On Tuesday I decided to change bags that I was carrying around and use my side bag, but when I carry my side bag I can´t carry as much stuff. Well I had put my German scriptures in my bag, but then had a little thought that I should carry an extra Book of Mormon instead. So I took mine out and put in one to give away. Well we had a little time before Sister Sayson´s Doctor appointment and we had planned on doing doors in this one specific area. Well the first door no one was home, but then the second door a man answered. We talked to him for a bit and he knows a lot about religions...well long story short he really wanted a Book of Mormon...he was not interested in meeting with us, but he wanted to read the book...well guess what...yep that´s right...I had one with me!! It was a miracle because I don´t normally carry an extra one. We normally just bring it by to our first appointment, but I had the feeling and I followed it!! It was amazing!!
We saw a cool miracle on Wednesday. We had just finished an eating appointment and we were walking to the bus when we stopped this lady and started talking to her. She was interested in what we were saying and gave us her contact info. Then we continued walking a few steps when all of a sudden we realize that we have totally walked WAY too far...a block or 2. So we turned around and walked back, but if we would have noticed that earlier we would not have met this lady. It was cool to be lead by the Spirit and not even know it!!
On Saturday morning we got to eat breakfast with the Elders and this really cool family in the ward. They live kind of far away (30 minute train ride and then 15mins in the car) but it was cool. We got to help them make it and we had so much fun together. The family is really funny!!
We also met with Sch. Lütjen again this week. She has been sick for the last few weeks, but she is finally better. She is the inactive member that we have been meeting with weekly with the Relief Society President. She has come to church once so far, but then she got really sick!! Well we met with her and had a really good time...Sch. Lütjen and Sch. Fritzsch (RS Pres) like to talk a lot, but it turned out really good. Sch. Fritzsch is really honest with her and that is really good!! They get a long good and Sch. Fritzsch really encouraged her to come to church with her...well Sunday came and there they were...sitting next to each other in church!! SO COOL!!
We had an appointment with a man and his wife from Africa on Saturday...sadly the wife was not there. We taught him more about Joseph Smith and then we invited him to come to a baptism the following day of a 8 year old girl. We then talked about children baptisms and why we don´t baptize kids under 8. I committed him to read in Moroni 8 about child baptisms, but he still had a lot of questions...we couldn´t answer them all because we had to go to another appointment. Well when we were at church the next day (he was not there) we got a lot of answers to questions about baptism and child baptism!! It was amazing!! We learned a lot about it and know where to look now to learn more!! We are excited to teach him again!!
I have learned a lot about the Spirit this week and how to follow it. It is still not perfect and I don´t always listen, but I have been really trying to pay attention to what he is saying to me. We have an investigator that call the Holy Ghost her "inner voice" and that is exactly what he is!! He speaks to us and if we listen we will be blessed and we will be able to be an instrument in the Hands of God!! I know that the Holy Ghost really is there and that when we listen hard enough he will tell us what we need to do!!
I love you!!
Sister Jones
30 March 2009
24 March 2009
Week #43 (3-23-09)
This past week was good. The miracle woman we found last week didn´t end up coming to church, but we met with her a total of 2 times and we have an appointment for this week as well!! She is super cool and the man she lives with is totally ok with us meeting with her.
We found quite a few contacts this week...6 total, but 5 were men and so we passed them off to the Elders!! Some of them were really good contacts...a lot of potential!!
We also got our Bikes fixed this week by a nice member in the ward. So we were so excited that the next day we rode everywhere on our bikes....everywhere...bad idea. By the end of the day my butt hurt so bad and my comps legs hurt so bad that we decided to walk our bikes to the train. Well, we were so tired that we walked slower then normal and then had to get back on our bikes to catch the train. I thought I was going to die. It hurt SO bad to sit down!! I tried to peddle standing up, but that didn´t work so well. I ended up gritting my teeth and riding through the pain. I prayed the whole time that I wouldn´t die and that we would make our train!! Well He answered my prayers!! :o) We didn´t ride bikes for a few days after that...and I had some issues sitting. My comp could barely walk because her legs hurt so bad!! Man are we fat and out of shape!!
We talked to a lot of people this week on the street that don´t believe that there is a God because of all the horrible things that happen in our lives and in the world. It was really hard to hear over and over and over, but it was a great time to bear my testimony that I know God lives and loves us. He wants us to be happy, but doesn´t protect us from sorrow and hurt so that we know what it´s like to be happy. When we don´t know what it feels like to be sad we will never know what it is like to be happy. They still didn´t listen to what we have to say, but they heard my testimony and I know that they felt what I felt as we spoke!!
I love this work and KNOW that we can find those that are prepared. There is a member in my ward that told me that the people that we talk to on the street are not prepared for the Gospel...we are preparing them for later. I told her no, they are ready...we just have to find them!! When the members don´t have faith that we can find...how are we supposed to find them!! We ALL need the faith to find and need the support from the members and their faith!!
Love Sister Jones
We found quite a few contacts this week...6 total, but 5 were men and so we passed them off to the Elders!! Some of them were really good contacts...a lot of potential!!
We also got our Bikes fixed this week by a nice member in the ward. So we were so excited that the next day we rode everywhere on our bikes....everywhere...bad idea. By the end of the day my butt hurt so bad and my comps legs hurt so bad that we decided to walk our bikes to the train. Well, we were so tired that we walked slower then normal and then had to get back on our bikes to catch the train. I thought I was going to die. It hurt SO bad to sit down!! I tried to peddle standing up, but that didn´t work so well. I ended up gritting my teeth and riding through the pain. I prayed the whole time that I wouldn´t die and that we would make our train!! Well He answered my prayers!! :o) We didn´t ride bikes for a few days after that...and I had some issues sitting. My comp could barely walk because her legs hurt so bad!! Man are we fat and out of shape!!
We talked to a lot of people this week on the street that don´t believe that there is a God because of all the horrible things that happen in our lives and in the world. It was really hard to hear over and over and over, but it was a great time to bear my testimony that I know God lives and loves us. He wants us to be happy, but doesn´t protect us from sorrow and hurt so that we know what it´s like to be happy. When we don´t know what it feels like to be sad we will never know what it is like to be happy. They still didn´t listen to what we have to say, but they heard my testimony and I know that they felt what I felt as we spoke!!
I love this work and KNOW that we can find those that are prepared. There is a member in my ward that told me that the people that we talk to on the street are not prepared for the Gospel...we are preparing them for later. I told her no, they are ready...we just have to find them!! When the members don´t have faith that we can find...how are we supposed to find them!! We ALL need the faith to find and need the support from the members and their faith!!
Love Sister Jones
16 March 2009
Week #42 (3-16-09)
Last Monday we got to do some service for a woman in the ward. She has just moved into a new apartment and needed some help cleaning some stuff. I love doing service and being able to see other people happy because of it. We are planning on helping her paint her kitchen this week...that should be fun.
Tuesday we had an appointment with the inactive woman that came to church last week, but sadly she was relly sick. She babysits her grandchild a lot and he was supposed to be picked up last saturday (the 8th) but he was still there when we came. She was so sick that she wasn´t able to carry him down the stairs and go to the doctor...she lives on the 6th floor without an elevator. So we took her (my comp, me and schwester Fritzsch) to the doctor and then got her some meds. We then called her home teacher and they came over on thursday to give her a blessing...her grandson was still there. She didn´t come to church, but we are going to call her today and see if she is doing better.
Wednesday we had zone conference and it was so wonderful. I love being so uplifted and spiritually strengthened. We talked about member missionary work and how we can do that better. That is a really hard thing to do, but I do my best to work with members. They gave us some really good ideas and I´m hoping this next transfer to be able to try them out.
Thursday we went to the Pugmires so I could practice my song for sunday. They are a family from america, but they have lived here for a really long time. The husband was the bishop at some point, but is now completely inactive...there are a lot of those in this ward. We also met with our main investigators in Delmenhorst. We haven´t met with them for a few weeks because Herr Frizler´s sister died. She was actually killed by her exhusband. It was really sad. We taught them the plan of salvation and they had a lot of questions. Frau Frizler accepted it really well, but Herr Frizler is having a hard time believing in God. I used my talent to teach them though...my comp and I sang them a hymn before we started the lesson. It really invited the spirit. I think I will try that more often. We commited them to pray about the plan and to read in the book of mormon. Frau Frizler agreed, but herr Frizler didn´t. It is a little chalenging to teach to people when they are on different levels, but it will work out. They are really cool. We have a really good feeling about them.
Friday was amazing. We went out to talk to people in the morning before we did weekly planning and we met this woman in the park. She looked really rocker...red hair, lots and lots of piercing in her ears and smoking. She had a baby carriage with her and so we started to talk to her about families. I only got to say 2 sentences and then she asked us if we were mormons. We said yes and she started to get teary eyed. She said that her great Aunt is a member of our church and has been praying that she would meet the missionaries. She then wiped tears out of her eyes. I asked if she wanted to meet with us so we could teach her about eternal families. She said yes and we made an appointment. She lives right by us in our new place. It was such a miracle. God does answer prayers!! WOW!! We also had an appointment with the Meister Family again. We taught them about prayer and then played hide and seek with the kids (8 and 12). It was so funny. It was just in the living room with the lights off and there was not many places to hide. At one point I just layed on the couch and put the pillows on top of me. He then climbed up on me and taged sister Sayson who was behind the couch. I started laughing and then he started laughing and appologizing, pretending that he didn´t know that I was there...oh, he knew!! :o) Then I was really out of places to hide and he only gave us 10 seconds this time...well he opened the door and I still wasn´t hidden. I was right by the back glass door and saw the curtain, so I grabed it to hide behind it, but realized that it was shear....well I was out of time. I jumped behind it and tried to move as far away from the light of the glass door as possible. Well...he could not find me. :o) He looked everywhere. I was laughing so hard that I was shaking trying to keep the sound in. Even my comp saw me. I mean the room was a little dark, but I was pretty obvious...too obvious I guess. He finally found me and I just let out the biggest laugh...well lets just say he didn´t want to play anymore. I guess my spot was too good. :o) It was fun. We then left with a prayer and invited the kids to join us. The little 12 year old said that he doesn´t believe in God. He prayed with us anyway, but I thought that that was so sad. The mom and dad were offended and now their kids don´t have a faith. It´s really sad what parents teach their kids these days...or what they don´t teach them.
Saturday was transfer calls and was the last day to fix up our old appartment. Sister Sayson and I are still together and are so happy. We were praying that we would stay together. We are really excited for this next transfer and all the wonderful things to come in the area!! Then the appartment thing...We have lived in the new one for a little over a week, but we had to finish moving stuff out and painting the old one. Well last sunday they asked in priesthood who could come and help and NO ONE raised their hand. NO ONE!! I couldn´t believe it. We would do anything for the ward...we are always there to help them. I was a little sad because that is one of their priesthood responsibilities...to help and strengthen the ward members. Maybe they all just happened to be busy on that day!! Anyway, our GML (who is only 19yrs old) was there, the Elders from Bremen, Elders Robb and Brink (senior missionaries serving in Hamburg) and Katharina (a girl who has been a member for only a year.) Oh and her 3 kids (all under the age of 8)!! We had a lot of people, but all but 2 (not including the kids) were all missionaries. We thought it would only take a few hours, but we were actually there for almost 8 hours!! It looks good though and we had fun. Our GML is cool and will be a great missionary. He would do anything to help us!!
Sunday was also wonderful and funny!! First of all Tobias (the man we gave to the elders) came to church!! WAHOO!! He is so wonderful!! I sang my song and it went ok...I´m just glad that I can still sound decent even though I can´t practice everyday. What a blessing. The last speaker was a member of the stake presidency and he talked about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. It was very simple, but very very good. It was perfect and clear for Tobias. After the meeting he said I did a great job singing and that he really enjoyed the meeting. He wasn´t able to stay for the rest of church, but I´m just glad that he came!! I really wish I could teach him, but the Elders will take good care of him!! Later that day we went and met with Barbara (the woman we met in the park) She was still not able to talk to her aunt, but she was really excited to have us there. We taught her the plan of salvation, but it was hard because her son is 6 and kept making a lot of noise. The Spirit was not as strong as we had hoped, but she agreed to meet with us 3 times a week for 30 minutes and she committed to read in the book of mormon. Sister Sayson and I talked a lot after about why the Spirit had left and we both felt that it was for 2 reasons. Her son started playing some really loud music in another room and also...we had planned to talk about Families, Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, but she asked us what we believe come after this life. Well we just jumped into the 2.Lektion and then commited he to read. When we left we both left knowing that the Spirit wasn´t there. I think that we should have stuck to our plan....answered her question really quick, but then get back to the lesson. We plan through the Spirit to know what to teach and sometimes he tells us to change our plan, but when we don´t have a feeling or know what to do we should just stick to the plan. Let the Spirit lead the lesson and the not investigator. It was still a good lesson, but we have learned a lot from this experience and are going to make the next lesson really spiritual. :o)
Ok...so this day was funny because of this next story. So we had to go to our landlord's house to give her our keys and let her know what we left behind. In Gemany they usually take everything with them...including the kitchen sink!! So we walked up the stairs to their door and rang the bell. Well she opened the door to the cellar and called us to come down there. So we turned around and walked down the stairs. Well it had been raining the last couple days here and was really wet. We walked down the first few steps and then turned to walk down to the cellar...well, I'm a clutz and slipped down the stairs. I slipped right past my comp and ended up at the bottom with my foot behind me on the stairs. I couldn´t believe it. I tried to stand up and couldn´t for a few seconds and then when I tried to walk that hurt really bad. I hoped into her kitchen and she gave me some ice. I tried to tell her I was fine, but it hurt so bad that if I opened my mouth to talked I would have cried. I finally got control of my emotions and told her I was fine. My ankle hurt, but with the ice it was better. My tights got 2 holes in them, but I was still alive and had no broken bones. We talked about the appartment for a little bit and then left...and I was walking fine by then. Miracles are all around us. I think I will get a little blue, but so far today it is still flesh colored...just a little tender when I touch it. It was so funny. I was so embarressed, but we are still laughing about it today!! :o)
It was a good week!! I´m excited to start this new transfer...we have already started making goals for how we can do better and work harder. It will be great! I love this work and I love seeing miracles everyday. I think that I can really say that now...that I love this work. Not everyday...but I love seeing the light come into the eyes of the people I teach. We have some great investigators and we are going to do all we can to get them baptized. The Lord is really blessing us!!
My new address is Augsburgerstr 55 28215 Bremen.
I love you and hope you have a great week!!
Sister Jones
Tuesday we had an appointment with the inactive woman that came to church last week, but sadly she was relly sick. She babysits her grandchild a lot and he was supposed to be picked up last saturday (the 8th) but he was still there when we came. She was so sick that she wasn´t able to carry him down the stairs and go to the doctor...she lives on the 6th floor without an elevator. So we took her (my comp, me and schwester Fritzsch) to the doctor and then got her some meds. We then called her home teacher and they came over on thursday to give her a blessing...her grandson was still there. She didn´t come to church, but we are going to call her today and see if she is doing better.
Wednesday we had zone conference and it was so wonderful. I love being so uplifted and spiritually strengthened. We talked about member missionary work and how we can do that better. That is a really hard thing to do, but I do my best to work with members. They gave us some really good ideas and I´m hoping this next transfer to be able to try them out.
Thursday we went to the Pugmires so I could practice my song for sunday. They are a family from america, but they have lived here for a really long time. The husband was the bishop at some point, but is now completely inactive...there are a lot of those in this ward. We also met with our main investigators in Delmenhorst. We haven´t met with them for a few weeks because Herr Frizler´s sister died. She was actually killed by her exhusband. It was really sad. We taught them the plan of salvation and they had a lot of questions. Frau Frizler accepted it really well, but Herr Frizler is having a hard time believing in God. I used my talent to teach them though...my comp and I sang them a hymn before we started the lesson. It really invited the spirit. I think I will try that more often. We commited them to pray about the plan and to read in the book of mormon. Frau Frizler agreed, but herr Frizler didn´t. It is a little chalenging to teach to people when they are on different levels, but it will work out. They are really cool. We have a really good feeling about them.
Friday was amazing. We went out to talk to people in the morning before we did weekly planning and we met this woman in the park. She looked really rocker...red hair, lots and lots of piercing in her ears and smoking. She had a baby carriage with her and so we started to talk to her about families. I only got to say 2 sentences and then she asked us if we were mormons. We said yes and she started to get teary eyed. She said that her great Aunt is a member of our church and has been praying that she would meet the missionaries. She then wiped tears out of her eyes. I asked if she wanted to meet with us so we could teach her about eternal families. She said yes and we made an appointment. She lives right by us in our new place. It was such a miracle. God does answer prayers!! WOW!! We also had an appointment with the Meister Family again. We taught them about prayer and then played hide and seek with the kids (8 and 12). It was so funny. It was just in the living room with the lights off and there was not many places to hide. At one point I just layed on the couch and put the pillows on top of me. He then climbed up on me and taged sister Sayson who was behind the couch. I started laughing and then he started laughing and appologizing, pretending that he didn´t know that I was there...oh, he knew!! :o) Then I was really out of places to hide and he only gave us 10 seconds this time...well he opened the door and I still wasn´t hidden. I was right by the back glass door and saw the curtain, so I grabed it to hide behind it, but realized that it was shear....well I was out of time. I jumped behind it and tried to move as far away from the light of the glass door as possible. Well...he could not find me. :o) He looked everywhere. I was laughing so hard that I was shaking trying to keep the sound in. Even my comp saw me. I mean the room was a little dark, but I was pretty obvious...too obvious I guess. He finally found me and I just let out the biggest laugh...well lets just say he didn´t want to play anymore. I guess my spot was too good. :o) It was fun. We then left with a prayer and invited the kids to join us. The little 12 year old said that he doesn´t believe in God. He prayed with us anyway, but I thought that that was so sad. The mom and dad were offended and now their kids don´t have a faith. It´s really sad what parents teach their kids these days...or what they don´t teach them.
Saturday was transfer calls and was the last day to fix up our old appartment. Sister Sayson and I are still together and are so happy. We were praying that we would stay together. We are really excited for this next transfer and all the wonderful things to come in the area!! Then the appartment thing...We have lived in the new one for a little over a week, but we had to finish moving stuff out and painting the old one. Well last sunday they asked in priesthood who could come and help and NO ONE raised their hand. NO ONE!! I couldn´t believe it. We would do anything for the ward...we are always there to help them. I was a little sad because that is one of their priesthood responsibilities...to help and strengthen the ward members. Maybe they all just happened to be busy on that day!! Anyway, our GML (who is only 19yrs old) was there, the Elders from Bremen, Elders Robb and Brink (senior missionaries serving in Hamburg) and Katharina (a girl who has been a member for only a year.) Oh and her 3 kids (all under the age of 8)!! We had a lot of people, but all but 2 (not including the kids) were all missionaries. We thought it would only take a few hours, but we were actually there for almost 8 hours!! It looks good though and we had fun. Our GML is cool and will be a great missionary. He would do anything to help us!!
Sunday was also wonderful and funny!! First of all Tobias (the man we gave to the elders) came to church!! WAHOO!! He is so wonderful!! I sang my song and it went ok...I´m just glad that I can still sound decent even though I can´t practice everyday. What a blessing. The last speaker was a member of the stake presidency and he talked about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. It was very simple, but very very good. It was perfect and clear for Tobias. After the meeting he said I did a great job singing and that he really enjoyed the meeting. He wasn´t able to stay for the rest of church, but I´m just glad that he came!! I really wish I could teach him, but the Elders will take good care of him!! Later that day we went and met with Barbara (the woman we met in the park) She was still not able to talk to her aunt, but she was really excited to have us there. We taught her the plan of salvation, but it was hard because her son is 6 and kept making a lot of noise. The Spirit was not as strong as we had hoped, but she agreed to meet with us 3 times a week for 30 minutes and she committed to read in the book of mormon. Sister Sayson and I talked a lot after about why the Spirit had left and we both felt that it was for 2 reasons. Her son started playing some really loud music in another room and also...we had planned to talk about Families, Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon, but she asked us what we believe come after this life. Well we just jumped into the 2.Lektion and then commited he to read. When we left we both left knowing that the Spirit wasn´t there. I think that we should have stuck to our plan....answered her question really quick, but then get back to the lesson. We plan through the Spirit to know what to teach and sometimes he tells us to change our plan, but when we don´t have a feeling or know what to do we should just stick to the plan. Let the Spirit lead the lesson and the not investigator. It was still a good lesson, but we have learned a lot from this experience and are going to make the next lesson really spiritual. :o)
Ok...so this day was funny because of this next story. So we had to go to our landlord's house to give her our keys and let her know what we left behind. In Gemany they usually take everything with them...including the kitchen sink!! So we walked up the stairs to their door and rang the bell. Well she opened the door to the cellar and called us to come down there. So we turned around and walked down the stairs. Well it had been raining the last couple days here and was really wet. We walked down the first few steps and then turned to walk down to the cellar...well, I'm a clutz and slipped down the stairs. I slipped right past my comp and ended up at the bottom with my foot behind me on the stairs. I couldn´t believe it. I tried to stand up and couldn´t for a few seconds and then when I tried to walk that hurt really bad. I hoped into her kitchen and she gave me some ice. I tried to tell her I was fine, but it hurt so bad that if I opened my mouth to talked I would have cried. I finally got control of my emotions and told her I was fine. My ankle hurt, but with the ice it was better. My tights got 2 holes in them, but I was still alive and had no broken bones. We talked about the appartment for a little bit and then left...and I was walking fine by then. Miracles are all around us. I think I will get a little blue, but so far today it is still flesh colored...just a little tender when I touch it. It was so funny. I was so embarressed, but we are still laughing about it today!! :o)
It was a good week!! I´m excited to start this new transfer...we have already started making goals for how we can do better and work harder. It will be great! I love this work and I love seeing miracles everyday. I think that I can really say that now...that I love this work. Not everyday...but I love seeing the light come into the eyes of the people I teach. We have some great investigators and we are going to do all we can to get them baptized. The Lord is really blessing us!!
My new address is Augsburgerstr 55 28215 Bremen.
I love you and hope you have a great week!!
Sister Jones
09 March 2009
Week #41 (3-9-09)
This week was great!! We saw some serious miracles. We met this man on the street last week (well 2 weeks ago) and talked to him about families and the purpose of life. We asked him if we could meet with him to talk more about this message and he said `gerne` (Gladly)...no one ever says gerne...we were so excited!! So we made an appointment with him to meet us in the church this last Tuesday...well miracles are everywhere because I have made a ton of appointments with men (well and woman too) to meet us in the church and they have NEVER shown up...well he did!! He was there!! We gave him a tour of our building and he asked a lot of good questions. We then gave him a book of mormon and talked to him about what we have to do in this life to return and live with God. He was really interested and really nice. He is divorced and has 4 kids. We asked him if we could meet with him again and he said `yeah, gerne!!` He said it again!! WOW!! :o) So we made an appointment for Sunday and after thinking a lot about it decided to pass him over to the Elders. Our Mission President likes it better when the women teach the women and the men teach the men...well only when there are Elders and Sisters in the same City...so we called the Elders and invited them to come. Well we went to the church and again he was there. We asked him if he had read in the book of mormon and he did. The Elders and us started to then teach the 2. Lektion...about the plan of salvation. It was so good. He had a lot of questions, but really thinks that it is possible for this to be god's plan. The Elders committed him to pray about it to god and he said that he would. He said that he has a desire to pray to god and to learn more. He is SO prepared. The Elders then set up an appointment to teach him. (He again said gerne when the Elders asked for another appointment!!) I then invited him to come to church to hear me sing next Sunday and he said he would love too!! Well as we were leaving the Elders asked him what he does for work...he then looked at me and said that he is a singer!! WOW!! I can´t believe that we didn´t ask what he does. He sings for parties and weddings and such and sings 1920´s music. I then told him that I was really nervous for next week...he just laughed and told me not to be!! He totally looks like a musician too!! When he left the Elders and us talked about the lesson and he is totally going to be baptized!! I really really want to teach him, but I just had a feeling and know it was right to pass him off!!
Another miracle that we saw was with an inactive woman. She said that she would come to church last week, but she wasn´t there. We asked her at our appointment last week (well actiually the member we brought asked her) why she didn´t come. She said that she was in Hamburg picking up her grandson who she watches pretty often. We again invited her to church, but she said that if her grandson is stil there she can´t come because her son doesn´t want his child in our church. (Her son is also inactive) Well I sat down in sacrament meeting on Sunday next to this cute old lady in the front and after the meeting I turned around and my comp got my attention and pointed to the back of the room...she was there...with her grandson. My comp had talked to her and she said that she had called her son the night before and told him that she was going to bring him to church. I think it was because her son was supposed to pick the little guy up on friday or saturday...the dad is really not very responsible. Since he was still there she just brought him. She stayed for all three meetings. I got to talk to her too and I also met her neice who is a little less active as well!! It was a miracle. The member that comes with us everyweek was so excited when she found out she was there!! I love being able to see the fruit of my labor!! We are still going to work with her because we need to get her into the church every Sunday...and get her to stay there!! :o)
It was a great week. I love being able to see the miracles that the Lord sends to us!! I know that Jesus Christ lives and that he works through ordinary people to do extraordinary things. I have also learned and am still learning that through Him and His Atonement we can change who we are and become perfect. I have a lot of things to change, but I know that it is possible only in and through Christ my Savior!!
Have a great week!!
Love,
Sister Jones
Another miracle that we saw was with an inactive woman. She said that she would come to church last week, but she wasn´t there. We asked her at our appointment last week (well actiually the member we brought asked her) why she didn´t come. She said that she was in Hamburg picking up her grandson who she watches pretty often. We again invited her to church, but she said that if her grandson is stil there she can´t come because her son doesn´t want his child in our church. (Her son is also inactive) Well I sat down in sacrament meeting on Sunday next to this cute old lady in the front and after the meeting I turned around and my comp got my attention and pointed to the back of the room...she was there...with her grandson. My comp had talked to her and she said that she had called her son the night before and told him that she was going to bring him to church. I think it was because her son was supposed to pick the little guy up on friday or saturday...the dad is really not very responsible. Since he was still there she just brought him. She stayed for all three meetings. I got to talk to her too and I also met her neice who is a little less active as well!! It was a miracle. The member that comes with us everyweek was so excited when she found out she was there!! I love being able to see the fruit of my labor!! We are still going to work with her because we need to get her into the church every Sunday...and get her to stay there!! :o)
It was a great week. I love being able to see the miracles that the Lord sends to us!! I know that Jesus Christ lives and that he works through ordinary people to do extraordinary things. I have also learned and am still learning that through Him and His Atonement we can change who we are and become perfect. I have a lot of things to change, but I know that it is possible only in and through Christ my Savior!!
Have a great week!!
Love,
Sister Jones
02 March 2009
Week #40 (3-2-09)
Well my week was good. I don´t have as much time to write this week, but I will try to sum up the many miracles that we saw this week.
So we had another appointment with the interesting investigator that we got last week and it was still really weird. She won´t really talk to my comp or let her teach because she likes me better. I don´t say that to brag at all because I don´t want her to like me. I just told her the Joseph Smith first vision story and the Spirit was really strong. (that was last week) so she thinks that I am something really special, but really my comp is better then me!! But she doen´t really talk to my comp. In German there are a couple forms of "you"...formal, informal, and informal with more then one person. Well...lets just say that we were both there and she was just using the informal...not the one for more then one person. Since she is German she notices that she is only speaking to me!! Wow...it was kind of mean. But something cool happened. This woman's daughter was there and left with us...she lives with her dad...and she ended up walking with us all the way to Bahnhof...she lived in the other direction. She was super cute and nice and is pretty religious, but she said that her mom is a little extreme. She said that she can´t even talk to her mom about taking out the garbage without her mom relating it to something religious. She told us a lot about her mom and her mom´s past and it really explained why she is the way she is. We didn´t even ask for the information...she just started talking. People really trust us as missionaries, but sometimes I wish they wouldn´t tell me all that they do!! I really hope that we can see her again. She is only 14, but I really think that she would join the church and make a great member!! The other frustrating thing about the appointment was the fact that she was teaching us. She didn´t do her reading assignment, so we read with her and when we would stop to talk about the verse she would tell US what it meant and how to interpret it. We are going to try and go this week, but mostly just to see if her daughter is home.
I got to eat Peru food with an inactive member. It was SO good!! She even committed to come to church on Sunday!! And guess what...she did!! I was so excited to see her!! WAHOO!!! Now we just have to get her to church every Sunday from now on!! :o)
We had a baptism on Sunday for a 9 year old boy. The Elders and us have been switching off teaching him!! He is so wonderful and very happy!! His family are members, but have been inactive for the 9 or 10 months because they were offended from their last ward!! All who read this....NEVER let some stupid offence keep you from gaining Eternal Salvation in the Celestial Kingdom....it´s not worth it!! Luckily the Elders visited them a few weeks ago and they came to our ward and really like it here!! She makes a lot of comments about her last ward and it is really sad. Not everyone is perfect and not every ward is the dream ward!! We need to live where we stand...even if the ward is not friendly. Be friendly and help them learn how to be more friendly...people can change...you just have to give them the chance!!
This week was a hard, busy week!! It was still great though!! This work is hard, but worth it. Just trust in the Lord and you can get through anything!! He really is the way, the truth and the life!!
Love Sister Jones
So we had another appointment with the interesting investigator that we got last week and it was still really weird. She won´t really talk to my comp or let her teach because she likes me better. I don´t say that to brag at all because I don´t want her to like me. I just told her the Joseph Smith first vision story and the Spirit was really strong. (that was last week) so she thinks that I am something really special, but really my comp is better then me!! But she doen´t really talk to my comp. In German there are a couple forms of "you"...formal, informal, and informal with more then one person. Well...lets just say that we were both there and she was just using the informal...not the one for more then one person. Since she is German she notices that she is only speaking to me!! Wow...it was kind of mean. But something cool happened. This woman's daughter was there and left with us...she lives with her dad...and she ended up walking with us all the way to Bahnhof...she lived in the other direction. She was super cute and nice and is pretty religious, but she said that her mom is a little extreme. She said that she can´t even talk to her mom about taking out the garbage without her mom relating it to something religious. She told us a lot about her mom and her mom´s past and it really explained why she is the way she is. We didn´t even ask for the information...she just started talking. People really trust us as missionaries, but sometimes I wish they wouldn´t tell me all that they do!! I really hope that we can see her again. She is only 14, but I really think that she would join the church and make a great member!! The other frustrating thing about the appointment was the fact that she was teaching us. She didn´t do her reading assignment, so we read with her and when we would stop to talk about the verse she would tell US what it meant and how to interpret it. We are going to try and go this week, but mostly just to see if her daughter is home.
I got to eat Peru food with an inactive member. It was SO good!! She even committed to come to church on Sunday!! And guess what...she did!! I was so excited to see her!! WAHOO!!! Now we just have to get her to church every Sunday from now on!! :o)
We had a baptism on Sunday for a 9 year old boy. The Elders and us have been switching off teaching him!! He is so wonderful and very happy!! His family are members, but have been inactive for the 9 or 10 months because they were offended from their last ward!! All who read this....NEVER let some stupid offence keep you from gaining Eternal Salvation in the Celestial Kingdom....it´s not worth it!! Luckily the Elders visited them a few weeks ago and they came to our ward and really like it here!! She makes a lot of comments about her last ward and it is really sad. Not everyone is perfect and not every ward is the dream ward!! We need to live where we stand...even if the ward is not friendly. Be friendly and help them learn how to be more friendly...people can change...you just have to give them the chance!!
This week was a hard, busy week!! It was still great though!! This work is hard, but worth it. Just trust in the Lord and you can get through anything!! He really is the way, the truth and the life!!
Love Sister Jones
23 February 2009
Email from Mission President
Last week Christi wrote the following in her letter:
Thursday was Zone Conference and I got to sing for Elder Robert Oaks (the Area President for Europe) I didn´t mess up!! WOW...What a miracle. I also really felt the spirit and didn´t cry. That is also a miracle!! It was pretty good for not having practiced in over a year!! That day was just a miracle because we learned so much through the Spirit!!
This is an email sent to Christi's mom from Sister Thompson, the mission president's wife:
Dear Sister Jones,
We had a most delightful experience at our Mission Tour with Elder Robert Oaks and his wife during the vocal solo of your daughter, Sister Christi Jones. We asked her to perform a special musical number for the afternoon of zone conference and she willingly accepted. Her performance was so moving and sensitive as she sang in her beautiful, clear voice, "Jesus the Very Thought of Thee." We were all in tears at the end of her marvelous solo. Elder Oaks commented that it was one of the most beautiful renditions he had ever heard and thanked her for bringing the Spirit in such abundance.
We just love your daughter and so appreciate the love and support you give her. Her obedience and enthusiasm for the gospel and her missionary work are exemplary and we are so honored to be able to serve with her. Thank you for preparing her so well to serve.
With our love,
President and Sister Thompson
Thursday was Zone Conference and I got to sing for Elder Robert Oaks (the Area President for Europe) I didn´t mess up!! WOW...What a miracle. I also really felt the spirit and didn´t cry. That is also a miracle!! It was pretty good for not having practiced in over a year!! That day was just a miracle because we learned so much through the Spirit!!
This is an email sent to Christi's mom from Sister Thompson, the mission president's wife:
Dear Sister Jones,
We had a most delightful experience at our Mission Tour with Elder Robert Oaks and his wife during the vocal solo of your daughter, Sister Christi Jones. We asked her to perform a special musical number for the afternoon of zone conference and she willingly accepted. Her performance was so moving and sensitive as she sang in her beautiful, clear voice, "Jesus the Very Thought of Thee." We were all in tears at the end of her marvelous solo. Elder Oaks commented that it was one of the most beautiful renditions he had ever heard and thanked her for bringing the Spirit in such abundance.
We just love your daughter and so appreciate the love and support you give her. Her obedience and enthusiasm for the gospel and her missionary work are exemplary and we are so honored to be able to serve with her. Thank you for preparing her so well to serve.
With our love,
President and Sister Thompson
Week #39 (2-23-09)
This week has been even more amazing then last week!! MIRACLES, MIRACLES, AND MORE MIRACLES!!
Monday was P-day of course and then sadly the family that we had an appointment with that night fell out. So we made a plan to visit some inactives and guess what?? Sister Sayson got her first contact. It was so great...She stopped this guy and she started to talk to him. Well, I felt something hit the back of my shoe behind me so I turned around and it was an old lady with this rolly thing. I apologized that I was in the way and took a step forward and then she just started talking to me....that is not normal for Germans. Especially when they are older. Well, while she was talking to me Sister Sayson got this guys info and said that we would bring a book by. It was so cool!! This lady was really crazy though. She kept telling us the same things over and over again!! We ended up helping her with her bags and rolly thing..she had to catch a bus and then went on our way. I think that the lady was really confused, but we got her on the right bus!! But anyway...she got a contact!! WAHOO!! My Golden is so grown-up!! She doesn´t need a trainer!!
Then on Tuesday: We had interviews with the mission president and I talked to him about weekly goals. He has certain goals that we are supposed to reach every week...like a certain amount and I was feeling a little down because we had been setting our goals every week to the Standards of Excellence, but we just weren´t making it!! I wanted to be able to set goals and reach them and then feel good about what we did. Well, I found out that the Standards of Excellence are what we should be striving for and not necessarily what our goals need to be set at every week...it was a big AHHHH moment for me!! My comps and I have always set goals for the week at what was expected for the mission and not what was possible for us!! I was so excited to hear this!! (Later you will find out that the Lord showed me that I need to not doubt Him because it is possible to reach the standards for the mission even with out many investigators!! I was very humbled...but that comes later)
So then we went to visit a really old member that can not leave her bed. We were afraid that no one would be there to let us in, because she cannot let us in...obviously. Thankfully there was a woman there to let us in...she only come 2 times a day. Her son also lives there, but he is not always home!!
Then the Robb´s (the missionary couple in Bremen) called us and told us (well Elder Robb called) that Sister Robb was sick and he needed our help the next day to make food for the YSA. They cook a huge dinner every week for the YSA to eat after institute and sister Robb was too sick to do it. Well, we called and rearranged our schedule to help them....
....that brings us to Wednesday. I had made a mistake by moving 2 appointments to the same time thinking that I could call the other (Katharina) and change it to another day. Well, when I tried to call her I remembered that her phone was broken and so I couldn´t get ahold of her. Well, we were in a pickle!! I had no clue what to do because I really wanted to helped the Robbs because they do so much for us and ward....but I also didn´t want to call and cancel this other appointment because she is really sensitive and would be offended. Well guess what. Katharina called us and canceled because she had to go to the Doctor!! WOW...what a miracle!! I couldn´t believe it!! We still got to go to an appointment and help the Robb´s to buy groceries and cook dinner!! We also got to have our family home evening with that family that I talked about last week. Sister Sayson made this really cool board game for the second lesson for a 9 year old investigators that the Elders have (well we are sharing him) and so we tried out the game with this family!! It was really fun. We had a spiritual thought, played the game and even ate dinner together. We are going to have it again next week...the son has the lesson next week and then I have a memory game for all the commandments in the 4th lesson of preach my gospel!! It should be fun!!
Thursday we had an appointment with a contact that the Elders found...well actually she stopped them. I´m not going to go into details about what happened because I don´t want anyone to think that I am making fun of other religions. The beginning of the lesson was really good. We taught about the book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. The Spirit was particularly strong when I told the first vision in his own words...no matter how many times I say it...the spirit is there!! Then the ending got really weird. I will just leave it like that. We have another appointment this week and we will see how it goes. She is our first investigator that we have gotten together!! WAHOO! We then had an eating appointment and then went to a lesson with Daniel Rust the 9 year old that the Elders teach. The family are already members and since he is older then 8 we get to teach him. We played the game and the kids had so much fun. They want us to come back and play it again. I´m so proud of Sister Sayson!! She is so creative and amazing!! So many people have told her that she should send the idea to Deseret Books and sell it...maybe after the mission!! :o) Our miracle for the day was that our Ward mission leader called us with a re feral from a lady that referred herself!! Wow...I love referrals!!
Friday was one of the best days ever!! That was the miracle that I wrote down because there was too many to write!! First when we were planning the night before we decided to do some doors in the morning before we had to take the bus to an appointment. So we looked at the Bahn that we were going to take and decided that each of us were going to choose 2 bahn stops in our minds and then say them out loud to each other and we will do door in the area that we both choose. So we both looked and thought about it and then said our choices out loud and guess what. One of them was the same!! :o) So we made plans to go there...ok...so we went there and started doing doors and no one was home and if they were they had no interest!! So I had a feeling that we should go to doors on the cross street near by, so we did. We did door after door and nothing. There was this little German lady in the window across the street watching us and I wanted to go and ring her doorbell and talk to her, but we just kept going. Finally I thought to myself..."we will just go to that door and then we will go to the other side of the street" Well we got to that door and the last bell that we rang a little Chinese girls voice came on. We told her who we were and she told us that she was baptized into the protestant church...I told he about the book of Mormon and just finished saying that it was another Testament of Jesus Christ when the door buzzed and we were let in. We walked in and she was standing in her door way waiting for us. We told her a little more about the book and she wanted to come to church on Sunday!! We were so excited!! We were totally led to her!! (She didn´t end up coming to church, but we will go by this week to visit her). We then went to an appointment with an inactive woman and then went to visit the referral because they lived in the area. Well we said who we were and invited us in. We found out that her brother is a member of the church in Russia and even went on a mission. She told him that she would inform herself about the church, but with no promises. Well we taught her about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon and asked if we could come back next week and she said yes. She is really willing to learn and find out what we believe. Her husband was there as well and agreed to let us come back. She even said that she would probably invite a friend next time as well!! WAHOO!! We got 2 new investigators in one day and they are a family!! Then we went and had an appointment with Van (she is also the Elders investigator but because she is a YSA our mission Pres. wants us to teach her...so we had an appointment at a member's home and it went so well. We taught the 3rd lesson on chastity. Because she is from Vietnam it is just part of their culture to live chaste and to keep the work of wisdom!! She is so amazing!! (Sadly she called the Elders on Friday and said her mom won´t let her get baptised!! We are fasting for another miracle today!!) The reason the day was so great is because we got to see so much success and really felt lead by the Spirit!! Man, this really is the work of the Lord!!
Saturday was also a great day!! We visited a few inactives and found them home. One lady had been praying that we would come back by. She hadn´t seen the missionaries in a year!! Another lady and her family have lived in Bremen for 4 years and didn´t know that there was a ward here. Well she was so surprised to se us standing at her door. She said that 20 minutes earlier she was telling her friend on the phone that she needed a sign...and there we were on her door step. She was so happy that the Lord had answered her prayers!! She said she would come to church. (She also didn´t come to church) We got to be the answer to 2 people prayers today!! The elders also called and told us to look for a lady at church the next day who would be visiting from another city...she is a nonmember!! (She didn´t come to church)
Sunday: Well as you probably noticed from this week that we saw a lot of miracles. As missionaries we work hard all week to finally see the results of a good week by getting people to come to church. Well we had a lot of people that were supposed to come and none of them came. But I was actually ok with it. I was a little disappointed and surprised, but I was ok with it because I know that we had a great week and did a good job. We did what we could to bring people closer to Christ and this week we will work harder and get those people and more to church next week!! Also as I talked about at the beginning of the email...the lord humbled me this week....our standard of excellence for lessons each week is 15 and we got 13!! The lord proved to me that we can do it!! This week we want to get our 15!! It was such a great week and I know that the Lord is in this work...it is his!! Oh...man....it was a great week!! WOW!!
I hope that your week is full of just as many miracles...we see them everyday...sometimes we just have to look a little harder for them!!
Sister Jones
Monday was P-day of course and then sadly the family that we had an appointment with that night fell out. So we made a plan to visit some inactives and guess what?? Sister Sayson got her first contact. It was so great...She stopped this guy and she started to talk to him. Well, I felt something hit the back of my shoe behind me so I turned around and it was an old lady with this rolly thing. I apologized that I was in the way and took a step forward and then she just started talking to me....that is not normal for Germans. Especially when they are older. Well, while she was talking to me Sister Sayson got this guys info and said that we would bring a book by. It was so cool!! This lady was really crazy though. She kept telling us the same things over and over again!! We ended up helping her with her bags and rolly thing..she had to catch a bus and then went on our way. I think that the lady was really confused, but we got her on the right bus!! But anyway...she got a contact!! WAHOO!! My Golden is so grown-up!! She doesn´t need a trainer!!
Then on Tuesday: We had interviews with the mission president and I talked to him about weekly goals. He has certain goals that we are supposed to reach every week...like a certain amount and I was feeling a little down because we had been setting our goals every week to the Standards of Excellence, but we just weren´t making it!! I wanted to be able to set goals and reach them and then feel good about what we did. Well, I found out that the Standards of Excellence are what we should be striving for and not necessarily what our goals need to be set at every week...it was a big AHHHH moment for me!! My comps and I have always set goals for the week at what was expected for the mission and not what was possible for us!! I was so excited to hear this!! (Later you will find out that the Lord showed me that I need to not doubt Him because it is possible to reach the standards for the mission even with out many investigators!! I was very humbled...but that comes later)
So then we went to visit a really old member that can not leave her bed. We were afraid that no one would be there to let us in, because she cannot let us in...obviously. Thankfully there was a woman there to let us in...she only come 2 times a day. Her son also lives there, but he is not always home!!
Then the Robb´s (the missionary couple in Bremen) called us and told us (well Elder Robb called) that Sister Robb was sick and he needed our help the next day to make food for the YSA. They cook a huge dinner every week for the YSA to eat after institute and sister Robb was too sick to do it. Well, we called and rearranged our schedule to help them....
....that brings us to Wednesday. I had made a mistake by moving 2 appointments to the same time thinking that I could call the other (Katharina) and change it to another day. Well, when I tried to call her I remembered that her phone was broken and so I couldn´t get ahold of her. Well, we were in a pickle!! I had no clue what to do because I really wanted to helped the Robbs because they do so much for us and ward....but I also didn´t want to call and cancel this other appointment because she is really sensitive and would be offended. Well guess what. Katharina called us and canceled because she had to go to the Doctor!! WOW...what a miracle!! I couldn´t believe it!! We still got to go to an appointment and help the Robb´s to buy groceries and cook dinner!! We also got to have our family home evening with that family that I talked about last week. Sister Sayson made this really cool board game for the second lesson for a 9 year old investigators that the Elders have (well we are sharing him) and so we tried out the game with this family!! It was really fun. We had a spiritual thought, played the game and even ate dinner together. We are going to have it again next week...the son has the lesson next week and then I have a memory game for all the commandments in the 4th lesson of preach my gospel!! It should be fun!!
Thursday we had an appointment with a contact that the Elders found...well actually she stopped them. I´m not going to go into details about what happened because I don´t want anyone to think that I am making fun of other religions. The beginning of the lesson was really good. We taught about the book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. The Spirit was particularly strong when I told the first vision in his own words...no matter how many times I say it...the spirit is there!! Then the ending got really weird. I will just leave it like that. We have another appointment this week and we will see how it goes. She is our first investigator that we have gotten together!! WAHOO! We then had an eating appointment and then went to a lesson with Daniel Rust the 9 year old that the Elders teach. The family are already members and since he is older then 8 we get to teach him. We played the game and the kids had so much fun. They want us to come back and play it again. I´m so proud of Sister Sayson!! She is so creative and amazing!! So many people have told her that she should send the idea to Deseret Books and sell it...maybe after the mission!! :o) Our miracle for the day was that our Ward mission leader called us with a re feral from a lady that referred herself!! Wow...I love referrals!!
Friday was one of the best days ever!! That was the miracle that I wrote down because there was too many to write!! First when we were planning the night before we decided to do some doors in the morning before we had to take the bus to an appointment. So we looked at the Bahn that we were going to take and decided that each of us were going to choose 2 bahn stops in our minds and then say them out loud to each other and we will do door in the area that we both choose. So we both looked and thought about it and then said our choices out loud and guess what. One of them was the same!! :o) So we made plans to go there...ok...so we went there and started doing doors and no one was home and if they were they had no interest!! So I had a feeling that we should go to doors on the cross street near by, so we did. We did door after door and nothing. There was this little German lady in the window across the street watching us and I wanted to go and ring her doorbell and talk to her, but we just kept going. Finally I thought to myself..."we will just go to that door and then we will go to the other side of the street" Well we got to that door and the last bell that we rang a little Chinese girls voice came on. We told her who we were and she told us that she was baptized into the protestant church...I told he about the book of Mormon and just finished saying that it was another Testament of Jesus Christ when the door buzzed and we were let in. We walked in and she was standing in her door way waiting for us. We told her a little more about the book and she wanted to come to church on Sunday!! We were so excited!! We were totally led to her!! (She didn´t end up coming to church, but we will go by this week to visit her). We then went to an appointment with an inactive woman and then went to visit the referral because they lived in the area. Well we said who we were and invited us in. We found out that her brother is a member of the church in Russia and even went on a mission. She told him that she would inform herself about the church, but with no promises. Well we taught her about Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon and asked if we could come back next week and she said yes. She is really willing to learn and find out what we believe. Her husband was there as well and agreed to let us come back. She even said that she would probably invite a friend next time as well!! WAHOO!! We got 2 new investigators in one day and they are a family!! Then we went and had an appointment with Van (she is also the Elders investigator but because she is a YSA our mission Pres. wants us to teach her...so we had an appointment at a member's home and it went so well. We taught the 3rd lesson on chastity. Because she is from Vietnam it is just part of their culture to live chaste and to keep the work of wisdom!! She is so amazing!! (Sadly she called the Elders on Friday and said her mom won´t let her get baptised!! We are fasting for another miracle today!!) The reason the day was so great is because we got to see so much success and really felt lead by the Spirit!! Man, this really is the work of the Lord!!
Saturday was also a great day!! We visited a few inactives and found them home. One lady had been praying that we would come back by. She hadn´t seen the missionaries in a year!! Another lady and her family have lived in Bremen for 4 years and didn´t know that there was a ward here. Well she was so surprised to se us standing at her door. She said that 20 minutes earlier she was telling her friend on the phone that she needed a sign...and there we were on her door step. She was so happy that the Lord had answered her prayers!! She said she would come to church. (She also didn´t come to church) We got to be the answer to 2 people prayers today!! The elders also called and told us to look for a lady at church the next day who would be visiting from another city...she is a nonmember!! (She didn´t come to church)
Sunday: Well as you probably noticed from this week that we saw a lot of miracles. As missionaries we work hard all week to finally see the results of a good week by getting people to come to church. Well we had a lot of people that were supposed to come and none of them came. But I was actually ok with it. I was a little disappointed and surprised, but I was ok with it because I know that we had a great week and did a good job. We did what we could to bring people closer to Christ and this week we will work harder and get those people and more to church next week!! Also as I talked about at the beginning of the email...the lord humbled me this week....our standard of excellence for lessons each week is 15 and we got 13!! The lord proved to me that we can do it!! This week we want to get our 15!! It was such a great week and I know that the Lord is in this work...it is his!! Oh...man....it was a great week!! WOW!!
I hope that your week is full of just as many miracles...we see them everyday...sometimes we just have to look a little harder for them!!
Sister Jones
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