The evening sky, near Prenzlau, Germany
Hallo hallo!
A very long eventful yet uneventful week. This week was
probably one of the hardest weeks that I have had so far on my mission. I am
not even sure where to go with this letter. Not exactly brimming with
inspiration you could say. Not to say that I am in depressive mood or anything,
just they always say to keep your letters nice and happy. But I can't think of
too many great events to talk about. I mean we did have a mission tour this
week in Berlin, where Elder Johnson one of the seventies came to visit us. That
was very good although I can't say too much about it other than it was a great
reminder of how to be bold with the people that you teach but also to show your
love and sincerity as you do it. Really the mission tour conference and this
week had really just made me think upon a couple things. One of them being that
I have never been more capable and have had more responsibility on my mission
than ever before and I am fulfilling those duties to an effect, but at the same
time I still feel like I have no idea what I am doing. Haha
This week we didn't have too many opportunities to teach
because many of the people we had been teaching are on vacation or simply were
at a loss for time. So with the many hours of finding that had we experienced,
we experienced quite a bit of resistance. Going so far as people threatening to
beat us up, even though we had hardly introduced ourselves up to that point. Or
an even more sad event where we were going by on a investigator and
unfortunately he wasn't home like we said he would be. And as we were walking
away and passing an open entry way of an apartment, we heard a small voice
saying, gibt es ein Gott? (translated-is there a God?) At first we were
confused because we didn't know where this voice was coming from and then we
heard the voice again and then we turned around and we say a small girl
probably around the age of 11. And she re-asked the question. Of course we
being missionaries said yes there is a god. And she asked us how we knew that.
And then we said we had received an answer from God through the Holy Ghost that
he was there. And this is where the sad part begins. So then her brother shows
up who looks to be about 9 years old comes out and begins to just call us crazy
for believing in God and called us many other names. And he really meant it and
was really mad that we were even there. And he kept going in and out of the
apartment hallway in order to call his dad or somebody, and I just thought to
myself we need to go this isn't going to go anywhere good. But before we left
we asked the girl, if there was one question that she could ask God what she
would ask. And then she said well I would ask if he could bring my cousin back.
And in that moment I could really tell that she was really sincere. And it just
really got to me; here is a girl who has honest questions and curiosity. But
she is living in an environment where she is being taught not just to not
believe in God but also to hate those who do believe in him, one could tell
just by the way her 9 year old brother reacted to us. But of course we are the
bad ones with our horrible cult. However I still was able to talk to her a
little bit and was able to explain to her that death is hard, but through God
and Jesus Christ we have the hope that we will see our loved ones again and
that this life does have a purpose and that's why in the end we don't need to
be sad. Seconds later her brother showed up again and began to rail on us
again. And we just said goodbye at that point which is good because at that
point their dad came out and of course he looked stereotypical for the part,
meaning that he looked big, unhappy, and covered in tattoos. He began to yell
at us for talking to his kids about God, although they are the ones that talked
to us. And we just simply said sorry and told them to have a nice day. My hope
is that the young at least came off with the impression that we aren't bad or
weird people and that sometime in the future she will be open enough to talk to
missionaries. It it times like these where it is hard to ask yourself if you
would help a man such as him who has so much hate in his heart that he puts it
upon his children so that they in turn hate those around them. Haha which is
good that I taught a lesson about Charity at church where I was then reminded.
The reasons why we want to have charity in our hearts and to follow Christ and
His gospel. Because it is a medicine that gives us feelings of contentment and
peace and it is not only just the pure love of Christ but also His pure
happiness.
In closing my letter I would like to remind everyone that I
am not sad although it is hard to experience things like this on a daily basis.
And I would also like to say that I still do with my whole heart believe that
there is someone out there who is ready to hear about the gospel and to apply
it in their lives. It is just a little bit harder here that is all. And once
again I can't say I would rather be anywhere else. Yesterday I had thought
about if I were home right now and not here. And that I could be studying and
working and dating and just continuing life and really having the freedom to do
whatever I want without the burden of such a heavy responsibility. But the more
and more I think about it. The more and more I am convinced that it would not
be enough that my heart would not be full. In the end it has only been the
gospel that has filled my heart and made me feel like, hey this is enough, I am
truly content and happy. So I would rather be here doing this than living the
most extravagant life-style back home. And even someday when I do go home and
that day is coming fast than you might think. I will do all that I can to bring
this same spirit with me and to continue being a disciple of Christ in every
way that I can. Because I know that in the gospel, in Christ I attain a true
sense of worth and happiness that cannot be found anywhere else. I hope you all
have also had a great week and I hope this next week is even better. Even
though the summer season is also coming to a close. I love you all and I pray for
you all.
Tschüss,
Elder Foster
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