10 splits in 2 weeks and driving all over the mission for meetings.

Well today we finally got time to sit down and write our emails for
the week. I'm just sitting in the office with my two new companions.

I feel like lately I haven't been explain very well what I'm doing or where
I am exactly, so here is the low down.

Right now I'm in a dritte/threesome companionship with two Elders one is Elder Kress from
Hagerman Idaho, we were really good friends in the MTC and have served
around each other for a while. My other companion is Elder Fitzgerald
from Orem Utah, he another one of my mission friends he was actually
my zone leader during my time in Dortmund and so it's cool to now get
the chance to serve with him. I use to live next to the church in
Frankfurt, but now since I'm serving as an Assistant, we live on the
other side of the city closer to presidents house and the office. I
didn't even have to switch wards which is funny! So I will probably be
able to finish my mission here in the Frankfurt Gemeinde. Fun times!!

My first week as an Assistant was insane. Sunday evening we were at
Mission President's house till 9:30 preparing everything for the Zone
Conferences in Dortmund. It took forever to get the PowerPoint ready
and then we left and drove about 2 and 1/2 hours to Dortmund. We made
it to the apartment in Dortmund by 1 am and woke up the next morning
did the training. We drove home that evening after driving through
Cologne, Germany to see a Christmas market. Then we woke up the next
morning had mission leadership counsel and then packed the
van up again and drove to Nurnberg Germany 2 and 1/2 hours in the
opposite direction. Then next morning we had a meeting and then
drove home that night after visiting the Christmas market in Nurnberg
"ranked the best in the world' it was awesome!! Then we drove home that night and then  had a meeting the next morning and finally then we were finished. So I have explored most of the mission now! Hahah crazy and I'm tired. But it was fun today we had a leadership phone call and new trainer phone call that we are in charge of and then afterwards we had
correlation with President Stoddard. Then they made us lunch and we
just sat and talked for 2 hours. President has been stressed lately
and so have we, so it was a fun chance to get some good laughs in and
take a break for a few minutes before we drive back down to Nurnberg
for our splits! We have 10 splits in the next 2 weeks to do
all over the mission!

It has been a humbling past couple days and week. I was doubting myself and my ability to fulfill this calling. I also got this giant canker sore on my tongue and couldn't talk for two days. I
kept asking myself "why, how am I suppose to do this?"'  It was cool
though, as I got up to conduct a meeting or talk with missionaries. My
tongue would not hurt at all, then when the meetings stopped and we
would drive it would kill me, but it was cool to see the Lord bless me
and help perform my calling. I also was struggling with doubts and
fears and Elder Kress offered to give me a blessing (thinking that it
was about my tongue), he gave me the blessing and then all of the
sudden during the blessing he changed gears and blessed me and gave me
the power to overcome fears and doubts and that the Lord needed me to
be an example. What an amazing spiritual experience. So blessed to
have these two as my companions. Yesterday was humbling because I have
been praying to ask the Lord why he called me, then yesterday out of
the blue two elders I don't know very well came up and said "Elder
White I would like to thank for what you have done for my companion
the time he spent with you helped him so much" I was so humbled and
felt gods love and realized that the Lord really needs me to be an example
but to remember that there are other missionaries that could easily
fulfill this calling but that he need me for a specific purpose right
now.


Love
Elder White

The Lord hears and answers simple prayers - Transfers Week - Staying in Frankfurt

Well this week was full of miracles. A lot came from simple prayer. For example one night I got on my knees and asked the Lord if we could see a miracle just one simple miracle to know that he is there approving of my work. Then the next day I woke up and we went to a members house and before we went to the appointment the sisters called us and said we found a super awesome new investigator and got he has a baptism date !! It was so cool. We got to meet with him and his name is K, he is from Togo a tiny country in west Africa and he is super great.  We met with him again later in the week and he asked amazing questions and it made so much sense for him!! It was really cool. An answer to my prayers. It's cool because I can leave my area behind with investigators and an baptismal date so that the new elders have stuff to work with. So that made me super happy. Then later that same day an old investigator, I had been praying for, called and said he was still interested, but needed more time to think about stuff and ponder. But that he just wanted to check in with us. He is super cool and it made me happy he called. I had been praying for a long time, but the Lord does answers prayers. 

Bruder L. is still doing amazing, he is just our good friend and really watches over us and cares a lot about us. It has so cool to see him grow and progress.

Really it has been a privilege serving here in Frankfurt as a Zone Leader, I have gotten the chance to help some elders grow. It has definitely been the refiners fire of my mission and I will probably have more along the way. But I look back that the Elder I was when I first got here, and now that I'm getting transferred and I have to say that the one thing I have learned is the importance of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It truly happened, it was performed for you and me. Through the atonement we can be cleansed from sin. Through it we can overcome our weakness. It cool in this time of Christmas we are invited to figure out why a Savior was born, and it simply is because we needed him. We couldn't do it alone and as we turn outward with our problems and fears and he can heal us because he has opened the door. Charity is what unlocks the door of the Atonement because it was because of love it was preformed!!!

This week was transfer calls and I am being transferred. But I'm staying in in Frankfurt, I'm just moving apartments. I have been asked to be an Assistant to the President, I'm going to be with two other missionaries they are two of my friends from the mission. They are named Elder Fitzgerald and Kress. Elder Kress is from my MTC group we have been really good friends the whole mission. And Elder Fitzgerald was my zone leader while I was in Dortmund. So that is going to fun. Well this last couple days have been a lot of reflecting and thinking. I have been kind of nervous about this new responsibility but I feel like the Lord has been preparing me to do this my whole mission and that he needs to do a specific work. So as they say the Lord qualifies those he calls and I believe that president is called of God. I'm probably going to finish my mission here in Frankfurt now. So that's going to be interesting!!

 

He lives 

Elder White

Buddy the Elf and Thanksgiving Dinner

WEll this week has been great. Things are going great!! It's getting really cold and the Christmas Markets are opening, its funny because I was here in Frankfurt this same time last year!! This week was super entertaining we saw a lot of miracles and had a lot of success.

I'm going to give you a daily overview because I feel like I always forget stuff!!

Monday

We had a great p-day we went and just walked around the city center and did some stuff, then we had to set up for Zone training that was going on the day after and that was super cool. Not to much to report on that because it was just a bunch of logisitic stuff. The life and times of frankfurt.

Tuesday

Well we had Zone training at the church, that's where we all met up and we talk about things, it our chance to talk with our Zone about stuff. We did the first hour just talking about lesson 5 in Preach My Gospel. Then we had a break and  we changed into our christmas clothes and I  played Buddy the Elf and I lead the whole zone into the gym where we had set the stage up in the gym into a winter wonderland where Elder Robinett was dressed up as Santa Clause's Nephew. It was hilarious!! the zone was laughing and hopefully had a great time!! It was great Super spiritual and cool to share the Christmas initiative with the zone and get them excited about it!! Afterward we had 12 liters of chocalate milk prepared and cookies it was Great, then we met with our Invesitgator Herr Jürgen! He is awesome, he is going through a tough time and he was super sad when we got there but when we finished he was so happy and looked like a new man. He interest is really soild and he really is a sincere man! His father passed away so its tough to meet often, but he still has interest!

Wednesday

Really long day, we had a ton of random car things happen and bunch of hassel wandering around Frankfurt trying to find a bank where I could withdraw the money. But it all worked out, ended up going by a part member family and the wife answered the door and she said we could come back the week after and talk!! It was super cool miracles because her husband isn't a member!! It would be great to met with them! After we were walking and talking with people, we had this impression to go and talk with this couple and we stopped them the boyfriend wasn't very interested but the girl was like no keep talking!! She was super interested and it was super cool! She actually had lived in Dallas Texas that was even more awesome! She gave us her number hopefully we will get to meet!

Thursday 

Well it was Thanksgiving!! It was so much fun, Sister Edmunds was on a trip,  but all of the senior couples brought a ton of food!! It was great!!! I GOT SO FULL. They all treated us like there little grandkids take tons of pictures of us!! It was awesome! Then afterwards we got in the car and started heading down to the Darmstadt to go on a split with the Darmstadt Elders.I went to Darmstadt with Elder Woolley and we went and did some cool finding and found them two new investigators, some Refugees from Iran! It was really cool because they are super open to the gospel!! Its cool to see these new refugees and they are super cool and so open to this new culture! 

Friday

We went and helped with a move and then split back! We got back home and then went and visited one of the less actives we are working on helping get them back to church! It was little frustrating because he talks so much about his mission and then gets mad at all the missionaries that are less active and we are just like!! COME ON YOU ARE IN THE SAME PLACE. Then he told us that he was didnt have enough money and had to work a ton but then showed us his new smartphone thats worth like 600€ we were really confused!! But he is a great guy just he needs help waking up and see reality as it is! Then we visited a awesome family who fed us and we had a great experience helping them with their missionary work!! 

Saturday

We had a ton of planning to do so that took a ton of time. But we went and visited with Bruder H in the hospital he is having a rough time and health is really in a tough spot, we are hoping that he is going to get all of his problems figured out but he is really happy when we come over and talk with him, and such an amazing man!! Then we took the Trains to visit Bruder S! He is awesome man! He loves us and we had great lesson with him and helped prepare him to share the Book of Mormon with one of his friends at work! Then coming home I ran into this kid I talked to two weeks ago and he started to read the Book of Mormon on the internet! It was crazy! We got his number!! Because last time I could get his number. So that was really cool! It was not concidence we ran into each other!! 

Sunday

Well it was a great sunday, We got to partake from the sacrament and had a really cool talked shared talking about the sabbath day and it was super!! I really learned alot from it and realized how much I am blessed and how much the Lord needs me to be obedient and follow his ways. Sometimes this life really is about being obedient and following the Lords counsel and his direction. Sometimes it is tough but that is the Lords way and he only wants the best for us!! Its great!!

Overall awesome, the Lord's hands are truly in this work, he is watching over me and the missionaries and as we have the courage to do what is right and follow his commandments and being bold he will not let us down. We are the seed of abraham and we have a marvlous work to bring forth. This truly is the church of Jesus Christ lead by a Prophet called of God. I know that with surety, 

Love 

Elder White

21st Birthday - -

Well today is my birthday, yes I am now one year older and wiser too. Things went well this week I totally forget to tell you. The Europe wide broadcast from Elder Ballard was held in the Offenbach church. So all the missionaries in Frankfurt and surrounding area got invited! It was cool to hear from an apostle of the Lord again!! 3 times on my mission! That has been cool!! It was cool as he walked in the room, there was just this special spirit that came into the room. So cool how he just talked to everyone and said that we needed to simplify the gospel and our work. Which is so true and I learned alot from that. 

Bruder L is doing amazing!!! He is making so much progress it is amazing. He told us about repentance and what he is doing and it is truly amazing how much lengths he is willing to go to become clean, what an amazing man! Yesterday at church he was making some amazing comments during Elders Quorum and it was so cool, how he is just a part of the Gemeinde now, he is really just being intergrated well and its exciting to see his changes. What a humbling experience for me to see his change and his conversion truly to the gospel of Jesus Christ. Next year he is starting the temple prep class, which we are so excited for him. Hopefully we can get him started passing the sacrament soon!! Gosh, what an amazing experience! 

Well this week I got a chance to give a blessing in German. Those are always really interesting because giving a blessing in another language can be challenging sometimes. But what a great chance to show faith in the Lord that he will bring the words to our remembrance and help us to say the words that need to be said. It was cool because I was nervous, but I felt the confirmation of the spirit as I laid my hands on his head and began to speak. Crazy how the words flowed out of my mouth and the word and thoughts that came to my head. It is cool to see the heavens open up and to simply take part in such a special experience for someone. He is a really good friend of ours who is in the hosptial dealing with some personal matters but it was cool how he humbled himself and decided to make repair his relationship with his home teacher. It was cool it has been a tough time for him, but he is really turning to the Lord. The member we went with has been someone we have been wanting to get to know better and it was cool he gained so much respect for us and really trust is now! so cool!

We also saw some great miracles while finding and going by some members house. He actually was in charge of CES when the wall came down was the first to bring manuals into german. He told us about how he was the translator for President Monson who dedicated the Freiburg Tempel, well at the dedication where 5 high ranking communist party member to overview the service. President Monson taught them how to pray and actually had then dig the plot with them!! It was cool!

Well this week has been amazing S. H. is kind of falling a little bit (lady in building) but we are going to work hard on that. But overall things are great! I have learned so much this transfers about how it is not about the NUMBERS!! Our success is measured in spiritual growth and testimony of the people we worked with. Because the success lies in those people you found. Bruder Lessing has made such a 180 change in his life. To see him grow in the gospel get married and have a family of members will be enough for. Not as a excuse to stop working at all, but we have to realize the Lord has a plan and he will unfold it to us. The gospel is true and this is work is his work. I have learned to submit myself to the will of the Lord and good things will come from it! I love my mission if there is anyone that says they are not going I would ask you to ask them why and see if they can give you an answer without saying I, me, mine. The is NO SUBSTITUTE for a mission, no better place to be!! 

Elder White   

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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