Crescendo......

Crescendo..........
is a passage of music during which the volume gradually increases. Usually we start with one voice, joined by another one soon to symbolize that each one of us has to make his/her own decisions and that power lies in a companionship.  But there is more, there is the power of Crescendo of increasing every day and step by step to fulfill the purpose to help and to invite others to come unto Christ. At the end, the Mission family with more than 240 missionaries shows that we help each other, pray for each other, and are there for each other if needed.
Kindly forced by beloved missionaries, Sister Kosak and I were asked to start this time. Usually a Sister or an Elder begin... To feel the strength of unity is the goal. This movie is just a little glimpse of what we all experienced.


As Elder Neal A. Maxwell taught in General Conference 10-1985, "In case you hadn't noticed it, in the last days, discipleship is to be lived in crescendo", let us start today!

Hello Everyone!

 
This week was crazy! It was so busy yet so much fun! We were going to be out of town the whole second half of this week so we decided to put all of the appointments that we normally have in one week on Tuesday and Wednesday. But they all went really well. :)

 

Thursday, we drove up to Berlin before the big mission conference. I finally got to see the Berliner Dom and spent some time walking around the city! It was so big and city like compared to Hohenstein.

The meeting that we had in Berlin was all about iPads. The Berlin mission is the first mission in Europe to be receiving iPads. We learned all about how we need to be smart about using technology and how we can really use it to benefit us. I really learned a lot about self-mastery that I will use after my mission as well. Technology can be a wonderful tool of learning and growth, but it can also be a huge distraction.

This weekend, we also had stake conference. Präsident and Sister Kosak came to speak. They said so many wonderful things about the missionaries. But he also talked a lot about this generation and all of the things that we can accomplish. He talked about the strength that we have and the energy and passion that we put into the things that we love. But he brought up a really cool parable.

A bird doesn't sit on a branch trusting that it will not brake and fall, but trusting in its wings to fly.

We really need to trust ourselves to do the things that we know that we can do.

D&C 115: 5-6

"Verily I say unto you all, Arise and shine forth, that thy light might be a standard for the nations..."

Everyone is special and wonderful in their own way. I know that you all can do wonderful things but sometimes it takes letting our wings open and fly.

I love you all! I hope you have an awesome week!

Sister Reed

My original MTC District! Love these Missionaries

 

Fasting and Prayer....

 

“Let your hearts be full, drawn out in prayer unto him continually.”—Alma 34:27

 This week, we had the opportunity to fast. We spent 24 hours without food or water and really focused on the work and listening for promptings from the spirit. Sister Barlow and I this week decided that we were going to try something new. We decided to do something new called "Power Finding". Before we left for the day to go do some finding, we stopped by the house of a member and asked them to pray with us to help us find the people that were prepared and ready to hear the message that we have to share. Saturday was our day of miracles! After going to a member’s house to pray with them, we drove up north to a little village called Durrengerbisdorf. A young family ended up letting us in to talk. We discussed who God was and more about the Bible. It was really great. At the end, they told us that we could come back again. We continued knocking on doors throughout this little village. Everyone was so nice. Although some of them didn`t have any interest, they were all willing to talk with us and help us with our German :) Towards the end of the day, we met a man that was living alone and his wife was in a retirement home. He seemed really sad and lonely. We invited him to read in the Book of Mormon and maybe go read it to his wife. I hope that we can go back and visit him soon. My testimony in fasting and prayer has really been strengthened this week. I have really seen the influence of my savior and the spirit working through me this week. This is not my work but the work of the Lord and I am so humbled to be able to serve him.  

This week, we also came across this lady. She let us right in. She had a small little apartment with not much furniture, a few cats and a small TV set. She was so sweet and so humble. She loves having people come speak to her and read from her in the Bible because she can't read. She is letting us come back this week and wants to come to church. She told us that she loves God. Although her life has obviously not been easy, she was still happy and loving. She was an example to me that when we really humble ourselves like a child and are willing to open our hearts to what we know is right and true and open our ears to the small quiet promptings of the spirit, our Heavenly Father will really be there to guide us.

Sister Barlow and I had a really uplifting, hardworking beginning of the new transfer! I am so excited to see what happens this next week! I love you all! This week, I challenge all of you to make it the best week of this year. Do whatever you can to make it the best one! Work hard, talk with friends, listen to music, and eat good food. Enjoy life :) Our Heavenly Father has given us so many blessings in our lives.

Have a lovely week!

Sister Reed 

Pictures!
One is of the car outside of the small village we were in... there is nothing out there. And a traditional German dinner! Klöße, rot kohl, apfel schörle, and some meat.

 

Driving in the snow! ;)

I never drove in the snow until I came to Germany!

Easter Snow!!!

Easter Tree!

Easter Snow!!!!

It is still snowing here in Hohenstein-Ernsthal. I thought it would have ended by now. But as I speak it continues to fall from the sky.

But, on the bright side, this week we had the amazing opportunity to listen to General Conference. I learned so much. One of my favorite things that I learned was used in an analogy using music. The speaker talked about how we can all learn how to dance but we need to hear the music. He told us that when we are doing the things we should be, we will dance a beautiful dance. But even if we are dancing beautifully, sometimes it looks funny without music. That's where the spirit comes to play. The spirit is the music that we hear while we are dancing. I loved that analogy.

This week was Easter and Germans take their Easter break very seriously. So naturally, everyone was home :) Sister Barlow and I decided to go caroling with Easter songs about Christ. Many people said no. But the ones that said yes told us how much they enjoyed the message of the Messiah coming to take upon the sins of the world and to be resurrected so that we all have the blessed opportunity to return to live with him again. I love being a missionary and having the opportunity to serve the people here in Germany and share with them the message of Christ, repentance and love.

I heard a quote this week that I wanted to share with y'all. I am not exactly sure who said it but,

"I believe in Christ like I believe in the sun. Not because I can see it, but because I can see everything."

I know that through Christ we really can see everything. My mission has allowed me to really open my eyes to see what I can accomplish through faith, hope, charity and love. I love you all and I hope you have a lovely week. :)

Sister Reed

 

P.S. The Germans hang Easter eggs on trees :)