Hi All,
I actually do not know what is going on with the plane
crash. I sometimes hear members or other
people talking about it but I only understand so much. I really miss the news. The news screen at train stations are hard to
understand. I really love doing service
here because it does not happen all that often. I am just ready to do a different kind of
service now. I have helped 3 people move
in the past week. It is just our luck
that all these people live in the highest room in the tallest tower. Ah well.
The mission really is a roller coaster. When a day is rough, I usually feel better
after I wake up the next day. I am
keeping a journal every night. I always
write a little something unless absolutely nothing happens one day.
So there is nothing extraordinary that happened this week. I'm sorry if you were looking forward to
something good. It was just one of those
weeks. Lots of ausgefallen terminen (failed
appointments) but what else can you do? This
week flew by extremely fast though. In
fact, the past couple weeks have also. I
do not know how, but it did.
This week is transfer calls. Friday we all call 'Danger Day' because that
is the day where President will call you for positions. He will call you sometime during the day and
ask you to either train a new missionary, become District Leader (DL), Zone Leader
(ZL) or Assistant to the President (AP). The next day, Saturday, is the transfer call
day where we all link in to a group call and they start in a certain zone and
district and read off the names of people there and you have to listen for your
name to see if you get booted out (Slang - Being Transferred). I have been in Gelsenkirchen for 3 transfers
already, so there is a chance that I can go. I think I have one more here at least though. Once I do leave though, I want to go to a
biking area so I can stay in good shape. It would also be a bonus if the area was also
pretty. Apparently, Gelsenkirchen is one of the ugliest places. It is all I know so I could not say otherwise.
In the video game Battlefield 1942: Secret Weapons there's a map called Essen. I cannot remember if I already told you, but I
am literally right next to Essen. I
thought that was pretty cool when I found that out when I was first here. Here's a cool motorcycle like the ones on the game.
I was also hit with a sudden realization the
last week or two. I am ACTUALLY LEARNING
GERMAN. I never thought much of it. I came to this realization when I was thinking
about my mom and Portuguese. I always
would say to people back home and here, "Yeah my mom can speak Portuguese."
I then realized that my mom is probably
saying, or at least will someday say, "Yeah my son can speak German."
What the heck! That is weird for me to think of. I am able to communicate in a language that
not many people back home know. I don't
know. Maybe you have to be in my shoes
to understand how weird this actually sounds. Last week, I wrote to you guys that I was
going to find an investigator this week? Well, it didn't happen... Yep. Sucks. None
of our investigators have ever been 'normal'. They are always a little off in some way or
another. I just want to find someone who
is normal and who listens and discusses gospel stuff. I just want someone who is all the way there. Sigh. Someday
right? I will find someone. I just want to be that person who a convert
says, "Elder Grow is my missionary. I would not have found the Gospel if it was
not for him." Now, I do not want
this to sound prideful. I already am a
little prideful in certain areas, but not here. I just want to make a difference in someone's
life out here. I know that it's not me
that converted the person but I want to be the tool used in the process. I want to be actively involved in the process.
I want to be that missionary for
someone. I do not want my mission to go
to waste. I know that I still have a lot
of time but I want to be like Ammon and bring at least one soul to Christ. (Read
Alma 26: 23-30) I love it. I get chills when I read this chapter. I just want to do a good job and help people.
Anyway. Yeah. Thanks for your guy's update and for listening
to my desires and thoughts. I will write
you all next week!
Elder Grow
Dear Adorable Elder Grow,
ReplyDeleteYour desire for a "normal" investigator is completely "normal". :) It is also the wish of every missionary in every mission in the world. But you are missing a couple of things here. 1) There is no such thing as "normal" - nope, no where - not in the church or out of it. 2) If you want someone to discuss gospel stuff with - talk to the members. :) But I know what you mean.
But most importantly, 3) You do not realize that just being alive on this planet, you are most likely making a difference for more people than you realize. You may not know who's life you have made a difference in until you have left the mission field. But do you realize that every word you speak, every impression you leave, plants a seed in that person's mind. Write this down and paste it up on your wall to look at every day: "A person cannot unhear your words - ever". They may forget them for a time, but that seed is planted. It is up to them to nurture it - or someone will come along and say a word or two and they will suddenly recall, "I remember Elder Grow telling me that." You may never know about it. So just know that if you never find a "normal" investigator, your mission will NEVER have been wasted. You will impress someone, somewhere and their life will be changed forever.
Have faith in yourself - you're a exceptional person.
Love,
Joan Crain