Week 43: Mannheim!

What can I say, besides the smell of sewage in Mannheim is going to be a great adventure.  I am so excited to get to work here.  The people on the streets are just so happy and open, and actually will talk to you if you try, which is awesome.  The ward is also great.  My German will need some good practice and studying to build it back up after being in an American area so long, but it is going to be fabulous :) 

This last week has been a crazy rush to get things packed and ready to move to Mannheim, and I was lucky enough to get super sick right before transfers; throwing up two days straight makes things a little trickier to pack, that's for sure.  But, with some prayers and blessings from the elders, we were able to get everything packed up, and we headed out to transfers on Thursday!  PHEW!  (haha)  Then we had some train strikes going on, but through time we found a train that took us to our new area ... MANNHEIM! :) 

I am so excited to work here.  My new companion, Sister Morse, is on FIRE!  She is happy and positive and such a great, hard worker.  I am excited to get some good contacting done with her!  

Something cool that they do in this area is in the night, the missionaries call each other and talk about their success for the day.  I really love that because it can be as simple as, "We had a great appointment with so and so ...", to "I didn't get lost today!"  (haha)  That one is always a goal to try to reach :)  But, I think it is fantastic to look at the positives in the days. 

Well, as crazy of a week as it was, I don't have a whole lot to update on for this week.  I sure hope you all have a great week! 

Sister Brown

 

 Mannheim! 

 

Week 42: Goodbye Wiesbaden ... and Hello MANNHEIM!

Transfers came around again this week and I am finally leaving Wiesbaden.  I have served here for over half my Mission, so it will be a weird change, but I am very excited :)

 

The weeks on the Mission go way too fast, but so many things happen during the weeks.  We had so many member appointments this week; working with families and how they can do missionary work. 

 

Sister Peterson and I were headed to an appointment yesterday, and in a bit of a rush ...  But, then we looked over and saw this old man and woman, and he looked up and saw us and got the biggest smile on his face.  I was trying to figure out if they were members or not because he came right over.  Hearing him speaking and seeing how he acted, I could tell he was a little handicapped.  It was so sweet ... He gave Sister Peterson and I a hug and then waved goodbye to us.  But, I just felt all warm inside and happy.  He was so sweet.  He ended up getting on the same bus as us, and as we walked out he shouted, "Goodbye!" to us, waving his hands big for us to see.  I loved it.  That made my day! 

 

I have seen a lot of blessings this week.  I managed to lose my wallet on the bus this week, and as bad as it was, I now look back and realize it could have been a lot worse!  I now see that even though I didn't realize it, I was being prompted by the Holy Ghost to clean out my wallet.  I had feelings this last month that I was gonna loose my purse or get robbed, but I ignored that warning the first few times thinking I was just over reacting.  But, then through members bringing it up during appointments and more promptings, I sat down and pulled out my passport, home credit cards, drivers license, and basically anything I didn't need at that exact moment.  When my wallet went missing, I lost a few hard to replace items, but they are not impossible to replace.  I just have to say how grateful I am for the "voice of warning" that the Holy Ghost can give.  I have a testimony and I KNOW that if we are listening, He can and will guide and warn us.  But, it is when we ignore that "voice of warning", and try to shut it out, that through time it stops speaking to us. 

 

Also, we have been giving a member in the ward the 'new member' lessons because he was recently baptized in the states, and he wanted to talk about temples.  So, I was reading the temple book to find things to teach, but what came to mind was in one of the first pages ...  That having a goal of the temple can help you on that long, and sometimes painful, repentance process.  My thoughts , "The Temple is a PERFECT excuse to repent!"  If you are continually going to the temple and making plans to visit, you want to make sure your life is in order so that you can go.  I just think that is a blessing, plus it is funny because I look for excuses a lot in life.  But, to find an excuse to do good is just kinda humorous :)

 

Well, my next post will include pictures from Mannheim!  I hope you have an awesome week!

Tschuss!!

Sister Brown

 

Found an Imbiss stand ... too bad it was CLOSED!

Week 41: HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!

I hope everyone had an amazing Mother's Day!  I know I did!  It was so fun getting to speak to the family!  It is weird being on a Mission and seeing your family grow up!

 Mother's Day Skype!!!

Well, this week has been fun!  I got to speak in sacrament for Mother's Day, which I think was a first for me.  I tried to be funny, but then no one really laughed, so I gave up on that (haha).  But, then after I got a ton of compliments on it, so that made me feel good.  But, it was actually a really cool topic on how the Gospel helps mothers, and it just made me think about how grateful I am to have grown up in the Gospel, and had the example of my amazing mom in my life.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ has so many promised blessings if we follow the commandments and His plan for us.  He has promised that we can have peace and comfort, revelation and warnings, it is a fortification against evil, salvation for our families, and it gives correct principles to help teach children and to learn and grow as a family.  I just think that is really neat and special.  I am so grateful for my mom, and all moms around.  They are amazing :)

We have had quite the busy week this week with a lot of member appointments, and also having Zone Training to talk about how we can be better missionaries.  It was really great.  I enjoy learning and remembering tools that we have and how to use our time better.

We have had so many eating appointments that we haven't had to buy groceries in like 3 weeks, which is fabulous!  I love the ward here; they are so wonderful!  It will be crazy to see how the ward changes this summer because this is the time where many families move back to the states, or other countries, and new families come in.  They call it PCS season, so we will see what happens with the ward.

Transfer calls are on Saturday, which is crazy to think that Sister Peterson and I have been together now for 12 whole weeks! (haha)  Time flies when you are having fun serving the Lord :)

Well, I will keep this post a little short due to lack of time, but I hope you all have a great week!

Stay safe!

Sister Brown

 Selfie ... on top of a Castle!

 ​St. Valentine Cathedral ... from around 1400's

​Burg Königstein im Taunus Castle

 ​Roman Theaters

 Selfie with me and Sister Peterson :)

Week 40: MAY DAY!!!

So here in Germany they actually celebrate on the first of May and call it:  MAY DAY!  Basically it is like a Labor Day, but ya, kinda fun to learn the traditions of other countries. 

 

I hope everyone's week was awesome!  We had a great week!  I even got to have pork burgers yesterday!  They were fabulous!  I came to the realization that it had been 9 months since I have eaten a hamburger!!!!! (haha)  CRAZY! 

 

We continue to teach people in the ward German, which is fun and a struggle all at the same time (haha).   I have found that I can carry on a conversation in German with just about anything, but then when you ask me grammar questions, or why you say things the way you do, I can honestly say I have no clue (haha).  Just do it.  Just like how we speak English ... you say things the way you do because that's how it is.  To say, "I am" and "He is" is the same principle in German ... "Ich bin" and "Er ist" (haha).  Kinda tricky.

 

Anyways, we also got to go to the Temple this week and it reminded me that the Payson temple is finished, and probably just about ready to be dedicated and fully open ready for business.  Sister Peterson and I were working on some family history - trying to learn how to do it so we could teach some members how to do it - and it made me wonder how many names are done in a single temple each day?  Well, we have 144 temples!  (or around there, at least)  But, really do we realize how much work is being done DAILY with our ancestors??  It is insane and so dang cool!  I was fascinated to think about that.  It made me have a greater desire to do my own Family History to bring names to the temple :)  It is awesome the resources we have!

 

Well, the American Ward has kept us busy this last week with many appointments and people to "go by" on, so that was great.  And, this week we have many families leaving and moving in, so that is exciting and that means more work for us.  YAY!  Time to get buff and use our muscles (haha).

 

I've been reading in True to the Faith during studies and I have to say, I really enjoy that book.  It helps you when you want to study deeper on one topic, such as faith or obedience or agency, etc.  I was studying about the priesthood because there is so much that I don't comprehend, and I am sure that is the same for a lot of people.  Those of you who have the priesthood, I am truly grateful that you are worthy to hold it and I hope you realize the blessing and responsibility you have on your shoulders, and the power of the Spirit that you have.  I am grateful to all of you! 

 

Well, I will stop preaching for now (haha) but, I hope you all have a great week!  Stay safe, and for those of you who forgot ...  It is Mothers' Day on Sunday! (haha) so tell your mom you love them. 

I LOVE YOU MOM ;)

 

Sister Brown

 

Sister Brown ... Das Buch Mormon

Sitting waiting for a train, but ... WHERE IS GLEIS  (Lane 3)?

 

Going for a swim in the baptismal font ... jk