Sounds
like a crazy week with the boys! That makes me so happy that you got to go out
there and see them And with grandma too! It looks like you had such a fun time!
Someone said Pablo was there too, did he fly out with you or does he live there
now? Conner’s cat is so dang cute! Did you have an allergy problems? Dang its
cute.
Eek go
Logan! And Tanner! I cheer on the boys too even though I’m not there! It sounds
like you just had the greatest trip! I’M SO JEALOUS YOU WENT TO A VOCAL POINT
CONCERT. I love them! I listen to them all the time out here. [Logan was
in a big ballroom dance competition and Tanner had several hockey games, both
as a player and as a goalie that we went and watched! MOM]
That is
so so so sad about ML. I totally remember him from summer term (how could I
not?! He was pretty cute😉)! That really makes my heart hurt too, nobody should have to
experience that. He probably doesn’t remember me, but I totally wish I could
send him a little encouraging email or something. It may be really hard now,
but he is being prepared for something even better. Perhaps Heavenly Father was
actually saving him from further heartbreak in the future. Either way, I hope
that he turns to family and his Savior, and not away. As I've been talking to
people that go through hard times, the only thing that will make it worse is by
thinking that you don’t need the Savior to lean on. He is ready and willing to
help you, if not just comfort you through it. It’s like when I’m sad and you
hug me; why would I not take that offer?! 😁 Oh
wow, that is so difficult to go through though. I’m glad he has friends and
especially Logan to lean on. Logan is a good guy. I'll put him in my prayers
too though :(
I’m so
excited for you to keep on working at the temple: in your new temple dress!
Super cute! Send me a picture!
So yes,
I won’t keep you waiting any longer, I'm getting transferred! I'm going to
Elmshorn! Hee hee yes, I think it’s a funny name too. It doesn’t even translate
into German. It's
just north of Hamburg, so on Wednesday I will be traveling for a little over 7
hours!
But yes... Let me tell you everything that I'm
thinking: I'm excited and incredibly sad at the same time. Yeah, the sad
feelings have kind of taken over this weekend; Zwickau just feels like home out
here! Change is scary! I LOVE these people here! On the other hand, I am very
excited. This was Sister Bagnoud's training area, so I've heard quite a bit
about it already! It's going to be completely different than Zwickau, and the
south in general. The language, food and culture are as different as going from
Alabama to Oregon! Apparently, it's like the perfect ward to be in. What I know
is that they love speaking English and they love the missionaries! I was a bit
frightened to find out that we have eating appointments 5 days out of the week
and they feed you a TON! Oh boy, yeah that scares me. We will see. Something
funny, my new companion, Sister Decker, is a vegetarian! She said that the ward
is super accommodating with food allergies and preferences, so let's hope it’s
all okay! I'm really excited to work with Sister Decker, I've heard of her and
she was in Sister Grisham's group! I really wanted to serve with someone
younger, so I'm grateful that worked out. Other than that, I don't know a ton
about the area other than we will be super busy and I love it! Oh, and it's really close
to the North Sea, so it’s going to be COLD! And we will be biking since it’s so
flat, so that will be a fun change!
As much
as all of those things are going to be really fun, my heart is super heavy. I
do NOT want to leave these people. They are my heart and soul and I do feel
like I gave them everything I could. I wish I could stay, but it’s inevitable
that I will go sometime. Sunday was the WORST though. I was already sad with
Sister Grisham (don’t even get me started with her, she’s like my other half)
but then came the ward. I laid a bit low because I didn't really want it
announced, but I must have told the one person I shouldn't have- the conductor
of the meeting. I was asked to give the opening prayer and then afterward he
announced that I would be transferred. I kid you not the entire room gasped. He
started thanking me for all the work I did and how much the ward loved and
appreciated me. It’s was embarrassing and really sweet at the same time, I didn’t
know what to do but cry. Then he’s just like, “Please share your testimony with
us!" and sat down. Haha I had tears all over my face, but I said okayyyyy
and got up. I got up to the podium and looked out and saw the ward and my heart
just hurt. I was filled with so much love, because I really used my
energy to get to know them and share the gospel with them as well. It took me a
good 15 seconds to start talking (which is totally not me because I pretty much
never stop talking with them). My shoulders slumped, and I just simply said
that I had a testimony of my Savior, Jesus Christ. I shared that I have grown
so much in just this short amount of time, and how much love I have for my
Savior. He is the one that makes this work go, and I am so grateful I get to be
a small instrument in making it happen. I shared that this ward meant
everything to me, and that I loved all of them. I told them that the missionary
work is wonderful, and they really are going to see miracles here. It felt very
powerful to me and I'm glad that I got a chance to share my testimony with
them, it really strengthened my faith and love for my Savior.
After
this though, everyone and their niece came up to say goodbye. They all invited
us to come over and say goodbye, it was really cute. Sadly, there are only 24
hours in the day, and goodbyes have to end sooner or later. I still haven't
said goodbye to a couple of them, the hardest ones being Janina and Jared. Just
thinking about saying goodbye makes a lump in my throat. That is going to be so
hard. But hey, it’s not forever, because I will totally be seeing those
hooligans again! We had a really fun time together last night and ate my
requested abendbrot. We went upstairs, and they asked the normal, wonderful
questions they have every week before we get into the lesson. Then they just
asked me to share a spiritual thought and it was a good time, but I will
eventually have to say good bye tomorrow. I don't want to at all but it's going
to be okay, we'll meet again :) (Btw, I think like half of this email is like
me just pep talking myself).
Other
than that, it was just a normal busy week! We started meeting with a new
investigator, so I'm very hopeful that it will progress well! She's a referral
from a member, so those always tend to go better. We shall see!
Friday
night was super cool, Markus and Antoine invited us over for dinner again! We
are totally homies now. I may have already told you this, I forget, but he
asked us to study the question "Do you think God still punishes His
children?" I totally thanked Markus for asking this question because it
sparked the BEST comp study for Sister Grisham and I! We searched the
scriptures, and I had like, revelation while I was sleeping. But all in all, we
all pretty much came to the same answer and it was a really spiritual night. I
love talking about the gospel!
Oh,
just one last thing, I have to elaborate on something I said in my weekly
email. The surprise that Bishop and his wife gave me. I toned it down over
email, but yesterday was really, really hard. I just get attached to people and
I don't necessarily like change when I'm really happy. But, the surprise was
one of the most special things I think anybody has ever done for me! They took
that huge, fragile thing out of their cellar weeks before they had to use it,
and lit it just so that I could see it before I left! Bishop also loves the
organ (because he can play with gusto, that’s what he tells me!), and played
really beautiful Christmas music. I never even considered to take a picture
because I didn’t want to take away from this moment at all. The picture I will
send you is actually a bit later, when I asked him to play a random song, so I
could take a picture and save the memory. But the last song he played before I
took the picture was "Homeward Bound". It’s my favorite song! Sister
Renkewitz and Grisham just sat and listened (well, G was crying like c’mon girl
get it together, I’m the one that always cries!!), and I sang my favorite song
while Bishop played. I will never forget that night. He knew it was my favorite
song too, because he's played it for me quite a few times and even gave me the
sheet music. Oh man, oh man, am I going to miss this ward. After we talked, and
right before we were about to leave, I kept getting this prompting. I had my
fears about leaving, and I just felt prompted over and over again to ask Bishop
for a blessing before I left. I didn't know if it was allowed, so I wasn't sure
I should ask. Then finally I just felt the prompting one more time (getting a
prompting more than one time is a sure sign you need to follow it!) and I asked
him if he could give me a blessing. He said of course! It was a beautiful
blessing, and everyone was in tears at the end. It really comforted me. He said
that I may not understand why I am going where I am going for a month, but I
will know. He said that I shouldn't be nervous, they would welcome me warmly.
He said that Heavenly Father will always provide a way for me to accomplish His
work. Then, he ended with a blessing that I would forever remain in the hearts
of the members here. I'm glad that I asked him for one. I may not be completely
calm and anxious-free, but it was indeed very, very comforting. I don't feel
that I did anything special to this ward but just give them all of my love. I
can see why a lot of missionaries don't, because it makes it horribly hard to
leave when the time comes. But hey, I'd rather love and experience a bit of
sadness than not love at all. I’m going to give Elmshorn all of my love too, I
can't wait to meet them.
Well Mutti,
that’s about it. I'm alive and happy. I’m learning and growing. I will have
interviews later next week, so I should definitely receive your package by
then. I’m excited to read those letters! Have a wonderful rest of your time in
Utah!
I love
you a million Erzgebirge Christmas Times!
Love, Sister
Macey Ingalls
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