Rain

Thunder storms, sunshine and rain

This week the weather was all over the place, we had sun and fog and thunder storms; but I have to admit my favorite was the rain.

Oregonian to the heart. Yesterday we went running along to river and halfway through it began to pour. We were both soaked through! And it was glorious-it reminded me of all those mornings going running with Kiana and mom, or all those cross country meets were we were drenched by the end of the race. There is something cleansing and beautiful about rain. It brings life and freshness and joy. Let's face it... Who doesn't enjoy jumping in puddles?

I needed that feeling this week. It has been a week full of sunshiny miracles but also distressing thunderstorms... Ending with cleansing rain.

As for the miracles... God showed me how to reach out to others even when I didn't really feel like doing that at all. He gave me words of comfort to speak to strangers on busses and on trains. He helped me to turn out and see others who were struggling. As for thunderstorms I guess that would just be me wanting to be home with my family for the funeral, and to share my love and support with them all. And to be able to be a part of hearing and sharing all the memories of my grandmother.

But like I said, it ended in cleansing rain. And that was today- today I felt the cleansing power of the atonement of Jesus Christ. He was there for me, He is there for me. Wherever we are in our lives He is there to lift us. It may be painful, and it may hurt. But I testify that it is always the right decision to turn to Him.

With love

Sister Shurts

Father's Day

The quorum of the twelve apostles said, "of all the titles of respect
and honor and admiration that are given to deity, He has asked us to
address Him as Father."
With Father's Day yesterday I was able to think a lot about my dad.
And how grateful I am for him and for the man he is. I received the
news this week that grandma Shurts passed away- which was quite a
shock. Actually it was devastating. But I've spent a lot of time
thinking about what grandma has done for me. And I have come to the
conclusion that she gave me one of the greatest gifts possible. She
raised my dad. If there is one thing in this world that I treasure the
most it is my family-and dad has always been the quiet leader. what I
love and cherish in my father I owe to a wonderful and dedicated
grandmother. It is going to be hard to be out here in Germany through
all of this-in fact a large part of me wishes that I could be home
right now.

But there is something keeping me here. And that is the knowledge that
I have a father in heaven who I owe everything to, my family, my home,
my faith... Truly everything. On this Father's Day I wish I could be
home to support my family, but I am doing all that I can for them here
in Germany, serving my Hather in Heaven.

This week we had transfers and Sister Wahlquist and

 I are staying together for another 6 weeks
here in Heidelberg. I am really grateful for that because I still
don't feel that comfortable with the area yet (too many different
trains and busses and streetcars to memorize!!!!) We had several
miracles this week which helped me to realize that I am here for a
specific reason. We met a woman on a streetcar and found out she had
visited Utah before and looooved it-we asked if we could come by but
only got a street name and last name before we had to jump off.
However the lack of information did not dissuade us- we proceeded to
knock that whole street a couple days later and found her!! She was so
happy to see us and proceeded to tell about her adventures in Salt
Lake City- and how complete strangers invited her over and welcomed
her. (Quick note to all you guys, never hesitate to invite someone
over, you never know what kind of a lasting impact it will have on
that individual, or on some sister missionary serving in Germany in
the future) anyways long story short this woman was so touched that we
came by she invited us over again :)

I sure love and miss you all, I wish I could be there with you right
now, and give you all hugs and feel your love. But I guess it will
just have to wait eight more months.

All my love
Sister Shurts

A day in the life of a Sister in Heidelberg

It has been another fun packed week here in Heidelberg as a Sister Training Leader. But I wouldn't have it any other way! We have been on a lot of splits with the sisters in our two zones- and that makes the weeks go by very quickly. I love being able to work with so many sisters- Seriously I am learning so much from them all :) Especially Sister Wahlquist. She is so amazing. This week we were talking a lot about how we can become one as a companionship- We talked about how as we both come closer to christ, we will come closer to eachother. The thing that I love about sister Wahlquist is that as opposed to some girls who stay up late talking about boys, or drama, or movies... we stay up late sometimes talking about the gospel.

Since I know I've been slacking a bit on the emails I thought I would give you all a rund down of a day in the life of Sister Shurts in Heidelberg...

1. Wake up- go on a run along the river or up to the castle

2. Get ready- shower, breakfast, get dressed (sister Wahlquist and I have joint closets... which makes getting dressed a joy- we have a closet for both of our skirts/dresses and a closet for both of our blouses/sweaters)

3. Studies- This week I have been studying a lot about christ- because I am giving a talk/leading a discussion at Zone Conference- I have learned so much about how we can do little things each day to become more like him. The theme of it is the Attributes of Jesus Christ.

4. Out the Door!! -  We normally have to run to catch a train- which is pretty close to our apartment. If we have extra time we stop by a small Kiosk (little store) and talk to the Turkish man who owns it- He always tries to give us free food and tell us how he wants to live in the mountains and become a hermit because he hates people...

5. Appointments-  We then take the many trains and busses and street cars as we are running to and from appointments with people- and talking to people as we go to and fro.
6. Grab some delicious Italian Gelato :) just because

7. Splits (companion Exchange)- We have at least 2 a week! So usually in the late afternoon or evening we take a 1-2 hour train ride to split with another pair of sisters.

8. Home- we plan eat something and talk a little bit and then fall into bed in delightful exhaustion. :)

What I have learned the most this week is that our personal motivation to follow christ must come from our heart. As much as I want to to give someone else a part of my excitment- it needs to come from themselves. As for our work here in Heidelberg we have meet with many people. We have had a hard time getting in contact with Rahil- but we are also planning on having a lot of appointments this week with new investigators!!!

SOO EXCITED!!!

I love you all!!!

Sister Shurts

Some missionaries in our area getting together to play some frisbee on a P-Day

Scenes from Heidelberg

Our kitchen Flooded... so we had to do dishes in our tub

Sister Wahlquist and I get all ready for sunday night call ins!

High Hopes for HeidelbergSister Jackson and I on a split

That moment your so busy doing missionary work you accidentally forget that you reached your halfway mark like 2 weeks ago! Probably because we were so busy trying to carry huge bookshelves home on trains and street cars all by ourselves! We have bruises on our arms... Love missionary life. On the plus side we were able to talk to a lot of people who were asking if they could help. Or because we set a BAPTISMAL DATE!!!!!!

Well dear all, this week has been amazing. Heavenly Father sure knows how to keep me on my toes. The best part of the week was on Tuesday.

We started meeting with a girl last week who was very interested in learning more about the church. Her name is Rahil and she just radiates her love of God. On Tuesday as we met with her we taught the message of the restoration of the gospel. She was amazed and told me that she knew that what we were teaching was true! Then after just knowing her for a week we committed her to be baptized at the end of this month. She was a little surprised but after a moment and with tears in her eyes she said yes.

I was also able to go on several splits this week, one of them with the amazing sister Helmick!! It was so fun to work with her. Being with her for 24 hours just proved what I already knew. She is an amazing missionary and has truly put her whole heart into this work. I love going on splits with these sisters. I have so much to learn from all of them.

I have thought a lot about desire and how we can create the desire to follow Christ. And the more I thought about it the more I realized that we cannot do it ourselves. That we need to rely on Christ to have that desire to do missionary work. We must ask him. I am so proud of my brother dallin for getting his mission call. You are gonna rock it in Brazil bro. :) All the best. I love you all

Sister shurts

Sister Jackson and I on a split

Sister Wahlquist poses while we try and fit new bookshelves into our apartment

Our Elders here in Heidelberg stop by for some icecream... punks

Sister Helmick and I get to go on a split together!!!

And happy birthday paps! :)

Goodbyes and Hellos

Well everybody I seem to have just landed myself in a little piece of paradise. It is so beautiful- I have been glued to the window all day. My first day here in Heidelberg we went running to a castle- that's right folks... A castle!!! Our apartment is in the old part of the city right on the banks of the Necker river. We are sitting among beautiful green hills dotted with classic German houses and ivy
terraces.

This week was full of saying goodbyes and then a lot of hellos. The hardest goodbye was probably on Wednesday. It was the funeral for Barbara Quada and her daughter. That was a lot harder than I thought it would be. Sister Davis and the the elders and I were asked to sing
the first song at the funeral. We decided to sing, "I know that my Redeemer lives" elder stout played a beautiful rendition of it on the piano while we sang. It was one of the hardest things I've ever done. The chapel was full all the way to the back of the cultural hall- and the spirit that was there was so beautiful and special. I know that a lot of people were hurting and needed to feel the comfort of their Heavenly Father. As we sang I looked out and watched the eyes glistening with tears. And I know that they were feeling comforted.

This week I also said goodbye to Besmir and Familie Ciu Ciu- it was hard to say goodbye, but it was also fun to see how much they have grown. Besmir told me, "without you sister Shurts... I never would have found the church- or made any of these changes in my life" Saying goodbye to Herne was so hard. I can't even put it into words. I will remember these people for the rest of my life. They have made such an impact on me and changed me for the better.

On Thursday morning I said Goodbye to Sister Davis and headed down to Frankfurt- where we all gathered and then caught another train all the way to mannheim, where we caught another train all the way to Heidelberg were we took a strassen bahn and a bus to get home.... and all that with ALL my luggage.... my arms are soooo sore!!! Sister Wahlquist is my new companion! She is so sweet. I can tell that we are going to get along just fine. She is from Idaho, and has a German mother- so her German is great too. We both made a goal to ONLY speak German! It is a really hard goal. But completely doable. We already have a lot of goals and ideas planned for this next transfer. We had our Mission Leadership Council on Friday. Which was really inspirational amazing. I was impressed at the desire that each person there had to serve the Lord.

So far I love Heidelberg. I cannot wait to see what the Lord has in store for me here.

Sister Shurts

ps. I have an Ipad!

Bruder Riebe and Me

Bruder and Schwester Tewes and Me

Schwester Doering me and Tante Inge

Goodbye HERNE!!!

Thats a castle... right next to my apartment... yeah

Sister Wahlquist and me

Von Herne nach Heidelberg!

Well everybody after 7 months in one area I am being transferred this week to the other end of the mission. I am so torn- I am going to miss sister Davis and this ward so much. On Sunday I bore my testimony to our ward and as I was standing there it hit me just how much I love them all. yep I cried. All four of us missionaries sang "High on a Mountain Top" Looking out at the congregation as we sang- my heart was so full. Each of them has taken me in and loved me, and their testimonies have strengthened mine. After church most of the ward members came up to me to give me hugs and wish me well.

I am very humbled though as I prepare myself to go to Heidelberg- President has called me as a Sister Training Leader. So I will be helping and going on splits with sisters in both the Heidelberg zone and the K-Town zone. Honestly I know I will be learning the most from the sisters there- and that they will lift me up- every missionary is such an amazing example to me. Can't wait to experience this new place.

You all remember Sister Williams? haha my half mom (half trainer!) I get to go on splits with her! I am so excited to see her again. We had such a great time together here in Herne- she is an amazing missionary and a great friend! I also will be able to go on splits with Sister Helmick- (from our dear old Dairy Creek ward!) Basically this is a dream come true. :)

Oh this is a great story! Ok so this week on our way home from our split I was talking to a cute old couple on a Bahn (train). And I was asking them about where they were from and what their favorite part was about living in Germany. I then told them about the amazing work that I get to do here in Germany and how I get to work with people and bring them closer to Christ. I guess I was getting a little excited (which is of course completely out of character ;)  because all of a sudden at the next stop a lady stood up to get off and interrupted our conversation and in some not very nice German words told me to be quiet and that no one wants to hear about my religion! I just kind of stared at her a little shocked as did the couple I was talking to. When a man in front of her said, "may I ask you a question? are you afraid of something?" She shook her head mumbled something and hurried off the train. The young man then sat next to me- and started talking to me about our Church- and then the people across the isle from us joined in. What started as a small conversation became a large discussion! It was so cool to see how that lady's plan to stop us from talking about the gospel actually backfired and all of a sudden the people taking part in the conversation tripled. Heavenly Father has a way of blocking all of Satan's attacks! *mic drop*

I have thought a lot about Leadership and Service all week. We are all in essence servants of the Lord- In Doctrine and Covenants 50:26 it says, "He that is ordained of God and sent forth, the same is appointed to be the greatest not withstanding he is the least and the servant of all"

I feel pretty overwhelmed to have this calling but I know that the Lord will help me to know how to strengthen the sisters that I will be working with. A little later in the Doctrine and Covenants it says, "I called you servants for the world's sake, and ye are their servants for my sake" (D&C 93:46) The entire purpose of any calling is to serve- regardless of what we have been called to do. We are here to serve for our Savior Jesus Christ. For his sake. I bore testimony on Sunday that I believe the greatest fulfillment and joy comes from serving, when we turn away from ourselves to seek to lift others. As President Hinkley said, "The best cure for weariness is the challenge of helping someone who is even more tired"

Goodbye Herne

Liebe Grüße

Sister Shurts

from the scribbled notes of a sister missionary

FYI: About Sister Training Leaders from Mormon Newroom:

The role of sister training leader has been created as more female missionaries serve in missions around the world. Sister training leaders will be responsible for the training and welfare of female missionaries assigned to them and will be members of and participate in, the new mission leadership council. Assistants to the president and zone leaders will also participate in the council, and those roles will remain unchanged. Missions will continue to be organized by zones and districts, with district leaders being responsible for baptismal interviews, but the mission leadership council will replace the zone leader council.

Sister training leaders will continue to proselytize and will also spend time each week training and evaluating the needs of female missionaries. They will report directly to the mission president on the needs of sister missionaries. Additionally, the wives of mission presidents are now being asked to play an enhanced role in training and caring for sister missionaries, subject to their individual and family circumstances.

Saying goodbye to Schwester Mitschke

This is a traveling bar outside our apartment... you're welcome

Wir Sind Zehn!

Wir sind Zehn!

That was my favorite quote of the week. Yesterday I got to skype my family. Oh my word... I thought it was hard waiting for christmas when I was little- this is nothing in comparison! I sat there and watched the clock tick by all day long. It was so fun to see everyone, and it reminded me once again why I am on a mission. As I saw all their faces and spoke with them- I thought about just how much I miss each and every one of them. In fact I talk about them all the time- when we are on subways or busses or trains, and usually the person asks, "well, don't you miss them" and I always answer. Well of course! But I see my family, and I see what has made us so close. And that is the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And it makes it so much easier to be away from home with the knowledge that I can give that joy to another family.

The rest of this week was also full of miracles. After a month of not being able to contact one of our investigators, Frau Hellhammer. We had the thought to try again. We had first wanted to drop off flowers by a lady who had a birthday today...but she wasn't home. So we decided to bring the flowers to Frau Hellhammer... and so we klingled... and the door buzzed open!!! OH MY GOODNESS!!!! I was so nervous and my heart was pounding so loud! We stood there for a second pretty awkward and then she let us in and we sat down and started talking to her. Pretty quickly we realized that she had just been really busy lately, and that her life has been crazy... (too busy for your baptism? haha oh well, I can't judge) We could have just sat down, given a thought and left. But I looked around and the Spirit prompted me that the best lesson we could teach today was one of service. So I rolled up my sleeves and asked here where I should start cleaning. She was SO grateful for the help! So we spent the next hour vacuming, cleaning, folding laundry and listening to black gospel music! haha I was so happy as we walked out that door, that I shed tears of joy. I know that God has heard the many prayers that I have prayed for her in the last 4 weeks! God cares about each and every one of his children.

At the end of my skype call I asked my family to sing "Wo die Liebe Wohnt" which is when there's love at home in English. Listening to them sing that brought tears of joy to my eyes. I am so grateful for a loving parents who have taught me by their example and testimony. When we choose to love those around us, we can have peace in our hearts and joy in our eyes! 

Split pic! Sister Haywood and me

pic of the Ruhrpott Geschichte night.

Us at our Family Home Evening at the Church- celebrating Sister Davis' birthday!

Me Elder Stout and Besmir

Second Pic has Bruder Gollnick and Schwester luczyk and Schwester Allsweh.

Our FHE group as well as the cakes.

Gemeinde Essen!