Hello my friends and family,
This was a week of miracles. There was so many moment where I left and thought to myself, "Wow, isn't it a great day to be a servant of God!"
Last monday we had a ball of fun and went to Trier! We saw this beautiful city with Harriet, and the trip was a smash! I took a load of pictures too. I saw my first real, authentic cathedral and it was in its own way very beautiful and ornate. The whole trip left me in awe at the history and culture of Germany. Trier was once the capital of the Roman Empire for a while when Constantine was in power. The picture is of the Porta Nigra (latin for black gate) which is the Roman city gate that dates back to 180 AD. Enjoy!
That night we went to Sis. Hudson's to help her prep to be a joint teach with us. But most of the appointment was spent listening to her Family History stories. It was so cool to hear all about her ancestors. She has very close roots in Germany, Canada, Russia and the Americans. There were stories about POWs, war stories of being in the ocean for weeks fighting off sharks, love stories and stories of great tragedy, and there were stories of rising above the odds when your whole town disowns you because of your blood line. Amazing Amazing night! family History is so cool!
So the next day was probably one of my favorite appointments to date happened. Jessica our new member was taught by us and our joint teach, Sis. Hudson, our recent reactivated member. It was such an amazing miracle to see them teach one another and to connect with one anothers stories. Here were the two most amazing miracles I have witnessed in Kaiserslautern together. It brings me to tears when I think about it because it is such a visual of how the gospel really does change lives. That is not an empty sentence. The Gospel Changes Lives!
That night was the New years. All missionaries in Europe are to report back to their apartment before 18.00. I didn't understand why, but I thought it was nice that we were given extra time to make resolutions and clean our apartment for the end of the transfer. Sis. Prince was fading on me and went to bed at 10ish. But I wasn't yet tired enough to sleep through all the snaps and pops of the fireworks, not to mention the rock party that was happening below on the other floor. So I decided to not lay in bed for forever but to stay up. When 12:00 hit, I was awoken to World War Three. There was utter chaos going on all over the city. Fireworks were going here and there and everywhere. IT WAS MADNESS! Germany doesn't really have any rules and restrictions on fireworks. There was a fountain firework right outside our complex door that was not only just shooting up fire six stories high, it was hitting our roof and the side of our apartment. It was so loud. The whole charade lasted a full hour and didn't let up one bit during that hour. And who was in the other room not making a peep, Sis. Prince fast asleep, not even flinching at the explosions outside our window.
The next day we had apartment checks. Passed with flying colors. and then we welcomed in the new year with a breakfast with the German sisters. It was so great. The rest of the day was basically meeting after meeting. aber das ist mein Leben. Thursday we had a day packed full of appointments with members, and Less -actives. All I have to say about these days is that people are so fun! They are so fun to be around and be with and interact with! So great!
On Friday I was on a day split with Sis. Hasara. It was such a great day. We went to Sis. Romero's house with one of our ward missionaries Sis. Merrill. Sis. Romero had told us how it is sometimes hard to understand the scriptures and make them more than someone else's stories. So we want to help explain to her how we can study the scriptures. This is the way that I have found that works the best for me. I begin with a prayer, asking for the spirit to be there to help me understand and to help me find the answers to my questions and concerns that I have in the chapters or pages that I will be reading. After I pray, I write down the questions that are currently in my mind. They are not always gospel questions like what does it mean to repent, sometimes it is how can I not get upset so easily? or What are things that I can do so that I can not be so sassy? I write down everything and then I read. I read as though every verse is the divine answer to one of my questions. And with out fail I will "hear" the spirit, either in the words of the scriptures or in the wonderings of my mind, or later on that day or week. WITHOUT FAIL. After I read the scriptures I write down any insight, then close with another prayer. It was such a great lesson. We then practiced it out with reading Alma 7. SO great.
We then had another great new member lesson with Harriet and Sister sweet, who also is a pretty recent convert. It was so cool because I was able to ask them questions about what it was like being taught, their experience and their tips and pet peeves. And then we went into an open discussion lesson about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was such a great lesson for me I think more than anyone elses, learning how to be a better teacher and missionary. Right after that we went to the church and saw that there wasn't a ton of players at volleyball so we jumped right in and yes that meant I played volleyball like a profi, in a skirt and boots. that is Sister missionary status to the max. haha
Saturday morning was the fateful morning that we were all waiting for. Transfer calls. Drum roll please...............rat ta tat ta tat ta tat ta tat... Sister Wadsworth will be serving in Hanau! with the lovely Sister Beck! It will be a German ward. Since I have been serving in an American Military ward my MTC german is a little rusty, but I am so excited for the new challenge. When I found out that I was going I became acutely aware of all of my lack of German knowledge, of my weaknesses as a missionary. as a general human being. But you know what? from the moment of that announcement to now as I type this I have never had such peace. I believe that we are all faced with the greatness that we can become. The hard part is not the becoming great but the choice in believing that we can reach such great heights.
The rest of the day I saw miracles. We went and said goodbye to the lovells. Then volunteered to the post office on base and found a new investigator to work with. Then In the words of Sister Prince: "After that, we had an eating appointment with the Hamel's and Hart's. We had chili that was more thai than actual chili and then shared a spiritual thought on how Peter was called to be a missionary and help preach the gospel immediately following him denying Christ three times. It was a good discussion about how rejection plays a role in sharing the gospel, but ultimately it is so worth it. We were driving home and they had just pulled up to our apartment and had stopped at about 9:30 pm. While my companion was finishing up talking to them, I opened my car door to see two bikes pass me. The front bike had two young adults on it. The woman was pumping the peddles in a standing position and the guy was sitting on the bike seat trying not to let his legs get in her way. And the second bike only had one guy on it. I recognized the second biker as Cale Simmons. He is one of Harriet's friends who is also an Air Force Academy grad that I knew as well that is investigating the church currently. I turned my head back and looked over my shoulder to watch them speed off after they passed me only to see a car speeding down the road and hit the first bike with the two adults on it. I watched Cale slam on his brakes in time, but the front bikers hit the hood of the car and fell off to the side. I took off running to the scene. All my EMT knowledge flooded into my head and adrenaline rushed into my veins. As I ran up the girl on the bike popped up off the ground and said, "I am totally fine. I am not hurt at all. I'm so so so sorry." (Her name is Candice and she is a Intelligence Officer). I told them that I spoke both languages and was also an EMT. Candice kept reassuring me that she was totally fine. I knew that was normal for people in situations like this to think they are all fine because they have so much adrenaline pumping. I was watching her out of the corner of my eye making sure she wasn't going into shock while the German driver lady was freaking out and going into shock. I started translating and calming all parties down until the police came. The car had a dent in the hood and you could see the body slide and hand and feet marks. Long story short- German police came and Military Police came and I had to do some reports since I witnessed it for two hours. As time went on and we were all standing there, Candice's adrenaline started wearing off and she started having pain in her foot, ankle, knee and thigh. She starting panicking and crying and I hugged her and told her it would all be okay. That her body has an incredible ability to heal itself and that she had guardian angels watching over her. She nodded her head. I was so grateful to be there and be able to help. I called Candice yesterday and she is doing fine. She just has bruising all up her leg, but no extensive damage."
The last sunday was hard. I got up to bear my testimony and it was like I was giving another farewell talk. I was leaving my family all over again. My voice was shaking as I bore my simple testimony and thanked them for sharing their light and life with us. The rest of the day was intense planning to get my last 3 days packed with visits and appointments. I am excited to have a new challenge and to go somewhere new. But it is still hard to say goodbye to those I have grown to love. Well to love like sisters and brothers. Funny the way that God works. How He helps us develop these strong relationships with all of these people on earth. and how we are developing all of these relations with our spiritual sisters and brothers. I love this gospel so so so much! gah! just so much it is so incredible!
I hope yall have a fantastic wonderful week, I am praying and thinking of you often, probably will be a whole ton more as I spend my next few weeks in the confines of my mind since I won't be able to understand what is going on around me ;)
Love, Sister Wadsworth
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