November 9, 2009
Its been another tough week here in Erlangen. Our golden investigators fell off the face of the earth, and despite our increase in active finding, we can't seem to get as many new investigators as we'd like. There were some great miracles this week, however, and last night Elder Jensen and I both talked about how, in weeks like this, its a peaceful feeling to know that we did our best and are square with the Lord.
For the last two weeks we haven't been able to get a hold of Walter. The last time we talked to him he had the Swine flu and since then we've gone by and called him to no avail. After asking his neighbor if she had seen him yesterday, we came to the conclusion that he's gotta be in the hospital. Tomorrow we'll be searching for him, calling the local hospitals to find out if he's there. It seems that the adversary is very aware of Walter's preparedness, and is working really hard to keep him from this message. Just means we have to up the anty and do everything we possibly can to get Walter baptized. As Elder Texiera said at mission tour, "It's a matter of faith," and we'll be mustering up all the faith we possibly can this week to find Walter and set a baptism date with him.
On Saturday we were able to do something that opened the doors for miracles for a very special family in the near future. We had gone by Frau Lechner earlier in the week to see how her move was going and offered our services. Thankfully she accepted and invited us to help with the move that Saturday. It was a great opportunity to touch this family's heart with our willingness to serve and also to get to know her awesome husband. Because of this act of service we were able to begin building a great relationship with a very special family who Elder Jensen and I both feel very strongly has been prepared by the Lord to accept the Gospel. At the end of the days work they said that they would definitely call us and invited for dinner to thank us. We accepted, of course, and look forward to teaching this family in the near future.
Luckily, we were finally able to get a hold of Andreas Jud yesterday. Found out that his new job has been taking up all his time, so much so that he barely has time to spend with his family. Despite that he told us that he has been reading in the Book of Mormon and made an appointment out for next Monday. Its frustrating when you can't meet with someone as often as you'd like, but its also a miracle when someone, despite the state of chaos that their life is in, has felt the spirit strongly enough to keep trying our message out. And after the way the past few weeks have been, we'll take what we can get.
Later in the evening while going by some potential investigators in the city, we received an unexpected call from Walter Hoffmann. He's a potential investigator that Elder Gneiting and I met at a street display, and taught, or at least tried to teach, once after that. He's extremely baptist, and was quite the tough customer- an investigator that really challenges everything we teach and believe. Normally I say "forget it" with people like Walter and move on to people who really want to hear our message instead of trying to convince us that the Book of Mormon isn't true, but for whatever reason, Walter stayed in the back of my mind until I couldn't ignore it anymore and decided to give him another chance. After not being able to reach him for quite awhile, he gave us a call back last night. To make a long story short, the fifty minute conversation that followed was pretty freakin' intense, just as I knew it would be. You really have to stay on your toes with a guy like Walter, and with the help of the spirit, I was able to bear what I felt to be very powerful testimony of the Book of Mormon and the restored gospel. After the conversation I was really glad that I had made a goal to spend a little time in the Book of Mormon every single day in my personal study so I could bare that strong witness that it is true to a man who is so convinced that it isn't. Which brings me to my point. Family and friends, for whatever reason I feel it is my responsibility today to bare you my testimony that the Book of Mormon IS the word of god, and that Joseph Smith was and IS his prophet, that through him the fullness of the Gospel of Jesus Christ was restored to the earth so that we can receive eternal life. Most of you already know that, so don't forget it, and do everything you can to always be striving to strengthen your testimony. For any of you who don't know that, or find your testimony shaking, read in the Book of Mormon, go to your Heavenly Father in prayer and ask him if it is true, and act on that answer. Our testimonies must always be reinvigorated and re-strengthened, and from last night I learned that that is only possible through our actions.
I guess I've been learning a lot of really important personal lessons over the past couple weeks that I think have ultimately changed the course of my mission. I've just shared one. The other I've learned through some hard times in our district. I've been watching a dear friend of mine entering freak-out mode because he's nearing the end of his mission. He's forgetting what he told me a few transfers ago, and that is, that the Lord sends us where he sends us because of who we are. Right now, he thinks he has to not be himself in order to end his mission diligently and on a good note, and its caused me to do some real soul searching over the past few days. The conclusion I came to is that I should always be striving to improve as a missionary, but I would rather do that by being who I am, than ignoring who I am in fear of my weaknesses. I may be a little to jovial and laid back about things at times, but the Lord has sent me here to work with these people because of who I am, and if I forget that than I lose my individuality. If I lose my individuality, than I lose the best part of myself. If I lose the best part of myself, I will never be able to connect with others, and that is the worst fate I can think of, not only as a missionary, but as a fellow human being and friend of the people I meet every day.
But enough about me. hope all is well for all of you back home. I love you all and pray for you every day. Keep on truckin'!
Alles Gute!
-Andy
November 16, 2009
Hopefully you've been updated on how tough things have been for us here in Erlangen the past few weeks. And as the days have gone by things have only become tougher. We've pretty much hit the bottom of our slump in this past week, working harder than ever and getting little to no satisfying results from our labors. We can't get a hold of our golden investigators, and as hard as we try we can't seem to find new ones. To put it simply, the adversary has pounded us.
Last night, as Elder Jensen and I pondered on the week, we both remembered an awesome quote from the Dark Knight: "The Night is darkest just before the dawn." In my time in Erlangen I have seen the improvement, and the many prepared people coming forth to accept the Gospel. Right now this is the moment of truth, the trial of our faith, and Elder Jensen and I are ready to pass this test with flying colors. We have the vision, and we definitely see that bright, beautiful dawn on the horizon. More importantly, we know that the Lord will bless us and the people of Erlangen for our hard work. The other night as Elder Jensen and I were walking home, my severe discouragement was replaced by a great feeling of comfort from the spirit, letting me know that, whatever happens, I am well on my way to becoming the missionary that the Lord has called me here to become, that he is with me, and has consecrated my work this transfer.
Thank you for your prayers fam, and keep 'em coming! This Sunday is transfer calls so next week I'll be letting you know next Monday whether I'm staying or going! Have a great week and take care!
Alles Gute!
-Andy
