He Still Makes Time: Frankfurt Week 3

Monday, October 10, 2016

Mom and Dad,

I hope Austin and Emily get well enough to run soon, that's a bummer that they've had a slow start to their season. [Dad Note: injuries, shin splints etc]

Your relief society responsibilities are keeping you busy, I'm glad you're enjoying that, looking forward to saying hi nto Sister Rutherford again too :)

By the way, how was Dad's birthday? Which food was eaten, etc.?

To answer some questions. My days in the office are good. I have a much better idea now of what my responsibilities are and how to do the various tasks that belong to me. I think I mentioned already what I'm in charge of. With the orders it reminds me a bit of Golden Spoon, sorting yogurt and taking inventory. Here however I sort different languages of the Book of Mormon and other missionary materials. I had probably 3 missionaries who needed new phones this week and I'm still working on organizing the driver's license materials so that missionaries can receive a translation of their American licenses. Exciting stuff in the office! Not really to exciting, but I enjoy it and it makes missionary work possible for the other missionaries in many ways. Emily mentioned a few weeks ago in an email how much she likes organizing things (in the things that she's involved in at school right now) and I enjoy the same privilege in the office.

Unfortunately we don't have as much time as we currently want to do typical missionary work, we've been learning and catching up on projects and tasks that need to be done. We had ward council this week and the relief society president gave us a list of people to visit. We're also starting to meet with the R family again (from Columbia) When I was here last time Elder Taylor and I worked with them. On an exchange Elder Passey (my district leader) and I taught a man from Argentina, Spanish and English mixed lesson. His name is Mr A and he is so open to the spirit, we had such a special lesson together talking about the plan, centered on the atonement of Jesus Christ. He is working on a German fluency exam, a masters thesis, has work and other things going on in his life, but still makes time to meet with us. We all have the same amount of time, life is just about priorities and what we choose to do with our time. We watched the last session of conference in church yesterday and I really liked the focus on service throughout and Elder Bednar's message about knowing the Savior. Not just knowing about Jesus Christ, but building a personal relationship to Jesus Christ. He listed 4 points, faith in him, following him, serving, and believing Him. All of this takes time and the personal relationship to Jesus Christ needs to be a conscious priority. I love it :)

Love you all!

Hayden

General Conf: Frankfurt Week 2

October 3, 2016

Subject: Re: October 2, 2016

Mom and Dad!

Elder Mejía stayed with the Zone leaders in Heidelberg until he also visited Frankfurt. He is currently training in Heidelberg Spanish. I honestly don't understand 100% why I had to go as early as I did. I had a normal P-Day on Monday, just in Frankfurt, and my predecessor shared a few tips and taught me a bit about my new responsibilities on Sunday night. Transfers have definitely changed since Taylor left, we are transferred typically on Tuesday now, there is no transfer call and we don't all have to go through Frankfurt and meet there how they used to do it.

Yeah, Elder Mejía and I had an amazing last week together. I'll miss him. He's planning, however, to live in Germany after his mission, so that will make it easier to stay in contact. I'll ask him how our Heidelberg friends are doing. As far as the work in Frankfurt: I'm coming into the Office Elder area which currently has 1 investigator, a Nigerian brother whom I found during my last time in Frankfurt. We're in building stages as far as the missionary work goes for the companionship. The ward seems excited and we heard some powerful conference messages about missionary work as well, so that will help. Working in the office we also have different responsibilities than other areas of the mission. I am in charge of cell phones, internet for senior couples, drivers license things and orders. We also set up new apartments and help with repairs throughout the mission. In this past week we helped with transfers, back to the rollercoaster of picking up new missionaries and sending old ones home, figured out what are jobs are, and set some sister missionaries up with a new apartment.

General conference was amazing. We are so blessed to have inspired leadership and be guided by Jesus Christ through his apostles and prophets. Many thoughts regarding the Great Plan of Happiness were shared. I love that as we prepare ourselves to live with God one day, prepare to return with him, we are also coming closer to him during this life. I haven't seen the Sunday afternoon session of conference yet, and there were so many powerful messages but so far my favorite talk was probably that of Elder Cornish. Without Jesus Christ we aren't enough, but we know that through him we are enough. Good enough, enough to achieve and be what we want to be, enough in God's eyes. God knows that we make and will make mistakes, but loves us despite our weaknesses and mistakes. His love and grace are amazing.

I love you too!

Hayden

Back to Frankfurt: Heidelberg/Frankfurt week 24/1

September 26, 2016

Hello!

I talked to the Senior couples at the office and it's being changed to John Wayne [DadNote: flight home in Dec. Likely speaking 12/18 in church at 1pm], they passed the message to Salt lake. I have considered living in the FLSH, foreign language student housing, I don't know if or how complicated that would be... If that's not a possibility then WyView for sure.

I had an exciting transfer call this last weekend and an exciting week. Elder Mejía and I felt pretty sure that I was staying, then on Saturday morning we received a call from President. I was released as a district leader, called as an office Elder and Elder Mejía was called to train. So I came back to Frankfurt. I actually got here last night and started learning about what I'll be doing [DN: not usual to transfer before Tuesday/Wednesday]. I'll be in the English Speaking ward and my new companions are Elder Penrod and Elder Stiles.

On my last day in the Spanish ward I took pictures with most of the members and we set a baptismal date with our investigator who came to church. First time we had someone at church in the Spanish ward and it was awesome to watch the Spanish members helping him to feel welcome and making friends. It was our friend Da from Malaga, he loved hearing all of our members from Southern Spain. I love that ward and I'll miss it a lot. 

We also found a really prepared Cuban man in our last week, Mr D. He plays bass and many other instruments and is very close to God. When we were with him we could feel such a love an openness. He was so open to the Spirit.

Be open to the Spirit and humble to hear God's counsel at General Conference this weekend.

Love,

Hayden

Primary So Fun: Heidelberg week 23

September 19, 2016 8:50 AM

Hello Family,

Nice quiet week at home, post wedding and everything else that was going on. Mom, Happy Birthday! I thought of you but can't remember if wished you a Happy Birthday. Now you have time to celebrate too :) 

We typically only attend the Spanish branch, but if a German or English speaking person that we're teaching plans to come then we visit the German ward as well. In my second and 3rd transfer here I also did the translation during sacrament meeting. Elder Mejía does like Sport, exercise together on the back patio. Highs and low's of the week: Mr H is struggling with some personal things. High would be visiting primary.

Why was visiting primary so fun? Because kids are really cute, and missionaries are heros to primary kids. It really brought me back to those days, singing primary songs and imagining what it would be like to serve a mission. I also want to thank all or the primary teachers out there for your patience and love, I was so impressed by the sister who taught that lesson. This week I also had a split in Karlsruhe and a street display down there, gotta love that city. The people were friendly and we had some interesting conversations. One interesting conversation was with a psychologist. she is religious but has her doubts about answered prayers and how much we just make up ourselves. Science may be able to explain and measure effects or reactions, but in many of the discussions that I have with people on the street it fails to explain the why. I shared with her that I Know that God loves each of his children, that that is more than a belief in my life.

I love you too!

Hayden

 

Spirit Was Like a Bon-Fire: Heidelberg Week 22

September 12, 2016 8:57 AM
Subject: Re: Sept 11, 2016

Hello!

This week was solid. We didn't have loads of lessons or find a bunch of new investigators, but I felt the spirit so much this week. Fast and testimony meeting was really spiritual, I had a fun exchange with the zone leaders, I received many answers to prayers and the lessons that we had were wonderful.

On Wednesday night we had a lesson with Mr L and Brother Keil (the member with whom he has a really strong relationship) and the spirit was like a bon-fire there. Elder Mejía started by asking Mr L if he had any questions or concerns, things on his mind, and he said yes. Mr L had been thinking a lot about the spirit recently and asked how he can have the spirit with him more often. In response to his question and desire we talked all about the doctrine of Christ. Being cleansed of our sins through the atonement of Jesus Christ, having faith in Him, repenting, being baptized and receiving the gift if the Holy Ghost. These things as well our  life long process and foundational things that we do to strengthen the faith, repent and keep our covenants are reading in the scriptures, praying and coming to church.

That is what the Lord promises us and what we can have as we keep our baptismal covenant, take His name upon us, always remember Him and keep His commandments and the Spirit will always be with us. As we do these things we can always have the Spirit to be with us, there are definitely special moments like that lesson as well, full or love and where the Holy Ghost powerfully testifies to us that what we are doing is good, when we can feel the spirit simply fill our hearts.

I love it. Mr L does too.

Love you!

Hayden

Temple Rededication: Heidelberg Week 21

September 5, 2016

Mom and Dad,

You have a married son! Congratulations!! Thanks for sending the pictures so quickly, I really need to be better at that. I'll try to send some from my iPad today, I planned time to send pictures then left my camera in the apartment, sorry about that. They look so happy. Have a good recovery week on the homefront.

My week wasn't quite as exciting, but it was up there. Seeing as we found Mr H again we had 3 lessons with him and he has now accepted the word of wisdom and is working on it. We also met with our friend Mr L, from Peru but has grown up in Germany. We met him with a family in the German congregation who knew him well from last year when you was investigating the church more. That was a special lesson. As much as we missionaries study, pray, and prepare, nothing can replace the relationships and friendships that members build. Missionaries leave, members of the church can make a lifelong friend.

Over the weekend the Freiberg temple was rededicated and we were able to visit 2 of the 3 re-dedication sessions. Elder Mejia translated for the first and we visited the following one normally. Elder Uchtdorf presided and shared messages in his native tongue. It was really cool to hear him speak German, and the messages were powerful. He told a story that brought the scripture in Matthew 25 to life, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these, my brethren, ye have done it unto me. We need to be Christlike and treat others as we would treat Christ if he were here. Full of love. 

Brother K made the comment that prayer is the most important thing for him and that made me really happy.

I love you so much and wish I had more time to write in a more organized way, have a great week!

Hayden

Asking: Heidelberg Week 20

August 29, 2016

Hello Family!

There is so much going on at home, Taylor's wedding, school, the temple, everything.

Yeah, I really like that quote from Elder Packer, it's so true. Thinking about activities is important too because that's where people have a change to open up and where you can teach doctrine. Sunday school is naturally there, but activities are a good opportunity too (teary eyed girls camp).

I'll get some pictures sent today, please send me pictures of the wedding and answer a few questions when you or Taylor have a moment. Which temple, how Taylor proposed, is there a honeymoon, have invitations been sent to me and President Stoddard?

This week in my life: Week 2 with Elder Mejía was a lot of fun. We're getting used to each other and I'm getting ready to end my mission in the Heidelberg Spanish ward :) Not impossible. Some highlights were; helping Sister E (Dominican Republican(?) who is less active and coming back) with an office move and spending time with her family. Mr H coming to church again- he's alive, he went on a trip to Frankfurt an der Ode-, M coming to church (German member with whom we meet, working on coming back) and a fireside with the Stake president about questions.

He talked about asking ourselves and God the right questions and asking them with the right attitude. Why questions, with the correct attitude, can offer us understanding. How questions can offer us solutions. Ask questions, find answers, work it out with our understanding and bring it to God.

Love,

Hayden