tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14599691067643288042024-03-14T10:41:20.048-07:00Werkzeug in der Hand des HerrnAn Instrument in the Hands of the LordJeanMarie Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922546383225620513noreply@blogger.comBlogger85125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1459969106764328804.post-14040049021099824112013-08-04T14:46:00.000-07:002013-08-04T14:46:14.856-07:00The Homecoming Talk<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">They
told me I could pick my topic. I don’t think that was a good idea. I hope this
talk isn’t too much of a jumbled mess and that my jet lag doesn’t affect it too
much.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">My
name is Sister Stewart, I mean JeanMarie. I grew up here in Virginia and then
went to BYU for two years where I am studying math. I just returned from my
mission to the Alpine German Speaking Mission. I served in southern Germany and
Austria. I served in the big cities of Munich, Vienna and Stuttgart and the not
so big city of Goeppingen. I’m having a
little bit of culture shock with how wide the roads are and how big the yards
are, but other than that I am so happy to be home!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">There
are lots of things I learned on my mission. Fortunately for you, I only have 15
minutes. One of the things my mission President always talked about was
miracles. He would always encourage us to write about the miracles we
experienced in our e-mails to him and he put them together in a book. The
awesome thing about miracles is they <u>happen</u>. In the MTC they taught us
that miracles are the natural result of the correct application of true,
eternal principles. God has always been a God of miracles, it’s the way He
works. He has never worked any other way. We read in Moroni 7: 27-29-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;"><span style="background-color: white;">“27 Wherefore, my beloved
brethren, have <span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: windowtext; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;">miracles</span> ceased
because Christ hath ascended into heaven, and hath sat down on the right hand
of God, to <span style="border: 1pt none windowtext; color: windowtext; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;">claim</span> of
the Father his rights of mercy which he hath upon the children of men?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">28 For he hath answered the
ends of the law, and he claimeth all those who have faith in him; and they who
have faith in him will<sup><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in;"> </span></sup><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">cleave</span> unto
every good thing; wherefore he <span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">advocateth</span> the
cause of the children of men; and he dwelleth eternally in the heavens.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">29 And because he hath done
this, my beloved brethren, have miracles ceased? Behold I say unto you, Nay;
neither have <span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">angels</span> ceased
to minister unto the children of men.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">I know that miracles haven’t ceased. I know that God loves us and
that He works miracles to show us His hand in our lives and in His work. Christ
worked miracles while on the earth, and I know that miracles continue to happen
today. The power of His Atonement is a miracle that can work in all of our
lives. I know that there are angels on both sides of the veil working hard to
help God’s children.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">When I think of my mission I feel like Ammon after he completed
his mission to the Lamanites. He says in Alma 26:12-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span class="verse"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; padding: 0in;">“12 </span></span><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt;">Yea, I know
that I am<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: windowtext; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;">nothing</span><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">; as to my strength I am weak; therefore I will<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: windowtext; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;">not</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></span><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">boast of myself, but I will<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: windowtext; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;">boast</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></span><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">of my God, for in his<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: windowtext; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;">strength</span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;"> </span></span><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">I can do all<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: 1pt none windowtext; color: windowtext; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none;">things</span><span style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial;">; yea, behold, many mighty miracles we have wrought
in this land, for which we will praise his name forever.”</span></span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I
know that on my own I could not have accomplished everything I did on my
mission. God was there every step of the way. I experienced miracles in
missionary work and miraculous changes in myself. To see miracles it required
humility, patience, repentance, and lots of faith. I had to learn to rely on
the power of the Atonement to see miracles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">God
works in interesting ways to bring to pass miracles. I know that sometimes we
may think we are in the completely wrong place, but in reality, God has put us
in the exact right place. One time my
companion and I were in a town trying to find a less active member who we had
never visited before. We arrived in the town on the train armed with a map and
an address. We set off to try and find their house. It was late February. The
sidewalks were covered in wet spring snow and more snow was falling from the
sky. We walked up a HUGE hill, our boots getting more and more soaked with every
step. We reached the neighborhood only to discover by some trick of German
street design that the streets did not in fact connect in the way I thought
they did. So, we turned around to head back down the massive hill and come at
it from the other direction. But then I had this feeling that we should really
ring some of the doorbells in the neighborhood we were in. So we started
ringing them. The first few people weren’t even home. Then about three houses
in we ring this doorbell and a forty something year old man comes to the door.
He starts speaking to us in German with a very heavy American accent. So we ask
him where he’s from and turns out he is from Ohio and has lived in Germany for
about 20 years. His family is pretty religious back in the States but ever since
he came to Germany he hadn’t really found a church he was happy with. He felt
that he was drifting away from God. We told him we could help with that </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"> We gave him
a Book of Mormon and made out an appointment and were able to return and teach
him a few times. I know that God put us in exactly the place we needed to be,
even though we thought we were in the wrong place.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Sometimes,
we may be just trying our hardest to do what God asks of us and he takes the
little bit that we put in and makes a wonderful miracle out of it. When I was
serving in Munich, one of the Relief Society presidents in one of the wards
there asked us to visit a less active family. We planned it all out. In order to
get to their house from our appointment earlier in the day, we would have to
take the bus to the subway and then walk for about ten minutes. Not too bad. So
we make our way there only to discover that we could have taken the tram for
three stops and been there much sooner. The way we came took about 30 minutes
when it could have taken 10. We could have chosen to be frustrated by this
situation, but we just went forward and rang their doorbell. And you know what?
They were home! The whole family had just returned home from the park. If we
had come early, we might have missed them. We had a really good lesson with
them and answered a lot of their questions and helped them with their concerns.
I know that sometimes we try our best and even though we make mistakes, God
takes care of us when we are on His errand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">God
also works miracles as we pour our hearts out to Him in prayer and then go to
work to accomplish our goals. I had the opportunity to experience this sort of
miracle just a few weeks ago. We planned what’s called a “Finding Day” with our
District in Stuttgart. Because I had two companions at the time, we invited a
member to come with us to help us out so that way we could split up two by two
and get even more work done! The member we invited, K, just got baptized in
November and is thinking about going on a mission. I prayed really really hard
that she would be able to see success that day because I know how discouraging
it can be when all you hear is “No interest” all day long. So we went to work.
The first couple hours I worked with K. And you know what? We had more success
in the first 30 minutes than we had had the whole previous week. We gave a Book
of Mormon to an awesome family and another one to a man who has had a pretty
tough life. Even though K’s feet hurt because of her shoes (comfortable shoes
are key to missionary work) she was smiling from ear to ear at the end of the
day. Success! I know that when we pray sincerely to Heavenly Father and then
get to work, He will help us accomplish our goals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Hopefully
you’re not bored of my stories, because I have at least one more to tell you,
possibly one of the biggest miracles I experienced on my mission. God worked a
miraculous change in me, a change for which I will be forever grateful. I don’t
quite know how to describe it except to say I feel stretched and remodeled,
Heavenly Father took the person I was and showed me how I could even better. As
President Uchtdorf said in this last General Conference “Serving God and our fellowman will challenge
us and transform us into something greater than we ever thought possible.” I
know that’s true because I have seen how my mission has changed me. And I know
for sure that I didn’t and couldn’t have made those changes on my own. At the
beginning of my mission my mission president told me “The Sister Stewart you
have in mind and the Sister Stewart the Lord has in mind are two different people.”
At first I was confused by that statement, but now I know that at the beginning
of my mission I couldn’t even imagine the person that I would become by the
end, the person God helped me to become.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">One
of the ways God helped me to become that person was by putting me in a
situation that forced me to grow. For six months I worked in an area where the
work was pretty slow. We rang a <b><u>lot</u></b>
of doorbells. At some point, I just
got stuck and was going out to not invite people to come to Christ, but to fill
time. It was rough. Then, slowly, God started to work a miracle
in me. I had an amazing companion, and
we talked a lot about what we could do differently. We received lots of counsel from other
missionaries and our mission president.
Slowly God helped me come to the conclusion: to be happy is a
decision. I can look at the situation
with doom and gloom or I can choose to be happy. Once I realized this, my life got a whole lot
easier. I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for working this
miracle in me. I know that through the
power of the atonement, we can all experience the miracle of repentance and
change.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">I
had to really humble myself and be teachable before I could experience a change
of attitude. Just like Ammon says, we
have to acknowledge that we are nothing.
We need help and as we accept that help in our lives, miracles happen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Cambria, serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Faith
is the key to miracles. We do all that
is in our power, but at some point, we just have to have faith. I love the way Moroni puts it in Ether
12:8-12-<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; padding: 0in;">“8 </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">But because of the faith of men he has shown
himself unto the world, and glorified the name of the Father, and prepared a
way that thereby others might be partakers of the heavenly gift, that they
might hope for those things which they have not seen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="" name="9"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; padding: 0in;"> </span></a><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; padding: 0in;">9 </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Wherefore, ye may also have
hope, and be partakers of the gift, if ye will but have faith.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="" name="10"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; padding: 0in;">10 </span></a><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Behold it was by faith that they of old were <span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">called</span> after
the holy order of God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="" name="11"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; padding: 0in;"> </span></a><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; padding: 0in;">11 </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">Wherefore, by faith was the
law of Moses given. But in the <span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">gift </span>of his Son
hath God prepared a more <span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">excellent</span> way;
and it is by faith that it hath been fulfilled.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; line-height: 16.5pt; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; vertical-align: baseline;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><a href="" name="12"><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; padding: 0in;"> </span></a><span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin; padding: 0in;">12 </span><span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;">For if there be no <span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">faith</span> among
the children of men God can do no <span style="border: none windowtext 1.0pt; color: windowtext; mso-border-alt: none windowtext 0in; padding: 0in; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">miracle</span> among
them; wherefore, he showed not himself until after their faith.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Cambria","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ascii-theme-font: major-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: major-latin;"><span style="background-color: white;">I
know that when we have faith, God works miracles. There are miracles around us every
day, we just have to look for them. I am so very grateful for the opportunity I
had to serve a mission. I am grateful for my parents and the leaders who helped
shape me into the person I am today. I know that God lives and that He loves
us. Each and every single one of us. He has a plan for us. It is amazing to see
what God can make out of us, if we let Him.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
JeanMarie Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922546383225620513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1459969106764328804.post-78144811313335597432013-07-22T17:08:00.000-07:002013-07-22T17:08:50.455-07:00The last melon<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, this is it, the very last
e-mail home. In some ways I am so ready to come home. It's strange because I
feel like I have been a missionary forever, but also it has gone by so fast.
It's hard to believe all the things that have happened on my mission. God
really is so good, He has blessed me so much over the past 18 months, and I
know He will continue to do so.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past week was HOT and
sticky, but it was also a great week. I went on my very last Austausch. Sister
Jencks and I went to Freiburg to work with Sister Peterson. I have wanted to
see Freiburg my whole mission, and I got to go right at the end! We had an action packed day. When we came back
to Stuttgart we were pretty exhausted, but sleep helped with that.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We visited a less active
family on Friday and baked brownies with them. The mom of the family
is awesome, but her kids and husband are less interested at the moment. We did
get to have dinner with most of the family all together, though, so that was
awesome.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Saturday by some trick of
fate we ended up with two eating appointments. That doesn't happen very often.
We had lunch with a less active member of the German ward and then went to the
home of one of the American families for dinner.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Oh, and today was an awesome P-Day.
We went on the Army Post. We ate Taco
Bell at the food court (and I got twizzlers for the plane ride home, very
important) and then we went to the Ritter Sport factory! That was pretty
awesome, a very good last P-Day.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hope you all have enjoyed my
ramblings over the last 18 months, I hope that I have been able to help you in
some way to feel God's love and to see how awesome missions are (even though
some days it is tough). I feel that my mission is more of a blessing than a
sacrifice. I have gotten to know and love so many people and have grown a lot
closer to my Heavenly Father.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ich weiß, dass Gott uns liebt. Er
ist da und er liebt uns. Manchmal hier auf der Erde sehen wir nicht so genau,
was Gott vorhat. Aber er hat immer einen Plan, wir müssen ihn einfach vertrauen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(I know that God loves us. He is
there and He loves us. Sometimes here on Earth, we do not see exactly what God
has in store. But he always has a plan, we must simply trust him.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bis bald!!!! (See you soon!!!!)</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
--Sister Stewart</div>
JeanMarie Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922546383225620513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1459969106764328804.post-24560933367622355272013-07-16T15:12:00.001-07:002013-07-16T15:12:18.820-07:00I'm not dead yet!<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hi everybody! This is my second
to last weekly e-mail home on my mission, can you believe how fast the time
goes by? I certainly can't!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past week was a little on
the ridiculous side, but I feel like my whole life right now is a little on the
ridiculous side, so I guess it was nothing out of the ordinary. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We did two, count them two
exchanges this week! I got to work with Sister Clark and then with Sister Reid,
both of whom I trained! That was a tender mercy to my soul but not very good
for my body because I stayed up very late talking and catching up with former
companions, oops.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past Monday we
taught S about Faith in Jesus Christ. We read with her in Ether 12, one of my
favorite chapters in the Book of Mormon. She has given up coffee and has
started reading the Book of Mormon from the beginning! Hooray!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then on Tuesday we had
Zone Training Meeting and afterwards I headed out to Göppingen! I worked with
Sister Clark for a day and it was epic! Since things have been so hectic in
Stuttgart and I feel like I don't really know much, it was nice to be back to
the basics of missionary work in Göppingen and realize that I actually do know
things! I know the area and the members so well in Göppingen, it was a pleasure
to be there. We definitely had some adventures, including giving a Book of
Mormon to a shirtless man out walking his dog (for some reason I was just full
of all sorts of courage on Tuesday).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wednesday we returned to
Stuttgart, and then Thursday morning we did exchange with the sisters
in Ludwigsburg, Sister Reid came to work with Sister Green and me! We had two
pretty great appointments with less active members of our ward.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past week I have been
thinking back over past areas on my mission. I learned so much in each area.
The only regrets I have are when I didn't take advantage of all the
opportunities I had. Every time I stretched myself and did something outside of
my comfort zone, I grew so much and I ended up with some pretty great stories.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We are continuing to work here in
Stuttgart! Even though every day isn't full of rainbows and sunshine, life is
pretty good.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am enjoying missionary life,
there are just a few things I am really looking forward to when I get home- my
family, sleep, and the temple. I am also looking forward to using my mission
experience as a spring board for the rest of my life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ich bin so dankbar, auf Mission
zu sein. Ich bin dankbar für die Liebe meines Himmlischen Vaters. Ich bin
dankbar für Jesus Christus. Ich bin dankbar, dass er uns hilft, die Person zu
werden, die wir werden sollen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(I am so grateful to be on a
mission. I am thankful for the love of my Heavenly Father. I am thankful for
Jesus Christ. I am grateful that He helps us to become the person we want to be.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ich habe euch lieb! Bis bald! (I
love you! Later!)</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
--Sister Stewart</div>
JeanMarie Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922546383225620513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1459969106764328804.post-58870676849868203532013-07-10T13:20:00.003-07:002013-07-10T13:20:28.109-07:00Sometimes you stop writing in your journal<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hello everybody!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hope your last week was amazing
and full of miracles! I know there are miracles around us everyday, if we just
look for them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This last week was go, go, go. I
haven't had time to write in my journal for about two weeks. On
Tuesday after District Meeting we did an Austausch with the sisters
serving in Pforzheim. Sister Green and I went to Pforzheim to work with Sister
Holman. It was a pretty amazing experience, let's just say God puts you in the
place you need to be, at the exact right time that you need to be there.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We came back on
Wednesday and the Pforzhaim sisters slept over at our apartment so Sister
Holmstead could go to the dentist. (That was fun.) Then on
Thursday Sister Jencks and I headed to Munich for Mission Leadership
Council and Sister Green stayed with the Sisters in Ludwigsburg. We spent a
couple days in Munich with President and Sister Miles and the other Zone
Leaders and Sister Training Leaders in our mission. There was a barbeque for
the 4th of July! And I got to see Sister
Ackerman, who I served with in Göppingen! Hooray! We learned a lot and
hopefully we now will be better able to help the missionaries in our Zone learn
as well.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then when we came back
and on Saturday we did a Finding Day with our District. On a Finding
Day we go out all together as a District and talk to people. We invited a
recent convert from the International Ward, K, to come with us, so that way we
could go two by two. Divide and conquer, I had been praying really hard because
I wanted K to have a good experience, because she is thinking about going on a
mission. We started off the day with Sister Green and Sister Jencks working
together and I went with K. During about a half hour period we were able to
talk to this awesome family and give them and Book of Mormon, and then we
talked to another man and gave him a book, and he gave us his contact info.
Sister Green and Jencks saw the family later in the day, and they were already
reading the Book of Mormon! Hooray! Then later Sister Green worked with K and
together they gave away 4 Books of Mormon in about an hour! I was so glad that
the day turned out successful. The weather was perfect and we were led to the
people we needed to talk to.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sunday we did double church
again. Afterwards we ate tacos with an American family.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This coming week we are doing two
Austausches, in order to fit them in before the transfer is over. It will be
exciting because I get to go back to Göppingen and work with Sister Clark for a
day!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Something I learned this week
from our meeting in Munich: Make sure your mind is where your feet are. Your
thoughts should be here, in the present, where your feet are. I was also
thinking about how my feet are in Germany right now, so my thoughts need to be
here as well. I haven't had much of a problem day dreaming about home, because
we have so much to do I barely have time to breathe, let alone day dream. It's
good to remember to focus on where I am right now, not on problems I may have
had in the past or things that might happen in the future. Of course I need to
repent from past sins and make plans to be better in the future, but I live in
the present, not the past or the future! God will take care of me if I just
trust him.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ich habe euch lieb!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--Sister Stewart</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
JeanMarie Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922546383225620513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1459969106764328804.post-6439477821983575922013-07-02T17:23:00.005-07:002013-07-02T17:23:53.705-07:00Don't tell me how many Sundays I have left<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hello everybody! Oh man, I know
it probably sounds like a broken record by now, but I seriously cannot believe
how fast the time has gone by. I calculated how many Sundays I have left, and
it's not pretty. Let's just say I can count it on one hand and still have
fingers left over. I am so excited to see my family, but I feel like I just
barely started to figure out how everything works here!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past week we had the lovely
opportunity to get to know more of the members in the International Ward. We
are just so blessed to be able to serve here with them. Guess what Americans
like to feed missionaries? Tacos! We are enjoying it!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We also were able to meet with
one of the less active members from the German ward and get her excited about
family history! We are going to see if we can do family home evening with her
and her kids (who are also members). In our lesson Sister Green bore a really
powerful testimony about family history work, and I was just so proud of her.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This week we had interviews with
President Miles, my last one (well except for the day I go home). As always it
was lovely to see President and Sister Miles.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of my favorite days was Sunday;
we got to see the new broadcast from the church about missionary work. I think
it is spiffy. It is so well done, it really gave me great motivation to
continue on with the work I have started on my mission when I get home. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It has been rainy and cold, cold,
cold. No fun.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This coming week will also be a
blur, Sister Green and I are going to Pforzheim for Austausch and then Sister
Jencks and I are going to Munich for Mission Leadership Council. So much to do!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ich habe gelernt diese Woche, wie
wichtig es ist, dass wir einander lieben und verzeihen. Wir sind alle Kinder Gottes,
wir haben mehr gemeinsam als wir Unterschiede haben. Gott möchte, dass wir
einander helfen und unterstützen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(I have learned this week how
important it is that we love and forgive each other. We are all children of
God, we have more in common than we have differences. God wants us to help and
support each other.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I love you lots!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--Sister Stewart</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
JeanMarie Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922546383225620513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1459969106764328804.post-16731801159267772632013-06-26T08:30:00.002-07:002013-06-26T08:30:39.504-07:00This week it was hotter in Germany than in Africa<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hi everybody!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This last week was pretty great!
We were definitely kept hopping here in Stuttgart. The weather was toasty; the
Germans were telling us that apparently it was hotter in Germany than in
Tunisia this past week. I can testify of that. Luckily it has cooled off a bit
now.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our apartment is really coming
together, I actually have a closet now! We also have worked out all the kinks
with our washing machine and have figured out how to run the dishwasher. Now we
just need a vacuum.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This last week we got to meet
with some of the awesome members in both the German and English speaking wards.
We had dinner with an American family and they had cheddar cheese! It was
amazing! We also met with a sister who is less active who lives right around
the corner from the church. She is so sweet, she has two grown up kids and her
daughter has a son who is almost a year old who she is helping to raise, I
really hope we can help them out.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We also met with S! We watched the
Joseph Smith movie with her. She has started to read the Book of Mormon all on
her own! Her main concern is coffee. Literally she could talk about it for
hours. But she is willing to listen and
I really think as she starts to read the Book of Mormon more, it will help
bring the Spirit into her life so she can find answers to the questions that
she has. She is getting so close.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This week, well really the last
couple weeks, I have been praying a lot to have charity. Charity and love is
one of my most favorite topics in the gospel. Really, without love, where would
we be? Without God's love for us, without Christ's love for us, without our
love for each other, all of it would be useless, it wouldn't make any sense. I
am so grateful for my testimony of God's love for me and for the opportunity I
have to develop that love for others.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ich habe euch lieb!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--Sister Stewart</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
JeanMarie Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922546383225620513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1459969106764328804.post-19373863161165597102013-06-19T15:28:00.001-07:002013-06-19T15:28:43.345-07:006 hours of church<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hi everybody! I hope you have had
a lovely week! Do me a favor- take a minute and think of something that made
you happy this week.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
Got it? Feeling warm and fuzzy inside? Good.<br />
<br />
So, I have moved 40 minutes away from little Göppingen to the bustling city of
Stuttgart! We live in a brand new apartment, so new that I don't really even
have a closet yet, so I'm living out of suitcases at the moment. I may not even
really unpack since I'm going home in 6 weeks, GASP. The apartment is in a really
cute part of town called Weilimdorf. We live a 10 minute walk from the church,
so it is basically perfect.<br />
<br />
I am serving with Sister Jencks and Sister Green. Sister Jencks came to the
field about 3 months ago and Sister Green got here last week! They are both 20.
Needless to say, I am feeling old, since I have been on my mission for almost
17 months and I am a whopping 22 years old. Well, I may be a dinosaur, but they
can't quite get rid of me yet! So far things have been going great, serving
with two other missionaries instead of just one always adds in an extra
dynamic, but I think we will get along just fine.<br />
<br />
Also, we are serving in both the German and the English speaking congregations!
This means, among other things, that we go to two 3 hour blocks of church
each Sunday. I am adjusting since in Göppingen we only had 2 hours of
church (no Sunday school) but it should be fun. The German ward is
adorable, our ward mission leader is Italian and it feels just like a cozy
family. The English speaking ward is basically a military ward. Even though it
technically is an international ward, 99.9% of the members are American and
either in the military or work for the military. That was a little strange, it
was like we were back in America for 3 hours yesterday.<br />
<br />
We will be going on 4 exchanges this transfer, as well as going to Munich for
our Leadership meeting. In case you were wondering how we are going to get
everything done, don't worry, I'm asking myself that exact same question. But
you know what? We just have to take it one step at a time.<br />
<br />
This last week I have been realizing how fast time does go by and how we need
to take advantage of the time that we have been given. I don't want to be super
stressed about using absolutely every single second of every day (because that
would be exhausting) but I am just trying to be more aware of how I spend my
time. Especially because we are so busy, time really counts. I have been
learning to take those little times throughout the day that I need for just me,
to do something that makes me happy, for example writing in my journal or just
enjoying every bit of my cereal in the morning (I really like cereal). I have
also been trying to use my time efficiently so that I don't have to be stressed
with last minute stuff. We will see how well that goes!<br />
<br />
We have a couple of really cool investigators, one of whom came to church
yesterday! She is American, a single mom with two kids. She became good friends
with a member family in the international ward and has been coming to church on
and off since December. She is awesome! She just has a couple concerns (related
to the Word of Wisdom) but I think as she gains her own testimony of the
gospel, those concerns won't be so bad to help her overcome.<br />
<br />
Summer has officially arrived, took it long enough. The day we moved was very,
very hot (doesn't that always seem to happen on moving days?). Today is also
warm and sunny.<br />
<br />
I Also LOVE this quote from Neal A. Maxwell-</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
"Though of themselves life's defining moments may seem minor, our wise
responses can gradually increase our traction on the demanding path of
discipleship. For instance, we can decide daily or in an instant, in seemingly
little things, whether we respond with a smile instead of a scowl, or whether
we give warm praise instead of exhibiting icy indifference. Each response
matters in its small moment. Afterall, moments are the molecules that make up eternity,
affecting not only ourselves but others, because our conduct even in seemingly
small things can be contagious."<br />
<br />
Ich bin dankbar, auf mission zu sein. Ich habe vieles gelernt und ich weiß, das
ist noch mehr lernen soll, bevor ich nach hause gehe. Ich weiß, dass unser
Himmlischer Vater uns liebt und uns kennt. Er lässt uns nicht allein. Niemals.<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
(I am grateful to be on mission.
I have learned a lot and I know I am supposed to learn more before I go home. I
know that our Heavenly Father loves us and knows us. He never has left us
alone. Never.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ich hab euch lieb! Bis bald!
(Love you, see you soon!)</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
--Sister Stewart<br />
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JeanMarie Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922546383225620513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1459969106764328804.post-82213570802448985132013-06-11T17:05:00.001-07:002013-06-11T17:05:25.671-07:00Get ready for a 6 week adventure!<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Guten Tag! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
President Miles gave us our
transfer news in a very unusual manner this transfer. Normally he calls us on
the Friday morning before transfer week. But this time he announced
it at our Mission Leadership Council! Want to know what happened? Sister Clark
is staying in Göppingen and training! I am going to Stuttgart to serve with
Sister Jencks and we will also be training a new missionary! Craziness! I never
thought I would serve in an area for just 6 weeks, but that's how long I will
be in Stuttgart before I head back home. We will be living in a brand new
apartment and will probably be serving both the English and the German speaking
wards. Luckily Sister Jencks has already been in Stuttgart for a couple months,
so she will just have to lead me and our other companion around the first
couple days. It should be fun! Buckle your seatbelts!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One good/bad thing about this
transfer right before I go home: It is forcing me to get to pack and go through
my stuff right now, as opposed to in 6 weeks. I was hoping to be able to put
that off a little longer, but I guess this way maybe I won't be so stressed
right at the end. Hopefully there will be enough room in my suitcases to bring
home some chocolate :)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This last week was
crazy. Wednesday and Thursday we were in Munich! We got
into Munich a little early and were able to run and go see the Rathaus on
Marienplatz, Sister Clark hadn't ever seen it before. I can hardly believe that
it was a year ago that I was in Munich, it all looks so familiar. Then we had
two days of meetings, luckily I snagged a place on the couch. I am so grateful
for the opportunity I have had on my mission to learn from President and Sister
Miles and the other missionaries serving here. Most of them are younger than
me, but they know so much and have such strong faith. One of the things we
talked about was about love and charity. We talked a lot about how it is easy
to love our family and friends, but harder to love those we don't know or who
may seem a little strange at first glance.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After we had talked about this we
were on the S-Bahn platform waiting to go to the Bahnhof and Sister Clark and I
started talking to a couple. She is just starting to learn German so we started
off talking about that. Then we got to what we as missionaries are doing here
in Germany. She shared how she went to a Catholic school where they focused a
lot on how you get punished for doing bad things. I just shared my testimony
that I prefer to focus on good things. I know we are all children of God, and
that we all have something good in us, even if it is buried very deep down. As
we were speaking we them, I could feel God's love for them and the confirmation
that we are all children of God. I am so grateful for the opportunities I get
everyday to share my testimony and feel of God's love.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It has still been a little rainy
the past few days, but we have been getting glances of some nicer weather. I am
hoping that we get to see some real summer before I go home!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ich weiß, dass Gott unser
Himmlischer Vater ist. Er will, dass wir glücklich sind. Deshalb hat er uns zu
dieser Erde geschickt. Er lässt uns nicht allein. Wir dürfen immer beten und in
den Schriften und den Worten der Propheten lesen, um seine Stimme zu hören.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(I know that God is our Heavenly
Father. He wants us to be happy. So he sent us to this Earth. He did not leave
us alone. We must always pray, read the scriptures and the words of the
prophets, to hear His voice.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tschüss! Bis bald!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--Sister Stewart</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
JeanMarie Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922546383225620513noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1459969106764328804.post-58614181674673038322013-06-04T16:08:00.004-07:002013-06-04T16:08:35.198-07:00What makes your life rich?<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We survived another week in
Göppingen. I can hardly believe that it is Monday again!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is cold, cold, cold here. On
June 1st we were wearing jackets and tights and the rain was coming down
diagonally. No fun.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past week we did our last
Austausch for the transfer! Hooray that means we are done with Austausch for a
couple weeks! It does not, however, mean we are done with trains. Tomorrow we
go to Ulm for the District Meeting then on Wednesday we go to Munich
for the Mission Leadership Council, then we come back on Thursday, then we
have a street display in Ellwangen on Saturday, and Sunday is stake
conference in Stuttgart. We will be on trains at least 4 days this week and
will only be in our own area for two full days. I don't know how much money
this mission spends in train tickets, but the costs must be astronomical.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I went on Austausch with Sister
Peterson, who is currently serving in Freiburg. Everything with the travel
plans went well, so that was a blessing. We were able to go and visit a member
who is 92 years old. To get to her we basically had to climb a mountain,
my calves are getting a good work out here in Göppingen. Schwester
Hardtmann was 18 when World War II started. Her house got bombed in the war,
her brother and her dad were both killed fighting for Germany. After the war
she fled East Germany with three young children. Basically she is living
history and I am so grateful for the opportunity that we had to visit with her.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This week was pretty great. I was
really able to see the Lord's hand in our work this week, mostly because I was
looking for it. The best example I have is Thursday. On Thursday we
had no appointments scheduled, not one. So we thought and prayed a lot
about what we needed to do that day and then went out and did it. We were able
to make contact with a member referral and teach them so they became new investigators!
And then we went out to the village where our ward mission leader lives to
track down some less active members and former investigators. While there we
were able to talk to a woman whose mother had recently died, give a Book of
Mormon to a man who had the most beautiful flowers I have ever seen in his yard
and we were interviewed by a woman for an article in her church newspaper. It
was awesome! The Lord just put us in all the right places that we needed to be
to help everyone out that day. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The woman who interviewed us
asked us this question "What makes your life rich?" I thought it was
a pretty interesting question to think about. Right off the bat I talked about
my family and my mission. As I was thinking more about it later there were a
couple other things that I added to the list-</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-The opportunity I have to learn
new things every day, about the gospel, about myself, about the world around me</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-The community of people I have
gotten to know over my life, people from all walks of life and all over the
world who have taught me so much</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-My talents, as I develop them, I
am better able to serve God and those around me</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-My weaknesses, as I work to overcome
them, I grow closer to God and learn so much</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
What makes your life rich?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ich bin von Herzen dankbar für
alles, was ich auf Mission erlebt habe. Es ist nicht immer leicht, aber jetzt
weiß ich, dass ich es mit Gott schaffen kann! Er hat uns so viel Erfolg
geschenkt. Ich bin gespannt zu sehen, was in den nächste Woche passiert!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(I am very grateful for all my
experiences of this mission. It is not always easy, but now I know that I can
do it with God!. He has given us so much success. I am excited to see what
happens in the coming week!) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mach's gut! (Take care!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--Sister Stewart</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
JeanMarie Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922546383225620513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1459969106764328804.post-28415787834334100342013-05-28T15:41:00.004-07:002013-05-28T15:41:56.300-07:00And another Austausch! (exchange)<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Guten Tag!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hope you all had a great week!
This past week I feel like I have learned a lot. I am so grateful for the
chance to be on a mission. As I have learned this week to put aside my pride
and fear and just go to work, I have found so much joy. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sister Clark and I have
officially become the "Austauschers." As Sister Training Leaders we
go on three exchanges every transfer. We will be doing our last exchange for
this transfer tomorrow with the Sisters in Freiburg. They are a 4 hour
train ride away from us! We are meeting halfway at the Bahnhof in Karlsruhe.
Karlsruhe just happens to be in the Frankfurt mission. No worries, we cleared
it with President Miles. The train connections in this part of the mission just
use Karlsruhe as a big transfer point, it would add a couple more hours of
travel to avoid it. I am excited to work with a Sister I haven't even met
before. This is her first transfer here in Germany. Hopefully I don't corrupt
her too much.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past week we did Austausch with
the sisters in Pforzheim. I got to work with Sister Holmstead! This is the
third Austausch I have done with her. We went to the MTC on the same day, but
since I was fast tracked I came to Germany before her, but we will be going
home on the same day! She is one of the best friends I have made on my mission.
It was a joy and a pleasure working with her for the day. We rang A LOT of
people's doorbells, and Sister Holmstead seized every opportunity to teach and
bear testimony. She is a big example to me. It was also nice to relate to
another missionary who is going home soon.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We continue to make slow but
steady progress on visiting every member on the ward list. The ward is also
trying to clean up the records and find out if people still actually live where
it says they do on the ward list, so we will be reporting back on our
efforts to the Branch President. Sister Clark and I have been working
lately on planning effectively, and it is amazing how many good things things
we find to do. The Lord has blessed us a lot. We have had new ideas come
to us of things to try and we have been able to get in contact with some people
that we weren't able to reach before. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yesterday a family in the branch
invited us over for lunch after church. We drove home with them. There were 7
people (all of them adults or teenagers) and 5 seats in the car. It was a bit
of a tight squeeze; luckily they don't live too far away. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The weather is crazy, crazy right
now. We are wearing jackets and scarves, and it is almost June! The members say
that some parts of the area may be getting snow next week! Where is summer?!?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I want to say thank you for all
the prayers that have been/are being said on our behalf. Thank you, thank you,
thank you for your faith and for your good examples to me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ich weiß, dass Gott mich liebt.
Ich mache jeden Tag Fortschritt, um zurück zu ihm zu gehen. Ich weiß, dass wenn
wir gehorsam sind, segnet der Herr uns mit Frieden und Freude.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(I know that God loves me. I'm working
every day to go back to him. I know that when we are obedient, the Lord blesses
us with peace and joy.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ihr seid super! Bis bald! (Your
are the best! Take care!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--Sister Stewart</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
JeanMarie Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922546383225620513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1459969106764328804.post-40727752502455943022013-05-23T13:26:00.002-07:002013-05-23T13:26:14.628-07:00Austausch (exchange) Angels<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hello everybody!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past week was great, we have
been kept hopping with all the things we have to do. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This week we did Austausch (exchange) with
the Sisters in Stuttgart! I went to Stuttgart to work with Sister Jencks. We
visited an older member who lives in a nursing home, and she gave us some bead
angels she had made. A funny story: one time I was on Austausch in Graz and one
of the members gave me a little angel! So this was the second time that I
received an angel on Austausch. They are both sitting on my desk. As I look at
them I just think about how much God loves us and how He will always send
people to help us. He sends angels, from both sides of the veil, to help us to
feel of his love. As Sister Jencks and I were visiting with this sister, I
couldn't help but feel how much God loves her and how precious she is in His
sight. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Working in the city was weird
because it was so familiar. I have spent so much of my mission in big cities
that I feel so at home there. It's funny because after serving in Munich and
Vienna for a while I just wanted to get out of the city, but now I miss it.
Don't get me wrong, I love serving in Göppingen, but I also miss the hustle and
bustle of the city and the smooth glide of the U-Bahn as opposed to the
bumpy buses we take all the time here. Sister Jencks and I had a good day,
we taught a less active member and we found a new investigator! The apartment
in Suttgart the sister missionaries live in has been redone (they replaced the Elders there, so there was a
lot of work to do :) ) but it is a lot smaller than the apartment here in
Göppingen. Stuttgart is a beautiful city, its set into some hills that are
covered with trees, and everything is green now that it is spring! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thursday we watched the
Restoration DVD with one of our investigators. No matter how many times I watch
that movie, I always learn something new and feel the Spirit. That was really
nice. On Saturday we were in Ulm to help the Elders with a street
display. Basically we just went to downtown Ulm and talked to as many people as
we could about Jesus and the Book of Mormon. It was a long day, and we didn't see a whole
lot of success, but I still feel good about it. The morning was hard, but then
after lunch Sister Clark and I went down a quiet side street and prayed
and from then on I felt a lot better. I know that Heavenly Father is proud of
us, even when others use their agency not to listen. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sister Clark and I have decided
that we really need to find new investigators. We are going to be focusing on that by visiting all the members on the ward list and former investigators and then
tracting around those addresses. I have found that finding works better when
you have a specific place in mind to go rather than when you just show up in a
neighborhood and start knocking doors. So our goal this week is to conquer the
ward list! There are lots of people on there I have never heard of/seen before,
so I am sure it will be an adventure! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ich weiß, dass wenn wir zum
Himmlischen Vater beten, antwortet er uns. Er schickt uns die Frieden und
Trost, die wir brauchen. Ich habe gelernt, dass ich mehr oft beten soll. Er ist
immer bereit zu helfen, ich muss ihn nur bitten! Ich weiß, dass unser Himmlischer
Vater uns alle liebt. Er will, dass wir zu ihm zurückkehren. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(I know that when we pray to
Heavenly Father, He answers us. He sends us the peace and comfort that we need.
I've learned that I should pray more often. He is always willing to help; I
just need to ask him! I know that our Heavenly Father loves us all. He wants us
to return to Him.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ich hab euch leib! Mach's gut!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--Sister Stewart</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
JeanMarie Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922546383225620513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1459969106764328804.post-70151387535504366862013-05-14T15:23:00.002-07:002013-05-14T15:23:09.986-07:00Mission Tour and Leadership Meetings and lots of fun stuff !<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sorry if this is a little shorter
than normal, we are doing P-Day in Stuttgart today! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The highlights of our week:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->We met with one of the members in our ward and
then called on a less active who lives in the same town. We were able to go by
and see her! That was awesome because we hadn't seen her since February!</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->We met with Destiny, our very favorite African!
We read in the Book of Mormon with him, and he is loved it.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->We went to Munich for the Mission Tour! Elder
Teixeira from the Area Presidency came and talked with us. We stayed in the
Mission Home on Thursday night and then went to Rückert Straße, the
same chapel where I went to church for the first 6 months, for the meeting. It
was great.</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->Sister Clark and I along with the other new
Sister Training Leaders, took part in what is now called the Mission Leadership
Council (formerly the Zone Leader Council). It was great!</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;">·<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt;">
</span></span><!--[endif]-->We got to talk to our parents! Hooray!</div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="text-indent: -0.25in;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I learned a lot this past
weekend, but something that really sticks out in my mind is how important our calling
as missionaries really is and how important it is that we give ALL our might,
mind and strength to this work. There is a lot expected of us, but that's okay
because God is there to help us. As we dedicate and consecrate our lives, He
will help us. I am so grateful for the opportunity I have had to learn so much
on my mission and I know I will continue to learning for the next 2 and a half
months. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ich habe euch lieb! (I love you!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--Sister Stewart</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
JeanMarie Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922546383225620513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1459969106764328804.post-75633791907946908752013-05-09T08:34:00.005-07:002013-05-09T08:34:30.774-07:00Frühlingfest (spring festival) = very full trains<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Guten Tag!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I really enjoyed this past week,
even though we weren't able to actually meet with any of our investigators. But
you know what, that's okay.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Monday we went to Ulm. The other
people in the District weren't too excited about climbing the Munster, so we
went to IKEA instead. It was lots of fun :) There's food there and everything.
Then we did family home evening at our ward mission leader's house, which was
pretty awesome. He and his wife are the best.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tuesday we went back to Ulm for
District Meeting.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wednesday was a holiday in
Germany. The celebrate Labor Day on the 1st of May. We went to the ward picnic
and played some Uno. Then we went and visited with Schwester Hausmann, one of
the new converts. Then we went from door to door for a little while.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Thursday we had to sort out lots
of fun stuff involving visas and bus tickets in the morning. Then in the
afternoon we went and visited Schwester Demel, one of the old ladies in our
ward, and then we went from door to door for a little while.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Friday we planned! Then we went
from door to door for a little while. Then we had dinner with a member.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Saturday we went to Stuttgart! We
helped out with a stake youth activity about missionary work. The train on the
way there was pretty full of people on their way to Frühlingfest (pretty much
like Oktoberfest, except in the spring and in Stuttgart, not Munich). They had
decided to get a head start on their alcohol consumption, so that was fun. Then
on the way back home, the train that normally goes was broken so they put us on
a little bitty train. It was packed to bursting, literally no room to
move. It was a fun adventure on German trains. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On Friday we will be going to
Munich for Mission Tour! Elder Texiera from the area presidency will be coming!
I am very excited, the meeting will be held at the building where I went to
church for the first 6 months of my mission!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Something interesting that
happened this week --- We got a call one night from an "Unknown"
number. Whenever that happens, 9 times out of 10 it is President Miles calling.
And whenever President Miles calls, you know your life is about to get a lot
more interesting. As I looked at the phone, I wondered if this meant we would
be getting another visa waiter. Sister Clark was in the bathroom. I answered:<br />
<br />
"Hallo, hier spricht Sister Stewart"<br />
"Hi Sister Sister, hier spricht President Miles. Wie geht's?"<br />
"Gut, wie geht's Ihnen?"<br />
"Mir geht's wunderbar! (he always says that) Are you two working
hard?"<br />
"Oh, you know, we try our best, President."<br />
"That good, because that's what we need. Hey, can you put me on speaker
phone so I can talk to both of you?"<br />
"Well, Sister Clark's in the bathroom right now..."</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
So I talked to President for a couple minutes until Sister Clark came out of the
bathroom. Then I put President on speaker phone and he said ---<br />
<br />
"The structure of mission leadership is changing. There is a new position
being created called Sister Training Leader. I would like to call you, Sister
Stewart, to be the head Sister Training Leader for the Stuttgart area and you,
Sister Clark, to be the assistant. Will you two accept this calling?"<br />
"Well, sure President!"<br />
<br />
I have no idea what this means. I do know that we will be attending the Zone
Leader Council which will now be called Mission Leadership Meeting. We are also
in charge of organizing exchanges for the sisters for whom we are responsible,
which includes the sisters in the Stuttgart zone and the sisters in the German
part of the Zürich zone. Fun times! We have our first meeting on Friday, so
wish us luck!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ich bin dankbar für die Zeit, die
ich habe, auf Mission zu sein. Es ist wunderbar! Obwohl ich nicht perfekt bin,
ich weiß, dass ich einfach mein Bestes geben muss.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(I am grateful for the time that
I have to serve a mission. It is wonderful! Although I am not perfect, I know
that I just have to the best I can.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ich habe euch lieb!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--Sister Stewart</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
JeanMarie Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922546383225620513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1459969106764328804.post-2649314665133142013-04-30T15:49:00.001-07:002013-04-30T15:49:23.090-07:00Rain, rain go away<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Guten Tag! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Well, this transfer is officially
over. Sister Clark and I are staying together in Göppingen for at least another
6 weeks. We have a calendar in our planners that shows the next two transfers
and I was realizing as we were planning that it has the day I go home on it! Komisch
(weird). </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past week we had some good
days and some not so good days. We baked cookies again. I feel like we are
always baking. We brought some to one of our investigators and also to one of
the recent converts. Then on Friday we met with D again! He had some really
good questions about the Godhead and about what happens after we die. We talked
about the Plan of Salvation pretty thoroughly with him. Unfortunately, he couldn't
come to church yesterday, but he is still making good progress. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Saturday we went to the Stake
Relief Society Activity in Stuttgart and Sister Clark's wallet got stolen. It was really sad, and it was a rainy day. Not one of the happiest
days of my mission. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It has been raining the past few
days here in Göppingen. I know rain is good for the plants, but still,
it's been a week straight of rain! I guess that's spring in Germany. The
ward is planning a picnic for Wednesday (the first of May is a holiday in
Germany) so hopefully the weather will clear up. We are going to Ulm today for
P-Day, we wanted to climb the Munster (a HUGE church) but maybe we will wait
for a day with better weather. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This week I am working on putting
one foot in front of the other. All we can do sometimes is just keep moving one
step forward. Sometimes all the things we have to do seem overwhelming at
the first glance, but as we start to walk forward, one step at a time, it
becomes manageable. I'm learning a lot about the power of keeping a prayer in
your heart. As I have opened my heart to Him, I have felt the peace and the
strength that I need to keep moving forward. Don't get me wrong, being a
missionary is awesome, but it is not always easy. Sometimes I forget that I
don't have to do it alone. Then I remember that He is always there for
me. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ich bin dankbar für meinen
Himmlischen Vater und für seinen Sohn, Jesus Christus, und für den Heligen
Geist. Ich bin dankbar für die Heilige Schriften. Ich bin dankbar für lebenden
Propheten. Ich bin dankbar, auf Mission zu sein!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(I am thankful for my Heavenly
Father and His son, Jesus Christ. I am thankful for the Holy Spirit. I am
thankful for the scriptures. I am thankful for a living prophet and am grateful
to be on a mission.) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
mit lieben Grüßen (Best wishes)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--Sister Stewart</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
JeanMarie Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922546383225620513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1459969106764328804.post-41541247538452923532013-04-24T16:44:00.000-07:002013-04-24T16:44:21.772-07:00Just come to church!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hello everybody!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past week I feel like my
life has become a series of lists of things that I need to check off. But you
want to know the awesome thing? Almost all of those lists are names of people
that we are trying to help come closer to Christ!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
One of the most exciting
things---D came to church! Hooray!!! That is the first time any of our
investigators have come to church since I have been in Göppingen. It was an awesome feeling to see him walk up
to the church building on Sunday morning.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past week we had interviews
with President Miles and then the three companionships of sisters in the Zone
did an Austausch (Exchange). It was a minor disaster. The Sisters going to
Pforzheim didn't change trains and ended up outside the mission. It took them
approximately three other trains to find their way back. And their cell phone
died. And the Stuttgart sisters accidentally had the key to their (Pforzheim's)
apartment. Luckily nothing too terrible happened and it all sorted itself out,
but I am sure we will all be laughing about it for years to come. Moral of the
story: make sure you have your key and make sure you know your train
connections!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The weather has gotten a little
colder again this week, but nothing too terrible. We just have to make sure to
bring our umbrellas with us when we leave the house.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yesterday we had a ward potluck,
which we do once a month. I brought Brownies, and they were gone in two
seconds. Next time I think I will have to make a double batch.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am really seeing the value
lately of keeping a journal. I keep a journal where I write about what happens
during the day and then I also keep a study journal where I write down things I
learn from the scriptures, conference, district meetings, etc. I have been
going back over my journals the last couple days and they help me a lot. There
are experiences that I had completely forgotten about, but luckily I wrote down
what happened, so I can learn from it. I am sure my mission journals will
continue to help me for the rest of my life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ich liebe es, auf Mission zu
sein. Wir müssen hart arbeiten, aber dann kann der Herr uns segnen. Ich bin
dankbar für alle die Segnungen, die ich von ihm bekommen habe. Ich werde mein
Bestes geben, ihm gut zu dienen, bis ich nach Hause gehe. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(I love being on a mission. We
have to work hard, but then the Lord blesses us. I am thankful for all of the
blessings I have received from Him. I will do my best to serve Him until I
return home.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tschüss! (Bye!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--Sister Stewart</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
JeanMarie Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922546383225620513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1459969106764328804.post-63507512851767728222013-04-16T17:46:00.002-07:002013-04-16T17:46:32.855-07:00And another week bites the dust<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hello everybody! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past week went by so fast! I
can hardly believe that it is Monday again! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We were able to meet with R and D
this past week, with members at both lessons! That was great. We made R a CD of
music from General Conference (you can download it for free!). We watched the
Restoration video with D; he has already read a little in the Book of
Mormon and to quote him "I think I fell in love with this book" :) He
didn't make it to church yesterday, but our hopes are still high for him. This
week we are going to teach him about the Plan of Salvation. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We also had lots of Zone
activities this past week. Zone P-day on Monday and Zone Training on
Tuesday. Want to know something funny? So I don't know who remembers, but
back when I served in Munich, I had a Swiss companion named Sister Roffler who
had to wait for her visa before serving her mission on Temple Square. Well, her
brother got his mission call to Brazil, but also doesn't have his visa yet, so
he is serving in Waiblingen, one of the others areas in the Stuttgart Zone! It
was so funny, we took a picture of him to send to Sister Roffler :) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Saturday we had a Finding Day
here in Goppingen, where the Elders from our district came and we all went out
together. We went to this Dorf about 15 minutes outside Göppingen. The weather
was a little crazy, it would rain and then be sunny, but we saw a lot of
success. Plus the German countryside is beautiful, so I can't really
complain. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The weather here in Germany has
finally warmed up. In fact, it got warm really, really fast. Yesterday we wore
jackets to church in the morning but then by the afternoon it was so warm we
didn't even need them anymore. Today is also sunny :) It is a good change of
pace. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yesterday we visited Schwester D
in the hospital. She is an elderly member of the ward. She has trouble seeing
and hearing. Recently she fell and broke her leg, so she had to get surgery and
now she is in the hospital for a couple weeks. We went by and read her a
story out of the Relief Society manual. Then she prayed before we left and
in her prayer she said "Bless the missionaries that they can be cheerful
even though it is hard sometimes." The Spirit just filled up the room and
I got tears in my eyes. I have so much respect and love for her. The fact that
she prayed for us to be happy touched my heart. Here she is in the hospital
with a broken leg, with poor eyesight and vision (did I mention her arm is also
in a cast?) and she just radiates peace. She is a perfect example of how the
gospel can influence our lives and help us through hard times. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ich weiß, dass Gott immer da ist.
Manchmal merken wir es nicht, weil wir einfach nicht zuhören. Wir müssen unser
Herzen öffnen, dann werden wir die Liebe Gottes spüren. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(I know that God is always there.
Sometimes we do not notice Him because we do not listen. We must open our
hearts then we will feel God’s love.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tschüss! Mach's gut! (Bye! Take
care!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--Sister Stewart</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
JeanMarie Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922546383225620513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1459969106764328804.post-20454290039798576282013-04-09T16:06:00.000-07:002013-04-09T16:06:05.227-07:00The one time we went to Stuttgart four days in a row<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hi everybody! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I hope you all enjoyed General
Conference! Here in Germany we got to watch three of the four sessions, two of
them live! It was awesome and I enjoyed every minute. We even had one of our
investigators come! Our ward mission leader drove her in to Stuttgart and she
watched the Sunday Morning Session (broadcast on Sunday evening) with us!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, we went to Stuttgart both
Saturday and Sunday for Conference, and we will be going again today for P-Day
and then on Tuesday for Zone Training. It's crazy, we get to see the other
missionaries in the Zone a lot!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past week we had lots of
things fall through, which was unfortunate, but we also had some pretty awesome
days and miracles. One of the best days was Thursday, and so I will tell you
the story of Thursday. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, we had an appointment set for
Thursday afternoon with J, but we hadn't been able to confirm with him and the
member that was going to be able to come couldn't do it until later anyway. We
woke up Thursday morning with that appointment completely up in the air. I
remember thinking in the shower "What in the world are we going to
do?" Of course, all normal people who aren't missionaries are at work
during the day, so it was super hard to get a hold of anyone. We planned our
day very tentatively (written in pencil) and decided to try our hardest to make
the appointment work. Around 12 we went out to take some Books of Mormon to
some people we had contacted last week in a little town about 20 minutes by bus
outside Göppingen. While there, we got a text from J saying he couldn't
meet, BUT THEN we got a phone call from one of our potential
investigators saying he had time to meet that evening! So we scrambled to pull
together a joint teaching appointment (the member who was going to come help
with J was able to meet with us at the church) and went about our way. We were
able to give a Book of Mormon in Albanian to this awesome family and hopefully
we can go by again this week and start teaching them! Then we went to a
different town and rang some doorbells and were able to give away another Book
of Mormon. Then we went home quickly so Sister Clark could use the bathroom (no
public restrooms in Germany) and guess what was in our mailbox! A media
referral from Mormon.org! We almost never get those! (It’s the third one I have
gotten on my whole mission) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Then Thursday evening we taught D,
the potential investigator who called us. He is from Nigeria. When we met him,
I asked him where he was from, and he told me to guess. I said
"Nigeria?" And he said "How did you know? Most African people
here aren't from Nigeria, they are from other places!" Which is funny, because
almost all the Africans I have met on my mission are from Nigeria :) Since
coming to Germany, he feels like he hasn't really found a church to worship in,
so he wants to come and see how we do it. He is a little apprehensive about
reading the Book of Mormon, but we just encouraged him to pray about it.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All in all, Thursday was great.
What I learned: sometimes, you try your hardest, but you still need a little
extra help. It was amazing how all the pieces seem to fall into place that day.
The timing of our appointment worked out perfectly. We were able to find buses
that left at good times (sometimes that can be a problem) and we were able to
reach lots of our goals for the day! I know it would not have been possible without
the Lord's help. I am not saying that every day is as awesome as Thursday
(because there are lots of days that are pretty discouraging, I am not going to
lie) but when a day like Thursday comes around you just have to treasure
it. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ich liebe es, auf Mission zu
sein. Ich freue mich, meine Familie zu sehen, wenn ich nach Hause komme, aber
ich werde meine Mission vermissen. Ich bin gespannt zu sehen, was in den
nächsten Paar Monate passieren wird!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(I love being on a mission. I will
be happy to see my family when I get home, but I will miss my mission. I'm
curious to see what will happen in the next couple months!) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Lots of love,</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sister Stewart</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
JeanMarie Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922546383225620513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1459969106764328804.post-7469476823237871362013-04-02T16:19:00.005-07:002013-04-02T16:19:59.056-07:00It snowed on Easter again!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Frohe Ostern! (Happy Easter!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, we woke up Easter morning and
guess what, it was snowing! Just like last year in Munich. It made me think
about what we did on Easter last year and how much has happened since then and
now. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today when we got to the church
to do e-mails, the internet was down. We said a prayer that Heavenly Father
could help us fix our problem. We were really sad and worried that we wouldn't
be able to do e-mails because 1) today is a holiday so nothing is open
and 2) we don't know where the internet shops are anyway. We called
the Branch President and he didn't know how to fix it. There was no instruction
manual for the router to be found. Then Sister Clark got down on her
knees behind the router and said "I'm really tempted to just unplug it and
then plug it back in." She did that and hooray! It works now! That's why
we have companions. I was out of ideas and was just feeling sad that the
internet was down. Meanwhile, Sister Clark had thought of something we could
try and then it worked! So today I am more grateful than usual for the fact
that we can use the internet to communicate with everyone :)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past week we have been
tearing it up here in Göppingen. Sister Clark and I have really just been going
to work and we have been blessed to see some of the fruits of our labors. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Probably our craziest day this
week was Thursday. We studied in the morning. Then we had to run to the
grocery store during lunch to grab some groceries (side note-Did you know that
in German grocery stores eggs are not necessarily in the refrigerator?). Then
after lunch we went to go apply for Sister Clark's visa. They told us that we would
have to come back this week because she isn't in the system yet! I don’t know
why she would not be in the computer since we registered her on Monday. Don't ask me how German bureaucracy works.
Then after that we took some cookies and a conference talk to a less active
member (and were able to make an appointment with her, yes!). We took some more
cookies to an investigator and they were home and we were able to teach a
lesson to them (double yes!). Then our next appointment fell out, so we went
home to eat some dinner quickly before Ward Council (side note- Our Relief
Society president attends ward council via Skype; it's pretty cool). After Ward
Council we went home and planned for the next day and then we were done. It was
just awesome to see how the Lord guides our work and how many things we can do
if we just make the plans and then follow through.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our mission is really putting a
big focus right now on working with the members. We have this program where we visit
the families and help them make a family mission plan. I am really excited to
go around the branch and see what ideas everyone comes up with. Everyone is so
different, so I am sure all the Family Mission Plans will all look different,
but that's the best part! There is no wrong way to do missionary work, the only
wrong way is to do nothing at all! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ich weiß, dass mein Erlöser lebt.
Ich habe seine Liebe gestern so stark gespürt in der Kirche als wir über sein
Sühnopfer geredet haben. Es ist wunderbar, daran zu denken, was er für uns alle
getan hat. Ich bin so dankbar, dass er alle meine Sünden auf sich genommen hat
und dass er von dem Tod wieder auferstanden ist, damit ich auch ewiges Leben
haben kann. Er lebt!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(I know that my Redeemer
lives. I felt his love very strongly yesterday in the Church as we talked about
his atonement. It is wonderful to think of what he has done for us all. I am so
grateful that he has taken all my sins upon Himself, and that He rose again
from the dead so that I can have eternal life. He lives!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
mit lieben Grüßen (Best
Regards)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Sister Stewart</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
JeanMarie Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922546383225620513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1459969106764328804.post-51148489301163138432013-03-26T15:09:00.001-07:002013-03-26T15:09:09.601-07:00Winter does not want to give up!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hello everybody!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
It is snowing as I write this.
Doesn't Germany know that Spring is supposed to be coming? Oh well, last year
it snowed on Easter, so this should really come as no surprise.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I am training again! My new companion
is Sister Clark from American Fork, Utah. Just in case you were wondering, she
is 21, not 19. She put her papers in just before they changed the age limit.
She is awesome, she has so much faith. We have been practicing talking to
people and even though I know it's scary to talk to people in a language you
don't know very well, she has been doing great so far.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Also, I got to go to Munich to pick
her up! I didn't get to go to the mission home, just to the Bahnhof, but that
meant that I got to see Sister Pingree one last time before she went home! I
cannot believe she is home now, that means my days are officially numbered. I
have three transfers left, which is still a fairly good chunk, but it is a lot
less than the 10 transfers I have behind me. I am just going to try my best to
sprint to the finish!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On Sister Clark's very first day
in Göppingen we taught a lesson to a less active member and were able to give
away a Book of Mormon on the street! It was an awesome afternoon! The next few
days we spent a lot of time on trains, going to Stuttgart for a training
meeting and then going out to our Relief Society President’s house to help her
in her garden. She lives in a town that is 1 1/2 hours away by train from
Göppingen, but it is still part of our area. So Sister Clark got to see a lot
of the German countryside!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past Sunday in Relief
Society we discussed President Uchtdorf's talk about regrets. In it, he talks
about the choice we all have to be happy. In addition to that, in our Book of
Mormon reading we read Alma 62:41. Sister Clark and I discussed how it is also
a choice to be humble. It doesn't matter what our circumstances are, if we
humbly accept the Lord's will in our lives, we will be a lot happier.
Especially as winter is hanging on for dear life and everybody in the streets
seems to say no, we just need to remember that our will is not what is
important. It is the Lord's will that is important. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ich bin sehr dankbar für alles,
das ich auf Mission gelernt habe. Ich weiß, dass ich noch mehr lernen werde.
Gott kennt mich und weiß, was ich brauche. Ich muss einfach auf ihm vertrauen.
Ich weiß, dass mein Erlöser lebt. Wenn wir zu ihm kommen, wird er unsere Last
auf sich nehmen. Ich bin dankbar für Das Buch Mormon und dass ich es mit
anderen teilen darf. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(I am very grateful for
everything that I have learned in the mission field. I know, that I will learn
even more. God knows me and knows what I need. I need only trust him. I know
that my Savior lives. When we come to him he takes our burden. I am grateful
for the Book of Mormon and the opportunity to share it with others.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mach's gut! Tschüss! (Take care!,
Bye-bye!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--Sister Stewart</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
JeanMarie Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922546383225620513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1459969106764328804.post-7618038835464045632013-03-20T15:01:00.000-07:002013-03-20T15:01:09.302-07:00Get ready to train again!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Hello everybody! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
First a piece of news: we got our
transfer calls! Sister Ackerman is going to Graz and I am staying here and
training a brand new missionary! That means I will be here at least until May.
Who knows I may stay in Göppingen until I go home in July! It will be
interesting to see what happens as we get more and more new missionaries in the
coming months. Because there are so many new missionaries coming this transfer,
the mission home doesn't have space to host all the trainers, so we will just
be meeting the new missionaries in Stuttgart. So I don't get to go to Munich,
which is a little sad, but I am so excited to meet my new companion and to help
her get her mission started off right :)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Funny story: Sister Ackerman
LOVES German potato salad (Kartoffelsalat) with an undying, passionate love.
Since she is getting transferred, the members want to have here over to eat one
last time, and they asked her what she wanted to eat. She said: Kartoffelsalat!
So this week we are having Kartoffelsalat at least two days in a row. I am
sure it will make Sister Ackerman very, very happy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last week we had a little bit of
a rough time on Wednesday. For some reason or other we were just a little sad.
But then I remembered what my mission prep teacher taught us about overcoming
sadness. One of his tips: count your blessings! So while we were tracting, we
started playing the "Grateful Game" We took turns naming categories
and then the other person had to name 10 things in that category they were
grateful for. For example "Name 10 living people you are grateful
for" "Name 10 foods you are grateful for" "Name 10 prophets
you are grateful for" and one of my personal favorites "Name 10
smells you are grateful for." We hadn't been playing very long before we
were both smiling and laughing again. Try out the "Grateful Game!" It
will put a smile on your face, guaranteed.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We had lots of good lessons last
week. We met with J again. He hadn't had time to really read in the Book of
Mormon :( He still has lots of questions, though which we are looking forward
to answering. We also met with Frau S and talked a lot about love, which is
always one of my favorite things to talk about. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past week we had some
training from our Zone Leaders, and one of the things they talked about was
Virtue. They made the analogy that we need to be like a river, not a pond. When
bad thoughts come, we need to just wash them out with good clean thoughts, like
a river, and not let them stagnate in icky water, like a pond. I liked that and
have been trying to keep good thoughts filtering through my mind all week,
hopefully they wash out some of the not so good thoughts. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ich weiß, dass das Buch Mormon
wahr ist. Ich lese jeden Tag darin, und darin Tag lerne ich etwas neues. Es ist
für uns geschrieben, damit wir lernen können. Ich bin so dankbar, dass ich auf
Mission bin und dieses Buch mit anderen Menschen teilen darf.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
( I know that the Book of
Mormon is true. I read it every day and every day I learn something new. It is
written for us, for us to learn. I am so thankful that I am on a mission and
can share this book with others.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ich hab euch liebe! Mach's gut!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(I love you! Take care!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--Sister Stewart</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
JeanMarie Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922546383225620513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1459969106764328804.post-72799348516170360562013-03-13T12:43:00.004-07:002013-03-13T12:43:56.934-07:00To Stuttgart!<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, the past few weeks it seems
like we have spent a lot of time in Stuttgart. We have gone twice for P-Day,
once for Stake Conference, once for Zone Conference, and we will be going again
tomorrow for another training meeting. It has been fun to be back in the
"big city." </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The past week was pretty great.
The weather was WARM. There were some days we didn't even need jackets! I am
certain that March will get cold again, but it was nice to have a little break
from winter over the past week. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tuesday was Zone Conference. We
learned a LOT about member missionary work. We practiced a lot helping members
to do missionary work, so hopefully we will be able to implement our new skills
here in Göppingen. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On Wednesday we were able to meet
with J again! He had read in the Book of Mormon! He talked about how important
his family is to him. When we asked him why he decided to meet with us, one of
the first things he said was "Well, you're American!" Fair enough :)
I think he misses home. His family, especially his grandma, gave him a really
solid religious foundation in his life, but I think he has lost sight of that a
little bit. He loves baseball and spends a lot of time playing/reffing in
various places, so when spring comes I am sure we will have a harder time
nailing him down for appointments. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Saturday was the big cleaning day
in the mission. All the missionaries were instructed to not schedule
appointments and to just spend the day cleaning out their apartments. Sister
Ackerman and I scrubbed and scrubbed, and now the place is sparkling clean. The
one thing we have left is the basement storage unit, basically anything we
didn't know what to do with we stuck down there... Hopefully though some of the
members will be able to help us cart things away. At least for now everything
is out of sight :) </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On Sunday we went over to a
nursing home to visit some of the older sisters that live there. That was a
very nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon, I think we will try and get over
there about once a month or so. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past week Sister Ackerman
really helped me to understand something. Hopefully I can express it well without
it getting too muddled. It is something that I have heard a lot, but that I
have never really understood with my heart. In this life, we are all given
trials and problems. Some of us have the tendency to lean towards committing
certain sins, some of us never have a problem with those things. Sometimes I
feel like my testimony came "too easy." Because I have watched others
struggle with things that I never really had a problem with, I wonder sometimes
if I really "worked hard enough" to gain my testimony. But you know
what? That's false! As mom wrote me recently "Fair does not always mean
equal." God is perfectly fair. He gives us the experiences we need in our
lives to learn and grow. Because we are all different, those experiences will
be vastly different and may look unequal to our mortal eyes, but it doesn't
mean that we don't learn as much as others. God treats us all with fairness,
because He loves us! </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ich weiß, dass ich an der
richtige Ort bin, wo Gott mich haben will. Ich weiß, dass wenn wir einfach auf
Gott vertrauen, wenn wir beten und in den Schriften lesen, können wir nicht
fallen.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(I know that I am where God wants
me to be. I know that if we simply trust in God when we pray and read the
scriptures we can’t fail.) </div>
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<br /></div>
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Ich hab euch lieb! (I love you!)</div>
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--Sister Stewart</div>
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<br /></div>
JeanMarie Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922546383225620513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1459969106764328804.post-83116084973784745642013-03-06T12:05:00.002-08:002013-03-06T12:05:18.063-08:00God lives.<br />
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<br /></div>
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Hello everybody!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Last Monday we had Family Home
Evening with one of the member families in our branch. The dad gave us an
"almost" referral, he has a friend he wants us to go visit, but he
couldn't remember the address :) </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On Tuesday we were trying to visit
a couple less active members in one of the nearby towns. However, we got very,
very lost. On the map it looked like the streets connected, but in real life
that was not so much the case. So we were about to turn around and go back to
the main area of town when I had the feeling we should ring the door bells of
the houses in that neighborhood. So that's what we did. We found an American!
His name is J, he was telling us how he used to go to church in the US but
since moving to Germany hasn't really found a church to go to. We gave him a
Book of Mormon and we are going to go by again on Wednesday! That evening we
had an appointment with A, who is from Afghanistan. The list of countries from
which my investigators come from is just getting longer! It now includes
Afghanistan, Nepal, China, Poland, Italy, Columbia, the U.S. and
Nigeria, and that's not all! Oh, I have also taught a few people that are
actually German :)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We did an Autausch (Exchange)
this week! I went to go work in Pforzheim with Sister Garrett! It was a lot of
fun. It is always a treat to go to another city and just do missionary work
without worrying about all the other stuff. It was almost like a little
vacation. We found three people that were interested. They all lived at house
number 10, just on different streets :)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Yesterday was Stake Conference.
It was held in the stake center in Stuttgart. It basically looks like any of
the churches I grew up with back in the states, which is super weird. The talks
were great. The funny thing is we will be going to Stuttgart today for P-Day
and then again tomorrow for Zone Conference! Three days in a row! </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This transfer is one week shorter
than normal, which means we will be getting our transfer calls on March 15 and
transfers will then take place the following week. Crazy! Sister Pingree, my
trainer, goes home this transfer! Our mission is getting 14 new sisters
and only 2 are going home (or so I've heard), so the likelihood is high that I
will be training sometime in the very near future.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have been thinking lately about
"knowing" versus "believing." We were doing a role play and
one of the Elders said "I know God is there. It's just true. Just like the
table is there, God is there." There are some things that I have to rely
on my faith for, some things that I just have to believe for now because I
can't see them from my earthly perspective. But there are other things that I
just KNOW. I can't really explain it, but I could never deny the fact that God
is there.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ich weiß, dass Gott da ist und
das er uns liebt. Davon bin ich überzeugt. Egal was kommt, ich weiß es.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(I know that God is there and
that he loves us. This I know for sure. Whatever happens, I will still know
it.) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tschüss! Bis später! (Bye-Bye,
Later)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--Sister Stewart</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
JeanMarie Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922546383225620513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1459969106764328804.post-32071633453934173532013-02-26T14:02:00.000-08:002013-02-26T14:02:04.471-08:00 God cares enough to make snowflakes<br />
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<br /></div>
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Hello everybody! </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
This past week has been great!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
We met this week with Frau S, who
is what we like to call an "eternal investigator." She has been
meeting on and off with missionaries for about 8 years. We had a really great
lesson with her about the Plan of Salvation, she basically taught it to us. She
has starting reading again in the Book of Mormon; right now she is in Alma and
LOVES it.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
We also met with R, who is Italian!
She talks A LOT, but this time when we met with her we actually were able to
keep the conversation centered on the gospel :) She has seen answers to her
prayers in the past and we talked about how God shows His love for us. Her
problem is she doesn't really like Germany, and says she never feels loved
here, that it is a cold, unfriendly place in comparison with Italy. Well,
hopefully as she learns more about the gospel she will see that it doesn't
matter what country you live in or what language you speak, God's love is
available to everybody!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
This past week we have been
visiting a lot of the older sisters in our ward. We try to make the rounds as
often as possible. There are lots of older divorced/widowed sisters that just
need a little extra love. They always have stories to share and I love learning
from them. Sister B, one sister who we visit every week, made me a scarf :) She
knits all the time and so I just asked her if she could make me a scarf and she
said sure! (You never know until you ask!). We did an activity with the Relief
Society this past week where we knitted together. It reminded me how much I
like to knit. Now I have a little ball of yarn and some needles so I can
practice :)</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
The weather has been cold, cold,
cold and we are still getting snow. The other day when Sister Ackerman and I
were out ringing door bells I was looking at the snowflakes. As the flakes
landed on our black coats and on mailboxes and railings I could see how
every single little tiny flake had an intricate crystal structure. No two
were alike. Then I started thinking about how many billions of snowflakes were
around us at that moment. I thought about how these little crystals
just fall from the sky and pile up on top of each other forming piles of
snow that then have to be shoveled off sidewalks and plowed from
streets. But God cares enough to make each snowflake beautiful.
He cares enough to make them all different from each other. We are
talking billions and billions of snowflakes! If God cares that much about
snowflakes, just imagine how much more He cares about us!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
So even though the weather is cold
and I am looking forward to the end of winter, the snowflakes taught me an
important lesson :) </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Ich bin dankbar für meinen Erlöser,
Jesus Christus. Er ist das Licht, das uns den Weg zeigt. Wenn wir ihm folgen,
können wir nichts irren.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
(I am thankful for my Savior, Jesus
Christ. He is the light showing us the way. When we follow we can’t be wrong.)<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
Ich wünsche euch eine schöne Woche!
Tschüss! (I wish you all a wonderful week! Bye-bye!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
--Sister Stewart </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%;">
<br /></div>
JeanMarie Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922546383225620513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1459969106764328804.post-87925258196231726442013-02-18T16:19:00.002-08:002013-02-18T16:19:30.055-08:00February is a very short month<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So today we had lunch with one of
the members and then afterwards she basically kidnapped us and took us to some
outlet stores, including Lindt and Gummi Bear Land. Oh it was so much fun.
Needless to say, today I consumed far too much sugar. Also, in the last week I
have baked brownies twice and cookies once (they were all for other people, I
promise!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past week was pretty great.
Sometimes the days just run together, but I try to separate them out again when
I get to e-mail time.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Monday- We went to our Branch President's
house for his birthday.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Tuesday- We had District Meeting
and then "Area Book Finding." President Miles has decided we
need to clean up our records and really go through them and see who we can
contact. So that involved sifting through a lot of papers, trying to
decipher handwriting (sometimes it was so bad I couldn't even
tell if they were writing in German or English...) and then calling people up
on the phone. Definitely a different kind of missionary work than I'm used to.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Wednesday- We did lots of
tracting. Not much success numbers wise. BUT that morning we were walking
through a nearby Dorf when we saw someone jogging down the streets toward
us, wearing black leggings, a black long sleeve shirt, and a black
hood. When he got closer, he said "Sisters! Hello!" It was B. W.,
one of the members! What is funnier is that he was about 10 kilometers
from his home, just jogging to work! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Saturday- We went out to
Heidenheim, a city that is in our area but is 1 hour and a half away by train.
Except for now they are doing construction on the train tracks, so to get there
instead of taking two trains we took two trains and a bus and it took half an
hour longer. So fun.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past week I have learned
(again) the value of prayer, of really pouring our hearts out to Heavenly
Father and telling Him what we need. We never know what He is willing to give
us until we just ask! He is waiting and willing to answer us if we will just
get down on our knees and ask Him. I know He is always there for us. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ich weiß, dass es die richtige
Entscheidung war, auf Mission zu kommen. Es ist nicht immer leicht, und ich
weiß, dass ich viele Fehler mache. Aber ich weiß, dass mein Himmlische Vater
mich trotz meinen Schwächen liebt. Er ist immer bereit, mir zu helfen. Er kennt
meine Potential, deshalb hilft er mir, mich zu verbessern. Ich bin einfach
dankbar für die Dinge die ich auf Mission gelernt habe und die ich immer noch
lernen werde.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(I know that I made the right
decision to come on a mission. It is not always easy and I know that I make
many mistakes. However, I also know that my Heavenly Father loves me despite my
weaknesses. He is always willing to help me. He knows my potential which helps
me to improve myself. I am thankful for the things I have learned in the
mission field and I am still learning.) </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Mach's gut! Ich hab euch lieb!
(Take care, I love you!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--Sister Stewart</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
JeanMarie Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922546383225620513noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1459969106764328804.post-51218530181027194932013-02-12T15:10:00.000-08:002013-02-12T15:10:56.981-08:00Less effective versus effective<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sometimes you have weeks that
could be seen as less effective. But I think it's mostly in our attitudes,
whether we look back on the week and say "Wow, we hardly accomplished any
of our goals, that stinks" or we look back and say "I really
learned a lot last week, I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be
here." To be effective and successful missionaries, all we have to do is
be obedient and give our all to the work. That's the secret.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
This past week we were both sick
at one point or another. I had a nasty cold (I'm still getting over it). Just
as I was starting to feel better, Sister Ackerman got sick as well (luckily not
with the same cold). She was so sick she really couldn't focus on hardly
anything, not even to read. We called the Elders from Ulm to come and give
her a blessing. It was amazing: as soon as they put their hands on her head,
she calmed right down. I could see the priesthood really WORK.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I have been thinking a lot lately
about how God really is our Heavenly Father (check out this <a href="http://www.lds.org/pages/mormon-messages?lang=eng#earthly-father-heavenly-father" target="_blank">video</a>, its awesome). He sent us here to this earth and has
given us everything we need to succeed. We only see a tiny little sliver of His
plan for us. But just like our fathers here on earth, He knows what we can
become, He knows where this all is going. I think there is a lot to be learned
about God in our family relationships, there is a lot more of the divine in our
everyday lives than we sometimes realize. There is a lot to be learned in the
little moments that make up each day.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Sorry this e-mail is more on the
philosophical side. Here are some random tidbits from our week-</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-The Elders in our district
really like McDonalds for some reasons, we eat there a lot after district
meeting. Not this week, however! We will be making pasta :)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-We went to visit a less active
family on Saturday and she fed us big plates full of rice, just a few hours
after we had eaten lunch, and then we went to another appointment and got fed a
really tasty yogurt dessert. Needless to say, we did not eat dinner that night.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-This past week was interviews
with President Miles. We are getting lots of sisters soon! Somehow I get the
feeling that I may be whitewashing/training pretty soon...</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-Transfer calls were on Friday-
Sister Ackerman and I are staying! This transfer will only be 5 weeks long as
opposed to 6</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-We went to visit one of the less
active sisters in our ward with her home teacher. Turns out her washing machine
is broken. And by broken I mean there was a flood of water in her kitchen,
luckily we cleaned it right up, so no damage done</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
-The weather goes up and down, we
get tons of snow then it warms up and the snow melts and then we get snow
again. Winter is really holding on tight! </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ich liebe meinen Himmlische Vater
und seinen Sohn Jesus Christus. Ich versuche diesen Monat, mehr über Hoffnung
zu lernen, und wie ich mehr Hoffnung entwickeln kann. Ich mag Römer 15:4, die
sagt, dass wir durch die Schriften Hoffnung bekommen können. Die Schriften habe
mir Hoffnung gegeben, und ich werde sie weiterhin lesen demit ich einen
"vollkommenen Glanz der Hoffnung" erlangen kann (2 Nephi 31:20).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(I love my Heavenly Father
and His son, Jesus Christ. I have tried to become more hopeful this week. I
like the passage Romans 15:4 which states that we can have more hope through
the scriptures. The scriptures have given me hope and I will continue to read
to develop a “brightness of hope” (2 Nephi 31:20.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Ich liebe euch! Mach's gut!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
(I love you, take care)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
--Sister Stewart</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
JeanMarie Stewarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16922546383225620513noreply@blogger.com0