Week 9: German Chocolate ... 'nough said!

I have had way way too many sweets in the last couple days and it has been wonderful - ha ha.  We bought Peachio Ring candy last P-day and I was eating them.  I asked my companion, "Man, have you had these before?" She then asked, "Are they Haribo?" (obviously referring to the brand)  I replied, "No!  They are DELICIOUS!!" (thinking she said, "horrible")  Ha ha ha ... we had a good laugh about that one.   We have done so much walking this week, it has been insane.  But, at the same time, it's a blessing.  I need some way to work off all this sugar.

 

We have quite a few investigators in our books.  We have 5 right now, and we have one whose name is Nelie and she is from Africa.  She totally committed to baptism this week!!!  It was so amazing!  I am so excited for her!  She just visited Africa this last month and asked if she could take a couple Book of Mormons to her family and friends.  She handed out like 5 or 6, which is just amazing!  I am so excited for her.

 

We have a sister in the Ward named Sister Loredo.  I am not sure if I have spoken about her, but let's just say first off ... she is AMAZING!   But, she speaks German like super super fast because she is from Columbia.  So, she called on Thursday on the German phone (which I normally try to avoid), but my companion was in the bathroom, so I paced a couple times back and forth deciding if I was going to answer it.  I did and MENSCH (man!), it was hard to understand her, but I DID IT!  We talked for like 15 minutes ... it was crazy.  I didn't understand everything, but I understood what she needed and we planned a meeting with her.  I'm pretty proud of myself.  My companion came and laughed at me because she heard me pacing before I answered the phone.

 

You always hear of America being the 'Giant Melting Pot'.  I think they are getting mixed up with Germany ... there are so many people from all over the world here.  This makes it a little hard tracting because you finally get the courage to go up and speak to someone in German and then they say, "I don't understand you."  Or, "Oh, you're American ... I know English!"  Bunches of stuff ... it is interesting.  But, yesterday I was sitting across from this guy and I kept chickening out to say something, but I finally said, "Wie geht ist ihnen? (how are you)"  He was like, "I don't speak German," BUT ... that was in English!  So I then asked, "Where are you from?" and he said, "Croatia!"  So cool!  We had an awesome talk on religion, so that was amazing and I'm glad I didn't wimp out to talk to him.

I will be getting my Visa on November 3 and then I can apply for a drivers license in Germany.  That is exciting that I am slowly, but surely getting things done.  I guess there are elders that have had to wait for a year before they are approved,  so I'm pretty lucky.

Well, this week flew by, but many blessings have come throughout the week.  I am so grateful to serve here and I can't wait for the next year and a half.  Something to remember in the week:  Smile!  The easiest missionary work is smiling.  You never know who is watching you and you might be busy in life, but you can never be too busy to smile.  People notice, I promise.  Also, one other cool thing I read in studies:  God has a perfect plan for his imperfect people!  We are imperfect, but through Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, we are saved, and that is the perfect plan that He has given us.  Have an amazing week, everyone!

Tscuss!

Sister Brown

 

 

View from my bedroom!

 My District:  Elder Anderson (top left) Elder Schmidt (German native, middle left), Elder Swallow (bottom left), Elder Malansen (top right), and my awesome companion, Sister Taylor (bottom right).

 ​Dinner of Champions ... waffles, Nutella and syrup!  Mmmmmm!

Week 8: WAS IST LOSS, VON DEUTSCHLAND!

The weeks seem to fly even faster here in the mission field than in the MTC, which is crazy!  Germany is as amazing as ever!  We had so many great appointments this week!  We had a bit of an interesting time with transportation on Saturday, though ... 

We went to a small town about a half hour from Weisbaden to knock on a door that was a referral.  We took a train and then walked about 20 minutes to her house.  She wasn't there, so we left a note.  Then we walked back to the train station to buy a ticket, and the machine took no change and we only had cash.  The pick-up spot was super small, so there were no people there.  So, we walked around town looking for an open store to see if we could change money.  Well, if you don't know this, on Saturday afternoons everything closes because it is their 'holiday'.  So, we walked for about a half hour and then found a bus stop going back to where we lived, but they only came once an hour.  Luckily, it came in FIVE MINUTES!!  Ha ha ... so happy!  My companion was getting annoyed at this point, so that helped.  Then the bus was also FREE because the machine wasn't working to take cash!  Ha ha ... even better!!  THEN I GOT ICE CREAM!  That was after we got off that bus to wait for another one and I told my companion, "At least it is not raining!" and then she was like, "I love the rain!"  So, you know what happened?  It rained!  So so much!!  Oh well, at least my companion was happy.  Then we went to the military base (!!) and the bus driver said he stopped at the right stop we needed.  Yea ... false!  We ended up walking in the open fields to get to the army base for about a mile.  My companion looked at me and said, "Don't you feel like a missionary now?"  I laughed and was like, "Yea, actually I do!"  While we walked, a middle-eastern looking man stopped in his van and told us to get in and he would give us a ride.  Don't worry, we didn't get in.  That was fun ...  We went to the army base and helped a less active member paint their house and flew to our next appointment.  By this point it was 6:30 p.m. and I still hadn't eaten since 11:00 in the morning.  Anyway, we were late to the next appointment because we missed our bus.  Then during the appointment I looked outside and it looked like a tsunami of a storm!  It was crazy!  There was so much lightening!  The member gave us chocolate cake and we waited a bit for it to calm down, but it was 8:40 p.m., so we had to go face the storm.  My companion was like, "The lightening is SO COOL!! and CLOSE!"  I was speed walking, singing primary songs ... Not a huge fan of lightening!  We got in the bus and I was like, "Man, we are safe," and my companion was like, "How are we safe in a big metal bus?" Ha ha ... mensch.  But, we made it home safe and sound.  That was my adventurous story of the week!

Germany is so great, and I love it so so much!  It gets sketchy at times, but God watches over his missionaries.  Something I read this week was a talk by Gordon B. Hinckley and it said simply, "Forget yourself and get to work."  It is so important for me to remember that this is not my time and this is not my work; this is the work of God.  How easy would it be for Him with a snap of his finger to have everyone believe.  But, that is not his desire.  We have agency to choose for ourselves what we want in this life, and I just think it is so cool that we have that choice.  I know that He is opening the hearts of Deutschland.  These people are just so wonderful and even though they are grumpy sometimes, I still love them.

PIZZA STORY!  This is my witness that God has a sense of humor AND answers prayers ... We had an appointment with a less active member and I heard that she cooked really weird food, which I was not excited about.  I was really hungry and getting dizzy because my lunch wasn't the best.  So I murmured, "Man, I just really want a pizza."  We walked into the appointment and she had forgotten about us, so she was like, "I can whip something up fast," and then she brought out ... PIZZA!!  My companion laughed so hard.  We had a dinner appointment, too, and I got pizza AGAIN!!!  Heavenly Father loves me  :)

This last week I had an 'eating appointment' with two ward members, the Walters, and the whole meeting was in German.  It was so hard!!  We were there for 3 hours, and they were the most wonderful people.  It was just so home-like being there, and I had some good conversations with them, from the things I understood. 

Well, I think I've talked all your ears off again, so I'll end this week's letter with the wise words of Earth, Wind and Fire:  When you feel down and out, sing a song, it will make things better!  Have an amazing week!  You guys are all in my prayers! 

Tscuss!

Sister Brown

Week 7: HALLO VON WEISBADEN!!!

Oh my goodness, Germany is just WUNDERBAR!:  Wonderful!!

I can't even believe that I am here.  There is so much that has happened in the last couple days that everything feels like a blur, but I will try to keep you updated the best that I can!  So, for starters ... I handed out two Book of Mormons on my first day!!  Whoo hoo!!!  So exciting!  The first one was actually a small English one I got from the book store and it was to a man from BRAZIL!  Yup, good thing I know all of two sentences in Portuguese.  That was fun!  We talked to a Jehovah's Witness and man, those guys are so strong in what they believe.  But, he was very nice.  He said I needed to become like him ...  Ha ha, it was funny.

I love the people here so so much already; they are just so wonderful!  They are a little bit of  'grumpy elves', but that's okay, I can fix that.  I smile at people on the street and they kinda stare at me ... funny stuff.  I said, "Hi, how are you today?" to a lady on the bus and she was like, "Do I know you?"  Apparently you don't say that to people unless you know them.  But then I told her I was an American, and she understood.  Also, an old lady at a bus-stop was talking to us, and she looked at me and talked to me for a while about how pretty I was.  Ha ha ... she was sooo cute, and little.  It was happy.

Apparently we have the nicest apartment in the Zone!!!!  SAY WHAAAA!!?!  Blessings are everywhere.  The only "flaw" is it is on the fifth floor with no elevator.  So, that's a happy workout for me!  It'll keep me from getting fat with all the chocolate I'm eating here!  It is cloudy and sorta rainy every day, so that will be something I'll have to get used to, but it'll be a great experience.

We have 6 people in Weisbaden:  4 elders (two are in the American Army ward), the other two are out on the streets, and we sisters cover both areas, which is quite a lot to do!  I am also a Zone leader on my first transfer, although that doesn't mean too much.  It just means I get a phone, but it is hard because everyone calls in German!  We only have one elder that is a native from Germany.  He is so funny.  When Sister Taylor and I have a conversation with someone on the trains when he is there, he watches me and laughs because I just kinda smile and nod my head and pretend like I know what they are saying, when he knows I don't have a clue!

So ...  The first night in the apartment I was plugging in my electric blanket.  I had some converters, so I was all set.  My companion asked if I was going to use a surge protector.  I said, "I don't think I need one," and she was like, "Um, ya ... I'm not sure."  Well, yup ... we needed one!  The power shut off in our room and my blanket is now DOA (dead).  Whoops ... lesson learned there!

OH!  Best part ever!  I got to see Elder Ballard TWICE in my FIRST WEEK!!   It was so beyond amazing! The first time was with the 250 missionaries in Frankfurt in a small church, and I was in the 4th row!!  It was my 3rd day and I was so tired, and I think he knew because I swear he looked right at me a couple times.  I tried to keep my eyes open as wide as I could.  Wow, it was just amazing!

I know now more than ever this is where I am supposed to be.  The Mission is just so wonderful already.  I know I still don't speak well, but it is just so fun!  We have a sister from COLUMBIA(!) and everyone can't understand her, so I spoke to her in Spanish.  It was awesome!  I don't speak very good Spanish, but I understood her and she got so excited.  She was so sweet.  Trains are a way of life here ... and buses.  I just hope I can catch onto how they work and don't get lost.  But I love talking to people on the bus because, well, they can't really run from you for at least a stop or two!  The only thing I miss from the US so far is water and milk, other than that Germany is so much cooler.

Oh! ... and last thing for this email.  I got to see a baptism on Saturday, so that was great.  They don't baptize too much here, but we can change that!!  These people are so great and they don't know it but, they are ready to hear the Gospel.  I am so blessed to be here.  Everyone in my Zone is excellent and I am just so blessed to be here.  Well, I'm sure I've talked your ears off.  For those who read the whole blog ... GOOD JOB!  Sorry if I'm super boring.  I hope everyone has a great week and if you need something to read, read:  Alma 34 ... serious life-changing stuff in there for me.

TSCUSS!!!

Sister Brown

Week 6: Sister Brown Arrived!

"We are happy to report that Sister Jordan Marie Brown arrived safely today.  Sister Stoddard and I met all the new missionaries at the Frankfurt airport, and your daughter looked good and was happy to be here. 

We are always grateful to have new missionaries come into the field as they bring a sense of excitement and a spirit of great faith.  It inspires and energizes the whole mission ..."

 

Week 5: HALLO! What an amazing final week in the MTC!

What an amazing final week in the MTC!

 

I CANNOT believe next Tuesday I'll be flying out to Deutschland!  Crazy stuff!!!  I am so beyond excited!  I am sure as soon as I get off the plan and someone tries to speak to me auf Deutsch that my mind is gonna explode!

 

We had a really great devotional Tuesday night from President Don R. Clark of the Seventy.  He spoke of how important converts are to us and the first thing you should do in a new area is find the converts from the last two years.  These are people that had a full change in their lives and that came unto Christ, and we need to make sure that we are helping them endure to the end.  Baptism is not the end; it's not even close.  You have your whole life to work on ... to go through repentance processes, to go to the temple to be sealed, so many wonderful things.  I am excited to go speak to those who had a change of heart and help them continue onward.  If you baptize someone but then never follow up on them again, they will slowly fall away again and then the whole process you made was pointless if they can't endure to the end.  Help them have the right tools!

 

I have had so many amazing spiritual experiences this week.  One of our 'investigators', her name is Michaela, she didn't see why we needed God.  We had a lot of different meetings with her and just tried to show her why and how God loved her, and she was so stubborn.  But one day we asked, "We keep telling you these important things and we have asked you to pray for yourself.  What have you felt or have you tried to know for yourself if this is true?"  She said, "I was laying in bed thinking about how good I felt when you sisters talked to me and how I feel happy when I read.  I couldn't figure out why I was fighting so hard to not believe, and then a thought came:  'Stop Fighting'.  I know what you tell me is true."  Then I invited her to be baptized and she said,  "Yes."  These feelings are the highest for me and I just need to really remember them when I get over to Germany!

 

Everyone is freaking out to be flying to Germany.  They are so nervous over what they've packed and if they will have time to pack.  I personally am not too worried because I'm basically done packing.  I feel like my mom, going through things multiple times to make sure all is well  :)

 

One last funny thing to end this blog with a smile ... Friday night was 'pizza night', which I was super happy about!  Ich liebe Papa Johns!  We were getting closer to the front and I saw an elder take the last pepperoni pizza (for those who don't know me well, I'm kinda picky and love pepperoni pizza) ...  I was so upset because then they replaced it with an olive pizza.  I murmered to myself, "Man, the world just hates me!"  As soon as I got up to get my pizza, they pulled out a brand new fresh just pizza for me ... yay!  I TAKE EVERYTHING BACK ... the world does love me!!!  So, I'm making a new goal to be more positive from now on.

 

Well, I think that is all for now ... Next letter from me will come from DEUTSCHLAND!!!  WHOOHOO!!

 

Till Next Time ... Tschuss!

 

Sister Brown