October Zone Training

 

Berlin Zone

Tag Der Deutschen Einheit

October 3rd 1990 is a day that is a very special day for the German
people, it is the day that should never be forgotten, and it is the day
hallowed by the words "Einigkeit und Recht und Freiheit" (Unity and
Justice and Freedom) because on this day the Berlin Wall fell and
Germany was once again a united people.
So as you can imagine this last Saturday was a very special day as
well, for it was the day marking 25 years of Unity, Justice, and
Freedom as a German people.
But we as missionaries had the opportunity to participate in another
historical moment!
That being the 185th general conference of the Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter Day Saints!
We as Latter Day Saints were able to come together from all around the
world and participate in the sustaining of a living prophet who is
called from God, and the Twelve Apostles.
We were able to come together and be spiritually nourished and
strengthened, we were able to receive heavenly council about our very
temporal and earthly problems, as well as hear strong testimonies
about our Savior, Jesus Christ and the restoration of His church and
gospel.

How cool is that!  And during the conference I know that for at least
two sessions, I am doing the same thing as the people I love and
care about!
So yeah, I had a really good week.
I would love to hear what you learned from conference!
Next weeks email will have what I learned. I haven't actually seen all
of them because we have to wait for translation:)
Have a great week!
 
Elder Schmalz

 

This is our tiny Egyptian member with his two lederhosened missionary bodyguards! We had the awesome opportunity to watch conference at his comfy house and it was so nice. Their only request in exchange for this comfy spot to watch conference... We had to wear our lederhosen! Done!

The Berlin Wall

Today I was able to see the Berlin Wall while we went into the big city for our district meeting. This strip is called the east side gallery, and it's pretty cool.

Week 2 in Franfurt Order

So, a lot happened this week!

Including.......

Another sick companion.

Burning my hand on the stove.

A 30 mile bike ride.

and......

LEDERHOSEN!

Yep, to celebrate the start of Oktoberfest I have purchased myself a nice pair of lederhosen....

Bask in the Deutschness of Elder Schmalz!

Sunset in Germany

Frankfurt Order

So my first week in Frankfurt Oder has come to an end, and it has been pretty good!

My new companions name is Elder Allen. He hails from Houston Texas and has been on his mission for 5 months and.... he is a total Stud! I'm really looking forward to this transfer with him!

So Frankfurt Oder is right on the border of Germany and Poland and about an hour train ride away from Berlin. Due to our close proximity to Berlin, we have the awesome opportunity to travel into Berlin once a week for district meeting, so I finally get to see the big city! We also have another cool opportunity here in Frankfurt... that being that we teach someone who lives in Poland, so we also make a weekly trip to Poland!You might even call me a world traveler now;)

Well my spiritual thought for this week finds itself in Ether 12:4 which says
 

“Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an anchor to the souls of man, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God”
 

This scripture tells us that our hope and our faith should be like an anchor for us, and this symbolism of an anchor really got me thinking this week. If you think about the purpose of an anchor... its purpose is to sink down and hold a ship steady in storms and in waves, but an anchor that stays above the surface when the storm hits is absolutely useless. But an anchor that has sunk in deep before the storm comes can and will be a support during the storm. Sometimes I feel as if my faith didn't completely sink in all the way. Sometimes I would just go to church or read my scriptures and pray just because it was the right thing to do, but now I know that my faith has sunk in deep. I understand the why behind the commandments. I now understand that our faith should lead us to act and to change. It should really "sink" in to the depths of who we are. When we let our faith sink in deep, we will have that anchor in a sure place when the storms of life come, which they undoubtedly will. We will find ourselves supported. We will be safe.

That is my challenge for you this week.

Find a way to let in your faith sink in.

Whether that be taking notes in sacrament meeting, or re-immersing yourself in the scriptures, I promise that it will help when the storms of life come.

Thank you for your emails and your prayers!

 

Hello, Poland!

This picture captures Germany pretty well. The Mercedes building, the bombed out church, the BMW driving, the flags, oh, and the two buildings that say bikini on them...

Elder Allen and I

 

Last picture as companions! Elder Fitch is awesome!

Last district meeting

Schwarma, the best food ever!