June 11, 2014
Guten Tag Alles Menschen!! Wie Gehts es Ihnen?
Holy Moly, I cannot believe that in a few days my MTC
experience will be over! Can somebody pinch me? I really need it right now
because I seriously feel like I am in a dream right now! All the days blur
together and I forget all the time if it is Tuesday or if it is Friday!
Hopefully when I get to Germany, My days will get a little more busy and have
some variety to them.
So to be completely honest, this week has been pretty
uneventful.
It is interesting that both Mom and Dad had sent me a letter
having a lot of the same message behind it. That I am of worth and the I need
to let "the Gardner" or the Lord, prune me and help me become the
best I can be.. or become to my full potential. I have been really hard on
myself for that last few weeks, wondering how I can become a better teacher and
make the lessons come a lot smoother, and Why I was put with my companion. On
Saturday we taught our "investigator" Jenni, she is a 17 year old
girl who's boyfriend is a semi active member. It is hard to teach her lessons
sometimes, because we will go up to her and say " Hey we have planned this
amazing lesson for you today about the Plan of Salvation, or the Gospel of Christ,"
yet she will ask us a million questions and we always end up never teaching her
the lesson we planned, which is a bummer because we try to receive revelation
from our Heavenly Father to teach them what we feel they need to hear and what
they NEED! Finally my teacher Sister Judd pulled us aside and said "The
lesson is in your hands, Heavenly Father trust you to teach his children what
they need. Just teach the lesson you plan and feel free to end the lesson on
your time, tell them they can ask ward member or read the scriptures to find
other answers to their questions. Stop being so hard on yourselves you are
great teachers and Missionaries, pray for spiritual teaching experiences, and
pray for your investigators and each other every day." I really took head
to what she had said to us that day and have been trying to do what she had
said! It has been amazing how different the lessons have become with our
Untersuchern. Thanks Mom and Dad for sending me the messages you have this
week! I know that through your prayers you are also able to know and feel the
messages and needs of your children, Even if they are a million miles away.
We had the wonderful opportunity for our last Tuesday
devotional to have Elder Cook come and speak to us. It was interesting how both
his and Sister Cook's tied into each other. They both had brought up being Shepherd
for the Lord. When Christ is speaking to
his Apostle Peter and says "If you love me feed my sheep" He says
that three times to Peter.. (you think that is important?) As I have been
studding this week in PMG the third lesson in Chapter Three it talks about the
Gospel Of Christ. Under Baptism we are taught that when we take Christ name
upon us we are to strive to become like him, and be like him.. Now we are all
not perfect so we need the Atonement. However as we take Christ name upon us
and strive to be more like him we come to know and love our savior even more.
So remember.. what does Christ tell peter? "If you love me feed my
sheep". We are all children of God, we have taken Christ name upon us and
strive to become more like him every day. As we do so he entrust us to take
care of his other Children. We must strive for Christ like Attributes.. or as
Elder Bednar says recognize the Character of Christ. Charity, Love, Hope, patience....
We must Feed his sheep. I think the thing that most impresses me is that We are
soooo far from Perfect, however Christ still trust us to take care of his
sheep. Heavenly Father has given us a promise that if we keep our Covenants
that we make at Baptism and in the Temple that (that includes feeding his
sheep) we will be blessed with more blessings than we have room for. In Alma 42, Alma is speaking to his sons
about Christ after he is finished the first and last thing he tells them to do
is Preach the word to your fellow brothers and Sisters (Alma 42:31). It makes
me realize that even when I come home from my mission I am constantly and
always will be a missionary of the Lord.
I found out some interesting news this week that Pertains to
Germany.. Amazingly the work there is striving.. many missionaries are having
7-10 baptisms a month... In Europe. This is an Amazing Time to be serving a
mission, the Lord is preparing people more than ever for the the Last Days. On
Sunday we had the opportunity to watch a documentary about President Monson.
One of the first things that he was called to do when he was called as an
apostle was to help the people in Eastern Germany. Amazingly they were able to
build the Frieburg temple and President Monson blessed the land that it would
accept this gospel. It has taken many years, however from what I have heard the
Germany people are amazing. I am so excited to serve the Lord there. So going
into that I heard some interesting news from some of the Leaders in the Germany
missions. Our branch presidency told us this week that because there are soooo
many missionaries leaving, and there will be 150 missionaries going to Germany
this summer, many of the missionaries are training themselves. We were told
that we were the group of missionaries sent out first because we will become
trainers within 3-6 months of being in Germany. Ahh so scary. We were also told
that because of that our teachers have been working extra hard to prepare us
for the mission field. ...so Back to what Elder Toma said about me having a
Hard time in the MTC... well know I know why the MTC was so hard for all of us
May 7th Germany Missionaries, we have many shoes to fill and a big
responsibility a head of us. I can already see so many leaders in my zone the
Lord Calls us when he needs us. We all still have so much to learn, and I only
hope that when I get out there I can be a good enough leader to help the work
in Germany. I Love the Mission, it is an Amazing Place to learn and Grow and
build your relationship with Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Thank you all
for the Amazing letters that you send each week! I love the Dear Elders and
hearing about your experience in what you do to participate in the missionary
work.
Thank you out to Grandma May The skirt is Beautiful I love
it.. I havent worn it yet because I am saving it for Germany.. However it fits
perfectly! Thanks Grandpa for the Amazing heartfelt letters you send as well
the Make my day 100% more filled with the Spirit.
Thank you Mom and Dad for your letters and all the others
who have taken the time out of their day to share their experiences and
advice.. it is such a blessing. I learn so much for you, more than you can ever
know.
P.S. the 16th is that last day I can receive Dear Elders, after that its
Emails and Snail Mail. :)
I have such a strong testimony of God's Love for us. We are
his children and he is so proud of all that we do.
T
he next email you get will be from Germany!! :) so it will
be a lot more interesting.
Well that is it for now! Hope everyone has an Amazing Week
Aufweidersehn Liebe,
Sister Toma
