Week 62 in the Field: Week 7 in Zurich: "Wende dein Gesicht der Sonne zu, dann fallen die Schatten hinter dich"‏ AND New Pics in Zurich

 

This week. 

Not as much time to find and focus on teaching as we would have wanted. But. You know.. that's why we have the Atonement, right? Say sorry and do better the next day. Sister Smith is really great, just understanding that I am totally new to this side of things but we have a good time figuring things out together :)

There are just a few things I wanted to share about this week. We need to get out and go shopping for some pretty needed things, so I'm going to try and be fast with emails. Try ;) 

We met with the Stake President to talk about the work in our Zones/Stakes and how the work is going. Our President is amazing :) We had a really good meeting. We went in pretty much clueless with what we were supposed to do cause... no one's told us how to be SisterTrainingLeaders and the Elders didn't even tell us about this meeting until the day before :) and then 3 hours before it started they informed us that we needed a Fortschrittsbericht prepared for the President :). Well.. great. So we rushed and weren't as prepared as we would have liked, but.... we learned and will be better next time :) 

 

We helped a new convert with making Gingerbreadmen for the primary. That was really fun :) I love talking to converts cause they've been to places in their lives that I will never go. I mean spiritually and physically. I learn so much from them. It was a really uplifting time :) 

 

Did a lot of planning for the next week. Got our ward mapped out on our big area map cause.. we don't know anyone, let alone where they live. Thank goodness that's done. It's already been such a help.

Saturday we went to Dielsdorf to help the branch with a finding day. We went caroling. That was really nice. It was a nice way to start conversations and the people loved listening to us sing about the birth of Christ. 

I had an interesting experience while singing. I think we were singing O Little Town on Bethlehem, and as we took a breath as a choir, I heard the words "....Jesus Christ" come from Elder Rozans mouth. Time seemed to slow down as I watched the person he had just tried to speak with, shake his head, put is hand up, and walk past with a "keine Zeit" blowing with the wind. That was so sad. They "don't have time" to talk about Jesus Christ? Who are these people? Don't you know that He has done EVERYTHING for you? And you don't have a few minutes to talk about His importance.

The world is sad. That's made me 10000X more grateful to be here and to help these people make time for Christ. It's so beautiful. 

Then on the way back, we stopped in Kloten to do a few vorbei's. We went to see a family that we teach, that speak almost nothing except Arabic. 

This is just FUNNY. I can't even remember the spiritual parts cause I die everytime I think about it.

So they were just about to eat lunch, so we said we would stay just a few minutes and ask if they had read in the BoM and so on. They didn't have the time, so we were going to read with them, of course. 

We wanted to share Moroni 10:3-5 and challenge them to read about the book and ask God if it was true. But in Arabic, the books start backwards. 

So as we struggled to find the book and then the chapter, they said they had found chapter 10. Great! So she reads the verses 3-5 outloud in Arabic, and we follow along in German. 

Sister Smith and I were just feeling the power of these verses and hoping that we could share a really good message.

As she finished reading, she prattled something off in Arabic to her husband so he could translate:

"So this is talking about a rich man that was killed by this Nephi person so that he could get records from him?"

OH NO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! We had read 1 Nephi 4!! That's the hardest chapter to explain in the whole book and we just read it ON ACCIDENT! Oh my gosh... we just couldn't help but laugh!

They were understanding and we made up an appointment to come back the next week with someone that can speak the language :) Oh man. Gotta love missions #LostInTranslation

Then we had our ward party. They acted out the book, "You are Special" I think it's called in English? It was so so good! We ate, we spoke with as many people as we could, and we just built relationships. I haven't had the time to greet all the members since I've been here since we are always in meetings during prime greeting time. We set up appointments and just... hoped that we spread the love. I felt the love for the first time since coming here. Of course, we have a lot of work to do still, especially to show them that we mean business and we aren't just here to be pretty faces in the ward, but we are seeing improvement. So that's good :) 

 

 

Also. That's the week. This week we should be having our first Split with Sister Oswald and Sister Flickengger. We're looking forward to it. Lots of appointments with members, and lots of time to find. Finally. 

We'll see you all soon :) Make a list of things you want to ask cause... 45 minutes goes by really fast :) 

The Church is true!! Not cause we are vain, but because when you live the teachings of Christ, you see the way your life goes and that is the best testimony that what we believe and live is true. So live it! Don't forget what you promised to do as you entered the waters of baptism; to carry His name, to do His work, to mourn with those who mourn, and to always use His Atonement. It is perfect and can always be used. So use it. He did something so great for us. Use His love :)

Merry Christmas-season!

Sister Gilmour

xx

Week 61 in the Field: Week 6 in Zurich: New Companion, Sister Smith from Layton, UT:):)

Hi. Wow. So much has happened. Bitte sei geduldig mit mir. I'm just going to pour everything in my head out in this email and I hope it makes sense. 

This was our Schwamendingen team before we all got moved :)

So. Golden. She is here :) Her name is Sister Smith and she is from Layton, Utah and her mom is from Switzerland. She turned 22 on her first day here with me :) And we love each other!

 We are having a great time and she is just... oh my gosh. I can't believe how good of a missionary she already is. She knows more than I do! I never thought that missionaries come from the MTC and know what to do, but she does! And she can already speak pretty good German, so that's nice:) 

She got in really late on Thursday night, so after we got her, and overwhelmed all the poor Goldens, we finally headed home. Luckily we live 5 minutes from Bahnhof. 

Before she came, we had a full day of missionary work, of course. I said goodbye to the missionaries who were leaving, then worked with Sister Page for the day. She is also from UT :) It was so so great!! We had a service project and did a few "vorbei"s and had a really great random appointment with a member of the ward. We had a great spiritual conversation and our relationship was strengthened. Then we went out to dinner as Trainers and prepared ourselves for what was about to happen :) Good last night of being single and without a child ;)

 She was just ready to go from the moment she got here. Like really. I am still so shocked. We celebrated her birthday the next day! I had no idea! Good thing I had a few things I could pull together :) We did a normal day and then had a cake and sang and... that was it. It was really short notice :) But still something she won't ever forget. 

We have had some really cool experiences together. She is fearless this girl. I mean.. wow. 

Other things we did this week... we went Caroling. That was... cold. But good :)  Saw one of my best friends, whom I'll miss very much...Sis C.

We passed out the link to the He is the Gift video and sang to the people. T'was nice :) 

Um... 

We had our Christmas Conference yesterday :) It was SO GOOD. I wish I could just send you all my notes and ideas. But... that would probably put you to sleep :) We had a good spiritual part from Sister Kohler to start us off about the gift of time. And then President spoke a bit. Then we had training about what a Musical Fireside is and we had a mini one. Then :) Then we watched Meet the Mormons!! That was such a treat!!! And so so good!!! We had a great lunch, a gift exchange (I got Legos... which is good cause everyone was really upset that I had never played with them before), then had a bit more training on how to use Christmas in our contacting this year. We are really being pushed to use He is the Gift. It's really inspiring and so good, so of course I am excited about that :) We are being encouraged not to lose the spirit of our missions throughout this time, and I am really excited to have the most missionary Christmas ever :) And now with the amazing goals we've set with our contacting on Bahns and on the street, I think we really will have the greatest Christmas ever :) 

I guess that's what I've loved the most so far... new goals. And fully focused on our purpose. I've really missed that. Really truly. I feel like I am finally reaching potential out here. I mean... I have A LOT to improve on. I mean.. there's a lot of things I should already be confident doing, but I'm not. But now.. better later than never, right? We'll learn together. I told Sister Kohler yesterday that I am just SO EXCITED to go, go, go the rest of these 3 transfers. She was really excited to hear that. 

Here's what I wrote to President. Maybe it makes better sense?:

Wow. First part of a week as being a trainer. I have to say.. I am LOVING it. I have SO much to learn, and you were right: we learn more from our Goldens than we think. I am sure she is teaching me more than what I am teaching her. She is so focused on our purpose as missionaries. This was an inspired companionship. We're loving working together and we are coming along nicely with the training. Still doesn't seem to be enough time to do everything, but.. we've only just begun.

I love working with her so far because we have really worked on setting goals. Our goals lay heavily in our contacting and how we talk with people. We both saw that we could improve our skills. This week, our focus comes from the first lesson and from the Training Program. On the streets, we want to practice contacting with the topic of prayer, and taking that and relating it to all the points in the 1st lesson. On the Bahn, we are really trying to bring up the point of baptism as soon as they ask us our purpose. We are just trying some things out and seeing what works; really working on the program. 

I am so glad I have to chance to train. I would love to end my mission doing this. There's nothing better to get you focused, especially when your Golden is so in the game and ready to go. 

Yeah. So.. that's my week. 

Sorry if that was a lot just... thrown at you. I hope you can understand :)

I love you all. I know that the Lord blesses us when we do what is right, especially when it's hard. Keep it up. Don't get discouraged. We can always count on the Lord. He is always there. 

As we think about giving gifts this year, why don't we think about the gifts we've been given. The most important is the gift of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. God gave us His only Begotten Son because He loves us so much. He has given us all things for our success. Use what it is that He's given us.

And then ask yourself, "what can I give God this year?". That is a really powerful question. As Sister Smith and I have thought about this, we have really been able to focus on our goals that we've made together. My gift to God this year is the gift of work. I want to give Him my all. I just want to give it up to God. It's up to Him. I am going to be is His instrument, and I can't wait to see the miracles He is waiting to give us. 

Man. I just feel so thankful. It took a while to get here, but I'm here now. And I know I'm not always going to be so fired up, but I do know that because I want it, I'll continue to work for it :) 

I love you all!! I think I said that already. It's still true ;) Have a really great week :)

And I got the gifts :) I can't wait to open them on Christmas!

Sister Chloe Gilmour

xx

Week 60 in the Field: Week 5 in Zurich:First Day of December...What?!‏ And ... I'm Training:):)

 This week. Wow. 

First things first. I am training a brand new missionary. Ah. Yeah. I'm nervous. She will be coming to be on thursday night. We will also be Sister Training Leaders. So like.. Sister Zone Leaders. Lots of responsibility all at once. But hey... at least we're not white washing an area ;) It'll be interesting, that's for sure.

We found out the news while we were in Zollikofen with the Zolli Sisters. We got the permission to go to the Temple again to be there for Sonja!!! She did baptisms for the dead for the first time! It was so amazing to be there for her! I've never been downstairs in the font, so it was really cool to be there. So beautiful. So peaceful. I miss the Temple. We were in such a rush and we were late to the session, but we got there, we were there for Sonja, and that's what is important :) I loved seeing how happy she was. I felt such love being back with my Zolli ward :) They loved me and I loved them. It was really nice :) 

 

The socks i received from a member from zollikofen. she made me and sister pea matching socks, but didn't get to give them to me before i left. such a sweetheart! I've always wanted knitted socks!

We then spent the night with the Sisters. That was really good, too. I got to talk with Sister Peacock and see how it was going for her being a Trainer and all. Which was good since I'll be doing the same thing here in 3 days. *AH*. I'm just looking a lot to my memory of Eve and how great she was. I hope I can teach my Golden all that she managed to teach me :) 

We had a few really cool experiences this week.

One. 

We met with the family from Eritrea again. I LOVE THEM. 

 

We got there, waiting a bit until the husband was changed from his work clothes and started. They were not happy that we wanted to talk about the BoM again, and so they wouldn't even have it. Good thing we prepared something from the Bible. Only thing is... they are used to be preached at. I don't know how to preach! Neither does Sister Robben. So we were both a little like... what do we do? We had decided to talk about faith. Harmless enough. The tables got mega turned and the husband started preaching and giving the lesson. They are so focused on Christ. It unbelievable. And really cool and a good testimony builder for me. But they focus so much on Him, that we couldn't even talk about faith because it wasn't Jesus Christ. (BG: It should be faith in Christ, wish i could be there:))  They ONLY want to hear about Christ. I don't fully agree with that, (mmmmmmmmmmmm) but... yeah. We tried explaining about the Trinity and that it doesn't really work, as we read in  Matthew 3 about Christs baptism. Then he started asking who God was and what the relationship between Him and Christ is and... yeah. The whole time I was just thinking "Heavenly Father, what is the point of this? We just come into peoples houses and they tell us that we're wrong. This is the truth! Why aren't people just jumping into the font to be baptized? Why can't they tell that we have the truth? This is so harsh...". 

 

When he was finally finished, we just thanked him and told him that we agree 100%, because we do! Christ is at the center for us as well!

 

I was feeling a bit down after this whole preaching thing. But then the moods changed completely. They had made us dinner again, and this time we ate Eritrean food. 

 

I love these cultures! Seriously. They are the most generous and loving people that you could ever meet. They just have a different way of communicating with each other. They are really open and really intense. We talked about this in Institute this Tuesday. The teacher was talking about how if we understood the culture of the Bible better, we would understand the way they reply to one another. For us, sometimes the replies from Christ seem really harsh. But, for them, that was just how they had a normal discussion. If someone were to speak to us like that, we would pull out the boxing gloves and get ready to knock them one:). I learned that first hand this week. They just communicate different. But they love us!

We ate something like a buckwheat crepe. That's what it looks like, anyway. Then you put meat and yogurt and veg on in, take another crepe, and eat the stuff in the middle with your fingers, using the crepe to "protect" your fingers. It was SO GOOD. I LOVE THESE CULTURES!

Seriously, it has been amazing getting to know so many different people and their beliefs about life and God and religion and so on. 

We had a finding day on Saturday and we were knocking doors, when a man from Iraq opened the door. He was Muslim, but let us in. He and his wife were so loving! Wife spoke NO German, but loved us! She was so happy to have two strange girls sitting in her front room. They gave drinks, something to eat, and then offered us there house to us and our families if we ever needed to stay somewhere. And that's not the first time that's happened. These people really understand what it means to love your neighbor. I am so impressed by these cultures. And I love them! 

The finding day was really really special. I want to share one success story from the day.

We were walking on the street, decided where we wanted to go next. We decided not to go in one direction, and go around the corner instead. There was a man. So we stopped him. We told him that we talk about Jesus Christ. He told us that we had stopped the wrong man because in 20-30 minutes he was going to end his life.

We were speechless. Sister Robben is brilliant and invited him to come get something to drink with us and we could talk. He had to run to an appointment, but he gave us his two telephone numbers and told us to meet him somewhere at 7. He promised he'd be there.

 

And he was. 2 Elders came with cause they were worried about us. Totally not needed. But.. I'm glad they were there. We went and got drinks and this man started to tell us all about his life.

He is in such a deep place right now. All that could go wrong has gone wrong. He felt no more hope and no more light. I was able to bear my testimony that there in hope in life and that is through our faith in Jesus Christ and that we can repent, be forgiven, and become new again. He said he knew that I would say that, but not in a mean, sarcastic way, just a matter of fact kind of way. He kept saying that is wasn't "zufall" (coincidence) that we met, but that it was Schicksal (destiny). He doesn't just give out his info to just anyone, especially just to two girls on the street. But he thought he'd give us a chance. He asked if he could come to church next week. He couldn't come yesterday, but he wants to meet again this week and then on Sunday.

It was just so amazing for me to be able to bear testimony of the hope and light of God and His Son and the Gospel. I spoke from my heart, and it was really an uplifting moment for us all. To know that we were really in the right place at the right time and that we stopped him. I guess that's why we stop everyone, right? ;)

God wanted to show me that finding is fun, I think. I have never seen success like that with a finding day. All the people we found were quality people who have potential. Which is perfect since I'll be teaching that to my Golden here over the next 12-18 weeks. Here we go.

 

Our Thanksgiving:)

This week was really good. Crazy that I have a comp that is leaving the mission field, finished and going home. It's really strange, but it's been good cause I've set some goals for the Trainer I want to be and the things I want to accomplish for the rest of my time here and what kind of missionary goals I have for the rest of my life. It was a good reflecting time. This is a really good time to think of others and to share a Christmas spirit. I look forward to it. We will be focusing a lot on the members. We are going to find all those people hiding in rocks and in the mountains and in the hills (Jeremiah 16:16-17). And we are going to teach, teach, teach, and find, find, find :) 

Love you all. The Church is true, even when people may tell you that you are wrong. We know that it will only get harder the closer we get to His coming. Now is the time to prepare to meet God. So do your best, make Him proud, and go forward with a heart full of faith in Christ, knowing that tomorrow is a new day, another day to start over and to love those around you. 

 

Let us not forget the real meaning of Christmas.

So beautiful.

http://www.mormon.org/christmas?cid=77010030

 

Sister Gilmour

xx