Transfer Week- getting ready for a Baptism on Saturday

Things are going really well for me this week!! Crazy week!

We spent the first part of the week doing transfer planning with President Stoddard. That went really well, it was so cool to see how that all works. We have this huge transfer board that had all the pictures of the Elders and Sisters on it. It was super cool, because then we talk about the different areas and the needs of the Elders and the areas and then we start talking about possible changes and needs for changes. It was pretty cool, we would be talking about an Elder and then someone would say, "They should go with this Elder," then someone else would say "Yeah that's a great idea I was thinking the same thing." It was cool how it worked and how it really was a team effort on everyone part. Overall, it was super highs of miracles stories and lows of hearing about challenges of Elders. 

Well last night we didn't get home still 1:30 and made it to bed about 2 am and woke up this morning to take someone to the train station. So I'm pretty tired not going to lie, that is the one thing have gotten little of this transfer is sleep, but that's okay!! It has been a good building experience for me. I have always struggled when I get super tired, but it has been cool because in this situation I have learned to rely on the strength of the Lord to help lift me and it's crazy sometimes you wake up and say I should be tired right now, but you feel like you got 6 hours of the sleep. Craziness!!

Well, the miracle for the week was the fact that I had had a MTC teacher who told us about how he had one week prayed for a person to teach and wanted to receive a referral from the church headquarters. So last week I decided that I wanted that to happen. So during planning I prayed for and for a referral from HQ. Then this week randomly we got an email, WE GOT ONE!!!! Elder Kress was on a split in our area and went by and this man had actually been investigating the church and then randomly the Elders stopped going by. he just decided to investigate again and so he went to mormon.org and referred himself and now he is investigating the church. It was crazy and such a miracle story, really think this man will get baptized because sounds like he is super interested!! It is crazy! but so cool!! Prayer really does bring about miracles!!

Well also on Sunday we got to take part in the confirmation of a man who was baptized it was so cool to take part in that circle. It was all 7 Elders in the ward and one member. It was so cool to feel the power of the priesthood and to give someone the gift of the Holy Ghost! It has been such an amazing experience getting to participate in so many priesthood ordinances. So cool and really has strengthened my testimony on the power of the priesthood.

Well overall it was an amazing week! Loving my mission and really have been learning so much in the last couple weeks!! This Saturday is Tobias baptism at 15:30, please still keep him in your prayers that would be great because he is going to be tested this week for sure!! 

Love 

Elder White 

Keeping really busy, has a baptism coming up and traveling all over Germany.

Well, this week was great, T. the man you have been praying for is getting baptized. We met with the Bishop yesterday and we are meeting at the mission home this evening with President Stoddard as our joint teacher. He keeps asking us for invitations for the baptism and last night I made the templates for them!! He is super stoked and ready, he even invited his parents to come!! We are so excited and happy for him!!! Background on him, he is 23 years old, he is a manager at a hotel in downtown Frankfurt and found the missionaries through a street display!

This week for me personally I have seen so many miracles. The coolest one was probably the member referral we got, we tried multiple times to go by without success. Until finally on Friday we went by and the lady opened the door. She initially was not interested but then we asked her some more questions and she said "here just come inside". We sat down for about 30 minutes and the spirit was so strong, we bore testimony about families and the restoration and she felt the spirit. She couldn't deny it. She said "I usually don't let people like you in." But it was cool because she had made some new goals for the year to become more spiritually active and come closer to God. When we knocked she was in the middle of reading a book about God and nature. It was cool, she is going to talk to the member and then we are hopefully all going to meet together! She is so prepared and you knew she felt something different and she could not shake it! It was so cool!!


Then we got back in touch with one of our less active members named Taz, we found him on the Zeil, he started coming back to church but he fell off the map for a long time but we had a feeling we needed to call him. We did and he was actually at home, so we went by and he was so happy to see us, he is super excited to meet again and hopefully we can get him back to church!!

Also, I got to go on two splits this past week, one was in a city calls Karlsruhe it is about 20 minutes from France and the other was in the city where the temple was!!! It was great, we also did some visits during some Zone Trainings in Heidelberg, Frankfurt, Friedrichsdorf. So some more mission travelling but it was good. Learned a lot about setting goals, one of my goals for this year is to have 4 baptisms in the next 6 months. It is going to be a companionship goal for me and Elder Fitzgerald because we are going to more than likely end our missions together! I want to be accountable to you mom so you keep following up with me on how I am doing with my goal! 

This upcoming week is going to be great!! It is actually Transfer planning week. It is going to be crazy but cool, because we sit down with President Stoddard all week and plan the transfer scenarios out! That means that we help plan out the change in missionary companions,and give our input on where missionaries are going and who is going to serve in leadership positions. It is going to be a humbling experience for sure!! Looking forward to it though! 

Well everything is going well with me this week I have been thinking a lot about the spirit and how is speaks! I am focusing on the tiny promptings of the spirit like something as simple. But by following the small promptings we better understand the big promptings from the Lord. It is how I believe we fine tune our spirit sensitivity. I have been trying it, it's hard for sure, but you see how many miracles and promptings you pass by because you are afraid or lazy. Thats my challenge to all of you. Whether it is making a phone call to someone you have been thinking about, or going by to visit someone. Just Do, and let God do the rest!
Elder White 


 

Got a ticket driving on the Autobahn found 2 new investigators

My week was insane and the only uninsane night was new years eve! hahaha!!

Well, Monday was a normal P-Day for once we tried and go around and find some shoes, because I need another pair, the one's yall sent last year the leather is peeling off, which is weird because I have been polishing them. Later we had dinner at a part member families house, it was crazy and funny. We ended up leaving early because it got a little too crazy. 

Tuesday we had our office meeting with the office staff and our mission presidents meeting which was super fun! Then afterwards we had another meeting and then another meeting we ended up push back our schedules by an hour and a half because we had to counsel on some things! Then we got in the car and drove up north about 3 hours for some splits with the Elders in Dortmund! It was super fun and we had a great time! Then afterwards we drove to Dusseldorf where I got to spend time with the Zone Leaders in Dusseldorf and that was also super exciting we were teaching this guy that has a baptismal date. We had a super spiritual lesson and then we played a little basketball with him. We had a great time because it was also his birthday!! 

Now we are at Thursday, we woke up did some more finding in Dusseldorf and then we went and drove back home. On the way home on the autobahn, it changed speeds really quick on me and I got blitzed (picture taken for a ticket) WHO PUTS A BLITZ BOX ON AUTOBAHN!!!! Really, it was fogging and we were exhausted, the good thing is that they are usually not horrible bad like in America. But it was so frustrating and such a suprised. This box was getting people left and right. German Government makes bank on this thing. So a fun new years gift, supposedly it will only be about 15€ so I guess I lucked out there! Then on new years eve we went and meet with an investigator T. and it went very well!! We went to bed at 10 pm we were so tired, and then at midnight we got woken up by the fireworks outiside our window and all the music. But WWIII came and went, it is insane here in Germany!!!

The next day we woke up went for a run and then drove to the Zone Training in K-Town, after that training session I went on a split with Elder Basinger (one of his old companions from Ahlen) and his companion Elder Flickenger. It was a super weird split because they serve in an American Area so I went to an American HOUSE!!! They spoke English the whole time and acted like Americans, and we had American food and did American things. I really don't know what happened, it was nice but at the same time it was REALLY WEIRD. I'm not looking forward to going back to America, Americans are way to friendly and I am not use to that. Hahahahahahah.

But cool miracle story, that night I was praying and I had the feeling that I should pray that we find two new potential investigators, I didn't know how it would work because the area I was in we only do doors and its impossible to find a ton of potentials in a short amount of time. But I did pray about it and then the next morning we went finding and while we were finding we found one lady who was interested in a Book of Mormon in Albanian, then the next house we doored the lady let us in and we talked, she showed us her copy of a Book of Mormon and we made a return appointment. So we found two potential investigators!! Ao cool!! It made me happy and strengthened my testimony of how when our will is aligned with the Lords, then we will see truly miracles!!

Well this week my ponderizing scripture is Mosiah 14, where it talks about through his stripes we are healed, how true that scripture is!! As we allow the Atonement of Jesus Christ work in our life, we find the joy and happiness that comes from repentance and being cleansed and we can say as President Monson says,"The past is behind, learn from it. The future is ahead, prepare for it. The present is here, live it”

Love you,

Elder White 

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