Week 7

This week has been a crazy one filled with lots of "golden experiences". (new missionary's are referred to as Golden's). The first night I was in Germany I had the opportunity to go street contacting, IT WAS AWESOME! I was paired up with a Sis. Newkomm who is from the Alps. As we were walking down the street we saw this older man running, I jokingly told Sis Newkomm that I think we should run after him, in my mind thinking how ridicules that would be.Well she thought it was a grand idea, so as he ran by us we just started running with him all while explaining that we are from the Church of Jesus Christ and we are talking to men about God. He went with the idea and while running we started explaining what we believe in. After about 10 minutes of running with this man while giving him the first lesson Sis Newkomm pulls a book of Mormon out of her bag, mind you still while running, and starts to use the pictures in the front to explain what the Book of Mormon is about. Ya it totally was like something out of one of those super cheesy LDS films. To sisters in skirts, with grandma shoes, explaining the book of Mormon through pictures, all while after jumping a man on his walk! However the more we taught about the book of Mormon the slower his peace became until finally he stopped running. As we walked back to this mans apartment complex with him, wrapping up the first lesson, the spirit was SO strong. By the time we reached his apartment, we had him committed to coming to church, reading a chapter in the Book of Mormon, and a time for a return appointment. YEP IT WAS AMAZING!

 

Another golden moment I had was a little less inspiring. The BYU symphony will be in our area this week to put on a concert, and we plan on using the concert to pump up the work in the area so we have been passing out flayers all over the town. As we were standing outside the train station one evening passing out these flayers and contacting this lady looks like she really wanted to talk to us, (That was my first mistake, non members NEVER just want to talk to missionary's) so I walked over to her. In my broken German I explained that we were from the Church of Jesus Chris and that we were talking to people about God. As I was talking my Companion Sis Szvoboda came up next to me. As I finished she whispered in English (the language we use when we don't want people to understand us) that this lady was a GOLDEN...just what a new missionary wants to hear, (2nd mistake NOT listening to the person I was talking to). So I jumped on it and started explaining that we believe that God is our loving Heavenly Father, and that he loves us, the German lines I was practicing that day. Well long story short, this lady's name is Ola...she is the wife of our branch mission leader, and 2nd counsellor in the branch presidency. Yep I felt like a doof! But it ended up working out. As Oly explained here side of the story she told me that she was really needing to feel that God loved her that day, and expressed with tears in her eyes how my crazy little golden mistake was really an answer to prayer....God does work in mysteries ways! Next time I just prayer it won't be so embarrassing!

 

Missionary work is just so much fun, and is exactly what I expected it to be. Lots of long days, sore feet, a companion that you  feel fills in all of your weaknesses and make you stronger, and an incredible amount of the spirit. I am loving being out of the MTC and in the field. The country is SO beautiful, I am in the Town of Frankfurt Oder. The people here are amazingly....German. They are all super blunt, which I love. They will tell you exactly how they feel, which most of the time I can't understand, but I like it anyways. And the food is to die for. The Branch here is so strong and reminds me a lot of the one in Moab. The Branch presidents family is a lot like the Hazellets just a little older, and no Eli. My apartment is super sweet and has a great view of other houses out one side, and a tall row of really green bushes on the other. Over all it has been really cool.

 

I love being here! I really am starting to love the blunt matter of fact way of the German people. I am so thankful for the opportunity I have to be on a mission, there is no other place I would rather be, because I KNOW this is where the lord wants me.

 

Until next week. Sis Kim Bohne

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Week 6

Wow this week has been incredible! We have had some amazing fireside, workshops, and class room discussions on all sorts of topics. This week I am going to highlight one of these topics.
The topic I am going to write on was a lesson in class that really opened my eyes and touched my heart. The topic we discussed was the Law of Chastity. My amazing teacher Bro. Swanson has the ability when talking about gospel principles to hit it from a different more in depth yet simple way then most people. He started off like most Law of Chastity lessens, or in German Das Gesete der Keuschheit, and explained the three worst sins as Alma describes. They being Denying the Holy Ghost, Shedding of Innocent blood, and Breaking the Law of Chastity. He pointed out that if those are the worst of sinning the opposite would bring some of the greatest blessings. They being instead of Denying the Holy Ghost, full heatedly accepting the Holy Ghost. When if we do this, we will be blessed with knowledge from God, direction in this life, and protecting. Instead of Murder, Giving up your life figuratively or latterly for Jesus the Christ. This Bringing a magnitude of blessings, of this I can testify. And last but definitely not lest, instead of breaking the Law of Chastity, Being chaste. Giving us the opportunity to bring children into loving homes under convents that God will bless us and help us rear those children. pulse once again bringing in a magnitude of blessings. I am going to briefly go over 5 of these blessings and 5 attributes that we develop from obeying the law of chastity.
Protection- Physically, Emotionally, spiritually.
The ability of Creation- Not just in creating life, but homes. This explains the why and how of God works, and why breaking the law of chastity is the third worst of all sins. This is how God teaches us to become like him, this is where we learn to create worlds within our home. Where we learn to love like He loves. Where we are given the opportunity to help develop spirits in hopes that they will become the best they can be. This is where we learn to become Gods and Goddesses.
Trust- We have the ability to trust ourselves, trust that we have the strength to be the person God needs us to be. Trust that we have the self control to accomplish great things. It gives us the ability to trust our significant other. If they are able to protect that which is most sacred, it leads me to believe that we are able to trust them with all. It allows us to put our trust in the Lord, trusting in his laws and his timing. And obeying this law makes is possible to trust our family, knowing that it is centered on correct principles.
Love- Obedience to this law gives us the ability to truly understand what love is, to our spouse, to our God, and to the children we bring in to this world. Obedience to this law is what holds family's together makes two into one.
Peace- Peace that we are protected from disease from mistrust and heart ache. Peace that we are becoming like God. Peace that those we trust trust us. and Peace that the love we have is real love.
So along with these blessings we develop Attributes
Protection Develops into Virtue- We understand more of who we truly are. We have the ability to see ourselves and the world how God sees. It keeps us pure.
The Power of Creation develops into Knowledge- We can't truly understand this until we are obeying this law. We are blessed with pure knowledge of who we are, who God is, and how this world works. In essence we more fully have the Holy Spirit with us, teaching and instructing us as to the things pertaining to God.
Trust develops into Faith- Once we have the ability to trust ourselves, we have ability to develop the faith necessary to be who we need to be, to be the person God sees in us. The obeying of this law also makes our hearts soft enough so what we are more willing to accept who that person is.
Love develops into Charity- The pure love of Christ, for self, for spouse, family, and the rest of the world.
Peace develops into Hope- Faith is the action, Charity is the cause, hope is what God gives us to be able to accomplish things and believe he is there through the hard times.
All of these things can be ours if we understand the blessings that come from living the Law of Chastity. Way to often growing up did I feel like the law of Chastity was a list of "Don't do's" with consequences scary enough to any child to insure obedience. I know that if we but focus on the blessings of this law, teaching the positives and not the negatives, those we teach will strive to live this law out of a desire to improve rather then obeying this law out of fear.
I testify that obedience to this law will bring so many blessings. I have seen it in my life, and in the life of those around me. I know that this commandment is from God to insure our happiness. I know that in my life as I have obeyed this law the blessings have been to large to number. I know that as we more fully understands the blessings of this law, and look and teach people about the positive side of the Law of Chastity that people will understand the impotence and will obey because they love God, and they want the blessings.
I am grateful for this opportunity that I have been given to learn more about my Savior and his plan for use.
I hope all is going will back at home. I miss you all so much. I realized the other day that river season has just started up, and I miss all you river guides like CRAZY! I just wanted to thank all of those who helped me get on this mission. I often look back to almost a year ago when the Lord put so many amazing people into my life, and where I have ended up because of my time working at WWRE. Have fun, be safe, and don't hit hole one...Nicki you would be glade to hear that 'obedience is ceasing to be an irritant and is becoming a quest, I am realizing those moments God has blessed me with power'.
Well ya'll have a WONDERFUL week, and send me some cool pictures of training. :)
-Sis Kim Bohne

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Week 5

8 More days until I am headed to Dutchland!
This week had been great! Sis Linford and I are teaching a man by the name of Herr Burg. Herr Burg is a Middled aged man, who lost his wife and young child in a car accident almost 6 months ago. He has a religious background so he prayed alot after the crash for comfort, which he feels he never recived. After the crash his neighbor Christin befriended him, Christin is LDS. After many months of comforting Herr Burg Christin invited him to meet with us. As we sat in with Herr Burg and listened to him tell us the story of the crash, and listened to him explaine how he felt that God has forsaken him. I had the strongest impression to tell Herr Burg that we are messangers, set apart by a prophet of the Lord to bring the Lords message and LOVE to his children. I bore testimony of our Loving Heavenly Father and how he never leaves us alone. I explained that is was not random that we were sitting there talking to him at this time in his life, that we were the way the Lord was showing Herr Burg that he was not alone.
The reality of the calling I have hit me SOOOO hard. I have heard all the storys where missionarys show up in peoples lives just when they need it the most. I am now that missionary, I am now on the lords errend. If I am ready, worthy, and wiling the Lord will use me to comfort His children, teach them the truths that will bring them back to his presences. I feel so blessed to have this chances to change my own life, strengthen my own testimony as I bear witness of my Savior and brings others unto him.
I KNOW Jesus is the Christ. I KNOW that he hears us and answers our prayers. I KNOW that he will use us in his work to the level we are ready to serve. I love my Savior so much and am so thankful for the atonement. I KNOW, I KNOW that through the atonement of Christ we can become clean. I know that Just like the Lord sent us to his son Herr Berg in his time of need, the lord will like wise place people/angles in our life as we need them.

-Sis Kim Bohne   

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Week 4

Wow this week has been incredible. They are incressing the weekly requirments that we have for German, and expecting us to do more then I ever thought possible in a singe week. The gears have just changed and it seems that with less then 15 days till we fly into Germany, and three weeks less then normal here in the MTC we have a lot of things to understand and concepts to grasp before flying out, and they are putting the pressure on. I have also decided to start running in the morning, it seems to be helping with the overly anxtious feelings that build up with not being able to be outside as much as I am use to. So my days start at 5am and ends sometime between 10:30pm-11pm with little to no down time all day. My brain hurts, my body is exhausted, yet my spirit is soaring! I have truly felt the power of the Holy Ghost lifting me up through out this week, giving my the capability to understand the language, and the physical ablity to keep up with the schedual.
Oh can I just say that I love the German people already. All my life I have been use to people not being able to spell my last name. Since Bohne is a german name, everyone I have meet is able to spell and pronounce it correctly...that is if you pronounce it Bow-na, the German way.

On a side note I knew that I would become a totally diffrent person while on this mission however I feel kind of like Saul...or should I say Paul. The first day at the MTC not only did my life change but my name as well. Just like I am now comfortable saying my name is Sis. Bow-na I know the day will come when I am more confortable with the person I am ment to be, then the person I once was. The day when Sis. Bow-na and Kim become one.

My testimony is growing daily. This last week, having been easter, my focuse, like most others was on the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I would just like to add my testimony to the many others that have already by born. HE LIVES! Our Savior lives. He who died on the cross of Galgotha, rose the third day triumphantly, for me, and for YOU! I know that through the love that He has for us, we can make it back to our Heavenly Father. I know that through Faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, Repentance, Baptism, and Enduring to the end we can become like Him, heirs to his kingdom, able to recive all that He has. This is my Testimony, and I state it, in my Saviors name, even Jesus the Christ. Amen.

Until next week.

-Sis Kimberly G. Bohne

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Woot Woot I am officaly half way done with the MTC! As much as I am learning here, and enjoying the people in my zone I can not wait to hit the field. My zone decided this week that the MTC is the only time in the mission where you get door after door shut in your face and never a chance to talk to a real person. It is extemly humbling to have to rely on the spirit so much for the conformation that what I am doing is good enough, and not rely on the outwards rewards of missionary service. I feel super blessed to have this oppurtunity to be taught not only german and the doctrine of the gospel, but more importently be placed in situations where I learn how to rely on and listen for the promptings of the Holy Ghost.

This week has also been one full of suprises. The new mission president for the Berlin, Germany mission; President Henry W. Kosak and his wonderful wife suprised us this week by showing up in our class room Friday afternoon. The Kosaks are native to Germany and happened to be in the area for Genral Confrences. They  decided to drop by and take the oppurtunity to come and meet us. They are wonderful people, with burning testimonys of not only our Savior but of the importance of missionary work. The German people will be highly blessed with the Kosaks overseeing the work. I feel I as well will be blessed by their strict, caring german ways.

This week I had an experinces that soltified my desire to be here. This experinces brought back the joy I was feeling almost a year ago when I started my mission papers. I have been so blessed to have people put into my life to get me on this mission. To support me though the ups and downs of the application process. For a long time I have been worried for the well being of these people. I have spent many nights on my knees praying for the faith that my Heavenly Father would take care of them. This week those prayers were answered and I had the oppurtunity to see first hand just how much the Lord does take care of the family and loved ones of those of us who are serving Him. I am greatful for that oppurtunity and many like it through out the week that have shown me first hand that my Father in Heaven is hearing and is willing to answer my prayers.

General Confrences was GREAT!!! I have been told that Genral Confrences is like Christmas when you are a missionary, so true! I feel so blessed to have felt the spirit that I did . One talk that really hit home was the talk by Elder Oaks, as he talked about service in the Church he states: "The symbol of our christin faith is not the cross, but the lives of our saints". I feel so privliged to have this oppurtunity to testify to the reality of our Savior Jesus Christ. To give up just a season in my life, like many, many, many, many before me have done to proclaim His gospel, and sound His name. Day by day I am gaining a greater knowledge of what that truly means. Learning hard lessons of why it is so importent to be obedient. Of the importance of ALWAYS remembering who I have been set apart to be. Of how to be with another person 24/7 and the protection that that offers. I guess what I am trying to say is that I am just thankful to be here, I am thankful for the way the Lord is watching out for those I care about. I am extremly thankful for the leadership here at the MTC and their loving nature. I am thankful for those the Lord has put into my life since entering the MTC, and for the many, many lessons they have taught me. I love my Savior and feel privliged to wear His name on my chest every day. I more then at anyother time am realizing the power of the atonement and how it truly does cover all of our needs. I am thankful to my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for allowing me to be here on this mission. My faith and testimony are growing day by day and I can truly say with excitment....I AM A MISSONARY!!!!!!!!!!!

  

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