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 

Dear family and friends! 

First off thank you all for ALL the Birthday Wishes! They were great! I loved them. 

This week was a little out of the ordinary. I think we spent a total of 48 hours here in Hannover. 

On Monday we actually didn't even have P day, we had to meet with so many people because we couldn't meet with them during the week. Tuesday we left to Hamburg where I got to sing in a missionary choir. Let’s just say it was something else, ha-ha. It was fun though. 10 sisters slept in this little tiny tiny apartment overnight. There wasn't enough room in the morning so a bunch of the sisters had to go over to the Church to get ready in the morning. Just image about 6 Sister Missionaries with their overnight bags, still in pj's marching over to the church at 7 in the morning. Ha-ha I am sure it was definitely

a sight for all those on the street that day. Luckily it is only a block away from the church

We had an amazing Mission Conference though. Elder Johnson came and spoke to us. He talked a lot about having faith and acting on that faith, and Alma 32. It was good, it helped me to realize the importance of conversation. When we teach others, we really need to focus on their needs and teach them rather than just the needed lesson. We need to make sure they understand how to nourish this seed, in order to remain deep rooted in the Gospel. 

Thursday was my birthday and of course it was special, just because I could be here and spend the time with people I love. Sister Stacey made me feel so special, and everyone did so many nice things that day. I especially loved it because I got to see so many people I loved, and just spent the time helping and serving others.  We helped Lydia find some place in Hannover and we went over to our friend Gaure's to teach her, and later we went to Knabe's it was a blast. I just tried to enjoy it to the fullest seeing that was my last birthday as a missionary and for whatever reason, the best birthdays happen on Missions. 

The next morning we woke up again bright and early and headed off to berlin for MLC, with president Fingerle and Elder Johnson. Can I just say how cool Elder Johnson is? I like him a lot, I hope one day he will be able to be a mission president because he just so powerful and motivating. He reminded me a lot of President Kosak in that way. He also made us just feel so loved. 

He gave the time to us for the last 45 minutes just to ask questions and to get to know him a little more. One of the last questions that was asked, was How do you remain humble, while still keeping confidence. His response was, 

"Humility is knowing that we don't have all the power, and confidence is knowing that the power is from God"  

We spent a good portion of the time on this topic. 

We then spent a good two hours after MLC learning about family history. It was so cool, I am excited to go home and find ancestors.  That I can take to the temple and do the work for. It is a big goal in the mission to really help this work a long, not for us but to know how to do it so we can help our investigators and new converts take names to the temple someday. 

During that time, I got a visit from Bucky! It was so good to see him again. He is doing great, and he actually just went to the temple a few weeks ago and said he loved it. 

Things in Hannover are pretty good, we keep seeing miracles all the time. We still haven't received contact with Linda. It is sad we hope we can soon, I have faith that we can. 

Please keep these people in your prayers that they can make their baptismal dates. 

Linda 

Gloria 

Richard. 

You all are wonderful, thanks for all that you do! I love you all, 

Sister Toma  

Der Wille Gottes

Hallo Familie und Freunde!!
Ich hoffe, dass ihr alle eine gute Woche gehabt habt. Ihr seid alle wunderbar, und kann Ich euer Gebete und Unterstützung sehr Stark spüren.  Vielen vielen Dank dafür.

Ok now I will speak in English! You don't have to translate that! I don't think it will make too much sense anyways!!

Well, this week as been a little bit of a test of my faith for me. It is good though, I know God gives us trails and test to help us grow. There is no growth in the comfort zone and no comfort in the growth zone.

Sister Toma, Lydia, Sister Stacey

Linda one of our investigators on baptismal date went to Berlin on Monday. We haven’t had contact with her all week, but her brother told us in hope that she would be coming home on Friday. She went to go get her Visa renewed, and sometimes here in Germany it can take a while. So with that Sister Stacey and I were praying and fasting that she could make it home before Friday at the latest, so she could make her baptism on Sunday. I kept stressing out over it and couldn't sleep because of it. She is so ready but due her dumb Visas she couldn't be here. I didn't want to make her wait! On Friday as I was in my personal study, I was reading in 1 Nephi 17 

in vs 7-8 it is God commanding Nephi to build the ship, then In vs 9 is really where it hit me

7 And it came to pass that after I, Nephi, had been in the land of Bountiful for the space of many days, the voice of the Lord came unto me, saying: Arise, and get thee into the mountain. And it came to pass that I arose and went up into the mountain, and cried unto the Lord.

8 And it came to pass that the Lord spake unto me, saying: Thou shalt construct a ship, after the manner which I shall show thee, that I may carry thy people across these waters.

9 And I said: Lord, whither shall I go that I may find ore to molten, that I may make tools to construct the ship after the manner which thou hast shown unto me?

God commanded Nephi to build a ship, which for him was pretty impossible. For having not ever built one in his life before. However, all he responded with was... where shall I go to get materials to make this ship. So much faith, so much humility. Not even questioning, just doing. He understood Gods will for him, and had so much faith to just do it.

I realized in that moment, that instead of asking God, Please make it possible for Linda to come home in time for her Baptism, I needed to just say God whatever your will is for Linda, Help me be ok with it.

Then on Saturday, still with no contact, I felt that it was Gods will for her to wait. That she maybe needed a little more time, and that we should put off her baptism. Her brother reassured us that she would be home by Saturday morning, so before we even knew that she wasn't home yet we sent out the message that her baptism was being pushed back and submitted ourselves to the will of God.

That evening we went by again, and found out she was still in Berlin. We are still not sure when exactly she is coming back, but please continue to keep her in your prayers!

This experience helped me so much this week to realize how much more I actually need to rely on God. That part of this mission on earth is involving our Heavenly Father in our Joy, our sorrow, and the many other earthly experiences that we have here on earth.

My most favorite story about fallowing the will of God is from D Todd Christofferson. He recalls a man who was a gardener and his experience with Gods will. It called "The Will of God"
there is a Mormon Message too, here is the link

The Will of God (3:02)

I love this talk so much, It has helped me so much throughout my mission. I know one of the biggest things or weaknesses that I need to overcome is being more humble and submitting myself to Gods will, or even being humble in other situations. 

 

However, there was many other humbling experience this week that helped me to realize there is so much Growing that I need. I have a long way to go and still a lot to learn. 

Elder Oran F Whitney once said, 

"No pain that we suffer, no trial that we experience is wasted. . . . All that we suffer and all that we endure, especially when we endure it patiently, builds up our characters, purifies our hearts, expands our souls, and makes us more tender and charitable. . . . It is through sorrow and suffering, toil and tribulation that we gain the education that we come here to acquire.” 

Oh it was cool this week. There was a wedding from the brother of our bishop, and it just happened that the girl he is marrying is from Osnabruck... She is one of my favorite people ever too so I was just so excited for her, but because she is for Osnabruck a bunch of people from the ward came and I got to see them. I got to see President and Sister Habermann's cute new little baby. It was a sweet reunion. I saw Matthias Habberman, and told him I would be in Osnabruck in a few weeks and he decided to set up a bunch of appointments for when I come. I am really worried, because I am trying to make sure the exchange doesn't become a huge reunion, rather for me to go there and focus on the sister I am exchanging with. Can you send any advice my way?? Ha-ha it will be good though, to see those I love in Osnabruck again. 

 We did have one Baptism this week and it was wonderful! Lydia was baptized on Sunday!! 

She is such a sweet little Ghanan Woman. We met Lydia through one of our new members. We went to go help her with some translation and when we got on the train the first thing she said was, "Hey I found someone new for you to teach" ha-ha then we met Lydia. She had just moved from Holland and will be having a baby in about a moth. The week that we met it her things just fell right into place! We met with her, she came to church, and then she told us she wanted to be baptized! She is an amazing lady, she just loves us and the church so much! Ha-ha, she loves when we come over, but knows why we are there. We don't come to small talking right when we sit down she ask us to pray. Then we start right into the lesson! She is so great! We are friends though she is so funny! 

 

Life is great though! I love Hannover, and all the wonderful miracles and wonders of this city! I am so blessed to be here, with amazing people and an amazing companion! 

 

Thank you all for your wonderful love and support! Your prayers are so helpful! And Wonderful! 

I Love you All, Have a Great Week. 

 

Liebe Grüße, 

Sister Toma

 

Ps. Update on Lucas and his family! 

They came again to church on Sunday and they brought another one of the family members from Lucas's host family! I got a picture with them too! They really enjoyed church, I kept praying and praying that I would know what to say so we could get an appointment with them, or even get their number. I asked a few times and she said no every time, finally sister Stacey asked if we could bring Tori Shultze with us one day and just come by, she said she will think about it. Just pray that he and his family will feel the need to call us and learn more! They are so so good and could be so prepared, I think they are just scared. All I hope is we left a good impression with them! At least they enjoyed church! It is still a miracle in and of itself though.  

Eine witzige Woche

Dear Family and Friends. 

This week has been a wonderful one for sure. We are enjoying the nice weather. It was surprise for us, we are so thankful though because it really helps the work!! :) 

Honestly this might be a boring email, I have been thinking all week what I could share, and I got nothing' ha-ha. 

There have been some pretty funny things going down though. I thought maybe you could use a good laugh! Here are a few highlights. 

Gifty: this week we went to go visit our friend Gifty who is super pregnant, but her baby wasn't due till the middle of august. When we went by on Tuesday she told us her washing machine was broken. We took a look to see if we could fix it, but as soon as we turned the washer on buckets of water started flying out from the top. She wanted us to call the store where she bought it from, because she can't speak German. As we described in our simple German that the washer was broken, all we could say was "there’s water coming out, from the top right corner. We can't describe how or exactly where! All we know is there's water coming out!! It's broken!" We never got anywhere with them so we just gave Gifty the number of a handy man in our ward and hoped she could get things figured out. A few days later she called us to tell us she needed us to go to the store with her to tell the people that the machine was broken and she needed a new one. We couldn't go that day so we planned to go the next day and told her a time and everything. When the time came to go help Gifty we were running a little late so we just decided to call her to let her know. When we called the first thing she said was, Sister sorry I forgot to call you, I can't come I am giving BIRTH! Ha-ha we started laughing a little just because that was the only good excuse I have heard my entire mission for why an appointment fell out lol. Gifty is doing fine, she gave birth to a beautiful baby girl ❤️

Lydia: We were heading out to an appointment to visit our friend Emma, when we got a phone call from Lydia, I asked her how she was doing, and she calmly replied, "I'm fine, how are you.." After a few seconds of greeting she then started yelling in my year with her thick African accent about how she was locked somewhere in her apartment and needed us to do something with her keys and something, something.. I couldn't quite catch it all, but I just told her we were on our way and would be there in a few minutes. When we showed up she was basically hanging out of her 5 story apartment window dangling her keys. She yelled "CATCH!" And threw them out almost hitting a car, but by a miracle it didn't. We ran upstairs and opened her front door, and realized that she had locked herself (or the door handle fell off her bedroom door) in. All we could hear was her panting and grunting in the other room, so we quickly fixed the door and opened it for her. She came running out to give us the biggest hugs, she kept repeating "I love you, I love you," Sister Stacey then asked her how long she had been in her room for. She said "since morning". It was now 4 in the afternoon!! She ran out the room supper mad and Sister Stacey and I couldn't help from laughing our heads off. Lydia went off for about 10 minutes it was sad I felt bad, she had nothing in her room, except water, and she hadn't eaten breakfast or gone to the bathroom and she is pregnant!! She is doing good now though, and she is so excited for her baptism next week :) 

Elders: Now my companion seriously is a total babe. Literally every elder is in love with her. The other night we got a call from one of the zone leaders in the mission. We exchange with some of their sisters, so we thought that he might be calling for that reason. But after about 10 minutes of him going off about how he knew Sister Stacey before the mission we were wondering the point of the phone call. After about 20 minutes he pretty much told Sister Stacey is whole wedding plan for them, and then ended with how much fun they will have in Australia together!! Ha-ha, we literally tried to end the phone call 20 times but he just kept going and going. I guess not every Zone leaders follows the rules!! I was seriously losing it the whole time though!! It was transfer week so there were a bunch of elder picking their trainees up.  One of them of course just happens to also be in love with Sister Stacey and had to come through the Hannover Train Station in order to catch his trains to Freiburg. But every time he literally found every excuse to see Sister Stacey there. The first time was on Tuesday, but luckily we had an appointment. But on Thursday his train was coming through again right when we would be at the train station after our weekly eating appointment. We almost missed him, however "his train was late to his city" so they ended up having to overnight here in Hannover. It doesn't help that our Zone leaders are best friends with this Elder. Ha-ha so we ended up seeing him! It was funny! He is a good elder though, just in love with my companion! ;) 

Scavenger hunts for chocolate: We were at the train station and Sister Stacey was craving chocolate. They have a million vending machines in the train station. Pretty much on every platform. However, we literally had to walk up every set of stairs, and search every platform just to find a vending machine who's first chocolate bar ready to drop wasn't expresso or coffee Rittersport. Finally found one on the last platform, and it just happened to be her favorite. Miracle!!  

Eating cow tongues: The Africans love to feed us! I don't know why. They have no money to do, however it is their pride and joy!! So Lydia invited us to come and eat with her this week, I was praying it wouldn't be something nasty and when she brought out only rice I was stoked. However s few minutes later she brought a little bowl out with her homemade stew. She put some on our plates and at first it just looked like some beef, but was we started digging in I realized there was one piece of meat that just didn't look like the others. I turned it around, and realized it was fuzzier than normal meet... It didn't take me long before I realized we were eating COW TOUNGE. mm yummy. So I just cut mine up into tiny pieces and tried to eat it without chewing. Ha-ha are you proud mom that eat All my food now! 

No P day: This week we were so busy, we just didn't have any time for an actual p day. We spent most of it in appointments and running around for other people. It was so good though during that day we saw countless miracles. We ran into less actives who we haven't been able to get in touch with for weeks. Two people even found us! We were sitting at a train station, when two ladies from Afghanistan came and sat next to us. They started up a conversation and we ended up talking on the train all the way until we had to get off, where they quickly shouted out we want to know more please come and visit us. And then yelled their address us. There were so many other wonderful miracles we saw that day, but working that much with no brake got to me on Wednesday. I woke up and couldn't walk straight. I was so dizzy the room was spinning during my whole personal study. It was like that till around 3 in the afternoon, until I finally told Sister Stacey we were going home for lunch and I was taking a nap. When I woke up it was gone, but man oh man was I exhausted. It feels so good to be working hard, but the mission takes a real toll on you. However, even though we sacrifice all these things, the Lord gives us so so so much in return. He truly knows our every need, and our every prayer. I know that will all my heart! 

-- Mosiah 2:17

"17 And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom; that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."

I miss you all so much!! Please keep Linda and Lydia in your prayers this week. They will be getting baptized hopefully on Sunday! Have a great week, 

 Liebe Grüße, 

Sister Toma 

Tempel ist ein segen des Herrn

Guten Morgen,

Hope all of you are having s great week. Please send my greeting so everyone and tell them I love and miss them :) how much longer do you have left on vacation? By the time you come home you will only have 3 weeks to prepare for hunter to come home! That is insane! I still cannot believe it.

Wow we had a MLC this week it was so good. President Fingerle has changed a lot of things in the mission already. One of them is his focus on the temple. He has such a strong hope that we really can not only help the new members make it to the temple but really untimely use that as our entire mission vision.  He changed the entire new missionary conference so that when we arrive we will all go to the Freiberg temple together and then when we go home we will also end our missions there. The only sad part is, is that the temple is under renovation until next year. Lame huh? However it will be good. They created a new district called the temple district, and they are a set of Elders and a set of sisters called there to be temple Elders and Sisters. It's pretty cool if you ask me. It is kind of sad that I will miss out on it though, because it probably won't really be that different for the next 6 months or so. We have to wait for the Freiberg temple to open and then he has so many other plans he wants to implement.

Any who, I have a quick question about my home coming talk? Would it be possible to move it back one week after I get home? I only ask now because Kirstin Emailed me a few weeks ago and told me she wants to come for my homecoming/ homecoming talk, but also wants me to meet her so to say "fiancé" who is coming on the week of November 8th to visit so it would be a perfect opportunity. She also said that Mark wants to come as well, but I just have to let them both know soon so they can get plane tickets and make plans. Also I don't want to mess up any plans you might have already made, if you have or if family is planning on coming out? So I just want to let you know now so you have time to plan/ get back to me if that works or not?

I promise I am not trunky. I have been asking a lot of people what to do to just stay focused on the rest of my mission. I got some good goals and plans for how I can do that. I'll make sure that these two next transfers will be the best yet. Sister Fingerle did a really good lesson in MLC on keeping our minds off the world and focused on our purpose, and on The Lord. It was really good and helped me so much.

Hey I am sending you two talks, You both will love them. This is really the reason why president Fingerle has made so many changes in the mission.  They are so good they made me cry :) I thought a lot about dad, and grandpa. How amazing that hey all could go to the temple together.

I am so stoked for the next two transfers. We have so much ahead of us and so much to look forward too.
Please pray for these few people
Gloria - she should have her Baby this week
Lydia
Linda
Richard
Yaw

The Lord really has prepared these people to be ready. I want to quickly just share a story. On Friday when we had MLC, I thought about this comparison. One of the senior missionaries threw us his keys one day and asked, "What is that?" We replied "keys?" He then said "exactly those are keys to my house car and the church, I need all of them to be able to get where I need to go, and we need all the keys in our life as well. We receive the first key at baptism. That is the key to the church, however in order to receive the keys to God's kingdom we have to go to the temple. Without the temple we really can't get in." That was so profound to me and such a testimony builder of the importance of the temple. I thought a lot about it after, what it really means and our role as members after we go to the temple. I thought, when we go to the temple we 1) receive the key for ourselves. But 2 also it is like we receive a box of millions of keys that we can give to others. It's really is in our hands. The Lord has entrusted us with these keys, with his children's salvations. Of course they have the choice to except it or not, however we need to offer them a key into God's mansion first. They need an invitation from us. Also if we have a big box of keys, why wouldn't we want to share that with others? It would be pretty lonely in Heaven if our friends and Family were not there. That is one thing that makes me so excited about missionary work! To share eternal life with ALL those I loved and invited to be in the Kingdom of God with me, because really all of Gods children are invited to come in, it solely relies upon us, and their agency whether they come or not.

We are helping God with his work
Moses 1:39
39 for behold, this is my work and my glory--to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man.

Oh by the way I am staying in Hannover :)

Thanks that’s about it I love you, and miss you
Liebe Grüße,
Sister Toma

 

P.S. Sorry this is a little weirdly written but this is what I wrote to my mission president this week you will love this dad :) 

 "So a few weeks ago my father was returning home from an EFY session at BYU. In the plane he sat next to a young man and when they started talking it just happened that this young man was an exchange student from Germany. Not only was he from Germany, however he just happened to be from Hannover?!? Coincidence... Totally not. Any who, as they continued to talk my dad found out he had be living in Utah with a member family for the last 14 month and was just returning home to his family. My dad sent me an email soon after about him, and said I needed to watch out for him and his family. Well a few weeks went by and no sign of them, I actually had talked to the Schutlze family about it, to see if they knew him because they do exchange programs. However they didn't know him. But another miracle happened. One week Tori Schultze came up to me and told me that she had met a woman who was talking to her school about options for them after school. When tori went up and told her she wanted to serve a mission for her church the woman responded with. "For what church do you want to serve a mission?" Tori told her she was a member and the woman was so excited to hear she was a member and went on to explain how her son had just returned from an exchange program, and that he had lived with members for the last 14 months. Tori remembered the story I told her earlier about my dad and asked the woman the name of her son. Again not by coincidence, it happened to be the mother of the boy who my dad met. Tori then got her information and son’s information so she could get in contact with them. That was probably back in the end of June. Well yesterday at church a family walked in I was standing at the door greeting members when a boy came up and asked, hey are you sister Toma? I looked at him kind of funny as if it wasn't obvious that I was wearing a name tag, however he continued on to introduce himself as Lucas the exchange student who met my father on his plane ride home. He came to church!! And brought his whole family with him. It was so wonderful. I had the opportunity to sit with him and his family, to get to know them a little better. After the church services I asked them how they liked it. The mom responded, that she loved it and that she felt it was so personal and the people were so nice and friendly. She then, asked her whole family if they would like to come back again on the 16 together as a family! How amazing!! The Lord is really preparing people out there. I know that this is not just Coincidence. We gave them our number and hopefully we can start meeting with them soon. God is so good, he really every day continues never ceases to amaze me. "