This week was truly one of the greatest of my mission so far. Unbelievable
This email is gonna be long sorry haha
First off, transfer calls are on Saturday and Transfers themselves are on tuesday. I really really want to stay at least one more transfer here in Dortmund. I really love this area, this ward, and the people we are working with here. It really feels like home. I love the Zone, the District, my companion, the apartment, just like literally everything is perfect. I don't want to leave!!! So I'll let you all know next week.
Quick update on some of my favorite people:
Shumon and Shekh:
They are doing so so well. I am unbelievably proud of them and all that they are. They are true converts and disciples of Jesus Christ. They are unashamed and bold. They just are constantly burning with fire and a love for the gospel. They love our ward and our ward loves them. They pass the sacrament every week and get to help greet everyone. They ask for blessings and Shekh got to baptize his girlfriend (they are so cute) and they are just amazing. I'm honored to be able to work with them.
Ross:
Ross is doing also way well. It's been pretty crazy since his baptism trying to get our schedules to line up. We finally got to meet yesterday with a member of the bishopric as a Joint-teach and it went so good. Ross just has a burning testimony of Jesus Christ, the Book of Mormon, and Joseph Smith and the restoration. His testimony he bore last night was really really powerful. It was very touching. He also fed us! It definitely shows that his profession is as a cook haha.
And even though it's been hard to meet, he has come to church 3 times in the last 4 weeks, even if he can only stay for sacrament because he has to work. I love that man so much.
Die Familie Rodriguez:
These two. Theseeee two. They are doing spectacular. It's been a while since I mentioned them but they have been doing just better and better. They are disciples of Jesus Christ. We got to meet (potentially for the last time) on Tuesday and we watched "On The Lord's Errand" about the life of Thomas S. Monson because they asked us how they can better serve others. I'm honestly so grateful that we get to meet them. They have just been growing in leaps and bounds in the Gospel and their love for others. I've literally watched them become more and more like our Savior. Their understanding has increased, their love for others has increased, and I just have so much respect for them. Their home feels like my home, in all its sass and spirit haha
So I also experienced the biggest miracle of my entire mission on Monday. His name is Rodnan.
So we were on split with the Essen Elders here in Dortmund. I was with the legendary Elder Sanders. He's in his 3rd transfer and he's such a stud.
Well we had about an hour and a half to go contacting. We still have a few people to drop by on and normally when we have open slots of time I like to use it to clean up those Go-Bys and contact people as we are on the way, but we decided/felt like we should actually just go out and wing it.
So we got on the U-Bahn (subway?) by our house and started riding. We decided to practice our contacting in Bahns and so we were just going to get out when we felt prompted.
Well we never felt prompted to get out. I thought about it a few times, but felt like we should stay in the Bahn. We eventually reached the end station in the middle of farmland. So we got out, poked around for a bit, ate a few wild blackberries off a bush (very good) and then got on the next train headed back to head home.
On the way back we contacted a bit more. We had set a goal to talk to 3 people in the Bahns, and we made sure we were gonna make it. Elder Sanders got very quickly turned away in all 3 of his, I got roasted in 2 of them, and then as we were getting closer to home I talked to Rodnan.
Rodnan was a bit scary looking honestly. He is about 23, had his hood pulled up, he had strange scars on his hands and cuts on his arms. He was standing alone in a middle portion of the train so I approached him and asked if I could practice my German with him. He blew me off. It was clear he didn't want to talk, but I didn't give up. I asked him how he was doing and he said he had had a really bad day and kept looking straight forward. I asked him if I could somehow help him or do something for him. He said "Do you have a knife?". I told him I didnt, but he could have the unopened strawberry smoothie in my hand. He didn't want it and kept looking forward.
I asked him if I could give him then a copy of the Book of Mormon. We read Alma 7:11-12 about Christ's Atonement and that when I have bad days, I read this scripture and take solace in the fact that at least Christ knows how I'm feeling. We kept talking, and we got to a stop and he said, "I need to get off here" but then didn't get off. We kept talking and we came to our stop for our apartment and we didn't get off.
We ended up riding until the end of the line together (only a few stops further). We got out and we 3 sat down on a bench and talked for over an hour and got home late.
I have never had a more personal and raw connection with someone. Rodnan was hurting. He asked us why we were talking to him. He said "There are so many more people out there that have it worse than me. Why are you talking to me?". We told him that he is a son of a loving heavenly father who loves him dearly. We told him of Jesus Christ who came and suffered for him personally so that he could one day have the chance to come back. That no matter what happens, no matter what decisions are made, no matter how angry he gets, God will not stop loving him.
He told us he has no friends and we told him he had us two now. That because he's important to God that makes him important to us. That yeah, though there may be others out there that need more than he does, he was there right then, and he was listening. We read several more scriptures out of the Book of Mormon and he felt the spirit. He was deeply touched, and struggled to wrap his head around the fact that people were expressing love for him.
His entire countenance changed. He went from angry, pouting, moody, bitter and hateful to laughing, smiling, and joking. He became a different person. His hood came down and we walked together to head home. We taught him that he can find out for himself, directly from God which church is true. We promised him the same feelings of peace, love, and joy that he felt then forever if he would read and pray and ask.
He has no phone. He's most likely homeless. He said he had an apartment but would not give us his address because he didn't know if he would be there in a few days. We wrote all of our info in the cover of his Book of Mormon, my number, the address of the church, and when Service starts. I pray he comes on sunday.
I'm not exaggerating that he made my entire mission worth it. If I see not an ounce of success for the entire rest of my mission, it's been worth it. As we parted, I gave him a hug and I won't forget the smile on his face.
I know this gospel is true. I know that Jesus Christ, our older brother descended from his Throne in heaven to be born as a helpless infant. I know he lived, struggled, and overcame even sin and death for each of us so that each of us can come home to our Heavenly parents. I know he knows our pains and our struggles. I know that he loves us.
I know that the gospel changes lives. It's changed mine. I literally cannot express or fathom how much I have grown and how much my already good life is better because of this gospel and because of my savior. I watched the Holy Spirit change a life on Monday. Honestly, the spirit also probably saved a life.
I'm grateful and honored to be a missionary. I am thankful for the opportunity to represent Jesus Christ and speak where he needs the gospel to be spoken, love where he needs to show love, and minister where he needs Ministering. This is truly the greatest work there is to do.
To anyone who is still reading, thanks. Sorry this got so long, but man, this week was amazing.
I love you all!! So does your Savior!! I wish you all the best week ever!
Liebe Grüße
Elder Harps
Pics:
Us and the Rodriguez's
Last District Meeting and (rained out) Street Display of the transfer!
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