Just a quick shout out to Brother Slocum--Thanks for the letter! I just got it the other day. I can't lie...I love getting mail. Now I understand why missionaries always tell their friends to write them.
First off, I must say that I'm concerned with what is happening here in Switzerland...I have seen more mullets this past week that I think ever occured in the 80s. What is going on here?? Just because you live in Europe does not mean the mullet is cool. Meine gute....what is happening? I have seen so many different mullets...it's sick. Just don't do it. Remember Nancy Reagan, my friends: Just say no!
Ah, I'm glad I could get that off my chest. It's been bothering me all week.
Anyways...
Last week I said we were going to the Matterhorn today. We decided to push that back to next Monday so more people can come and decided instead to go to Luzern. Yeah....we woke up and it was POURING outside. However, we decided to still go and when we got to Zürich to pick up our train to Luzern, the elders there called and suggested we come another day since it was cloudy and you couldn't really see anything. Schade. That's okay. Now we're not in a rush for tonight. Sister Russon and I decided to challenge ourselves more and set up a committment with a family in our ward and did a "Set a Date." We challenged them to share the gospel with their friends and neighbors and have someone that we can teach with them within two weeks. Our part was to also find someone to bring and, I can't deny it...it was hard! Sister Russon and I really struggled. Whenever we doored, people close the door on us or interruped us, telling us they weren't interested and then closed the door on us.
We decided, yesterday, to check on one of our neighbors below us to see how she was doing and such. A few weeks ago, we made some cookies and took them to our neighbors so we could get to know them better. So we dropped by again and she invited us in before we really said anything. We talked with her for awhile and she told us everything that's been going on in her life and when we invited her to the Fuhrer household tonight, she said that she would be there, for sure!! I was getting really worried and trying to figure out what I was doing wrong as a missionary. Fortunately, the Lord reminded me and now we can introduce her to a wonderful family in the ward. I was reminded that the most important thing to do as a missionary is to love the people and make sure they know it. That's the basis of our religion: Christ and his love for us and everyone. I love the gospel!! And I love sharing it with people.
I've been met with frustration this past week...and some things have been really difficult, but the Lord is mindful of all of us and I know that he's watching over me as I do His work. I've been so greatly blessed, it's important to constantly remind yourself of the blessings in your life. They're all around you. Don't forget the tender mercies you experience each day!
Let me tell you about one of our investigators, Nelson. He's 22 and from Nigeria. He's had a hard life, you can tell, yet he's always happy to see us. When we talk to him about the Gospel, you can see his understanding of it deepen. He knows it's true and has told us that he knows it to be true the past few times we've met with him. I love telling people about the power of prayer: through it and the power of the Holy Ghost, we can know the truth of all things. Heavenly Father wants us to have the truth in our lives, but we first must show him that we truly desire it. We have to have a "broken heart and a contrite spirit," meaning that we must sincerely pray. We must truly want the answer and then, when we have it, be willing to follow what we're told.
I love being here, even if it can be frustrating and at times discouraging. The truth has been restored on the earth and I love it! We can all have that joy that the gospel brings to our lives--isn't that such a great blessing?? We can all have it!
Yesterday, I played in church with Sister Russon and an older man in the ward, Kuno. We played Brother Beebe's arrangment of "How Great Thou Art" (In German, "Wie Gross Bist Du") and I must say, I love sharing my testimony through song! I'm especially grateful for the experience because I still can't understand everything people say to me, nor can I communicate as well as I would like, but through music, I can share my testimony and I know they can feel it, I know that they can understand what I am unable to say. What a blessing!
I hope everyone is well. I would love to hear from you all! I recommend sending letters to the mission home since I don't know what's going on with transfers. I think I'll find out next Thursday. If it's better, you can email and I'll just write back or email, if I can. I love and pray for you all!
Alle Liebe,
Sister NeSmith
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