This week we did a lot of both! We had some disappointments but we also had some really exciting things happen!
I would describe this past Tuesday though as productive, yet discouraging. I think I mentioned last we that we went through our area book and found 19 potential investigators in there. Our goal was to visit over half of those that day. Most were not home when we stopped by so we are continuing to drop by and catch them at home. We found that five have moved and are essentially lost which is sad but at least we were able to update our records of them. One we did catch at home and he said he didn't want to have any further contact with us. We also had an appointment with Frau Borstel, the women we met on the street who said she was taught by the missionaries two years ago. We klingled (rang the door bell) and she buzzed us in and then when we knock on her door she never answered. We could hear her inside quieting her little baby and dog. That was really frustrating to have happen. We're going to continue to drop by and see if she'll actually answer the door for us.
Wednesday we had Zone Training Meeting in Leipzig so we were up early to ride a train an hour and a half south down to there. DeutscheBahn workers were striking that morning and a bunch of trains were not running but fortunately ours was on time and we encountered no problems. When we got to Leigzig I was in awe at the train station. It is supposedly the largest train station, square footage-wise, in the world. It sure looked like it. It has also been recently renovated. Elder Morton and I met Marc there! Mark was one of the members we had Skyped in the Missionary Training Center. He is a super dude! He is a convert of 5 years and just loves the gospel and the missionaries, especially the ones he Skypes with in the MTC. He had a screen shot of Elder Morton and I. Marc is a fact machine. He also loves traveling around Europe and has been to every temple on the continent. He was so excited to meet the Romneys, too. He took a picture with them and he was wearing a Mitt Romney campaign tee shirt. Apparently he was campaigning for Romney here in Europe in 2012. He loves American politics. Zone Conference with the other missionaries was really good. Lots of good instruction on finding and how to teach by the Spirit.
Thursday was a great day! Han, our investigator, committed to prepare to be baptized on November 8th! We had the Romneys come to our lesson with her that morning and after we watched President Uchtdorf's GC talk, they really helped add the Spirit by sharing their testimonies. Han is continuing to read the Book of Mormon and to pray. It was a pretty exciting moment. Afterwards, the Romneys took the four elders to lunch at their favorite cafe. I had schnitzel. It was amazing and the potatoes and mushrooms served with it were the best I have ever had. We went back to their wohnung (apartment) and had ward mission leader council with them. It wont be like that for long since Bro. Romney got counselors on Sunday. They are committed to making the Magdeburg branch grow with us.
Thursday was a good day as well. I am able to read the Book of Mormon in German pretty well now. I only have to look up a couple of words a day. We went out finding that afternoon and taught the first lesson to a woman who was really interested. She lives out of our area but she said she wanted to come to our church here in the city. She had never heard of Mormons and was surprised to hear that there are 15 million members worldwide. We had an appointment with an investigator named Char-Ly. He is a 70-year old man with a Santa beard and long pony tail and says he's a "heathen." The things he was saying were really weird. Talking about horoscopes and what not. He likes talking to us about the gospel though. Not sure how fast he will progress though. We traded companions with the Bernburg Elders that night after church choir practice in Köthen. They need extra voices so the missionaries were invited.
I went to Bernburg with Elder Pilling. It was a great day. There is something really powerful about two brand new elders working together. We taught two really good lessons, all in German. We really worked well together. It was one of my favorite days so far on my mission.
Yesterday President Romney got counselors. I am now the organist in our congregation. I've never played the organ. I haven't played the piano in 4 years. Mom and Dad are saying, "I told you so...," right now. The Steigers had us over for dinner. We had delicious pancakes and sang hymns together.
I am looking forward to another great week! Busy busy busy! Love y'all!
Elder Germann
No comments:
Post a Comment