Merry Christmas - German Style!!!

Howdy!
 

I hope you all had a wonderful week!

This week I would like to share a thought about Christmas time. I really enjoyed what Elder D. Todd Christofferson said. He said, "With all of that to come, though, I think it's appropriate this time of year to just think about that baby in the manger. Don't be too overwhelmed or occupied with what is to come; just think about that little baby. Take a quiet, peaceful moment to ponder the beginning of His life -- the culmination of heavenly prophecy but the earthly beginning for Him. Take time to relax, be at peace, and see this little child in your mind. Do not be too concerned or overwhelmed with what is coming in His life or in yours. Instead, take a peaceful moment to contemplate perhaps the most serene moment in the history of the world -- when all of heaven rejoiced with the message 'Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace, good will toward men'"

This quote made me think a lot during this Christmas season about our Savior. Most people complain about how this time of year is always so crazy and filled with traveling, gifts, visiting family and loud Christmas music. But, it is up to us personally if we are willing to take these few moments to really think about our Savior lying in the manger.

I am really grateful for what my Savior has done for me. I am grateful for the most wonderful gift anyone could have ever given us. "For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten son." I am grateful for him, I love him and I am happy to be doing his work here in Germany. I love you all and I hope that you have a very peaceful Christmas this year. Take time out of this week to really think about why we celebrate this time of year.

Merry Christmas!

Sister Reed 

 

Bremen!!! New place in an old German town!

Dec 14 at 9:55 AM

My bad... I didn’t leave very much time to write my weekly email this week. Sorry! But I did want to share a few things with ya’ll.

This week I moved into the city of Bremen with the lovely Sister Garcia. I am so excited to serve with her again. We spent most of our time this week running around and preparing ourselves for this transfer.

This city is big and beautiful and very ready for the Christmas season. Sister Garcia and I participated in a street display this week with some of the members in the ward. It was fun to get to know the people here. The people on this side of the country are way different than where I was before. I love that so much culture can be compacted into such a small country.

Sunday at church was really awesome, but a little overwhelming. This is a very multicultural ward. The languages spoken range from English to Spanish to German and even to Parisian... ha ha! It was really awesome and I have to pay really good attention because I have to translate the meeting into English and Sister Garcia translated the meeting into Spanish.

I am grateful for the many people, cultures and experiences that I have on the mission. I hope you all have a wonderful fourth advent this weekend!

Love you!!!

Sister Reed

Baptism!!!

Me and Rene at his baptism!

Rene's baptism - His best friends on the left

This week was wonderful!  Rene was baptized and it was so amazing!  He is so happy and we loved sharing with him that special day.  He had his friends there and the so many members came that I had to stand!  I am so happy for him.

The Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market) opened and it is so beautiful.  I found out that I am going to be transferred for the last 6 weeks of my mission to a town called Bremem.  I pretty much don’t know anything about it but I guess the Lord needs me there.  My companion is the same Sister that I trained the first part of my mission so I am happy to see her again.

I have so many mixed emotions about leaving Leipzig; this city has taught me so much.

Sorry that I don’t have very much time to write, but I will send pictures….

I love you all and hope that you have a really awesome week!

Sister Reed

"A Savior is Born"

Mosiah 2:17

 

"And behold, I tell you these things that ye may learn wisdom, that ye may learn that when ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God."

 

This week, Sister Jacklin, Elder Johnston, Elder Redding and I had many opportunities to serve. The Todd family, who I love so dearly, moved back to America. This week we stayed at the house and tried to repaint it for an inspection. Needless to say, we were there the whole week :) One of the best ways that we can feel and understand Gods love for us is through service. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf once said, "Often, the answer to our prayer does not come while we're on our knees but while we're on our feet serving the Lord and serving those around us."

This week was a good week of strength and growth for me. I really learned more about who I am and who I want to become. Who knew that painting could really help you think more clearly. :) haha! Just kidding. Our Heavenly Father really does want to speak with us, the more we try to become like him and come closer to him, the more we will begin to understand our purpose in life. 

On Wednesday, we also had the opportunity to travel to Berlin this week for a meeting with our mission president. One of my favorite parts of being there was seeing the new movie that the church has put out. It is called "A Savior is Born". This video is special because children tell the Christmas story. I think it is so powerful and I would love it if ya’ll would watch it. Tell me what you think about it. What is something different you would like to do this year to remember our Savior?

 

https://www.mormon.org/christmas

I love you all and I hope that you have a lovely week! Sister Reed