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