It's Christmas to Me!

Liebe Familie und Freunde:

Christmas time is here! It is so exciting! Last year, I was in the Wiesbaden Military Ward, so this is my first real German Christmas! There is such a neat feel in the air! It even snowed a bit on Saturday night... the snow, the markets, the music, the joy: this is Christmas to me!

On Saturday, we started out the Christmas season with a Street Display. We had some large posters on Christ, copies of the Book of Mormon, and chalk. We drew a big square on the ground, and asked people what Christmas meant to them. They wrote some thoughts or drew pictures in the box. It was mostly for the kids, but was fun! We were able to talk with many people, and had some great discussions. It is always so interesting to me, how the real meaning of purpose is getting more and more lost... lost among the bows and price tags and stress... that's the funniest part to me... why so much stress at Christmastime? At any rate... we sang many Christmas hymns on the street, as missionaries and members, and quite a few people stopped, listened, and even sang along. There is a power in the true meaning of Christmas, especially in the hymns and carols we sing. It was a great experience. I didn't even feel cold the whole time! But then we got hot chocolate afterwards, and realized I couldn't feel my feet... tis the season!

Stefan came to church in a ful three-piece suit! He is so great. He is excited, and is so ready for his baptism on the 22nd! 

On Tuesday, we met with Stefan in a cafe. We talked about the Book of Mormon, and asked how that was going. He is reading right through, and understanding! We reminded him of the promise in Moroni 10, about reading, praying, and receiving and answer that it is true. We asked him if he had done that. He looked at us and said, "Actually, I know the Book of Mormon is true. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here." I thought a lot about that answer. It is so true; Stefan felt the power and truthfulness of the Book of Mormon, which led to his conviction that the Church is true, and that kept his desire to meet with us and come to church. I thought more about that, and that is the same answer I can give. I know the Book of Mormon is true. Othewise, I wouldn't be here in Germany right now. The Book of Mormon means everything! If it is true, the Church of Jesus Christ has been restored, prophets live and teach today, the Priesthood of God is on the earth, and pure truth of God and His plan is again on the earth. If the Book of Mormon is false, then I'm between a rock and a hard place, for spending these last two years proclaming the Christ of whom the Book of Mormon bears witness. Honestly, if the Book of Mormon wasn't true, I wouldn't be here right now. No matter how great the organization of the Church is, the programs, or the doctrine or plan, the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon holds it all together, and makes it all valid and work. I have seen the power of the Book of Mormon in my life, in Stefan's life, in the lives of so many others. This is the marvelous work talked about in the scriptures; the coming forth of the Book of Mormon and the spirit that comes with, and the lives that are changed, the hearts that are changed and converted, because of the truth it testifies of. What a great blessing, to be involved in such a cause!

tis the season to be joyful! tis the season to make someone's day! tis the season of Him. Ich weiß, dass er lebt.

Alles Gute, und schöne Woche!

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

"Sie müssen leben wollen"

Liebe Familie und Freunde:

This was a huge week of service! Called to serve, it's what we love! I saw reports about the missionaries in New York and New Jersey who are helping so much with the clean up after the hurricane. I don't think there is a better way to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the message of the Church than by living the gospel through service to others. Through  these big planned service projects, as well as, and even better, through small acts of kindness, people get to see the Gospel of Christ in action- it being used for the purpose for which it was given us: to serve and help others come closer to Christ. 

It was also a crazy week of organizing all the missionaries going down to Frankfurt, and those coming back up to Dortmund for transfers. We now have the two new Elders living with us until we find them a new apartment. Change is fun! But it also takes a lot of organizing :-) Many new missionaries straight from the MTC came to the Zone, some from Utah, and one from Finland! 

Stefan is so great! We taught the Word of Wisdom, Tithing, and Fasting... of course, he said we would live them all! Stefan is one of those that has been prepared his whole life for the Gospel, and was led by the Lord to accept it at this time. 

We are still waiting for Romania to come to Dortmund... The fathers went back this week to pick up their families and should be getting here soon. 

There was a huge Stake Ball this week, and three people were in charge of all the decorations... over 6,000 balloons! Our schedule was such, that we were at the church quite a bit this week, and everything worked out just right so we had the time and availability to help out, where these three people really needed it! It all turned out really nice, and it felt great to be able to be in the right place at the right time to help... even though this "interruption" took us from other things we planned on doing that day. Dad, thanks for that quote from C.S. Lewis. These interruptions are no interruptions at all. Rather, it is the influence of the Lord, to use us for His purposes in His way to bless the children of the  Father. It is the hand of the Lord, turning us into His hands to serve and help and make light the burdens of others. We were there on Friday night when people were coming to the dance, and made sure friends and members were together and taken care of for the evening... then we ate some food from the buffet... and just a side note, I think Germans are the best at doing buffets... there are buffets for every event... and they are great! 

Anyways... we left, and went back to our apartment. We had a lot to organize for the Zone in the coming weeks, and needed the time before the weekend came. Right on the corner of our house was a very old woman with a walker, looking quite confused and lost. I looked at her as we walked up to turn the corner, took one more step, then had to turn back and go ask if we could help. She thought it was the afternoon, and was going to her appointment at the doctors. It was 8:30pm, and the doctors was definitely not open. So we asked if we could walk with her back to her house. She was very grateful... and for the first time in my life, I actually helped an old lady cross the road! :-) Frau Koch is her name, and she is 97! As we were walking, about 20 minutes, very slowly, she told us all about her life and family. She and her brother had a construction business and actually helped to build the church building in Düsseldorf many years ago! She knew right away that we were the Mormon Missionaries. We kept going, and I remembered back to the days when Grandma Burton lived behind Grandpa and Grandma Blake, and Ali and Makell and I would go over and help Grandma Burton walk over to the Blakes. Those were great times, and I really feel I learned a lot from my Great Grandparents. I feel really close to my great grandparents that I knew, and still feel great love for the older generation. I remembered the love for my own relatives, and felt love for Frau Koch. This older generation went through so much and have so much to offer, especially on counsel to the youngsters growing up. I asked, "What would you counsel us, as we are growing up through life?" She stopped walking, shook her hands forward as she talked, like Pr. Uchtdorf does, and said "Sie müssen leben wollen", or "You need to want to live." She shared some more about her life and all that she experiences. I learned so much about doing those things that make life worth living. 

Frau Koch focused a lot on the family, and how having and raising a family is one of the greatest things that make life worth living. I agree. But what is it about the family that makes life so worth living? It's the family counsels, and the family singing at the piano, it's the boys vs. girls football game, it's the laughing and not being able to stop when dad sits by you in Stake Conference, it's the road trips with movies with the commentary and no remote to turn it off, it's the trips to places where Spanish is the main language. It's the dwelling boxes and Rex, it's the family videos and dancing to Lawrence Welk, it's the swing dancing and the Christmas eve letters, it's the pulling weeds, and the morning song. It's the "Oh what a beautiful morning" to wake up for scriptures, it's the fried pickles and doughy caramel cake. It's the late night talks, it's the early morning Aggie Flags, it's the games and the treats, the surprise snacks, and the family picture-taking shoot bonanza... that makes life worth living! 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ makes life worth living. Seeing people accept the gospel, read the Book of Mormon and change their lives, and become more happy than they ever thought, makes life worth living. Seeing personal progress and change makes life worth living. Seeing the hand of the Lord each day, and the many miracles that He does each day, makes life worth living. A hope of the next life and the Resurrection make life worth living. The hope of an eternal family and eternal progression makes life worth living. Knowing that the Church of Jesus Christ is again restored on the earth makes life worth living. There is so many reasons to live, and innumerable things that make life worth living! How grateful I am to live at this time in the history of the world! And the best is yet to come. I know that. 

Ich hab' euch alle Lieb!

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

The Worlds Largest Christmas Tree! 45 meters tall, 30 tons made up of hundreds of individual trees...I love Christmas!

BVB, the soccer team here in Dortmond...Gameday is nearly as big as Texas A&M Football!

Topping the Christmas tree with an angel with Elder Lyman and Elder Penfold

'tis the season! ...but first, Thanksgiving!

Liebe Familie und Freunde:

The seasons are changing... the Christmas Market is getting set up... the Stollenbrot is on the shelves in the store... Christmas is coming! 

But to stay true to the family tradition, I'm not going to express my love and excitement and joy for Christmas until after Thanksgiving... There is just too much to be thankful for...

Ich bin dafür so dankbar, dass ich ein Missionar Jesu Christi bin. Ich bin dankbar für das Evangelium, und für mein Zeugnis. Ich bin so dankbar für alle die wunderbare deutsche Leute! Ich liebe sie. Ich bin dankbar für meine Familie, so wie auch meine Freunde und Bekannte. Ich bin dankbar, dass ich lernen darf, dass ich Fortschritt machen darf, und dass ich zweite Chancen haben darf. Ich bin dankbar für diese Welt. Ich bin dankbar für die Gaben des Geistes. Ich bin dankbar für dich. Ich bin dankbar für Elder Penfold, und alle die tolle Mitarbeitern die ich auf Mission hatte. Ich bin dankbar für Präsident Schwartz, und alle die Missionare die mir so gute Freunde sind. Ich bin dankbar für Jesus Christus, der Retter der Welt. Ich bin dankbar, dass er das Fundament ist, worauf ich mich bauen darf. Ich bin dankbar hier zu sein. Ich bin dankbar für die Güte Gottes, und für seine Hand in meinem täglichen Leben. 

Now on to Christmas! Just kidding... it will come soon enough!

Transfer calls were this week: I get to stay in Dortmund with Elder Penfold for my last six weeks! The Sisters are also staying... AND we are getting two more Elders! Elder Sheppard and a Golden will be coming up on Thursday. I was with Elder Sheppard last year at this exact same time in Wiesbaden! It will be fun with all 6 of us and the McPhersons in Dortmund, but definitely present new challenges and opportunities to learn and grow, furthering the work of the Lord. With the huge increase in Missionaries coming into service, Präsident said that our mission will be getting an additional 80 missionaries by Spring 2013! .. so Ali,  wir müssen Deutsch zusammen üben :-) It is exciting to be here at this time when the Lord is hastening His work, and getting the foundation laid for an even greater harvest and progress to come in the Kingdom of God.

I look back on my mission, and it is so interesting how every missionary has the perfect mission for him... I have been blessed to serve in 3 areas with 8 companions. I have been blessed to serve in the same city with sister missionaries for 14 months of my mission, when all is done. I have been blessed to see a broad spectrum of missionary work, from the doors and streets, to the American Military ward, to the strong German wards. I know the Lord knows each of His missionaries and gives each of us the experience we need to do as much good as we can in His work, as well as learn just what we need to in each stage. I have learned so much, and I look forward to what the next 6 weeks will bring!

Stefan Bond is such a great man! He came to the Stake Welfare Fair on Saturday, and stayed the whole time, came to church for all hours, and then was with us with a huge family meal with members. His path into the church hasn't been through us, the missionaries, rather through the members who have reached out and made him one of their good friends. And that is just the way it should be! He decided to be baptized on 22. December, but we feel he is ready, and we will discuss with him about the beginning of December. 

We met with all the Romanian Men again this week. They all love the gospel and know this is the true church! They want to be baptized, but want to wait until their families are over here, and they have solved some issues first with living here. It is so neat to see people really grasp the Gospel and love it. Gristi is the member that invited all these men to church. He is such a great missionary! Sis. Böning has also been helping to translate. She is from Argentinia and has been very sick for a while. We were able to give here a blessing a while back, and she came to Hamburg to President Monson, and ever since has been on the rise! She doesn't use a walker any more and can drive on her own. That is a miracle! And she has been invaluable in the help of teaching these great men, who want all the best for their families, and felt they have found it in the Church of Jesus Christ. 

This work is the work of Almighty God. I love that title for Him. We had a Zone Training Meeting this last week, and focused solely on the Gospel of Jesus Christ: Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Gift of the Holy Ghost, and Enduring to the End, with short thoughts on each from missionaries, and Mormon Messages and Bible videos in between. It was the most powerful meeting I have been in on my mission, and I felt a similar spirit as in the temple. The Gospel of Jesus Christ is the way God wants us to live. The Church is given to us as a mean of properly living that Gospel, and to gain the strength and support from others who are just as imperfect as us, all trying to do our best in living our covenants. The power of truth is real. Knowledge is Power, Testimony is knowledge and understanding gained by the Holy Ghost, and Power is had and used as we bear testimony and act upon the promptings of the Holy Ghost to do something. 

All my best,

-- 

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

Friends from Romania