Woche 16: Already Four Months!

My companion can't read Moroni's commandments and calls to repentance without sounding like Professor Trelawney 

My oh my I love this place! Der Vater im Himmel weiss was er tut! (Our Heavenly Father knows what he is doing) A mission teaches me so much more than I could ever imagine. I've never felt so happy or FULFILLED. Time is absolutely speeding by and I can't believe it's already been four months! Mainz makes me so incredibly happy! All the members are missionaries that live as examples of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

I'm so grateful for our Savior. I have too many weaknesses and moments that I struggle to make it through this life without Him. He asks that I ACTIVELY repent. Which means not just when I sin but the Atonement is there to cover me

in every moment I need it. Teaching the power that Christ has to heal us completely helps me understand it more. Seeing the gospel change habits and perspective helps the Atonement become more personal for me. 

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

We went apple picking again this past week, this time in Schwester Fröbel's garden, and came out with exactly 100 apples! I feel lucky. And also that our next apple cake will be delicious. We already made applesauce and cut up apples for our next magazine recipe. I get the feeling we're going to be all appled out by the end of all this. But what're you gonna do, it's apple season in Deutschland! And we haven't even hit the big orchards. The Hirsch family makes their own apple juice and has to pick one ton of apples to have it made with just their own- which are  from ancient, delicious apple trees. Allow me to repeat. One. Ton. Of. Apples. Crazy! I'm stoked to go and help! 

Persistence pays off! We finally were able to get an appointment with a woman that we met on a Bahn about two months ago. What set her apart for me was her simple desire to learn more. As we went into the appointment, she asked us again to make sure we weren't Jehovah's Witness and that we believed in God. Thankfully we were able to resolve those concerns :) She already has such respect for the scriptures that we know that she'll give the things she reads a chance with her head and heart. 

Note: day 3 of trying to convince my companion that we should incorporate charades into language study. Still no success. Will report back. 

At our last district meeting, we talked about how everybody is a somebody to someone. When thinking of what I would give to have every one of my family members back in the fold of Christ and active in the church, there's no limit. So why should there be for every other person we see? God has given us people to love and I'm going to find them all!! Our time is limited and I'd hate to miss the one that needs the gospel and our love the most. Charity is love without motives and love without limits. It allows to see past imperfections and see the someone for the somebody they are to someone else and to Heavenly Father. In Enos, it speaks of his faith in something that he had not before heard nor seen. As we practice charity, we have faith and hope that we will become the person God expects, though it's someone we haven't seen or heard before. As we practice charity, we have faith that God will expound our efforts even when they're so small that we've never seen or heard of them bringing us success. As we practice charity, we have faith that we will find the people that God has given us to love even though we've ever seen or heard them before. 

CONFERENCE! 

Our GML texted us at 10:24pm on Saturday night to let us know who the three new apostles were. Nobody guessed right haha but they will be wonderful apostles :)

Among many many many things I loved about conference, I was particularly impressed and grateful for the personal experiences that Elders Rasband, Stevenson, and Renlund shared and how they've accepted their call. They truly ready and willing to share and give what they have because it's not just a church calling. Serving the Lord and bringing forth His work is an active pursuit that can't be confined to just area of your life. I hope we can all see the blessings that can expand to all aspects of our lives when we immerse our selves in His work! 

Conference was marvelous and so much to offer. I'm so grateful that we had the chance to watch it! As we invited members and investigators this week to go in with a question, I had been thinking about the question I wanted to ask. My family at home had all shared something that they had hoped to get out of conference. As I finally chose a question shortly before conference, I saw so many answers and possibilities for change that I was looking for in just the first session. That strengthens my testimony of knowing that we are children of God and I have no doubt that He's ready, just waiting on us, to pass down answers and ideas and blessings and life changers and earth shakers! To simplify (thanks President Uchtdorf) it's all about what He wants. To be willing and wanting to do His will and ASK for ways to be more effective in doing that. What more can I do, what more do I lack.

Conference normally leaves me with both a slight feeling of chastisement and a huge excitement for tomorrows! One of my favorite parts of conference was the question of Who will you become through the Atonement of Christ? I can't become enough on my own. Even recognizing that opens us to be more easily taught and changed. 

Thanks to everyone who shared their questions and thoughts from conference. It helped me widen my perspective and see what's important to you :) 

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7

Don't worry. Be happy now. Fears are nothing next to the power of our Heavenly Father! 

Liebe Grüße, Sister Riser

Woche 8

Who cares if the back fender's held on by zip ties, this sisters got a bike!!

Life is Good!

This week has been so packed with appointments that we almost never cook at home and we're becoming pros at unterwegs (on the way) contacting :) We've gotten to know a lot of our members better, especially those that live farther away. Missionaries in the past didn't really visit the members that far out but we've been able to work with them and get rides or go home with them after church and it's been a serious blessing to know their families better. 

This past P Day might have been the best one yet! 

Fact: castles in Germany are a major tourist attraction. 

Fact: it took us over two hours to find Burg Frankenstein, instead of the recommended 15 minutes. 

Possible conclusions: we're all incredibly directionally challenged OR we should petition for better road signs hahaha 

The only guides we had were little castles painted on random trees on the 'trail'. Towards the end of we just hiked straight up the mountain instead of taking time with switchbacks. But it was beautiful! Germany is just so GREEN. 

So it seems the more I try to persuade Sister Godwin that her fear of flying things is irrational, the more I prove her point. Exhibit B: (the bird mistaking my hair for a nest being exhibit A) we were eating dinner with Schwester Dahlke and I crossed my legs. Due to my valiant effort to be ladylike, I smashed a bee on my leg, resulting in it leaving a nice little bee sting on my calf. Naja alles gut (Well, all is good) :)

At our last district meeting together, we talked about the differences we've seen throughout the past weeks and what we felt we should continue to work on. I've felt that while we plan and work and expect miracles everyday, we still sometimes put a cap on our potential. We seem to have a hard time setting achievable goals that still push us. As much as I'd love to get 3 new investigators everyday, we try to set goals within our capabilities. So it's a learning process :) seeing what we're capable of and ways we can improve. Our new transfer goals are exciting and this past week has been a great start! Our ward has been fasting and praying for missionary work and we've felt their efforts every day. Teaching with members is fantastic. They share something that we can't. They can relate to those we're teaching on a different level because sometimes it's hard to see past the missionary tag. Having members with us at appointments makes the church more personal and the gospel more real when they can see its effects in someone else's life.

"Has God not endowed you with the gift of speech? ... If you are endowed with the Spirit of God, mo matter how simple your thoughts maybe, they will be edifying to those who hear you."
-Eliza R. Snow

It's not our method of teaching that will change and inspire people, it's the message. The truths are powerful enough that no matter how simply they're spoken, the Spirit delivers the same feelings. I think how often I want to bear my testimony, share more experiences, or just explain a little more but my Deutsch doesn't quite allow for that yet haha  There's a notecard on my desk that reminds me- confidence in the truths of the gospel = confidence in German. 

Approaching the Throne of God With Confidence - I could read this talk everyday for the rest of my life! (Thank you Brother Chidester) 

I can't be reminded enough times of how the Atonement should be used every single day! The Atonement is 24/7 made just for us. 

We fasted with Suellen again this past week! She's still loving that golden feeling :) we're talking with her about being proactive! And setting goals for herself because it's not enough just to know that it's true. It becomes easier to prioritize other wants and fears over decisions that bring us farther down the road to eternal life. We've shared talks and scriptures with her about Christ making up the difference and that HE can make us enough and ready to go forward. I'm looking forward to seeing what decisions she makes and how we can continue to help her. 

One of our investigators, Desiree, has been praying for a baptismal date and we hope that she finds a peaceful answer soon. Michelle has been sick this past week so we didn't get to see her but next week we hope to finish the Commandments with her! The love that Desiree and Michelle have for Christ and their search for happiness and truth is inspiring. Desiree invited her daughter to our last lesson and was so open to the changes that the gospel is going to make in her life. 

I've thought a lot about scripture study and the attitude I approach it with. To think that we hold the words of God specifically for us in our hands! And yet sometimes we spend only a few minutes studying this chapters that can better our lives and make us happier than we can imagine. The Book of Mormon contains eternal truths that help us become changed through Jesus Christ. I know that my day and expectations change as I read; it's like having a golden ticket in your pocket :) 

Remember the
blessings of the gospel in your life as you study. Think of the times that the scriptures have guided you and remember the mini miracles of everyday :) 

Viele Grüße auch von Sister Godwin (Greetings also from Sister Godwin)

Alles gute!

Sister Riser