So, apparently, I need to start my own church in Jamaica...

So apparently I need to start my own church in Jamaica…

This week we got a call from an old Investigator by the name of JJ Prince, (a Jamaican, Pastor, Gospel Singer) that we had taught a little bit, and he was trying to convince me to come and preach in his church after my mission and spread the word of God- and then go to Jamaica. Because I “have the spirit and the power of a woman of faith” BAHAHA just thought I’d share that gem with you all.

That experience actually made me think a lot about how God established his church here on the earth; and how we are able to act in his name because we have that Priesthood authority.

We were able to teach that to a less active member in our ward this week. Schwester Zeshcky is an amazing lady who in her heart wants to come back to church but doesn’t have the courage to come alone. We went and met with her and started right away with a prayer which brought the spirit in immediately. We talked for a little bit about her desires to come to church and what is holding her back. And then we watched the Restoration DVD, which is an instant punch in the face from the spirit- at least for me. After watching that we sat in silence for a moment... and then we spoke a little bit about the restoration. Then all of a sudden I felt like I should say something... but I didn't know what to say- so I just looked at Schwester Zeschky and opened my mouth... and the words came. I told her that I have this feeling that I needed to tell her… about her family; and immediately after I said that I got all choked up. But with the power of my calling and with the spirit I promised her that if she would take the first step and go to church and be that example, that her family would follow, even her husband. I testified that all things are possible through the Lord and that the example of a mother makes all the difference in a home. I looked at Schwester Zeschky and she had tears in her eyes. And she told us that, that was what she really wanted- to have her family together. We only stayed for an hour but that was all we needed. We gave her a chapter to read and she said she would really try to come to church on Sunday. We walked out of that appointment and I was on cloud nine. As we turned the corner I asked Sister Davis to say a prayer of gratitude to God.

 Families are so important to Gods great plan for us. Schwester Zescky understood that she wanted to have her family together forever. The path that leads to eternal life can sometimes be difficult but I know that it will be so worth it.

That experience this week made it a little bit easier bear a phone call that we received from Frau Kirch. She told us that she didn’t want to meet with us anymore. I don’t really know why. But I was devastated- I never thought that I could feel so much for someone I had known less than two weeks. I am gaining a testimony that every child of God has their own free agency, and sometimes all we can do is pray for them and do our best to help them remember their divine destiny. In the end it is the decision that each soul makes personally in their hearts that leads to true and lasting conversion. 

Doing fitness with all the old ladies in our ward

Tante Inge and me

Sister Davis and her Spaghetti ice cream

A pretty old church in Herne

The Rameumptom (or the only castle in the Ruhr Pott. Funny Germany.

Elders climbing on the Rameumptom

Carnival on Rosen Montag

Carnival on Rosen Montag- We went to Gelsen Kirchen to see the parade

Our District Elders: Elders Stout, Cassell, Heil, Summerhays, Tilley, and Grow

The CASTLE!!...don't worry, it wasn't as high as it looks.

The First Glimpse of Spring

SUUUNNN!!!

Today we hiked as a district to the top of a large hill that overlooked the Ruhr Gebiet, it was a beautiful view and reminded me a lot about why I am here. Sometimes I still can’t believe that I’m a missionary in Germany! Once we reached the top we all sat down and had a little spiritual thought about our purpose as missionaries. What stood out to me was that I choose to come here. It was my decision and I volunteered. This mission in a small sense is an analogy of our life on earth. We all chose to come down to earth to be tested and tried. Are we living up to the potential God sees in us? What great things does our heavenly father have in store for us if we live up to become who we were meant to be?

This has been quite a full week. I really hope that I don't get transferred out of Herne because I feel like there is so much potential here right now. Early this week we meet once again with Frau Kirch. This was our first actual appointment with her in her home. We sat and talked with her for a little bit and then began to teach her about the restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I don’t know who was being taught more in that lesson, her or me. J But whenever I learn something in a lesson we teach it tells me that the lesson went well because that means we had the spirit with us. As we were speaking to here I was once again amazed at the circumstances that had brought us together. Heavenly Father must really have something great in mind for her and for us.

This week we did a LOT of contacting… because that’s what you do when all your appointments fall out. It wasn’t bad though- it was a lot of fun, you know that feeling you get when you have this message about the coolest thing that has happened to humanity in the last 200 years that means that God has spoken to us and that we have new scripture and light and knowledge and basically the path to eternal life and you just have to tell everyone? Yeah… my week. Haha But as a result we got the information for some students from Albania and a couple ladies who live in Bochum! Seriously there is so much potential here right now!  

I love you all so much and I am so excited to be here in Germany at this time! 

Liebe Grüße

Sister Shurts

from the scribbled notes of a sister missionary

Pictures from our split this week, sister Heywood and me riding bikes in the morning for morgen sport!! love her!! 

The Lord Fulfills His Promises---A week of faith!

So much happened this week I really don't even know where to begin! We still have not been able to get in contact with our Brazilian investigator. Sister Davis and I are actually at a loss as to what we need to do. That has been a big struggle for us this week- because our hopes were so high for him. But the Lord tests us and if we do our part he will always fulfill his promises.

The beginning of this week did not go that well at all, but we both decided that we were going to keep going and do our best, because on Monday we had decided to have a week of faith- to do everything in our part to increase our faith and to be obedient.

 On Wednesday As we were walking we passed a Laundromat, I saw some people inside, there was an old lady with a walker reading something- but I didn't think anything of it. We walked by and then all of a sudden Sister Davis started walking slower and slower until she stopped. She then looked at me and said, "I thiiink... we should..." I finished her sentence and said, "go talk to that woman in the Laundromat?" because right as I said that I had the feeling that it was what we needed to do. Sister Davis was scared and grabbed me and asked what on earth are we doing? What do we say? This is not normal. But... I felt very calm, and I told her that we will go in there and tell her the truth- that we walked by and had the feeling to come and talk to her, and then ask her if we could sit down. And that is exactly what we did.

Her name is Frau Kirch- and never in my life have I loved a complete stranger so much. She had a stroke a couple years ago and so her whole left side doesn't work- she was angry at God, at church and just bitter towards the world. I looked into her eyes and noticed how sad they were, it was like looking at an overcast sky, full of clouds ready to break out in a storm. As we spoke her countenance began to change- it was something I could literally see. Heavenly Father does bless us, he puts words into our mouths, and brings scriptures to our remembrance. Frau Kirch was sitting there and told me that she had spoken with countless people of faith and had gotten in arguments and hated speaking with them.

 As she said that I had one clear question come to my mind, I asked her, "So then why are you still listening to us?"
She stared right at me, almost into me and said, "Because I can see a light in your eyes, and it shines." then the spirit put another quiet question in my mind, and I waited a moment and then softly asked, "Do you want to find out where that light comes from?"
The woman looked at me and began to weep. I went right next to her and put my arm around her as the tears rolled down her face. When she was able to speak again she told me that she didn't have enough faith. I shared with her Alma 32, and told her that even when she only had the smallest desire that God will let it grow. As we were talking, the spirit once again prompted me to speak... how do I describe this? I don't know, but I know that the words did not come from me. I looked at her and said that I could also see into her eyes, I told her I knew that she had felt lost and forgotten by God, that she felt that he had abandoned her. That she had suffered many losses in her life that made it hard for her to believe- as the tears fell down her face on that beautiful day in a rundown Laundromat in Herne I bore testimony to her that God had not forgotten her, that she had a heavenly Father who loved her more than she could even know- and I knew it. I could feel his love, it pressed on my heart and on my soul. Heavenly Father sent us to her- of that I know. We sat there and talked with her for two hours, and helped her fold and gather her laundry. We spoke about the plan of salvation, about family, about the Holy Ghost and even baptism. We walked her home and got her number and set up an appointment to meet her.
We had our week of faith and God fulfilled his end of the deal. God is there. He is aware of us, and He loves us.

Liebe Grüße

Sister Shurts

from the scribbled notes of a sister missionary

A Test of Faith

This is a quote from a talk I recieved from a good missionary, and it kind of describes my week,

"To cause your faith to grow you may wish to measure your faith by the number of your predetermined righteous desires that are fulfilled. However you must always remember that when you exercise your faith in something that does not occur the way you desired it to, that your only object in view must then be to redouble your faith the next time. Prayers on the surface that appear not to be answered are the very times when some of the greatest prayers have been answered. One must double his faith in these apparent trials lest he lose it." Elder Cook.

We started this week with interviews with our mission president and with a district meeting all about faith. As we talked and discussed what faith is I felt a huge desire to increase my faith, just as the apostles asked the savior to increase theirs. As a result it has been a week of highs and a week lows. Early this week a lady in our ward that Sister Williams and I had worked with a lot passed away. But because of that I was able to really ponder what it meant to be a member of this church and to really believe that we will be with our families forever and live again with our Heavenly Father.

We had a great week of contacting, and experienced tons of little miracles as we gained more courage to talk to people and gave people Books of Mormon - one small miracle example happened as we were sitting on the bahn. This really scary looking man got on (he was tall and broad and bald and had his face full of piercing and tons of necklaces and also a gazzilion tattoos.) My first natural thought was 'I want to give that dude a wide berth'. But then I had the thought to go and talk to him. I immedietly reminded myself that he was a scary old mafia man and I don't want to do that. But again I kept thinking it- I kept trying to avoid it. We got off at our stop and he got off at it too, so I had the thought again you should go talk to that man-my response "silly spirit that is very inconvenient-i'de rather not"
but as soon as I thought the word inconvenient it rememinded me of what President Stoddard said during our interview earlier in the week- "sometimes we have impressions and we think, oh that was an inconvenient thought, but they turn out to be promptings of the spirit" at that point this man had walked into the bank so I told sister Davis, sorry but we have to wait out in the cold until this man comes back out. So we waited and then he came back out and I walked up to him and told him who we are and our purpose here as missionaries. I told him about the Book of Mormon and how it is a second testament of Jesus Christ. I asked him if he was religious- he just stared at me turned is head and pulled down his leather Jacket to reveal a very large tattoo of a cross! haha We talked for a little bit and ended up telling me that lately his faith has been dimmed because a lot of people he loved had died. I told him that I knew that God had a plan for each of those people and that we all are here for a specific reason and that we would love to share this message with him. He didnt want to meet with us, but he did take the book of mormon and said he would read in it. That experience was just a testimony builder for me, because I was able to see how a small thought lead to a chance to share the gospel.

We were startled last night by a call from our investigator saying that he wanted to cancel his baptismal date, needless to say it was a shock and we are both praying very hard for him and also that we can speak clearly and with the spirit in order to touch his heart so that he can rekindle his desire to be baptized.
I know that the lord has a plan for each of us, and that he loves us all very much- I have learned about trusting God this week and I hope to increase my faith in the coming weeks as I serve side by side with the Lord to help bring precious souls to him.

Liebe Grüße

Sister Shurts

from the scribbled notes of a sister missionary

Our creepy German cellar

Sister Herne asleep on the Bahn (train)...I've worn her out.

Beautiful Sunset over the Herne canal

It's been a white week---in a good way!

This week started out with Snow on the ground! All of Germany was covered in a light blanket of white. It was so beautiful and so fun to be outside and enjoy it all. My catch phrase of this week has been, "Sister Davis is there anything you can't do?". She has traveled everywhere and tried everything. Anytime I think she must have exhausted all of her possibilities she goes and says something nonchalantly like, "Oh I built my own Bee Hive" or "I've got a scubba diving permit" or "I was once crowd control for the queen of England" and it is seriously all true!!!! Let’s just say I am excited to learn a lot from her!

So aside from the white snow... there have been some other exciting white things this week. First and foremost. We set a BAPTISMAL DATE WITH OUR INVESTIGATOR!!!!!! AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH :D Cicero Joseph, or Brother Joseph (because that is just way more fun to say) is a man that we met a month ago as we were contacting in Weihnachtsmarkts and after having met with him a couple times we committed him to be Baptized on Febuary 21st. Annnnddd drumroll... he said YES!!! At first I was worried that he didn't understand what we were asking, but on Sunday he came to church and loved every single minute of it. During each of the meetings he felt the spirit so strong, we watched the Restoration DVD in Portuguese so that he would understand and throughout the whole thing he was nodding in agreement and explaining to us why it was true!!
After Sacrament meeting, I turned to Brother Joseph and asked him how he felt. He said he was at peace, that the world was a million miles away and he felt like he could focus on Christ. I said that he was feeling the spirit. And he pointed at me and told me that I had said it perfectly. I then told him that after he is baptized he will be able to feel that spirit all the time. He nodded and thought about it, and then smiled. I didn't have that much time- and I wish I could have been clearer. But I think that he understood- I told him that I was excited for February- for the day that we had committed him to earlier for baptism. And he smiled and nodded. He loved church and instantly connected with so many of the people. I have a lot of faith and hope that Heavenly Father will help him understand what I failed to explain. Because I know that I am still learning so much- I am so inexperienced and can't imagine teaching these lessons all by myself! I am so glad for the spirit, because I know that heavenly father will make up the difference for my weaknesses.

Other than that, this week has been amazing. We have talked to so many people- and given out a ton of Books of Mormon. I know that Heavenly Father is blessing us. Right now I really do feel like Herne is going to explode with missionary work! I was reading in the Doctrine and Covenants and these words touched my heart about the excitement that I feel about serving as a missionary, (Section 128:22)  Brethren, shall we not go on in so great a cause? Go forward and not backward. Courage, brethren; and on, on to the victory! Let your hearts rejoice, and be exceedingly glad. Let the earth break forth into singing. Let the dead speak forth anthems of eternal praise to the King Immanuel, who hath ordained, before the world was, that which would enable us to redeem them out of their prison; for the prisoners shall go free.

I hope you all have a wonderful week, and know that I am grateful for your prayers. Heavenly Father is blessing us here. I love you all

Liebe Grüße

Sister Shurts

From the scribbled notes of a sister missionary

Sister Davis and I after a long day of contacting in Bochum 

it is starting to get way cold- so we have short hot chocolate breaks a lot 

we broke our door.... this puts a whole new meaning to the phrase "but the board in the hole" hehe 

world war I and II memorial in Dorsten 

Time for new boots?

Enjoying the snow together

Welcoming Sister Davis to HERNE!!!

4th transfer and 4th companion!! Well like you all heard last time I got the call that I was training and so in the middle of this week Sister Williams and I said our last goodbyes (we spent the night doing facials and talking and ugly dancing... good times) then I headed up to Frankfurt (a 3 hour bus ride) and met up with all the other trainers. That was a fun adventure- once we got to Frankfurt we hopped a couple different streetcars (strassebahns) and got to the Frankfurt Chapel where we had dinner with all the new Goldens (newly arrived missionaries)! There are 4 sisters that came in with this group- they were sooo jet-lagged it was hilarious talking to them because it was never in complete sentences!

That night we had our Trainers meeting with President and the AP's. I took soo many notes. But I think the biggest thing that stood out to me was some advice that Sister Taylor told me before. She said, "Sister Shurts, the most important thing is to follow the spirit and be yourself- because you love this work and when your golden sees that she will learn to love the work, too."

That night we slept at a hotel! the Marriott... oh yeah! Then the next morning we all had a delicious breakfast and went into the meeting room with all the Goldens- we recapped a lot of what we talked about in our Training meeting-  Theeeeennnn. They said they would be announcing the companionships. Last time they started with the elders so I started messing with my papers not expecting anything, when all of a sudden the first name they call is "Sister Shurts!" I was so surprised I dropped my papers and bolted up and kind of squealed, "AH that’s me!!" haha it was embarrassing. But I introduced myself and that I was in Herne! which is the best Gemeinde (ward) in Germany because it is. And then they held up the picture of my Golden and announced, "Sister Shurts will be serving with SISTER DAVIS!" AHHH I've got a Golden!! Sister Davis is a cutie. Sisters can serve at any age- and Sister Davis is no exception! She is 32... she was in high school when I was 2! - I think it is so cool that she made the decision to serve even though she is older. We talked the whole way home (about 3 hours) and she owns goats, and chickens and loves Doctor Who and draws- so we are basically the same person.

While in Frankfurt we went to the Hauptbahnhof (central trainstation) for transfers! It was a lot of fun to see people again for the first time in 3 months. Sister Blackhurst was there- she got called to be a sister training leader this transfer! I'm soo happy for her. She kind of freaked out with me when I told her I'm training and that it feels kind of weird to train someone 12 years older than me haha she laughed and then gave me a hug and told me they have the best sister for the job. We'll see in 12 weeks haha.

Our first few days together have been great- Golden Power is real. That is what we call having someone new on their mission. We have talked to so many people and already got someone’s information!

While we were on a bus to visit some members we met an old man- he was on crutches and so I asked him if he broke his foot. He went off and off about some story where he broke his hip and had to have his leg shortened. We then started talking about how there is hope with God- and he said he couldn't see any hope. I was so grateful that I had the spirit with me, because I immediately thought of Ether 12:4 and read that to him. I then told him that he could keep the book of Mormon. He was so touched. He told me that he hadn't met a nice young lady like me in years- if it was polite to say so. We then told him that we could visit him and share our message with him. He was soo excited and gave us his address and his name and wrote a big "Danke" at the bottom. He then gave me his pen!

I also met  a German Mountain Man on the bus. He had the biggest beard and so naturally I had to talk to him! He said he owns a wolf in Yellow Stone... and he goes with Rangers to track it down, and this year he is going to give it a hug. (What?) He also plays Santa Claus at Christmas time and in the summer he goes to medieval festivals as a knight! I gave him our card and a Book of Mormon. Hopefully he calls!

Anyways, that was my crazy week! Sorry it was soo long, but I am excited to see what this next transfer will bring. I love you all!!

Liebe Grüße

Sister Shurts

From the scribbled notes of a sister missionary

Sister Williams and I enjoying some CurryWurst. sooo good!!! 

last pictures with Sister Williams

goodbye pics with the district!

 

From left to right: My Golden Sister Davis (my daughter or the one I'm training), Me, Sister Williams (my mom or my trainer) and Sister McMurray (my grandmother or Sister Williams trainer). 4 Generations! ha ha What!! 

Herne Missionaries, and the replacements... *tear...sob* 

SISTER DAVIS and me - our first selfie

I took this picture as we were walking to an appointment in Marl- #missionary life

Training!

You know that feeling you get when you don't quite feel ready for a change but Heavenly Father does and then all of a sudden you are taking over your area and training a brand new missionary? ... yeah. That is the biggest news of the week. I got a phone call from our mission president and he told me that he had been on his knees in prayer and felt that I was ready to train this transfer. I'll be heading down to Frankfurt on Wednesday and then pick up my golden and head back up to Herne on Thursday. I have to be honest though- aside from the fact that I am scared to death, and nervous and not feeling ready- I AM SOO EXCITED! I just keep thinking back to 4 months ago when I got to Germany and how different everything was and how ready I was to work. In this mission we call new missionaries 'Goldens' and if you have one in your district you've got special 'Golden Power' There will be two Goldons in Herne, since Elder Stout will be training as well. Pretty much it is going to be awesome.

Sister Williams and I are enjoying our last week together- we have had a lot of goodbye appointments and a lot of planning and getting ready for this next transfer. We met with Cicero Joseph our Brazilian investigator and that was such an amazing experience. It was one of the best lessons that I have ever had actually. We taught the 1st lesson, because last time we talked about the plan of salvation. The amazing part was that despite the language barrier he really understood almost everything we taught. As we spoke with him our words became clear- I know that the holy ghost was testifying through our lips. Sister Williams bore testimony of the book of mormon and how the church has helped her life and right there in that small bakery in germany tears fell down her face and mine too as I told Cicero that I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet called of God to restore his church on the earth today. He looked at us and his own eyes glistening said that he could feel the holy spirit. We read with him Moroni 10:3-5 and he read it 3 or 4 times over... and then put his hand on the book of mormon and said- "Das ist die Warheit" "this is the truth" I could have jumped up and down for joy right then! And then to top it all off he asked us that because of the priesthood being restored if that would mean he would need to get baptised again! and we were both like YES!!! haha :D Oh my goodness! Hopefully the next time we meet we can get a baptismal date!

I was on cloud nine, and I knew the spirit was with us. Because whenever we have the spirit with us, there are always multiple miracles. On the Strassenbahn home I sat next to this lady from Russia and we started talking and I told her that I was a missionary for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! I said I would be able to bring her a book of mormon in russian... annd *drumroll* she said yes, and gave me her number and address!!! And that was just one day this week!

I have been thinking a lot about how to train this transfer. I want to make sure she feels comfortable- like for example giving her a heads up that almost every morning the shower sporadically decides to spray water from Antarctica...  But aside from that point I want her to get excited and see success but mostly learn to rely on Heavenly Father. I am so humbled that Heavenly Father trusts me enough to train a new missionary even though I am also really fresh on my mission. I have so much love for these people and I know that with faith Heavenly Father will help us work miracles!

Liebe Grüße

Sister Shurts

from the scribbled notes of a sister missioanay

City Hall in Herne

Sis. Williams and me int he freezing rain

My hair is long enough for a pony tail!!

Happy in Herne!

Some random dude that we talked to on the street.