Elder and Sister Wilcox! |
A super sweet lady we talked to at our Street Display last Friday. We are meeting with her after Christmas. :) |
Elder and Sister Wilcox! |
A super sweet lady we talked to at our Street Display last Friday. We are meeting with her after Christmas. :) |
Party dritt. |
Taking Sister Jameson to Mannheim - first moments together. |
Marktplatz Haltestelle. See this place almost daily. |
Sister Jameson and I. |
Sister Roderer and I accidentally matched. Glasses, scarf, and two-brunettes |
Oma Schroeder! |
Rüdiger and Schwester Kras from Saarbrucken. |
Thanksgiving District meeting - American style. |
November 23rd, 2015
We came home every single night this week late. That has got to be a record! And one that I hope to not make a habit this next week. I am SO tired. I have felt like my head hits the pillow at night and then the alarm goes off five minutes later indicating it is time to wake up again and start my day again.
I think one of the biggest miracles this week was the overwhelming feeling of love I felt on Monday night. It had been a hard, emotional day for me. Our Pday had just ended and I was feeling homesick and tired. It wasn't the birthday that I wanted when I woke up on Monday morning. Right when we started street contacting, I received a phone call from an unknown number. Sister Roderer and I had just started talking to a nice man and I pulled off to the side to take the phone call. Right when I answered saying, "Hallo, heir ist Sister Helmick," I heard a loud chorus of "Happy Birthday to you!" That screamed into my ear. My old Ward Herne had called me up! They had gotten together for an activity and had remembered my birthday. I was able to briefly talk with many of the members and missionaries. It turned my birthday around completely. Later that evening, I received a phone call from the Wilcoxs! My FAVORITE Senior Couple who were with me in Saarbrücken for 6 months. I talked with Sister Wilcox for a good half-an-hour or so, which was sooo needed. Right when I was feeling so happy and simultaneously sad, my Mission President called me to wish me a personal congrats on my 2 year mark and to thank me for my service.
I needed that. Right when I was about to break because I was so sad, Heavenly Father reached out to show me His love through people I have met here. I know that He works through others to answer our prayers, because He answered the prayers of my heart that night.
On Tuesday we drove out to Frankfurt and were able to participate in a live-conference that was broadcasted all throughout Europe. Elder Ballard of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles was there and he talked a lot about how we can work with the Church Leaders with their Missionary work. After the Conference, I was reunited with two of my previous companions, Sister Bates and Sister Lyman! It was so great to see them both and talk about memories from my first area, Saarbrücken.
Speaking of Saarbrücken, I will be reunited with some of the members during Stake Conference this Sunday! Words cannot do justice in describing how excited I am. I can't wait to see Stella, Sister Dehdari, Rüdiger, Anne-Katrin, the Franz family and others. I loved my time in Saarbrücken and will forever cherish my time there.
We also met with Sandra again this week. She is the most prepared and humble person I have ever met. She is currently praying for which day she should be baptized on! I am constantly amazed by how little I do as a Missionary. Heavenly Father has placed people in front of us that He has prepared for years. It is such a privilege and blessing!
With that being said, Sister Roderer and I have also been pretty humbled this week. We met with Raphael on Thursday and Friday. Had two incredible lessons with him, and then found out that he actually lives outside of our area. So this next week, we will be meeting all together with the Speyer Elders who will then meet with and teach Raphael. I am excited for him because he is also an incredible example of someone who has been prepared his entire life for the Gospel.
What was humbling about this experience, was the fact that Sister Roderer and I had just "given up" two of our other investigators to the Elders. We had both felt that these other two men would be better taught by the Elders. That left Sister Roderer and I back to ground zero again. Back to working with members and finding new people to teach. But that's okay, because I felt the peace of the Spirit confirm to me that we are doing what God wants and needs us to do. So much in life is about accepting God's Will and timing in our lives.
Everyone...I really can't describe this experience. Service changes you. And service as a full-time missionary stretches you in ways you didn't know you needed to be stretched. There have been moments where I have wondered why this couldn't be easier, why the process has to be so hard and painful at times. I have many perfectionistic tendencies and it has been a struggle to give that up and accept the fact that life will always be a staircase of improvement. I will always be striving to be better and moving forward to overcome weaknesses and mistakes.
I am currently in Ether in the Book of Mormon, and I came across a well-known, powerful verse in Chapter 12 this week.
"27 And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."
I have seen this promise come true. With very obvious weaknesses -such as my struggle through the German language and seeing God expand my abilities and give me the words that I need in the exact moments...to the personal, not-seen-on-the-surface weaknesses that I experience on a daily basis. As I give myself over to Christ, I can feel Him take my weaknesses and transform them into exactly what they need to be. The Gospel is all about progression, continually walking up that staircase until we return Home.
I guess you could say that I am just taking one day at a time right now. Trying to become a little stronger, love a little more, and always remembering to laugh along the way. :)
Love,
Sister Kristyn Helmick
And of course I can't forget to include a funny story of the week! Courtesy of my descriptive companion, Sister Roderer. She really can tell a story much better than I can:
We wanted to have a Street Display on Saturday, but it started to rain.
A lot. So we decided in order to have this street display, we would need to have a tent to cover us and the copies of the Book of Mormon, so we got permission to buy one, and went on a hunt for a tent. I asked Siri (on the iPad) where there were stores with camping gear, and we were directed to two possible locations. I picked the one closest to us and off we went, ducking under drippy doorways and avoiding puddles. After ten minutes of walking like this, we found ourselves in a rather sketchy part of Mannheim. Finally we get to this weird corner of the street and I'm looking for the address, and I see this dingy looking store, which I walk right by, because I'm looking for a camping store, not a dim-lit kiosk. My mistake. This dim-lit kiosk with the cartoon whale on the side with the sign "Moby Dick Fishing" on the side was Siri's recommendation. Never again, Siri. We're over. I sort of, cautiously pull the door knob and peek inside, then immediately shut it again. "Sister Helmick.... I don't think we are going to find our tent in there. I don't want to go in, we'll look super awkward." But, I figure that I'm just being a baby, and should go in there. So we do. This shop is about as big as our bedroom, and is covered, wall to ceiling in all sorts of lures and fishing poles. The only people in the store are three very German men, two of which are burly, and all three of which are hairy. One very fast glance around, and I knew we probably wouldn't find our tent there. The men, meanwhile are looking at us in total confusion. Not every day you see two well-dressed white American girls in their twenties checking out the local German fishing store. Little did they know that we were actually expert fisher women, only we fish for a different sort. (See Matthew 4:19 or Mark 1:17) We did find fishing waders large enough to be a tent, but decided against it. We are still tent-less, but we've been culturally enriched. |
Willie, the son of one of our investigator, calls us "Tante" or "Auntie" and hugs us repeatedly before we leave our appointments. He is so fun :) |
Willie, Sister Roderer and I. |
Sister Roderer likes taking selfies. |
Mannheim National Theater. In respect for France. |
November 9th, 2015
On Wednesday of last week, my old Ward Mission Leader from Saarbrücken called me up and asked how the air smelled over here. Apparently, Mannheim is known for its unpleasant smell. It either smells like sour beer or burnt chocolate depending on what part of town you are in. It is the strangest thing. Every time this last week when I caught a whiff of the smell and gagged, Sister Roderer would laugh and say, "Herzlich Willkommen zu Mannheim!" (Welcome to Mannheim). Fortunately, I got over the smell and we had a killer week!
To start it off, last P-day I got my scissors out again and cut off Sister Roderer's hair. She was feeling adventurous and I was able to participate in cutting off a solid foot before the Hairstylist made it look good. (Pictures below). Fun fact about German culture: I love how blunt Germans are. For those who are Color Code fans, Germany is a perfect example of the Red color. They are INCREDIBLY honest, which is sometimes a stark contrast to the American culture of telling people what they want to hear. All of the German members and investigators who know Sister Roderer told her straight up what they thought of her hair. She got the "no! Why did you cut away your long hair! What were you thinking?!" To "that looks so great on you, it fits your face" etc. etc. I think it looks great but I would never be brave enough to cut away my hair like that. In fact, I haven't had a haircut in well over ten months.
Anyway, side tangents... This week we worked! We are slowly getting the ball rolling again in Mannheim. (That English idiom does not work translated into German...tried it this week, got an awkward stare from an old man. Language is fun, isn't it?)
As usual, there is no way I can possibly summarize a week of events, appointments, etc. etc. in a General Email. So here are two highlights:
Sandra...oh my goodness. Have you ever had those moments where you feel so humbled that you want to cry? This was one of those moments. X10. We came into this lesson having zero time to prepare, because we were flooded with appointments beforehand. So we definitely had a rocky, and kind of awkward start to the lesson. Fortunately, God prepares a way to smooth out our rough edges and work through our mistakes. This was quite possibly the most spiritual lesson I have ever been apart of!
Sandra became a new investigator this week, but her investigation of the Church rooted from her boyfriend who is a strong member. She had attended Church several times with him already and has read about 75 pages into the Book of Mormon. She grew up very religious in another Church but said that she never felt a strong relationship or connection to God. It wasn't until she started reading in the Book of Mormon and attending Church that something triggered inside of her.
At one point during the lesson, I began emphasizing the importance of asking God if any of this is true. It makes no sense for anyone to listen to us as Missionaries - to take our word for Truth. We should always go to the source of truth - namely, our Heavenly Father. As we talked about this principle, Sandra looked at us and with the sweetest reply said, "When I read from the Book of Mormon, it rings true to me. I feel it and I don't doubt that it isn't true. I can definitely still pray about it if you want me to, but I already know the answer." As she said this, she started to cry. And then her boyfriend started to cry as he put his arm around her supporting her. She wants to make a step of faith and be baptized, but she feels an overwhelming loyalty to her family and the generations of activity in their Church. She worries about their rejection of her faith and she knows she has to prepare them for it.
I believe that both Sandra and her boyfriend started crying because the Spirit testified to them right then and there how serious this was. Sandra is preparing to change her entire life. These kind of changes are a lot bigger than any one person - they affect families. I am a witness of that as I was baptized into a faith not shared by my family. I feel privileged to be able to continue meeting with Sandra and helping her prepare for these life changes that bring the ultimate happiness in life. And I am excited for the day when this young couple get married - because they are basically the most adorable people I have ever met. You could feel the love that they had for each other in that room. It was incredible.
Man, Now I have no time for the other big highlight of the week! Doreen. We found a new investigator and had a miracle lesson with her. Ended up setting a baptismal date for the 19th of December with her, but because she lives in Worms, we will be having a hand-over lesson with the Elders there who will then continue teaching her. Super excited for Doreen!
I am loving my time in Mannheim. And I am especially grateful for Sister Roderer. She is the best companion I could have ever asked for. I feel limitless working with her because we both have the same desires to work hard and exercise the faith to find the people prepared to accept the Gospel. In the last week, Mannheim has seen more success than it has in the last year. It is incredible what God has been able to do.
I have you all love! :)
Sister Kristyn Helmick
Funny moment of the week: Right after we stopped a man on the Street who immediately and impolitely rejected us, we walked past a thick piece of German chocolate on the cement. It was unwrapped. Sister Roderer turned to me and cried out in sadness. I then said, "Sister Roderer, it is pretty pathetic that both of us are probably more upset about that piece of chocolate going to waste than that man who just rejected us." ...her silence then followed by laughter confirmed the irony!
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That happened this morning. Had to thaw out our tiny refrigerator. |
Cutting Sister Roderer's Hair. |
A member we visit is a crazy origami artist. So cool! |
Missionaries in Mannheim. |
Some sceneries here. :) |
Day 1 in Mannheim. 3 new missionaries. |
Our white boarding contact pic. |
Raphael and Henry selfie on Friday night. Leaving Herne pictures. I am really going to miss these people. I guess this makes up for me never sending pictures home from Herne. |