Hello America

Dear Friends and Family. 

I can't not even describe what a week it has been. Every emotion you could possibly have I think I felt this week. The time has gone by so fast, and most days when I wake up, the only way to remind myself that I was actually in Germany is the fact that I can say my prayers in German. Haha. Even though, the memories and people are all so vivid and real, in some way it feels like a distant dream. However, It wasn't. My mission was 100% real, and everything I had wished and hoped for. 

Temple in Freiberg

Well I can take you  through the weeks activities. On Monday, I went to Freiberg where we then headed off to Dresden where President Monson dedicated Germany for Missionary work. We took pictures and sang the Joseph Smiths First Prayer. We read the prayer and then had some time to contemplation on our missionary efforts and work. It was a wonderful spiritual experiences and I can't give enough thanks to my Heavenly Father for the mission experience that I had. 

That evening we enjoyed a nice family home evening, in the baptismal room in the temple. We talked about family history work, and really not only doing the work for them but getting to know about there life. I loved that so much! 

Tuesday was also a wonderful day, filled with finisher activities and a testimony meeting at the end to top it off. The best part was that one of my new converts came to surprise me and walked in on a few seconds before It was my turn to bare my testimony. MIRACLE! Wednesday we woke up early and said goodbye to everyone then I headed on a 11 hour Journey back to America. 

When I arrived everything was so LOUD and BIG! I had forgotten how HUGE america really is haha. As I walked out of the doors to the waiting area, I caught a glimpse of my dad looking around at the flight plans a little hesitent.. (only because my flight arrived an hour early) 

I turned the corner hoping to surprise them, but my mom of course saw me first and then came running towards me. It was the sweetest of reunions and I was so happy to be back in my families arms. 

Coming Home

The rest of the week was pretty normal, getting set apart, my first temple trip since being home and so on and so forth. 

It really is different being home and take some adjusting, however it is just life. It keeps moving forward and just keeps getting better. 

I do miss Germany so much, every time I think about Germany and the people that I came to know and love there my hear aches because I miss them so dearly. However, I am grateful my hearts aches for them, because it means that it was real, that I was there and that I had my opportunity to serve a mission, as a full time sister Missionary for my Savior and my Father in Heaven. I know those things that I learned while on the mission carry so beautifully over to the other side. If anything it has converted me 100 fold to fallowing the saviors example and in know that this Church the Church of Jesus Christ of Later Day saints is the only church with all of the restored Gospel. All of the Truth. 

Ich weiß wirklich, dass Mein Vater in Himmel mich Liebt. Ich weiß wirklich, dass alles nur durch das Sühnopfer Jesu Christi möglich ist. Ich bin serh dankbar für die Gelegenheit die ich hatte, um die Kinder Gottes zu helfen. Aber bin ich auch sehr dankbar, dass ich die Chance hatte mein Zeugniss von dem Evangelium zu vertiefern. 

The time on a mission is absolutely wonderful. I am so grateful that I could dedicate these last 18 months to my Father in Heaven and his work. His is hastening his work right now. We are a part of it. 

Ich habe euch all LiebLove Sister McKinzie Toma 

Baptism from Zhen Hao

Saying Goodbye to the Fingerle's 

Last and Final

Last & Final 😨

Well I can't believe that it is here, but this is my last and final email to you from the mission field. It just sounds weird honestly, I never imagined that a mission would move this fast. That here it is, in 10 days I will be back in America wearing jeans and sleeping in. It will be weird to take off the name badge, to not walk down the streets and feel like I have to approach everyone around the next corner. I am not nervous about adjusting to home life, I know however it will just brake my heart to not be able to be here, and serve these people anymore. It brakes my heart just thinking about next week.

In my final week we have a lot to do. We are preparing for the baptism of Zhen Hao. I am so excited for him. He honestly has been a huge example to me of how through the atonement of Christ All can change, and all can be made whole. So like I always do with baptism week, I will share a little about his conversion story. 

Zhen Hao met the sisters back in January. He is a student from China and has lived here for about two years. He thought the Book of Mormon was really cool because he liked learning. However the problem was that he didn't see the point of meeting, because he was a student. He almost told the sisters he didn't want want to met anymore, one of the sisters in response told him that if he really wants to find out, he needed to feel the spirit. Which in essence meant they needed to meet more. So they then they started meeting twice a week. We had a really good member named Chung (also from China) who started coming on joint teaches to help translate and explain things that Zhen Hao didn't quite understand. Through time, Zhen Hao learned to recognize the spirit, he still had troubles praying often and coming to church, but he read the Book of Mormon like a champ. They asked him to be baptized multiple times, but every time he responded that he just needed to learn more. The sisters worked so close with him trying to help him gain the faith and knowledge he wanted to have. Even In the last 6 weeks that I have come to know this man, I have see his faith and testimony grow sooo strong. He has changed and he is so ready. He is so excited for his special day and I can't wait to tell you all about it, but this time in person. Please pray for him this week.. 

I just wanted to say how grateful I am to have had the wonderful opportunity to serve here as a missionary in the Berlin Germany Mission. This wonderful privilege and opportunity has helped me in so many wonderful ways I don't even know where to begin. This mission has become the greatest conversion for my testimony of the Gospel and its principles. Everyday I watched the hand of the Lord in our work, and everyday I felt his love and immense power from above. There is no possibility that he is not there, or taking care right now of each and everyone of his children.  

This mission has been a truly humbling experience for me, some of those experiences being so sacred to my heart I will not write them in my letter today. However, through those humbling experience I have learned something truly important, and that is, What it means to be a Missionary. 

To be honest I never knew what missionaries did before I came out here. I was scared, and I was insecure about  every detail of missionary work. I thought I had to learn and do this all on my own. It tore me apart, and I struggled for the first 6 months of my mission. I constantly wondered what  I as doing here, and if I was even good enough for this job. I had forgotten one important detail about this work. One day I had a reminder that there was someone who knew exactly how I felt, and that was the Savior. It was mentioned in a Zone conference as one of President Kosak's Favorite scriptures. Philippians 4 "13 I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." I started relying on him more to help me though out my day, I felt his love, his guidance and his strength in my day to day life. 

I started to realize what missionary work meant. What our purpose as missionaries actually meant. As I continued to learn and grow it came clearer to me that this mission was about becoming more like Christ as we invite others to come unto him. It was clearer to me that unless we also our inviting ourselves to become more like him, there is no possible way we could invite others to do the same. It was in that moment I started adjusting my thought process of what missionary work really means. 

One quote from elder Uchtdorf describes perfectly what my stance on missionary work is. He says, "My dear friends and fellow priesthood holders, if Jesus Christ were to sit down with us and ask for an accounting of our stewardship, I am not sure He would focus much on programs and statistics. What the Savior would want to know is the condition of our heart. He would want to know how we love and minister to those in our care, how we show our love to our spouse and family, and how we lighten their daily load. And the Savior would want to know how you and I grow closer to Him and to our Heavenly Father." (On being Genuine April 2015) 

Missionary work is about ministering to those in our care, and showing love to those we teach,  by lightening their daily load, by sharing the message of the gospel, and helping them find the peace and joy through the Savior himself. Numbers, looks, statistics, programs all those things in the grand scheme of it all don't matter. They are the icing on the cake, to make it look pretty but don't contribute to the what is really on the inside. We can't measure what the savior would have done. We can't measure changed hearts  and conversion. We can't measure obedience or willingness to fallow the Savior, we can't measure how the atonement is working in our lives and that is why numbers don't matter. Missionary work is about doing what the Savior would do. Listening to the spirit, fallowing the promptings of the holy Ghost and going about cqninutally doing good as we preach the word of God. 

As my attitude changed, that is when I started to really see the Hand of the Lord in my work. I knew he was always there to help, but He was waiting for me to learn that I am just a tool in helping others feel his love. As I started noticing the miracles and changes he did help me bring so many children unto him. I am so blessed in so many ways I can not even describe my thanks to my Father in Heaven. However, I never let my self get down when I knew maybe today I only planted a seed, or maybe they are not a new investigator, but I did all that I could. 

I know now that as I trust in my savior, and just do his will he will guide me and tell me what I need to do. I have learned from leadership he always has something prepared for his children to learn, and he always has something for us to do. We have to listen and accept his will. We have to change ourselves for him. Sometimes things don't go the way we planned or sometimes we don't get what we want when we want it  , however they come in his due time. 

I am so grateful for the opportunity to learn this though. I am so grateful for the time I had here, to come to better know my savior and these people. This year and  half has been hard, and exhausting.  However, it has also been wonderful, joyous, full of laughter and love. This year and half hasn't been the best of my life but it has honestly been the best for my life. 

I know with all my heart that this is the True Church of God on this earth. That Joseph Smith is a prophet and did restore it. I know God lives and that he loves us. I know that Christ lives and he is truly wonderful. I know that I know that I know, that all we need to do is what Alma said to Helman "Look to God and Live"

I will miss these people, and their rich culture. I will miss the German language, the scenery and houses. I will miss the smell of freshly braked bread as I walk down the streets at 10 in the morning. I will miss these peoples testimonies of the Gospel and how strong they are. There is so much that I wish I could bring back to America with me. So much that I have learned from these wonderful wonderful people. 

I will miss wearing the little black badge, I will miss the spiritual setting where I learned and grew so much into the person I am today. 

This experience has been a once in a life time chance. I couldn't image my life with out these people, this country and my faith and testimony I have come to find on my mission. 

I know this isn't the end though, it is the start to a new beginning. I am so excited for the new miracles, the new memories, and to take the things I learned home with me. I am excited for my new transfer and my new area, because it will be wonderful and blessed. 

I want to give a shout out to all my wonderful companions who helped me along the way, who guided me, and who helped me be better. I have learned from all of them and they have call become dear dear friends. I don't know what my mission would be without them. 

Now for the days activities. So this will be my last email, because next Monday I will be heading over to Freiburg, where the temple is. We will spend the time there having interviews. Tuesday we will head up to the spot of land where President Monson dedicated the land. We will then go back to Freiburg and have a finisher testimony meeting. Then Early Wednesday morning we drive to Dresden where I will fly out and I arrive in DC that afternoon! it is Crazy I still sometimes cannot believe it. It doesn't feel quite real yet, but I guess it will be quite real in a week when I am on the plane home. 

You are all so wonderful, I am so grateful for your support and prayers as I have been out here. I have enjoyed such much getting your emails, and letters. Again thank you so much 

See you real soon, 

Love Sister Toma 

Service Adventures

Dear Family and Friends.

Wow I hope all of you had a wonderful wonderful week!

We for sure did. It was filled with awesome exciting adventures and lots of new people.

On Monday I went up to a little city called Halle. I have heard so much about this city from Sister Blake, and Sister Egbert. It was fun to finally experience all the wonders of the little city. I got to exchange with a Sister Treadaway. She is so sweet and so cute, it just made my day to get to spend time with her and get to know her.

Then I got to spend some time finally here in Chemnitz, where we went on another exchange with the sisters from Hohenstein. They are also amazing Sisters, and I got to spend some time with Sister Daniels. I also enjoyed getting to know her. We had an adventurous exchange. We again traveled to Sister Haertig's where this time she was in a fuss about making sure lunch was cooked. She needed a lot done in the house, so she occupied out time with little chores and task. The first task we had was to clean some lawn chairs. After we spent about 30 minutes cleaning them off and drying them, she took us to the back into this forest of a place, where there was a huge hole in the back of her shed, filled with dirt and other random things. The she hasted her self up on a little ledge as we handed her the chairs and she threw them into a pile of dirt.. So much for cleaning them. haha On our way back to the house she looked down at the grass and noticed all her walnuts fell to the ground. She started whimpering around trying to pick them all up because it was raining out side. We told her to go back in and finish lunch, and that we would pick them up. Well one hour late and three buckets of walnuts, completely drenched from head to toe we finished the job. Ha I just love service adventures. The things we do on missions lol. Then we spent the rest of the time helping her pull a wagon filled with random junk, like unopened calendars from 2006, strings, and mixed up sheet music. To the top of this hill where her Bungalow was located. What I have learned from this lesson, throw away stuff!! haha She is though the sweetest hard working old lady I have ever met though, and she will always have huge place in my heart.

We found a new investigator named Markus this week. Oh he is so cool!

We taught him the first lesson, and with in second he said, I know that is true. Then we talked about the holy ghost, how we can feel him and what is role is. As we explained the feelings we feel, he expressed to us he was feeling them right then. SO COOL!! We invited him to church, and he showed up 30 minutes early haha. He loved the meeting and even told me he went home and prayed about what we talked about, and that God did tell him it was true. What a miracle in and of itself. We are meeting with him again today to talk about the plan of salvation! :)

Ah Zhen Hao is also doing wonderful. We met with him this morning, where we talked again about what he read in the Book of Mormon. We talked about Captain Moroni and how much courage and faith he had. He loved that. I then asked him, "Zhen Hao, lets just say that you didn't finish the Book of Mormon before next weekend, would you still know that it is true?" He responded YES!! Then went on to say, he still really has the goal to try and finish it before next week, but even if he didn't he knows he needs to be and wants to be baptized!!! Ah I love him, he is so good and has made so much progress in the last 5 weeks. It just really bares whiteness from what Preach my Gospel proclaims, that The Book of Mormon combined with the Spirit are the two most powerful ways of conversation. Please continue to keep him in your prayers these next two weeks as he continues to prepare for his baptism.

 

On Saturday we had my again very last Zone Training Meeting. Ah it was so good. I just felt the spirit so strong. This zone training meeting was focused really on the atonement. It was so needed. In the past few months the missionaries have really been struggling and getting so down, I am just grateful we had two wonderful zone leaders who were obedient and enough in tune with the spirit to be able to know what these missionaries need.

We had another meeting after for the leaders where we instead of focusing on numbers and goals, we decided to just feel the spirit. We each got to stand up and bare out testimony from one of out favorite songs, where we then sang two verses from each. It brought the spirit into the room, where each and everyone of us could feel the love of God surrounding us. It was a great way to end my last Zone training meeting. I will for sure be missing those.

Well, I hope this is enough, I can't believe this is the 2nd to last email you will be receiving from me. I will try my hardest to make next weeks good. I still can't believe it, doesn't feel real. But, nah Ja don't have to worry about that for another week or so.

I have you all love, and hope you have a wonderful wonderful week.

Sister Toma

New beginnings to the end

Well, here we are. I am sitting on the train to Leipzig as I watch the trees pass by and the beautiful Germany scenery change, I can hardly believe that my time in Hannover has come to end. I tried to spend the last few days just enjoying every minute and moment of my beloved Hannover. The sun peeking through the window as we rub our eyes and roll out of bed at 6.30 in the morning. The smell of fresh trees and green grass as we open the door at 10 to star our work. Even the horrible smell of brewing beer as we turn the corner to walk to our train stop at Altenbeckner Dam. The old buildings and homes, the cobble stone sidewalks that ruin your suitcases. The old rickety trams in all their green glory. It feels as if it were yesterday that I arrived in Hannover. As I stood in the Train Station for my last 10 minutes I just watched as the people of Hannover walked by. 90% of them being my beloved African friends. Whom I will miss so dearly. 

We spent Monday going by on some friends. We stopped at the train station to meet Jacob. As we showed up I called Jacob to see where he was at, of course he replies "I am on my way be there in 5!" Which actually means I just got on the train and I will be there in 30 mins ha-ha. So we waited in front of the Burger King until a little short African man walked around the corner with is crazy white smile. As he approached us he just shook his head in disappointment upon my leaving and expressed he was tired of all of the people he loves going always. I had a good chat, and he shook our hand about 15 times before he turned around and walked back into the mass of people. 

Next on the list was Lydia. We walked up the stairs and when she opened the door, to my surprise she was her cheerful happy self again. It has been so hard for me to see our deal Lydia is so much pain due to her pregnancy. She finally received a priesthood blessing on Sunday, and it is amazing how it just works. She still has some pain, however not nearly as bad and she can actually laugh joke and smile. I told Lydia on Sunday I was leaving, however I think she was in so much pain she just couldn't understand that I was going. When we showed up on Monday and I asked, Lydia is there anything I can do for you before I leave she turned to me and asked, "What you’re leaving for good?" We had a good talk, and she wanted lots of pictures. I had a hard time explaining that I couldn't call her but I am hoping that in six weeks I can find some way to get in contact with her. She just repeated over and over stay safe and keep praying. It never ceases to amaze me the astounding faith the African people have. 

With that there is some amazing news I Hannover. They are creating an English speaking branch!! Oh I am so excited for them, and so happy. It will help the work along so well. Even though I wasn’t there for the change, I am so happy to have been part of the process of helping the work along. There are so many prepared people there and I am so excited to see those prepared have a place where they can turn to and a place where they can feel comfortable. 

We had a few more visit and ended our night with a family home evening at the Metzigs. They are one of the most amazing families that I know. It was great to spend my last night in Hannover with them and their two daughters. We sang songs, made jokes and even had a little paper mâché time. As the time approached to go I couldn't seem to let myself let the people I love so dearly go. However I knew I had to I walked down the stairs with the up most spirits that this family’s path will forever be entwined with mine. 

Well here is the rest of the email for the week. I arrived promptly 1.18 in the Leipzig train station on Tuesday. Where my warm loving German companion greeted me. Her name is sister Kronwitter. Ah she is one of my most favorite sisters in the mission. She came in with Sister Egbert's group of missionaries, and was trained by my favorite STL sister Lartey. She is a convert to the church and was baptized about 2 1/2 years ago. Sister Kronwitter makes everything a party, and I am so excited to spend my last 6 weeks with her.

Chemnitz ha-ha hmm what to say about this city, Well actually it is beautiful here. I feel like I have finally entered into real Germany. The people, the homes, the smells and the nature. We took a long drive to a member's home a few days ago and along the way I was taken away by the rolling hills and historic nature of the old buildings. The member we went to go visit is an 84 year old power house. She pulled up in her little red Suzuki from the train station. As we pulled up to her old home it was just like something out of a movie. The grass hadn't been mown in what looked like 6 months, all the trees and bushes we over grown. As we entered into the old home there was a stair case so steep that it was pretty much a latter. As we climbed up the stairs to the little kitchen, the smell German food hit my nose, and I could tell that we were in for an eating adventure. It was Schnitzel and potatoes not too bad, however the schnitzel was just sitting in a puddle of butter which she ladled over our potatoes and said "Isst du, das schmeckt" Meaning it is because it taste good. Ha-ha! Afterwards we helped in the garden where she took us up her 5000 mile long staircase in her back yard leading to her garden. Well more like a mess of all different kinds of vegetables and fruits just growing everywhere. She had a huge swimming pool in her garden, which she turned into a pond with giant gold fish. For being 84 years old though, she is extremely fit. She works in that garden every day and lifts things that are so heavy I couldn't do. It is amazing to me! Ah she is one of the funniest old ladies I have ever met. Even if I couldn't understand 80% of what she was saying in her think sechisch accent. 

Later that day we went out to go finding and got caught in the rain. After about 20 minutes of walking around, and being soaked all the way through finally we sat down in front of an apartment building and just prayed that heavenly father would make it stop. We got up, and continued to find however, it didn't. Nah ja, we just had an experience and it builds are character. It was a good bonding experience for sister Kronwitter and me. 

On Friday we meet with our friend Zahn Hoa. He is sooo cool. He is a 29 year old student from China, and has been meeting with the sisters since January. He is so ready to be baptized, but however is stuck on the knowing everything before being baptized. He knows he needs to, but just wants to know everything before he does. The spirit was so strong in the lesson though, as we talked about some of his concerns and then he just up and randomly said he will tell God he wants to be baptized and he will ask him if he should. Also that he is going to read 20 chapters in the book of Mormon before we meet next. He is really so cool! I am so excited for him. Please pray for him. He is good, and I am so excited for him. 

It is just such a different feeling here and I am so happy to serve. There is so many wonderful things awaiting here I know it. 

I was reading an amazing talk from October 2011 general conference called the opportunity of a lifetime. I will just end with one of my favorite quotes from "Your mission is a training ground for life. The experiences, lessons, and testimony obtained through faithful service are meant to provide a gospel-centered foundation that will last throughout mortality and into the eternities. However, for the blessings to continue after the mission, there are conditions that must be met"

The church is true, God loves us more than we could ever know. I know that we are all children of a loving Heavenly Father, and I am so happy to be a part of is wonderful work. 

I hope you have a wonderful week, 

Love Sister Toma 

Transferring to Chemnitz

Dear Family and Friends, 

Wow what a week! I can't believe it, seriously so many miracles and mercies. Thanks so much for your prayers for Sister Stacey and I. They really helped so so so much. 

I hope everyone else had a good week? How is the weather over there? Here, well it is a little bi-polar at the moment. Last week I was wearing tights and a warm jacket, this week I am back into sandals. I don't think I will ever get used to the weather here and how much it changes. Ha-ha

Other than the weather though we had transfer call this week, and guess what? I am... Getting transferred to a city called Chemnitz, way out in the deep southern east. I can't tell you how much I have cried I don't think it has stopped since Saturday, with the thought of leaving my dear sweet Sister Stacey, and Hannover. There is so many things awaiting here and it seems as all the good comes for anything, then I have to go. I can tell you it won't be easy, going to Chemnitz will probably be one of the hardest transfers of my mission. However, I know the Lord needs me to learn something and whatever that may be I promised to serve with all my heart might mind and strength as I wrote to the first presidency accepting my mission call. So that is what I will do.  I will miss these people so much though, my heart aches with the thought of having to say goodbye. Every time. They just have amazing huge hearts and It aches me to have to let them go, however I know that the sister who comes will now have to wonderful opportunity to love them and receive their love. I can't believe it though I am still in shock!! 

E

In other news, Nana finally agreed to being baptized. Hopefully on the 18 of October. I am super sad that I won't be able to be there to see him be baptized. Also Gloria, her date fell out for this week due to health complications. 

It was probably the worst walking away from Theresa's home and seeing Little Ben standing on the balcony waving his hand back and forth in the air and saying "bye bye sister Toma" not knowing he won't ever see me again. As soon as I turned the corner my eyes filled up with tears as I realized how this really will be the last time in this lifetime that I might see these people. 

Can I just tell you all how much I love being a missionary? I love all the miracles we see, I love all the experience we have, even the trials. Why? Because in the end they all bring us closer to our Father in Heaven. It blows my mind every time we leave the apartment from Gaure. Here we are sitting in a little apartment, speaking German with a woman from Papua new Guinea It is absolutely incredible. She is twice my age and has 1000 times more life experience than I have ever had, however loves us as her best friends, and invites us over to learn from two young girls who haven't even graduated collage yet. How is this possible? Why has God called such a young people to do this work? I ask myself these questions almost every day. However, I always come to the conclusion of 1 Nephi 3:7  

7 And it came to pass that I, Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of men, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them.

That we as a young generation have been called to be the builders of the kingdom of God, by preaching the Gospel to the world. With that calling that I received in January 1 2014, God was sending out his call to me, and has provided countless ways for me to accomplish this. I know they are miracles, and I know his hand has been in every part of it. I know that if this was not the true church or ordained from God there would be no way in a million years thousands of 18 and 19 year old young people would be able to get into the homes of so many prepared people. This is truly his calling for us today, and what a blessing it truly is to be his servant at this time. 

I can't believe it is my last 6 weeks that is also aching my heart. This country and these people they are me now, I don't feel it to be real that this is my very last six weeks in Germany. I count that as a blessing though as it helps me stay focused on the work and the sisters, I hope that in some way do the same that I have done for the sisters here also in Chemnitz. 

Well my friends and family with that I bid you adieu, I love and hope you all a wonder miracle filled week. 

13 Behold, I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of him to declare his word among his people, that they might have everlasting life.

Love sister Toma 

Anticipating changes!

Dear family how are you doing? I hope good now that Hunter is home safe and sound! I can't believe that it has been two years already. It seems like yesterday he left off to Guatemala to be in the MTC. I am so proud of him. I can't say that enough. He has been such a wonderful example to me on my mission.

Baptized investigators going to the temple!

How did the homecoming talk go and how is everything going, I would love to know. Is he surviving Sunday's with nothing to do? Ha-ha. I am glad Hunter is the Ginny pig for the first time in my life. 

You all can figure out how to help him adjust then you will be professionals for my return! Ha-ha jk, 

I know Hunter is doing just fine and he is already killing it being a returned missionary. Sorry I just think I am really funny.

This week we find out whether I will be staying here for my last six weeks or being moved somewhere else? I still don't know how I feel about the thought of leaving. I know that whatever God wants or needs I will happily do. However, I would be in heaven with the thought of finishing my mission in the most wonderful city in the Berlin Germany mission. I don't know what God has in store though, and who he has for me next. Who I need to meet, or what I need to learn. I know he has a plan, and as a missionary we become very aware of that. It always seems that when we get comfortable, or want something so bad, God wants the exact opposite, and needs to stretch and challenge us. Without these stretchings and growings though, we could never learn to trust in him or grow stronger in our testimony of this life and why we are ultimately here. I have a firm and deep testimony of that. "Because he loves us he pushes us."

We had a very interesting week. We went on two exchanges, and they were both so wonderful. I got to get to know both Sister Patterson and Jensen a little better. I just look up to all these sisters so much. Their courage to be here, their faith and diligence to be obedient and hardworking Missionaries. I feel so blessed to be in the presence of such amazing disciples of Christ. Even though I learn a lot and it is fun to be with someone new, or in a new area, it always reminds me and makes me thankful for my dear Sister Stacey. She is an awesome companion, and I have had so much fun with her. I have been truly blessed with the companions I have had on the mission, and I am so grateful for all they have taught me and their influences in my life. You really do learn so much from living with someone 24/7 ha-ha. I hope I can finish my mission with Sister Stacey, it would be a dream!!

As for the missionary work this week. Man it has been a little rough. Please pray that we can find some new people. We really have this little slump and both Sister Stacey and I just want to do everything we can to finish her last two and my last transfer Strong!! With all our strength and energy that we can!! I know God has a plan for us, and there is something waiting around the corner, as long as we do our part. However, now I feel I am more focused than ever more willing to give it more than I have ever given because I want to be able to one day look back and say, that yes I did all I could.

I know my emails haven't been as long and detailed as they normally are. However, I feel at this point most of them sound about the same every week ha-ha. I know every day has a new miracle and story, and we really have seen so many tender mercies and miracles in this last week. We were able to give Therese a priesthood blessing, (I mean the elders did) however, it was a miracle in and of itself that we showed up to her home when we did. We went to an eating appointment on Sunday. Where the family was only supposed to feed us sisters. However then realized that the elders had nowhere to go and another lady who was here all alone from America and had nowhere to go for fast Sunday. So they had all 7 of us over not planning on it including their family making us 12.  With barley enough food and not much money or time to prepare, they were able to quickly prepare a small meal for us all. There was just enough soup to fill everyone's bowl one time and with two small loafs of bread we truly experienced a (Bread and Fish) miracle. The soup was able to fill us up so much that some couldn't even finish their bowl. Half of us couldn't eat dessert because we were so full. We even had a whole loaf of bread left over that she willing gave to us to take home knowing full well that it could feed her family the next day. God is truly there every day to show us his had in our life.

I am so grateful for missions, the experience that we face, to shape and mold us. I couldn't imagine my life without these people, trails, joys, and mercies all found within the path we must walk to perfection.

D&C 121

7 My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

8 And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes.

I love you all have a wonderful week,

Sister Toma

Pfad zum Perfektion

Dear Family and Friends

I hope that your week was good? Well I hear that school starts today for everyone. I can't believe that Braden is on his senior year, Conner is going into the 8th grade and Hunter will be home from his mission in less than 2 days. Lots of big changes and events going on this year. It blows my mind to see my family and friends growing up, getting married, having babies, returning from missions, going on missions. WOW! Life just keeps going on, and I am still here. HAHA Just the life of a missionary I guess. However I love it. 

I got an amazing Email from Elder Toma last week. It made my day. This last transfer I have been looking back on my mission, all that I have done and did, I have been having these questions in my head if what I did was enough, If I really have done all I could and should. However in the words of my brother, there should be no regrets or worries as long as I just keep looking forward.  After all I have lived through so far on my mission and all I have learned so far, I have come to my new motto. 

"Life isn't about the perfection, of being the perfect missionary, member, Leader, teacher, or even mission president. Rather it is about the road to perfection. " -me 😉

We will never be the perfect at any of those things. We can never be an exactly obedient missionary, or do everything exactly right! We can never be a perfect member, or do everything a member is supposed to do. However we can walk the road to perfection. If we fall down, slow down, step off of lose our way, we can always get back on and say this time "I will do better". With that we have people every day around us walking the same path, to help us, to cheer us on, to fall down and tell us how to get back up. We are not alone in it. The best of all, Christ is there to hold our hand the whole way. He is our ultimate Cheerleader. ;) 

We have to keep looking forward and relying on the atonement of Christ. That is why it is there. Because we need it. 

27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them.

Ether 12:27 

With that our week was pretty good. We finally got in contact with Gloria. She is doing great and has a brand new baby girl named Claudia. We loved seeing Gloria, and she is just as strong and faithful as ever. Come to find out her phone broke, so that is why we didn't have any contact with her. She was so happy to finally see us though, and we her. 

I got to return to my beautiful city of Osnabrueck. It was a great time. We went finding in the city, and it brought back so many wonderful Memories. The best part of all, was being able to see Miguel, and set him on a baptismal date for the 24 of October! Right before I go home, so pray that all goes well that he can also do everything possible to be ready for the 24. Also that I will stay in Hannover so I can go ha-ha. 

Well I Hope you all have a wonderful week! I love you all so much, good luck with school and everything! 

Love, 

Sister Toma