better :)
So we have had an amazing week! It all started out on Saturday. We had an
exchange with the Elders from Görlitz which went pretty well. On the train
back to Forst, we sat across from a teenager-aged girl. Elder Miles and I
both wanted to talk to her, but couldn't really find anything to talk
about...as she sat there, the sun shined right into her eyes, so I asked
her if she wanted to trade seats to sit in the shade. She took her
headphones out and said 'no thanks, it's all fine' and then continued
'..but what are you all doing? I read your name tags and heard you speaking
english to each other!' It lead right into a solid conversation about our
role as missionaries and our massage of the gospel! We went to give her a
Book of Mormon and a contact card with our number on it, but was we looked
at the card horror struck our souls.... it was empty!! ahhh! and we had
just arrived at her train station. We were able to look up our phone number
and quickly scribble it down just in time for her to exit the train. As the
train departed, she stood outside and waved to us.
As missionaries, we recognize certain patterns in people... like when we
give someone a card, and they say that they will call us... they never call
us. At this point in time, we were kinda bummed because we figured she
would not contact us. We set a goal to pray for her every day until she
called.
One week ago, Monday, we were in Görlitz, and we received a phone
call--It was Anna! -the girl we met on the train!. We tried to arrange an
appointment so that we could go down to where she lives, and she offered to
come up to Forst, so we invited her to have lunch with us at a youth camp
that was taking place the entire week in Forst. She was able to come up to
Forst on Wednesday, and we walked over to the camp. As we arrived, a leader
of the camp came over asked if she wanted something to eat, she said that
she would love to have something to eat when that was okay, and he brought
her over to a group of girls around the same age as her. Anna was
immediately welcomed with open arms by the girls at the table and she was
invited by them to go to the next activity with them (paddle-boating and
rafting). After the activity, she came up to us and talked about her first
impression of the came. She was so excited to see everyone so open with
each other and to see how everyone was so friendly. She liked it so much
that she ended up staying the night there with the girls she had spent the
day with. (at this point, Elder Miles and I were super stoked because we
essentially brought this awesome girl to EFY! so cool.)
The next day we came back to the camp, and were able to have a very solid
lesson about the restoration and of the Book of Mormon. She seemed to
understand everything and started to read the Book of Mormon that very
night :) We invited her to church on Sunday and to the baptism of an 8 year
old member of the ward shortly after church. She said that she would like
to come, but it would be somewhat difficult for her to travel to Forst so
early in the morning. We talked with some members of the ward and we were
able to work out a ride with a member of the ward.
Sunday came along, and it was so awesome. As we arrived, she was greeted
by everyone with smiles and handshakes :) A young woman from the ward took
upon herself the responsibility to take care of Anna, and invited her to
the YW class and sat by her the entire time. After church, we were invited
to have lunch with a family from the ward, and they gladly invited Anna to
come along. The food was excellent and we were able to have a good time
teaching the 2nd lesson, the plan of salvation with the help of the
members. So good. The time came for the baptism, so there were some
speakers talking about baptism and about the holy ghost (perfect topics!).
Then, we all went downstairs to where the baptismal font was. Anna and
another investigator had a wonderful view as the little girl came down in
her beautiful white baptismal dress into the water with her cousin, a
priesthood holder. The spirit was so strong as we saw her baptized by
immersion.
After the baptism, we had some time to sit down and talk about the
spirit, and about baptism. It was so good. We asked her if she would be
baptized by someone holding the priesthood--she nodded her head before we
were able to finish the question :) Now we just have to figure out a
baptismal date, and help her on her way to finding out of God is really
there, and that this is His church :)
So yes... this has been quite a good week. Other than this, we have also
been able to find a couple of other people with whom we have set up
appointments and things. I really am accustoming myself to life here in
Forst. The members are awesome and are always willing to help. I'm looking
forward to seeing the Lord's hand continue in this work :) woohoo!
I love you!
Elder Braden Thorkelson
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