Whataweek.

Moin!

So, I must say it has been a crazy week.  It started out pretty good.  I was excited about the things going on.   However, it was followed by an interesting experience.  I want to report on that experience today.  Hopefully others can learn from it as much as I did.

We had just had an excellent appointment.  It seemed like everything was going perfect.  We were in the train heading home after the good appointment when a man began talking with us.  He started out being a pretty normal guy who doesn't like us, but then it escalated to the point where there was obviously a huge opposition there.  I could quite literally feel the presence of the devil.  It was a feeling of hopelessness and darkness.  I could not believe what was going on--all in the presence of our investigator!  The man stayed on the train as we got off despite his threatenings, and we headed to the bus station.  While waiting for the bus, the evil spirit seemed to move into the body of a nearby lady.  She immediately took on a form of negativity.  The people around us definitely noticed the difference in mood as well.  We got on this bus, and the opposition was still there.  I feel like I was stuck in thick fog that blocked all form of proper thinking.  I then felt this small quiet light in my heart, the Spirit.  It told me to get off the bus at a certain bus stop.  The moment I listened to the Spirit and got off the bus, this evil, thick fog and opposition had no more power.  It was a testimony to me that Satan is there to work against us, and when we follow God we can be freed from his chains.  It was a very, very crazy experience, and I hope to not experience it again.  I guess these are the kinds of stories you expect to hear from missionaries though, haha.

Well, needless to say, it ended up being a strange week.  It seems like things are back to normal, and I am working hard!  I am looking forward to a great week and watching General Conference this coming weekend.  I hope you all have a wonderful week, and that blessings are sent your direction.  I know that God lives, and I know he wants the best for each one of us, his children!

Germany is still as great as ever!  I am enjoying it the best I can!

Transfer 4 in Hamburg!

Yo!

So, this last weekend was transfer calls.  Just as expected, I didn't get transferred!  That's pretty regular when being a trainer.  I imagine this will be my last transfer in Hamburg though.  There is, however, still a chance that I stay.  This transfer is a five week transfer.  That means it will probably seem to go by even faster than a normal transfer!  So crazy!  The time is going by so quickly these days.  This weekend we have the switch back of the times.  That means one less hour of sleep, and much more daylight in the evening!  Wow!

The last week was pretty awesome.  We did a lot of finding, and we had quite a bit of success!  We had a couple experiences where we only had a few minutes left to do doors, and so we chose to do a specific set of doors before we finished and we found somebody new!  It's great to see what the Lord blesses us with when we are doing our best! 

I think the weirdest thing is that I will have been in the Hamburg district longer than anyone else who is currently in the district!  I have been here a pretty long time!  Of course, the missionary couple is here longer than I, but that is only because they stay in the same place the whole time!  So they don't count.  It's a big district, too.  There are now going to be 13 missionaries in the district!  So weird!  That is just crazy!  It's bigger than one of the zones! I have a picture of our 12 person district of the last transfer and one of our adventures of last P-day!

Well, life is good, life is great, at least for me, at any rate!

Foo Foo Party!

Hey!

So, this last week was pretty much amazing.  We started the week out well by finding some great people, we had a zone conference on Thursday, and throughout the week we had some miracles!

The Zone Conference pretty much changed my world.  I decided to kick everything up a notch.  I had worked super hard to get where I am, and then I thought to myself, that I want to reach higher.  I set my bar up another couple notches, and I continue to climb.  I decided I am not going to settle for anything less than what I can be!  That is valid for everyone on Earth.  If you push yourself as hard as you can, you can achieve so much!

Also, the other day we were walking to go visit an inactive member.  We were just kind of going down the street, trying to find out where this person lived.  Somehow I made a wrong turn, which set us back some time.  We turned back around and headed back the correct direction.  All the sudden I heard behind me, a man.  He asked us if we were the Mormons.  Naturally, I answered in the affirmative.  He then began to explain that he is a member--baptised and all!  He had fallen away from the church and began drinking, smoking, and drinking coffee.  He didn't want anything to do with the church.  Now, at least a year after the previous contact with missionaries, he searched us out and told us that he is doing super well!  He says he quit drinking, quit drinking coffee, and quit smoking.  All because he knows the church is true and wants to feel of the Spirit again.  He wants to come back to church, and he is happy to be back.  He said he repented and wants to move forward.  What a miracle!  I could not believe it!  I have never lived such a happy experience.  I felt exactly like the father whose son came back.  I wanted to kill the best calf we had and hold a feast.  I can't wait to see him at church.

On Saturday, we had an appointment with one of our investigators.  He decided that he wanted to make us some Foo Foo!  It is a traditional Ghanian dish, and he said he loves to make it for the missionaries.  Elder Hess had the chance to eat it for the first time!  It was super delicious.  The pictures are of the Foo Foo itself, and of me eating it!

That was our week!  It was great!  I can't wait for another great week!  I miss you all and hope you have a great week! 

Also, by way of announcement (haha):  If you send me a package, make sure to send it to the mission home in Berlin--NOT to me at the apartment.  Packages take longer, and sometimes require going through customs.  If you send them to the office, then the office can take care of all the customs problems, and eventually forward the package to me.  Letters can still be sent to the apartment, no worries there.