The Americans in Grace's district found a patriotic mural

Grace and her companion, Sister Ballard, at the Brandenburg Tor

"Mom + Dad"

Berlin Trip!

Great week! A few highlights...

1. TAUSCH - EXCHANGE

 Both Sister Bell and Sister Stacey (two of my all-time favorite sisters) came to Bremen and it was such a good experience. I had the opportunity to be with Sister Bell. Wow. She is a gem. We got so much done and it was so great to hear about her experiences with training. As we discussed WHY we came on our missions, it was powerful to remember the strong sense of responsibility and enthusiasm. It rekindled that initial spark of excitement, faith, and desire to do everything in my power to serve diligently, obediently, and as me, Sister Grace Hendricks. 

 

2. WEIL ER LEBT - BECAUSE HE LIVES

 On Wednesday, Sister Ballard and I went to Rejoice's home. She didn't have a ton of time, so we decided to keep it short. We watched the "Because He Lives" video twice and she loved it. We each bore testimony that Christ, as our brother and our Redeemer, knows her. We testified that He has a plan for her and that the message that we will continue to share with her is a part of that divine plan. She said that she felt the Spirit telling her heart that it was true. It was a powerful experience. 

3. BERLIN

So on Thursday morning, we made our way to Berlin. Despite a Deutsch Bahn Strike, grumpy passengers, and the call of a true Eastern Germany Döner, we finally made it. President gave us permission to take our P-Day in Berlin, so we spent the day sight-seeing. It was so great to see Sister Ballard so excited and in her element. We went to the Brandenburg Tor, the Holocaust Memorial, the Reichstag building, the Berliner Dome, the East Side Gallery, skillfully navigated the U-Bahn system, and saw enough gorgeous cars to make this Sister missionary one very happy camper. 

On Friday, we had Mission Conference with everyone in our mission. The Conference - "Disciples in the Digital Age" - was led by Elder Nielson and Elder Kearon of the First Quorum of the Seventy. We will soon be using iPads!

This week in my studies, I've really focused on feeling the Spirit. Last week, my dear Eliza Smith (soon to be Sister Missionary in the Philippines!!) sent me a copy of a BYU devotional called "Unleashing the Dormant Spirit" by F. Enzio Busche. It came to me at the perfect time. The speech reminds each of us that "Too often we are not aware of the powerful gift that rests dormant in us. We cannot be grateful for that which we are not aware, and we cannot activate its power."  I need the Spirit. We all do. 

I also want to say Happy Birthday to one very special 16 year-old. Abigail Marie Hendricks, you are incredible. I am so grateful that you chose to come to our family and be my little sister. You are talented, you are beautiful, you are fun, you are bright, and you are so blessed. The growth that you have made since I have left becomes more obvious to me with each weekly email - both physically (you amazon woman) and spiritually. You are refining skills and strengthening your relationship with your Father in Heaven in ways that will be invaluable to you. I am so proud of the woman that you are becoming and I am honored to be your big sister. You are my Abby-Pie, my Abblet, my cubby. I love you so much. Eat some gross organic birthday loaf to celebrate.

Thank you all for your love and prayers!

Liebe, 

Sister Grace Hendricks

Someone got a dead fish in her dinner.

 A glimpse of John's Star Wars action figure collection

I CUT ELDER ROSENVALL'S HAIR muahahahaha

We accidentally got stuck on Elder Rosenvall's train on transfer day. We ended up in some dorf called Kirchweg. That's what we get for trying to be macho and help the Elders with their luggage

A "classy" investigator / car sightings in Hamburg

Hello all!

Some highlights from this week, which was a wonderful one: 

On Wednesday, we called a former investigator named Cherif. He said that he was actually free right then and there if we were available. SCORE. So we hightailed it to Domesheide and right as we were going to cross the street, we heard someone say "Sisters?" We turned around and saw the classiest guy in a velvet dark blue blazer and spiffy shoes sitting next to a hobo. He asked us to wait a minute and then finished up his conversation with the hobo (Manny), handed him a 2 euro coin, and told him to take care. What a first impression. Cherif is wonderful. He is from Benin, has been in Germany for 7 years, speaks perfect German, is an interior designer for BoConcept, and is so kind. We went to a cafe just to sit down and talk and we told him about what we do as missionaries. Throughout the conversation, Sister Ballard and I were each able to bear testimony of the Book of Mormon, bear testimony of the Plan of Happiness (which he kept asking us about), and how our message and invitation would bless his life. He accepted all of it and wants to know the truth for himself. He asked such wonderful questions and kept asking each of us for our personal testimonies. We committed him to read in the Book of Mormon every day and will be meeting this week. It was the best lesson that Sister Ballard and I have taught together, my German was so much better than usual, and HE IS SO PREPARED! I am so grateful. 

On Thursday, we had soccer as usual and Martin came. Martin was the first investigator I ever taught and ever put on baptismal date. The baptism fell through as his fears of his parents' reactions prevented him from telling them that he had been investigating the church for years and now wanted to be baptized. It was heartbreaking because he was so ready and had such an unshakable testimony. Anyway, we had had pretty limited contact with him since, but he occasionally came to soccer. This time, after we played, we were all sitting on the gym floor. Martin was kind of quiet, so I scooted over and the conversation turned into a discussion of his testimony. I decided to be really direct and bold with him. I asked him if he believed that the Book of Mormon was the word of God. He said yes. I asked him if he believed that Joseph Smith was called of God to restore the gospel of Jesus Christ on the earth. He said yes. I asked him if he believed that Thomas S. Monson is a living prophet of the Lord. He said yes. I asked him if he would prepare to be baptized on May 9th. He thought for a second and then looked at me intently and said yes. We talked about what held him back the last time. I shared the story of my dad joining the church and how his mother did not react well. I told Martin that I couldn't promise that his parents would react well. But he knows that they love him and just want him to be happy. We ended up doing a role play with him for him to practice being direct and sharing his testimony with his parents. We set goals with him to talk to each member of his family by a certain date and explained what needed to happen for him to get baptized on that date. He is so excited. 

Stake Conference in Hamburg was also amazing. We stayed with Sister Stacey and Sister Bell (two absolute gems). Hamburg is the coolest city. I saw three Audi R8s, an I9, an old Shelby Cobra (DAD!!!), and 4 Aston Martins. Plus it's just a gorgeous city. I really appreciated President and Sister Kosak's comments and the remarks made by Elder Adler of the 70. He reminded us that the Lord sends us the Spirit when we are ready to DO something with it. This is about action. I am so grateful for each of you. 

Liebe Grüße, 

Sister Grace Hendricks

They Came To Conference!

Time is in hyperspeed today so I will have to try to keep this short and sweet!

First things first, transfer calls came and I will be staying in Bremen! Surprise, surprise (insert Nacho Libre voice here).

We had a lot of really great appointments this week and met with a lot of people that are showing a lot of promise and desire to follow Christ.

Familie Selimovic is making so much progress. On Friday, we went over and helped them paint their kitchen and the entire time Sammy (the 3 year old darling) was singing about Jesus Christ and how powerful God is. Frau Selimovic told us she has slammed her door in the face of every Jehovah's Witness, Evangelical, and Christ's Embassy Bible salesman that has ever knocked on her door, but says she feels something special with us and she always wants us around. After we painted and she was satisfied with the number of cookies we ate, she gathered us and all of the children that were home in the living room, turned off the TV, calmed them down, and asked us to read to her from the Book of Mormon. We taught them the first lesson and the spirit in the room was as tangible as Devijan's chubby little fingers poking my arm. Their faces were priceless as we told them about the First Vision and Frau Selimovic got emotional. She connected with Joseph's feelings of confusion and uncertainty. She said that she would pray about his calling as a Prophet that night after all of the children went to bed, but that she already felt it was true since it only makes sense that God would have a prophet today. We will be picking her and all 6 of her children up to come listen to Conference tomorrow evening and she is so excited to hear from a real, modern-day Prophet. We are hoping to put them all on baptismal date this week.

THEN THEY CAME TO CONFERENCE. We picked them (Frau Selimovic, Delmira, Devijana, Devijan, Denisa, Sammy, Frau Selimovic's mother in law and two sisters) up and made the journey to the church in Findorff. Between a strassenbahn accident, two missed busses, and Frau Selimovic wearing high heels, getting to Conference was a bit of a struggle. But we made it! They absolutely loved it and the focus on families and leading a Christ-centered life was perfect for them. They are so excited to come to church next week!

We watched the Saturday morning conference session at the Elder's investigator's apartment and THAT was interesting. John is half Mexican, half German, but grew up in the States. He is a tattoo artist and collects Star Wars action figures (I took so many pictures in his collection room, but this internet lounge is being dumb and won't read my SD card... Sorry.. Next week!). His apartment was pure chaos, but it was amazing to still feel the Spirit as we listened to the words of the Apostles. 

We have also been working to use the "Because He Lives" initiative at every opportunity. Michaela called us in a panic on Tuesday morning at 4am. We went over, just listened, read a few scriptures with her, hugged her, and then we showed her the video. The Spirit brought her so much comfort during that video. She bookmarked it and has since watched it every time that she feels sad. After we watched it 3 times together, Sister Ballard and I folded her laundry and cleaned the kitchen. It was a small service that she has thanked us for every day since. She wants to share this video with everyone that she knows.

So those were some of the highlights of the week. The Lord is really blessing us.

I want to give my witness that I know that He lives. The Savior of the world, our Brother and Redeemer, suffered for our mistakes and pain. But He lives. The Atonement can take effect in our lives as we feel Him, the living Christ, walking with us, healing us, and supporting us. He is not hidden. He is not dead. He is risen. I love Him. 

Liebe Grüße,
Sister Grace Hendricks