It's the Season of Miracles

Liebe Familie und Freunde:

Let me introduce you to Rabekka. She is about 25 years old and lives in Mainz, studies in Mannheim, and works in Frankfurt. She loves English and prefers to speak it. This all came into play as we were on our train to Zone Conference on Wednesday. We met the sisters in Mainz and then traveled to Frankfurt. We had a 4-seater, and Siser Nieman stood, and there was an open seat to my right. Rabekka came and sat down and was reading a book. We missionaries were talking in English, and Elder Sheppard pulled out a Peanut Butter and Jelly sandwich (Yes, we have peanut butter!!). We began talking about peanut butter, and jam, and how they don't have it in England, and so forth. I looked over at Rabekka, and she was reading an English book, so I knew she knew what we were talking about and understood us. So we continutes talking, and I can't remember exactly what happened, but we asked a question to each other, and then she became involved in the conversation. We introduced ourselves, and she did as well, and we continued to talk together on our 40 minute ride to Frankfurt. Over the course of our conversation, we found out that she has a lot of interest in discussing Gospel topics and theology. She hadn't heard much about the Church, but was really interested to learn more! We got to Frankfurt, and invited her to the baptism on Saturday- two girls were being baptized in the ward. She said she would love to come, especially since it would be in English. We went to Zone Conference and had a wonderful time! The week went by, and then Saturday came, and we went to the church for the baptism. We went early to fill up the font, and then walked into the chapel just before it started, only to find Rabekka sitting on the back row!! We were so excited and invited her to sit with us near the front. The service began, we explained a little about what was going on, and how the father and older brother of the two girls, respectively, were baptizing them. We saw the ordinance of baptism by immerision following the simple and powerful words, and then went back into the chapel. Rabekka was just smiling the whole time! During the waiting time, the bishopric asked Elder Sheppard and I to talk about the restoration! We did just that, and the Spirit was strong. Testimony was given. Rabekka kept smiling. We learned from a talk about the gift of the holy ghost and then witnessed the simple and beautiful confirmation and bestowing of the Gift of the Holy Ghost. The spirit was even stronger, and the smile still there. After the closing prayer, we asked Rabekka what she thought and she really struggled for the words. We said she could say it in German if it was easier. She said almost laughing "It's not a language problem!" She said she hasn't ever felt this way before and couldn't describe what she was feeling. She was still smiling. I think Elder Sheppard and I were smiling even bigger! She met all the ward members there and had a fantastic time! We invited her to come to church on Sunday to learn more and for us to answer her questions. We encouraged her to write down her questions and come to church and promised that she would receive answers. She did just that! The talks in church were about prayer and finding answers to our questions. We met the second hour and she couldn't stop talking about how great and simple everything was, and especially how it felt like one big family here at church and how everyone wanted to meet her and love her and help her and focus on her and answer her questions and teach her specifically. The Book of Mormon was introduced, testimony from a young single adult (YSA) convert of how she came to know the truth of the gospel, and the smile stayed. The third hour, she went with her member friends to Relief Society and learned about the Book of Mormon from Elder Callister's conference talk and joined with the great women of the church in unity and love. It was a perfect Sunday, all three hours the Spirit bearing confirming witness to my heart that this work, this gospel, is true! And Rabekka felt it too! The YSA leader for the area is in our ward, and invited Rabekka to Institute and the YSA ice skating activity today. She will come to the weekly YSA activities and classes. She wants to read in the Book of Mormon. She wants to meet with us more. She said she ist going to come back. And, mot importantly, she is still smiling! This gospel brings the joy and happiness that everbody in life is searching for. Every day, I have the great honor and privlege to see this gospel change lives. My live is changed more and more every day as I see people like Rabekka smile the smile of joy and hope and love that this Gospel is all about. All it takes is an invitation for them to come and see. And giving that invitation and sharing the Gospel is really quite simple: just talk about peanut butter!

I love you all so much! Thank you for your love and prayers. This time of year is truly the season of miracles! I believe it is so because of the added focus and faith on our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. His humble birth was one of the greatest events in the history of time. He lived then, and He lives now. He is the source of the smiles and joy and hope that is the Gospel found in His restored church: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Of this I know!

Keep smiling!
Alles Gute,

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

Count Your Many Blessings!

Liebe Familie und Freunde:

Schöne Grüße aus Wiesbaden! What a neat place this is! There is just so much to say from the last few days, you may get it all over the course of the next few weeks! But first off, I got to see Sister Garlick at the Frankfurt Bahnhof!!!! It was so great and we had a great time talking and catching up. She is serving up in Dortmund area I believe. It was such a great blessing to see her and feel the whole familie's love! We went to Frankfurt super early on Wednesday and I met up with Elder Sheppard there. He is so British! I love it :-) We were able to get our Bahn Cards and traveled out to Wiesbaden from Frankfurt. The two Elders that were here in Wiesbaden before us both went home, so they met us at Bahnhof and gave us some information and keys. We got to Wiesbaden and had a fun time trying to find the right bus to take us to our apartment. We found it, and it is in a real nice place- right in down town and so close to everything! One of the first things I thought of when we walked in was what you told me, dad, about your mission- about how you would spend some time cleaning...especially the bathroom... first thing in a new place. Well, needless to say we had to do a little more than just the bathroom.. but now it looks real nice! We only had a half a bed... the one we had was half broken and the other was a stack of matresses. So we called the office, and since we are so close to Frankfurt, they brought us some brand new beds from IKEA. We had some great bed building bonding time... who knew it would take 4 hours to put one of those beds together?! IKEA pulled out all the stops on these beds .-) But it was great, and after going through the papers and binders of the area records, we are now able to go full speed ahead with the work of the Lord in Wiesbaden and Mainz!!

There are two wards here, the German ward and the American Military Ward. The Sisters are assigned to the German ward, and we are assigned to the American Military ward. So we have been practicing our English teaching and speaking skills :-) It is so neat to be here- it was just like being at a ward in College Station! And our diet the last few days is as follows: Tacos, Pizza, Lasagna, Beef pot roast, Peanut Butter, Brownies and Ice Cream, and Gummy Life Savers... where am I?! The ward likes feeding the missionaries here, so we don't go shopping very often. We have appointments set up for Thanksgiving and the whole week of Christmas already... mercy! Präsident Schwartz came to the German ward yesterday, so we went to both, and it was a real interesting feeling. In the German ward, I felt "Oh, yeah, this is neat, it's such a huge German ward, I like it here", but the Military Ward was a feeling of "Yes, I belong here, this is my ward". It is interesting how assignments do that to us. The Lord has called me to serve in the English Ward, and that is where I belong. The members are amazing, they are full of the spirit and focused on serving others and doing missionary work together. I love it here! And not becase of the American food or the hard r's and k's of the English language- I love it because this is where the Lord needs me to be. I love it because I trust His planning and His plan for me. I love it because it's Wiesbaden- the place where I am to serve Him and learn and grow and become.

It is also really interesting to switch cities and work with brand new people. Bob is one of the investigators here in Wiesbaden, and instantly upon meeting him I felt a love for him and a desire to help him progress toward baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost. It is such a neat experience to feel a connection of love, just by seeing him across the room, and knowing that he was Bob without even meeting him. We are hoping for his baptism in the next few weeks.

And what a great time of year! I love this fall transition into winter. Thanksgiving is this week, and there is so much to be thankful for. I am so thankful for my life. I and thankful for knowledge and understanding. I am thankful for the whisperings of the Spirit and blessings of obedience. I am grateful for the hand of the Lord in my life. I am grateful for Germany, these people, this langauge, the people in my new English ward, and the hope of the future. I am thankful for an eternal perspective and the hope and joy that come from that. I am so thankful for my family. I am thankful for our daily family prayer and scripture study, for our family trips, and especially for our family meals together every day. I am thankful to be one worthy and able to wear the name tag that bears the name of the Lord's Church, and His name itself. I am so thankful for my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, to whom I owe all thanks and adoration for His sacrifice in my behalf and His help in my life. I am so thankful for the Priesthood of God, His power and authority, His permission, to do His work on the earth. I am so thankful for prayer. I am so grateful that Joseph Smith offered that simple prayer in the year 1820- I am grateful that he had questions. I am grateful for all the other Spiritual examples in my life. I am thankful for all my friends and leaders. I am thankful for temples, for the eternal saving ordinances and covenants of the restored gospel. I am so thankful to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I am thankful that the Lord has blessed me with so much that I could go on and on and on!

In short, I am thankful or my life, my faith, my family, and I am eternally grateful to and for Him who has given me all of that.

I am so humbled every day at the beauties of this earth, the peace and joy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and the blessings that He so freely gives. This is His work. I can't believe the time goes by so fast. This is a time of rededication for me, a time of deeper and firmer commitment to serve the Lord by serving others. It's time to forget me and forget all the little things that Satan is so good at throwing in the way. It's time for me to stand a little taller, to lengthen my stride. The work of the Lord is rolling on- let's get it going even more! It's the season of miracles- let's make those happen and prepare the way for the Lord to further His great and marvelous work. Angels are with us, the heavens are on our side. Let's go on!

Have a wonderful week! I sure love you all!

Elder Nathan D. Garlick
German Frankfurt Mission
Kirche Jesu Christ der Heiligen der letzten Tage
"Shall we not go on in so great a cause?" D&C 128:22

P.S. sorry sorry sorry for no pictures... we need to find a place/way to be able to send pictures...
PSS the members have access to the American commissary, and said they will take our shopping list and buy us whatever we want... Life and Peanut Butter will be stocking our shelves soon :-)

I'll Go Where You Want Me to Go, Dear Lord!

Liebe Familie und Fruende:

Well, the transfer call of all transfer calls came! Präsident Scwartz called Saturday morning and said that the Lord wants me to work in a new city. I am being transfered to the Wiesbaden-Mainz area! It is down by Frankfurt. It is a "white-wash", meaning the two current missionaries are being transfered out, and two new ones are coming in. I am also District Leader for our District with Koblenz and the Sisters in Mainz and the senior couple at the Young Single Adult Institute/outreach center. I am so excited!!! I am so grateful for my time in Mönchengladbach- quite literally all of my learning and growing and understanding and feeling has been here in this city. But I know that the Lord has a plan for my mission, to learn and experience things in Wiesbaden that I could only learn there. There is a German ward and an American Military ward in Wiesbaden... so it looks like I might just get some sweet potatoes and banana cream pie for Thanksgiving this year!! haha we'll see :-) The military base there is just like America soil, so mail and everything, from my end mailing home, is just like being in America- what a blessing! Präsident Schwartz said we are mainly assigned to the German ward, but have the area for both, sharing the whole area with the sisters and all the members of both wards. And the sister in Mainz will be training a new sister missionary this cycle- is Sister Garlick coming this week to Germany of after Christmas? I thought it would be so fun to be in the same district as her! Elder Friedrichs was in Koblenz for 6 months, which is the same district as Wiesbaden, and said the area is so pretty and one of his favorite places to serve. We are in the Frankfurt Zone, which means we will be able to go to the Temple on P-Day- what a great blessing! My new companion is Elder Shepherd from England. He has been here since October, so it will be fun to still be learning together! I am so excited and know that this is where I am supposed to be, and this is the right time to go. I am not sure of the new address, but will send it as soon as I can.

It will be a grand adventure starting over in a new city with a new companion, both with no idea of the city or investigators or even where the apartment is! It's going to be so much fun! And it's already Christmas season here, and that makes everything that much greater! And my testimony of the Lord leading us by His hand has been strengthened so greatly the last few weeks, that I know that He will continue to do so.

One of the problems with staying in one city for seven and a half months with the suitcases under the bed is... well, just take a look at the pictures!

We leave Wednesday morning at 730am from Düsseldorf to Frankfurt Haupt Bahnhof, where all the missionaries that are transferring meet. Then we get in our Zone/travel groups and head to our new areas. It is always so much fun to meet with other missionaries and feel the unity and love we have and hear of all that they are doing in the work of the Lord.

This was a really neat week, a great exclamation point to the end of the cycle and to my time in Mönchengladbach. But like with everything in the Lord's vocabulary, His exclamation points aren't big explosions or fireworks- it was the delay of a bus that allowed us to meet with Rainer and feel of his spirit and help him recognize the hand of the Lord. It was Martin and Michael coming to church and recognize the Spirit and feel the power of the love of God. It was the families Lenknereit and Luchs and Wenzel from the ward that were so full or love and kindness to say goodbye and wish me well. It was the miracles and blessings in the other cities of this district and the great examples of missionaries that I was able to learn from this cycle. That's the way the Lord works: through small and simple things to bring about His marvelous wonders. And this truly is a marvelous work and a wonder!

I was able to speak in church yesterday, bearing my testimony of the living reality of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ. I love and treasure the opportunity I have to bear testimony that They were, that They are, and that They always will be. And especially, I love testifying that I know that Jesus Christ will come again, and that this work is in preparation for His triumphant return; for it is, and I know it!

so ich muss "Auf wiedersehen" sagen zu Mönchengladbach, aber ich bin voller Glaube und Begeisterung auf Grund der Zukunft! Vorwärts, immer vorwärts!
Danke schön für euer Liebe und Gebete.

Bis nächstes Mal- aus Wiesbaden!

Alles Gute,

Elder Nathan Garlick

Hallo!

Familie und Freunde:

What a great week! For District Meeting on Tuesday, we studied Lehi's Dream of the Tree of Life. I love 1 Nephi 8! We found us as missionaries in there, we found the members and the investigators, we found the difficulties and the struggles, the triumphs and the joys in there. We found remedies and helps for us and them in there. It's amazing! I would invite you to study 1 Nephi 8 and find yourself in the dream, find your calling and those who you serve. They are in there. We are all in there, all striving to come together to partake of the fruit of eternal life! The Book of Mormon was written specifically for us in our time in our day. My testimony of that has been greatly strengthened recently. I love the Bible. It is beautiful and full of truth and the Spirit. I love the Book of Mormon. It was written and preserved for us, to read, study and apply in the year 2011. I know it.

I was able to work with Elder Baum in Wesel and Elder Hall in Krefeld: what great Elders! I learned so much from them, especially about diligence and concern and love for those whom they teach.

Sorry this is short today, but I hope you can feel my love and know that the work is going well and strong! How else could it be going?... it's the work of the Lord! Everything that comes from Him is good and right. This work is the greatest good and the greatest truth. I know it. I knew it before, but my testimony has become strengthened and deepened as I have spent time in the service of the Master. I know He lives- this is His work. The Lord established it, the Prophet Joseph restored it, and we are here to further it. What an honor! I think you know what I'm going to say next......I enjoy this work so much! Haha no? oh yeah... shall we not go on?! Let's do it!

Ich liebe euch. Danke für euere Gebete. Ich freue mich sehr!
Alles Gute,