Sunday, August 30, 2015

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