"He is the Gift" Split and Moves

The week started off with a bang when we traveled to the city of Dortmund to see the giant Christmas Tree and Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas market).  Following that I started a split with my district leader in the area of Unna.

While in Unna, we met with a few less active members, and worked on two street displays.  With the new "He is the Gift" initiative from the Church, and finally receiving the pass along cards in German (which took forever to receive) we centered these street displays on the campaign.  We used a projector and speakers to play the video on the street, and then we had multiple missionaries show up to help out pass out cards.  For awhile there, during our prep time for the street displays, it looked like things were not going to work out (for example: getting power from the city, bad weather, getting access to the video in German).  Thankfully, due to dedication, hard work, and answers to prayers, we were able to have the street displays.

After returning to Paderborn, we helped some members move apartments.  The first family we have been meeting with for awhile now, and while we were not expecting to help them move, it was a great opportunity for unplanned service, and we had a wonderful time with the family.  The other family was moving into Paderborn, and with that move multiple members from our branch in Paderborn were able to help out, allowing things to move much faster.  My companion and I also shared some talks in Church this past week.

Christmas is fast approaching, so let us not forget the true meaning of Christmas as we get caught up in the whirlwind of the Holidays.  Jesus Christ was born so we could be redeemed and because of him we will all be able to return to our Heavenly Father.

 Aaron and his companion with the giant Christmas tree

"He is the Gift" street display

December Begins

It is now December!  It was an odd week that went by fast, and not a whole lot of teaching happened unfortunately, but good things did happen.

Early in the week We traveled to a small city and went to a clinic owned by a member and there we helped him and other people he works with bake Christmas cookies.  It was an interesting experience, trying to make cookies with a bunch of Germans.  They would give you instructions, and I had no idea they were saying.  Still, it was a fun time.

We did teach a less active/part member family later in the week, and that went really well.  The son, who is reaching the teenage years, had a few questions concerning alcohol and smoking, so we went into the Word of Wisdom with the family.  A few years earlier, the father of the family, who is not a member of the Church, gave up smoking and drinking, so it was a great experience to have, and to see the father teach his son about this stuff and motivate him to live a healthy life.

Our recent convert, Joachim, is also doing well.  We met with him once and kept in contact by phone, and he is as happy as ever.  He even surprised us by getting us a gift.  Scarves for the different Soccer teams in Germany are pretty popular, so he got us Paderborn scarves, and then one for himself, as a way to celebrate his baptism.  It was really nice of him.  He also gave a lesson in Church, and while he really needs to work on his teaching skills, it was cool to see him lead a lesson in Church.

Until next week!

Aaron in front of the Paderborn city hall.

They have made the lower windows into an advent calendar.

Baptism!

This week was a good one for the area of Paderborn, because we now have a new member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!

The week started with the Paderborn Weihnachtsmarkt opening, so the Christmas season is fully running now.  Throughout the week, we had a apartment cleaning check, and Transfer calls, where my companion and I learned that we would be staying together in Paderborn for another 6 weeks.

On Thanksgiving, our investigator, Joachim, had his Baptismal Interview, which went well, and then after that I traveled to Unna for a split with my District Leader.  We were able to celebrate Thanksgiving by making a Thanksgiving dinner.  The next day there was a zone training meeting  where we learned of the new initiative from the Church called "He is the Gift."

On Saturday was the baptism, which was in the city of Hagen (because they have a baptismal font there).  There was a baptism for the Hagen ward before ours, so our investigator was able to attend that before he had his own baptism.  I did have to baptise Joachim twice because his leg popped out of the water the first time.  The next day in church he was confirmed as a member and received the Holy Ghost.  A few members made comments that throughout Church they could feel the Spirit really strongly, and that this Sunday felt really special.  Members are also supporting Joachim now in finding a job and a place to live, which is amazing!

It was a wonderful experience to have a baptism.  To see the joy Joachim had from the experience was priceless, and I am so grateful that I was able to be a part of this experience.  I know the Gospel truly makes a difference for the better in people´s lives.

 Elder Black, Joachim,and Aaron

 Baptism

Baptism

A Birthday on the Mission

This past week was a continuation of helping our investigator prepare for baptism and celebrating my birthday!

For my birthday, I went out of my way to make a nice breakfast and then opened a package from my family.  After that I traveled to a District Meeting, where they sang Happy Birthday and made a chocolate cake and cheesecake to celebrate.  I am now 20 years old, and it does not feel any different from being 19.  Ultron got in on the birthday also.

Missionary work wise, we have been continuing to work with our investigator, who will be baptised very soon.  One day we met with him and a friend, and introduced the friend to the Book of Mormon, it was a cool experience, and the first solid referral I have received on the mission.

We also worked with members and visited a few families.  We taught about the life of Jesus Christ to a part member family, and with another family they made pumpkin pie for us because Thanksgiving is coming up.

This new week we will be looking forward to the baptism that has been planned, and so far everything looks good.  I of course will let you know how that goes next week!

 Ulton getting in on Aaron's birthday

Aaron's birthday!!!  

Another Week, Another Zone Meeting

This week flew by like crazy!

Our investigator with a baptismal date, Joachim, is still doing well, and is excited for his baptism.  We have been going through the commandments with him, and he has been loving it.  He is such a happy guy!

We also had a Zone Training meeting in the city of Essen during the week.  I included some pictures from that experience.  The city was putting up Christmas decorations, and they had a pretty cool train station full of changing lights.  At the meeting they focused on how the Dortmund Stake will be working with missionaries next year, and how it will be a big focus, and then after the meeting as a zone we all went out finding people.  My companion and I were assigned to go door a University housing complex.

To end the week, we had three investigators at church.  One of these investigators had been waiting a long time to get to church because he lives so far away.  It was a good experience, and afterwards, we met with Joachim and the Branch President and Joachim got to know the Branch President a lot better, even if the meeting ended up being three hours long because Joachim went through his life story, starting from his birth.  That man can talk your ear off!

Anyhow, things continue to move forward.  I am grateful for the opportunities I have been having on my mission, and know that I have been receiving help in the work.

Aaron at the train station

Aaron in Essen

It Finally Happened!

The week started with a district Pday in Unna, where there was a carnival going on.  I got to go on some rides, and get authentic Bratwurst, which I was pretty happy about, still have yet to have a companion that likes Bratwurst.  After the Pday, I started a split with an Elder from Unna and together we worked in Paderborn.  Nothing was really working out for us, but at the end of the day, we were able to get into contact with Joachim, our homeless investigator, which was great, the man has been giving out copies of the Book of Mormon like crazy!

After the split my companion and I continued to work with Joachim by going through the third missionary lesson with him, and then inviting him to join us when we were going to visit a less active member (all of the members we tried to get help from fell out).  The less active member fell out, so we were left with just Joachim, and we went through this really meeting about how many baptisms could happen in Paderborn before the end of the year (Joachim enjoys statistics).  After the meeting, I reminded him that he could be baptised, and then we went back to our apartment.  A few minutes after our arrival, Joachim called us, and told us to get ready, because he is going to get baptised!

We established the baptism date the next day, which will be the 29 of November.  He wants me to baptise him.

Outside of that, we were able to have a new investigator come to church, and we were able to get back into contact with an investigator we had not heard from for a while.  I would call this week a success.

What made Joachim decide on baptism?  To be honest, I think the Spirit just worked on him really hard, until he was able to make a decision.  I thought it would take a lot longer for him because we tried last month, but he had his thing with Scientology.  I really think the reason for the success was because we stuck with him, and with his love for the Gospel, the spirit was able to work and do the rest of the work.  Miracles DO happen!

Aaron, Joachim, and Aaron's companion, Elder Black 

Aaron with the giant metal door at the University

Our Investigator Is Doing Missionary Work!

So apparently Paderborn has its own movie now, so I thought I ought to get a picture of that.

This week we were able to meet a few times with our homeless investigator.  He has agreed to start inviting his friends with him when he meets with us, so he is giving us referrals now!  He also has given out two copies of the Book of Mormon, what a champ!  Even if he is having trouble with baptism, he is finding joy with the gospel in his life, and one day it will totally click for him.

We also met with the part member family I mentioned last week.  We ended up just teaching the son, who we were told to focus on, and his father, who is not a member, it was a wonderful experience to be with both of them.

Halloween was non-existent in Paderborn, sorry about that.  We did get to meet with members, including the branch president and his family, and a member who was in the hospital.  We were able to give him a blessing there, which was pretty cool.

And that is everything this week!  Until next week!

Paderborn the Movie!