Passau better prepare for a Primary!! (Sept 30)

What a good cliff hanger for a subject ;)

This week was great!

Last week we had a WONDERFUL Family Home Evening. A lot of people came. Elder Merkley made crepes. I had a Pictionary game going. And we had a soon-to-be-potential come. It was perfect. Everyone had so much fun.

Tuesday, Sister Smith and I tried something new. We are trying to make contacts in more natural settings. So, this week, we decided that while grocery shopping would be a good place to start. We didn't have a lot of time, but I am pretty sure we now know how to make a wonderful Schnitzel. Hopefully results on that will be in the next couple of emails/posts.

Usually, District Meetings take place in Landshut. This week the Ehe Paar was not there, so we had it in Passau. The A____s, the Ehe Parr, usually make a wonderful lunch for us. This week, we did things a little differently. 2 weeks ago the Passau elders had a cereal eating contest.... so we wanted to make it district wide. Yes, when you think of missionary, a cereal-eating contest does NOT come to mind. But, it was really fun. You don't even want to know how much cereal I consumed. Sister Smith and Elder Merkley tied for first, and then Elder Barker and I tied, then the Landshut elders weren’t even close. Haha. You would be surprised the tactics used in this competition.

We also got a referral on Tuesday, the Neuötting elders called us with someone they just visited, and while they were giving me her number, she called us! She was so excited to meet with us. We made an appointment for Saturday. It went so perfectly. Seriously, coolest thing ever. We took a trip to Pocking. We have went there SO MANY times to get ahold of Frau M___, who never is home. However, on the way to St____, we see Frau M____! What are the chances.. Everything about our wandering around Pocking was inspired. I can't get over it. St_____'s lesson was straight out of Preach My Gospel. We were sharing scriptures, asking questions, the spirit was there. She responded positively to everything. She promised to read in the Book of Mormon and just like that, we got ourselves a NEW INVESTIGATOR! The best part is that she has 2 kids and is PREGNANT! Better get the Primary going! ah, I love serving here! The whole day was a spiritual experience.

This week we had our Austausch (exchange). I went to München to work with Sister Packer. We had a really cool experience with this guy. On our way from the train to home, we talked to him. We talked about the Book Of Mormon and he wanted one so bad, and was asking us where he could read it online. When I pulled one out and gave it to him, he about fell off his chair, literally, he was in a wheelchair. He gave us his cell number and his home number and they made out an appointment. It was really cool to see how excited he was to learn more about Christ. I really wish I could see him progress.

This week we had an appointment with Frau D___. It was so fun. Before we got started, she taught us some Latina dancing. We were having a ball and it was just so fun. She loved the Restoration DVD. I love watching that, because it really gives a second witness of what we are saying and it's a wonderful tool to use to really bring the Spirit.

Saturday we had our Putzentag. It was actually really fun. We were able to organize EVERYTHING and really just clean the apartment. It is Spotless! It was fun because we had to find out where a clothing container was to put missionaries clothes that are just sitting here because no one wants them. Getting those bags across town, on a packed bus was an adventure in itself.

Yesterday, the missionaries taught Sunday School. Oh don't worry, everyone and their mom was there. The Mü___s are back from vacation, and due to L__s' mission farewell, there were a lot of witness' to my awful German. We lead a discussion on Glauben (Faith). The point was that we are all on different stages of faith but we can always grow. It was a fun thing to study, because we focused on each step going through Alma 32. Every time I read that chapter, I get something new. I would encourage you to reread that chapter, and see what sticks out to you. See how you, personally, can nurture your faith.

This week was so full of reaping the rewards from my labors. I love this work. I don't want to come home, sorry ;)

Have a great week! Love you!

Sister Regnier




Oh Strallin der Morgen (Sept 23)

This month's favorite hymn, Oh Strallin der Morgen, is such a fun song. It is so.... jolly?... Bayerisch?...wonderful.

So you asked to tell you a little more about German culture…

Well, It's just different than ours, but not like opposite side of the world different. Something I find interesting is that Germans typically have 1-3 really close friends. Everyone else is "acquaintances." They trust these few people. People aren't really open to talking about what is close to them. They go shopping very regularly. We look like FREAKS when we are buying enough food for 2 people for an entire week. Everyone is always unterwegs (on the way). Here, many elderly people take public buses and are completely independent, living on their own. There is senior community housing, but compared to America, the German elderly population is much more independent. They are very punctual. ummmmm. I don't really have that many. This week I'll pay more attention to it :)

This week I worked on my Bayerisch and my Krio. B___ taught Sister Smith and I a bit more Krio. Now I can say a lot more than " How de Bodi." However, it is close to impossible to understand. Also, on our finding day, I met the coolest lady! She is seriously amazing. We had a good chat on her porch. And when I say chat I mean, she spoke and asked questions and I tried my best to keep up and understand her questions. She spoke RICHTIG Bayerisch (CORRECT Bavarian). It was so crazy. She was so, so funny though. She taught me the word, Fescher Bursch. Definition, not important, but it may take me my whole mission to be able to say it correctly.

This week I had my most awkward encounter yet. I am still not ever sure why it was so awkward. We were visiting prior investigators. A guy, around our age, answered the door and just stared at us. I introduced us and asked if he had met with missionaries before. He only said one word..... it was so awkward. He was just looking at us. After me blabbing on trying to make it not awkward, Sister Smith just said, shönen tag (nice day). It was SO weird. I can't even give the situation justice. No wonder returned missionaries are so awkward.... haha.

We went along with the elders to one of their lessons as a joint teach. It was really cool. It was with this woman who has a very interesting situation. She seems really interested in the gospel and when we were telling her how we can know truth through the Spirit, she told us her own personal experience, agreeing with what we were teaching. I am really excited to meet with her again. She seemed really excited to read in the Book of Mormon.

We had a couple lessons this week. Which is a lot better than the last two weeks. We also were able to meet with the S___s for dinner and a stop in with Schwester L___.

This week Sister Smith and I made Zopf, a bread from Switz. It was really fun. But we will definitely have to try it again so as to perfect our skills.

My personal favorite part of this week was the Relief Society meeting. Schwester S___ gave a lesson on trust. It was really cool. She started out with giving us paper and asking us to write words we relate with trust. Then on another piece of paper, we wrote words that we do not relate with trust, or rather, we relate with mistrust. We then talked about how these words made us feel. I thought a lot about what makes a person trustworthy. Then of course my mind comes to Christ. In the preexistence, we trusted Him. We were told the plan. He told us that we wouldn’t go it alone, he would always be with us. He told us that in time, He would also come down in the flesh. He would come to help us and to save us. And we chose to go with him, we chose to trust him. Now, we are here on Earth and essentially do the same thing. Using our faith, we trust in the His plan, we trust our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ. After that lesson, I decided to study it a bit. I really liked these scriptures: 2 Nephi 4:34, Mosiah 23:22, Alma 36:3, & 2 Chr 32:8. We really need to trust in the Lord and be like Nephi, go and do, and know that the Lord prepares a way.

Have a wonderful week!

Sister Regnier

Making Zopf

Katzenbär (Sept 16)

Katzenbär, or, Cat bear, or, Panda Bear. A word I learned this week from a children’s book.

Yesterday, I was singing the song Christus ist mein Herr (Christ is my Lord-we think she might be referencing “the Lord is my Light”). What a wonderful song. I don't know the English verses off the top of my head, but I am sure they are similar. He is my rock, my life's bread, the light, and the Wahrheits quell (source of truth) sounds so much prettier in German. Every single phrase of that song, punctures my heart. I owe him so much. I can't even comprehend what he has done for me. It brings me so much sadness when we tell people we are sharing a message about Jesus and they reply "Kein Bedarf" (No need). That is so sad. I can’t imagine how He must have felt when people rejected Him, to his face.  But then again, He must be so, so happy when people decide to use Him, or the gospel, to return to Heavenly Father. This week we taught S___ about the Pioneers. He found their sufferings, as well as Joseph Smith's, very interesting. He compared their experiences to Christ’s and how people often ridicule the people that are trying to help.

We had our first meeting with Frau B___ this week. She is the lady we caught on her doorstep and were able to help her move her stuff up to her apartment. She has read the intro and the testimonies in the front of the Book of Mormon. She says she believes it all. I am very excited to see her progress.

This week we were able to play fußball (soccer) with Luis again. We all had a great time. By far the best part was afterwards, he asked Elder Merkley what he should read in the Book of Mormon next. This week, we are having a bit bigger soccer game. Hopefully the weather holds up so all the people we are planning on coming come!

The best lesson of the week was definitely with a less active. We have previously had a really hard time keeping her on task. This time, it went so well! We actually were able to really teach her in a way that she now understands an important gospel principle. It was really an answer to a prayer.

A cool experience that we had this week was that a family we met on the street asked us to come over. When we got to their house, they introduced us to his brother, who only speaks slovakish. He wanted some help understanding a scripture in the Bible. He also said if we could use the Book of Mormon to explain that would be great. Because he understands that it is also written by prophets. We are meeting him next week with a Book of Mormon in his language to help him. I am VERY excited.

Something that really had an impression on me this week was talking to this one lady on the street. I used my new favorite approach. “What do you think the purpose of life is?” We got in a very interesting discussion about Jesus Christ, God, and the purpose of life. She doesn't believe in anything. She talked about her siblings that have died and how they are simply gone. In the same tone that I would talk about the weather. It was seriously sad. She also told us she feels no responsibility to be happy or to be nice to others. Wow. This got me really thinking how I would be if I didn't know what happens after this life. That is seriously a sad thought. I am SO BLESSED to know and to have desire for so much more.

I know that we are here for a purpose. There is a life after this Earthly existence. We can see our family again. What we do makes a lasting impact on others. We have a responsibility and privilege to follow Christ and to help others.

"Verily, verily, I say unto you, this is my gospel; and ye know the things that ye must do in my church; for the works which ye have seen me do that shall ye also do; for that which ye have seen me do even that shall ye do;" (3 Nephi 27:27)

This gospel is true. I am blessed to be able to have this opportunity to share it and have the spiritual experiences I have.

Liebe Grüße,

Sister Regnier

Beautiful Passau!

A miracle just happened! (Sept 9)

Hallo!

Wow, my email time is flying by. 

Last Monday, we decided to have a Family Home Evening (FHE), our first as missionaries. I encourage every missionary everywhere to set one of these up! It went so great! The ward members loved it and it was a great bonding opportunity. I also learned a new game, Wizard. It was so fun. We also had the Landshut elders come out and play some basketball for Monday’s P-day.

On Tuesday, we had Zone Conference. We unnaturally, role-played how to be natural. It was kind of hilarious. Afterwards, we went out to Pizza with the H___s', Schwester L___, and S__. It was so much fun. (I have missed pizza!) It is so fun to have such a great relationship with the members!

Sister Smith and I had a really great experience this week. We visited someone  for whom we had given the Book of Mormon last week. At that moment, she was actually moving stuff into her apartment with the help of someone we had previously taught!  Because of her physical condition it was really hard for her to perform the move, so we got there just in time to help. After helping her, and reminding her who we were, she told us that she had already read a lot in the book (it was sitting right there on her table!). We have an appointment with her next week. It was really a great opportunity, because not only did we help this potential investigator (who speaks bayerish fyi) but the other lady was also there to see us again and see us helping others. It was really inspired. The falling out of our previous plans really made it possible for this to happen. 

Wow, okay, a miracle just happened! The mother of a family who we just started teaching was outside the Internet shop! I went out there to talk to her, and she showed me pictures of her wedding last weekend oh, it was PERFECT to see her. 

Sister Smith and I spent a lot of time this week planning. That consists of us lying out on the floor mapping out old investigators and potentials..... hence the picture. It was kind of like a puzzle. But I feel all ready to go now! 

We almost went into Austria yesterday, its funny how hidden the boarders are here... haha. 

This week looks really good, we have a lot planned. 

Until next week,

Sister Regnier