Monday, February 23, 2015

Woche 36: Wohin gehe ich?

Woche 36: Wohin gehe ich?
This week was pretty crazy. It was super long, but fast at the same time. And it all begins at church on Sunday. 

Sontag
Sunday started out normally. We woke up, got showered and dressed and then headed out to church. We greeted people as they walked in and then we went to Priesthood meeting. During the meeting one of the Sisters walked in with some Young man and asked if he could sit with us. Of course we said yes. I introduced myself and then found out he couldn't speak German that well. He could only speak Romanian and Spanish fluently. But we talked anyway. Turns out he has been living here for a month and was baptized in Spain four years ago.

Montag
Monday morning, we went out to the church to start our emails. But before we really got started, we got a call from a member that could speak Romanian. She told us that a member of our ward, "P" needed help and so much of our day was spent helping him.

Dienstag
Tuesday, we had our District meeting in Schaffhausen. We discussed some major things from Misison Tour. We had some great comments on obedience and helping our investigators. It pretty much focused on how we need to follow the Spirit and be bold. There is something we learned in the MTC. "Boldness is never overbearing when it is done with love."

I don't really know why they are holding household cleaning supplies

Mittwoch bis Sontag.
Wednesday, we took "P" to the Bus Bahnhof and said goodbye to him. We then went straight to work for the next couple of days trying to find people. And something major that I learned these days is this. So, my German has been struggling. I can speak a decent amount, but for some reason I just can't form proper sentences and stuff. However, I have been able to understand what these people feel. The Lord stopped teaching me German so I could better understand the language of the Spirit. Just as important as learning German, was exactly that. And then of course we had transfer calls in the midst of all of this. I will now be going to Austria!!! Specifically St. Pölten. I am super excited to serve there. Well, I hope everything is well. Just remember, Positive and Optimistic.





Siehe, ich bin ein Jünger Jesu Christi, des Sohnes Gottes. Ich bin von ihm berufen worden, sein Wort unter seinem Volk zu verkünden, damit sie immerwährendes Leben haben können   -3 Nephi 5:13

Monday, February 16, 2015

Woche 35: Missionstour

Mom note:  It is hard not to be frustrated at whatever glitch is causing Michael's emails to be cutoff but I'll keep posting what I do receive and be grateful for it (and yes I recognize it's more than some receive)

Woche 35: Missionstour
Wednesday we woke up at 4 in the morning so we could catch our train at 6. We got dressed to look our best. Then we left to get our train from Schwenningen to Villingen. There we met one of our investigators. His name is "R" or his German name... Haha, but we took the train with him. And then we had to catch a train to Singen and we almost missed it!!! That would have been bad, but luckily we made it. And then we had to travel to Schaffhausen. Then we met the rest of our zone there. And we took a train with them to Zürich. And then we got left behind at the Trams all alone. We had no idea how to to work the Swiss machines, and then we did figure it out but we didn't have any Swiss Francs! Luckily some other missionaries arrived and helped us out. We made it to the church building right on time. Which was 15 minutes before. But everything got started smoothly. Elder Kearon was the one who came and visited us. He is a convert to the church. He was super inspirational. He talked about obedience, finding, and teaching. Here is one of his quotes. 
"When we choose to follow Jesus Christ, we are choosing to change. When we choose to change, we change the world." 
It was Awesome. He encouraged us to strive to be exactly obedience, as well as to figure out why we personally are obedient. He then told us
The Gospel is a happy Gospel. So live it and let people see it when you are talking and finding. 
Thursday was interesting. We were so tired from all the traveling from Wednesday. Meine Güte, but we tried to just go out and do. We also have been going through the member list trying to get in contact with less actives. 
Friday we had an exchange! I went to Bad Säckingen with Elder Young. We pretty much went out finding the entire time. But we tried to talk with everyone. We really tried to see everyone as "heirs of the kingdom of God." It helped a lot when we thought about it that way. 
Saturday, we did some more finding. We went into Switzerland for a little bit. I realized how much the Lord has helped me. As I have received so much help with German, the Lord has also helped me understand other languages, and dialects. I was able to understand the Swiss German decently. The Lord truly does help us no matter what!!! 
 





 

Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Woche 33 und 34: das Leben!!!

  Mom note:  The last two weeks have been weird when it comes to emails from Elder Albrecht, they are being cutoff by a notice that is being attached to emails on the missionary server.  I'm hoping it will get fixed soon because last week I got two lines and this week I got lots more but still not his full email.

Woche 33 und 34: das Leben!!!
 
Montag
Monday, we really just relaxed. We have been just going so fast with everything, it was nice to take a small break.

Dienstag bis Sonntag both weeks
Well, we actually did the same thing everyday! Well, we went by on former investigators and went dooring. I learned the principle of time and patience these couple days. Many of the people we went by on said they had interest and would love to start meeting with us when they find time. Some people just need time in the conversion process, because it isn't just about baptism.

Montag
Monday was fun. We were with the Schwarzwälder Family for Family Home Evening. It was fun. We ate some awesome Tacos. Then we shared a spiritual thought with them. So we took a 50€ bank note and asked want we could possibly do with it. Many things came up, like candy and food and games and the such. Then we asked who would like it. Of course everyone rose their hand. And then we crumpled it and asked again, everyone's hand still left in the air. We then threw it on the ground and stepped on it. Everyone still waiting to see who would be rewarded. We then continued to talk about all of the ways this bank note could get dirty and filthy and yet no one was phased. They all realized the bank note kept its worth. We then explained that Heavenly Father sees us in a similar manner. He sees us sin and get filthy and do many wrong things in life. But he still sees our value and that it has never left us. Just like how we wanted the 50€, Heavenly Father still wants us, no matter what. He will make us fresh and new.

View from our apartment
Dienstag bis Sonntag
Tuesday we had our District meeting in Schaffhausen finally. It was way good. We talked about the importance of strengthening our testimonies and how we create an atmosphere for people to grow their's as well.

Riding home from district meeting
This week was awesome. We saw how small the world becomes when you are on a mission. We went by on a former investigator one night. She let us in and was really nice. She didn't have any interest. She was stuck to her faith and wasn't moving anytime soon. but she told us how she shared the building with her three sons. Well, one of them walked in and it turns out he is pretty interested in what we were talking about. And then we were out finding a couple days later and we got talking to this man. He was way interested and told us to come by his house. We went further and then he walked to us again and asked if he gave us the right address so we could come by and stuff. Well, it turns out that he is one of the other sons. Crazy at how everything works. Even though the woman didn't have interest, her sons do!