Hallo von Frankfurt: Missionary Conference

Thursday, September 25, 2008

Missionary Conference

We enjoy attending the Zone Conference every six weeks. The speakers instruct in German and we listen with headsets in English. I thought you might enjoy how the Missionaries thank the cooks at each conference by singing, Called to Serve.

We have a German class every Tuesday evening along with other missionary couples. We attend a German speaking ward and sing in the choir. Funny story...at our first choir practice I was asked to sing the soprano solo in German and was told to start singing so I did. After the first verse the conductor said, "Will someone else will come?" Meaning I didn't know how to sing German or soprano. And I don't. I sing alto. I was so glad I didn't have to sing a solo that day.

We home teach two families where the brethren speak only German. Fortunately their wives speak some English and can translate. The language seems to be coming.

I have been searching for and collecting a list of LDS specialist for the countries we work in. At the Zone Conference I just happened to sit by a doctor from the UK who gave me a list of 26 specialists he is working with. And he just happened to bring the list with him to the conference. We received a copy and an invitation to their November meeting to meet them. As we pray for help it comes and the doors open.

Tomorrow we fly to Sweden for a Nortic Council and have been busy preparing materials to take with us.

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Opening the Call

This is where is all began. We are excited to be here in Germany. Books are being printed in German and should be finished in a month. Councils have come together and were very sucessful. Power Points and module training programs are being created. Our days are busy and go very fast, before we know it we've missed lunch. We are expecting proposals to be approved shortly, then watch it fly. We have testimonies of the work we are doing and the help that will be provided for addiction recovery.

Frankfurt Temple

I have had many opportunities to step out of my comfort zone. As eight of the missionary couples met at the Area Pres. home for dinner, Pres. Oak's turned to me and said, "Sister Atkinson, will you offer the prayer for us?" I thought to myself, "Me? In front of a medical doctor, a psychologist, a lawyer, an accountant, two Area Executive Secretaries, two Seventies, you're asking me to pray?" Then all of a sudden, the courage came. I put a smile on my face and said, "Thank you, I would be glad to." The Spirit touched my heart and I prayed beyond my ability. I know now that if I just desire and try, the Lord will make me capable.

Switzerland a Dream Come True

I remember Great Grandma Feller who came from Switzerland. I remember her egg nog and German fritter pancakes. After her husband died at age 36 of tyhoid fever, she raised their 3 sons by herself. As a young child I attended her funeral. The night of her viewing, during a sudden rain storm, I dropped my very own package of juicy fruit gum in the gutter and watched it wash away. I started to cried. Thinking I was crying for Grandma, they showed me her small white slippers and her beautiful white dress. I quit crying because I knew I was looking at an angel. Her father, Christian Feller, spoke only German when they left Switzerland. Their first home was a dirt dugout in the hills near SLC. Their sacrifice has blessed our lives with the gospel.

What does your membership in the church mean to you?