Hey everyone!
It's been a great week! We've been able to be pretty productive, although
there are some times where we do have a bit of a problem being on time to some
appointments due to public transportation hiccups and no fully proper planning
on our parts. But we're getting better and, again, things have generally gone
pretty well!
I wrote about three new potential investigators last week. Unfortunately,
we've had pretty minimal luck reaching any of them. Only one of them ever
picked up, and when they did, they pretty quickly hung up. We will still
attempt to reach them throughout the next while, but yeah, that was a bit of a
bummer. I'm hoping and praying that they will gain motivation to contact us!
We did gain another investigator besides those this week, who we visited. He's
from Iraq and cooked us a meal from there, and that was super good. More
importantly, I think that he seemed open to having more discussions about the
gospel. We taught the restoration, and he seemed interested, but simultaneously
as though he wasn't significantly changed in belief. We're hoping that this
message will touch him more as we teach.
One cool thing that happened this week was when we went out to find on
Wednesday, I believe. Throughout that day we got nine new potential
investigators! They were all Muslim, actually, and that was pretty cool, we
thought. Some of them seemed interested in learning more simply to learn more
and understand our religion better, but even that gives us the opportunity to
teach them and give them the chance to feel the truthfulness of our message!
I'm hoping that something comes from this!
Also, we'll be having a baptism this Saturday for a couple, Vincent and
Petra! They've been wanting to be baptized for months, so I haven't been here to
see most of their progress, but they have been working to prepare themselves for
it and are finally ready! They're very excited!
For something less significant, I'm hearing many things about a classic
Turkish food that is called a Döner which is huge in Germany. I can't describe
well it because I haven't had the privilege of trying it, but it's
apparently an Eastern European styled burrito or taco, made with lamb meat, I
think, and it's apparently really good. I'm trying to convince my companion
to stop by one of the stands to get one but he hates eating out and I'm just
waiting. It's apparently a big deal, though. Most of the missionaries in my
MTC group got them their first day, and the older missionaries in our district
now are pressuring my companion to let me buy one. I'm excited, but it's been
three weeks since I arrived and I don't know when my chance will come. Soon.
Anyways.
The Freiburg, Germany temple was dedicated this week! Elder Bednar and
President Uchtdorf came, and we were able to see a broadcast of the cultural
celebration the night before. That was super cool. It talked about the history
behind the building of the temple, from World War II, through the Cold War and
days of the GDR, and it's always great to hear or read about the entire process
of getting that temple built! It is truly a miracle! And the dedication
session the next morning was great as well. We got to hear from both Elder
Bednar and President Uchtdorf, as well as Elder Kearon. Very glad to have been
able to watch it!
One thing I want to write you guys about is what I've realized so far on a
mission concerning the true power of prayer, and importance of it. Throughout
my life before my mission, I believe I took prayer seriously, and there were
many testimony building experiences that I had with it. But I don't think I
necessarily understood the whole, foundational role that it could have in a
person's life or testimony. One scripture that I love is from Alma 5,
concerning prayer, which says:
"44 For I am called to speak after this manner, according to the holy
order of God, which is in Christ Jesus; yea, I am commanded to stand and testify
unto this people the things which have been spoken by our fathers concerning the
things which are to come.
45 And this is not all. Do ye not suppose that I know of these things
myself? Behold, I testify unto you that I do know that these things whereof I
have spoken are true. And how do ye suppose that I know of their
surety?
46 Behold, I say unto you they are made known unto me by the Holy Spirit
of God. Behold, I have fasted and prayed many days that I might know these
things of myself. And now I do know of myself that they are true; for the Lord
God hath made them manifest unto me by his Holy Spirit; and this is the spirit
of revelation which is in me."
I love this scripture because it emphasizes the effort needed on our parts
in order to gain firm testimonies, and come to learn and feel a conviction of
the truth in our lives. Sometimes, I've thought that if I prayed for a
testimony, I would get it. And that is true for so many circumstances. That's
how I've come to learn the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon specifically, and
I believe all people can receive a testimony of it through prayer. But there
are other times where I have prayed to have a stronger testimony, in general or
in a specific topic, and I was not instantly blessed with a burning and full
knowledge of the truth in my heart. But it has required diligent effort on my
part, both through prayer and studies surrounding it, through which my testimony
has been gradually developed. And, actually, even with the Book of Mormon, I
had to study and read it before I gained the more clear manifestations of the
Spirit that I have received. Developing faith is a process of faith in and of
itself. I felt down at times where I did pray for a conviction over things of
the gospel, and felt as though I didn't receive it. But I felt that way only
because the answer I received wasn't the one I was exactly expecting. I looked
a bit into this through this week, and read through the Teachings of the
Presidents sections on faith/testimony/prayer. President Hinckley taught:
"This witness, this testimony, can be the most precious of all the gifts of
God. It is a heavenly bestowal when there is the right effort. It is the
opportunity, it is the responsibility of every man and woman in this Church to
obtain within himself or herself a conviction of the truth of this great
latter-day work and of those who stand at its head, even the living God and the
Lord Jesus Christ."
What I'm meaning to say about prayer is this: Pray
about everything. Pray for help, and pray to thank. It's a precious gift. It
is the means of receiving a testimony, and help with virtually all things in our
lives. But, have real intent. Seek to find answers through your own efforts in
the times you aren't praying. Show God our willingness to work, and pray to him
for help. If at first you feel as though you aren't given a testimony, do not
be discouraged, but continue searching for this precious gift! It is all the
more precious when you know you've worked...hard...for it! While some
answers seem to come quick and all at once for some, either people or topics,
God also will give them to us more gradually, line upon line.
Another block of writing. Sorry about that. I don't
expect you to have to read that all, and trust me when I say that I'm not trying
to be prideful or pretentious or "holier than thou" when I type these things. I
hope this doesn't come off that way. I'm just getting sort of "punched in the
face" with these things...the mission, funnily, does that to us. I figured I
might as well share these.
Thanks for the letters! I love you guys and hope all
is well at home!
Alles gut!
Love,
Elder Wallentine
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