Another Week and Still Going Strong

Hi Everyone! How are things going? I'm doing pretty good. Augsburg is a great area and I feel like I'm really settling into it. Basically, since Sister Mehr and I are relatively young missionaries (as in we have both not been out that long), we rely on the Spirit way more than I have before in my life. We literally don't know what we are doing without the help of the spirit. 

This week has been really good actually. We started out the week with a lot of teaching appointments. It was great. There is one investigator that Sister Mehr was working with before I got here and then there are two other women who we found in the area book and were able to set up appointments with. The theme for things we taught this week was how important the Book of Mormon is, and that is SO true. I really would not be surviving my mission if I did not have the Book of Mormon in my life. For those that don't know, we have an hour of personal study in the morning every day. When I came on my mission, I thought that would probably be one of the longer hours in the day, but that hour is probably one of the best parts of my day. I usually read four pages of the Book of Mormon in German and then do whatever other studies I need to do in order to prepare for lessons or spiritual thoughts that day. I recieve so much personal revelation in that one hour and it gets me so pumped up for the rest of the day.

On Wednesday we went to the home of a sister in our ward to help her pack because she is moving. She had the biggest closet full of porcelain that I have ever seen and Sister Mehr and I had to wrap that up and put it in boxes while the Elders took apart furniture. I was happy doing the porcelain wrapping job. It was actually a really good time just hanging out with Sister Mehr while helping someone else. We did that for about two hours and then we ate a really yummy dinner that the sister in our ward made for us. It was schnitzel and potato salad. The only thing was, she really loaded up our plates and you can't really say no when they fill up your plates for you. Sister Mehr and I looked at each other and then dug in, and I don't want to brag, but we kind of beasted it and packed it in. The Elders struggled. One of them tried switching his plate with his companion, but she caught him and he had to try and finish it. It was a funny moment. Sister Mehr and I fist bumbed under the table.

 

On Saturday a super duper exciting thing happened here in the Augsburg Ward. THE ELDERS HAD A BAPTISM!!!! It was so exciting. It was a couple that they have been working with for about six months. They got baptized because they knew it was the truth. Sister Mehr and about four other missionaries were at the church early to set things up and make sure everything was ready. Everything went smoothly and everyone was all smiles. You can just feel at a baptism how right it is. It was a really good time, and I am so happy for the couple who made that decision. It was just so cool to be a part of. 

Yesterday (Sunday) we had an eating appointment with my Bishop from Ludwigsburg and his family. They just moved into the ward and you have no idea how happy that made me. Ludwigsburg is kind of my home on the mission because it is where I started out. We went to their house for a really good scwäbisch dinner and Family Home Evening. For the activity, we carved pumpkins. It was just so fun. It was kind of a breather from trying to figure out the Augsburg Ward because I already know this family pretty well. I got to ask them about how things are going in Ludwigsburg AND I found out that one of our investigators is still going to church regularly!!! I was exploding inside when I heard that because Sister Powell and I worked with this investigator quite a bit and it sound like she is still progressing. That was such a good feeling. I was really happy to hear that.

So yeah, that's my week. I realized this morning that I will be hitting my 6 month mark this coming week which is INSANE!!!! Time is the weirdest thing on a mission, but I really don't know where the first third of my mission went. It has been jam packed and it has also been amazing. In that short amount of time I have witnessed so many miracles. I love being a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I really wouldn't want to be anywhere else right now. I can't wait to see what the rest of my time has in store. This really is a marvelous work.

 

I hope everyone is doing well. Make good choices.

Love,

Sister Smiley

Pictures: us with our pumpkins, Sister Mehr and I with the couple that got baptized, all of the missionaries at the baptism