Good-bye Offenbach and Hello Hamm, Germany

Sorry I didn't write last week.  My companion and I went to the Frankfurt temple and then I  had a really bad case of the stomach flu last week, and spend the whole night throwing up 5€ Chinese Food, cant say I have to much of a desire to eat there anytime soon!

But in other news....

I am being TRANSFERRED! I'm going to be taking my talents up North to Hamm in the Dortmund zone! It is going to be crazy but I'm super excited for the adventure. My new area borders the Berlin mission.

Well the Gemeinde (Church Branch)  was super awesome my last day here, a lot of the members came over and said that they really enjoyed having me in the Gemeinde! That was really cool for me to feel like I had been a part of helping bring the work forward here in Offenbach. 

I have to say I have learned so much here and my testimony has been so strengthened. I have never lived in an area where you can walk out the door the first person you see will harass you because you wear the name of Jesus Christ on your name badge. Or bash with you that Jesus Christ is nothing more then a prophet and that you are being closed minded for believing such a thing. What an amazing opportunity it has been to share my testimony that HE LIVES, he is my Savior and Redeemer, he atoned for my sins and he will come again to establish his kingdom here on the earth. There is no other name where by men can be saved! How great is the restored gospel of Jesus Christ!

I have learned here in Offenbach that even the smallest of acts can make the biggest difference! How that the most important promptings sometimes just seem like simple acts. This last week we were doing a street preach/display and these two mentally handicap men came up and asked us to redeem their bottles of cola for money. It was really excited to help them, but I felt like U should. I went with Elder Hansen, as we were waiting in line to get the money this kid looks at me and say! HEY do you remember me? I couldn't remember him exactly then he said,  "You gave me that book, I still have it!"  He said he had read from it and he thought it was interesting, we invited him to play basketball but he was busy. But what a tender mercy that sometimes when we do small and simple things like talking to 15 year old kids, great things will come to past!

I'm going to miss playing basketball with a bunch of street ballers on Fridays, that has been fun the past 5 months every Friday to play basketball. One of the kids that comes was one of the premier street ballers in Poland, some crazy moves their for sure!!

Overall I'm going to miss the people, RL is still him self but he knows why we are there and he is just stubborn sometimes, Herr GR our other investigator is so humble and feeds us and takes care of us and really loves to listen what we have to say!, President ML has been a blessing to the Branch and it has been fun visiting his family every other week, Troy Murphy our GML (Mission Leader from the Branch)  has been an amazing blessing to the work, his humble service has been a important part in the work, and Elder Overall, I'm going to miss him too! Man we have had some crazy times together and have seen some really miracles here in Offenbach like Herr SD and Herr GR. We had some great laughs too! Every time I think of Monty Python and Quest for the Holy Grail I'm going to always laugh and think of him saying "ahh ahh GRRRRRRRRRRRRaillll!". Love that guy!

I have preached in a Frei Evangalisch Church, I have taught people in their home at the park. I have seen drugs deals. I have had people laugh at me and taunt me. I have seen someone past away. I have see people feel the spirit and have seen people come to Christ, humble themselves and be made whole through the Atonement....

That's a lot of stuff for MY FIRST AREA!

Cant wait for HAMM!!!

Love 

Elder White

Translated an hour long church meeting in German, ate raw steak.....

WELL HOWDY!!

Well this week has been a pretty good week! We found a new investigator and his name is Herr GR, he is awesome! He is from the States but has a German wife and two kids. One of his daughters went to school and Arlington and she and I talked about Texas for a while! It was awesome! Me and Elder Bulkley had visited him our first week here in Offenbach. He really didn't have much interest but then Elder Overall came in and wanted to meet with him again! We set up the appointment and the funny thing was that he wanted to feed us and asked us what we wanted so Elder Overall joking said that we would like steak. He said "Of course!!!!" So we went to his home and ate steaks! My steak was like a category above raw and I was a little nervous eating it, but I was just praying silently "Heavenly Father you promised to keep me safe and protected." Nothing happened afterwards so that was a miracle. (Ryan has a history and an immense fear of throwing up that is why this is such a big deal to him.) But when we met with him, we invited him to take the lessons and he accepted and said that he would be interesting in hearing about what we believe. He is very impressed with our desire and willingness and how we present ourselves. Miracle!

Yesterday, (Sunday) I had a the opportunity to translate sacrament meetings for a couple from St George Utah here in Germany watching their John Deere Tractor at the factory in Mannheim being made. They were such a sweet couple. We couldn't get the translation headsets to work, so we had to sit behind then and translate. I was so nervous, because I have only been here in Germany for 4 1/2 months. We started and the first speaker was talking so fast and I turned to Elder Overall and said hey man I need you help I can't do this. He started taking over and the man, his name was Brother Howard, turned around and said to me "Keep trying, its good practice, he said you can just translate for me." Before this  all happened I said a prayer asking Heavenly Father to help me and bless me with the ability to translate. I knew that now was the time to show my faith. So I started translating, slowly but surely I was saying the exact same things as Elder Overall and it was becoming easier and easier. Even when a sister in the ward got up and started talking super fast I was able to translate. When I started to doubt myself, that's was when it got harder to translate but when I had faith it was like the words were just coming to me. My translation was not near perfect at all, but I could fill the Lord quicken my mind and I felt the power of the gift of tongues, realizing I have only been here in Germany for 4 1/2 months and I translated sacrament meeting. What a amazing experience. 

Yesterday another cool experience happened. We were in the hills out in Bayern driving around and travelling to visit less actives. Then all of the sudden I had to prompting to go and visit a less active member of the ward. I told Elder Overall and we went directly there, she is a lady from Kenya and she has struggles with inactivity because she got offended by a member of the ward. We walked up to the door and as we went to ring the door, she just opened it!! She was so excited to see us and see that we had made the trek out to her town to visit her. She said she was happy and said we could meet and talk!!! We prayed together and left her with a smile on her face! It was so cool!!

Well this week has been full of ups and downs, but what I do know is that this work is driven by our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. He prompts us and guides us, he blesses me with the ability to speak German and learn this language super quickly. He blesses me everyday with the spirit that leads me to find those people looking for answers in life. How humbled I am to be here in Germany and how humbled I am to have this opportunity to serve a mission. There is no greater joy then serving the others and the Lord for 2 years of your life! 

I know this gospel is true and this work is true, Jesus Christ is my Savior and my Redeemer. I don't know how many drops of blood he split for me but what I do know is that I can repent and be clean because of him.

Love, 

Elder White

Successful Street Display

HOWDY YALL!!

Well this week has been another week of miracles and progress here in Germany!! 

This last Sunday we just received two new Senior Missionaries couples because we needed more priesthood support in the Branch. One is an old Dean of students from SVU!!!! (SVU is where Ryan attended school last year) so we have two knights he in Offenbach. The other couple, the husband actually served in Offenbach in 1966!!! Its crazy. Oh and they also have a son who lives and Richardson! The couples are the Kragels and Billouphs. We also got a new Branch President and so things are going to change a little here in Offenbach. Troy says that I'm going to get transfer this cycle so we will see if his prediction is correct!! 

Well lately things have been good, everyday is filled with stuff for us to do, like finding or lessons with members or less active member work. We have over 300 names on the list and so for the past 2 Sundays we have been spending 3 hours driving and visiting these people. So far we have found out that over half the ward list has moved, crazy stuff!!! But it will help us focus our efforts on those members that are still here and need the gospel back in their lives!

This week we finally got to meet with a less active member named JN. He is a pretty cool guy, he is 18 and has been living alone for a year or so. He is a less active and we are hoping that we can help. His apartment defiantly looks like a 18 year old living alone, to say the least!!!!!

Also this week we met with our investigator Herr SD, unfortunately he didn't come to church this week, but we have another lesson tomorrow, so we are hoping that everything goes well!!

We did a awesome street display this week in a city called Aschaffenburg. We really were kind of helter skelter, and we were all late and only had 2 hours left. But then we started handing out Books of Mormon and we got 25 out!!! with just us 4 missionaries!! It was so cool to see the people really open up. I stopped a man and he really didn't have interest. but as he was walking away I just started bearing testimony. He said "I'm catholic I don't need it." Then words just started to come out of mouth and soon he was coming back and listening. I ended up giving him a Book of Mormon to him. It was crazy how his entire mood changed suddenly and his heart was softened. The power of the spirit in the conversion process is real!!

Well I had a really cool experience this week. We were Alzenau and decided to go by a potential investigator Herr SL. He let us in and he was alone, we started talking about the gospel and then all of the sudden, he opened up to us about his childhood and how he was abandon and how he has lost everything. He said how he felt like God was there but that he didn't think he loved him. The whole time I was sitting there kind of quiet. Then I had this overwhelming feeling to promise him something. Finally I looked him in the eyes and told him "Herr SL as a Representive of Jesus Christ, I promise you if you will pray tonight, you will feel that you have a Heavenly Father and he is there." He felt something, because I felt something. I called him the next day and he said that he felt good that night after he prayed.

I leave my testimony this week that this work is real and that we really do have a loving Heavenly Father and he is there for us! He is always mindful of our challenges and struggles and he is striving to make us to best man or woman we can be, I would challenge all to pray daily and ask Heavenly Father to help you recognize his love. As we begin to see those tender mercies (blessing in our life) we will begin to realize that he LOVES US

Love yall

Elder White

Holy Spirit testifies of Truth - 6 month Mark

Elder White and Elder Overall spreading the word about Jesus Christ and gospel in Offenbach, Germany.

This week is my 6 month mark!!! What!!! That is crazy and weird but anyways that really not that important because I have a lot of things to do!!

This week we found a new investigator named Herr SD! He is 70 year old German and his house is like a museum! He is a Freemason, and came to church on his own this Sunday!! It was pretty neat! We are meeting with him tomorrow so I will tell you how it goes!! He is awesome!

This week we got a car from the mission for about 2 weeks and they are letting us use. It has been awesome! We have gotten so much stuff done lately.

I would like to share a cool story about follow the promptings of the spirit. I wanted to make a extra effort to follow the promptings of the spirit and try to listen more when the Lord speaks. So Tuesday, we were walking by this man's house, his name is Christian. We had to stop teaching because he can speak German or English. It was rough but it happens, but all of the sudden like a light flicking on all of the sudden I had the thought "Go ring the klingel (bell)  again!" It didn't make any sense because we cant even teach him. But I told Elder Overall to stop and we went and over to the door. I rang the door and a lady answered the door, I told her we were looking for the Christian. She said he wasn't home, I was thinking why did we even come over here. then the thought came into my head, just tell her about you role as missionaries. So I told her about Christian and what we did to help him and then she came down, and talked to us. She started to get a little hesitant and said she already read the Bible and only reads the Bible. But then I looked her in the eyes and bore my testimony to her about how much the gospel has changed my life and how many answer I have received because of the Book Of Mormon. She seemed to soften her heart and said that we could come by when she was a little less busy. What a miracle when we listen to the promptings of the holy spirit.

This week I was studying about the spirit and how it speaks to us. It is crazy how through the Holy Ghost we can learn all truths because the spirit only testifies of truth. I want everyone to know that I know this church is true and that Jesus is my Savior and Redeemer and my older brother. I was called to serve here in the Frankfurt Germany Mission because the Lord needed me to share my testimony with everyone. He needed me, all of my strengthens and all of my weaknesses. Which I have many, but oh how sweet it is to use the Atonement of Jesus Christ to change my heart and make me the Man My Heavenly Father wants me to be!!

Love ya 

Elder White

New Companion - Elder Overall - Testimony of the Book of Mormon

Hey Howdy yall!!

Well so begins a new chapter here in Offenbach, I have a new companion named Elder Overall! He is from Arizona and he is awesome! He is funny and loves basketball like me! I think things  here in Offenbach are going to be good!!

Now that we have a new missionary, I have had to orient him to the area,  but the funny thing is that he has 4 transfers left before he goes home. It is funny because I get to teach him about the area and it makes me feel like the Trainer and him the Golden!! But he is the trainer. Good times though!

Well this week has been pretty low key, we got to go out with Troy (An American Man from Tennesse who lives in Germany and takes very good care of the missionaries) for sushi on Wednesday!! He is way to nice to us, our excuse was that we were meeting with a less active his name is Chau and he is 20 and hasn't come to church in forever. We finally got an appointment with him and it went well, hope we can get him to church! 

It's funny here on my mission, I have eat so many things I would never eat at home, like raw raw sushi, raw meat on a brochten, and food cooked by a companion (outcome sometimes interesting) Me and Elder Overall tried to make pudding last night and lets just say that stove top isn't the cleanest it has been!!

This week one experience I want to share with everyone is about Dietmar. We had met with him last week and he was super excited. Well we called him on Tuesday after an appointment fell out and he he said he didn't want to talk to us anymore and that he wanted to give the Book of Mormon back. He had talked to Issac ( the preacher they had been working with) and said the Mormon thing isn't for him. I was kind of taken back and surprised. But I had an idea that we could see him one more time if we went and picked up the Book Of Mormon. So we took the hour long ride to Aschaffenburg and decided so just go by. We went by and klinged him but he wasn't home, but his wife said that he just left, Elder Bulkley said that he felt we could find him! We just started walking around the city hoping we could find him. Then we found him walking, we stopped him and he acted strange and said he wasn't going to tell us why he didn't want to meet anymore, I had the idea to again ask him for the Book of Mormon. He said we could come by in 20 minutes when he was home. We parted ways and me and Elder Bulkley went off to pray. We felt like something wasn't right there and after we said the prayer I knew we needed to talk one more time. SO we went by to get the Book of Mormon and he said he would come down and hand it to us. He opened the door and we tried again to figure out what was going on. He still said that he had his things and we had our things. He was getting a little anxious and I just felt this feeling like I needed to open my mouth. As he went to close the door, I said "Dietmar, one moment" he opened it back up and I looked at him and said "I know this book is true and it has changed my life, I want this for you." I could feel the power of the spirit as I told him out of love and not out of contention why the Book was true. He looked at me and said "lass mich in frieden" leave me in peace. He closed the door, but this time I didn't feel sad or uneasy. I knew that even,though he has changed his minded, we had done what the Lord needed us to do at the time. The Lord has plan for everyone sometimes, they are small and simple things that we would never except the outcome. But as a missionary and representive of Jesus Christ, I stand as a witness that the Book of Mormon is another testimony of Jesus Christ. I would challenge all to find out for themselves if the Book of Mormon is true because when we pray with a sincere heart, if it is true, we will know for ourselves through the power of the Holy Ghost. It fills me with such strength and power when sometimes I'm feeling down and low I begin to sing the song Praise to the Man. If you havent heard or have heard it look it up by the Tabernacle Choir. The Part that always touches me is when it says "millions shall know Brother Joseph again". Millions shall know him again, his name shall be had for good and evil, he and millions of other who stand as witness that The Book of Mormon is true. I stand with them.

Love you all, and thank you for everything you have done for me you are amazing!

Elder White

Transfers - Staying in Offenbach A New Companion - German Bakery and Pictures from Christmas Morning

Well this week was transfer week. (Meaning that the missionaries find out if where they will be serving and who will be their companion) and I will be staying here in Offenbach for another 6 weeks, Elder Bulkely is heading to Siegen and I will be receiving Elder Overall as my companion. Dont know to much about him, so I will keep you updated next week. 

This week has been the week of miracles, JN SR an old investigator we found in the Area Book, we got in contact and he said we could stop by, he just lives 45 minutes away, So we set up a day to go by and say hi. We traveled there and couldn't find his house. I called him and he said that he wasn't home and I was super bummed because I felt like we needed to be there. So after getting off the phone I had a feeling he was close to his home, so I decided to go to the bakery and get a snack. As I bought my bread this man walked in and said Hey I'm JN SR, wait a second and we will talk. We talked for 5 mintues and now we have an appointment with him tomorrow. What a miracle because if we had not been in that bakery at that exact time we would have never met him!!

We found a friend from IC, we decided to visit him one night with IC because he wouldn't give us the house address. We went by and DR was nuts he was treating us like angels, wipe our shoes off and acting crazy. We walked out and said he was nuts. But we had an impression we should go back and talk to him later. We went by and he let us in. He told us that last time he acted so strange is because he is an alcoholic and he needs our help to overcome it. He was excited about reading the Book of Mormon and really wants to meet with us again and turn his life around.

I can't tell you how many times I have seen the hand of the Lord in our work. We run into people on the street everyday who we know that we are suppose to talk to. It is crazy how the Lord works with the missionaries to help them find the lost sheep, 

Overall, the sun is starting to come out more and more and its getting kind of warmer but the thing I would leave with everyone this week is that He Lives. I can't tell you how many things happen that tell me that he is my Savior and Redeemer. The Lord is just waiting for us to use the Atonement to change us and make us whole again. We all have our problems, worries, mistakes, and misfortunes and we wish so bad that we could change go back rewind or start over. There is a way, it is through Christ. This special opportunity I have this time to wear his name on my name badge is a privilege. Remember when the going gets tough and we want to turn back, remember that he experienced it to. He knows what its like to struggle with that addiction, he knows what it like to lose your only child, he knows what it like to have a mother pass away, he knows that it is like to have a spouse leave, he knows what it is like to find yourself in so much debt you don't know what to do next. Because he suffered it and overcame it ALL, turn to him. Let the Atonement work in your life. (Alma 7:11)

Elder White

Elder Bulkley

Its Snowing!!

Hmmm!! What did my family send me for Christmas??

Christmas Morning!!!

German Christmas Market

Christmas and New Years Eve

Well I'm finally back!!

There is so much to talk about but I don't have enough time. So here is the run down. 

Christmas in Germany is awesome, we went over to the ML family home for Heilige Abend,(christmas eve) they have 5 Little Kids and it was a mad house because they open presents on Christmas Eve! They were so funny! The joke was that everyone in the Family was going to get underwear for Christmas. Their son Samuel was so disappointed by the end of the night because he didn't get any underwear it was hilarious !(He looks like Preston, my cousin)

Skyping with my family was awesome so good to see everyone sweet smiling faces!!

New Years Eve was insane!!!! All fireworks here are legal for 2 days, and the Germans go all out. when it hits midnight, the City explodes and fireworks are flying everywhere and on everything. We couldn't go back to sleep for an hour and ended up sitting at the window watching the fireworks. The next morning it was a disaster because everyone leaves their fireworks on the ground and the air is smoggy and everyone is sleep. It was a ghost town.

Then we got to go to the temple and that is always such a awesome experience to go and really feel like you are recharging your batteries!!

Well over Christmas we saw some amazing miracles, we found 2 new investigators. They are from Romania and the Romanian Mission asked us to teach them while they vacation here in Germany for 4 months. HE is 18 and her friend is MS is 30. HE is so excited about the Gospel and so ready to learn about the Gospel. She is so excited to be meeting with the missionaries

We decided one day to go by UI's house this week. We were a little nervous and didn't know if it was a good idea. We just rang the bell and no one answered. We decided to write a note and then as we started looking for paper, he came outside and let us in! We talked about the move and how things were going. He didn't really talk about the Gospel, but loves having us in his home and we are almost certain he will join when he makes it to America!

Overall this week has been great. The one Thing I have learned this week is Patience! The Lord Needs us to be Patient and it is a Christ like Attribute that everyone can learn and develop. It is like that seed of faith that we plant, we can plant the seed and then 10 seconds later a want it to turn into a huge Redwood tree. We have to be Patient, Patient with the Lord, and Patient with ourselves. The Lord knows us better then we know ourselves. If we accept that the Lord has a plan for us and that he is the gardener, then what do we have to worry about!! He's got it under control. Sometimes we don't understand why he cuts down our branches (and prunes us.) All we have to do is wait and see what happens. He will never fail us!!!!

This work is so true, I know that to some giving up 2 years of my life to serve the People of Germany may seem crazy, but I know that this work is true! I know that the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ is on the earth and that his church is again on the earth. With Thomas S. Monson as the Prophet seer and revelator!! Jesus Christ is my redeemer and it is through him all things are possible

Love yall

Elder White