The Streets of Monchengladbach!

August 2011

Shoes, Dwelling Boxes and Ships

Liebe Familie und Freunde:

So Saturday night was transfer calls... drum roll.... I am staying here in Mönchengladbach with Elder VanCamp! I know there is more work to do here, and the Lord needs Elder Van Camp and I to be the ones to do it, for which I am humbled and grateful. But before I tell you the great and the amazing miracles and expereinces from this week, the sad and terrible... do you remember the shoes that Brother Lenknerite gave me? Yeah, well, after a day of walking in them, I had to accept the fact that they were too small... like a size and a half too small. So I gave them to Elder Van Camp, and he was very happy! Those are some klasse shoes! (Don't worry mom... I'm not risking in-grown toenails again!)

This week was truly one big happy blessing and miracle! From the great blessings of finding so many new people last week, we had the opportunity to meet with them this week- The familie Emin and Luishi especially! On Tuesday, we went to the appointment with the familie Emin and got to the correct address, but it was these small run-down dwelling boxes...two long housings full of about 20 "apartments" each. It was touching to go there and see these people's humility and hard work to have a good life. Most of them are refugees from Serbia or Macedonia- it is such a great blessing that the Church has all her material in every language, especially Serbian- if our German and their German would have been the only basis of communication, terrible things would have happened! But Luishi is such a great blessing- he walked in on our appointment with the Familie Emin and we invited him to stay, and he can speak German fairly well, so we were using him as a translator. In the course of his translating, he too became interestied in the Gospel and wanted to learn more! We set up a schedule with them for every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday to meet- they and us are very excited! We were walking out, and we talked a little more with Luishi, and he said that he really has interest in this gospel and church! On Thursday we taught the Restoration and introduced the Book of Mormon- Luishi and Erdzan, the teenagers, 17 and 18 years old, are the most interested and progressing. On Saturday, we returned to find that Luishi had read in the Book of Mormon, and his response was so neat: "Es fällt mir! Dieses Buch ist gut- alles darin ist gut!" basically, that he really enjoied what he had read and that it is all good- it was so neat! We were going through the Plan of Salvation pamphlet in Serbian and German with them and had a great spirit. Then we opened the Book of Mormon and read in 2 Nephi 2 about Adam and Eve, the Fall, and how we are here because of the fall and we are here to have joy. The Pamphlets were nice to read, but the Book of Mormon, when read and discussed, brought the spirit is such great amount! The feeling became deeper, more real, even tangible. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. I know it! It is a record of God's dealing with His children, it is a testemony of Jesus Christ. It is evidence of God's love to us by calling a prophet and establishing His church again on the earth- what a great blessing we have! The Book of Mormon truly is the greatest tool in conversion- for if the Book of Mormon is true, so is everything else. Everything. It is such a neat expereince to see the converting power of the Spirit through the Book of Mormon come into the lives of Luishi and Erdzan, the parents and Juchan and Mario. And this is just the beginning!

This morning I was studying in 1 Nephi 18, and some neat application to our lives- Nephi is building a ship after the manner which the Lord is showing him, not after the manner of men. It is of curious workmanship, exceedingly fine, and "it was good". I thought of my life as the ship. The Lord is building me and building you- He is the Master Craftsman, the Polisher and Stonecutter. He gives us experiences to shape and build us. He gives us commandment to protect us and guide us, and He gives us opposition so that we can progress. The end result for Nephi was a ship worthy of sailing the seas, able to withstand storms and tempests and reach the promised land. The end result for us will be a disciple of Christ worthy to enter into the rest of our Lord, even Eternal Life with our families. People will mock, doubters will scorn, some may even call us foolish. There is nothing foolish in the gospel of Jesus Christ. There is nothing to mock in the covenants we make, in the ordinances we perform, and the faith we live, in order to allow the Lord to build us after His manner, to be taught in His ways. Everything that was created in the beginning had the description from God as "good", and all good things do come of God. I am grateful to be counted among the peculiar people, even those of a holy nation and of a royal priesthood. (1 Peter 2:9).

We also found out that Elder David A. Bednar will be coming to visit the mission in a few weeks- it was going to be just for the missionaries in the Frankfurt area, but President Schwartz wants us all to come! What a great experience it will be to listen to and be with an Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, and be instructed from him!

I know that Jesus lives and that He loves me. I know a prophet leads this Church and guides me. I know the Book of Mormon is a witness of Jesus Christ. I know the gospel is true. The gospel is true.

The simple things just make sense!

Viele Liebe,

--
Elder Nathan D. Garlick
German Frankfurt Mission
"Shall we not go on in so great a cause?" D&C 128:22

Niagra Falls, Families, and New Shoes!

Liebe Familie und Freunde:

We have been so blessed the last few weeks, especially this last one, to be finding new people to teach. We went through our Area Book of all the people that we meet with and teach and spend time with. We evaluated each one and decided whether or not to keep meeting with them for the time being. We know that time is too valuable, and we are to find the elect, those people who are ready, willing, and excited about learning, living, and loving the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. So, needless to say, we had a lot more open time than we have had in a long time... actually, ever since I have been here! It was really good- tough, but good. I love all these people, but it's time that we find the people that are ready, and not just doing what we have always done... for we were always getting what we always got. Then in Church yesterday, I remembered what Präsident Schwartz told us of his conversation with Präsident Uchtdorf and other general authorities- something big is coming. Something South America big is coming- and it is neat to see the Lord getting us ready for that, very quite literally. Time is more open, abilities are strengthened, and hopes are higher than ever before. He has been preparing us with teaching and finding and planning so we can use those skills when the groups come to the church- individuals and families too, but huge groups, the same as in the beginning of the church. We can feel it- it is a real interesting feeling, one of not being able to see any storm clouds, but feeling in the air that it is coming... and it always surely comes!

Nothing in missionary work happens until we find people to teach- and, wow, did the Lord help us find people this last week! We added a new key indicator to our daily number goals: Contacts for Potential Investigators. We define a contact as someboy we talk to who has interest in the Gospel and gives us their number or address and wants to meet with us. Each night is an amazing experience: We get to this last goal, and sit and think and feel what the Lord wants us to get, how many and who He wants us to find. I look at Elder VanCamp, he says a number, and it is always, without fail, the exact same number that I had been thinking and feeling. But the wonderful doesn't stop there- then throughout the day, we keep that goal in mind, working with all we are to reach it, and when we come in at the end of the day, we have always, always reached that goal or exceeded it. It is such a humbling expereince, 1. because we have the spirit as the third member of our companionship, letting him influence us, showing that 2. the Lord is in charge of this, His work. The Lord knows exactly what we should be doing each day, He has specific plans and objectives for us to do, errands to run. My testimony has been so strengthened of setting specific goals by the Spirit- for the Spirit, who speaks the words of Christ, will tell us all things what we should do. A Polish family, two German families, a Serbian family and other individuals... Grandpa Garlick was right- a family a day IS possible to find, and it is amazing to see how many good, solid families are ready and willing to accept the gospel of Christ! We havn't met with these families yet, but will begin tonight! Please keep these families in your prayers- that they will be able to recognize the truth of this gospel, remembering what they have already learned and accepted in our premortal realm.

I love the Brother and Sister Lenknerite! They are the sweetest cutest older couple ever! And they have the neatest dog! It would take too long to explain all I love about them, but one of the greatest is how loving and generous and giving they are- they have given me a German Bible- a kid version with pictures, maps, and charts!- a watch, and a pair of new classy shoes- the kind of long, square-toed European shoes I would always see on TV and never imagine of ever getting or wearing... but I love them! She also made us a Stracciatella Bread/Cake last night covered in chocolate, and it has taken over first place on My Favorite Things list... yes, it beat out all the PuddingBretzels and Schnitzel with Noodles...and even Quark... It was just that good!

So we had a dinner appointment with the Luchs familie on Thursday evening, and they said there would be a possibilty of rain that night, and we were on bikes, but didn't think much of it. We finished a great dinner- she made "American" hamburgers :-) and we got on our way... it started sprinkling...then a little more...then Niagra Falls started pouring down! We had a 15 minute bike ride back, and by the time we got to our apartment, it was like we had jumped into a swimming pool with all our clothes on- it was great! Elder VanCamp took a video on his camera of us pouring the water out of our shoes... there was tons and it was black and gross, but at least the inside of my shoes are now clean! It was a really fun night, we were completely soaked! I love missionary work!

I am so grateful to be here in Mönchengladbach- every day is a new day, one filled with success, adventure, and fulfillment of prophesy: the work of God IS going forth, the stone cut out of the mountain without hands IS filling the whole earth, the world IS being flooded with the Book of Mormon, and lives ARE being blessed and enriched by the truth that was restored through a Prophet of God, my friend Brother Joseph. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is so much more than just a church. It is a way of life- how to live and who to be that gives us direction and hope, peace and joy. Jesus Christ is the center of this work. Without Christ, we have nothing... not even any good ideas, for all good things come of Him. He is the essence of good- and not just the good in a religious sense. Anything that uplifts, that inspires, that gives hope, that gives a smile, that helps, that strengthens, that can be enjoyed is of Him, because it is good. How grateful I am for His goodness and mercy, His grace and truth.

2 Nephi 2:6-9:
Wherefore, redemption cometh in and through the Holy Messiah; for he is full of grace and truth. Behold, he offereth himself a sacrifice for sin, to answer the ends of the law, unto all those who have a broken heart and a contrite spirit; and unto none else can the ends of the law be answered. Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise. Wherefore, he is the firstfruits unto God, inasmuch as he shall make intercession for all the children of men; and they that believe in him shall be saved.

I know that is true. That is what this is all about. He is what it is all about.

Have a fantasic week! I love you all- thank you so much for your support, prayers, and love- I know that I am never alone, having your love and thoughts with me always and angels round about me, bearing me up.

Alles Gute,

--
Elder Nathan D. Garlick
German Frankfurt Mission
"Shall we not go on in so great a cause?" D&C 128:22

Making Quark!

Love it, Hope it, put some Quark in it!

Liebe Familie und Freunde:

Isn't life just so good? Just think about it for a minute.... ja, Leben ist wunderbar! Jawohl!

Why is life so good? Well, I have been thinking about it for a while, and here is what has impressed me: I know where I came from, I know why I'm here, and I know where I am going; and the answers aren't just the general, broad overview answers that could be filled with any sort of random distorted truth...The answers are simple and profound, beautiful and eternal. I won't spend the time explaining the answers, but the point is, life is good because we know. Purpose, potential, perspective, and promise: all given to us from a loving Heavenly Father who wants, more than anything, to have us return to Him and to enjoy all the blessings that He has. Knowledge is so important; true knowledge, might I add. Elder Van Camp and I have been working on teaching the Plan of Salvation the last few days, and my knowledge has grown, understanding deepened. The purpose of our earth life is to keep the eternal perspective to see the fulfillment of the Lord's promises and reach our potential. He truly has given us knowledge of eternal significance: "Ye are gods, and all of you are children of the Most High" (Ps. 82:6). I have thought a lot about this knowledge and eternal truth lately- and it truly makes life good. All good things come from God and testify and witness that He is- life, the basic essence of life and the knowledge we attain in it, is evidence that God is. It is so neat to talk with people and explain to them this truth: "You are a child of God, and He loves you." "God has prepared a plan for us all to return and live with Him." "This life will test and try us, but through the Atonement of Christ, we can become clean, receive strength, and be prepared to return to our Father." The cool thing is that they already know it- their spirit, anyways. Some try to cover it up, or hide their interest or agreement, but we can tell. And when they walk away with a smile, it makes it all worth it. This is a happy knowledge- this is a small taste of eternal joy that is our potential to have.

Also, life is even more amazing when you add a little bit of Quark to it...iwth bananas or berries and some sugar...well, a lot of sugar... Sorry everybody in America, Quark isn't allowed to be sold for some reason... just enjoy the pictures!

There are a lot of trains here in Germany- a LOT! It is amazing how they coordinate it all and make sure everything goes smoothly. Recently, I have noticed that when the train starts, we can feel it vibrate a little bit, then jolt, then slowly pick up speed, and then steadies off. So it is, I have found, in missionary work in Mönchengladbach. The first few weeks were the vibrate of the train- we could feel things coming, and saw that the train was about to start. Then the jolt came, and it was actually lasted a few months- a time when a lot of things were going, a lot of stuff happening. But after some clean up, the stuff was elimiated, and a constant accelleration happened. One of the interesting things about trains is that they change tracks, and change a lot especially right at the beginning of the ride, getting out of the Bahnhof and onto the correct track to the destination. Elder Van Camp and I have seen some real neat things the last few weeks with changing tracks, and getting onto the correct track to our destination. Of course, when the train changes tracks, there is a lot of bumping around, and sometimes it feels like the train simple drove off the tracks, and there are loud noises and screeching. But then it calms down, and then the train gets up to it's proper and correct speed. For us it meant a lot of growing and bumping, pulling back then progressing.We are excited for the next few weeks! The last few weeks were, honestly said, the track-changing weeks. But it is neat to see how after reorganizing, re-prioritizing, and re-focusing, that the work is a lot more steady and consistant, just like a train after getting on the correct track to Düsseldorf or Duisburg. The prophecies for Germany are being fulfilled today, not tomorrow or in a few years.

Hope is a topic that we have been discussing a lot in District Meeting and as a companionship. I love hope! We have been trying to have a lot more hope the last few weeks, and it is neat to see how our hope for investigators encourages them and changes their and our attitudes for doing what we do. Hope is such a happy, joyful feeling- even when the hopes aren't realized, like investigators coming to church or appointments falling out, the feelings of disappointment don't last, but rather the hope fills me with a joy and optimism. I really can't explain it, it's just really neat to experience! So hope! ...Moroni 7.

I have so enjoyed the last few weeks of being a trainer- like learning German helped me re-learn the principles of the gospel, being a trainer has help to re-learn how to be a missionary, especially the basics. I am so grateful for this opportunity- and just like I thought from the beginning, Elder VanCamp has trained me more that I could ever train him.

This message we share is one of hope! It is a gospel of joy, and message of optimism and perspective. We were talking in district meeting about why the restored gospel means so much to us. I thought about it, and the gospel of Jesus Christ, as restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith, means so much to me becuase it is a witness that God is, not was; that Christ lives, not lived; and that They love, not loved.

Isn't life just so good? Just think about it for a minute...

Elder Nathan D. Garlick
German Frankfurt Mission
"Shall we not go on in so great a cause?" D&C 128:22

A New Companion: Elder Van Camp

All Things are Done in His Wisdom

Liebe Familie und Freunde:

Summer is pretty much over, and we are heading into Autumn! This was the shortest and fastest summer of my life- and actually the coldest! I've heard of the over 100 degree weather in Texas and all over in the USA... mercy! I remember back to the summers of drumline and marching band rehearsals outside... Tiger Band, keep drinking that water!

The Lord is so good at doing exactly what needs to be done at just the right time! His will is always the best, and He knows what He is doing. This has been seen here in Mönchengladbach for the last few weeks. We have received revelation about where to go to find people who are ready to investigate and live the gospel of Jesus Christ as restored through the Prophet Joseph. It's one thing to learn the gospel, it's another thing to know the gospel. But above all, it is the sign of a disciple of Christ to make the changes necessary to live the gospel of Jesus Christ- not just live it, but to enjoy it and live it in full to receive all the blessings that He is willing to give us. That's what I am working on- living it. Allowing changes to happen that will help me live the gospel better, and help others to live the gospel better. With that being said, we have been venturing out of Mönchengladbach main city to some smaller Dorfs in the area. Wickrath, Wanlo, Heinsberg- there is a neat spirit in these small, quaint cities! Elder Van Camp and I feel really good about these areas, and from talking with the members in these areas, have made plans to work with them to teach investigators and bring them to church, so they can come closer to Christ. Individuals will come- families will come- huge groups will come to the knowledge of the truthfulness of the restored gospel and come to live it- just like in the early days of the church- I know it.

Yesterday was a real neat Sunday. There was a baptism for an 8 year old girl right after church. We had told all our investigators about it, and invited them all. As sacrament meeting started, I was playing the organ, and looked over and saw Michael walk in! Michael is a bit rough, has a super nice heart, and totally suprised us by coming to church! It was such a great thing to see him walk in! After the sacrament portion of the meeting, I came down and sat between two enlish-speakers to translate for them, and did so through the testimony meeting. Michael was sitting by a member and leaned over and said something, then Michael stood up and walked to the front and bore a sweet, simple testimony! I looked up at Bishop as Michael was walking up and talking, and, agian, I wish I could have had a picture of my face, or at least one of bishop's- one of complete joy and hope, a huge smile and wide eyes! We have met with Michael for a few months, Wednesday's at 1500 at the church- he has made some great progress recently, and this was just astounding! He spoke about how it was so neat to see the memebers truly love this church and each other, to see how much this gospel met to them. I was also very grateful that the previous week was the stake temple week! We finished the meeting and talked with members before the baptism- Michael was just like a member! He was so comfortable and friendly- He didn't hang on to us missionaries, but made some real great friends with the members. The baptism service was real spiritual and special, and Michael loved it! After, we had a dessert/social and Michael didn't even really acknowledge us, but sat with the members, laughed, and had a good time eating some of the best dessert I have had here! It was such a neat experience to have! To see Michael come and be so comfortable, feel the spirit, connect with the members- we are really excited about working more with him and helping him along the path to living the gospel of Jesus Christ. We had some members come up to us after and ask about him- they want to help us teach and help Michael udnerstand the gospel, and they are about that excited! They recognize that he knows that there is something special- something divinely significant about it all, and we all want to help him see that in full. How wonderful!

"The Lord is my light, so why should I fear?", "I believe in Christ, so come what may." These lines from some wonderful hymns sum it all up- The Lord is with us, so it really doesn't matter what is against us! The powers of the Priesthood are real. The powers of the gifts of the spirit are real. The power of the Gift of the Holy Ghost is real. The power of saving eternal ordinances is real. The powers of light, of smiles, of service are real. How grateful I am for a God of power- and all-powerful Father who allows me to experience His power and taste of His love and concern for His children. How grateful I am for my Redeemer- the light and life of the world- the source of all that is good. Just as the sun gives light, life, and warmth to the world, so does the Son- His power breaches all barriers and overcomes all obstacles. He lives. His death and resurrection was not a fable or an opticle illusion. It happened, in actual reality. I have felt the power of it.

Thank you so much for all of your love and support. The power of prayer is real!

Travis, Willkommen in der Familie Garlick! Ich bin so froh und begeistert dich kennen zulernnen! Aber, weiß ich doch schon dass du einer wunderbare Person bist! Number 9! You need to know that you are the luckiest man in the world to be marrying my sister...Don't ever forget that. Oh, and the roses... classy! Echt klasse!

We can't add more days to our lives, but we can sure add more life to our days!
With all my love and best,

--
Elder Nathan D. Garlick
German Frankfurt Mission
"Shall we not go on in so great a cause?" D&C 128:22

He is Training Me

Liebe Familie und Freunde:

What a neat last couple of days! On Tuesday we traveled down to Frankfurt on the same train that I took my first day to Mönchengladbach- I got to thinking of all the great things that have happened since the end of March, and looking forward to the future. When I first came to Gladbach, the river and towns were beautiful, but now with the green land and bright skies, it was stunning! We had a good time talking with the other missionaries on the train. Of the 13 new missionaries that arrived, 7 are in the Düsseldorf-Dortmond Zones, and our district of 8 has 3 goldens! So we are a very young area in the mission, and actually the "youngest" district in the mission, with terms of how long the missionaries have been in the field. We got to Frankfurt and traveled to the Holiday Inn-Express... the same hotel that we stayed in my first night. We had a trainers meeting with President Schwartz and were introduced to the new 'In-Field Training Program.' This is a new structured 12-week program that will be given to all missions in the world in August- but President Schwartz being the amazing and visionary man that he is, asked the area presidency if we could start it now- so our mission is the first to try out this new preogram. What an inspired program! It is in connection with the new MTC cirriculum and expands on how to BE a missionary, not just how to do missionary things. The purpose is to help and prepare the missionaries to be able to train new missionaries at the end of the 12-week training period. To me, that is a great sign that the Brethren and Missionary Committee know that this work is going to progress and expand to greater things than we have ever seen before! If every missionary in the entire world is able to train after 12 weeks of being in the field, think of the power and strength that would be added to the missionary effort! The weak things of the world wouldn't be too weak anymore, and the spiritual maturity and strength would expand that rock that was cut out of the mountain without hands and expand it to truly fill the whole earth. What a great honor to start using this program, and to be trained right along with the new missionaries in this new focus and direction.

At the hotal, it was fun to remember that first day and my first thoughts and impressions of Germany. We woke up and had a super breakfast and met with the new missionaries and were assigned companions. My companion is Elder Van Camp from Boise, Idaho. What a missionary! He was baptized in April 2010 and has a testimony and depth that I have been trying to develop. He is so strong in the faith, and is focused and mature, willing and faithful- He will be training me more than I could ever train him.

We had some great experiences the last few days, and it is truly a blessing at how quick Elder Van Camp and I connected and can work together. He really reminds me of Connor Hinckley, and that is such a great blessing! It's like I am serving with one of my good freinds! We are so excited for these coming weeks! Me especially, because Elder Van Camp is such a "of course we can do that", "let's go", "we can definitely reach that goal" kind of missionary.

BROTHER GASHI GOT A JOB!! We were teaching the second hour Sunday School class to him, and I asked Brother Gashi how he has grown closer to Christ over the last few months of coming to church and reading in the Book of Mormon. He mentioned, completely non-chelaunt, that the Lord has been teaching him patience and that finally our prayers and hopes have been answered as he got a job and will begin on Monday. I wish I could have had a picture of my face, because I am sure it was the funniest look I have ever given in my life... one of amazement, excitement, shock, and bewilderment... big eyes, dropped jaw, the lot. I didn't really say anything, then "Wait a second, you got a job? You really got a job?!" He did! He begins it today and said he will find out if he is able to keep it for a while. We will talk to him tonight, and if all works out, then we will call President Schwartz and set up a baptism interview appointment. The blessings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ are so wonderful. They can only be attained through faithfulness and obedience- Brother Gashi has experienced that. Through his patience and waiting and working and enduring, the Lord has blessed him and allowed him to change his life for the eternities. Brother Gashi has sacrificed a lot the last few months and the blessings that he has and will receive are going to outweigh any of the stress and dissapointment and heartache he has felt in the last few months. Sacrifice brings for the blessings of heaven; but in the end, you find that it really wasn't a sacrifice at all.

We also met with the Rode familie. They are from Zimbabwe and speak Swahili. He has worked here for 10 years and can speak very good German. We have met with him twice before, and every time, he explained his hopeless state, loss of faith in God, and no desire to learn or regain that faith. But he kept allowing us to come back, so we knew he felt something, he recognized the gospel truths. So on Saturday, we talked about the Book of Mormon more specifically for him and how it is the answer to his prayers that he feels haven't ever been answered. We promised that his lost hope and faith have been found again, and that they were lying on the table in front of him, in the Swahili copy of the Book of Mormon- all he had to do was read it. He said that his birthday is coming up in a few months and at that point he would start a new life and reconnect with God. I looked him straight in the eye and asked, "Why wait for a few months when you can have the hope and joy that you want right now?" He looked down at the Book of Mormon for a few minutes in silence... it was probably only 40 seconds, but it felt like a few minutes! Then he picked it up and said, "OK, I'm ready. Where should I start?" I smiled and said "Page one!" We proceeded to read through the title page and up to 1 Nephi 3:7 together. He read a verse, then I read a verse. He read a verse than Elder Van Camp read. When we got to the end of a chapter, we would wait, and then Brother Rode would start up reading verse one of the next chapter! At first, we could hear in his voice that he was reading just to read because we said to. As we went on, we could tell that he was reading it because he wanted to. The funniest, but absolutely wonderful, part is that his wife, who can only speak Swahili was sitting on a chair a little behind Brother Rode's right shoulder. As we read through the beginning of the Book of Mormon, she only understanding every other verse in Swahili, started poking her head out and scooted closer to him, so that she could read the page and actually understand the whole of what was being read! It was fun to see! It strengthened my testimony of the Book of Mormon as the word of God- and even if a person only understands every other verse, they can feel the truthfulness of it. For it is not the stories and adventures that make the Book of Mormon what it is; it is the Spirit that fills every sentance, the hope that comes from every page, and the truth that is in every word that make the Book of Mormon what it is: the word of God, the keystone of our religion, the very witness that Jesus Christ lives and that He has called a prophet again in our time, my dear friend Brother Joseph.

The Lord's tender mercies are flowing out in great number here in Mönchengladbach- from jobs to the Book of Mormon, from companions to blisters healing, from finding planners and wallets to catching busses, from pain relief and a new hope and vision for the future- this truly is the work of the Lord, and He sits in the driver's seat! The peddle is to the metal, the steering wheel pointing straight ahead, the sound of angels singing on the radio- the truth of God is truly going forth boldly, nobly, and independant- the day of miracles and fulfilment of prophecy is not tomorrow: it is today. It is right now.

I love my Savior- I love Him so much. The first part of my mission, especially in the MTC, I thought I was doing the Lord a favor by coming here to Germany to serve Him, and repay Him for all the great things that He has done for me. The problem is, I can never repay Him. I can never "get even" or pay Him back for the blessings He gives to me- for that is just it... He continually GIVES, not gave. He is my Trainer, He is my Hero. I am truly humbled to be a servant of the Lord, called and ordained to preach His gospel by the Spirit, that the children of our Father can experience the joy, peace, and blessings that I have and am receiving every day of my life- what a gift! The gift of life, the gift of truth, the gift of knowledge, the gift of love, of peace, of joy: It truly is the gift that just keeps giving! Shall we not go on in so great a cause?!

Hab ich Gutes an heutigen Tag getan? Das ist unsere Ziel! Gott lebt. Jesus Christus ist der Sohn Gottes, der für mich und dich gestorben und auferstanden ist. Er lebt! Er wirklich lebt! Seine Einfluss ist so groß und ewig, es ist ungläubig! Ich weiß, dass mein Erlöser lebt. Es ist so schöne diese Wahrheiten zu wissen und spüren, die jeden Tag stärker gewachselt und gestärkt sind. Ich bin so froh und glücklich hier zu sein- Alles wohl, alles wohl!

Tschüß!
Alles Gute,

--
Elder Nathan D. Garlick
German Frankfurt Mission
"Shall we not go on in so great a cause?" D&C 128:22