We had an appointment with Bürcan and Irakli (pic attached...dont know why they look so sad, theyre both hilarious) and it was amazing. Bürcan was given the Book of Mormon 3 weeks ago and he has read through to Mosia! He loves it and knows that it is true. We taught him the Word of Wisdom last week and he went from 7-8 cups of coffee a day to 0. Yeah! Anyway yesterday we taught him about the 10 commandments and keeping the sabbath day holy and the spirit was so strong. So Irakli was baptized 2 months ago...was talked to at a bus stop 3 months ago and I promise he will be a general authority. He lovest he gospel and is such a great member to have at lessons, it was such an honor to get to be the missionary to lead the discussion teaching this 30 year old man how the lord has revealed we should be living for him to bless us and to have the testimony of such a solid new convert was so amazing. Well we talked for awhile after the lesson and then we had another appointment scheduled afterwards with Maik and Robert and then they came in and Burcan and Irakli decided to stay for the lesson as well....so we talked to Maik about the word of Wisdom and talked about the stop smoking workshop...than another girl showed up who had an appointment with the Elders and she joined our discussion as well. Itw as so neat! So 3 investigators all excited about learning more about the restored gospel and a new convert and a member all talking about why we need to live the word of wisdom and the blessings we would receive for living it 100%. We all said we would be Maik's support and we would all get back together in a week to celebrate him accomplishing to quit smoking! We then called him a couple hours later to see how he was doing and he said, I just got through throwing away all my ashtrays and stuff and i was just about to read in the Book of Mormon.' Seriously....yes you just read that, there are real people like that here! All over the world ready to keep the commandments, they just need to be taught it.
It was so neat to sit next to Maik and Bürcan at church to hear them both singing the hymns and realizing the sacredness of the sacrament. They both met the bishop afterwards and both had groups of people talking to them after the meeting. They should both be coming to Family home evening tonight too...! as well as Michael who is coming back from his 2 week trip....he did it! Quit smoking while he was gone and said he is ready to be baptized when he comes back and is so much happier after quitting smoking and reading so much in the Book of Mormon: I was just so excited and almost surprized hearing that a 22 year old guy had really read so much and changed his life to pray everyday and build his faith so much already. I am so honored to get to be the missionary to teach these people and to help them feel integrated into the ward...into the gospel.
Isnt so amazing? Knowing we are apart of the gospel that Christ is leading today? This very minute he is aware of the status we are at living the commandments and coming closer to him. It was neat teaching Bürcan about the 10 commandments saying, yes we keep all these commandments and he was well yes of course....he said, we dont just go to church on sunday for a few hours and thats it, we read everyday and pray and LIVE the gospel. Amen Bürcan. Haha it was neat teaching him, we arent just living the 10 commandments we are trying to become closer to our heavenly father.....so no we dont have a problem chosing to keep the commandment not to kill, or to steal or honor our parents, but chosing to not go to the movies on Sunday, or to listen to wholesome music. Choosing to really participate in the meetings at church, to get out of our comfort zone and really become a Christian, to live how Christ wants us to live, not just debate if we would keep the 10 commandments or not. Its a constant commitment in everything we do, do we do it with the spirit and choose to do things that bring us closer to our Savior? Its incredible to see the faith of these people to say yes, I want to commit to follow Christ, commit to make better choices and become a better version of myself.
I love this work...and serving here in Germany. Did you know Bach was buried here?! Yeah i walk past where he's buried like 4 times a week! Its so cool being in such a historic city...hearing stories of WWII and the DDR times. Example.....we just started visiting this sweet sweet member, Schwester Schilde and she is 89! She tells us really of the war, running with a pregnant friend of hers dodging bombs and her husband getting caught hiding jews. She told us ome jews hid in the basement of where the Nazis were....this lady is telling me this! Im not reading it but talking to someone who lived it. And the most incredible part about it was at the end of every story the spirit was so strong because she said her faith in Christ got her through it all: She new her Savior was close to her and she is such a strong member. Shes too old now to go to church but is so solid. I want to be her. She wishes so badly her family would join, but shes done all the temple work for all her family who has passed away (even her mean sister in law who treated her like cinderella haha) she feels so bad she cant pay her tithing because she has no income and no money. She was so sad saying, i miss paying my tithing, it was how I could say thank you to the Lord for all he gave me...I just told her to thank him with her prayers and bearing her testimony so strongly of him and the reality of his life and atonement. Its so great to visit her, theres a picture, she didnt look at the camara though so she looks a lot crazier than she is.
Hope you can feel a little of the appreciation I have for you and for this gospel. Hope you can feel the love the Savior has for you and feel his presence. Hope you have courage to make the little changes to come closer to him and let him and our Heavenly Father bless you. Hope you feel my love for you and the excitement of sharing the gospel! Hope you are happy and healthy and arent eating as much as I seem to have to. Theres a picture of roladen and klösel...its delicious... Ill have to make it for you one day :)
We believe.
Love you! Sister Rasmussen.
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