He is the Way

Sounds like things are chuggin' along as usual back home. It's been a tough week but I've learned quite a bit and grown quite a bit more.
It was another week of health problems for both Elder Hansen and me. Elder Hansen's headaches from his post-concussion syndrome have returned and my back was not getting better as quickly as I would have liked. Together we successfully shut down our finding time. Despite our limitations, however, our work did not slow down and our health is improving. Yesterday after church, President Auras gave me a wonderful blessing and my back feels unbelievably better today. Elder Hansen's headaches have also gotten better. We're still gonna have to be patient, take it easy, and remember what Joseph Smith said to the brethren in Liberty Jail (paraphrasing), "Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us do everything that lies in our power, and then may we stand still, and wait for the Lord's hand to be revealed."
This week we had an amazing appointment with Monika Hein. She and Mario are almost ready to set a marriage date and we committed her to be baptized two weeks later. She gladly accepted and was overwhelmed by the spirit. We all received a witness together that it was the right choice. She also was able to come to the baptism of a little girl in our ward yesterday evening and thought it was wonderful. She and Mario are great at sharing the gospel with others and will be important tools in the lord's hands in building the church here in Germany very soon.
Herr Hardtbauer continues to make progress, slowly but surely. We had a Family Home Evening with him at Schwester Fritz's house, and he played guitar and banjo for us. Olin you would have loved it. He first busted out some classic Johnny Cash songs and then played some great old southern tunes on the banjo. I could shoot myself for not having brought my camera at the time.
We were finally able to meet with Tomas again. Apparently he had injured his leg pretty bad playing American Football (I guess I don't have to call it "American Football" when I write home, do I) and couldn't walk for about two weeks. He had been reading in the Book of Mormon the whole time, however, and told us that he loves it. We asked him again about baptism and he said he would think and pray about it over the next two weeks and then would give us an answer. We'll be meeting with him again tomorrow at Julian Klemm's. He's so ready, and I know that over the next two weeks the adversary will be working on hard on him. Your prayers in his behalf will help him immensely in that regard.
Amidst my trials this week, I've felt the strengthening power of my Saviors atonement and the love of my Heavenly Father more than ever. Just want to bear you all my testimony once again that Jesus lives. He IS the way, and is ALWAYS ready to help us. Remember that amidst the hustle and bustle of living in the modern world. Its the most important peace of knowledge there is in this world. Love you all!

Alles Gute,

-Andy