Baptisms!!! And Sister Blake returns home

Guten Morgen!

Wow I can't believe that this transfer is come and gone... Mom dad get ready you got 8 more months to prepare for two more awkward people sitting at home not knowing what to do with themselves...ha-ha.

Well can I just say what a week it was? It was absolutely fantastic. To start off Sister Blake and I got to the Deutsche Museum last week... it was super cool... I really want to go back in a few pdays and spend some more time there! Germany is awesome... Then we had exchanges with Cottbus... That was so crazy... so I went there and that city is tinnnnyyyy... when we went out side there was no one so we had to just do doors the hole day... it was good though we had some good conversations and made out a few appointments... now I know how the missionaries feel in Gainesville haha. I am so grateful to be serving in Berlin... never don't have anything to do. 
Then on Thursday we had a mission Tour with Elder Kopischke from the 70. It was really great and I learned a lot... another huge plus about being on a mission... just get general authorities coming a going and wanting to spend time with the missionaries... haha On Saturday we had another mission leadership meeting and he came and spoke to us.. It was also really good.

One thing that she shared with us was this scripture... D&C 43 8-9 he made us read it over and over and over again then we broke it down. Maybe as you read it this week think about what it means, and then how you can apply the message into your meeting as you go to church, meetings and other spiritual things. It’s super powerful...

Another thing that I just love is really exercise your agency. When we receive knowledge or information act on it..

So there is this sister that we are teaching now her name is Agnis... She is 22 years old and comes from Latvia... this week she has been such an example to me... I would like to just share a little bit about her with you all...
Agnis met the missionaries when she was 12 years old, she was playing soccer on day and they invited her to activities.. She got to know the church and became good friends with everyone... she didn't receive an answer that the church was true until about a year later. She used to be catholic and was doing a ritual for the Catholic Church when she had an overwhelming experience that the church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints was the only true church. She wanted to get baptized however couldn't because of her parents... then there was a senior couple that invited her to come back to America with them... she lived there for a few years and went back to Latvia and joined the church, however she met a boy and then soon became inactive! Her boyfriend was not a very good guy and wouldn't let her do anything eventually they both moved to Germany and she lived with him for about 2 years before finding something out leading her to get on her knees again asking Heavenly Father for help to get out of her situation.. Soon after her boyfriend came home and she told him she was leaving and he actually let her go, she had found an apartment and job... which was good because those are hard to find here and then while running one day found our church house... She was so excited to contact us, however sadly our building didn't have any contact information on it, so she didn't know when do come or who to get a hold of. A few months later she was able to finally get some information and that is when we started teaching her. Which has been one of the most uplifting and spiritual experience for me... as she started off with big questions and concerns it has been just so amazing seeing the progress she has made in this little amount of time. She has really just been a huge example to me of the atonement and how it is for everyone no matter how long you haven't come to church you can always come back... As we met with her the other day we were teaching her about the plan of salvation... we asked her where she would like to go next... and she told us all my questions that I had before are gone and last Sunday after coming to church I felt the spirit so strong that I just wanted to come home and read in my scriptures.. And as I was reading I got the overwhelming feeling I need to start preparing to go to the temple! So amazing! So we are working and helping her get ready to go through the temple sometime this year... For all those missionaries whose members have gone inactive, never give up they have felt the spirit before and I know that God prepares ways for them to come back... Agnis is such a testimony to me of true repentance and true desire to change and come back... The atonement is real... and the Church is true.

Sister Blake completes her mission

Ok well here is the juicy stuff you have been waiting for ha-ha...

This week Bucky and Anar were both baptized it was wonderful\the most stress full baptism ever however Total miracle. They are both wonderful, I am so grateful for their example to me... I know they will be really stellar members of the Church... Heavenly Father really helps us find those people and teach them! Buck and Anar just said afterwards how amazing they felt and the wonderful spirit that overcame them... Special moments.

Sister Blake is going on Tuesday... I am so sad I can't believe it she was an amazing missionary and taught me so much I will miss her tons and tons! However last minute surprise president gave her permission to go the Freiburg temple before she goes home... so tomorrow we will be heading down to do a session! I am so excited! =)

I will be staying in Dahlem and I will be getting Sister Wibornie she is German and from Frankfurt... I am super excited to get her, she was my STL when I was in Osnabruck!

Well that is all the juicy news here in Germany... I love you all and miss you tons! Have a wonderful week,

Sister Toma