Elder Smith and Elder Spangenberg after a rain storm!
Good luck on the Potato fund raiser! Haha I remember that potato fund raiser really well because the next day after loading potatoes into every one's cars, my arm wouldn't work!
Yes, Mom, I'm still glad I was called to Germany. Sometimes it is discouraging because most of the people have no interest, some of them just want to meet with us because we are from America.
Yeah, Europe is like that, they all think their lives are perfect and nothing is missing. But people in other countries are poor and humble and are more open to the Gospel. I am hoping to go with Herr Merankovich to the temple in a year with Elder Morton. We will both be on our missions so hopefully all the missionaries that helped him get get there, can be there.
This week was actually eventful. We talked to the Albanian family on Tuesday and they said they would read the book before meeting with us again. We also went by on the old lady and gave her a blessing because she wasn't feeling well. She is 85 and lives by herself because she doesn't want to live in a caretaker home. It is kinda sad, one of our members said that many people in Germany live like that.
Wednesday, we were late for every train, bus, subway and meeting. But we had interviews with President! They were really good, it was a great get to know you, interview. I really like President, he is so humble and just a great man. Also President Fingerle's counselor in the mission presidency was there and I talked to him. He spoke with a perfect American accent and he also spoke with a perfect German accent. He lives in Hannover, but what's cool is that he had a companion named Elder Spangenberg when he was in the Leipzig Mission. So I thought that was awesome. After that we missed our train, so we were late to our appointment with a new investigator, but luckily he waited for us, He is a 17 year old kid and he's really cool. We are going to invite him to soccer this week and then see where it goes from that!
We went on an exchange with the zone leaders this week and I was in Kiel for a day with Elder Morton. We had a disaster lesson because a member spoke the whole time. The investigators didn't understand German or English so we brought this joint teach that could speak their language. Well, before we went in he said, "You tell me what to say and I will translate it for you." So we went in and he just takes over. They thought we were Jehovah witnesses at first and he didn't translate anything we said or tell us what they were saying. Elder Morton finally raised his hand during the lesson, it was kind of funny, he said,"Um, question, what's going on?" So yeah, that was fun, probably one of the worst lessons I have been in. But we did find some cool Africans and invited them to the German class the missionaries teach. I also went to the ward summer party in Kiel! So overall it was a fun exchange with Elder Morton. It was fun to reminisce once again of our memories together in Spandau.
Sunday, was a pretty interesting day. We went over to the nicest family's house for lunch, they have the biggest kid I have ever seen in my life. He is not even 2 yet, but her was running all over the house yelling and screaming and causing havoc, he was really funny. He's not fat, he's just huge for a 2 year old, Then we had a lesson with one of our investigators. He doesn't speak much German, and he didn't understand that the Book of Mormon isn't the Bible. It's different, he kept saying, "Which bible is right, yours or the Jehovah Witness bible?" His Dad is a JW so he knows quite a bit about them. Also the church doesn't have much content in his native language including the Book of Mormon, so hopefully that will change soon. After that, it rained a ton and we got soaked, see the pictures this week!
Well we met a creepy lady on the street. at first we thought she was just nice. We gave her our card just in case she had interest or needed help. Well the next day, she starts sending us texts asking if we can go bike riding with her and go on hikes and pretty much date. She is like 30 years old. It was kind of creepy. Sometimes the people you meet as missionaries.
The work is going better in the the area. Today I read a good scripture that I would like to share. It is in Mosiah 9:17. It is talking about Zeniff and how he humbles himself and remembers God before the Lamanites come to battle against him.
17: Yea, in strength of the Lord did we go forth to battle against the Lamanites; for I and my people did cry mightily to the Lord that he would deliver us out of the hands of our enemies, for we were awakened to a remembrance of the deliverance of our fathers.
Not always will the battle be one that is actually fighting, most of the time it actually isn't. But we need to remember to not only rely on our own strength, but also to humble ourselves enough that God will help us go throughout our daily trials. I know that God helps us, I have seen it in my own life. I know that as we humble ourselves and plead for God's help then he will help us get through our trials and that through the strength of the Lord, we can do all things!
Have a great week!
Elder Spangenberg
No comments:
Post a Comment