September 10, 2012
Soooo this week was basically really great! Some of the most memorable
moments of my mission I would say! The Lord blessed us soo much this week!
Monday was gyros night with some investigators. They bought us
gyros and then we watched the restoration on their giant tv. It was
really spiritual actually and we shared our conversion stories kinda with them
afterwards. We challenged them to read the Book of Mormon and to pray about it.
Really cool appointment!
Tuesday we had some really good appointments and went to ward council.
Wednesday we had a zone training meeting. Basically it is like a shorter
version of zone conference, a glorified district meeting, one of the changes
since President Kosak's time. It was good and fun and uplifting. Lots of helpful
stuff to just bump up the quality of work.
The coolest thing though happened that night. We went to a member's home for a visit. She has been inactive most of her life but really has been changing
her life. She started coming back to church like 2 months ago and is really just
starting to understand the gospel and live it too. Her boyfriend has been in
the process of a divorce for a while now.(it takes a long time to get a divorce
settled in Germany). She wanted us to share something with him but was scared
of overwhelming him so said to keep it simple and short with our spiritual
thought. We just got to get to know them a little bit better, then ate together,
and then we were up. We started with talking about the word of wisdom and then moved to Joseph Smith. We talked about praying to know truth
and getting the answer through the Holy Ghost. Her boyfriend, who is christian, but not very
active, said he is not sure he has felt the Holy Ghost before. We all shared
experiences and how we feel it and she really opened up and told how she is
feeling it more and more since she has started to come to church again, pray
regularly, and read in the scriptures. It was a really tender moment as we
talked about God watching over us and helping us to make the decision to repent.
I had the impresion at this moment to ask her boyfriend how he felt. He said he felt
extraordinarily good, that things had slowed down, and that he was just hanging
on every word we said. I told him I felt similar, and I felt the Holy Ghost. My
companion said he did too, and the member sister as well. I then testified to him he was
feeling the Holy Ghost. and he said he knew he was. It was such a special moment
to see this little family recognize God's love and will for them to follow His
Son. Probably one of the most spiritual experiences of my mission. Everything
was so clear. In this moment we knew that God was there, and we knew what He
wanted us to do. It is what you live for as a missionary, that you can feel that
way with an investigator. He is so excited to start the lessons and it is only a
matter of time before he is baptized. MIRACLE
Thursday morning we met with a less active family. They were baptized 3 years ago and they have never been fully active. We taught the
lesson we planned but then it quickly turned to the subject that had been on his
mind. He was concerned that his relationship with God was weakening and we asked
why and then he bore testimony of family prayer, personal prayer, and coming to
church and said the reason why he was feeling all that was because he hadn't
been doing those things consistently like he had previously. Wayyy cool. They
asked us if we could give them blessings and we gave him and his wife blessings
that they would come closer as a family and come closer to God, and have an
increase of faith in Him and the forever family, as they become more active in
the gospel. When we left they said their faith was strengthened and it was such
a sweet thing. MIRACLE
Friday we found a new family. A referral actually from a member in another
ward. The lady has known the church for 4 years or so and was
almost baptized but the situation she was in didn't allow it to happen. Since
then her situation is better and her boyfriend is even interested in learning
more about it. They want to get married and come to our church as a family with
their 2 kids. MIRACLE
Saturday we met with another inestigator after a long time and got him energized again to get
ready for baptism. He has got some work to do but we were able to give him hope
that after baptism he can be ok if he puts God first. We promised him it would
all be easier if he prays each day, reads in the scriptures each day, and comes
to church each week.
Sunday I spoke in church about trusting God and that went really well. A
new convert that we work with also gave a talk and that was a very
touching and wonderful experience. We were able to finally meet again with another investigator who has been sick for a while, and got her back on track for her baptism which
should happen this month. Then we ate with an awesome family who had a nonmember
cousin visiting. We got to teach him a little bit about God and how we can
communicate with Him. We left a Book of Mormon with the family and they are
going to write their testimonies in it and give it to him. Wayyy good.
Sunday night we went by a contact and were surprisingly let in. She told us
a little bit about her background coming from Brazil, being christian and
marrying an athiest man. Her marriage is rocky and one of her sons was sick. He
had been sick for 2 weeks, was on antibiotics and pain killers but still had bad
headaches and was just laying in bed. He asked us if we could pray for him and
we offered to give him a blessing. I blessed him according to the spirit's
directions, that he would be healed. By the end of our visit he was running
around. He told his mom that he had no pain anymore. She told him that God
healed him, because they believed. She wants to learn more and come to church
with the whole family. MIRACLE
Basically this week was out of control blessed. Things you won't forget. My
testimony is really just being strengthened exponentially. I love being a
servant of the Lord in His sacred church.
Hope you all have a great and blessed week!
September 3, 2012
Hi
people!!!
So this week I really have almost no time to write but I'll write only the quick highlights....
So this week was super busy and fun! We recieved two elders here in the gemeinde and they have really boosted the work here. Plus it is just a lot of fun.
We had a lot of good appointments this last week and there is a lot of potential here with these people. Bascially it takes too long to tell you everything in specific but we met with lots of cool people, had some really spiritual moments, and had lots of fun too.
Saturday we had a family fest for the ward so basically we did tons of preparation and we took all the kids through a tour of the Book of Mormon, including a Lehi's dream activity, played volleyball, ate, and just mingled with ward members and their friends they brought. There were a good number of non members there so that was awesome and definitely planted some seeds! Something way embarrassing happened though. As I ducked under the iron rod to go help someone I heard this loud ripping sound. I looked down and the unthinkable had happened. I ripped my new german pants from the zipper all the way up the back!! It was towards the beginning of the fest too so basically I had no idea what to do. After laughing a lot at me a ward member brought me a towel which I used as a skirt the rest of the day. I told people I was dressed this way on purpose and I was a portraying a nephite. It worked but somehow some of the members still found out. Hahaha fiasco. Still fun tho.
Yesterday church was really good. You can feel the member's excitement growing as several bore testimonies tied to missionary opportunities they had. It is awesome to see the change in people when you work so hard to inspire them and as you tell successes you can see their fires light. We do missionary how to's in priesthood and ours was really powerful on Sunday. Plus two investigators, came to sacrament meeting!! Wayy cool. They loved it and sent us a text thanking us so much for the invite afterwards. It was testimony meeting and the testimonies were really good. Church was just awesome cause the ward was still excited about the family fest and the new missionaries and ya it was a good day.
Anyway that wasn't even like a hundreth of what happened this week but it will have to do because I have to go now!! Til next week!!
Elder Clayton
So this week I really have almost no time to write but I'll write only the quick highlights....
So this week was super busy and fun! We recieved two elders here in the gemeinde and they have really boosted the work here. Plus it is just a lot of fun.
We had a lot of good appointments this last week and there is a lot of potential here with these people. Bascially it takes too long to tell you everything in specific but we met with lots of cool people, had some really spiritual moments, and had lots of fun too.
Saturday we had a family fest for the ward so basically we did tons of preparation and we took all the kids through a tour of the Book of Mormon, including a Lehi's dream activity, played volleyball, ate, and just mingled with ward members and their friends they brought. There were a good number of non members there so that was awesome and definitely planted some seeds! Something way embarrassing happened though. As I ducked under the iron rod to go help someone I heard this loud ripping sound. I looked down and the unthinkable had happened. I ripped my new german pants from the zipper all the way up the back!! It was towards the beginning of the fest too so basically I had no idea what to do. After laughing a lot at me a ward member brought me a towel which I used as a skirt the rest of the day. I told people I was dressed this way on purpose and I was a portraying a nephite. It worked but somehow some of the members still found out. Hahaha fiasco. Still fun tho.
Yesterday church was really good. You can feel the member's excitement growing as several bore testimonies tied to missionary opportunities they had. It is awesome to see the change in people when you work so hard to inspire them and as you tell successes you can see their fires light. We do missionary how to's in priesthood and ours was really powerful on Sunday. Plus two investigators, came to sacrament meeting!! Wayy cool. They loved it and sent us a text thanking us so much for the invite afterwards. It was testimony meeting and the testimonies were really good. Church was just awesome cause the ward was still excited about the family fest and the new missionaries and ya it was a good day.
Anyway that wasn't even like a hundreth of what happened this week but it will have to do because I have to go now!! Til next week!!
Elder Clayton
August 27, 2012
Hallo from zuh lant uhfff zuh germanss (me speaking english with a german
accent)
So this week was great. Very busy and very great.
Tuesday we did a street display as a district! It was wayyy fun. We just split up and just talked to everyone!! I didn't stop talking to people for like 3 hours at least. We taught lots of lessons, gave away some Books of Mormon, advertised the church website, and invited lots to church. I had some pretty cool conversations and it is way fun to do something like that as a district.
Then we taught a chinese guy about the restoration and that was sweet. The concept of prayer was sooo foreign for him it was incredible. We have to teach him wayy simply because he has absolutely no idea about religion. It was really interesting to see and to take part of.
Wednesday we were running all over the city from appointment to appointment. Some stuff fell out but other opportunities presented themselves. We got to cheer up and spiritually energize two very old, pretty depressed members, we taught a super smart historian about proving things spiritually that science can't confirm or deny, and we had a hilarious lesson with a sister from the ward that came to a joint teach but then the investigator never showed up so we just all taught each other something. wayy cool.
Thursday we had a good appointment with an investigator that started scary but ended really well. I won't really go into detail but he basically told us he can't live a commandment and then the spirit somehow helped me to put it in a better perspective for him and at the end all he wanted to do was keep this commandment. It was cool cause I was just listening to his problem and was like wow that is a tough problem. Then I just caught myself and stepped back and tried to think of it like God sees it and explained it to him and the spirit told him that that is how God sees it and that he should follow the commandment in spite of his situation. It was a small miracle and I was grateful for the help from above.
Friday we made out a baptismal date with a previous investigator who wasn't really ready to make progress before but no one knew why. We finally figured out why and set a goal to work toward for his bapstism. It was a tough lesson not gonna lie but we got a lot figured out and will hopefully be able to help him to baptsim by October.
Saturday we helped with a move with lots of my favorite members from the ward. I basically laughed all day. So much fun. And a great service we got to do for a non member family member.
Sunday was really good. Unfortunately none of our investigators made it but it was still a really good meeting. Then we had an eating appointment. Then a 1st lesson with a cool cuban man and his son. Then a new member lesson. That was really cool. It was on missionary work and the spirit was really strong and you could see the fire of the missionary spirit in this new convert's eyes! She is bringing a friend to an activity next weekend and we might even be able to teach her! Wayy cool.
Plus this week we get two elders to add to the fun here in Marzahn so that is cool. We can definitely use it cause there is soo much work to do here. That should be cool.
Anyway we are excited for the next transfer together (my son and I) and I just know we are going to see miracles!! Our goals are high and I know we can reach em! Love you all!
So this week was great. Very busy and very great.
Tuesday we did a street display as a district! It was wayyy fun. We just split up and just talked to everyone!! I didn't stop talking to people for like 3 hours at least. We taught lots of lessons, gave away some Books of Mormon, advertised the church website, and invited lots to church. I had some pretty cool conversations and it is way fun to do something like that as a district.
Then we taught a chinese guy about the restoration and that was sweet. The concept of prayer was sooo foreign for him it was incredible. We have to teach him wayy simply because he has absolutely no idea about religion. It was really interesting to see and to take part of.
Wednesday we were running all over the city from appointment to appointment. Some stuff fell out but other opportunities presented themselves. We got to cheer up and spiritually energize two very old, pretty depressed members, we taught a super smart historian about proving things spiritually that science can't confirm or deny, and we had a hilarious lesson with a sister from the ward that came to a joint teach but then the investigator never showed up so we just all taught each other something. wayy cool.
Thursday we had a good appointment with an investigator that started scary but ended really well. I won't really go into detail but he basically told us he can't live a commandment and then the spirit somehow helped me to put it in a better perspective for him and at the end all he wanted to do was keep this commandment. It was cool cause I was just listening to his problem and was like wow that is a tough problem. Then I just caught myself and stepped back and tried to think of it like God sees it and explained it to him and the spirit told him that that is how God sees it and that he should follow the commandment in spite of his situation. It was a small miracle and I was grateful for the help from above.
Friday we made out a baptismal date with a previous investigator who wasn't really ready to make progress before but no one knew why. We finally figured out why and set a goal to work toward for his bapstism. It was a tough lesson not gonna lie but we got a lot figured out and will hopefully be able to help him to baptsim by October.
Saturday we helped with a move with lots of my favorite members from the ward. I basically laughed all day. So much fun. And a great service we got to do for a non member family member.
Sunday was really good. Unfortunately none of our investigators made it but it was still a really good meeting. Then we had an eating appointment. Then a 1st lesson with a cool cuban man and his son. Then a new member lesson. That was really cool. It was on missionary work and the spirit was really strong and you could see the fire of the missionary spirit in this new convert's eyes! She is bringing a friend to an activity next weekend and we might even be able to teach her! Wayy cool.
Plus this week we get two elders to add to the fun here in Marzahn so that is cool. We can definitely use it cause there is soo much work to do here. That should be cool.
Anyway we are excited for the next transfer together (my son and I) and I just know we are going to see miracles!! Our goals are high and I know we can reach em! Love you all!
Elder Clayton
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