Sister BabbittLove you!Food for thought.Something I have thought a lot about this week is the Savior's disposition. I read the account of Matthew from the sacrament until his crucifixion and resurrection. He was totally and completely calm, willing to do the will of the Father until the very end. And when he proclaimed on his death bed to be the Son of God and nobody believed him, he didn't come back 3 days later and say "Told you so". He showed himself to those people who ALREADY BELIEVED him as the Son of God, the Savior of the world. That's how it is today. He works according to our faith. He shows himself, or his manifestations to those that are willing to believe Him.Not excited to let Sister Miller go though. I'm confident that she will work wonders for the Lord up in Glienicke, but I am also excited for the call in 9 months that we will be working together again ;) hahaIt turns out that because we are experiencing a whole influx of sisters, the mission has created several new sisters areas and they are opening up a new training program in Cottbus. So I am staying, and receiving a new companion, Sister Walker. The craziest part is that Sister Walker has already served in Cottbus. For 8 months. So she is coming back to train me how to be a training leader. Haha I am excited though.On Tuesday after an appointment, I received a call that I was needed in Berlin on Thursday for a training meeting, so we had to reschedule a lot of different things so we could make it up there in time, and still be able to see everyone this week.So Monday Sister Miller and I went to Görlitz again (that seems to be the only thing we ever do on P days... haha) and toured one of the only East German cities that wasn't destroyed during WWII. Which was actually really neat. We went to this place called the Heilige Grab and it's supposed to be a representation of the tomb that Christ was put in. There is a whole tour around the city you can do because it's supposed to be the exact distance and altitude that Christ walked on his last day to Golgatha to be crucified. We didn't have time to do the whole tour, but we did see the replications of it. And doing that awakened in me the growing need to see the world. (Who needs Pinterest?)All of the above?AWESOME?Stressful?Shocking?How do I even explain this week?Crazy?
Wednesday, January 8, 2014
July 22
July 15
That was a miracle.WHAT???Other than, "Okay, I want to discuss more about this Book with you. I will read it."That's what happened.You know how in the scriptures it says that the Spirit has the power to confound men in their speech?This was one of those times where we felt like the ending point would be a tschüß because he wasn't making progress, and didn't WANT to make progress, so we testified and something interesting happened.Anyway, we planned on teaching him the Plan of Salvation and had the entire lesson laid out when the conversation went in the direction of the Book of Mormon. He expressed his skepticism, how he doesn't believe anyone can find out the REAL truth, how he doesn't really want to try because he doesn't think it will work...He is extremely intellectual, and questions everything. He asks lots of questions to make you think, but sometimes we feel like he is discussing for the sake of discussing and doesn't really want to learn or find out if there is anything more to life, if there is a God, etc, etc...A really neat experience happened this week when we met with a young man that has been in contact/sortof meeting with missionaries for about 5 years.Anyway, he lived, we sat back down and I look at him, realizing that his life was literally just hanging in the balance and he says "Thanks be to God, you've saved my life TWICE!!!" hahaI was legitimately scared for this mans life and all I could think was "There is no way I am going to let our new convert die."He comes back outside with a little toy car that he bought in Leipzig, and was laughing about something he had just said (that we didn't understand), but ended up laughing a little too hard...What do you think?First of all, I wanted to start out with a new tag line."We not only save souls, we save lives too!"
There is a story that goes along with this... We went and visited Bruder Graf this week (I swear, everything crazy happens with this man...) and had a really good lesson about the characteristics of God in preparation for a lesson with his friend! (Yes, he has invited his friend to take the missionary discussions and his friend accepted!) Well, we were just sitting, chatting, eating some cookies, when all the sudden, he gets up, says he wants to show us something and runs inside.
Next thing I know, 10th grade health kicks in and I end up doing the Heimlich maneuver because he laughed so hard he choked on something and couldn't breathe. Meanwhile, Sister Miller is sitting in the corner, trying not to laugh/cry/run for help because she is so confused and has no idea what to do...
He had absolutely nothing to say.We are meeting with a lot of different people, but are in a little drought of progressing investigators. If you could pray for that, we are too!I listened to a talk this week, "The Spirit of Revelation" by David A. Bednar and came to a self realization. He talks about how there are different experiences with light. That "A-HA" moment when the light turns on rapidly, when the sun rises but it is light way before, and also when the sun rises on a cloudy day. I realized that most of my life all the light or revelation I have recieved has been more like the 3rd. It has been light enough to see, but I haven't been able to pinpoint the exact moment when "the sun rose". I think we sometimes are dissappointed (at least I am) because we don't have an A-HA moment with the answers we are looking for, rather the answers come through experiences that you have in day to day life and when you look back on them, you are able to conclude the answer. You are able to see that you actually were led by the Spirit because of the miracles that happened because of a rightous decision - even though you weren't 100% positive - even though you didn't have that A-HA moment. Realizing that, it gave me an overwhelming feeling of gratitude because I felt that the Lord has trusted me to make good decisions, and thus gives me enough light to see.
Monday, January 6, 2014
July 4th
Our Ward Mission Leader and his wife invited us to spend the 4th with them, because we're American, he's American.. so we went to Branitzer Park and had a picnic. We also played with their cute 1.5 year old son who FINALLY talked to us after knowing him for 4 months, and boy is he a chatter. This is especially cute because he chats in both English and German.
And when you say, "Hey Sam, what's my name?" he squinches his eyes and says "BABBIIIIIITTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!"
Pure joy.
And when you say, "Hey Sam, what's my name?" he squinches his eyes and says "BABBIIIIIITTTTTTT!!!!!!!!!!"
Pure joy.
We had a really neat week. We found a lot of people to teach (pray that they will want to progress!!!) and learned a lot of new words from kids, members, strangers...
As I was reading this week, I thought a lot about focus. About cutting away the fluff and smoke and getting right to the point, and this verse in Mosiah stuck out to me:
11 And the seats which were set apart for the ahigh priests, which were above all the other seats, he did ornament with pure gold; and he caused a breastwork to be built before them, that they might rest their bodies and their arms upon while they should speak lying and vain words to his people.
King Noah made everything he said look good. No matter what type of evil it was, it was surrounded by jewels, gold, yada yada... And as I was thinking about it, everything we are tempted with has some sort of flattery surrounding it. Breaking the law of Chastity, the Word of Wisdom, going into debt, tolerance...
And that was when I realized, again, that God delights in simplicity. As many prophets as there are in the Bible and the Book of Mormon, they all say that they delight in understanding. Plainness. Simplicity. Take away all the fluff, the jewels, the gold, and you see it for what it really is. Gospel truths are not ornamented. They are not hidden by fireworks or fanfare. They are spoken plainly by the prophets, apostles, teachers, manuals and are all found in the Book of Mormon. This is the focus. There should never be any fluff to cut away from the real focus.
June 24th
Where do I even START this week?!
I wish I could write a fantastic story that would encompass every single thing that happened, but maybe it would be better to go day by day...Oh Summer.
Then, we went to the play.
Charles's play!
This was especially neat because the Cottbus Stadttheater is over 100 years old. Charles took us on a tour of the theater, and then took us to our seats where we watched the play (all in German. That definitely tested the language skills...) and afterward, Charles invited us to have juice with him and some friends before we had to be home. We felt like we needed to stay, so we did, and it was the COOLEST FINDING EXPERIENCE I HAVE HAD IN MY LIFE.
Charles loves and knows everyone, and he introduced us to every single person he met. Better yet, he introduced us as, "his friends, the Mormon Missionaries". Which was really neat because every single person we talked to was completely open to listening to why we were here, what we believed, and we were able to have some really good discussions with some of his friends about the gospel. Charles is basically our new best friend. And even though he has no interest, he is completely willing and open to introduce us to his friends that have interest.
Interesting how sometimes the best missionaries are non members? Haha
Sunday:
After church, we went to eat at one of the members homes.
The wife has the coolest conversion story.
So she had been married for 32 years. Her husband was a member of the church, but she didn't believe in God, and really wanted nothing to do with it.
Anyway, she had an experience that she was tempted to do something that was beyond her control, and realized that it was definitely not her that wanted to do this thing. So, she concluded that if Satan existed, so did God.
She was baptized 3 weeks later.
After 32 years!!!
Anyway, that's one of my favorite things. To ask people their conversions. And they love talking about it :)
We were also able to stop by at the cultural night the university was having, and we tried some food from Ghana and Pakistan (where our investigators are from), and meet some of their friends. It's been really neat to be able to gain relationships with some of our investigators where they feel completely comfortable introducing us to their friends.
Something I have been really thinking about this week is journal writing.
I read the book of Omni and was actually pretty disappointed that none of the writers gave anything more than, "There were lots of wars... I am passing this book down to my son because my father told me to".
Don't get me wrong, there are things to learn from them. But something I learned is, How are we supposed to learn from our forefathers if they didn't keep records??! Thank goodness Nephi was a writer, because now we have this GOLDMINE of spiritual power in 1st and 2nd Nephi.
Mormon goes on to say, that he hopes that people will read what he wrote "that perhaps some day it may profit them". I can't help but be thankful for the writers of the Book of Mormon that kept a record of the experiences they had. I learn every day from them, and it definitely makes me reflect on the records I am keeping. Will they be good enough for future generations?
Renewed determination to be better at writing in my journal.
We were also able to stop by at the cultural night the university was having, and we tried some food from Ghana and Pakistan (where our investigators are from), and meet some of their friends. It's been really neat to be able to gain relationships with some of our investigators where they feel completely comfortable introducing us to their friends.
Something I have been really thinking about this week is journal writing.
I read the book of Omni and was actually pretty disappointed that none of the writers gave anything more than, "There were lots of wars... I am passing this book down to my son because my father told me to".
Don't get me wrong, there are things to learn from them. But something I learned is, How are we supposed to learn from our forefathers if they didn't keep records??! Thank goodness Nephi was a writer, because now we have this GOLDMINE of spiritual power in 1st and 2nd Nephi.
Mormon goes on to say, that he hopes that people will read what he wrote "that perhaps some day it may profit them". I can't help but be thankful for the writers of the Book of Mormon that kept a record of the experiences they had. I learn every day from them, and it definitely makes me reflect on the records I am keeping. Will they be good enough for future generations?
Renewed determination to be better at writing in my journal.
Anyway, I love you! I pray for you daily!
Love,
Sister Babbitt
June 17th
This week was actually really neat.
The entire week, Sister Miller and I were exhausted and had no idea why, then on Sunday when we looked back on our week, we realized EXACTLY why we were so tired. That was really satisfying because we realized how effective we actually can be. So we are striving to be as effective as possible in the next five weeks. I can't believe it's taken this long to figure out how to use every minute effectively.
We have been working so much with the ward and we are seeing the change that is happening, in some members at least. Sister Leuschner had us over for Mittags yesterday and she was more than happy to help us find a street to proselyte. We are going back on Wednesday to report to her.
Another man, Bruder Schult, came up to us at church and told us that he had already given away two Books of Mormon since the member fireside, and that he wants 4 more. No problem.
The Farnsworths contacted an old investigator, that the sisters before us had tschüßed, and he came to church yesterday, saying that he thinks its time to come back to church and continue learning.
This was amazing to see because even though the entire ward isn't changing all at once, I honestly can see members doing more and more. The hope is to get the members that aren't doing ANYTHING to help us with SOMETHING.
As I was thinking about how best to help the members, our investigators, and those we meet on the street, doing doors, referrals... I came across Jacob 4:14 that talks about not understanding because of looking beyond the mark. How we are blind when we lose focus of what is really important.
Then I asked myself what was most important to me. Is it Christ? Is it bringing others unto Christ, or getting lessons?
I think sometimes we fall into the trap of thinking about ourselves more than thinking about other people. Looking beyond the mark by trying to accomplish something for ourselves.
I had a friend email me and told me that as long as I was thinking about other people, as long as I was doing what Christ would have me doing, no time is a waste of time.
Anyway, I am looking forward to seeing more miracles this week!
We have been working so much with the ward and we are seeing the change that is happening, in some members at least. Sister Leuschner had us over for Mittags yesterday and she was more than happy to help us find a street to proselyte. We are going back on Wednesday to report to her.
Another man, Bruder Schult, came up to us at church and told us that he had already given away two Books of Mormon since the member fireside, and that he wants 4 more. No problem.
The Farnsworths contacted an old investigator, that the sisters before us had tschüßed, and he came to church yesterday, saying that he thinks its time to come back to church and continue learning.
This was amazing to see because even though the entire ward isn't changing all at once, I honestly can see members doing more and more. The hope is to get the members that aren't doing ANYTHING to help us with SOMETHING.
As I was thinking about how best to help the members, our investigators, and those we meet on the street, doing doors, referrals... I came across Jacob 4:14 that talks about not understanding because of looking beyond the mark. How we are blind when we lose focus of what is really important.
Then I asked myself what was most important to me. Is it Christ? Is it bringing others unto Christ, or getting lessons?
I think sometimes we fall into the trap of thinking about ourselves more than thinking about other people. Looking beyond the mark by trying to accomplish something for ourselves.
I had a friend email me and told me that as long as I was thinking about other people, as long as I was doing what Christ would have me doing, no time is a waste of time.
Anyway, I am looking forward to seeing more miracles this week!
June 9th
Yeah, Bruder Graf did get baptized and he is SO excited! So we are so excited.
We have been trying to teach a lot, and we have lots and lots of contacts. Stacks on STACKS, but we have a hard time making out appointments or getting them to progress. So we have been teaching lots of first lessons, lots of god, lots of stuff about the church. Which is awesome.Sister Miller and I are staying together for another transfer, which is absolutely awesome. I have a lot of fun with her and we work together really well.
So on Tuesday, we went over to Bruder Graf's house to teach him, and his betreuer was there (wearing a thug life sweatshirt. Which makes it so much better...) so we were just chatting it up, they were speaking in Russian and Sister Miller and I were just... lost. Then Bruder Graf wanted us to come see his bees.
That bear one is so cool. And doch doch, mom. You have totally seen a bear in the wild before! Girls camp? Haha but that is really cool.
Haha I love the picture of mom next to Germany. I think I will print it out and hang it on my wall.
June 3rd
Despite the fact that we weren't able to work at full force this week, we did see miracles.
Sisters Tidwell and Warnke came to Cottbus on Tuesday so that Sister Miller could go out and work because she was going insane staying inside. (After she had studied for ages, she rearranged the furniture and cleaned the entire apartment...haha)
We have been trying to make contact with a former investigator for a while and all the appointments kept falling out. On Tuesday, we had made back up plans because we knew it might flake, but she was there, ready, with a fruit salad, to listen to the message. She said that she feels like she really needs God right now in her life and is excited to meet us later this week.
We have been working a lot with the less active members as well, and on Sunday, there were 5 less active members at church, as well as 6 non members. I think the ward is finally latching onto the idea that inviting makes a HUGE difference.
The coolest thing that happened this week though, was the member fireside.
At Gemiko a few weeks ago, we talked about what we could do to get the members involved in our work, and as we were brainstorming, Sister Farnsworth threw out an idea about a member fireside. She said that she had seen a movie that was made by the Berlin mission a few years ago and thought that maybe we could find it and show it to the members. So, with the help of our GML and Elder Beck in the office, we pulled this fireside together. We asked a few members that were in the church because members found them bear their testimonies, and also a few return missionaries share their experiences about how much more successful their work was when the members helped. We also brought Books of Mormon to give to the members so they could write their testimony in it, and then give it to someone else. We didn't know how successful it would be but we were praying that people would show up and that they would be willing to participate. We invited the entire ward, and also invited the entire ward of Forst. There were about 40 or so people that showed up and more than half of them took Books of Mormon. There is always room for improvement (we would have liked the ENTIRE ward there...) but we were so grateful to see that the ward members were receptive to the message.
So we were really grateful for that, and we are also really grateful that the bishop has worked out a solution with Martin Graf so that he can be baptized on Sunday!!!
I am feeling that the last of this transfer is going to be absolutely crazy, but full of miracles.It was absolutely great!!!
Sisters Tidwell and Warnke came to Cottbus on Tuesday so that Sister Miller could go out and work because she was going insane staying inside. (After she had studied for ages, she rearranged the furniture and cleaned the entire apartment...haha)
We have been trying to make contact with a former investigator for a while and all the appointments kept falling out. On Tuesday, we had made back up plans because we knew it might flake, but she was there, ready, with a fruit salad, to listen to the message. She said that she feels like she really needs God right now in her life and is excited to meet us later this week.
We have been working a lot with the less active members as well, and on Sunday, there were 5 less active members at church, as well as 6 non members. I think the ward is finally latching onto the idea that inviting makes a HUGE difference.
The coolest thing that happened this week though, was the member fireside.
At Gemiko a few weeks ago, we talked about what we could do to get the members involved in our work, and as we were brainstorming, Sister Farnsworth threw out an idea about a member fireside. She said that she had seen a movie that was made by the Berlin mission a few years ago and thought that maybe we could find it and show it to the members. So, with the help of our GML and Elder Beck in the office, we pulled this fireside together. We asked a few members that were in the church because members found them bear their testimonies, and also a few return missionaries share their experiences about how much more successful their work was when the members helped. We also brought Books of Mormon to give to the members so they could write their testimony in it, and then give it to someone else. We didn't know how successful it would be but we were praying that people would show up and that they would be willing to participate. We invited the entire ward, and also invited the entire ward of Forst. There were about 40 or so people that showed up and more than half of them took Books of Mormon. There is always room for improvement (we would have liked the ENTIRE ward there...) but we were so grateful to see that the ward members were receptive to the message.
So we were really grateful for that, and we are also really grateful that the bishop has worked out a solution with Martin Graf so that he can be baptized on Sunday!!!
I am feeling that the last of this transfer is going to be absolutely crazy, but full of miracles.It was absolutely great!!!
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