A lot of Success (Aug 25)

Last week we went to Neueschwanstein. Beautiful. 

Sister Mehr and I have been working pretty hard and trying to see the success of our labors. Wednesday was a pretty good sum up of this week. We had three appointments. The first one wasn't home. The second one dropped us before we could sit down. The third one was a miracle and we talked about baptism. So ist der Arbeit! (So is the work)

Luckily Sister Mehr and I are having fun. We see a lot of success and we see a lot of work that doesn't work how we'd like it to. It's been really fun to work together. With her right at the beginning of her mission and me at the end. We are trying to do everything. This includes trying new ways of contacting, find new ways to study, and try all the bread at bakeries.... I've sworn off any food that is not German. We are making the funnest meals, even if we end up having to call members to understand how to cook them ;) 

A pretty eventful day was our day in a small city called KISSING, cute right? haha. Well we contacted some less actives that lived there. Well on the way back, I had forgotten to stamp our ticket, so I told sister Mehr to hold the door and I ran to stamp it. I ran back as the doors lock and I see Sister Mehr's face of panic as she drives away, alone, in a train, no phone, and no ticket. I couldn't help but laugh. Everything worked out, it was just funny. Who knows what she wrote her family this week ;) 

This week we also visited a less active for the first time. She lives in the smallest dorf (village) I have ever seen. There is not even a grocery store, or a bakery in this town, and that’s saying something! It was really hard to see how much she’s suffering. Her sister in a different country is going through a lot. It is also beautiful to see how much strength someone can get out of reading the words from the prophets. This week we have been faced with a lot of people getting married to people they wish they hadn't. Sign for the soon returning sister Regnier? No idea. But, scary nonetheless. 

Sunday was the farewell for Le__. She is going to be the BEST SISTER EVER. She got up there and just talked about how excited she is. Then a member got up and talked about his mission. Well needless to say, I decided I am staying. I would give anything to just keep my name badge on and start all over. Maybe I'll convince Sister Mehr to give me her nametag, and she’ll be getting off the plane in a couple weeks in Oakland. Hört sich gut an (sounds good to me). Who wants to come home and get married anyway? I just have such a strong desire to serve. And those who have a desire are called to the work! Sooo.... I know I know, I still can serve when I get home..... I just would rather do it here. Something will work out I’m sure of it. 

Well that’s all I have to say. tschüss! (Bye)

Sister Regnier

Neuschwanstein and the other castle (Aug 18)

This week has been great. Our new investigator is progressing so quickly. It was so cool to meet with her and to feel how much love she had for God. She was very excited about the whole Joseph Smith story and came to all three hours of church this Sunday. She only has one day off a week, and she uses it to meet with us. It's really awesome teaching someone who is so prepared. 

This week we had zone training. It was weird to think the next one I have will be the week before I head home. 

I forgot if I mentioned last week. But there is a leak in the apartment above us. So 3 of our walls are pretty wet, and moldy. It stinks, but don’t worry, they said it’s not dangerous. It’s been hard dealing with this because it’s a whole new vocab and they speak with very thick dialect. But the problem was finally solved this week, and we just have to wait for the walls to dry. So funny the stupid little things that take our time when we are trying to save souls! 

This week a member had a breakfast so that we could have a spiritual thought with her friend, our investigator. This is someone who once was a member of the church. We were really disappointed when she left so quickly after we said we were now going to share a spiritual thought. You think someone is ready, and then they go on vacation with their boyfriend.... I HATE BOYFRIENDS: Another one of our investigators is planning on moving in with her boyfriend. It will really be a test to see if she wants to really accept the gospel and follow its teachings. 

We really did have a lot of appointments this week. It's been really cool to see the investigator work picking back up. Today, we mapped out all of the potential investigators we have not yet contacted, so that when we are close by, we can contact them. I hope we see success from that. 

A cool miracle we saw this week was with the lady I told you about last week, that I dropped her, then the next day I saw her in the bahn (train). Well the morning before we decided to pray and really set a goal that we would focus on asking for referrals. For the first time in my whole mission, we received a referral from an investigator. Its cool to see how goals and God go perfectly together :) 

Today, we visited Neuschwanstein. We toured the other castle, that no one can remember the name :) It was cool because I remember that I’ve seen it, but it was cool to really be able to enjoy the details. It's a beautiful place :) 

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Sister Regnier

Spätzle & Missionary Work (Aug 11)

It is a really interesting feeling, coming to the end of my mission. However, I know God is still watching over me and helping me make the best of it. 

This week I tried my hand at spätzle. It tasted great (not so attractive picture, but great food!) Definitely something I will be making often at home! 

We had interviews with the Mission President in München. President told me a few stories from his mission. He really was a cool missionary. Our mission will learn a TON from him. 

This week, we were helping in the Seifert's garden. Gardening is starting to be one of my favorite activities. We walked over to the neighbors just to see theirs. Well we just got talking and they are so awesome and want to see us again, SO EASY IS THAT FOLKS. 

So this week I got pretty discouraged. This discouragement leads to frustration. Well after asking someone a German question on the street and having them tell me to leave them in peace. I was pretty discouraged. A couple things happened so we were going to visit someone later than expected. But as I got into the bahn (train), who was sitting there but the potential I had given up on the night before. As soon as I sat down she was hugging me and asking if we could meet sometime. She told me when we met a month ago, she was having a pretty hard day, but she was a lot happier after talking to us and receiving the Book of Mormon. Well we finally have an appointment with her, and Sister Regnier feels stupid. But it just goes to show, missionary work is never for nothing. No matter how hard you try and don’t see success, there is success somewhere. 

This week the Relief Society had an activity of seeing a beautiful garden in Augsburg at night. We invited a girl that Sister Smith and I had met a while ago. She came and we had the best lesson ever. We ended up sitting down, talking about how God is our father and how we can pray to him and really receive answers in his creations. She came to church the next day and told me she would definitely be coming next week. When I asked if we could meet with her during the week, she couldn't have been happier. 

We had 2 investigators at church on Sunday. So yah, it was a good week.  Missionary work is the best, most rewarding kind of work. But it definitely takes a toll. I have NEVER been so tired as I am this week. I don’t even know how I am functioning. 

Love you! 

Sister Regnier

27 eating appointments! (Aug 4)

Well we had 27 eating appointments in the last 11 days. So if how we were doing correlated with the weight gain as it did in the olden days, I'm doing pretty good;) but really I am doing great! These have been a great couple days!!!! I Love Augsburg and everything in it. It was sad seeing Sister Smith leave. We have done a lot together and seen a lot happen here. It was cool because she came to church with her family on Sunday and a couple members had her family and the missionary over for dinner. It was schön (beautiful).

Saturday was a day. A mother and daughter are moving into our ward and we spent literally the whole day there. My body aches. I was so happy we were there, I don't know what they would have done with out us. It was really cool because the daughter was just baptized not too long ago, and we spent a lot of time with her. 

Interesting thing that happened this week. We were with a member and her two kids in her favorite cafe to eat her favorite chocolate cake. Her kids were winning a bit, not more than normal kids and it was a really loud restaurant so you couldn’t hear much. Anyway as we were getting ready to go the waitress came over and asked us to leave. I could not believe my ears. The world is corrupt if it's not okay for a baby to cry for a couple minutes in a family cafe..... so ridiculous. I would never expect that to happen. We were shocked! 

Sister Mehr is my new companion, she is awesome! It's really fun to be reminded how I was when I was brand new on the mission. I feel a heavy load of responsibility on me, more than I expected. Sending me a brand new missionary is probably the best thing God could do for me in my last transfer and for that I am grateful. Plus sister Mehr and I just have a blast :) 

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Sister Regnier