(This blog is managed by Ryan's parent's. Please leave comments and we will forward them to him.)

Monday, July 15, 2013

Well, I survived!

Well, I don't know what else to really add to that. Same pattern as always; everything falls out. But last week we got a call from Tenzin, and he needed a blessing, on Monday right after we finished with e-mails, he was having horrible migraines, and having just been taught about the Priesthood authority by the sisters, called us and wanted us to come. We arrived and talked with him for a bit. He wanted to know what he needed to do to be healed, we read 3 Nephi 17 with him with an emphasis on verse 8, having the faith to be healed. It was a good conversation and gave him a blessing. Having had them for an extended period of time, he also went to the doctor, and with the blessing and the visit, his migraines were gone the next day. :-) That was neat. It was cool that he called us though, no one told him too, he just did it on his own accord. :-) 

After that we went to the Deutsches Museum. One of the Largest Natural History Science Museusm in the World! Sadly we didn't end up with too much time, and I am quite sad, because it closed a lot earlier than we supposed and I didn't get to see the Chemistry section, or the Amateur Radio section. Darn it! Maybe God knew that it would be to much of a distraction for me.... :-P. 

Anyway, Tuesday was Zone Training, which was really awesome and uplifting as always, but lasted way long. That was a hard day for Elder Curtis more than me. He forgot his wallet at home and got a fine of 40 Euro for riding the train with out a ticket (he didn't realize until the controllers (who are usually in disguise) controlled our U-bahn car). 

Going back a bit to leaving the apartment, Elder Thomas after getting to the 2nd floor of the building realized that he left his wallet in the apartment and asked for the keys to go get it, Elder Curtis was closest and gave him ours so that he could run up real quick and get it (Ironic right?) but he forgot to get them back... And we needed them to complete a service project. So we had some unplanned contacting, and I had to pay for tickets so that Elder Curtis and I could actually do that.:-) That was great. 

Wednesday everything fell out. But we still found some people, so that was good. Like 4 or 5! :-) But all for Munich 1 and 3 :-)

Thursday, Elder Curtis and I leave the apartment at 10 (per recommendation of other missionaries to break up studies so that you can focus better) we get to Sendlingertor, to switch U-bahns and Elder Curtis realizes that he left his wallet in the apartment, again. So we turn around and head back, and he feels that we should get off one stop before ours and walk back. So we do and start talking to people. Nothing. I was feeling a bit down, and the spirit prompted me that I needed to think more positively and be happier. So I tried, and because God never tells us to do something without helping us, I was able to be happy, and feel better, despite the hard crowd. 

Then after getting turned down who knows how many more times, I saw a couple walking down toward us, and got a way good feeling, so I went up and talked to them. THEY ARE AWESOME! They were so happy to see us and talk with us, they love God and hearing his word and really want to come to church. She had heard of our church before, and only heard about the law of Chastity which we lives. She likes that a lot, and talked about how important it was to have one person to spend your life with. And then I asked her, " What would it mean to you, if you could find out for yourself that marriage isn't just for this life, but for all eternity?" She got REALLY EXCITED. Her husband was also really interested. I was so happy! We got her information and gave it to Munich 1  she is german speaking). Then still on the way back to the apartment we found them 2 more potentials for Munich 1, and successfully got a hold of an old investigator. :-) 

Later that night we went to the Bishops house and had Dinner with him. That was neat, we were supposed to finally meet with Charles again (its been 6 weeks since we have had an appointment which didn't fall out with him) but, he couldn't make it again, work is too strenuous. He could only meet after 9 pm. I am going to call President Miles and see if we can get special permission to teach him at that time. We will see what happens. 

But then we went by and gave a book of Mormon to a way cool potential that was given to us by the Zone Leaders! That was cool. He was home, I found his house (which is a miracle in and of it self since he misspelled the name of the street really bad...) and we talked to him and his wife briefly. :-) 

Friday was excellent and really hard. We felt that we should go buy on Osuma, a man with whom we were supposed to meet earlier in the week but it fell out. So we did, and another woman was there who we had talked to last time. There were 2 families that lived there. Osuma wasn't there but Elizabeth was. She is from Ghana, and sadly her English isn't the greatest. And she isn't the most literate in Twi either. It is her native tongue, but written Twi is slightly different from spoken Twi apparently. Anyway, long story short, we used a 16 year old boy ( I forgot his name) to help us translate, but he is Muslim, so I don't know how much she understood. But she has a lot of interest, and we have members in the ward from Ghana who speak Twi. We will bring them with us this week. So we had an un expected lesson. Excellent. 

After this lesson, I was starting to feel a bit sick, however I ignored it and thought it would pass. We went home to eat lunch and have language study, and do weekly planning. I get home, and feel a bit worse, I have no appetite really, but I try to just have some toast. My stomach felt really upset, so I took medicine. I won't go into to many details, but none of that stayed down. I couldn't even drink water.  I tried to do weekly planning anyway, but I couldn't focus, and felt fuzzy. Which came from being dehydrated. But I couldn't drink any water, my stomach wouldn't allow me to. I don't want to scare anyone, so I won't give to many more details, but needless to say I got worse and worse until I myself was quite nervous. 

My whole body ached, and I had nearly no strength at all. Sister Miles was explained all my symptoms, and was pretty sure it was just a 24 flu. So she recommended that I just rest and try to drink some water. It is hot, and Europe has no internal cooling. I was dehydrated and I couldn't do anything against it, except sleep and wait a few hours till I could hopefully start drinking water again. Which is what I did. I spent most of Friday sleeping, and then drinking slowly. At the end of the evening. I was able to drink a bit but had no desire to eat at all. I asked for a blessing that night from Elder Curtis, Thomas and Mochon. Elder Curtis anointed and Elder Thomas sealed, and gave a wonderful blessings which went passed my physical needs into some things which I was concerned and praying about. That was wonderful, and a reminder that God really hears and answers my prayers. :-)

I slept alright that night, and the next day my stomach was at ease. I didn't eat anything really that day, but I was able to drink a lot, to overcome my dehydration. By request of Sister Miles and the other Elders we stayed home that day (not exactly something that I wanted to do). I was still tired and weak, and apparently a bit pale. So we stayed home and  I decided if I was going to stay home, I was going to get as much rest as possible so that I could get back to work ASAP. So I did, I spent that day and slept. at around 5 that evening I had all my strength back, and was able to go to visit an investigator, who we had made an appointment with (which ended up falling out... go figure :-)). But I was able to make a lot of phone calls and this coming week is looking really good!! I have long since completely recovered and everything is alright. :-) Sorry if I caused any one any worries, I am fine now! 

Something really Ironic because I was sick, we had to cancel the appointments on Friday night, the only ones which would have probably actually happened. :-P God surely does have a sense of humor... and I am still trying to learn patience :-) 

But over all things are great! The church is still true! We are alive and doing His work. :-) I am still incredibly grateful to be here. And look forward to another great week ahead! I know that this truly is the Church of God! If it wasn't I would have come home a LONG TIME AGO ;-). I know that when God loves us and cares for each and every one of us. I am grateful for the Priesthood power, that I have the chance give blessings, and am grateful for the times when I need to receive blessings. I think this is probably the first blessing I had, since I was set 18 months ago. I guess God just needed to humble me enough to get one, because I really needed his help, and that blessing (like I mentioned before) blessed me with the things that I have been asking and hoping for. :-) God hears each and everyone of us. DON'T FORGET IT! :-)

I wish you all a great week!

love,

Elder Ryan K. Christensen

No comments: