Friday, November 10, 2017
"Happiness is not something you postpone for the future; it is something you design for the present."
Jim Rohn
Friday, November 3, 2017
"Come unto Me and rest;
Lay down, thou weary one, lay down
Thy head upon My breast."
I came to Jesus as I was,
Weary, and worn, and sad;
I found in Him a resting place,
And He has made me glad.
"Behold, I freely give
The living water; thirsty one,
Stoop down and drink, and live."
I came to Jesus , and I drank
Of that life-giving stream;
My thirst was quenched, my soul revived,
And now I live in Him.
"I am this dark world's Light;
Look unto Me, thy morn shall rise,
And all thy day be bright."
I looked to Jesus, and I found
In Him my Star, my Sun,
And in that Light of life I'll walk,
Till traveling days are done.
—John B. Dykes
Saturday, October 28, 2017
Friday, October 20, 2017
Thursday, October 12, 2017
Tuesday, October 3, 2017
I am STILL proud to be an American
Friday, September 29, 2017
EVERYTHING is different
Monday, August 26, 2013
222 Hours! Not that I am counting!
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Monday, August 19, 2013
16 Days
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Monday, August 12, 2013
The USA is young!
Marzahn is doing so good. After President Kosak split our Training Program in half, we have had a lot more time to be developing those that we are working with in Marzahn. It is great because I am able to feel like a normal missionary again. Working hard, talking to people on the street. Watching peoples light up when you tell them that there is a God. All stuff that we were unable to do as much of as I normally would like because of all the traveling we were doing last transfer. It feels so good, to be once again Finding, teaching, baptizing, and keeping, in Marzahn!
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Monday, July 29, 2013
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Monday, July 22, 2013
Week of MIRACLES
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Monday, July 15, 2013
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.
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Monday, July 8, 2013
Coming to the light
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."
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Wednesday, June 26, 2013
If you could ask God three questions?
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Monday, June 17, 2013
Re: Stone Fam Reunion/ Jesse's 24th Bd. June 17, 2013
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Monday, June 10, 2013
Praying over a rat two weeks I really did feel like you mom. Jenny did not want to leave her apartment in case it died. I told her the story of me taking Roadrash to school. She just loved it.
I am in the process if trying to figure out what I want to do after the mission. It is something that President Kosak has asked me to do, and something I feel is good council. Everyone has fear about coming home from their mission. Missionaries have busy, purpose filled lives here in the field. It makes since that I need to have a plan for when I get home so I don't just back into my old, not so productive life. Have you had a chance and looking into the schooling at all. I have been looking into some different Recreation Therapy jobs, and have started the application process. I am focusing mainly on Anasazi right now. The training starts on September 13. 10days after I get home. I know it does not give me a lot of time in SLC but I am not sure if I am going to be able to do something like this every again in life. It for sure is not the most family friendly job if that is the direction life takes. But I only want to work there till January so that I can get back to school.
One of our new investigators this week is a lady names Fr Karmen Kremir. She is a friend of the Schröders our ward mission leader. We have been working on getting a joint teach with her the last 7 weeks. Yesterday we were finally able to meet. It was such a great lesson! We taught the plan of Salvation and were able to have Brother and Sister Schroder give their testimonies on baptism. We have a return appointment this Friday,
Three men are transporting stones. As a passer talks to them he asks the first construction worker; "What are you doing?" "I carry stones!", growls he and doesn't look at him. "What do you do?", the wanderer asks the second worker. Sighing, he answers, "I have to earn money for the food of my family!" Finally the third worker is asked, "And what are you doing here?" He looks up to the asker, then to the building and says quietly, "I am working to build a hospital!"
It does not really matter what we do as long as we know why we are doing it. This week don't just go through your day, find a higher purpose and let me know how it changes your week. When making a decision know why you want to do it and the vision you will fulfil by going through with it.
This is something that I have been really trying to do lately. Developing a vision, creating a plan, and diligently following through. I am not the best at it yet, but hopefully I am getting better. I know as I have been attempting to develop a vision of what I want it is easier to do all the MUST to get there.
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Monday, June 3, 2013
Life is great in Germany
We first met Jenny when she walked into the Marzahn ward building one Sunday for sacrament. Her mother had been baptised a little more then a year ago and from that time on Jenny had been interested in the Church. She had met with a few missionaries as they were teaching her mother but had not yet decided to meet by herself. It just so happened to be that this Sunday was Ward Conference. The Stake President had come to talk about missionary work. He told a story about when he was on a mission he felt spiritually prompted to invite a man who was attending a Baptismal service to be baptised later that night after a few hours of meeting with the missionaries. The man accepted and later that evening entered the waters of baptism. Well being missionaries we know we were not at a baptismal service but we thought that ward conference could be a good substitute. Right after the closing prayer we walked over to Jenny. With no knowledge of her past history we followed what could have been a spiritual impression and and gave her the same offer the Stake President had done on his mission. To every ones surprise (besides ours;) she accepted the invitation to baptism. Bishop Bredlow came up and Jenny then tried for the next 30 minutes to get the approval to be baptised. Stating that she felt that she was ready. In accordance with the wishes of the Bishop the baptism was pushed back for a few weeks so that she could first get to know the ward. The next 5 weeks Jenny spent in the Scriptures, at every church activity, and many nights of sharing her testimony with friends and us, the missionaries blessed to be able to grow beside her. Yesterday the 2nd of June 2013 Jenny Herlitz entered the waters of baptism after waiting for over month from the day that she decided she wanted to follow the example of Jesus Christ.
How true. We will never come close to our full potential without Christ. So this week lets do all we can to build our relationship with Him. Without him, we really are nothing. There is nothing more important that we could give our time and energy too. I love you all, and hope it is a great week!
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Baptism of Jenny Herlitz
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Monday, May 20, 2013
That is so cool that there are so many good young men leaving for missions from our ward. Those 12 apostles are going to change every mission they are in.
It sounds like the heavens are at work on the Brown family! They have been on my mind my whole entire mission. It makes me so happy to see they are making progress.
However, no matter how great splits are, coming back home to Marzahn Otto-Nagel 13 with Sister Kriser is the best! It is so much fun working with her. She daily teaches me about endurance, diligence, and fun. Do you know that saying; ''Stop and smell the roses.'' Sister Kriser takes that latterly. Everywhere we go she is stopping on the side of the road and smelling all the flowers that are now blooming. Just the other day as we were doing some door to door around our church we both bent down to smell this beautiful yellow flower. As we continued walking I look over and see this bright yellow spot on the tip of her nose.I started laughing and before I could say anything she just started laughing and pointing at my nose...morel of the story I don't think I am a Brown nosier anymore rather a yellow nosier.
Love you lots.
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