Missionary Backpack taken...but miracles are happening in Frankfurt with Investigators

It has been a crazy past couple days, and has been a good chance to see where I stand and what I have become. This week myself and another Elder actually lost our bags at the same time. But because we got a hold of the conductors fast enough his bag was actually found and then next morning when we went back to pick up the bags because they had said that they would send someone to grab them for us. They actually only had his bag! It was funny because the checker stopped us before we got on the train. She was like "we found a bag for you, I thought she may have had both ours, but nope." My heart sank as we traveled to the end of the tracks to ask the Bahn Office if they had my bag. But after we got to Aschaffenburg (my old area!). It wasn't there either. I was heartbroken, but as I called my companion and let him know and then had to talk with the office elders. I just felt really calm. I remember in the past how much I would have stressed out and worried the whole time about losing everything and how much of a distraction it would have been. But nope, I had this thought that the Lord has a specific plan for each and every one of us, I guess that man who took my bag in those 5 minutes really needed something. It stinks because you want to say, hey Heavenly Father could you fill me in a little on how this is going to work out, I mean I am the one who is losing here, but then you realize. Didn't he give it all to you? The money the material possession are all blessings from the Lord. He is mindful of his missionaries and he will open the doors necessary for his work to come to pass. It was funny because someone yesterday said, "Hey maybe you will read about a man in the Ensign/Liahona magazine who was converted because of a bag that he stole from a Train in  Germany. "! Haha that made me laugh! It will all work out in the end!

Lately I have seen that a lot, things that used to bug me don't,  I don't have as much stress anymore and I can handle situations with the broader mind because I have been able to see little glimpses of the Lord plan. That is cool! Sometimes I don't recognize myself because I say "wow I would have handled that so much differently back home." But the Atonement truly changes us to what  we can become. T'was I, but tis not, how the true those words are through the atonement of the Jesus Christ we become new creatures. What a blessing, I am excited for the day that I get to use these talents that I have found in everyday life to blessing our family and my future family.

We had a great week of finding and teaching. We actually found 2 new investigators one is named J. and the other is named H. It was pretty cool because we found H. while we were on a split. She saw that we had a Book of Mormon and then asked if we could talk. Ends up she was actually an investigator from the sisters in the international ward and they were meaning to hand her over! So that was pretty cool! The little miracles that we see each and every day. The great thing is also she lives in the 5th story of our building! So it is really easy to go to appointments with her! Then J. was found while doing a street display, we had a really good talk on the street and then had the chance to meet with him on Tuesday. He is a very interesting guy, he is an engineer so he is very smart and is well read when it comes to religion. We started out and it seemed like a pretty controlled discussion about religion and he had a lot of question about really random things about our religion and then we got to the Joseph Smith part and it was cool because he would listen and then he would ask questions and really liked all of the things that we said. We ended on a good note and he was pretty impressed and we have a return appointment. So it was a really good week of finding!! 

This week has been a week of ups and downs and things going our way and things not. It is just kind of how things go. It is tough sometimes because you wish that every day of the mission could be smooth sailing and everything would be easy and simple. But that is not the Lords plan, in order for us to learn something we have to put a little skin the game. Mission work is not a cheap experience for all prospective missionaries, if you have your doubts if it will be worth it, trust me YOU GET THE FULL MONEYS WORTH EXPERIENCE ON A MISSION!!!

This week I have been working on prayer and praying more often. I have tried saying little prayers throughout the day like during a train ride or while traveling to an area to find a lot of times I will say a quiet prayer in my heart asking the Lord to bless our efforts, it has been cool to see the miracles and how much more lead we are from the spirit to find those people! We found a cool family in our area that hopefully we can start teachings and many other things have come from it! My challenge would be to evaluate how often you are praying and pray more!! Make it a habit to pray for speakers in church or children throughout the day. 2 prayers a day is what we are asked to do, but as we pray more and more the Lord opens the windows of heaven and unfolds his plan before us. I have seen the miracles!! I know that my Heavenly Father loves me, he has changed my heart and will continue to change as I allow him too. With trials and tribulation we find truly where we stand, the Lord is mindful of our needs and he will never ever leave us alone!! 

Love,

Elder White   

Elder White is an official German Driver, great experiences at a Street Display

I'm doing great, things were crazy this week, but let me see if I can tie it all together. 

First off, I am now a legal German driver, I finally got all the stuff worked out and got my license this week. Unfortunately, I no longer have my beloved Texas Drivers license but that's okay! Driving in German is insane...european roads are 2 times smaller than American ones and you have to drive offensively here in order to not get in a accident!

We found a new investigator named R from Syria he is super cool, he doesn't speak a ton of English, but we are really excited and he is excited about reading the Book of Mormon. 

We had stake conference and we got to perform as a missionary choir so that was really cool!! Elder Robinett and I organized it and it was a lot of stress, but we did it and sang The Efy Medley in German! It was so cool the spirit was strong and the stake was completely blown away by the song and I saw grown men crying. It was really cool to see the power of our calling behind singing that song. The stake was grateful and we were happy to help. 

I went on a split in my old Apartment again in Offenbach and got to go with Elder Sommer. He is so cool and is in the exact same spot I was a year ago. it was weird to think about that last year I was going on a split with Elder Lovelace, how much I learned from him as he was my zone leader. Then just to  be back there and realizing how far I had come on my mission from being a new missionary to now being on my mission for over a year!! That was fun we saw a cool miracle because we went finding and as we went finding and we walked out of the door and ran into this kid I talked to him but he was kind of mean and really had no interest whatsoever! We walked away and started talking to someone else then in the middle a kid comes running back saying, "Hey my friend believes in God talk to her!" We ended up sharing a book of Mormon with both of them!! It was so cool then we found some other people and that was really fun!!! Great time! 

Later that week was rough we had been finding but everything we were doing was not working then we had this district meeting and we were talking about how we could improve the zone, so we had people talk about their ideas. Then we had this elder say we need to pray more. It was so simple, but then I started trying it more. Thursday was really when the testimony came, we were set-up for a street display and I had just said a prayer asking the Lord to bless us and help us have success. Well then as we were doing the street display we found 4 potential investigators and set up 3 appointments!!! It was insane!! We found this very prepared man and he is super excited to meet with us!! 

The Lord is mindful of the work, well then we had a great lesson with Ssiter K. a old lady from Japan who loves the missionaries!!!! She made us the most amazing food ever!!! She made SO MUCH, we had a member with us and we were dying!!!!! But we made it out alive and really helped her hopefully strength her faith and maybe she will start coming back to church! She also made the most amazing pumpkin pie! Really American because it was from an American recipe.

Well times are changing and Bruder L. is doing amazing, he is progressing so much and really making changes and he is just an amazing man who really has a good direction in life!!

This week I had a powerful experience with the Book of Mormon. We were doing that street display and this kid was sitting by the fountain and I had the feeling to talk to him. But I didn't, then Sister Funk said "we need to talk to him." So we went over Elder Robinson and I talked with him. I was nervous but just opened my mouth and started talking he really didn't want to talk but something kept me talking. We kept talking and soon he was opening up then I had this impression to share the book of Mormon. So I got it out and shared Ether 12:27. His whole personality changed. I then gave him the Book and he was so happy to recieve it!! It was so cool!! We were blown away!! I walked away and Elder Robinson said "Thanks I now see the power behind the Book of Mormon." It was cool and I saw too that it change someone in the blink of the eye. We had an appointment this week with someone that wanted to just argue about this and that and how Jesus is not the son of God. it was annoying but I do know,  "Jesus Christ is the savior and redeemer of the world, to any who may say he was just a man, not the son of man, I challenge you to test him." See if he won't bless you and strengthen you when you have the true desire to seek for him." There have been countless times on my mission where I have knelt down and prayed and asked the Lord for guidance and direction or I couldn't go any further. He was there lifting me up and strengthening me, the Atonement is true!

Love,

Elder White  

Looking for Investigators, Less actives are making great progress

This week was a lot of housing other Elders for transfers and driving peoples around and stuff like that! But yeah, also I got to see Elder Butler again!!! (The missionary that Ryan trained) It was really cool! He is awesome and is doing great! He actually got to  overnight in my apartment with me and we talked about how things are going and his missionary work! It was so cool. For the longest time I wondered if I had done a good job helping him become a good Elder. But after spending time with him I realized how diligent of a missionary he had become and how he was really a great Elder! I made we pretty happy to see that and hear about all the Success that they have been having in Hamm. The work is really moving forward, it  makes me super happy! 

We also had another lesson with Bruder L and he is doing amazing. It's been super cool the past few weeks to see him repenting and changing and working hard!! He is really right now working on using the Atonement of Jesus of Christ and changing himself. He is a great man and things I think are going well between him and the other member of the ward so that is really cool!!! All in all, he is doing amazing! 

Well we are also working with another less active man named Bruder H his story is insane but he has a goal right now of going to church on Dec 6th, so we are praying he keeps his commitment. 

We saw a cool miracle this week, one was during finding we were about to visit a less active member and on the way back to the car I stopped this man and talked with him. He started arguing with me about the divinity of Jesus Christ I was trying to be polite. Then he said, "The bible doesn't even say that Jesus was the son of god." I was like "Doch!" It does!!!!  I then told him about the baptism of Jesus Christ and the voice from the heaven. He got quite really fast. I gave him our card and then left. 15 minutes later he called and wanted us to bring a bible by his home! Hopefully, something will work out. 

Another was we were waiting for a person to come to church and I decided to stop and talk to this man. We started talking and he said "Oh the sister missionaries are my next door neighbors." We ended up giving him a Book of Mormon and talked for a while and bore testimony on the things we were sharing it was just super cool!!! It was a little miracle!!

Well we still need someone to teach. We are trying to find someone, I'm working this week at being as diligent as possible and being the best I can be so I can receive the blessings and be prepared for the challenges and struggles and hold my head high. If there is anything I have learned from this past couple transfers is that this is not the missionary work of Elder White it is HIS work. I need to be patient and loving even when times get tough and hope seems to be gone. Realize that sometimes the Lords work doesn't make sense, but like the scripture says, he will give it to us line upon line precept upon precept. Here a little and there a little. That tough for me sometimes but I just need to be patient and the Lord will provide!!! The gospel of Jesus Christ will and can change lives, I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer and that great joy comes keeping the commandments of the Lord! 

Love,

Elder White

Transfers - Reunited...with good friends

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