Woche 23: 'When did you know it was true?': Surprise Visit from Elder Ballard!

Surprise! Elder M. Russell Ballard spoke in Offenbach this week!! They
told us about 4 days before. He talked about the Europe area plan,
simplicity, and missionary work. He also said that he can't keep track
of all his great grandkids because they keep popping out like popcorn
and when they get together, they all look alike haha In speaking about
missionary work, he told us to involve ourselves and not put anything
off 'You're not going to be up there strumming a harp or something. If
you can't get out of it by dying, you might as well get good at it. '
oh Elder Ballard we love you

The focus of the meeting was on Ward councils and the danger in over
complicating our planning.

Most of the work is done outside of meetings and outside of planning.

~Don't talk about someone so much that you don't talk to them. 
~To magnify our calling doesn't mean to multiply, perhaps even to reduce.

The Friedrichsdorf Primary president shared how she thought we limited
ourselves by only having an idea of how things should be and not how
they could be. Our expectations and past experiences can limit our
capacities if we're not careful. The past is a helpful tool but it has
to stay where it belongs.

I'm grateful for all that I learned and the Spirit we felt there as we
were taught how to better be high yield, low maintenance servants of
God! His work is so important and requires our best efforts. He will
never leave us alone nor prompt us to do anything we're not capable
of. We are the means in mortality and beyond of bringing others to
Christ so they can find their way home.

"In Him we will not only endure but will also prevail and triumph inthis holy cause that will never fail us." -Elder Jeffrey R. Holland

Elder Ballard also talked about the conversion process. Its simplicity
leads people to answer the question 'When did you know it was true?',
with an 'I felt'. Knowing comes from the feelings we get. 
When I went to church I felt... 
When I read what they told me I felt... 
When the missionaries taught me I felt... 
I think about all we do to contribute to allowing friends of the church have a spiritual experience.
Sometimes the simplest is the best. Bearing simple testimony, allowing
the Spirit to guide, and letting the scriptures speak for themselves.

One new investigator, Patricia, has had some interesting experiences
with the church. She works with less active members to encourage them
to go to church haha that's how she first came into contact with the
church when she wanted to help a woman who worked for her feel happy
again. One of my favorite things about meeting with Patricia is that
she recognizes that it's a gospel of joy. But because of her
situation, it's difficult for her to be baptized. And because of that,
she doesn't want to ask if it's true. She continues to say that she
doesn't ask herself if there's one right church because what could she
do if there was? Schwester Dahlke, who was teaching with us, explained
and bore her testimony that God has one plan for all of us and that He
has one church and one gospel. That Heavenly Father couldn't tell
different things to different churches and that it's not enough just
to have faith, we have to act!

Something I've noticed this week is how difficult it is to watch
people come to know that the church is true and the gospel can change
their lives and them not do anything. It's comparable to how many more
blessings we could receive if we gave more of the Sabbath back to the
Savior, or studied more diligently in the scriptures etc There's
something in us that pushes us to complacency. The gospel of Jesus
Christ holds so much in store for us!! The love that our heavenly
parents have for us is beyond anything we can imagine and they make it
possible for us to always be something better.

Ammon: perfect combination of humility and excitement. My God is great!

The Marxs joined us for DDM this week for some contacting role plays.
Afterward they told us part of their life story and what has meant the
most to them. They talked a lot about working hard and always
depending on the Lord, no matter what situation you're in. I never get
tired of hearing testimonies, it's a wonderful part of being a
missionary :)

Here's how Elders teach the power of prayer at district meeting.
Comparing Luke using the force to reach his light saber on Hath to
using faith when we pray. That it wasn't until he believed that he
could that he was able to reach it. It's great.

We went on to talk about what it means to have a prayer in our hearts.
Heavenly Father knows our thoughts and feelings but when we take time
throughout the day to focus on Him, it can become a prayer in our
hearts. It doesn't always need to be a formal prayer but taking
moments throughout the day to be grateful and recognize that He has
given us everything and acknowledging that we need His help to achieve
our goals and know what to do. To have a prayer in our hearts gives us
power that comes with humility. The power of prayer is accessible to
all of us as we seek with hope and faith to do His will. It's gives me
the certainty that if I'm doing His work, He's there with me.

Sister Jarrard went clash of the cultures and made mac n cheese,
bratwurst and sauerkraut for Institute dinner. They loved it haha I
love the Jarrards!

Thanksgiving means dinner. And dinner to the Fugal family means 65 of
your closest friends and the missionaries. It was amazing how many
people came! And the entire Diaz family came, plus a friend!! It's
been quite a few years since they've been to church and it was so good
to see them getting to know other members. The mix of German and
American food was pretty fun haha Brother Fugal invited students from
his lab and research team, one of which is from Poland. Which was
perfect! because Tomek, a member in our ward, just had his cousin move
in with him and he only speaks Polish! Tons of missionary
opportunities for us and the members there. The whole weekend was one
thing after another and I loved it!! The Primary program and potluck
on Sunday were packed and there was so much to do and so many new
people we got to meet :)

What a fantastic week! Looking forward to this next one and every one
after that!!

It must have been this kind of testimony that transformed the Savior’s
Apostles from fearful, doubting men into fearless, joyful emissariesof the Master. -President Uchtdorf

Ich wünsche euch eine aufbauende Woche Sister Riser

Woche 21: I've seen the Lord's hand in our work.

Mainz streets are quiet and beautiful on Sunday Mornings

I just want to start every email by saying it's been a week of miracles because it's always true!! Three of my favorite experiences this week:

-Michelle has missed two baptismal dates and didn't want to join the church anymore. but we were able to get another appointment with her and tried to teach simply. Just of testimonies and what was important to us about the gospel. She opened up again and accepted commitments! I'm thinking Heavenly Father was waiting for us for us to be a little more patient with her, but I'm so happy that we have more opportunities to teach her and learn from her. 

-We went by a less active for possible the fifth or sixth time and she wasn't home again. We had scheduled time for dooring in the area if she wasn't there so we only had 15 minutes before we had to leave. Those 15 minutes were incredible! A testimony of how planning and executing that plan will help you see miracles. We were buzzed into a woman who turned out to be a member! She was baptized as a teenager in Venezuela but moved to Germany a  few months later. She didn't know there was a ward close to her but now that's cleared up and we'll hopefully see her this next week :)

-We had twenty minutes before our train left and it was a five minute walk to Hauptbahnhof. We stopped and tried to talk to as many people as we could but without much success. When it was time for us to go, we started walking and a woman stopped us. Her first words were 'I need to go to church.' Naturally we agreed. 

She was baptized as a child in Venezuela and has active family in Utah. She hasn't been to church in a long time but felt that she should when she moved to Mainz a few months ago. She had been looking for missionaries to find out where the church was. Nametags are a blessing. 

There have been so many occasions where I've seen the Lord's hand in our work. Reminding us that it's HIs work, to try something new, and who to talk to!

The urgency for this work never ceases!! There's always so much to do and so many ways to do it!! 

Part of Presidnet Stoddard's email this week :

May we close with the words of Elder Jeffrey R. Holland, a returned missionary from Europe: “The Church in Europe must live again. The work of the Church has run on the backs of its European saints since the beginning. Don’t think that you are just minding the shop waiting for the Savior to come. Don’t think that the great days of gathering in Europe are over. This is our time. Europe is the richest composition of the blood of Israel we’ve known. The blood of Israel out of these lands saved the Church. They left behind family members, children, grandchildren, and friends. They are still here and we must find them. The blood of Israel is here!”

On one of my first splits, my sister training leader said that everyone should have at least one companion where all you have to think about is the work. 

I love working with Sister Bates! More energy goes into planning and doing the work. I love meeting with new sisters. Sometime within the first exchange they always asking the question - 'So why did you come on a mission?' Never fails, love it haha But it is good to be continually thinking about the reasons I'm here and what I hope to accomplish :) 

This week our planning session was followed by the customary story swap. Aka telling all highlights of the mission, embarrassing moments, times you crushed elders at ping pong etc. 

Sister Jarrard (part of a senior couple here) loves sharing her experiences introducing JAEs to her American recipes. She said they loved her chocolate cake so much they were putting it on drip towards the end. 

Out the door at 7:15am yesterday for stake conference! It was wonderful! Times of peace come so easily at the church. Seeing families and children and members and investigators, all wanting to feel the Spirit that is welcome when we come together, brings such a joy and hope for future generations. The Saints in Germany have so many opportunities to serve and love and they don't waste them! I'm grateful for their examples. I'm grateful that their church callings don't stay at church. Their service becomes a part of their lifestyle. 

One of my favorite parts was as someone read the sacrament in the first person, like an invitation to us personally. To remember Him and to be a witness at all times of Him. 

I also loved the closing hymn we sang; O fest wie ein Felsen. (How Firm a Foundation) Hearing the whole stake sing about not being moved was inspiring. We had the opportunity to sing as a missionary choir in the Saturday session of stake conference as well :) 

This weekend a man came up to Sister Bates, staring at her name tag. He pulled out his phone, checked for a moment, then asked if her father was named Martin. Turns out that he is the son of a woman that her dad baptized 30 years ago!! We got to meet her and she wanted to take a family photo with all her grandkids and Sister Bates so her dad could see the fruits of his missionary labors :) Such a cool experience! I loved that her son was familiar with her conversion story and although she didn't have contact with the missionaries who converted her, she remembered them. 

I've heard some great Danglish jokes this week so hit me up, I'm good for at least three :) 

Wrote William Shakespeare, ‘They do not love that do not show their love.’

Show Heavenly Father what you're grateful for. Take time to love Him by appreciating and loving the people around you. Don't stop at acknowledgement of blessings but go further to bless someone else's life. Another way to think about it is how we use the teachings we're given. 

A fine member of the Church was talking with a neighbor who was not of our faith. When the topic of discussion turned to general conference, the neighbor asked, “You say you have prophets and apostles? And twice a year in a worldwide conference they reveal the word of God?”

“Absolutely,” the member replied with confidence.

The neighbor thought about that for a moment. He seemed genuinely interested and then asked, “What did they say in the last general conference?"

At this point the good member of the Church went from feeling excited about sharing the gospel to feeling embarrassed. Try as he might, he couldn’t think of the details of a single talk.

His friend found this troubling and said, “You mean to tell me that God speaks to man in our day and you can’t remember what He said?”

The brother felt humbled by this exchange. He vowed that he would do better to remember the words spoken by the Lord’s servants in general conference.  

::President Uchtdorf

I love you family, friends, acquaintances, and people I haven't met yet!

Take note of the blessings you see this week and share them with people around you! Another invitation from stake conference was to find someone that you can be a light to!

Liebe Grüße, Sister Riser

I received this gem last week.  Nobody makes that face like Sister Goodwin does. 

Woche 17: Journeys of Discovering Require New Eyes

I had so many great experiences with some of Gods children this week :) And have seen the simple kindness of people here. Last PDay we went thrifting (yes it's a thing here too) and at a Turkish laden we went to, the coat I was looking at had a button missing. Before I could say anything, the woman took it out of my hands and said wait, I'll do it for you. We were able to chat with her for a little while and explain our purpose here. She had such open interest in making sure everyone around her was happy. I really enjoy meeting people like that, who turn completely outward. 

First Day of Newly Fixed Bikes!!

...On the Train after biking 8 km (5 mi)

Our bikes are finally fixed! And the bike shop threw in new handlebar grips! Besides being excited to not have to wait for as many Bahns, I really anticipate us being able to have much more contacting time! My companion braved a haircut this week, though I think she winced with every snip  it turned out good though haha

Reading other missionaries letters this past week has made me think about the stark contrast between missions and how the work is done. What works here wouldn't work other places, how others teach may not be as effective here etc. Every single call is inspired and to me, almost seems like it arrives with your new potential in the envelope! I've been thinking about what God has planned for me and for us here in Mainz. It helps me pay closer attention to know exactly where we need to be to follow the plan He has. 

The Lord has been looking out for us a little more this week. Our mission set a goal of ten baptismal dates made by Sunday. We went to our next appointment with Michelle, armed with scriptures and a lesson plan, so ready to figure out how we could help her get there! Almost as soon as we came in, she said she didn't want to join any church and that everyone's worship should be more individual than that. My first Tschüß (good bye) It's easy to understand but harder to be happy with. But that was similar to what Desiree had done, and I hope that when missionaries find Michelle again, she'll be ready :) 

Frau Lange had asked us to watch conference with her so we watched 3 talks, including Elder Holland's about mothers. In the times we've talked about baptism before, she had always said that she had made a promise with Jesus. That when she got a new apartment, she would be baptized and live her faith more. I asked her why she was waiting and what she could do then that she couldn't right now. She asked about signs and how if God really cared about us moving forward, he would help us. We said that God is always willing and ready to bless us with answers and solutions but that our faith shouldn't be conditional. We were able to set a baptismal date with her for December 19th. Heavenly Father is working in her life and she knows it. 

And we were number 7!! The mission is on fire with a desire to bring people to baptism!!

God knows what we know and what we're capable of. He knows exactly where we stand and what we need. He'll never push us beyond our limits but is waiting for us to do what we can! 

We had an appointment with the Marx's this week! We played Mensch and ate Heiße Liebe (vanilla ice cream with hot raspberries) 

Playing Mensch

Oktoberfest has come to Mainz! Lederhosen everywhere. You can't escape it. We've agreed that if Sister Godwin is married by the time I get home, I have to wear a Dirndl (traditional German woman's dress) to my homecoming talk. If she isn't, then she'll wear hers to mine ;) 

Der Schriftsteller Marcel Proust hat gesagt: „Die wahren Entdeckungsreisen bestehen nicht darin, neue Landschaften aufzusuchen, sondern darin, neue Augen zu haben.“ 

(The poet Marcel Proust said: "True journeys of discovering don't consist of finding new landscapes but of having new eyes.")

Take a look at your favorite scripture again, review old conference notes, read your journal! You'll find so much more through the new eyes that time and experience have given you. 

My scripture last week to "ponderize" was 1 John 4:21 and this week is to be determined tonight :) 

I love you all a heck of a lot and I hope you're happy 

Sister Riser ❤️

Woche 11: Do you feel like a missionary?

 1 Peter 3:15

Be always ready! Have your testimony ready to share when people ask you why you're different!  Let them see the reason and hope behind your actions.

This week we went to the temple for the last time! It was packed with missionaries and other patrons and we missed the first session and were early for the next one but they told us to change and meet in the chapel and they would work something out. We were waiting there deciding whether to spend three hours until the next session there when the temple president walked in. He welcomed us to the temple and began to talk to us about missionary service and the miracles we would see. It was a wonderful experience to have him speaking to just six missionaries so personally. He cautioned us to not let opportunities pass and reminded us of the great wonders we're capable of being apart of when we listen to the Spirit. Afterwards I remember looking around the celestial room and seeing so many missionaries and feeling so grateful to be here. The Lord trusts us with His children and it's a privilege to serve as one of His missionaries.

High Points of the Week

-Service at the Hirsch farm was so much fun and I loved being out of the city! They have beautiful Icelandic horses and miniature ponies and sheep that attack freshly cut bushes like toddlers to fruit snacks.

-Splits with the sister training leaders! Loved every minute. It's a nice change and fresh perspective that makes you excited to try new things in your area.

-Dinner with the Copeland family and the Jarrards. We shared about prayer and Schwester Copeland talked about the first time she heard about the church compared to the time later when she accepted it. It wasn't until she was open to change that she could accept the gospel. It's an almost visible difference in the people we talk to every day- those that want more and are ready and those closed off the change.

-I'm not sure if you should count disobedience as a high point but we definitely accidentally left our area and zone this past week. The Jarrards got lost on our way back from a dinner appointment and we ended up in Weisbaden. On the plus side, we saw a monster truck rally advertised there and we now know what we are doing next PDay ;)

-DESIREE. This woman makes my day everyday. She's getting baptized in less that two weeks!! I can't believe it's only been a month since we met her!

-German. I love this language. It's changed the way I bear my testimony and share what I've learned. It flows and expresses differently than English and it's grand.

-Being tired! The absolute only reason this is enjoyable is because we're so busy!! We've never been so busy finding and teaching and studying and eating hahah

-Painting at the Fugals. They took on a mass redecorating project while Bruder Fugal was gone and painted two rooms and rearranged a whole bunch. My favorite part was in Naomi's room where we painted a seashore and mountains. We went over twice to help and I told them that the only payment I wanted was to see his face when he walked in. They said I could if I could manage it without being seen. So if anyone knows where I could find a nifty looking spider, I'm looking for Spider-Man like grips to hang from the ceiling.

I've decided that the highest compliment given is that you have a good accent. Unless people start complimenting adjective endings, then I may change my mind.

We're gearing up for our youth activity next week- A Day in the Life of a Missionary! It's going to be the best!! It's a combined activity for two German wards and one American ward :)

Desiree is back in town!! She was asked to stand up in sacrament meeting and she stood up all smiles and waved to everyone her happiness is so contagious!! The ward hasn't had baptism in about a year so it's fun to see them get excited about missionary work!

For the fifth Sunday we gathered together to talk about the sabbath. It's times like these that I love how small our Ward is. It allows for everyone to speak and share. Our bishop, who taught, described an experience he had as a teenager. He wanted to be a profie Fußball player- don't we all (professional soccer). And he joined a league that would play and practice on the Sabbath. It took a while but he decided that he shouldn't play football on Sunday. Not two weeks later, the stake president shared a story where he and his sons were playing football on Sunday. After sitting fuming for a while in sacrament meeting, he came to see the difference. How do we think of the activities we do on the Sabbath? Do we play football for winners, losers, got to get better, practice practice? Or are we spending time with family?

I love that commandments are personal. They're followed differently for each person and the Lord knows that.

One of the greatest pieces of advice I've heard was from one of my sister training leaders this week. I asked her what has been helpful to her in being a successful and happy missionary. She said knowing that she's doing exactly what the Lord wants will make her happy and that leads to success. She said that she can judge every action, word, or activity by asking herself- Do I feel like a missionary doing this? Anything that doesn't make her the representative of Christ that she wants to be isn't something that she wants to do. I thought about it in other situations- Do I feel like a Latter Day Saint doing this? Do I feel like a good example doing this? Our actions and words define us and shape who we are. I would want to do what's going do to work towards that person I'm trying to become. 

Happy birthday to my beautiful mother! I'm happy to have you as an example and friend- I love you!! ❤❤❤