover why, and share it! It's so
simple and can change so much! It's a chance we have to bear testimony simply and with so many. I'd love to hear any experiences that you
have with this season centered on Christ.
A favorite quote this week :
“Tell me what are the prevailing sentiments that occupy the minds of
your young men, and I will tell you what is to be the character of the
next generation.” -Edmund Burke
What we allow to occupy our thoughts turns into actions and our
actions are what we will eventually become!
Invitation this week : read Genesis 22:1-14 and think about what the
it means to truly trust Heavenly Father. To know that He will keep His
promises but not necessarily how.
Goshdangit I love being a missionary!! This gospel is extraordinary in that it works with ordinary people everyday! We're not perfect but God sees more in us. The gospel principles are simple and powerful and I'm
grateful everyday that I have a knowledge of them.
I love you all so much!
Liebe Grüße, Sister Riser
The Advent Time has come Schwester Dahlke got us calendars to celebrate!
Mainz!!
Weihnachtmarkts :)
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