One Year (week 53)

A year ago I was in the MTC with these two beauties learning all about the German language and the ways of a missionary and now, I'm living it!

There can't be adequate words for all that I've learned in a year. I'm just so grateful that the Lord has been so patient with me as I've learned many lessons many times. But it's more than just the lessons you learn from watching your investigators be baptized or teaching with the Spirit or simply reading in the scriptures, I've also learned lessons about how to love people who are hard to love, and how desire changes everything and everything happens for a reason, and how to give when you feel like there's nothing more to give, and enjoying the moment, and how to be patient and courageous and faithful and outgoing and loving and nonjudgmental and grateful. I'm definitely not perfect, in fact I'm more aware of my flaws now than any other time in my life, but the Lord has made of me something I could never have made of in myself. He's healed my heart, done patchwork on my soul, strengthened my muscles, and enlightened my mind. I know He is there, I know He's my Father, and I love Him. It's been the hardest year, but it's been the most life-changing year.

I'm grateful for my companions, Sister Bell, Sister Bollwinkel, Sister Stuart, Sister Schwantes, Sister Meyer, Sister Hashimoto, and Sister Barlow. I'm grateful for Hildesheim and Neukölln and Greifswald. I'm grateful for President and Sister Kosak and for Germany.

. . . . .

"C" is doing good. She hadn't read, but still wants to meet.

Oh right, transfer calls! Sister Barlow is heading out tomorrow and I'm picking up a Sister Jensen. She came out with Sister Hashimoto, so she's 4 transfers in. We're getting a new district leader too! Greifswald definitely needs something, I'm hoping these two new missionaries will bring some fire or something with them haha.

That's about it for this week. The church is true!

Sister Seamons

Eating appointment with Nikki—27 year old Filipino who is currently teaching at the university here. He finished his master's in biology at 22 and started teaching right after. So yes he's basically the smartest guy ever!