Frankfurt

Well I am glad to hear that everyone's week went by really fast and it was a good week. I really enjoyed this week as well and we got a lot of things done. Things are changing here in Frankfurt and so it is cool to be part of. This week was a blur. Then I look back on my journal and then see everything we did is pretty crazy. This week was full of different things. I had my first Zone Training this week and was able to lead it. Everything went really good. Another interesting thing is that we as a mission are only speaking German in the mission to everyone. It is a new rule from 9:00am to 9:00pm to only speak German because not enough missionaries are speaking well enough. So that has been super cool. It was a great week :)

We just hopped train to train talking with people. I absolutely love talking to people and I really, really enjoyed it. I talked to a lot of people. I can remember one specific one really well. I was sitting there and we were headed back towards our apartment. This guy came and sat down right next to me. The very first question out of my mouth was, “Is there an Antique store anywhere”? I have no idea why I asked that but I did. I was able to have a full on conversation with this guy. He wasn't very faithful he said and that he had his own religion. I knew there was something deeper down, though I just didn't know what. As we were talking, I was bearing testimony of the Book of Mormon and then he started to explain what his situation was. He is 60 years old and grew up in a catholic church but he did not like the way the Priest or teacher treated everyone. He didn't believe that God would treat his people like that. So he left the church. Another reason he said is that he has HIV. That is another reason why he is too scared to go out. He got it with his 2^nd girlfriend and so that is why he lives alone. Just these 2 things were holding him back. I love being a missionary because the questions I was asking were straight from the Lord working through me. I could see that so clearly. I bore strong testimony. He didn't take a Book of Mormon but I remember something he said that is important for all of us to learn. He said, “I would love to take the book, but if I take the book, that means I would have to promise you I would read it. But Elder Emery, I don't promise anything I am not going to do”. He knew he needed the book. But I like the honesty he had with me. He said that he already threw his life away. I bore strong testimony, trying everything I could do to get this book in his hands. I ended up giving him a card and told him to call me when he had questions. That was super cool.

As we got off, we realized we had passed the stop we were supposed to get off at. We hopped back on and I sat next to this Filipino girl. She was from Manila and so I contacted her as well. She is here working as a programmer and she will be here for 6 months. I told her that we have 2 sister missionaries that would love to talk to her. She agreed and we gave out the numbers to each other. I love working. I love being a missionary and being able to work in Jesus Christ's name. Being a representative and being able to see things from a different angle. Seeing the world from a totally different view. It is so humbling and I love it. I love being a missionary. This work is true and there are people out there waiting to hear it. I have never loved contacting this much on my mission and it is one of my favorite things now. I love this work.

                

What was one of the coolest things on my mission so far was tonight. I wrote about Wednesday how we went contacting and got a few potentials. Well one of those potentials is a Filipino named Lyca. I got on the Street Train and I was deciding where to sit when I sat right across from Lyca on the train. I didn't know what to say so I asked her if she was a student. She couldn't speak German but English. She explained to me how she has been working here for 6 months and she only has one more left until she goes back to the Philippines. We talked and I got her contact information and we set up an appt for tonight at 6:00 pm. We were waiting at the church and we had the International sisters there and everything. And she shows up. But what was extra cool was to see how ready she is. She said she has been praying and praying for something to change in her life. That she wanted to really find answers to her questions. But she said about 5 times,  “I am so happy and thankful that Emery found me”. It was such a sweet feeling.             

                                                                    

This week was awesome. I just wanted to say thank you for everyone who has read my blog and has sent me letters. I love learning and hearing everyone's testimony that send letters! Sorry I can't write back but I really keep you all in my prayers and thank you for sending those.  Missionary work is honestly awesome and I love it so much. It is really hard but it is totally worth it. Just seeing people change and also me change as well is super cool. It is different being in Frankfurt because there are a lot of busy things to do in the office but we are getting this area back up. I love you guys. Have a great week.

Good Week

Hey family, what is up?! I am so glad that I heard from each one of you this week. I think that was a record for me receiving emails and that makes me super Happy :) I am doing super, super good. Just enjoying the time here in Frankfurt. The weeks go by faster and faster, I swear. It just doesn’t stop.

First off, I just want to say that I was super pumped that I got to talk to you last Sunday. That was super cool and it made me have a great week. I printed out the picture I took of you all and I have it in my book.

We had a really good District meeting last week. I gave a lesson on the talk from Tad R. Callister, “Becoming a Consecrated Missionary”. I let Tad do the work and the Spirit of the Lord was there in this meeting. For future generations, I want you to know that when I say I am going to do something, you better believe I am going to get it done. There were a lot of good things said by all the missionaries. It is amazing how the spirit can teach us when we let it. Elder Nilson gave a lesson also about, “How we can become the best missionaries”. It was also inspired and many good words were said. Later we met with a family. We talked a lot about how we can share Charity and what it means to have it. I believe that Charity is something we can't have immediately but is something we can have over time as we practice it. I believe Charity is listening to the words of the Holy Ghost and following them in a good way, expecting nothing in return. We had such a solid conversation. That family is also one who I will miss and we will be friends for a while. It is amazing how on a mission you can build such close relationships with people and they trust and care about you, and it’s so hard when you are transferred to work in another area. There is another man that has had a huge impact on myself and who I am. He is such an inspired man in every single way possible. He is one of the most successful men and honestly gives credit to living Gospel Principles and giving everything to the Lord. Things he has said are really solid and the lessons I have learned as a person are huge. Now it's time for me to take even that extra step and force myself to rely on the Lord more then ever. I am ready and I am excited for this new task I have to go to Frankfurt.

We all have trials and the Lord really “Magnifies our weaknesses” Ether 12:27. We just need to continue to follow the right path and be able to fight through those weaknesses and get the help we need to overcome them. Everyone is different. Doesn't mean you are a bad person but just everyone has his or her individual trials.

 This week I was studying a lot about prayer. I read about how my Grandpa Dan was a man of prayer. That he would pray wherever he was. I have been learning a lot about my Grandpa and the type of man he was and it is pretty incredible some of the things he did.

I am doing really well. Today we played Volleyball and Basketball and I am not good at either. Ha, it was a little frustrating but it is all okay. Like everyone says, just trust in the Lord and it will all come back. I am glad to hear that you all had a great week.

Elder Emery

Short Letter

Wow, it was so good hearing from you guys and seeing all your faces. I am so thankful for such a wonderful family. I hope you enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed it. I love you guys so very much and I know it is a blessing for all of us during this time to have the Gospel. I am super happy and doing really well.

I will send more emails next week. This week was just a hectic week. It is an adjustment (with the recent transfer and new area) but I am getting to know new people and can't wait to see what challenges lie ahead of me. I know through our challenges and trials that is how we grow. I love this work and this Gospel. I am doing good. I will update you more next week. I hope you all have a fantastic week. I love you guys so very much and I am grateful to have such an amazing family.

Elder Emery

Zone Leader

So good to hear that everyone had such a good week. Can you all believe it that a year ago I left on my mission. It is a little crazy but I think of the progress that I have made on my mission and the things I have learned I would never take it back.

I just got transferred to Frankfurt as a Zone Leader. My new companion is Elder Baker. Our Zone is the biggest zone in the mission with 35 missionaries or something. It will be something new for me but I am excited for this new challenge. There are 2 wards in Frankfurt. The International Ward which is all the people who speak English and whatever other Language. And there is also a German Ward. I believe Elder Baker and I are assigned to the German ward but we work with both.

I loved serving here in Darmstadt. It was super sad saying goodbye to members. But I loved my time here in Darmstadt and the things I learned. I served here for just about 6 months. I will miss Darmstadt for sure. But the Lord needs me to do something else and so I will do it. I have learned when we put God first in everything we really understand where all our blessings and trials come from. I am grateful for the trials I have had on my mission. They have made me become the person I am today and I am forever grateful.

One of the best parts about serving here in Darmstadt is working with all the Young Single Adults and it’s been super cool and humbling working with them. Over the time here the Lord has blessed us to help these young men. Three of them are going on missions and get to serve the Lord. Others are a lot more confident and overall the Lord has blessed these Young Single Adults because they act in doctrine, they live the Gospel Principles in an ever so crazy world. Why can't we all just notice the change in people in the Gospel and remember? Remember what it can do and what it has done. That is the biggest thing when we are covered with doubt is just remembering what the Lord has given us and those spiritual experiences we have had. “And I exhort you to remember these things.” Moroni 10:27. We as Latter day saints remember that God has given us so much. He gives so much in our lives, so many blessings, so much love. I beg of everyone in the world to come to our Savior, learn of his teachings. If you haven't had a spiritual experience before I beg of you to read and ponder and pray. If need so, repent, the Lord is always there. Humble ourselves enough to be able to receive that answer. This gospel is a gospel of love. I love it with my heart. Do what is necessary to come unto him. Study daily and ponder the Words of Christ so that you can have those spiritual experiences. He sent his only Begotten Son to rescue me and also you from the fiery darts of the adversary. Do everything you can do to come back. I love being a missionary and I know the truth and power of this work.

Elder Emery