I Had Goosebumps!

From Karsten Hinckley

Teaching in Thailand

This last week Elder Taylor and I have just been so lucky to be teaching amazing people! Great investigators. We were talking the other day and we came to the conclusion that we don’t want to go home. It has been amazing to see how the Lord has worked the past three months. We have seen so many miracles. 

One miracle was a former investigator that we contacted the other day. We made an appointment with her and she came. She is only 16 years old and she is one of the most prepared people that I have met. Her only problem is that her parents will not allow her to be baptized. I really dislike that. Sometimes parents just need to trust their children with a decision like this to follow Jesus Christ. We asked her," Have you ever felt the spirit before?" She wasn’t sure. For the next two days that we met with her we told her how the spirit could feel and how she could know. We fasted with her that her parents would open their hearts. Yesterday at church, after the fast was over, we asked her how the fast went.  She replied, "I did what you told me to do. I waited while I prayed and I felt something that I have never felt before in my life! I had goose bumps! I loved that feeling!" Oh, that made Elder Taylor and I very happy. We told her to write a letter to her parents about how she feels about Jesus Christ and how she would like to be baptized. Well, she did that and when she is ready she will give the letter to her parents! I am sad that I won’t be able to work with her anymore but that is okay. I was still able to see her progress! 

Sister Yuki told us of some missionaries experiences that she had the other day which has really strengthened her testimony of the Lord. She was in a taxi telling a friend about what she had learned at church. Her friends got out of the taxi and she then went home. In the ride home, the taxi driver started to ask her questions about what she was telling her friend. The driver was interested and she got his number. She then called us and told us she had an investigator for missionaries in another area. She was really happy to share the gospel with that person. I am telling you all that sharing the gospel is not hard at all and that it is possible. All you have to do is be ready to open your mouth when the time is right. 

A Mission Has Changed Me Forever

From Mason Blettenberg

Teaching in Ireland

Dear Friends and Family, 

It has been a whole year since I have left the blessed land of Burley, Idaho. But I am still in a land of the spuds! Good old Ireland!

This past week we saw a mighty miracle. A man named Jerry’s heart was softened.  We had this man on tract for baptism for this Saturday, but he texted us Wednesday night and told us he did not want to get baptized. He talked with his friends and they turned him off of the idea of our church. We were DEVASTATED. There is nothing that will break a heart of a missionary so fast than someone who they love dearly falls away from God.

We asked in mighty prayer to soften this man’s heart.  We woke up Saturday all ready for the day, trying to do our best to smile.  We had a blitz in our area on Friday so we were white-boarding. All of a sudden, in the middle of the day, we saw Jerry walking with his head down. We rushed over to him and asked him to help us find with the white board. On the board was written: What makes you happy? He wrote, “The Holy Spirit”. 

Then the sisters came over and asked him why he did not want to be baptized.  He said he changed his mind! And he wanted to be baptized that day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  So me and my comp did everything in our power to make it happen that day and …  we made it happen! He was baptized and confirmed.

Being out for this long, serving my Father in Heaven and representing His Son, has made me understand a scripture that I read every single morning… Matthew 16:21-28: for whosoever will save his life shall lose it and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall FIND IT.

I want to testify from the bottle of my heart that I have found it. And because I have found my life, I will continue - for a full year - to lose my life for others and for His sake who died so me and you can live.

I am a standing living witness of Jesus Christ and His Atonement.  My mission has truly brought the good out of me so many times. I have almost been so close to going home cuz I thought I needed rest from my trials I have had on my mission. But every time that happened, the power of Christ’s Atonement came to the rescue. He is the best example we could ever dream of asking for. 

A mission has changed me forever. I want everyone to know, if you have the smallest doubt of serving a mission throw  it out the window and serve God.  Every worthy Latter-day Saint has the strength to serve a full time mission. Please serve a mission. If  you have not already, you will find your life and help others do the same.

I love my Father in Heaven . I know with all my being that, when in times of a storm,I can turn for peace in the spirit of prayer and show Him how I feel. He will heed to my needs and do what is right for me and others.  He is our all mighty father who loves me. I know my Father above would and will take the time to sit with me on a fence and just let me let it all out and truly heed to my needs the way I need. He has shown me and has given me one person to look up to and that is my Savior,  Jesus Christ. 

Jesus Christ is a man that is and always will be my light to follow in darkness of a storm. If any of us are trapped in sin or trial or sickness or anything that brings you down, there is always a way out of our storms. That is in and through the most sacred name of the one who literally bled from every pore drops of blood so you and I could stand in holy places and be not moved.

I love this gospel and I will be devoted to it for the rest of my life and my life after that. The words of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints are the words that bring you and me lasting happiness for this life and the one to come. And that is all thanks to the Restoration of His Church.  Joseph smith was the man for the job. Without him, who knows where truth would have been found. For this I am grateful. I bear testimony of repentance and the sweetness of it. Whenever we hear that word “repent” we run, but though study I have understood it is a sweet word due to the fact we cannot repent without Jesus Christ and proper priesthood authority. Repentance is real and it works. In the name of who I represent for the next year, even Jesus the Christ,  Amen.  

Miracles do happen, repentance does work, and He lives and can do wonders for me and you!

Love,  Elder Blettenberg

The Lord was Pointing the Way

From Karsten Hinckley Teaching in Thailand  These past two weeks I have just been so happy! I can say that we have worked really hard to deserve the happiness that we have right now but that would not be right. All of the success that we have had is from the Lords hand in the work. We cannot have done anything these last two weeks if it wasn’t for Him pointing the way. We have seen so many blessings and miracles these past two weeks. Thank you for your prayers for our investigators.  We were teaching one of our investigators sister Rung. She is Christian already and just this last week in one of our lessons she told us, “Okay, I'm ready to be baptized." That made Elder Taylor and I feel like a million pounds had just been lifted. On Sunday we sat down with her and she told us some things that had been on her mind. Her daughter is handicapped and people will make fun of her daughter for being the way she is. We expressed that we were sorry for other people and their negative words. She also went on to tell us how her daughter had not learned about Jesus before. We had only met her taught her once and Sister Rung was very happy. She cried as she told us the many things that had been on her mind. She told us," Here is where I feel I am finding my answers." She is progressing greatly! She has such a strong testimony. She has a friend that is a member here, who was once a member at her old church. That friend has been able to help her understand the Gospel. Elder Taylor and I have high hopes for her. She has a date for the 29th! Sister Nii passed her baptismal interview last Wednesday which made Elder Taylor and I very happy! We know that she is ready because she has told us. She tells us that she wants her children to come as well. She has a daughter that wants to come as well! I love that! After she passed her interview, we sat down with her and Sister Yuki and talked about the temple. We showed them a temple video that a member made about the temple and they felt the spirit. It was amazing to see their eyes as we watch the video. They are two people that are very ready to be baptized. One of our investigators the other day was telling us how she didn’t read the Book of Mormon but watched You-tube and looked on Google instead. "I did it because it was easier than reading", she told us. I flat out told her," Sister you will not know or gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon by using those things, they have to benefit." I think it hit her a little bit. The past few lessons have been really hard with her because she will just ask for blessings. It kind of doesn’t set well with us. We've tried to help her understand how prayer is more than asking, it is a communication between us and Him. We need to make a good relationship with Him. Well about two days later, on a switch off, she changed!! I was almost thrown off. She told us that she had actually prayed to Him and had a conversation. We taught the gospel and she accepted a baptismal date! She said the best prayer I've ever heard her say! I didn’t know what to think. All I thought was, “You are starting to understand!” I know that at times it will take a while for someone to understand, so don’t give up on them. Sunday! It was the best Sunday that Elder Taylor nor I have ever had on our missions. We had over a 100 people at church which never happens. We had many less active and investigators. The speakers were so good! The lessons were great! To top it off we had 2 baptisms! Almost all of our investigators saw the baptism. Sister Yuki and Sister Nii both bore wonderful testimonies! We had such a good week! All thanks goes to Heavenly Father and you for your prayers. The Church is True!

She Was Just Beyond Happy!

From David and Viola Ricks

Teaching in Germany

(From Viola) To start the story off of this amazing baptism----you need a little history.  It was a little discouraging at the first of the mission. It was winter, cold, and getting dark by 3:30 p.m.   The language was not coming back for [David], and I was just not getting it.  We were in a foreign land and didn't know what was going on most of the time.  Dad always has these unrealistic expectations.  He kept saying not to worry that we would meet, teach, and baptize someone on our mission AND they would be sent to us!  Yeh, sure!  Even if they were, we couldn't understand them or speak to them!  How was that going to work!  (Ye of little faith)   

ANYWAY----------our loving Heavenly Father knows our weaknesses and provides. . . . . . . 

(From David)  We have good news this week, and so we get to tell you the story that we promised last week.  It started in the middle of last October. There was a lady from Stuttgart, Germany that had family history films there. She had recently moved and lived about 45 minutes away from Würzburg.   

She wanted to get her films transferred to the Family History Library in Würzburg.  Well, she called the church building and no one answered, so she called the elders and they really didn't know what to do or to tell her so they kind of put her off.  Then she called the people in Stuttgart and the man there was a full blooded German and said there was no way a transfer would work.  He said he would have to send the films back to SLC and she would have to reorder them. He told her this would take about 4-6 months. This went on for two or three weeks.  Finally the elders said something to us.  Sister Ricks was very frustrated wondering why as a couple running the Family History Center that we knew nothing about the circus that was going on. 

Finally, one day the lady called the elders again (who at the time were riding with us in our car!)  We finally made an appointment to meet her at the family history center.  We got her films ordered after a long frustrating time on the computer.  She doesn't have computer skills, and she kept getting all of her user and password information mixed up.  (By the way, she got her films in three weeks, and found some very important birthdates of her grandparents.)

     

When they got ready to leave, Sister Ricks told the Elders to ask if they wanted to come to church on Sunday to the Children's Sacrament Program.  They asked the man driving her.  She wasn't too interested and she hoped that he would say he was too busy.  But he said, "Ja, I think we could do that."

Well--- at the time we didn't know that she was paying him 10 Euro's an hour to drive her around in "her" car.  Of course he wanted to spend 3 hours in church. :-)  To our surprise they were at church on Sunday.  Sister Ricks got the elders to ask her if she wanted the lessons and the man, Herr Quiel was interested because he would get more money.  So he was always on our side, as every time we made appointments then he got paid.  She began to be interested in the church. We found out that missionaries years before had taught her the discussions but she was way too busy to go to church or to show much interest in it.  Her sister really loves our church, even though she isn't a member.  The sister lives in New Hampshire, and has lived in the United States for over 30 years.  She has an American husband.  Her sister has encouraged her continuously to be baptized.  That has been very helpful. 

We got to take the elders every week to appointments as it would take them two hours to get there and two hours home by bus.  The first time we went it was through forests and a beautiful area of Germany during the extraordinarily beautiful fall colors.  It was probably the most beautiful fall drive we have ever experienced.  She would fix or buy us lunch every time that we went.  We also took our turn making lunch for them and they would come to our apartment.  A baptismal date was set for the 20 of February and so yesterday she was baptized a member of the church.

 She is 74 years old and her name is Doris Michalski.  It is the first baptism that either elder has been involved in--- and one of the elders goes home next week so it has been exciting for them also.  Herr Quiel and Doris have been to church most Sundays and the members have grown to really love her.  She is a very excitable lady.  On one of the visits Sister Ricks took her the bishops wife's temple dress to try on to see if it would fit her for her baptism.  She is very self conscious of her weight (even though she isn't fat) and she knew that we wouldn't have any baptismal clothing that would fit.  We took the dress for her to try on.  She was getting lunch ready for us and all of a sudden we heard a scream from the other room.  We didn't know what was happening so we went to see.  She had gone up stairs to try on the dress, and was so excited that it fit that she was screaming with excitement for such a beautiful baptismal dress.  

(From Viola)The elders, Elder Sauve, from Portland, and Elder Klingler, from South Jordan, did everything possible to make the baptism memorable and perfect.  The program was really nice.  They had invited all kinds of investigators and inactive members to the baptism.  I think there were about 50 there.  Very amazing for Wurzburg!  Doris was just beyond happy!  

Today the bishop blessed his baby.  The spirit was so tender with Doris's confirmation and the baby blessing.  We are so grateful to have been in the meeting to partake of the Sacrament and the spirit.  We were indeed spiritually blessed.