Sunday Meetings with the Tiergarten Ward, Berlin Stake

Sebastian is pictured with Elder & Sister

Nelson. He was baptized one year ago!

A comment was heard from a ward member

directed to Sister Nelson, "Having you in this

ward has made all the difference for me." It

was sweet.

Miracle:

Elder Torninian and Elder Bergeson, while going through the Area Book, saw the name, Denise. They called her and she was more than willing to talk with them, an answer to her prayer and theirs. It was a joyous day to have her and her young daughter at church. President was asked to confirm her.

The Sisters taught a great Relief Society lesson too!

Elder Torninian, Elder Bergeson

President & Sister Pimentel

Sister Jensen, Sister Stewart

Zone Leader Council in Hannover

Zone Leaders learn from each other and ROLE PLAY

Elders: Bergeson, Torniainen (Berlin), Rückauer, Grange (Dresden), Jaramillo, Ellsworth (Hannover), Ulrich, Klein (Hamburg), Hale, Walter (Leipzig), Papeo, VanDenBerghe (Neubrandenburg), Schäffner, Tjaden (Neumünster), Schimpf, Stevenson (Oldenburg)

"Rejoice, for the Hour of Your Mission is Come..." D&C 31:3

March Goldens

Front: Elders Voran, Henderson, Patterson, Gibson

Center: Sisters Klay, Uhlig, Szvoboda, Bush

Back: Elders Crowther, Lloyd, Elmer, Blauer, Cox, Frame

Riesen, Kalkbrenner, Walter, Owen, Wittwer, Robinson

(With all of the excitement Elder Smith is not pictured, but

he is here!)

Sister and President Pimentel

Elder Smith and Elder Park

A photo is taken of each Golden with his Trainer.

It is great to see them so happy.

We greet the new missionaries before those finishing have even flown out! It takes quite a bit of planning to get the details to work out. With the going and coming of 36 missionaries it takes several trips to the airport (beginning at 5 AM), 4 vehicles (including a van), over 100 pieces of luggage and many willing helpers.

The Goldens are checked in at the office, fed a light lunch, take short naps (while waiting for their interview with President Pimentel) and go street contacting after the welcome dinner. Thursday morning they visit Mauerplatz (place of the Wall) which is 10 mins. from the mission home. There they learn a little history of the mission and have a quiet moment to talk with the Lord as they begin their missions. We have lunch together with the trainers, have Golden Conference and give companionship assignments, take photos and off they go to the train station, a 5 min. walk from the Lankwitz Chapel. Whew! We love it!

A Hint of Spring!

"Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant" - Matt. 25:23

Finishers - March 2011

Front: Elders Downing, Corey, Liston, McClellan, Olsen, Briggs

Back: Elder & Sister Christian, Elders Foutz, Skidmore

Brechbühl, Roden, Sinclaire, Jensen, Bordas

What a sweet experience to hear the testimonies of 15 missionaries who have served the Lord in this mission. They testify that God lives, that Jesus is the Christ, that the Gospel of Jesus Christ has been restored and that there is a living prophet on the earth today. They have talked to thousands, taught countless lessons and baptized many wonderful people who are now blessing the wards and branches where they live.

Elder and Sister Christian have worked together in two small branches of the Church. Sister Christian said they have loved seeing the Atonement work in the lives of the members and witnessing the light that comes into their lives. What a joy it is to see so many grow in the Gospel and receive all the blessings the Gospel has to offer. Members of these small branches pray for senior couple missionaries to come and offer their support.

Transition in the Office

President Pimentel with assistants: Elder Allenbach

Elder Hamilton, Elder Schär

Elder Allenbach has been a terrific assistant for the

last 6 months. He is looking forward to training

a Golden in Halle. Elder Schär arrives to the office as assistant

just in time to help Elder Hamilton with transfer week and

Goldens arriving.

Oldenburg District Conference

Elder Kerr, Area 70 from Scotland, visited the

Oldenburg District Conference. Here are

a few of the Elders who were there.

We had a great conference.

Cultural Center where the District Conference was held.

View of a church across the street from

the cultural center.

"Rejoice, for the Hour of Your Mission is Come..." D&C 31:3

Sister & Elder McClellan

arrived this morning in Berlin. Tomorrow they

will begin their service in Prenzlau and Eberswalde!

Elder and Sister McClellan planned to serve a mission

years ago but delay after delay brought them to Germany

at exactly the time the Lord needed them to be here.

Elder McClellan served a full time mission in West Germany and

has taught German for 22 years. Sister McClellan was born in

East Germany in the city of Chemnitz. Her family suffered many

tragedies of the war but escaped and immigrated to the USA.

They are thrilled to be here and we are thrilled to have them.

Bremen Ward Open House

Elder Roden and Elder Barnes invited us to

attend the Bremen Ward open house. They have a

lovely ward building and lovely ward members.

We enjoyed meeting those who wanted to know more about the Gospel

of Jesus Christ. A question/answer panel discussion was held as well.

We also enjoyed a quick walk through the historic downtown area.

You can see the Grimm's Fairytale, Town Musicians of Bremen statue.

"Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant" - Matt. 25:23

Sister and Elder Muhlestein

Elder and Sister Muhlestein started their mission in the Germany Berlin Mission and completed it in the Germany Frankfurt Mission. They served in Nordhausen their entire time but were part of the mission boundary change.

At one point in their mission they felt a strong need to teach a family history class to the branch members. When no one came, they went from house to house, one by one, teaching branch members family history. A marvelous work was done and the "fire of their faith" has touched the lives of many.

Sunday Meetings with the Magdeburg Branch, Leipzig Stake

Elder Park, Elder Ririe, President & Sister Pimentel

Sister Lederer, Sister Kitterman

After meetings were over President and Sister Pimentel

did specialized training with these great missionaries.

Notice the Plan of Salvation on the wall in the

background. The missionaries love teaching about the purpose of life

and who we are. Their message gives us hope and helps us find

peace, joy, and happiness.

Zone Leader Council with Elder & Sister Weidmann

Zone Leader Council - Berlin

Front: Elders Hale, McClellan, Allenbach, Hamilton

Elder & Sister Weidmann, Sister & President Pimentel

Elders Papeo, Ellsworth

Back: Elders Jaramillo, Rückauer, Pauli, Schäffner, Schär

Ulrich, Grange, Sonderegger, Klein, Schimpf

Torniainen, Bergeson

Zone Leader Council was extra special because Elder & Sister Weidmann, (Q. of the 70) were visiting with us. Elder Allenbach, assistant, conducted the meeting. He did a great job.

"Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant" - Matt. 25:23

Elder Matthew Smith

Elder Smith's Miracle: Elder Smith and his companion, Elder Tanner, talked to a lady on the street. She had briefly talked to missionaries three times before but when Elder Smith and Elder Tanner talked to her she felt she should listen. She had been attending a Bible study class but as she read the Book of Mormon, she felt its warmth and gained a testimony. It was four weeks from the time she started lessons to her baptism. Elder Smith had previously extended his mission and was privileged to baptize her.