I honestly can't say that I remember exactly what happened my first week in Dresden last time... I mean, I definitely remember parts of it, but as a whole? I think I was probably too jet-lagged to really take anything in. All I remember was not understanding anything, eating good bread and chocolate and really liking my companions.
This week was probably pretty similar. Haha
Between juggling contacts, meetings, street contacting, and the two lessons we had this week (yeah, pray that we find more people.) along with 4 hours of study daily and trying to find somewhere to fit eating time... I lost my train of thought. This is probably a pretty good representation of what happened in general this week. Orginization is getting better, though. We ACTUALLY have plans for this upcoming week!!
You know, I feel like I have done this before. Oh wait. I have. Two transferrs ago when Sister Sykes and I whitewashed Neukölln.
I must say, Sister Sanders is stepping up to the plate really well though. Sister Sykes and I were both old when we went into an area not knowing what was going on. This time Sister Sanders is brand spanking new. I think it has been good to have a fresh perspective.
We have had some really neat miracles this week though. We received a referral from the office last week, called and set up an appointment. As I talked with her on the phone, she was a little hesitant about us bringing over the Book of Mormon, but agreed anyway. The thing I love about first appointments and impressions is you never know what to expect. Sometimes it goes good, sometimes bad, sometimes it is better than you ever thought! In this case, it was the latter. We get to the apartment, and are quickly welcomed in - First sign that this is going to be good. We met the husband AND the wife (a FAMILY!!!) and got into a wonderful discussion about the Restoration. They have been trying to find a church that fits what they believe, what is logical and as they have searched the website, they continue to like it more and more.
Honestly, I can probably say that this family is the most prepared family I have ever met in my mission. The only obstical to overcome is time. In the next few months they are: moving, getting married, going on a honeymoon, leaving to the coast for a few weeks and starting one of their children in school. They want to have us over to discuss more, but the time is not there. I am praying harder than ever that somehow something opens up. They were very excited to receive the Book of Mormon though, and I have no doubt they will be baptized. Maybe not in my timetable, but they are prepared. Mathias and Manuela. Pray for them?
Sister Sanders and I went to an investigator that has been coming to church for the last year and a half, every singleSunday, has had a thousand sets of missionaries and realized that she has forgotten the basics. I guess that because she is so familiar in the ward, is so familiar with the structure and how things go, those teaching her have assumed she understood the basics, and have gone into things like the temple, second coming, yada yada...
We taught her the Apostasy and the Priesthood. I think we made more progress with her in one lesson than she has made in the last 6 months... I think it has to do with the fact that Sister Sanders is new and she can explain these things on a SUPER simple level. Verena, the investigator, thanked us for making everything so simple to understand. That was a miracle as well!
We also found this really cute girl named Susie. She had absolutely no interest in God at first but as we started talking, we ended up walking through the park next to our house for over 30 minutes just talking with her. She wants to come to FHE! Weird. The effect the Spirit has on people...
One of the days we were walking around talking with everyone (I can't remember which one. There were a lot of them this week), we met this lady from India named Deep. The next thing we know, we are in her house, drinking juice with her and talking (or rather, trying to communicate) about the Book of Mormon and religion. There is a huge language barrier there, but we were able to understand her broken Danglish enough to learn about turbans.
Yeah. Turbans.
You know how those indian men have those HUGE Turbans on their head?
You wanna know what's INSIDE the turban?
Hair.
A lifetime worth of HAIR. Seriously. They don't cut it. Ever. I guess it is some religious thing that they start when they are born and when they reach the age of 20 they can decide if they want to cut it or not.
Anyway, this lady had two little boys with buns on the top of their heads. The beginnings of turbans.
The things you learn every day...
She is coming to the church so we can teach her a combination of German and the Gospel.
We've been reading the Book of Mormon together as a mission and a theme I found this week was becoming. I know I have talked about this before, but it seems to be my favorite topic of discussion..
A disciple of Christ sticks to his guns. He knows the truth and states it. Lehi stated the truth. Nephi stated the truth. They never wavered. But how did they get to that point?
They BECAME strong through Christ. They let the experiences they had with feeling the Spirit, seeing angels, CHANGE them. They became disciples of Christ.
I like this word because it denotes a process. That it is not a one-time-deal. Anyone can become a disciple of Christ!
I don't have a specific scripture this time, but I am learning something new every day. I love the Book of Mormon.
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