Lessons we learn from each area and each companion

Liebe Familie, Freunde, und Fremde Menschen :)

Sister Harman and Sister Clark

This week, just like every week, was a blur. I sat here for like 5 minutes just staring at the screen trying to remember what happened this week so that I could send a decent report! haha Never fear! That's one of the many reasons God gave missionaries planners.  We had our exchanges this week with the Sister training leaders.  I had the privilege to work with....

Sister Woods and Sister Harman

SISTER CLARK! That's right. Sister Clark. We were companions in Wien for two blessed transfers and it was so fun to work with her again - this time in Linz! Something that really hit us both as we went throughout our time together - is how inspired Mission Presidents, in our case President Miles, are with who and where people work.  The lessons that we learn from each area and each different companion are so unique and really do help us make all sorts of progress in our lives.  I've been able to see God's hand really guiding my mission along as I've learned to laugh (Sister Woods), to be kind (Sister Clark), to find simple joys (Sister Brinck), to love everyone (Sister Powell), and to be happy (Sister Pentz). I've learned so much more from all of the lovely sisters I've worked with but, really that is just a small example of how INCREDIBLE they are and how MARVELOUS it is to be a servant of the Lord.  

Sister Harman and Sister Powell

Sister Brink and Sister Harman

Sister Harman and Sister Pentz 

We were able to teach quite a few lessons with week. One with a new investigator, B. He's not from Austria but, has been searching for God for quite some time. He's visited lots of churches, read lots of books, prayed loads, but, still hasn't found what he feels is right for him.  Insert friend, M, M is a newly baptized member of the church and just wants to share his love and faith with everyone, especially his dear friends. M invited B to come to the church for a tour. As we showed the two of them the church, it was a little tricky! B doesn't speak German or English so M was translating the entire time. Part way through our lesson, Sister Anreither (a member who we asked to help us teach the lesson) pulled out her ipad and showed the Because of Him video.  Even though B couldn't understand the text, he could feel the Spirit as we watched this beautiful video.  It was a great time for me to see that we don't the right language to help someone come closer to God. The most important thing that we can bring to a lesson or to a conversation, is the Spirit.  When we teach, talk, testify by the Spirit, that's when anyone and everyone can understand!  

Check it out! Because of Him

Hmm. I love you all. Loads and loads and loads. And shout out to Katie and Aubree! Congratulations on graduating! (I loved both of our graduation announcements! You both look beautiful!)

Sister Harman

Challenge! Pray for an opportunity to help someone

Liebe Familie!

WHAT THE WHAT! Yep. May is already half over!  Random fact: Elder Hancey was my district leader 1 year ago.. and he's my district leader now.  I've started reading my journal entries from last year at this time and it's been so interesting to see how overwhelmed I felt then.  There's so much for a young missionary to learn and, especially, when we're learning a new language. I just want to hug the Sister Harman from last year and tell her that German isn't that hard and that she'd learn everything she would need to.  Luckily, I get to work with a 19 year old Sister who's fresh and make sure she feels ready and pumped for the task at hand.

This week included freak rain storms, (drowned rat - hair styles, soaked clothes, and lots and lots of laughter)  teaching some great lessons (we get to use an Elder from our mission via Skype as a translator!), and making our way around Linz (I think we only got lost three or four... maybe six or seven times haha).  All in all, I'm loving it and I'm just so grateful to be here serving the great people in Linz.

Cool Story!

We were getting off a straßenbahn, when I started talking to this young man who has getting off as well. He related about how he had just moved here to Linz and was looking for a Christian church to attend. We had to hop on a bus to make it to our appointment on time and so we were a little rushed. He didn't know his cell phone number because he just barely got an Austrian number the day before, and to make matters worse - his phone was dead. So he told us he'd call us and after he charged his phone and we parted ways, planning to meet on Sunday for church. I was a little disappointed but, thought we never know, maybe he'd actually call! That evening, an unknown number called and it was H! He asked again about where we would meet for church! (I love it when people REMEMBER!) He came to church and LOVED Sacrament meeting! I was getting a little nervous because I knew our Sunday School lesson was going to be about the Abrahamic Covenant (a little deeper than a first lesson!) But, surprise! He loved that too! He asked us right after Sunday school, when we could meet again to teach him more about the Book of Mormon and our church, and said he had a lot of questions from what he had learned!

And that's just one example of the crazy miracles that we see multiple times every single day. I think the greatest contributing factor to our VAST number of miracles... we pray for them.  We pray before we go outside, for the Lord to lead us to people, who need help, who are ready to accept the gospel.  After we say our prayers, we get out there and diligent work to actually find the people He has prepared for us! 

Challenge!  Pray for an opportunity to help someone and then email me with your results!

I love you all!
Sister Harman

Editor's note - No pictures this week.  If you happen to write to Sister Harman this week feel free to ask for some pictures.  ;)

Naaaa... Servus!

Liebe Familie,

Meine Gute! Thanks for the Skype call yesterday! It was wonderful to see all your beautiful faces and man. Ya'll looked great! haha

Skyping Sister Harman!  :) :)

Linz is AMAZING. It's a pretty big city (a lot bigger than Ludwigsburg) and so there's always people to talk to.  We've been having lots of fun trying to figure out where were headed and we've only gotten lost.. twice.. maybe three or four times. Nonetheless, it's been great. It's a little funny, everytime we get really lost - we end up having a really meaningful gospel discussion and so while we're lost.. we're really just exactly where we need to be.  I'm doing my best to get to know the area as quickly as possible. I know it's hard for Sister Pentz being so new and being expected to know so much but, if any pair can do it together, it's us!

Sister Pentz and Sister Harman 

Linz, Austria

Cool story!  Sister Pentz had just picked me up at the Salzburg trainstation and we were waiting on our Gleis for our train to take us to Linz.  She asked me a German question and we were Danglish it.  A young man from Ireland came up and asked us if we were the Mormon missionaries.  We replied that we were and he explained that some Elders (boy missionaries) had talked to him in Ireland on the street but, he was too busy at the time and told them so.  He felt a little guilty for being so harsh with them so when he saw us two, he knew this was in chance to really hear what we had to say.  (And he helped us lift up my ridiculously heavy bags on to our train). We ended up having a super gospel discussion on the train with him as well as a theology professor from England, who came and sat down by us.  We cleared up alot of rumors they had heard and really got into what made our church different. The Restoration. It was incredible.  We gave them Book of Mormons and it was great to see Sister Pentz get SO excited and bear her testimony of it's truthfulness.

Saying goodbye to Ludwigsburg and Sister Powell

In other news, I love being a missionary! Sister Pentz is great! And really tall! and I love you all!

Have a blessed week!

Sister Harman

I'M GETTING TRANSFERRED!‏

Liebe Familie!

So surprise, surprise! I'm getting the boot. Headed out to.... (drumroll please!) Linz, Austria!   I'll be working with Sister Pentz! She was born in Switzerland but, she's also from Colorado. She just finished up her first transfer. (5 blessed weeks out here in the field!) I'm becoming the Step-Mother! (I get to finish up training her) I've not met Sister Pentz yet, but, she's sure to be wonderful! 

Munich and Sttugart Zones

This past week was INSANE. We had mission tour, a finding day in Munich, amazing lessons, transfer calls, a baptism, and saying so many goodbyes (see you later's) to the amazing people here in Ludwigsburg. I haven't cried so much in... ever haha But, it was good!

Mission Tour with Elder Dyches was absolutely incredible. He served his mission here in Germany in what was then, the Munch Mission and ah! I loooved hearing his stories!  He taught us alot about what it means to be happy. And it just hit me again.. everyday we make a decision to be happy or sad. To smile or to frown. To give a compliment or say nothing. I want to always be the kind of person, who is a positive influence. Mom - this should sound familiar. When I was in 8th grade, I was going through a rough time. I had just dislocated my hip and was in lots of pain alll the time. Instead of dealing with it quietly, I grumbled, complained and was not a fun person to be around. My wonderful Mother, being the incredible woman she is, sat me down and gave me a loving, but stern talk on being positive.  At the end of our talk, she laughingly told me that 'It's in your blood! B+! Do you get it?!' I couldn't stop laughing and I've never forgotten the lesson (or my blood type!) haha We decide! We have control over  ourselves and have the opportunity to learn to manage ourselves a liiittle bit better everyday! 

Also, This Sunday is Mother's Day!  I want to do a shoutout to my Mom.  You are GLORIOUS. Seriously, I have absolutely no idea what I would have done without your helping influence in my life and I'm still so grateful to know that you are ALWAYS there for me! In a lesson this week with the Grimes family, we all got down on our knees and asked Schwester Grimes to say a prayer. A prayer asking God if baptism is something her children needed in their lives.  Right after she asked the Lord this question in prayer, she followed with Can you please give us a small sign to know what to do. RIGHT THEN, the phone rang and everyone looked up - shock and wonder on their faces. 'In  die Name Jesu Christi Amen!' S. Grimes said it so fast and we all just sat there looking around like.. did that just really happen?! Sometimes the Lord works in mysterious ways and sometimes, He's very blunt and clear. haha They came to the Baptism of Nele Hoffmann on Saturday and will set baptismal dates at the Sisters' appointment on Friday! I talked to the girls after the baptism, and they both just had tears in their eyes. They said they had receive their answer from God and knew now what they needed to do! And it all started by a Mother's Prayer. 

Basically, missions are the best. The happiest, most wonderful moments in the world, and also some of the saddest. Having to say goodbye to my German family here in Ludwigsburg was really really hard but, I know that the Lord knows what is needed of me and what these people need. They need a different Sister right now. Linz needs this crazy Sister right here! So that's what we'll be doing! Going where we need to be going, doing what we need to be doing.

I love you all and am excited to Skype you on Sunday!

Sister Harman

P.S. Mom.... you're the best!