(Sorry the email is late! I wrote it last week but forgot to send it)
Well it's been an eventful last 2 weeks!
Transfers came and went, and I got transferred... I was not expecting that! Elder Johnson and I were expecting to stay together in Friedrichsdorf, but the Assistants called last Saturday night and told me I was heading to Kaiserslautern! I'll be spending my last 2 transfers here covering 2 wards: a German Branch and one of 3 American Military wards! We are right outside a Military base called Ramstein, which is the largest foreign based US Military base in the entire world. There are loads of Americans in this area and it's really trippy. English Church on Sunday really threw me for a loop!
I was very sad to leave Friedrichsdorf, but the Lord has helped me be really excited to be in a new Zone and area. I spent the weekend saying goodbye to a bunch of members in Friedrichsdorf who I will miss. The area was good to me and I watched the members grow a lot.
My new companion is named Elder Webster! He's from Saint George, Utah. We have hit it off incredibly well this last week and a half. He's a really good missionary and a really funny person. I'm excited to work more with him.
We have done mostly planning this last week, trying to prepare for the new transfer, the end of the year, the beginning of next year, Light the World, and figuring out what we want to do with the 2 wards we are assigned to. It's been quite exhausting! But we have been making really solid progress, and we are almost done (or so it feels like haha).
We had MLC yesterday in Frankfurt and I got to see Elder Adams again (among my other friends)! It was a really good time and a very effective council. I'm grateful for President Boyer and his leadership
One of the coolest experiences of my mission was on sunday! We stopped by President Adams' house, the Stake President for the American Military stake, so that he could meet me before he left for a training in America. After we finished our quick talk, he said Mission Prep class was going on and we were welcome to stay and participate.
We hung around and did some practices with 6 of the youth in the ward preparing to go on missions. Holy cow was it fun! The spirit was unbelievably strong as they practiced teaching us the message of the Restoration. They were so open to learning, and they were incredible teachers. I was blown away with how well they taught us.
It really really inspired me to be better with my own teaching in its simplicity. And just helped me recognize again how good and how important our message of Christ's restored church really is.
For instance in one of the practices, they taught me how to pray and then kneeled down and invited me to pray with them. I (as an investigator) first didn't understand that I was meant to say the prayer and so we waited in silence for a few seconds as we all waited for someone to speak. They realized I hadn't understood, and so they reinvited me to pray. I looked at the guide they had given me, and then told them I didn't feel comfortable praying that way, and I asked if I could try praying the way I had grown up praying, and that next time I could try their way.
The Sister looked at me and just said "No, this is how God wants you to pray. This will help you come closer to God more than anything else." I felt the spirit and said a prayer.
But what was so amazing to me was simply how often I have not done the same thing in lessons!! I wish I could say I am a perfect teacher and missionary, but all the time I will cave to awkward situations like that and just try and "ease them into it". But that's not right! What she said is true! What we have is the most important message on the earth and God's path will help people more than any other.
Life is great! I hope you all have a great week! Ich habe euch lieb!
Elder Harps
Pics:
Elder Johnson and I before transfers
MLC
Me and the Familie Lillbäck from Usingen
Elder Webster, myself, and the Bitburg Distrikt!
Elder Johnson and I with Jeremiah
Elder Adams and I at MLC!
Me with our Ward Mission Leader Jonatan
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