Date
August 3, 2015
Area
Krefeld
Companion
Elder Leppert
Incredible week
Hey everyone!!!
This week was absolutely incredible! So, it starts out last week right after our district meeting in Düsseldorf. We have set goals as a district, to find a lot more people. As a zone, we have figured it would be around 1700 people a week. So, 100 people a week per companionship! That's really stepping it up for this zone. Anyways, on the way home, on the Bahn (train) this guy sat across from us, saw our name tags, and said, "'Sup guys?" He knows the missionaries, and had met with them before here in Krefeld. He got really busy with school and wasn't able to meet with them. So, the first thing he did was give one of us his phone so we could put our number in!! We've not yet met with him, but I think he will be way cool!
Later that same day, we were at the church picking up a Portuguese Book of Mormon for a Go-by, and this man walks in to the church that neither Elder Leppert or I recognize. He introduces himself and says that he is an excommunicated member that wants to be re-baptized, and that his son wants to learn more about our church as well. So, we set an appointment up for Saturday, and it was way cool! We have to teach him (the father) all five lessons again, and his son can be taught whatever he needs to hear. His son wasn't able to make it because he was playing ice hockey. But we will meet with them again as soon as we can.
Then my split with the Zone leader began. It was the same zone leader that I won the elephant for a few weeks back! Ha ha, anyways, it was fantastic! We started out the next day and just worked hard in the city of Düsseldorf! We contacted quite a few people, and then had an appointment with a man named Ata. He is from Africa and speaks English, so that was a fun time. We talked about his belief in The Savior, and how we can help him strengthen it. Elder Heil and I bore strong testimony about the truthfulness of this Gospel, and he agreed to have a second lesson with them later! Oh! I almost forgot! Before we had the appointment with Ata, we contacted this one man (also from Africa) and he was SO cool. He started off by talking about how he thought if the true Church were on the Earth, then there would be prophets declaring the Word of God. We told him of modern day prophets and about Thomas S. Monson, and his interest spiked WAY up! He gave his number to us, and told us to call it right then to make sure it was the right number. He then promised he would stop by the church and check it out!
Thursday was like any other day, but something really funny happened. On our way to visit Meriana (the woman from Serbia) we got stopped by this guy in her suburb who asked one of us for a pen. He said, "You guys meet with Meriana, right? I'll have your pen up there in like 3 minutes!" So, we met with Meriana, and her 14 year old son came in. I asked him about the guy that borrowed my pen and he laughed. He told me I just lost my pen. He told us that this guy enjoyed drugs, and kept pressing the side of his nose and making a snorting noise. Crap. That was a nice pen. So, long story short, my really nice Zebra pen was probably used to snort Cocaine!
Then came Saturday! Oh man! Saturday marked the end of the Transfer here in The Frankfurt mission! I'm staying here in Krefeld, but sadly, Elder Leppert isn't. I'll be getting my 3rd companion named Elder Moore on Thursday when the transfers happen! That also means I am taking over the area.....YIPES!!! I am excited for this new challenge, and to start REALLY working my tail off. I have already seen how quickly the mission goes by, seeing how I am approaching my six month mark this month! This week, I want to share something that I originally wrote for my family, but I think everyone can use it.
Life is hard. Sometimes the past can hurt. But if we live with resentment and sorrow in our hearts, we'll have no room there for love. Finding ways to navigate our past and applying the lessons we've learned from it is the only real positive thing we CAN do with the things we regret. Dwelling on what has gone wrong won't help you focus on what you can do right, and dwelling on the pain will not help you to feel whole or at peace. There is a woman who, after going through unimaginable pain and abuse, said, "I choose not to dwell on the past because that's exactly what it is. I will not let my yesterdays control my today's and tomorrow's." So, that's exactly what we need to do. Look ahead. Learn from your past, and then never look back. Change yourself, and become someone better.
This past general conference, Elder Dale G. Renlund of the Seventy gave an incredible talk on persisting effort. If you don't remember it or have not heard it, go read it. He mentions the play "As you like it" written by Shakespeare. It shows a remarkable example of moving forward from who we once were into the person we are to become. The example is of a man who attempts to have his younger brother killed. Even knowing this, the younger brother later saves him from certain death. This man then has what he calls a "conversion." Later, several women approach him and ask him, "Wasn't it you who so oft contrived to kill your brother?" And the man replies, "'Twas I, but Tis not I: I do not shame to tell you what I was, since my conversion so sweetly tastes, being that I am." Constantly improving ourselves and learning are what our Father in Heaven so deeply desires for us. Being commanded to be perfect by the Savior could also be taken as, "Be whole, even as your Father in Heaven is whole." So, we need not worry about being perfect, but BECOMING perfect. Through our experiences, as unpleasant as they sometimes may be, we learn, move on, and become better people. Our Father in Heaven cares more about who we are and who we are becoming than who we once were.
Helping others along the straight and narrow is also one of our responsibilities. As we learn, we take the roll upon ourselves to teach and assist others who are in need of the same lesson. We can become the answer to someone's prayers, even when we don't know it. NEVER underestimate the impact you have on other people's lives. Pray for relief, and when you get it, go and administer relief to others. Try to show the love that the Savior would. Serve others, take the hands of those who so desperately need relief. As you do so, you will find your life filled with more light, love, and hope. I know this Gospel is the true message of hope, purpose, love, and light. I know that we all have shortcomings, and that we all have things in our past that we regret, but through the love that our Heavenly Father has for us, He provided a Savior to reach out, catch us, and lift us higher than we could ever make it on our own. I am by no means a perfect person, but I know that through my Savior Jesus Christ, I can do all things. "Yea, I know that I am nothing; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will not boast of myself, but I will boast of my God, for in his strength I can do all things; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought in this land, for which we will praise his name forever. Now if this is boasting, even so will I boast; for this is my life and my light, my joy and my salvation, and my redemption from everlasting wo. Yea, blessed is the name of my God.." (Alma 26: 12, 36)
I love you all and I miss you. To those young men who are planning to serve, prepare NOW. Read your scriptures NOW. Look for and pay attention to opportunities to increase your testimony. The mission hits you faster than you can comprehend. It'll go by even faster, as every missionary past and present can attest. And to you all, work hard, and you will find yourself rewarded more than you could ever comprehend. I wish you the best in life that our Heavenly Father has to offer, and I will see you next week!
Elder Kay