Week 30: Week 1 in Zollikofen, Switzerland: New Companion, New Ward, New Everything - but love it!!

Special thanks to the people, my companions, who made Stuttgart special, great missionaries, friends FOREVER!!
Till we meet again:):)

I'm probably going to keep this pretty short cause I Skyped you yesterday, and cause the keyboards here are YET AGAIN different. Why can't everything just be the same?

Chloe is so happy on her mission.  We had 45mins, we had her tell us about the weather in German just so we could hear her accent and see how her German was coming along.  It sounded great to US:)  She bore us her testimony and it was awesome, tear flowing for everyone.  She bears a very unique testimony.

First item of business:  NEW ADDRESS

Sandstrasse 46

3302 Moosseedorf

die Schweitz

NO words explain Chloe's love for Erin, she will miss her.

Chloe with Kathryn, another very special friend.

Chloe with some of her good friends who were in the MTC with her, in England

Next. Switzerland. It. is. gorgeous.

I actually don't know how beautiful cause I literally stay in the same town all day, every day. My area is 15 miles big.. on a good day :) I actually really like it. 

Everyone always says that the German here is really weird. They weren't lying ;) But I really love it. I think it sounds like German with a Scottish accent. So I feel right at home here :) 

My companion is probably the sweetest thing ever :) Really quiet, but a dilligent worker. We are so excited to start over here and really find those people the Lord has prepared for us to find. I mean... there's a temple here. There must be a reason for that!

And yeah, that also means that we have no investigators who are making any progress... so that's what I mean when I say start over :) I think two weeks ago I would have been more terrified to face an area with nothing than to like... dive off a cliff or something. But not that I'm here, I love it. We really have so much to work with, it's just finding the gold mine that is gonna take that faith. There is so much potential here it's crazy. And I couldn't be more excited to take it on :)

We had a baptism on Saturday. Way to be welcomed into an area! It was really amazing. I love seeing people who really get it. He, Andi, really gets it. 

I think one of my favorite things here in Switzerland and in this ward and that EVERY Sister served a mission. Every single one of them in our ward. THAT is cool. And that is why the are so missionary minded. I love them. 

My companion is a convert of about 2 years... and my gosh does this lady get it. I have never met anyone that understands it like she does. And especially for being a convert of only 2 years! It just goes to show that the Lord really does have a plan and really does prepare people to accept the Gospel in their own time and place. And she's German, so I really hope mine skyrockets with her. She also has perfect English... so sometimes it's hard cause I want to resort to English with her. But I will be strong!

Also something that I have really loved about coming here is that I don't feel the overwhelming feeling that I'm not doing enough; that I'm not a good enough missionary and that I need to be doing more. I don't feel that here. I love how the Lord works in mysterious ways. He gave me those feelings in Stuttgart so that I could come here and really appreciate myself and the things that I have learned from my last 6 months. And to take those things and apply them here. 

Pics from my last week in Stuttgart:

I love it! Mind you, Zollikofen has it's out set of trials waiting for me, but I'm ready to take them on :) 

And remember how I need to know all the Romance languages? Well.... I really need to know them. French would come in handy here. I don't know how I'm supposed to learn it, though. 

It was really great to be able to Skype yesterday. I really love you guys a lot :) But I think you knew that already.... the tears gave it away, didn't they? ;) You'll see me again in no time. 7 months is NO time at all. and 11? even shorter :) 

There's not much more I have to say, unfortunately. I'm in Switzerland... that's the most exciting thing :) 

I love this Gospel. More than anything. You all know that already :) 

Also. I challenge you to go read D&C 89 about the Word of Wisdom. Really study it. I love it. I think we over look it as members of the church, when we should really be setting the example. I'm on my body and spirit kick again :)

Love you all!!

Until next week,

Sister Gilmour

xx

Transfer day, exciting and nerve racking.

Week 29: Week 23 in Stuttgart: Off to Switzerland this week, the next chapter for Sis Gilmour: Loads of missionaries in pics

Might as well get the most excited news out of the way:

I'M GOING TO ZOLLIKOFEN, SWITZERLAND. Yes. That means the temple and Swiss German and a German companion and.... a whole new life.  http://www.ldschurchtemples.com/bern/ 

I think it helped that I reminded President in my last email that I had a Britisch Pass ;) Gotta do what you gotta do ;) 

Sister Winters is becoming a Mom!!! We were SO excited! That new missionary is going to be so loved she won't even know what hit her!! She is so lucky, whoever she is :) My companion is the best :) One of the two Sisters in the mission training... that's pretty big. 

This last week. What? It doesn't even feel like it was a whole week. Or that it just happened. We celebrated Erin's birthday on Tuesday, had Mission Tour in Münchin on Thursday... the rest of the days have been a total blur. Time goes WAY too fast on a mission. How weird is it to think that I have less than year? I don't like it....

Okay. 

Erins birthday!!! Her birthday was on Tuesday, but we celebrated on Wednesday at an Italian restaurant. It was good :) We had just had an eating appointment literally two hours before, so I was stuffed. We ate Caprese. Something light, but still tasted really nice. It was so fun to have all our friends together. She really is our best friend and I LOVE how much she loves us. I feel like we have had awful contact with her, though. Ugh. The life of a busy missionary. It's okay.. she'll be in good hands when I leave :) For her gift, we bought her sticky notes, new pens, and a charm that says 'you are my sunshine'. We're all about practicality. We love her :) (BG: Big thanks Erin for being a good friend to two fellow Americans in a far away country) 

Oh, and we accidentally took the wrong bus. And we walked through a bar cause we really needed a toilet. We got carded. (BG: dont know what this emans?) It was funny. It rained. Not too much of an exciting day, really. 

Then other stuff happened on other days but I actually don't remember. Again... days are weird here. 

Thursday! We went to Münchin for Mission Tour! That was really good. I was actually really worried that I was going to go and then feel like the worst missionary ever cause my numbers weren't high or whatever. But Elder Dykes, a member of the 70, actually served here, so he totally knows our pains as German missionaries. He taught us amazing things. 

Good looking district

Tracting 

Lunch time - Chloe's new companion is somewhere in here

President Miles talked about repentance a lot. And man... I have never been hit the way I was that day. Repentance. To have all our sins forgiven us. And to do that infinitely. I can't explain what it was about this topic on that day... only that it spoke to me in a way I can't explain. And that it is PERFECT. 

I got to see Sister Smith!! Boy, that was fun :) I was actually really, really nervous, but then she saw me, and we both started running  towards each other and squealing. It was so fun to see my mommy :) I grew up so much! And so did she! I felt so loved... ahhhhh. 

I actually met Sister Wüst really briefly that day. (BG: Chloe's new companion in Switzerland) I asked her where she was serving, and she told me Zollikofen. I had a tiny feeling about it. Not big enough to know anything, though. The missionaries in Münchin Zone are awesome! All the missionaries here in our mission are simply the best, actually :) All of them. I'm excited to be Golden busted and to get to know more people. I really know no one... 

After 6 hours of meetings and then a lunch break, we had a finding day. I know... scary, right? Every district was assigned an area around Münchin where we were to advertise free church tours. We had signs and train tickets and we were off. Sister Winters and I just went off and... hoped Heavenly Father would help us. We passed a few people, only saying hi. I know.. probably not the best thing. But then we turned the corner and there was a youngish man walking toward me.

PAUSE. You know those moments where you just start doing something and you don't remembering ever deciding to do it, you just start doing it? That's what happened.

RESTART. So I look at this man, and I say, "Hi! Wie geht's Ihnen, heute?". He stops, looks at me, and tells us all about how his day isn't so good cause there are a lot of people out for Frühlingsfest and his mother is really sick. So then I asked him.. .something, but he replied that he didn't understand and that he spoke Hungarian as his mother language. Well lucky him!! We have a Hungarian Sister! And she was just around the corner. We asked him if he would like to come with us and see our church cause we were giving free tours and he could meet Sister Wunderi, our Hungarian Wonder. He said sure.

So we went to the church. Sister Wunderli was NOWHERE to be found. We couldn't even reach her or her comp by phone. So we watched Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration in Hungarian. At the end, he was teary, and told us he found it beautiful but that he had to go. So he left. But then we remembered we needed to give him our contact info! So we started running after this poor man like crazy people to give him this number. And then Sister Wunderli called. They made out an appointment for the next morning :)

It was really neat. Heavenly Father knows that I hate street contacting and that it really scares me, so He helped me, and we saw a cool miracle :) 

The finding day was really successful and they found a lot of people. They gave a lot of tours and gave out lots of books :) 

We then closed with a hymn and we headed home with our Elders.

The train ride home was really nice :) We got to talk with our two Elders that aren't our Zone Leaders and the Waiblingen Elders. Two hours of just talking. It was really nice. We were really, really tired. Who wouldn't be after waking up at 4:45 that morning to catch your train at 6:05 and then hours and hours of learning and then finding. It was a restful ride home. 

Then Friday: went beading with 2 investigators, Sherri, and Kathrin, a new member. It was really good. Not as effective as we would have liked, but we helped people :) 

Saturday: dun, dun, dun (BG: sounds like a drumbroll of some kind:): Versetzungen Anrufen!! President called us in the middle of our personal study time. Sister Winters face when she got asked to train: PRICELESS. I literally thought she was going to start hyperventilating. And then he asked me if I'd accept a calling to Switzerland and I thought I was going to start crying and jumping on the table and doing all sorts of really not appropriate things to do as a missionary... like scream at the top of my lungs cause I get TO GO TO THE TEMPLE. 

Then yesterday. Sunday. The dreaded "Last Sunday". I only cried twice. That's a miracle. I knew my ward loved me, but I didn't realize how much until yesterday. They are all German, but you know... I finally figured out how to feel that love and how to recognize it, and then they take me away. 

The amount of times I had people whisper in my ear that I was something special and very unique surprises me. I don't know what it is, but I had a glimpse of it yesterday. I'm really gonna miss those people. But don't worry... we're all going to see each other next year when we all come back! Then they can meet my awesome family!! That'll be really fun :) I really, really love them..... (BG: were going back next year after Chloe comes home, for a vacation) 

Sister Winters and I also had a heart to heart late last night. I really love her. Stuttgart has been so good to me. The people here, the companions, the relationships... they will be things carried into the eternities. 

I said goodbye to the most incredible people I have met in my life. You know who you are, and you know that I love you. And if you're wondering if I'm talking about you, YES, i am :) 

I have heard some of the nicest and most beautiful things this week. People see things in others that we ourselves could never dream of seeing in ourselves. That's sad, but also kind of beautiful. 

"You might come back to visit, but it'll never be your home again." -the wise grandfather of one of the most influential men I have met. 

Tschüss Stuttgart. Hallo Zollikofen.

Until Sunday :) I can't wait to see your smiling faces!! 

Sister Gilmour

xx

Here's to new beginnings; always looking forward and bringing with me the things that I've learned. 

Philippians 3: 13-14

Week 28: Week 22 in Stuttgart: "Drei-ecke-ding"‏ - Family, Bonfires, Comps/Splits, Good friends, good times and oops! TRANSFERS NEXT WEEK!

I know the week is filled with 7 days... but I feel like it's been 2. It goes Monday...... SUNDAY! All of a sudden the week is over and I'm here like..... What happened last week?? Where did all the in between days go?

So I'll just tell you about the highlights :)

Monday: ALI AND NANA AND THE BOYS. Okay, that was pretty much the coolest thing ever!! I loved it! I loved how well Sister Winters fit in and how normal it all was! The best part is that I didn't have any home sickness. I had been really praying that that wouldn't happen cause I really just wanted to enjoy it, and then get back to the work. And that it totally what happened :)

 

 
We went to lunch, had Eis, walked around Schlossplatz and... just talked. I cuddled with those sweet little boys. Man, I really missed them! I didn't even realize! It was so tender. I love our relationship together. I loved hearing about the missionary work that Ali and Neil are doing. It was really cool to hear about how other Sisters in other missions do things. I love seeing souls accept the Gospel :) And to think I played a really small role in that shows you how doing something as simple as going on a shopping trip the day you got your call can really make a difference. 

I love that they took the time to drive down to see us. They delivered gifts.. and I felt so spoiled! We loved everything :)

Tuesday: We may or may not have broken the Word of Wisdom... It was an accident, I swear! (BG: Don't swear:)) It was a cherry- rum truffle. We really didn't mean to. And we both ate it... so.... we are both sinners together. We repented, no worries. Gotta love mission adventures... 

Wednesday: Tausch. Or exchanges. I had Sister Motto with me here in Stuttgart. From the moment we were with each other, we didn't stop talking. I learned so much from her!! We all have our struggles on our missions, but we all come out of them learning so much. And then we get the chance to share those parts of our stories with other missionaries and help each other out. Because of the things that Sister Motto has learned, I can now learn from her experience, prepare myself for my turn, and hopefully come out of it less painfully.

Taushes are always really crazy. We had an appointment 1.21 hours away, so we trekked out there. It was really good. The Zone Leaders had to cancel on us because of their Tausch, but it was still really good. The food... top notch. We had white Asparagus. So good and such a delicacy here in Germany. It was probably one of the best member appointments/ lessons I've had on my mission. 

Then we ran home (I say ran like it didn't take an hour and a half to get back) and went to another member appointment with the International Elders. That was also one of the best lessons. It's so funny to go to Ami appointments, though. So different. But so good :) After the main spiritual thought had been given, she told us about a problem that she was having. I sat for a second and said "Have you ever thought about talking about the Pre-existence with him?" Man.. talk about the Spirit working through me. It was such a cool discussion and you could totally see how it helped her :) I love being a Sister. 

Anywho... this Tausch. I can't tell you all that happened, but I can tell you I have been changed. I used to hate Tausches, but now I'm starting to like them. It's like a sleepover on a mission ;) 

Over all take home from this Tausch: If we can bring just one soul unto Christ, how great will be our joy. That one soul? That one soul is ME :) If there is anyone that I can say I have honestly helped and can see the affects, it would be me. I have been saved on my mission. And then to think how greater our joy will be when we bring MANY souls unto Christ. Man. Sister Motto is wonderful. 

Thursday: here is a quote from Elder Escher about why they were so late for picking up the keys (it's translated, so hopefully it's still just as funny):

"There are about 1 million people of the train and it can't drive any further..."

*one text later*

"Now we're by Schwabstrasse... and it is unimaginably got on the rain because there are now 2 million people on the train."

Dang it. It's not funny in English. Just imagine it's in German and then laugh. Cause it was HILARIOUS.

And then skip a few days until Saturday. We can a big grill with the Breuers. They have a HUGE garden. We, all the missionaries and Erin, all went and had such a good time. We played Volleyball and ran around and spoke in German and ate REALLY good food. I love German grills. There is nothing better. We had a HUGE bonfire... and a few of us lost some leg hairs, I think ;) 

I felt so normal at this appointment. I was with my best friends, having a grill, having a fire. These missionaries really are my best friends. I love them all so much. And then having Erin there... I was with my best friends. It was honestly like I was up Provo Canyon on a Friday night. And then 8 o' clock hit and we had to go before we turned into pumpkins ;) But beside that... it was normal. We all made plans together to hike Timp next April. They're wonderful people :)

And then that night. Oh that night. God knew I needed "Chloe" time. He let it pour and pour. I showered with all the lights off, window wide open, and beautiful music blasting. There are few things in life that are better than showering in the dark while it is pouring rain. 

And then I came out to find my companion sitting on the windowsill, curled up in a ball, with a cute little smile plastered on her face. It was magical. Something I won't ever forget.

We spoke a lot of really thoughtful words that night. We did a lot of thinking... more than usual ;) A lot of reflecting, and a lot of just trying to figure out what the Lord wants from us. Trying to find balance in our work, and how hard we need to be on ourselves. Whether our feelings of inadequacy are the works of Satan, or if Heavenly Father is really trying to tell us that we aren't doing enough. This has become a daily discussion. 

With that in our minds, we said our prayers and curled up in bed. But this night, we left all our windows open so we could hear the rain fall. We could see the lightening lighting up our room, and experience the shaking thunder. It was like we were in the storm, but curled up in the safety of our blankets. It was a beautiful night :)

Even on missions we can take time to be us; those people we were before we came here. We can experience the things we loved before, but on a whole new level, with new knowledge and new appreciation. I think that's what I loved the most... that it was something that Chloe loved to do, and still does, but with knew knowledge. I was doing something I loved in a whole new way :)

Then Sunday came. :)

It was good. Sundays are either a day of "finally, I get to take the Sacrament and start over", or "man, I'm the worst missionary ever and I'm totally not doing enough". It's always fun ;)

Yesterday was a combination of both for me. I felt really.... like I was an awful missionary at the beginning. But then as all the miracles started to unfold throughout the day, I stopped those shameful thoughts and thought: Look at all the good things you have helped do here, Sister Gilmour. Look at it. Look at all these people at church. Stop it. God loves you and you are enough. 

And then we had an eating appointment with the Gierschkes. I love them so much. Those little girls are the sweetest. They LOVE us. It melts my heart. I love being loved by children :) I'll attach a few pics for you. 

Here are a few things I will be doing in the week to come:

-LOTS of goodbyes (oh yeah, Transfer calls are on Saturday. I'll probably be heading out. I'm hoping for Brixon, Italy right now. The only "opening" in Switzerland is in Zurich, which is totally fine by me. Eh, we'll see).

- Mission Tour. We'll be in Munich on Thursday hearing from a member of the 70. And then we will be having another mass-finding day there. Should be fun. Hopefully better than the last one.

- Erin's BDAY! We're all going to celebrate with her on Wednesday. I can't wait... she's going to love our gift :) She is so, so special. (we also did Family History with her. Man was that a cool experience. We got to meet her parents over Skype....[I think that's allowed?] and they are WONDERFUL).

- And today we are having a district shopping P-day. Remember when I said I really loved these missionaries? I really meant it :) We're gonna help Elder Moon buy a new suit, and Elder Escher is going to help us buy shoes. Win, win!

I'll let you know where I'm headed off to next week :)

Until then... pray that I'll go somewhere great, that I'll love the area and my companion :)

I love you all. The Plan is perfect. Everything happens for a very SPECIFIC reason. Never forget that :) You are special and especially made, with special effects and talents ;)

Sister Gilmour

xx

P.S. I got an email from Elder Price asking me if I wanted to train for an Ironman with him for when we are back!! I jumped out of my seat with excitement. My reaction was a little like this: YOU HAVE NO IDEA HOW DOWN I AM FOR THAT!!!!!! So... Anyone else down to train for an Ironman when we're both back? WHOO HOO! I love setting goals!

Week 27: Week 21 in Stuttgart: "What were you thinking, Clo? You did this VOLUNTARILY?" I just feel really blessed to be a missionary right now. :)

Hello my wonderful family!!

"Oh how beautiful upon the mountains are the feet that bring good tidings"! And let me tell you, it is gorgeous here! What a wonderful Easter Monday and Easter weekend :)

There were a lot of good things this week :) We did a lot of family history with different members of our ward, we helped A LOT of members, we got to know members that we didn't really know very well a lot better, we had Easter, we took the Sacrament, we had a few really interesting conversations with a few people, visited part- member families, strengthened our companionship, spent time with some of our favorite people in Stuttgart, had a wonderful day at church, and, and, and :)

Life is just really good when you are a missionary :) It's also really hard. Like.. really hard. Somedays I still ask myself "what were you thinking, Clo? You did this VOLUNTARILY?" And then I remember, yeah, I did :) And then things happen that make me remember what I really came here to do. I see the people I get to help and it makes it all worth it. I probably won't see a baptism in Stuttgart, and we don't have a huge pool of investigators. But you know what? We help A LOT of people. Our ward? We have helped them in ways no one except us could see. And I really felt that yesterday.

 We went to the International Relief Society. It's weird being in a ward where almost nobody knows you and you only have a few relationships. But then we went to our ward. We have Relief Society first, and you feel the love of the women. And you see... wow, I really did make a difference here. I really did help "one soul" come unto Christ. Even if they were already a member, we could all be a little more converted. 

Something really cool yesterday (this is my personal miracle story from the week):

We were getting ready to start our investigator class for Sunday School. I was greeting and talking with a few women who were left over from FHV (RS). I looked out the door, and there was a women that we had had a really good relationship with while Sister Smith was still with me. I squeeled, and ran out the door to see her! We haven't seen her in about 6 weeks, which was really sad because she had just started to become active after 23 years of inactivity. But that was because they just spent 5 weeks of holiday in Brazil. Not only was she back, but she brought her none member husband, Thomas! He is way awesome and apparently looks exactly like a big football star here, Antonio something. So that's cool. I was talking to them before the class started, and Thomas says, "Doch, sie hat gut Deutsch!". Haha, he had just told his wife that I actually did have good German and didn't know what she was talking about. 

(You have to remember that she hasn't seen me in 6 weeks. I still scare myself with the progress my German has made in that time. She was surprised, to say the least :))

So that was nice! Then we came in and got ready for the lesson. Valeria, the women, turned to me and said that they, her AND her husband, had watched ALL of Confrence! While they were in Brazil on holiday! Whoo hoo!! I asked them what they thought, and they both LOVED it. Especially Thomas. That was REALLY cool. He said they all had really good things to say and he really felt the spirit. Man, what else more can a missionary ask for?

After the class, I asked him if he had any questions. We had just talked about the different offices in the Priesthood, so even I was a little confused ;) He said, "No, any question I have I know can be answered in this book", meaning the Gospel Principles book. I said, awesome! Then I asked him if he was a member, just to make sure I wasn't mixing his story up, and to see what level of interest he had. He said, "noch nicht", or, "not yet". WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!! I calmly kept myself collected, but still showed enough excitement to be happy for that answer. I asked him if he had a Buch Mormon, and he said he does and his wife has been helping him read it. I love less actives. They are the BEST missionaries. Literally.

After that, he told me that he particularily liked one of the women in the class, another less active who has a testimony the size of China, because she really spoke with her heart and he could really tell she loved this Gospel. I love less actives.

The Stake President pulled me aside after Sacrament and talked to me about his man, Thomas. He said that he really liked the services today and he really felt the Spirit. He told us to have fun teaching him :) I was so happy! Talking with the Stake President about our work always hypes me up-- he's the coolest German you'll ever meet.

That, mixed in with the fact that I just really loved my ward, the Sacrament, Easter, and the wonderful relationships that I have with the people here, was exactly what I needed. 

We then had a really, really good eating appointment with the Familie Benitz. I didn't know them too well, but I really like them :) The parents both served missions in Switzerland and that is where they met. We spent a good solid hour talking with Bruder Bentiz about everything. It was awesome- I understood everthing :) And I talked. I really am SO  amazed every week by how much my Heavenly Father has blessed me in learning this language. (BG: At last- she's feeling this way) I know it is NOT me, and it's cool to feel Him working through me :) We shared a great spiritual thought about the story of the Last Supper all the way to the Auferstehung. They had a lot to share and we had a lot of good discussion :) And plus, we had the best brownies I think I have ever had. They were made with applesauce and almonds. Wowie.. so good. So good I had to say no to a second ;)

I just feel really blessed to be a missionary right now. I feel so blessed to be in Stuttgart with all these wonderful people, to have my AMAZING companion to helps me and puts up with me and works WITH me to be by my side through the good and the bad :) To have the support of my family and friends, even though we are miles apart. And especially for the chance I have to grow so much closer to my Father in Heaven and to build a better and lasting relationship with Christ. And to think... I'm only 19 years old. Look at that. I've been through the temple, I have made sacred and BEAUTIFUL covenants, and I'm speaking German to these people and telling them how much God loves them. Wow.

Just an update on my studies:

Pilate. Pilate the Pagan, or the Heathen, a person who doesn't believe in the God of the bible. Man, oh man. I have been reading the story of Christs death, from the Last Supper, to the Resurrection, from Jesus the Christ (my favorite book of all time. Hands down). Today I was at the part where Pilate washes his hands of responsibility. 

But I can't figure him out. He truly didn't want the poeple to crucify Christ. He genuinely didn't want to do it. He found NO fault in Him, and neither did King Herod. He publically announced 3 times, publically, too, that he found no fault in Christ. He was fully aware of the fault that the high priests were at. He couldn't understand why the people would let Barbaras go, and not Christ, a man who was actually guilty of the things Christ was being falsly accused of PLUS the murder of a man. And here was Christ, someone that Pilate could clearly see was a man of Kingship. But he washes his hands of the responsibility of Christ. All because his wife said that she had dreamed of Him, and knew of His works, and she was afraid. Well yeah, of course she's going to be terrified of Him; those who don't know God are terrified of Him. But even after Pilate has given the priests the okay to crucify Christ, in hopes that the Jews will soften their hearts, he shows the pitiful Christ, in robes and being spat upon. But they don't soften their hearts. They say, "crucify Him!"

I think at this point Pilate had had enough. He gave the people Christ once and for all, but not without saying, for the 3rd time, that he found no guilt in this Man.

Pilate knew he wasn't and ordinary man. There is much, much more to this story, but that's all I can recount from memory.

What I can't figure out is why Pilate did it. He had power, he could have stopped these men. But he didn't.

But what would have happened if he had saved Christ? Christ HAD to die or the Atonement wouldn't have been complete. So what would have happened had he saved Him? 

A prolonged trial and even more suffering for Christ, who was already bearing all the sins of the entirety of mankind? Another innocent man hung on a cross? I don't know. I like Pilate, and I hope there is mercy for him in the end. I don't know if that's awful for me to say, but I can see that he really didn't want to let the people have Christ.

He leaves me really confused. I guess I'll learn more about him/ the story tomorrow morning.

Well family. That's what's going on with Sister Gilmour here in Stuttgart :) I get to see Ali and Neil and Nana and the boys today, so I'm really excited :)  ( BG: we are so jealous back here in Utah but looking forward to some personal reports from family as to the welfare of these two great sisters) 

I love you so much. Don't ever forget it. I don't get a ton of time to think about my family, but when I do get the time at night to pray for my family and those I love, I always plead with the Lord to watch over you; to bless you with enough strength to overcome Satan. He is so strong. I really saw that this week. He is a tricky guy and he knows exactly how to win us over. He's doing it. He has always done it. But stay strong! It will be worth it if we stay on the straight and narrow path. We choose what Kingdom we are exalted to. We choose what Judgment Day will look like. We choose how much of the Atonement we are willing to take part in. We choose the mercy the Lord will show us. There is ALWAYS another chance to start over; a second, a third, and a hundredth.

I know that my Savior lives :) I can't wait for the day when He comes again, bathed in His glory and saving us from this awful, yet glorgious place. I imagine it being the sweetest moment... I get emotional just thinking about seeing Him again! Don't you?? 

I love you :)

Until next week,

Sister Chloe Gilmour
xx

Week 26: Week 20 in the field: Stuttgart - Ups and Downs - ALWAYS PRAY FOR THE SAFETY OF OUR MISSIONARIES

Hi :)

Today is a really good day :) It's probably going to rain, but that's okay cause I'm remembering the times I was in Germany almost a year ago and thinking about all the good times and all the good feelings I had there. This day reminds me a lot of it. And we're going to have a very wet and fun picnic day with the District :) And Lucie :) So it will be good! 

This last week was really good! It was... interesting to say the least. But good :) I learned a lot, was built up by the dear friends I've made here, spent lots of time with our investigators, and had some really, really, REALLY good studies :) And we saw lots of small miracles :)

Where to start.

Well. I'll tell you about the main event of the week. I'm still feeling a little slimey- like I did something wrong, but not really sure what. 

It was Wednesday. We were meeting with a YW in our ward at a little cafe in Feuerbach. This man was sitting on the table next to us, really looking at us. He got up and left, and we thought nothing of it. We started to notice, as we were talking with Audrie, that this man kept coming back... and really looking at us. Finally, Sister Winters asked if we could help him. He pointed his keys at her name tag, and said he wanted to read that. 

We set up an appointment to meet for Eis the next day. I thought it was just the Lord working his miracles. Sister Winters, on the other hand, was a little worried. He told us he liked our smiles, but that isn't uncommon from older men. 

Next day, we go to meet him. We brought the Zone Leaders with us, just in case. But when we got there, we decided we didn't need them. So they left. This man bought of hot chocolate and we started to talk about the Gospel.  The moment he got there, he started to compliment how I dressed. He pointed out that Sister Winters and I dressed differently. I didn't understand that's what he said, but it was. It started to click later on.

After talking about the Gospel had failed, he offered to buy us Eis. Luckily, Audrie was riding by when we were walking to the cafe. She joined us. He bought us the most expensive ice cream you can imagine. I was dying. The whole time he was saying things like, "oh, i get to sit by you.. how lucky!", "you're beautiful", "do you think i shine?", etc. He tried to feed me the first bite of his Eis, too. I didn't know what to do! I don't speak perfect German. I kept trying to hold my hands cause they were cold (they're always cold) and kept touching my leg (BG: THIS MAN JUST USED UP ALL HIS 9 LIVES, LUCKY DAD WASN'T THERE). Then he saw the blisters on the back of my feet and INSISTED he buy me new shoes. They don't hurt, they're just scars, I told him. There was a shoe shop just two shops down and he tried with all his might to get us just to go LOOK for shoes. He said all we had to do was look for 2 minutes, slip a pair on, then he would pay. It took nearly an arm and a leg to get this man to not buy me shoes. I think i could have asked him to buy me a house and he would have done it. 

We then had to head to our next appointment, about 40 minutes away. He wasn't having it, though. He offered us a ride just to make us stay so he could buy shoes. We finally left. But.. I felt awful. What had I done to make this man be so.... engrossed in me? Seems silly, but it plays in with a few other things from the week.

Man. Gotta love missionary work! HAHA, weird men who would do anything for you.  (BG, GLAD SHE COULD SEE THE FUNNY SIDE OF THINGS BUT HOPEFULLY A LOT WISER)

On a more happy note, this week was really good :)

I am currently study a lot about mercy and grace.

Do you understand the beauty and function of grace? Cause when someone fully understands it, they see why we have the rules we do, and why we don't have to be perfect right now. It almost helps us love ourselves better. I read this all from Brad Wilcox. I had heard the speech in Seminary, but it had been condensed down into an Ensign talk. 

His Grace is Sufficient

It is FANTASTIC. READ IT. 

We also had a great dinner and lesson with Jason and Sherri Kelly and Erin. It was really, really good. I learn so much when we go there, and I'm the one supposed to be teaching! It is definitely a "safe place". We have a "no shame zone" there. And they always make us feel really special and that it's okay to be  introverts and stuff :) 

We also have to most amazing Bastlen ladies, EVER! That means "crafts", btw. They LOVE us. We always sing when we go, and they cry. The instructors, Innes and Ushi, are the best! They love us so much, too! Every time we leave, the women always make sure that it isn't for good :) "Nope", we tell them, "We'll be back next week!" How did I get so luck as to serve here?! I NEVER want to leave! 

We also had a fabulous day in Church yesterday. We went to both the American ward and our ward because we brought Erin with us to the English one. Let's just say... wow. Major difference in the cultures. I can't decide what it is, either. They are just different. We can't remember if every ward is like that in America, or just this one. We felt more at home in the German ward, though, so that shows you how German we are becoming ;)

That brings me to the next point:

I LOVE GERMANY. So much. Everything about it! The people, the LANGUAGE, the scarves that everyone wears, the weather, the doorbells and that you always know who lives where, that all the Germans know every street in what seems all of Germany. I love the food and how fresh everything is. I love that you can't turn a corner without seeing 3 backeries right there. I love that there are more Eis cafe's than people and that there is always pistachio flavor :) I love that everyone rides bikes and public transportation. I love the sound of hearing the "U6 nach Gerlingen" sound. I love their obsession with napkins and nachtisch. I love how small everything is. I love how friendly the people are. I love the cobblestone paths, and nobody here does their hair or wears makeup. It's fabulous.

I just feel really, really blessed to be serving here :) I know this is exactly where I'm supposed to be an I see that daily. 

On that note, the church is true everyone. We have been given the Atonement to get us back home, but it's so much more than that. So much more. Our debts have been paid in full by Our Debtor and he doesn't REQUIRE anything from. He lets us choose what kind of heavenly life we will choose for ourselves based on what things we do here on earth. We are not being tested for heaven; we are LEARNING for heaven. What we decide to do here, and how much we decide to follow Christ and our Heavenly Father will show by what kind of body we will receive when we are resurrected, how comfortable we will feel in the presence of the Lord, and how long we will want to stay with him. This is grace. 

Repentance is a pattern... that means you are to repeat it 1000X! You've never done it too many times, if you are TRULY striving to become better. He is going to plead your case, but only if you really "practice" here on earth. He took a risk on us.. He invested in us. Are we going to make His sacrifice worth it?

"I Promise" to never forget that I don't have to do anything to see the sunrise tomorrow. I just have to accept it, and be better. I will never quit when I've done something bad... because REPENTANCE IS A PATTERN :)

Just... read that talk. Then you'll understand :)

Just remember, God loves you. And you, and you and you and you :) 

Love,

Sister Gilmour

xx