Germany Berlin Mission (July 2009 - June 2012): December 2011

Saturday, December 31, 2011

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

Elder and Sister Thurgood

have just arrived from Blackfoot, Idaho.

They are happy to be in Germany and we are happy they are here.

They will be serving in the Leipzig Center

for Young Adults and are examples of "believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity." 1 Timothy 4:12

Friday, December 30, 2011

"The Advent of Miracles" Miracles

The missionaries reported the stories of the miracles they experienced during "Der Advent der Wunder". Here are just a very few of them:

Nineteen investigators and five members who come less often showed up to the first Sacrament Meeting of the Advent der Wunder. (Elder Harris)
Four Elders had one hour to go finding before their appointments started. Before they left the car they prayed that both companionships could make out an appointment before they got to the Institute Center, a five minute walk from the car. They talked to everyone they saw we made out four APPOINTMENTS in the matter of 20 minutes. (Elder Voran & Elder Wilson)
The Elders asked a member family what street they should knock on doors. They ended up having a walk-in appointment and later made another appointment out on the same street. The Elders also received a phone call from someone who found the pass along card in her mail box, a street the Elders did not go to. They found members had been passing the cards out. (Elder Van Miltenburg)
While getting off a bus, Sister Kitterman and Sister Martinz felt they needed to give a pass along card to a man and invite him to church. The following Sunday he showed up at church, he really liked it and the Sisters set an appointment to start teaching him.
Elders set four baptismal dates! They also had an investigator and his family make it to church even though they had to take a train and then a taxi. (Elder Jake Walter)
Elder Carlson said that four wonderful friends decided to follow our Savior and be baptized, all of which were baptized. The people the Elders work with are amazing and Elder Carlson knows that God is a God of Miracles.

Sister Risenmay sums up the feelings of the missionaries: “I think that the best part of the Der Advent der Wunder is how it basically opened our eyes to the miracles we are already receiving and that we continue to receive. It was a time to… focus on Christ and to exercise our faith…that not only would we see miracles, but our investigators would too. It was an amazing Christmas season.”

Zone Leader Council in Hannover

Zone Leaders

Top row: Elders Tanner, Thorley (assistant), Johnson, Evans

Künzli, C. Walter

Middle row: Lersch, Skoczylis, Koppe, Ramage, Ott (assistant)

Wagley, M. Smith

Front row: Carlson, McCann, Harris, President Pimentel

Pierson, Liechty

“…I am ready to preach the gospel to you…For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth.” Romans 1:15, 16

Thursday, December 29, 2011

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

Elder Taylor, Elder Park, Sister Madsen

These terrific missionaries have worked hard and have

been examples for us.

"For my soul delighteth in the scriptures, and my heart pondereth them...

my soul delighteth in the things of the Lord..." 2 Nephi 4:15, 16

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

Elders Andersen, Carter, Künzle

Sisters Dean, Zoung, Curtis, Abamonte, Noyes

Müller, Warncke

The new missionaries have arrived and they are great!

We look forward to getting to know them and working with them.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

"How Beautiful Upon the Mountains"

“How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him that bringeth good tidings, that publisheth peace; that bringeth good tidings of good, that publisheth salvation; that saith unto Zion, Thy God reigneth!”

Isaiah 52:7

“No one is more beautiful or more blessed than those who serve God by preaching and exemplifying the truth. It is the most sanctifying and beautifying labor of all! . . “The feet, the voices, the faces, and the whole being of those preachers who share saving truths will always be precious and beautiful to new converts…In the eyes of those who have learned of Christ and of his power to save, there are few if any blemishes in the missionaries who walked long distances to bring the gospel message”.

Elder Carlos E. Asay The Seven M’s of Missionary Service

Thank you for the love and support that you give your missionary.

It means the world to them and to us as well.

Monday, December 19, 2011

"Well Done, Good and Faithful Servant" Matt. 25:2

Sister Chase has completed her mission and is returning home to Hawaii.
She has been in the right place at the right time to meet needs in
the Hungary Budapest Mission and the Germany Frankfurt Mission
as well as the Germany Berlin Mission. Thanks for
being an answer to our prayers.

Saturday, December 17, 2011

Christmas Zone Conference Overview

Spending time with the missionaries during the Christmas Season is one of our favorite things to do. Each meeting we attended, the sweet Spirit of Christmas was strong. We heard many of the miracles that the missionaries are experiencing in their areas. The new and finishing missionaries bore their witness that Jesus is the Christ. Zone Leaders taught the missionaries they work with and the Assistants shared an overview of the miracles that have taken place in the mission as a whole. It has been "The Advent of Miracles!"

Ward and branch members in the Berlin, Hannover, Hamburg and Leipzig areas prepared a special meal for us. They set up, prepared the food, served and cleaned up. They are the angels President Uchtdorf spoke of who are in our own neighborhood and give loving service.

The afternoon was celebrated with a gift exchange, family traditions of singing carols and ringing hand bells. President and Sister Pimentel shared Christmas stories and messages of giving and of love ("...remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35). Numerous missionaries have heavenly musical talents and we were uplifted as they shared their gifts. At the conclusion we all simply sat and enjoyed the sweet Spirit before the search began for Christmas gifts. It was a joyous week.