Woche 26: BAYERN!

Tina & Marvelous 

I feel like I've had way more time alone then is normal as a missionary. I was without a companion almost all of Monday while
traveling. On an ICE woooo!! I was slightly overwhelmed at the idea of
taking two trains, having one layover, and carrying luggage by myself.
Just slightly. As I boarded the first train, the lady next to me might
have questioned my common sense as she asked me why the heck I was
traveling alone with three suitcases. After getting to know her a bit
and talking about Christmas, she offered to take me to the next train.
I was so ridiculously grateful for that woman. A small miracle but a
miracle nonetheless. I also met a professor and we had a great
conversation about family history. Apparently back in the day when
someone took over a family farm, they take the family name too. So
there can be two or three people working and living on a farm with the
same name that aren't actually related! It makes finding older
generations rather difficult. 

My last day in Mainz was full of PDay fun, some great street finding,
meeting with Suellen and the Dahlkes, and finding a giant slide!
Suellen bought me a porcelain tea light from the Mainz Weihnachtsmarkt
and it is absolutely beautiful! Schwester Dahlke showed us her
scrapbook of all the missionaries they've known see they were baptized
and also photos of the old Wiesbaden and Bad Kreuznach wards. Then we
played Pass the Pig!! Bruder Dahlke takes that game very seriously. He
took flash pictures to see if the pigs touched or not hahaha
Sister Peterson is great! She started her mission in the Wiesbaden American ward and then came here. Feucht is small and pretty dang incredible. People are friendly and remember the missionaries everywhere you go haha The ward here is marvelous. Just wow. The previous Frankfurt mission president and almost all his kids and their families live here so it's basically a ward of the Schwarz family.

This week we delighted in the delicacy of cornflake covered chicken
nuggets. I try to be honest so I'm not sure I can recommend them with
a good conscience.

Last Dinner with the Dahlkes! 

Doctrine and Covenants 34:11

Tina was baptized on Saturday! As sad as I was to leave Mainz before
Frau Lange and Michelle's baptisms, I was blessed to able to teach
Tina the week Lessing up to her baptism. She has a little boy named
Marvelous and is from Nigeria. She's a beautiful singer! At our last
lesson before her baptism, she bore her testimony and sang a song
about Jesus' love.
The member assigned to speak about baptism and the Holy Ghost got sick
the morning of so Elder Vorimo and I gave impromptu talks with our
companions translated into English for Tina.

I didn't give a talk the entire time I was in Mainz and now I've given two in one week haha

Transfer Goals!! District goals are so exciting! We set goals and have
faith and Gods will will be fulfilled. Whether it's what we planned
for or not, it's our attitude and faith that will bring the results
that He needs. Expecting miracles brings miracles!! The results we see
today, tomorrow, this transfer, and forever are from us exercising our
agency and trusting that when we give all we can and have, doing all
that He has asked, that we are successful in the Lords eyes.

Bayerisch sounds like German with a Scottish accent and it's
wonderful. Its fluid and delightful to listen to.

I've been thinking a lot more about prayer. The power it has and the
potential that we waste when we don't communicate with our Father in
Heaven to see what He needs us to do. I've begun to take a few moments
before each prayer to the think of what I want to say. I've seen my
prayers become more earnest and open as I try to have a conversation
with Him. I've been learning slowly that all that I ask for needs to
be accompanied by action on my part.
Busy days here and I relish the time we have to study the scriptures :)

Make the Jokes be with You: Cartoons of the Dark Side. "Mother?!" "No, I am your father."

News!
Letters will not reach me unless they have the church's name with the address:
Sister Sarah Riser
Kirche Jesu Christi
Bahnhofstrasse 24
90537 Feucht
Deutschland

Love y'all!
Sister Riser