Fruitful Week

I'm pleased to report that the past week has been unbelievably fruitful here in Erlangen. Its been a long tough transfer, but because we've worked hard, the Lord has blessed us with lots of very prepared people. Aouni, our young single investigator from Syria, is enjoying everything we are teaching him. We had a great lesson on the plan of salvation with him, thanks to Brother Auras coming along for a joint-teach (the guys a stud). We're gonna try to set a baptism date with him this week so everyone keep your fingers crossed (praying may be better). We finally were able to meet with Walter Ganther again and will be trying to set a baptism date with him in the coming weeks as well.

Two weeks ago, during a companion exchange, Elder Gneiting and Elder Achtmann ran into an older couple picking plums off of their tree while going door to door. Out of his love for food, Elder Achtmann asked them what they planned to do with these plums they were picking. They told him that they were going to make a plum cake (its a German pastry thing, not an actual plum cake like one you would imagine in America) and invited them back to have some when they actually made it. Elder Gneiting and I were able to go by yesterday and enjoy the afternoon with them. Ingrid, the wife, was very interested and open to the Book of Mormon. She hung on our every word the whole time. It was one of those special appointments where you know that the people you are speaking with are really feeling the spirit when you testify the truth to them. We'll be meeting with them again on Friday and I'm very excited to see what happens.

The future also looks very bright for two amazing young families in our neighborhood, the Jud's and the Sahiti's. The Sahiti's live in our building and we've become very good friends with Herr Sahiti over the past few months. He loves to talk so its been quite the struggle to actually have a real appointment with him and teach him the gospel, but things are picking up and hopefully we'll be able to teach him more and make some commitments with him as the days go on.
We met the Jud's through the Sahiti's and were finally able to meet with Andreas last night as well. He was raised as a Jehova's Witness and had some bad experiences there so he's lost his faith in God, but was very receptive when we met with him. The spirit was definitely there and he is still open to find God again. I think he really listened when I told him that The Book of Mormon could be the missing link in what he searched for and didn't find in his faith years ago. We weren't able to make out another appointment with him, but we see them around all the time and I have very high hopes for him. Its great to see these wonderful families and build friendships with them, but its also so frustrating to know how happy they would be with the gospel in their lives. All we must do I guess, is have faith, patience and love for these families. After all, the Lord's time isn't our time.

This last transfer has been a tough one, but I've become stronger, and learned more about myself than ever before. I've also come closer to my Heavenly Father and my Savior Jesus Christ than ever before. To put it simply, in a fit of discouragement I knelt in prayer last week and received a very profound witness from the Holy Ghost that, despite my mistakes and weaknesses, the Lord is with me and is pleased with the work I am doing and the testimony I am sharing with others. As cliche as it may sound, This week I have felt spiritually born again, and hope that this transformation will be able to bless the lives of the people I teach.

Love you all and wish you all the best.

Alles Gute!

-Andy