Liebe Familie und Frauenden,

 

Ich vermisse Sie und freue mich auf den Tag dass Ich wieder mit ihnen bin!

 

This week had been such a great week, it sounds like on both ends. It sounds like you had a blast with the family. I am not sure where you took this bridge jumping pictures but I think that we should go there in 6 weeks. I don't think I have told you this, but ever since serving in Eisenhüttenstadt with multiple bridges I often think about the time when I will be able to jump off one again! It made me smile when I saw the pictures!

 

That is wonderful how the Bishop excused every one to go and help those in Ceder who were affected by the storm. That is true discipleship in work. There is no better way to teach people to serve then by just doing it. I am so glade you were able to also take the kids out and have them help. 

 

Thank you also for sending that picture of Grandma Munford and Bohne together. I guess grandma has not received the letter yet that I sent with the pictures of both young Sister Munford and I together. Serving together for a day was super cool. I felt some extra strength from home knowing that our family could have been doing the exact same thing as we were in that moment. I can't wait to go on some Visiteing teaching splits with older Sister Munford!

As for the browns I am SOOO excited to see them. They know that I will be speaking on the 8th right? Also random but could you, or Ashley get on facebook and post that somehow. I am hoping that a few nonmembers will see it and we will be able to do some missionary work. I have a list as long as the one I am currently working with that I am excited to get back on start working on. I don't know what you are wanting to do on September 8th but I would love it if we did not start anything at the house until after all 3 hours of church are done. I am hoping to be able to get those that come to be able to also learn somethings that will increase their intress in the church. I don't know how the missionary work is done in the area or if they have an investigator class that they teach. I think it would be cool if we could have a Sunday school class that day that the nonmembers could go to be able to be informed on the restoration and have the chance to ask some questions. But that is just my idea. Tell Dave I want him right up front.

 

I am so proud of all the Book of Mormon reading the family is doing! Mom that was a great idea to get the kids invloved!

As for my week I am doing great. I am really enjoying the work and enjoying being here in Marzahn. Yesterday due to the heat the ward only had Sacrament meeting. I did not know how much the Germans really don't like the heat. There were many wards in Berlin that also made the same decision to only have one hour of church. Due to not having Sunday school or relief society at church, we as sisters decided to have our own back at our apartment. For Sunday school we just took another hour of personal study; IT WAS SO GREAT! We were also fasting so I was able to study the gospel for 2 1/2 hours! By the time it was time to move on I did not want to stop. Yesterday evening due to only having sacrament meeting we had some open time. We decided that it would be a good idea to go out and meet the people who live in our area. We took some flayers and cards and just went and walked on the streets of Bisedorf. It was great. People seemed a lot more open to talking on Sunday, and because we were not rushed the spirit was stronger. We were also able to drop by on a investigator of ours and give her a Book of Mormon we had written our testimonies in. She has not wanted to take a Book before now because of some bad experiences with previous missionaries taking back a book of Mormon from her because she was not reading it....BAD IDEA DON'T EVER DO THAT. She did not want to take it but when we showed her we had taken the time to write in it for her it touched her. It was a testimony to me that the little things really can make a big difference! ,,Die Jünger Jesu Christi Zeichen sich unter anderem durch ihre Liebe zu Gott und ihren Mitmenschen aus..`` (Treu in dem Glauben)

We have also been able to meet with Erick some more this week. HE IS SO AMAZING! For one of the appointments we went over the difference between Alma the Younger and Moroni and how the Atonement heals/cleans us completely. It was great to see the hope and the joy coming into his eyes as he realized that He can once again stand up and start moving towards becoming like ''Alma''. I have loved working with him so much. It has truly been a tender mercy to help him become active again!

 

Any was I hope you are all having a wonderful week! I love you so much and and am excited to see you all.

 

-Sister Kimbely Bohne

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Week of MIRACLES

Gutten Morgetn Familie,

 

This week was a week of MIRACLES!!!! It started 3 minutes after finishing my last e-mail. Just as I signed off the computer I got a call from an unknown number. I quickly answered it, trying to double task and get some stuff done: ''Hallo, Hier ist die Sister Bohne von der Kirche Jesu Christi?'' ''Hi Sister......here is Erick...'' ''Erick....ERICK!'' After many prayers, doors knocked, and lots of pondering I was finally able to talk with Erick again. After talking for a little bit we set up an appointment for Tuesday where we could come together.

 

Erick is doing good. After moving away from Eisenhüttenstadt, and not having a steady good influence, he struggled staying strong. Luckily there were a few returned Sister missionaries staying in contact through facebook and helped him get back into contact with us. As we talked on Tuesday he explained his desires to come back and become again the person he was a little over a year ago right after his baptism. It was hard to see how hard he was being on himself, and on his struggles. Sister Kriser shared a quote that referred to a little child learning how to walk. It says that as a child is learning how to walk, and it stumbles and falls to the ground the parents don't get angry, rather they applauds and cheer as the child stands back up. As she was telling me the quote I imagined in my minds eye the look of a child as he falls hard and looks up to his mother for reassurance, not yet sure if he should cry and stay down, or laugh and get back up. It is often times the reaction of the mother that will determine the actions of her child. As we showed Erick that it is okay that he has fallen, and showed our faith that he can get back up, the look on his face started to change. Yesterday he took his first step by coming to church for the first time in a long time. I am so proud of him and the determination he has to hold true to the convents he made.

 

Jenny was also in the church again yesterday. Sister Nicole, a recently returned member has take it upon her self to help Jenny with the transition. I am so thankful for the work she is doing and the influence of a missionary focused worthy member. It can be hard for those who come into the church to make that transition and it is only when the members get involved that it is possible.

 

The highlight of the week has been the preparation for both the baptisms of Carmon and Annika. Both were baptised yesterday right after church. There were many from the ward that stayed to support them. Our ward mission Leader Br Schröder was able to baptise Carmon, and Annika's father baptised her. Both baptisms were wonderful, and the spirit was strong. However there was a difference in Annika's baptism. As I looked at her father with his arm held to the square getting ready to help his daughter make a convents it was conformation that that is how it is to be done, when possible. There is a real power when a worthy father steps up and leads his family in righteousness! 

 

For me it was a very special Sunday to have Erick sitting beside me, Jenny in the room, and both Carmon and Annika being baptised. 4 people that I was able to help come closer to Christ, all either making or keeping covenants with the Lord. With Erick there it kind of wrapped a lot of my mission together, I just needed apart of Langenhorn and it would have been completed.

 

Over all things are going great here in Marzahn. Oh transfer calls were last week. Sister Kriser and I will both be staying here in Marzahn continuing to serve together as STL's. I am so thankful that we are able to keep working together. She will be my longest companion. She is extremely driven and focused. She is helping me in so many areas. I am so thankful for her patience with me, as well as her understanding of my personal weaknesses. I hope by the end of our time together I have been able to teach her a fraction of what she is teaching me. I really hope that you get to all meet her one day. She is teaching me things that I will strive to apply my whole life....basically she is just awesome! There is no one else I would rather serve with my last transfer here in Germany, and I think God know that. Having another transfer is a testimony for me that God does hear and answer prayers.  ;) 

 

Well I hope you all are doing great this week. It sounds like you are staying busy. Ashley in 6 weeks I want to do a midnight Taco run with you! Emily and Ben how is reading the Book of Mormon coming along? Do you have any ideas yet of what kind of trip we will be doing together.    

 

I know that God lives, that Jesus Christ is His Son, I testify that Joseph Smith was called as a prophet. That through him we have received the fullness of truth necessary to return back to live with our Heavenly Father. I know that this time is a time to improve ourselves, to strive to become more life Christ, in though, in word, in action.

 

-Sister Kimberly Bohne

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Dear Family and Friends.

I am so glade to hear that you are all doing so well. It sounds like the girls had a great time at camp. Dad and Ben sounds like you both had a fun time getting to know the new mission president over in our area. Ben I hope that got you excited to serve a mission bud. I know I am so thankful that I have come. I would not have changed this for anything in the world. I know you and who ever else decided to go well learn so much. I am excited to read your letters one day.

 

Mom thank you so much for looking at the resume. I well keep you updated on what starts happening. I am going to be applying to a lot of different places, in hope that something works out.

 

 

So this week Anika was not baptised. We have moved it to this Sunday the 21st of July. However she is doing so good. I was unable to be there this week because I was working in another area but Sister Kriser says she is doing well. I was able to talk with her at church. We helped her find her baptism dress in preparation for next week. She was beaming and super excited. It has been a blessing for me to watch her family rally around her in preparation for her baptism.

 

Carmon is doing wonderful as well. We were able to have a 'get to know you breakfest' with The Bishop, his family, Carmon, and us. It went really well. We talked about service in the church and accepting church callings. When the bishop asked her if she was ready to help in the ward, her response was; ''that is what I always do in my life. I just go around helping people.'' She is just wonderful. I hope one day you well be able to meet her. Also on Sunday I sat next to her for sacrament meeting. about half way through she took my hand and just held it. I am not sure who was more comforted. :)

 

I am still unable to regain contact with Erick, but I am still praying for him. I know something well work out.

 

This week Sister Kriser and I were able to met up with Sister Kosak to grab some icecream and she how she is doing. I just love this lady so much. It was interesting for me to sit down and talk with her. One a mission you feel like you get to know people so well, so quick, because you are always seeming to have very meaningful conversations. After talking to Sister Kosak this week I realized, I know alot about her. I know how important the gospel is to her. Her views on a lot of different principles in the church, I know how she likes things ran. How she would handle certain situations. However I realized as well the basic things that you usually know about someone soon after meeting them have taken a back seat to the things of the spirit. For example, I had no Idea that Sister Kosak has her Masters Degree. She finished it after meeting President Kosak, getting married, and having their first child. POWER WOMEN. It was lots of fun needles to say. :)

I am doing well. I am trying as much as possible to work hard, as well as enjoy the time I have left here. It seems that it is going to come quicker then I thought it would. But I am so thankful for the time I do have left.

 

I have been refocusing this week on life is all about learning to  ''live a life in Crescendo'', growing in intensity step by step, always Diligently with a consistency of effort and clarity of focus. President Kosak taught ''The synchronization of those items in our daily life, on a mission and/or afterwards, will help us to be happy and filled with love. In all we do, we need what President Ezra T. Benson explained as, "The Spirit is the most important single element in this work/life. With the Spirit magnifying your call/life, you can do miracles for the Lord...regardless of your talent and ability" [PMG, p. 176

 

I am so thankful that the Lord is allowing me to live my life in a way that I am able to build while doing His work. It has never ceased to be amazed at the miracles we see as we walk hand and hand with the Lord. I am also thankful to understand that these blessing are not just for those with name tags. Family I hope you are also seeing these blessing in your lives as you do missionary work. I love you all so much. I hope you are doing well. Thanks for the updates and I will see talk with you next week.

 

Love,

Sister Kimberly Bohne   

 

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Coming to the light

Dear Family and Friends,

 

This week has been a great week. I hope everything is going well for you at home.

 

This week we were able to go and get ícecream with the wonderful sisters who help in our Office; Sister Gibson and Sister Biesly. I don't know how we could do our work without them. They are the ones that take care of the details that us less experienced missionaries would have no idea where to start on. As we were eating ice cream a man came walking up to our table and said in a thick German accent and broken English; 'You Mormons?'' We were then able to talk with him about his prior experiences of meeting the missionaries in Switzerland. We were able to get his contact information. God really is preparing his children to accept the gospel. People are even getting bold enough to come and talk to us. At the end of our time I asked the two sisters if they had any words of wisdom for us, they said, ''If you allow Him, God will change your heart, but you have to give it to Him.'' It have thought about that statement a lot this week. It is so true. We can experience stuff, see stuff, know stuff, but until we are changed because of it we truly did not understand it. It is easy to do what we have been called to do, but to be who we are to be is another story. I think that takes a lot more, prayer, a lot more humility, a lot more trust in God. President Kosak a while ago gave the quote, "Know, that you know, what you know.'' It is not just enough to have a testimony, you must know that you have a testimony as well.

 

I am doing great. I am have a lot of fun teachingSchwester Kremir. This week we were able to go over the commandments, fasting being one of them. As we went over fasting  she got super excited. Apparently she loves to fast. I have never gotten that reaction before while teaching, it was funny. She is so sweet. I just love her. It has been a great opportunity to teach her and watch her faith be strengthened.

 

Anike will be baptised this Sunday. She is doing great. Her father got up yesterday and bore his testimony of family scripture study and prayer. It was been a wonderful experience being able to teach the family and help them get stronger in the gospel in preparation for the baptism of of their daughter. The bast part is that the drive to be better is coming from within. We are just able to watch it.

Recently I found out that Erick, that man that Sister Szvoboda and I were able to teach inEisenhüttenstadt as gone inactive. Mom I am starting to get just a little taste of what it feels like for a mother when her children leave this Gospel. The missionaries and branch members were doing their best to bring him back, but he ended up moving.....LOST.......BUT NOT. He now lives here in the Marzahn ward boundaries....and so do I. After lots of knocking on doors, and talking with a lot of people. We now know where he lives. Thanks mom on teaching me the art of tracking people down. We went to visit him yesterday, but he was not at home. Through out this process I am learning that God does not loss track of his lost sheep. It has been a testimony to me that every baptism is important, and God knows what He is doing with the placement of his missionaries. It is a slim chance I would just happen to be serving in the area that Erick moved into with out God in charge.

 

Also I am going to attach a story sister Kriser is working on right now. The story is about coming to the light. And how sometimes as we come unto Christ, his brightness, goodness, and light will Begin to show our weaknesses and areas that we need to work on. I have told many missionaries this story. I know it is helped me, and I hope it helps you.

Often as we come closer to Christ, we see our weaknesses and sins more clearly.. Sometimes we start to feel like we are doing all we can, but not improving at all. There is a story I once heard that illustrates this point, but that shows the progress that we are making in this process.

Coming closer to Christ is like walking into a completely dark room with a bright light which is Christ over on the other side of the room. We are drawn to this light (Christ), and the warmth and happiness that He sends out, so we start to walk towards Him. As we get a little closer, we look down see that we have stains and dirt all over our clothes. We quickly start to scrub out the stains, and brush off the dirt. Once we are satisfied that we are clean, we again start moving towards Christ, excited to come into His presence. After only a few steps into the light, we look down again, and with the increased light we see more clearly that we still have stains and dirt all over us. We again scrub out the stains and brush off the dirt. When we are satisfied we again move forward, closer to Christ. Again, after only a few steps further into the light, we look down and see that we missed a lot of stains and dirt and are still filthy. At this point it is easy to get discouraged and want to turn back. Back in the darkness, where don't see our weaknesses as clearly, and where it is easy to tell ourselves that we are clean enough.. yet the light and warmth from Christ draws us in, so after cleaning up one more time we move forward again closer to Christ. Finally we reach him, and looking down are again sad and ashamed at how filthy we are.. Yet Christ is smiling, and slowly begins to scrub out the stains and dirt from our clothes until we are perfectly clean. Then in this clean, warm and happy state we remain forever in his presence. Looking back, we shudder to think that we might have missed this perfect happiness, and remained content to wait in the darkness where it was easier.. but where it was dark and cold, and where we deceive ourselves into thinking that was where we belonged.

Often in life when we come closer to Christ, He shows us our weakness so that with his help, we can make changes, and improve. This process is hard, and sometimes it is hard to see the progress because every time we look down, we continue to see stains. Yet keep moving forward.. because we are improving and becoming more clean with every step. We can't do it alone, but he helps us, and gives us more light and help at every step. Then when we reach him, and humbly accept his help, he will make us completely clean. It is easier to stay in the dark and tell ourselves that we are clean and good enough, but we will never be happy in the dark.. we are children of light.

In Ether 12:27 it says "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them."

 

I love you all so very much and miss you. I am excited to go run out in the rain with you, hike pretty mountains again, and eat Mexican food.

 

love Sister Kimberly Bohne

 

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