New area

Meine gute, second week of transfer 3! I'm noticing that I'm already sort of remembering and recognizing where we are when we're out and about, but the Straßenbahn system is still a mystery, and we never really know the times nor have a little pamphlet of all the times, so we're always running here and there!

This week we worked with a mix of people I've already met and then of course always meeting new people! We definitely have a lot to do and lots of people to visit, spanning over 3 cities!

However, this week we met and taught a really cool contact. At first he really didn't want to talk to us, and we resorted to give him our card with the internet site and our number, but Sis. Lanktot briefly taught him about the Restoration and all of a sudden became VERY interested! He said, "You know what, I think I do have time on Sunday to meet." And so we did! Sis. Neukomm and another member went to teach a young 12 yr. old investigator and Sis. Langtot, a member and I went to teach this guy. What was really cool, was that this member is a Neubekehrt named Roman, and he's only 15! He was pretty funny because he at first thought that he couldn't just GO into some stranger's house and talk about the gospel, but we had to compete with him for talking time! haha. He was very ehrlich and funny and this big muscular guy was listening to Roman give "pure testimony" as Alma did. It was pretty cool to see. If Jordan wants practice, he should definitely do joint teaching, because he can see what it's like and see how fun it can actually be! I know the Sisters wouldn't mind! :)

This week we've also been meeting a lot with Chanrith, our Taufekandidate, but we think he needs more time--English isn't his first lesson and we don't want to shove all the commandments down his throat without him fully understanding, but we found a Gospel Principles manual in Cambodian that we will give him because it explains everything he wants to understand. It's funny because when we try to commit him to start living a new commandment, he usually doesn't want to say yes off the bat because he's afraid he will break it, being human and imperfect of course. But he usually just needs time and when we recommit him a termine later, he usually says yes with no problem.

I got a sneak peak of the January Ensign (isn't that ein bißchen pathetic that us missionaries get all excited for the Ensign? haha) and there was a good article by Thomas S. Monson that I think would be good to read, especially Jordan because it's very applicable to missionaries, especially missionaries starting their mission, in my opinion. I actually don't remember what it's called but Jordo can find it--it's the "ABC's" for the New Year: Positive Attitude, Believe in Yourself and Courage. We usually read old Ensigns on the train from DCM from Berlin (woot woot) or sleep. Mostly sleep. Speaking of which, one of the main icons of Berlin, the Sieges Säule or "The victory tower" is RIGHT outside our Stake building, so we went and took pictures before DCM! It was pretty cool!

It was an interesting week--every lesson is different, and you can tell who is really interested and people who maybe aren't all that interested. We had two lessons with different students in the local Student Wohnheims and they were really interested in what we believe, but they were both warning us that they would be thinking "rationally and logically" about what we said. They both spoke English and so there were times that I could go a lot deeper and sort of argue like an English Major again, like I used to for Essays, but when the Spirit was about to go, one of us would bring us back to base and we would just bear simple testimony. Students are very open but they don't want to be tricked or something, so they want to "analyze" and I think some prepare to argue with us. But everytime we just tell them, "Here's a Book of Mormon, we have taught you how to pray, YOU find out for yourself and get your own answers if you want them." Because we can go and give the best lesson ever, but our job is to bring people to Christ, and that's usually in the form of teaching a little, but encouraging them to make their own progress, otherwise they won't want to ever change. Most of the time students just really can't understand how a bunch of young people like me are willing to pay their own way through 18 months-2 years of volunteer work, for a church! Without Facebook! Haha, watch out, Jordo!

Another interesting story, think what you will. So we visit a member in the ward that is, undoubtably on her death bed because of cancer. We visit her to make sure she's okay, especially because she was baptized this past year, but she has a solid gold testimony, she's great and has such a great attitude about everything. Well the other day, I was looking around the kitchen for measuring cups and noticed that we had a box of bendy straws in one of our cupboards and thought, "hey cool! we have bendy straws!" and later in the day I told my two companions about my "interesting" find. Well we were on our way to visit this member, and I looked in our bag of things to bring the member, because she had asked for some Stolen and such, just something she wanted to eat, and I noticed the straws inside. I said, "Does Sis. Zimmer need straws?" and Sis. Langtot said, "Yeah, I thought that's why you pointed them out--we were going to buy them today but you found this box, so we didn't have to." "Wait, when did she ask for straws?" "At our last appointment." "Really? What's the word for straws anyway?" So somehow I found these straws to take to this member even though I didn't understand the whole conversation, kinda creepy, huh? haha, sometimes the Holy Ghost has to compensate for the German I don't know yet!

Overall, a Dritt is pretty interesting. I'm really lucky that I get along really well with both companions, especially Sis. Neukomm, since we'll stay companions after Sis. Langtot goes home IN A WEEK! Craziness. But sometimes it's weird doing OYMing because 3's a crowd, so we usually split, although I still only like talking to people if there's someone else there to back me up. The other thing is just planning, because the other two are really good at planning with each other, and do most of the planning in German (we speak 80 percent German the whole week) and sometimes I feel behind and when we're rushing it sort of stresses me out, because they work things out and I sort of follow behind, but they understand that I want to NOT be the kid sister and that I want to know what's going on, and so it has so far worked out pretty well.

It is also sort of, not difficult, but hard being a new sister especially with Sis. Langtot about to leave, because I'm new and I have to re-build member relationships and show them that I'm a good missionary and I know what's going on. It's also hard because yesterday I had a pretty bad migrane and wanted to DIE during our 3 hr. New Year Ward Council. UGH. But our GML and his wife are my absolute FAVORITES--Ahmed and Ola from Egypt--they're really giggly just like me, and they always insist on making us really REALLY good spicy food. yuuum! But I think once Sis. Langtot leaves, the ward will realize that we're still here and will talk more with us and stuff. But the same thing happened with Sis. Allan and it wasn't a big deal. It was funny because we had like a break the fast for the people who had to stay for Ward Council since our Fast Sunday was yesterday--and I don't know who it was, (it wasn'T Ola!) but someone made the ickiest soup auf die Erde--some sort of really sweet soup with mushrooms, PINEAPPLE and chicken. Blegh. Us sisters ate A TON of bread, let's just say that!

Also, our ward is hilarious--we actually have quite a few kids, a few come by themselves as investigators. But one of the kids, who's ALSO named Justin got up and practically gave a talk for a testimony, only with like 15 different Themas, it was really hilarious. There was one point where he said, "We give Heavenly Father A SINGLE CRUM as our tithing, and he gives us everthing!" Talk about "and a child shall lead them"! He said a lot of pretty cool things for just a 12 yr. old, but small branches, with half of the members being kids, makes it a lot less formal--seeing how 3/4 of the testimonies were by kids and YSAs younger than me. Pretty intensely awesome.

Another missionary story. So we taught that one guy (I call him Herr P because I can'T remember how to say his last name) yesterday with Roman, and I wanted to do my best for the lesson, but I had that big migrane, and being super smart, it was the one day I left my little bottle of Advil at home. So I was only really running on Faith power. But it never fails; when I would much rather take a nap, I just have to work through the pain (and nauseousness) because as a missionary, we don't get Sunday naps, it's NOT a day of rest for us, we work double time! But no joke, after a big prayer before the appointment, I felt like I was gonna throw up, and it's worse when the flat smells like cigarette smoke, but during the whole appointment I had zero pain, nothing. As soon as we said "Amen" after the ending prayer and we left, the pain returned. But during the actual Termin itself, I was able to teach without feeling sleepy or ill. It was divine intervention!

So I guess that's all I have for this week. I honestly can't believe it's already Monday, because we've been all over the place this week--we taught 26 lessons when a usual "full" week is 20 lessons, but we managed! It's really true that if you follow the rules, especially for the daily schedule of studying, getting up, going to bed at the right time, you see miracles!

We have also not seen a lick of snow yet, and so far, that's a good thing for our work! It's still cold for sure with rain and wind, but not even a flake yet! Mal sehen! Sis. Langtot jokes that as soon as she leaves there'll be a butt-load of snow for us to wade through!

Anyway, viel Glück for Jordan and Justin--enjoy the milestones this week! It's pretty cool having 3 awesome brothers.