Hello Loving Family, 11/24/2014
This week has been going by super fast, I am trying my best
to hold onto the coat-tails of time. This week has had its ups and
downs. So I will start with some of the ups.
We had an appointment with one of our investigators who
lives about 2 hours away (still in our area) by train. His family is from
Africa, and he met the missionaries before me and now we have been able to be
teaching him. We invited him to baptism last week, well to pray about it
to see if that is something that he wants to do. And when we arrived this
week, he started to tell us that he did not pray about it, that he thought it
through and it is something that he does not want to do. As I sat there,
feeling a little discouraged, I knew that this lesson would have to be all by
the spirit and that I would have to join in the conversation at one point,
because my companion started to reteach him the first lesson and why it is
important for us to be baptized. Almost at that moment, it was as if the
Spirit took hold of the entire lesson and we were able to talk to them about
their concerns and their misunderstandings that were not clarified
earlier. At the end of the lesson, he said that he would pray again and
that this next week, he will tell us his answer. And I feel completely
confident that I am doing what the Lord wants me to do. If he still
chooses not to be baptized, I know that it is his decision and that I have done
my best. So it was a down-then-uper.
We have been struggling with some of our investigators and
really figuring out what their needs are. Most of our investigators will
not come to church. That is our biggest struggle. It seems like we
talk about that almost every visit that we have with them, and when sunday
rolls around, they decide not to come. I have not been able to figure
that out, but I am not discouraged. I know that I can be able to find it,
I just really need to excersise patience with myself and with my investigators.
Elder Schmalz and I are getting better. my main focus to let him know that I love him and that I am here
for him. I have been learning alot about patience and to stick in
there. However, we have been setting some really good goals, and have
been opening up more to each other and really accepting each other. So I
do not want you to worry about me. I work on it every day.
The language has still been going good. I think right
now I am in that phase where I am starting to think in German, and sometimes it
frustrates me. I am grateful that I am starting to progress and that the
Lord has blessed me with the language, but it makes my mind run 100x faster
trying to think of the words in ENGLISH. It is a really hard thing to
explain. I am grateful for all the help I recieve, but I am so happy when
bedtime comes that I can just sleep and not have to think. Even though
some of my dreams are now in German too.
We also had a great dinner with the Williams family.
They are a great and interesting family. Brother Williams is an
Englishmen, and his wife is a native German. His kids know both English
and German, and he speaks fluent German as well. P.S. Englishmen are
hilarious. I absolutely love this branch! It is going to be really
hard to leave them. They are all like family.
And today, was probably a great day to unwind. Our
branch president, a really funny guy named Präsident Vogler, invited us over to
his work to see what he does. He works at the Meißen Creamatorium.
IT WAS SO COOL!!! He works with all these really burly just you would
think they are striaght up German men, and there is our happy, little president
with them. And he showed us all the ovens where they cook the dead bodies
(we actually saw one being cooked) and showed us how they work with the
bodies and what not. I do not know why, but non of it creeped me
out. It was pretty cool. I felt like I needed to bathe my hands in
sanitizer the entire day, but it was really fun. I will not go into
anymore details (for this is much more) but it was really fun.
For Thanksgiving, there is a family that is inviting us over
for dinner next sunday, but that is about it. If anything, everyone has
just gone straight to christmas. Oh, you would love it. Germany
during christmas is herrlich (glorious). Everyone is busy getting all
their shops and christmas decorations up and getting ready for that
holiday. BUT, it makes me appreciate thanksgiving more and I keep telling
Elder Schmalz that we are not listening to Christmas music until AFTER
thanksgiving is past.
And yes, I was able to buy a jacket. I am slowly
adding more and more to my winter collection. Which by the way, how is my
bank account looking? do i need to stop spending money? I have no
idea where i stand there and I feel that I have spent alot.
I want you all to know that I am really happy right
now. Even through trials. It is my happiness in this work and that
I am able to take this time and be here in Germany, that helps me tackle one
day at a time. And I know that Heavenly Father is watching over me.
He does not give any commandments without preparing a way for those to keep
them. And when we keep those commandments, is when we find our true joy
and happiness. I know that I have such a great support from back at
home. I feel the strength of your prayers and they help each and every
day.
I love you all, and I am excited for this upcoming month and
week, because there are great times ahead for Germany, and I am honored and
humbled to know that I can take part of that.
With all my love,
Elder Bretzing
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