Saarbrücken is on Fire!

July 20th, 2015

 

Soo, I received some feedback on my general email from my annoyingly good friend Justin (Mom - burst-into-flames-boy). He said, "How about some funny story emails, ditch the generic hallmark card ones and lets hear the whole story! Less ideas and concepts, more details and plot!" I will humbly try and oblige ;). 

Saarbrücken is on fire! On my goodness, I don't feel like I understood the word "tired" until this week. We found FIVE new investigators. FIVE. And two of them are families! I have never been on more of a spiritual rollarcoaster than what I am on now. This week I have learned that my personal Faith, determination and obedience have SO MUCH POWER in drawing upon the powers of heaven to bring about external results. No, I can't control another person's agency. No, I can't make people accept this Message. But oh my goodness, there is wisdom in making challenging goals - and exercising the Faith to reach them. 

Let's start with Desire: We met with him and a rock-solid older member - we call her Oma Shroeder. (Oma = Grandma in German). We walked into this lesson not really knowing what to expect. First lessons with Investigators are always exciting, a little nerve-racking (especially with Members) and always entertaining...because they never seem to go the way we planned! Haha. Desire has a sincere desire to find truth. He asked many questions and he talked a lot. I was so grateful for Oma Shroeder! She is a powerhouse of a woman. Every time Desire spoke up and got distracted or on some sort of tangent - Oma Shroeder would talk over him and bring him back to the lesson. He is such an energetic man, even in his old age. He also specifically requested that we bring him an English, German, and French copy of the Book of Mormon. French is his mother-language, his German is perfect, and he wants to learn English. We call him daily and give him "English word of the day" assignments. 

Wasaam and Rene: They are pretty much the nicest people you will ever meet. Their first language is Arabic - but their German is very good. The only problem is that most of the Gospel Words that we use to teach are foreign to them. So, thank goodness for Ipads and Wifi access. Google translate to the rescue! 

Rene is about to have their third child (Sister Bates thinks that we apartently have a skill for finding and teaching pregnant women). They are a very humble family, full of love for Jesus Christ. They moved to Germany in search for religious freedom to live a Christian lifestyle. We have another appointment with them on Tuesday - but our appointments may be paused for a time as Rene will be in the hospital expecting her new baby soon. 

Jozef: This has had to have been one of the most awe-strucking moments that I have seen on my Mission. We met with Jozef and his family for the first time on Thursday of this last week. As soon as Sister Bates and I entered the home, we were bomboarded with a flood of people. Jozef has 6 children, and we just happened to stop by during a big family reuinion. Grandparents, uncles, and even neighbors were over! Annnnd, they all stopped to hear our message. There was a little bit of a language barrier - they speak Hungarian and a little German. (Yes, as I have said before, Germany is truly the melting pot of the world.) But the neighbor speaks perfect German and translated for us. 

Sister Bates pulled out her Ipad and shared the video, Because He Lives - in Hungarian. I stood on the side and watched as this crowd of people huddled around Sister Bates so that everyone could pay attention to this 2 minute video about the Atonement of Christ. Wow. That was powerful. We will be meeting with Jozef again on Saturday - and luckily our Ward Mission Leader is Hungarian. Member dabei! Yes! 

Nina: We met Nina on the street a few weeks ago and talked to her a little bit about the Book of Mormon and how God continues to speak to us and reach out to us, just as in times of old. Nina is looking for truth, just as Desire is. It was such a priviledge to be able to meet with her yesterday. She grew up in Germany but she is half Italian and half Indian. Her mother was Christian and her father was Hindu, but she never grew up with a solid upbringing in either Faith. She wants to learn more about Jesus Christ and how a Faith can help her each day. 

The first half of our appointment was all over the place. Nina was interupted by neighbors knocking on the door, Sister Bates and I were really nervous for some reason, and the conversation was just awkward in the beginning. As Nina got up to answer the door, I turned to Sister Bates and told her that I was about to throw our lesson plan out the window. She nodded her head and we agreed to follow the Spirit. What a difference. As we taught and testified about the Message of the Restoration and about the Prophet Joseph Smith, the Spirit filled the room. She looked at us intentently, almost as if she were grasping onto every word we said. She told us that she wants this in her life. Ahhh! Someone, please pinch me. 

As far as funny stories go... There are little things that happen everyday on a Mission. It is impossible to summarize a week in a General Email. But I have attached a silly picture of me and my favorite skirt. I was walking around in it last week when I caught a look of myself in the mirror and noticed the 12 inch hole in the back...needless to say, I won't be wearing that again. 

Liebe Familie und Freunde, I want you to all know how happy I am. I will say it again and again - the way to find true happiness is to keep turning outwards. I love these people - I love the Germans, the Hungarians, the Africans, the Indians, the Italians. It is amazing to see what the Lord has been able to do with me. I have so many flaws and weaknesses - I still am far from a professional in the German language, and I embarrass myself - at least daily. But I have seen Him use my personality, my strengths and my weaknesses to move this work forward. It is so fulfilling. 

I love each of you! Have a wonderful week.

-Sister Helmick 

 

Brooke and I! Dirndl dress. I may need to buy one before I go home. :)

Ripped my favorite skirt.

Preparing for the Street Display early in the morning! Chalking Plan of Salvation...yes, in a skirt.

Are you kidding me?!

Selfie.

Me telling Sister Bates,"look like you like me!" during pictures. We have a unique relationship. ;) 

Overcast weather?! Ja danke!

Happy Elders!

I'm Okay Not Being Perfect.

July 13th, 2015

This week was one of those weeks were SO MUCH HAPPENED, I am tired just thinking about it. It was a great week! Here are the tiny details that come to mind:

--   Sister Bates and I have been doing a ton of finding lately. It has been hard, exhausting work, especially with the weather being as hot as it has been! But the Lord has been helping us, that I am certain of.

     We have found 2 new investigators this week, as well as 5 potential investigators. Yesterday, one of our new investigators came to Church for the first time! His name is Desire. He is an older man, about 70 or so, but mensch - let me tell you, that man is a firecracker! He has become friends with basically everyone in our ward, and only in his visit! Desire is very out-going, talkative, and he can make anyone laugh. (side-tangent: I LOVE it when I can understand German jokes. They are so much funnier in another language!) Desire is definitely an interesting guy, I am super excited to continue working with him.

--   Update on Stella: I love this woman. I seriously didn't know it was possible to feel so much love for people until I came here! Stella teaches me by her humble example every time I meet with her. Right now she is VERY pregnant - it has been especially hard for her during this heat. In addition to that, she has been having some personal trials that are simply hard. As her "Missionaries" of simply friends, it has been hard for me to see her struggling and knowing that there really isn't much I can personally do to help.

     As I was expressing these feelings to her yesterday, she looked at me incredulously and said, "Of course you can help me! You can pray for me everyday." Wow. Her faith strengthens mine.

--   Last detail from this week that comes to mind... On Friday evening, Rüdiger had Sister Bates and the Elders and I over for a Family Home Evening (great program of the Church! Once a week, usually includes a spiritual thought, food, and activity) and we taught the Plan of Salvation as a part of his post-baptism lessons. I experienced a powerful and personal lesson as I was teaching Rüdiger about the Atonement of Christ. The Spirit was there - and it was teaching me too.

     Rüdiger was struggling with the concept of Grace. As we were discussing Christ's Atonement and what it means, Rüdiger kept on bringing up what he has to do. He said, "Well, I have to read my scriptures, I have to pray and I have to go to Church, etc. etc." As we were talking about the need for Grace, a scripture immediately came to mind that I opened up and shared with him:

In D&C 45:3-5, Christ is pleading with the Father for us. "Listen to him who is the advocate with the Father, who is pleading your cause before him
Saying: Father, behold the sufferings and death of him who did no sin, in whom thou wast well pleased;
behold the blood of thy Son which was shed, the blood of him whom thou gavest that thyself might be glorified.
Wherefore, Father, spare these my brethren that believe on my name, that they may come unto me and have everlasting life."

     As I shared this, I felt impressed to tell Rüdiger the following, "These verses don't say, 'Behold - the works of Sister Helmick, all of the perfect good that she did' - because I'm not perfect. None of us are and that is the very reason why we need a Savior." Sister Bates then explained the importance of living the Gospel and obeying the Commandments. But in the end we know "that it is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do" (2 Nephi 25:23).

    As we were talking about the Atonement and helping Rüdiger understand it, I reflected on the words I had just spoken. None of us are perfect and that is why we need a Savior... Being on a Mission has made me painfully aware of my innate perfectionist tendencies. It has been hard for me at times as I tend to be very hard on myself when I make mistakes. Sister Bates once told me that being on a Mission doesn't just magnify your strengths, but your weaknesses too. It is like the Refiner's Fire, put under intense heat, the inpurities or weaknesses float to the top and the Refiner can scrap them away.

     So it's okay where I am at right now. I'm okay not being perfect, because I know that each day is an opportunity to be a little better. That's why we have a Savior. Through Him, there are always second chances.

I love you all!

Sister Helmick

P.S. Merry Christmas in July!

In my little town of BELGIUM CHOCOLATE! It makes German chocolate taste bad. ;)

There is caramel inside. :D

Yum!

Merry Christmas in July!

Fun German fact of the day: German blankets have this big fluffy insert inside of them - I think it must be duck feathers. Well, it is SUFFOCATING in this heat. So Sister Bates and I took them out. Currently we sleep with just our sheets and our fan in our bedroom.

Service? We're down.

James thought they should call the Elders...But Sisters can use tools too! Haha. Assembling cabinets.

Our relationship in a picture.

St. Wendel.

Sister Bates and I.

Sunburns. ;(

LIFT

July 6th, 2015

No one warned me about the summers here in Germany... No one... Oh yes, I heard plenty of people talk about the winters for sure! But the summers...That's another story. I distinctly remember a conversation I had with Elder Heil, our previous Zone Leader. It was right when I got to Germany in late February. I was commenting on how cold it was and how badly I wanted it to be warm. Then a very wise Elder Heil told me "Oh no, Sister Helmick...You just wait until the summer. You just wait until you can't stand the heat, and you try to desperately fall asleep at night in a pool of sweat. You'll be begging for the winter again."

Okay, so I won't go into gross details, but it has definitely been a struggle this last week with the weather. It was in the 40's (celsius - about 105 or so in fahrenheit) with extreme Humidity. I felt like I was swimming at one point as Sister Bates and I were struggling through our 10 hour day on going on vorbeis, street contacting and traveling between appointments on trains and buses. Something my Dad said in one of his emails to me made me laugh - he was commenting on the weather in good old Portland: " It is days like this that makes me realize how nice it is to work in a place with air-conditioning." HA! The Germans don't do air-conditioning. Stepping onto a Straßenbahn (street-car) or Train is like walking into a Sauna.

Okay, now that my little rant is over about the weather... Here are my insights from this week:

I am incredibly grateful that Saarbrücken has been my first area here in Germany. I feel like the Lord has wanted me to learn what it really means to serve people. Our ward has a lot of members and less-active members who have personal struggles - whether physically, mentally, or otherwise. Because of this, the Bishop has asked us to do what we can to help support our Ward and lift the people up. I have done mores service on my Mission so far than I ever thought I would have. And it's changed my entire perspective.

I came across this video earlier this week, entitled "Lift" (I attached the link at the end of this email). It shows the story of many men who received a call to serve this woman Kathy who has multiple sclerosis. Shortly after being diagnosed with the condition, her husband divorced her and she was left alone with a physical disability that required the help of others to get into bed each night and be taken out of bed in the morning. The video shows men who had their very natures changed through serving this woman by taking 20 minutes each day to lift her into bed. As I watched this film and as I heard these men describing their experiences I felt a quite peace in knowing that I was learning these same lessons too.

A man in the video described his experience with lifting Kathy. He said, "It's interesting the dichotomy of healing the body and healing the soul. When you heal the body it's always an inward effort, we're always paying attention to ourselves. When we heal the soul, turning inward doesn't work. The triage of the soul is found in turning outward to other people. Every time I have gone to Kathy's home and dealt with her, it feels like it heals a part of my soul."

I have thought a lot about this video this week... I remember this last Thursday on a particularly hot, torturous day, I witnessed a tiny act of kindness from a stranger. There was a huge lot of people trying to cram into a Straßenbahn that had just arrived. In front of me, a blind man was moving his cane with one hand, and with the other he searched aimlessly for the button that opened the door to the Straßenbahn. A man to his left became aware of his struggle, and immediately reached out his arm to guide this blind man into the Straßenbahn. It was such a small act of kindness but it has stayed with me all week.

So often in life, we are bombarded with the News which often highlights the bad and ugly. Some are tempted to think that we live in a world of horrible people who do horrible things. Yes, bad things happen. But there is so much GOOD all around us. We just need to open our eyes and retrain ourselves to look for the good, to look for opportunities to LIFT each other, and then just do it. Even if you don't want to at first. The men who were asked to give up 20 minutes of their evenings to lift Kathy - they didn't want to do it at first. But it is the only way we will ever be able to change, find peace, promote good, and be the Hands of God for someone else.

Jesus Christ was the ultimate example of selfless service. I have been able to start this change within myself as I work alongside people - and as I take the opportunity to serve in anyway I can. I testify that there is no greater feeling or fulfillment that comes from being able to Lift.

"For whosoever shall save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it" (Matt. 16:25).

Liebe Grüße,
Sister Helmick


I cannot recommend watching it more! Please take 10 minutes to watch it. You won't regret it.
https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2015-05-003-lift?category=mormon-messages-2015&lang=eng

You have to learn to laugh at the little bumps in the road...Stella's Baptism!

June 29th, 2015

Hallo Familie und Freunden!

This week was beyond comprehension. For the last three weeks or so, Members in our Ward have been fasting for the missionary work here in Saarbrücken. Sister Burgess, a member in the Relief Society Presidency in our ward, was inspired to create a Calendar Chart where members take a day and fast in behalf of our work. They are fasting every day for 40 Days. I have literally felt lifted up during this period that they have been fasting. I have felt the power and the promise from D&C 33:10, "Yea, open your mouths and they shall be filled..." This week was another week of miracles and adventures.

On Tuesday we went by and visited Frau Rausch - the ex-step-daughter of Sister Lieber. Sister Lieber passed away a few weeks ago. We went by and dropped off some flowers and a card. To our surprise - Frau Rausch welcomed us in and insisted that we stayed for some drinks and food. We visited with her and her husband for a little while and then shared the video Because of Him with them. The video was made by the Church for Easter last year. It focuses on the Resurrection of Christ. As we shared this Film with them, we were able to Testify that there is in fact a life after death.

Frau Rausch and her husband ended up not being interested in continuing to meet with us, but the meeting was incredibly positive. I felt that the Lord was happy with us that we took the time to visit her and offer our condolences for the passing of Sister Lieber. In the end, she gave us each a few personal items from Sister Lieber. Things that she would want us to have. It meant a lot to me.

The Baptism - Oh my goodness! Where to begin... I am so embarrassed to have to tell write this story out. Luckily, our ward and our investigator all have a great sense of humor! Soo, Sister Bates and I got to the Church early to fill up the baptismal font. Well, what do you know, the water came out burning hot. We didn't realize how hot it really was until the entire font was filled. In a battle against time, Sister Bates and I opened all of the windows and doors, trying to cool down the font. Before we knew it, our ward showed up - as did Stella.

Annnd then, it was officially 3pm - the scheduled time for the Baptism. Instead of the picture-perfect service that we had been hoping for, a team of women and men from the Church ended up getting in a line, each person bringing a bucket of cold water and dumping it into the font. It was a battle of draining the water in the font and then adding in new cold water. Sister Burgess, Sister Kras and I ended up sticking out feet in the water every few minutes to see if it was a decent temperature. Every five minutes or so they would say "Nope! Not yet. You can't make a pregnant woman be baptized in that!"

Stella ended up taking a bunch of pictures of all of us running around looking like fools. I am SO grateful that everyone was so patient and had a great sense of humor! You have to learn to laugh at the little bumps in the road, it makes the ride all the more enjoyable.

In the end, the water was finally decent enough for the Baptism. We started the service at about 3:45pm. Stella's mother language is English - but she is so kind and thoughtful that she requested the Service to be in German so that everyone else could understand. So for the first half of the service, Sister Bates translated for Stella - and I translated for the second half. When it finally came to the actual ordinance of baptism, I could hardly hold myself together. Sister Bates, Stella and I all went into the back where Stella walks down the steps and enters into the Font. Before she walked into the font - she looked at both of us and whispered that she was nervous. We each hugged her and gave her words of encouragement. I helped her walk down the steps into the font. Elder Hudson was the one who actually baptized her - and as he stepped into the font he had a look of concern on his face. He told us that the font was still decently warm.

After asking Stella if she was okay, she nodded a firm yes and later told us that she likes hot showers! Haha.

So, Sister Bates and I watched from the sidelines as Elder Hudson baptized Stella. I felt so much happiness in that moment for her. It was beyond incredible. She came out of the water laughing she was so happy! (We at first we thought she was crying...I was worried that the water burned her face!) But when she turned around and looked up at us smiling, I felt so much relief. She reluctantly said, "I want to do that again!"

---

Stella has become more than an investigator of mine, or now a convert. She is my friend. I have learned so much from her example and her positivity! These people that I've met have impacted me in a way I never before anticipated. I never imagined that going on a Mission would teach me so much about what kind of person I want to be when I get home. I can honestly say that I have never been happier.

Love,

Sister Helmick

Anna Katrin and I.

Stella! Baptism picture.

"Sister Helmick - I'm like a baptism and a half!" --Stella

Me telling Stella...That the baptismal clothes make everyone look bad. Not just pregnant
women seventh months along. ;)



Testing the water and seeing if Stella could "take the heat".

"Sister Helmick - you're so funny. You are holding your feet apart as if trying to make it look like out bucket of water was really heavy." -Sister Bates

Dumping water.

Sister Kras - checking to see how hot the water is!

This picture sums up the Baptism!

Elder Hudson and Stella.

Testing the water.

 

The little things we do for each other make all the difference

June 22nd, 2015

Hello Family and Friends,

This week has been incredibly busy and so exciting! I am going to jump out of my seat as I am typing this email entry... I am just so happy and excited for what the next few weeks will bring! 

Let's start with Stella:

This week Sister Bates and I met with Stella almost everyday. Her baptismal date is for the 27th of this month - so this coming Saturday!

On Tuesday, we coordinated with the Elders and worked it out to throw a little surprise birthday party for Stella. To her surprise, we came to her door with a plate full of homemade cupcakes and the Elders brought some Vanilla Ice Cream - her favorite. She just moved here from Italy (she previously lived in Ghana) and all of her friends are in Italy. So we crafted the idea to throw her a little party because we knew that she wouldn't be able to have it with her friends back home. She was SO happy! The little things we do for each other make all the difference.

We told Stella about our upcoming Transfer Calls on Saturday and explained the possibility of one of us being transferred. She looked up at us and said firmly "No! You have to stay for me. But if you go, will you write me?" Ahhh! I love Stella. (Also, Sister Bates and I are staying together for another transfer in Saarbrucken!)

On Sunday a member of the Quorum of the Seventy came to visit our ward, Elder Jörg Klebingat. He is natively from Germany. After the Bishopric announced Stella's baptism, Elder Klebingat came up to the poduim and said "Lieber Brüder, Lieber Schwestern....einen moment, ich will auf English sprechen." He then called Stella out in the middle of the Church - congratulating her in English for her decision to be baptized. He then gave her a few words of wisdom. He said (paraphrasing) "build your testimony on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This Church is true. The Sister Missionaries are great and the Members here are fantastic people. But don't become converted for them. Build your testimony and your foundation on the Truth."

I am so grateful that he did that! Stella felt so special that he addressed her personally in front of the Church Congregation. Everyone has opened their arms to Stella, especially this Sunday. But his words are so true. As much as I love Stella, I would never want her to enter into this covenant with God for me. Her desires and her actions show me how committed she is to this Gospel and I feel so blessed to be a part of her life. She is so special, funny, beautiful, caring, and she has a sincere desire to simply do what is right. 

Next, Service Project:

On Friday and Saturday, Sister Bates and I went over to help a family in our ward move. We spent several hours peeling the wallpaper off of the walls as other people from the Gemeinde and the Elders helped move and organize boxes. They had so much help with this move, I was so happy to see that everyone was there to support this family. On Sunday, our Bishop asked the wife of this family to come up and bear her testimony. With tears, she thanked all of the people who came to help her move. They could not have done it alone with three small children! It made me feel so good to have been able to spend a few hours making a big difference to them. 

---

I feel so happy! As I was preparing to serve my Mission - SO many people told me that it would be so hard. That there would be a lot of stress, hard work, discouraging moments, and so on. Yes - I won't lie, there are definitely discouraging moments on a Mission. But the happiness that I feel overshadows any sorrow that I've experienced. To any of you considering serving a Mission - please do! This has been the best decision I have ever made in my life (besides joining the Church). As I have been able to work closing with Stella - and to have been a part of Rüdiger's conversion as well, I have felt so fulfilled. Words cannot describe what a Mission is like. 

"Behold, I say unto you, I cannot say the smallest part which I feel" (Alma 26:16). 

Have a great week everyone! 

Liebe Grüße,

Sister Helmick

Service Project - spending four hours taking down wallpaper by hand!

Everytime someone moves in Germany, all of the wallpaper has to be removed. It is a big pain! It took a LOT of time. 

Sister Bates and Stella!

Stella, "Sister Helmick - this picture makes us look so short!" Hahaha!

Stella and I. :)

Sisters Shurts, Brough and I.

The only one we could find...was FIVE sizes too big! haha! No thank you. 

Cupcakes and ice cream for Birthdays!

Elder Weigel and Stella - Surprise Birthday Party!

Karate Chopping and Rudiger's Baptism!

June 15th, 2015

On Wednesday, I had a really powerful experience during our District Meeting. Our District Leader, Elder Thurgood, gave a Thema (lesson) on conquering our limits. He handed each of us a thick board of wood. On one side, he had us write down our limits. What stops us from being the best Missionaries we can be. What holds us back. What our fear and doubts and concerns are. Then, on the other side, he had us write down what we could be if we didn't have those limits holding us back.

Then, he taught us how to break our boards. He studied Martial Arts and demonstrated to us how to cut through our limits (literally..chopping through them). We all got in a line and went about trying to karate chop our boards - facing the side of our concerns, fears, and doubts. Obviously, it was a symbolic activity. But mensch! It was so hard!

I think I tried to chop my board about 30 times. I failed AGAIN and AGAIN. But I kept on trying. Every time I went to chop my board, I hesitated. I think psychologically, I didn't think that I could do it.  And that is where a large majority of my fears come from. Feeling scared that I won't be able to reach my full potential, that I am not "enough." But what I learned that day is simply that I am. I just need to keep on trying. Even though it took me 29 times of failing (and seriously hurting my hard!) I cracked that board on that 30th time! And oh my goodness, it felt SO good to be able to do that. I attached the video of when I finally did it! I was sooo happy.

This experience reminded me of several scriptures that have been helping me each day:

"Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not" (D&C 6:36) and "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me" (Philippians 4:13).

-------

On Saturday, Rudiger was baptized!! This man is so wonderful! It has been such a privilege to be able to have gotten to know him and see how much he has grown and changed in the last few months. I think one of the sweetest experiences about being on a Mission is saying people repent, seeing the changes the make in their lives and witnessing them come closer to Christ. I was honored to be asked to bear my testimony during his baptismal service and to be a part of his day.

Afterwards, the Elders and Sister Bates and I met Rudiger and together we traveled to the Arizona Burger Restaurant. It is an American-styled restaurant full of Elvis Presley decorations. It was a ton of fun!

I love you all! Have a great week!

Liebe,

Sister Helmick

 

 

 

One of the happiest men I know! Rudiger on his baptismal day!

New Beginnings and The Death of Loved Ones

June 8th, 2015

 



Hello Everyone!

The last two weeks have been a period of growth for me. Sister Bates and I have been SO busy with Missionary Work here in Saarbrücken! We are helping one of our investigators, Stella, prepare for baptism. She comes from Ghana and she is expecting her first child in three months! Stella is so sincere and she has made so many personal sacrifices to be where she is at right now in life. Another wonderful man in our ward, Rudiger, will be baptized this Saturday. He is one of the most energetic people I know! He is in his 70's and every since I have met him, he has been serving others. Every time a family in our ward has moved, he's been there to help. And what I love the most about him is his energy and his love for life. I want to be like him when I am in my 70's!

 The next three weeks in a row, Sister Bates and I will be attending Baptisms. It is one of the most exciting times for someone. A new Beginning. I am so grateful that I will be able to take part in these people lives, and share this special day with them.

On a personal note, recently I have been confronted with sad news. There have been several deaths - whether from friends, relatives, friends of friends, or people I have met here in Germany. Let me start by saying that I have never suffered the death of a close friend or parent. I don't know what that is like. Every day I am grateful to God that I have the wonderful people in my life that I do have. They mean the world to me - and it took me coming out on a mission to realize just how fully I love my family and close friends. That being said, I want to offer my personal condolences to those who have suffered the death of a loved one recently. And I want to share something that I have learned - a miracle that I personally experienced this last week.

It is about the principle of Gratitude... Let me start off with my experience:

On Friday of last week, I was on a train with Sister Bates. We were making our way to K-Town where we meet up with our Sister Training Leaders for splits. It was on this train ride that we received a phone call. Sister Bates took the call. As she was speaking, I put two-and-two together. She was talking with the ex-daughter-in-law of Sister Lieber. Frau Rausch is her name. We have had special contact with Frau Rausch recently, because Sister Lieber's health has been declining every since we visited her in the Hospital. Frau Rausch has been taking great care of Sister Lieber. We had an appointment with them scheduled for this following Tuesday, and we had been waiting for Frau Rausch to call us back to confirm the appointment.

As soon as I heard the words "Es tut uns sehr leid" I knew what had happened. Sister Bates didn't need to explain anything to me after she finished talking to Frau Rausch. I asked her how it happened, and she responded by telling me that she passed away peacefully in her sleep just a day previously.

For about five minutes, I let myself cry. Sister Lieber has been apart of my Beginning here in Saabrücken. From week 1 - to now, I have visited her, I have talked to her, and I have learned that you don't need to speak the same perfect language to learn to love someone. She taught me that.

On that train, I crossed my arms and bowed my head. I offered a quick prayer to our Heavenly Father and I thanked him for letting me meet Sister Lieber. As I finished that prayer - I learned one of the greatest lessons I have ever learned in my life. At least up to this point. I reflected on my last few weeks. Even that very day. We had had a Street Display in Idar Oberstein and I had contacted several women who had all experienced recent deaths. I swear - EVERY person I contacted and talked to that Day... I taught them about The Plan of Salvation. So as I wiped away my tears, and I thought about what I know. What I have shared. What I believe.

President Dieter F. Uchtdorf can explain this much more eloquently than I can:

"Everyone’s situation is different, and the details of each life are unique. Nevertheless, I have learned that there is something that would take away the bitterness that may come into our lives. There is one thing we can do to make life sweeter, more joyful, even glorious.We can be grateful! It might sound contrary to the wisdom of the world to suggest that one who is burdened with sorrow should give thanks to God. But those who set aside the bottle of bitterness and lift instead the goblet of gratitude in find a purifying drink of healing, peace, and understanding.

True gratitude is an expression of hope and testimony. It comes from acknowledging that we do not always understand the trials of life but trusting that one day we will.
In any circumstance, our sense of gratitude is nourished by the many and sacred truths we do know: that our Father has given His children the great plan of happiness; that through the Atonement of His Son, Jesus Christ, we can live forever with our loved ones; that in the end, we will have glorious, perfect, and immortal bodies, unburdened by sickness or disability; and that our tears of sadness and loss will be replaced with an abundance of happiness and joy, 'good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over.'"

I read this talk a few weeks ago, and since reading it, I have reflected on it again and again. I know that there have been personal lessons that He has wanted me to learn. Lessons that I am still in the middle of learning. I want you all to know how much I love this Gospel. I know with everything I am that because of what Jesus Christ did for us - because of His Atonement - we WILL be with our loved ones again. I know that as a Truth because I have received that personal witness from the Holy Ghost this week. I know that I will see Sister Lieber again one day. But for right now, I am so grateful that I was able to apart of her story, and that she was able to be apart of mine.

All my love,

Sister Helmick

 

P.S. For anyone who would like to continue reading this Talk from President Dieter F. Uchtdorf, here is the link:
https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2014/04/grateful-in-any-circumstances?lang=eng

Having too much fun at the YSA party.

My reaction when I eat German food that is supposedly "American".

Elder Tishner decided that I was strong enough to wheel him around during our Street Display...and he broke my bag. Elders!

Only in Heidelberg...would I bring my camera on my morning jog. Splits with Sister Shurts!

Hike with the YSA.

Hike picture.

All my companions TOGETHER!Missionary-Member Work Conference in K-Town. Yes, my Trainer is now comps with my MTC Companion. Yes, it is weird. Did I mention Sister Peterson's Trainer was Sister Bates MTC companion? Are you confused? I don't blame you. Me too. ;)

Anna Katrin and I.

Hiking!