Guten Morgen Liebe Familie,
Well, it has been another great and wonderful week here in
Meißen. And it was a wonderful christmas week as well. As I sit
here writing you, it turns out, that Christmas came just a little late, and we
have a think layer of snow on the ground. But it has been a great time
this past christmas week, with some great expierences.
Due to the Christmas time, and Germans love to just
celebrate whenever they can, procelyting was really hard this week.
Whenever we saw people on the street, it was them getting out of their car or
the bus and walking 10 feet to the house next to them, full of food in their
hands. So they were not too excited to sit and talk to us for a
while. But were able to get some things done this week.
On Tuesday, the night before Heilige Abend, we were able to
spend that time with our two investigators, Rene and Uwe. You probably
hear about them the most, because I have been teaching them ever since I came
here in Meißen. Uwe has expressed his desire that we would like to be
baptized again, but finds reasons not too. I feel that he is alittle
scared of this change in his life and I feel that he feels we wont be able to
do it. So we have been working with him as hard as we can, and this week,
we decided to focus alittle more about the Birth of Christ. We were able
to read with him the story of the Birth of Christ and we were also able to
watch Joy to the World with him and Rene. And while I was sitting there,
watching Joy to the World on probably one of the most smallest colorless tv's
with only a candlelight to shine in the room at the time, and the tiny little
christmas tree in the corner, I felt the most calming Spirit. I was so
grateful at that moment that I am here, able to serve these people. I
could easily be home right now and celebrate christmas with you, but to be here
and help those and love them that are learning more and more about their Savior
and how they can better have Him in their lives, has been such a great
blessing. You could tell that the Spirit was there. I know that Uwe
has a long way to go with his conversion process, but I know that the Spirit
testified to him that night, as it did I, that the Savior knows him. That
He loves him and is willing to be patient with him.
We were then invited over by my branch president, President
Vogler, to his house for Heilige Abend. But first, we were able to go and
sing at a retirement home with the whole Ortlieb/Vogler family. That was
great and it was great to see the branch giving back to their community
there. The thoughts were a little overwhelming because all I could think
then was about Grandma. I know that she is with me now and she is not too
far from me. We then were able to go back to their house and celebrate
Christmas German style. In Germany, they open all their presents the
night before on Christmas Eve and then they gather around as a family, and
certain family members have things or stories prepared to share with the
family. And we had a very German meal with Bratwurst, Sauerkraut, and
Kartoffeln. Very German. But delicious. And we were able to
spend time and get to know their family alot better and enjoy the time with
each other.
On Christmas Day, we were invited over to have christmas
with the Williams Family. And so we also were able to expierence a
British Christmas Dinner. We were all given a big giant chicken, with
vegtables, potatoes, bacon wrapped sausages, and so on. And British
people go all out. They have confetti, little table presents, and they
have witzcakes (joke cookies, not fortune cookies). We were also able to
spend time with them and went on a very German tradtion, go on walk around the
city. They were a great family to spend christmas day with. We had
a lot of fun and were able to share with them a great message about
Christmas. And then we had skype, but you already know that, and that was
a blast. I had alot of fun getting to see everyone and see the smiles on
all their faces.
I love you all. I am so happy that I was able to see
you and I wish everyone a wonderful Christmas. If there is one thing that
I have learned during this Christmas season, is that Jesus Christ is truly our
Peace on Earth. I know that through Him, and through our faith on Him,
can we find and feel peace and joy during this time, no matter what the
circumstance can be (trust me when I say that). And that this wonderful
time we expierence during Christmas, can be ours throughout the rest of the
year. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior. I know that he
expierenced everyone of my pains and afflictions. He expierenced
everyones pains and afflictions, even those who at the moment may reject
Him. Becuase He loves us. All of us. And with this great and
wonderful plan of salvation that we have, we may find joy and peace that our
goal on this earth is to expierence joy, obtain exhaltaion and return to our
father in Heaven.
With all my Love,
Elder Bretzing
Market place at Christmas
No comments:
Post a Comment