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 :) 

Freiberg Temple

Even though the temple was closed today, we went and walked the grounds.  Even sitting outside the temple brought me so much peace.  I've come to realize that even though at times this mission is not easy, there are small beautiful things in life that we can really cherish, and the temple is one of them.

 

One Last Door!

Our broken apartment door.....

     I am pretty sure every missionary has a story of the "last door". In mine and Sister Barlow's case, it was on Tuesday night. We had already spent most of the day going from door to door trying to talk to people about Jesus Christ. After a few hours, we decided to go return some church books to our branch president. They told us that they were really grateful for the work that we had been doing in the area and that they are grateful that we are working in the ward with them. When we left, we both felt like we could just do one more street somewhere. So we pulled out our Atlas in our car and picked a random street to go down. We ended up talking to one man that has had contact with Jehovah’s Witness before. He loves talking about Christ and told us that he would love to have us come back and talk. We were excited. At this point it was about time to go back home and eat dinner before we planned for the next day, but we decided to do one more door. At this last door, a young mother answered holding her five month old baby girl. We started to talk with her about eternal families and how important the family is. She told us that she isn't really religious, but she hopes that she can live with her family after this life. She told us that we can come back this week and share more with her. There really is a power in this message. And that is why I am here to share it :) 

     Wednesday, all of the Sisters met up in Berlin to have a "Sisters Conference" with President Kosak. It was really awesome and really spiritually uplifting. It was kind of like a "sisters you are awesome,” it was a go get em… kind of meeting! One of my favorite things I learned there is that if we really take away our fear, jealousy and pride and replace it with humility; we will be able to see God. Not see Him like most people think. But really get to know and see Him through the power of the Holy Ghost. It is like what Elder Bednar (a member of the 12 apostles) said in September. "You will receive no greater witness than a witness through the spirit. A witness that is stronger than any other sense." I know that that is true. 

     No week is perfect though. Sister Barlow and I were ready to finish off this week right by going to church early on Sunday. We were going to go greet all of the members before we went to sacrament. But, when we were trying to unlock the door, the key wouldn't move. After much turning and twisting, we came to realize that the door wouldn't budge and we were officially locked in the apartment. After a few phone calls, a few members of our ward showed up to help. They could not get it to move either. So Sister Barlow and I calmly did our studies while ward mission leader panicked that the sisters were stuck in their apartment. About 2 hours later a locksmith came and let us out. This was a huge miracle because in Germany, everything is closed on Sunday. Luckily, we live in a small enough town that everyone knows each other, so we were able to contact the locksmith. He was asleep but was happy to help. 

     This week was crazy but filled with many miracles and adventures. I hope you all can see the little blessings that occur in your lives every day. I know they really do happen :) 

I hope you have a lovely week! 

Sister Reed 

 
Mom’s note:

I asked Summer to tell me about what she touched her the most this last week at Sisters conference in Berlin, here is her response:

I think just knowing that we are daughters of Heavenly father and knowing that he really does know and care about each one of us. We also talked about trials, and not being afraid. Feelings of fear when trying to do something good are not from God. We also learned a lot about when we really get rid of our fears and set aside our jealousy and replace it with humility. Then we will truly get to see God and there was so much more. It was really awesome.

 

Pictures!!!

My District in Hohenstein

 

This is a train station in Leipzig

 More pictures of our little town in Hohenstein!