July 13, 2015
DIRNDLS ARE HERE.
That alone is a sign that the time is flying. Ok,
it is only July, but already there are dirndl and lederhosen appearing.
Oktoberfest is still far away, but slooooowly approaching. Haha across from the
institute center here in the city there is a "T.K Max, aka the German
version of T.J. Max in the states. So of course in Germany you can just buy a
dirndl at TK Max like it's no big deal.
I tried some on this morning!! I love Germany!
So the best part of the week was probably Thursday, our zone
conference WITH PRESIDENT FINGERLE. It was here in Leipzig. We were all just
sittin there chillin and then he walked in with his wife and some kids. GEHT'S
LOS. His son is a recent RM, and the two of his four daughters they are
16 and 9. That alone was really different. But I love them already! They are gentle
and strong in the spirit. It was so fun learning about them and just hearing
form them! It was an awesome meeting. And it was all in German!!! I loved that
part. They are really focused on the family, and getting people soon to the
temple after baptism. I am down! Oh man, it was a great day. Good times were
had by all.
Soooo we performed again what we did in church two weeks ago. Elder
Clarke on piano, Sister Reed on violin, and then I sang with an Elder in my
zone. We really only practiced all together for about 20 minutes before we had
to be sitting down, but it was cool. We went at the beginning thank goodness.
mensch it was already nerve wracking performing in front of a small mass of
missionaries, but then standing right in front of my new Mission President made
it that much better! haha it was gooooooood. The spirit was there to calm
my voice, and to touch the hearts of those there.
Something else President and Sister Fingerle talked about was making
1% changes in our work and habits. We can't expect to change overnight, but
great change will come over time with small degrees of change right now. They
referenced that talk by President Uchtdorf, in which he talked about the planes
and changing their direction by only a few degrees, then getting way off down
the journey as a result. This piece of advice was an answer to my prayers this
week. Recently I have been feeling like I just need to be different in so many
aspects of my missionary life. I just want to be better, but of course when one
takes on the task to be a "new me" frustration will come when one
fails the first few times. But you know what, that's not how we change. As we
make small changes, slowly but surely the progress will come. Nobody wants to
hear that, I personally want to be different NOW. But this week I realized that
the success comes in the progress, not just with a finished product, so to say.
Although I may not be where I want to be, I can still be successful and
effective on the way. I encourage you all to think about that and apply it to YOUR
personal journey to becoming the best you.
Sister Reed is doing well. We laugh and get along just great.
I love serving with her. She is pretty sassy which is always a good thing. We
have good times talking about everything. She always has a lot to share in comp
study, haha I could listen to her all morning. I really hope we can stay together
for a few transfers more!! Also she is a PROFI on her violin. Like for real. She
is talented.
Hardest thing this week.... Billy Idol was here Tuesday. I wanted to
go. I did. I stood outside. He was there, inside.... SO CLOSE BUT SO FAR. naja
who needs that anyway!! We can talk to people on the street outside which is
way more cool. I snatched a sweet poster from off the walls of the derelict
part of town where they were easy to rip off......
ANYWAY
So I had been feeling a bit lost for a few days in all my thoughts
and was just searching for some direction. My morning studies were going well
but I still felt a bit off. Sister Reed one morning said something about her
wanting a Priesthood blessing, and in that moment it just clicked in my head! I
needed a blessing. So later that day sweet Elder Clarke (man still so hard not
saying Jacob!!) gave us both a blessing. This week I had also been reading in
first Nephi about the Liahona. It was a little ball for goodness sake, but
because the people believed it would guide them, it had the power to bring them
counsel and direction straight from Heavenly Father. I compare this with the
blessing. I didn't need an angel to come out of heaven or anything, but when my
little (well not so little but sometimes it still feels like that) 19 year old
neighbor put his hands on my head, I KNEW and I FELT that through his
voice I was receiving counsel straight from my Father in Heaven. That was such
a spiritual moment for me, my worries were calmed and my direction became
clear. How grateful I am that through small and simple means, the Lord can bring
forth miracles in my life. I am also grateful of course for our worthy elders
who willingly and happily serve us.
I love this city more and more every day. Time is going by faster
than ever, but I am really trying to enjoy every single moment. "...men
are that they may have joy." we can endure and be happy at the same time!
I know it. I know God lives. I know Jesus is our Savior and Redeemer.
LOVE YOU
Sister Madison Mittleman
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