To consider before peacing out...‏ (i.e. leaving on your mission)

A bonus post from Claire this week!

The few weeks before leaving on my mission, I would randomly scream out the number of days I had left before leaving and then take a few frantic laps around my house to get some energy out. And then there was the intense stalking of all things related to the Germany Berlin Mission and of other missionary-related things that added to pre-mission excitement. At the request of my friend Shay (peacing out to Germany as well), here are some things I'm glad I brought and knew/wished I brought and knew, for those of you in that pre-mission excitement phase.

1. Bring tons of uplifting music. Music can be a really powerful source of inspiration and comfort on your mission. I brought an ipod. I support that choice. But other formats are acceptable too.
2. Bring your own converters for the country of your choice (preferably the one where you will be serving).
3. Don't bring bed sheets. Unless your mission told you to. The MTC has sheets for you to use (they are old, but definitely usable). If you decide to bring sheets to the MTC, leave them there. Germany has different bed sizes. Other countries probably do too. 
4. Bring OFFICE SUPPLIES of all sorts and varieties. Bring yo' sticky notes, sharpies, paper, folders, scissors, white-out, tape, hole punchers, and thank-you cards. You could also buy them here, but every missionary needs a good storage of such items in order to decorate planners, advertise activities, prepare object lessons, thank people, remind people, uplift others, decorate your apartment, keep things nice, etc.
5. An American calendar from home. Possibly with pictures. It brightens the room and helps you remember American holidays (Father's day, Memorial day, or the hardest of all...Fourth of July).
6. Pictures of family and friends. For show and tell all the time.
7. Recipes from home (especially a good cookie recipe).
8. An address book (I brought a piece of paper with addresses written on it and I wish I would have had an actual book to get peoples' addresses from the places I serve and to keep other family and friends' addresses).
9. Stuff the corners of your suitcases with feminine products.
10. Write down a bunch of pick-me-up scriptures and quotes in a book. It can help you. It can help others. It can help you teach a dang good lesson someday.
11. Bring some favorite General Conference talks. Printed out or electronic format. They help your brain. And your converts and your investigators and your members.
12. Bring a blanket. Even if it's small. My apartment is always a bit chilly. But that's also because our heating is broken. Not that you need it in June (usually). Just be prepared (insert singing from the Lion King).
13. A hoodie. I only brought one jacket and wish I would have brought a hoodie and pullover or something for p-day activities and when it's cold in your apartment that has no heat (keep singing the lion king "Be Prepared").
14. Buy a dictionary in your country. The MTC gives you one that is only a 4/10 in quality. Germany has many that all rate 10/10. Also bring the 500 German verbs book. I love that yellow book of wisdom and use it regularly in language study to learn new words and review conjugations.
15. Take pictures. And bring thumbdrives and multiple memory cards. Just in case (still singing?).
16. Tide to go sticks save lives. And shirts from terrible eating appointment accidents. 
17. Mini hand santizers (handshakes: friendship frenzy or germ fests? you tell me)
18. Learn names of everyone you meet and write them down and then call people by such names. There is power in remembering names.
19. Some pictures of temples (your favorite or local ones).  

You may now resume the typical pre-mission excitement of dancing around your house listening to music in a foreign language you don't understand or wondering how people eat alligator in your mission area. Live the dream. 

-- 

Sister Claire Michelle Woodward

6-17-13: Painting the town

Color your world

Our teaching pool has been a little dry in the past couple of weeks, so this week we had a lot of time to go find people to teach. Instead of the usual awkward conversations on the street or through dooring, we used the right sides of our brains and used chalking as a finding technique. We drew the plan of salvation (a pictorial representation of where we came from, why we're here, and where we're going) and did several pictures and sentences associated with light. It was so fun and we got to talk to a bunch of people about the ultimate source of light: Jesus Christ. Think outside the box. And look to the light. 

Was habe ich gelernt? (What have I learned?)

So...missions aren't all chalk and sunshine all the time. Despite the joy of painting the sidewalks of Leipzig this week, it was kind of a hard week where I missed home a lot and felt a little overwhelmed by what is expected of me as "Sister Woodward," versus just "Claire" and that there such are a lot of things I can't do. The past several months have really helped me to trust God though. Because maybe I don't understand everything, or at moments anything, but a mission sometimes requires you to walk in the dark until you can see the light. Standing in the dark does no good: Just walk until you can see the light. 

Das Wunder der Woche

We met a guy named Ralph this week. We started talking to him as he was pulling out little weeds from the cracks in the sidewalk (because things grow everywhere in Germany!) and after a few minutes, we ended up sitting down weeding too. We talked with him for about a half an hour about the purpose of life and the Book of Mormon, all the while weeding in our skirts (I unfortunately chose white that day). Maybe my dirty hands and muddy skirt didn't look super professional afterwards, but it was so great to take the time to hear about his life and talk about how it can be better. We get to meet with him again this week! Though weeding is unfortunately not a part of the scheduled program. 

Quote of the week

"My experience is that there is, you know, surprisingly, always hope." -Doctor Who. Thank you MTC companion. Hope is what fills the darkness! (She didn’t really explain this, so I’m not sure if she got a letter from her MTC comp or if she just suddenly remembered this quote.)

Our cornflake peeps are still MIA. Stay tuned. 

-- 

Sister Claire Michelle Woodward

6-10-13: The rain came down

Claire will be staying in Leipzig with her current companion for the next 6 weeks and she is very happy about that. We were glad to hear that she is safe and dry. I'm not really sure why she calls us all peasants at the end of her letter, but I assume it's because she'd been to see some former East German historical site.

 

Rain results

Well if any of you watch the news, you probably heard that Germany had some flood problems this week. If you don't watch the news, then you should start because the being informed of world events leads to greater enlightenment. Independent of whether you watched the news or not, the heavens have sent forth an abundant amount of rain during the past few weeks. Leipzig is just fine, but its neighboring cities--Halle, Groitch, Eilenberg, etc--were not so fine. We were able to spend Tuesday in Halle sandbagging for flood prevention and have had a smattering of other opportunities for service this week. Seeing as I can't watch the news, I don't really know how bad the flooding is aside from what people on the Straßenbahn have told me, but...as far as I know everything is mostly safe and it has gotten better. But now is a good time to do some research to find out! Then tell us how we can help!

Winds of change...

did not blow me nor Sister Darrington away from Leipzig. I'm here for transfer number four and am very happy to continue training, though she didn't really need any training in the first place....naja. Our faithful district leader goes home tomorrow and we're getting two new elders, but no other sisters in Leipzig yet. Therefore...continue to send me letters at Limburger strasse 52 (04229 Leipzig) for the next few weeks. 

We teach people, not cornflakes

So missionaries talk a lot about making sure that we are teaching people, not just lessons. Because individuals are individual and so important. Sister Darrington and I found a bunch of people who wanted to learn more about the Gospel at the beginning of last transfer, including our happy African friends, but they've been a little flakey about showing up to meetings, answering phone calls, and making time for...the most important thing ever. So we've been addressing the cornflake problem this week. But to address that problem, we need to not call them cornflakes because cereal doesn't progress or have specific needs....but people do! And we teach people. I love that part of serving a mission. Because the same lessons are never the same if you're teaching according to peoples' needs and following the Spirit to know what to teach and how to teach. And pouring milk is not the solution. Because then we have soggy cornflakes and that does no one any good.

Also, I just used a million conjunctions to start my sentences. And then a hyperbole. whatevas.

Quotes of the Week...

"Finding" quotes--part one:

Sister Darrington: "What are you doing on Sunday?"

Man: "Not going to church, that's for sure!"

Part two:

Man : "Are you here for the festival? Because it's huge! With lots of alcohol!"

Sister Woodward: "Actually we don't drink because we believe that our bodies are gifts from God and we should take care of them."

Man, pointing to Sister Darrington: "She has a beautiful gift!"

awkward word of wisdom talks....

Francesco: "My soul feels so light in the temple, like paradise."

Comments on the work:

Sister Darrington: "Why do people keep saying we're doing a good job?"

Sister Woodward: "I don't know, all we do is pray and make pancakes!"

Love you all my dear peasant brothers and sisters.

-- 

Sister Claire Michelle Woodward

Some "Spaghetti Eis" (a delicious ice cream treat--not really spaghetti)

 

Claire is so happy to be able to run with her companion each morning!

6-3-13: Dienen

"Dienen" means "to serve" and it sounds like it was more a week of service than teaching. It didn't sound like there was any flooding in Leipzig, but there has been lots of flooding in central and southern Germany. Also, you can tell she is adapting to the language and culture as each letter is full of more and more random German words (which I have tried to clarify). 

This week I finally realized that I can't keep telling people that I'm a new missionary. Because four months and entering my four transfer next week means...no longer new. Getting rid of that crutch I've been using.

Before I left four months ago, a mission was an abstract concept for me. Because it is really hard to know what a mission is like unless you are actually doing it. Home is starting to feel like the abstract concept now because it is so...fremd (strange, foreign) and mission life has become normal life. But then there are reminders that other times and normal life exist. Zum Beispiel (for example)… my district leader (the leader of the eight missionaries here in Leipzig) has been in Leipzig for the past three transfers as well, and he goes home next week. And then my cousin goes home in a couple of days and home is just....abstract right now. I guess that whole paragraph didn't include any stories, but instead just some random thoughts about abstract balls of timey-wimey that weren't really explained. Naja (oh well).

Das Wunder der Woche...

So last week all of our appointments with our African investigators fell out, which was a bummer. But this week we got to have a short meeting with Shaku and it was great! Because it was long enough for him to ask, "So when can I get baptized?" He is leaving Germany at the end of July, so we're hoping we can teach and help him prepare before then. But seriously, he is the bomb. Not literally. But he has faith with explosive potential.

Ansprach-ing...

So every week we usually plan for times to just go talk to people on the streets or dooring (knocking on doors--that's not German, just missionary slang) or some kind of way where we can find people who are interested in learning about the Gospel. We got a lot of "oh-that's-cute-you-still-believe-in-God" looks this week and not many people wanted to stop to talk because it rained more than a boatload this week, but...we still had lovely times. No story with that paragraph either. Apparently this week isn't really a story-full week. Shame.

Quote of the week...

Francesco gave another wonderful prayer this week and expressed gratitude for the Book of Mormon and how it has helped him: "thank you that the Book of Mormon is the feeling of Jesus Christ!"

Also once a month, we have the opportunity to fast and at church, anyone can go up and give his or her testimony during sacrament meeting. Yesterday was fast Sunday and a lady in our ward went up and simply gave thanks that this church was not a church of just sitting and listening, but doing. Because ward members get callings to serve others. And some crazy young folk decide they want to go on missions. And people try to do good and keep the commandments. Sister D and I had many opportunities to serve this week as we helped some people move and were able to work in a garden. I LOVE GARDENS! And weeding is surprisingly rewarding. Though if I ever write a book about gardening, it will probably be called "The Futility of Weeding." End of tangent. As I sum up with, simply, we are indeed a doing people. 

Well, we went to Wittenberg (Luther’s city!) today for p-day and it was gorgeous. We are having a musical fireside tonight before Elder Baker goes back to the real world next week and....busting out the miracles for the week of this transfer(!), I'm pretty sure I'll get to finish training my wonderful daughter (more missionary slang--her companion) in Leipzig, though there is a chance we might move apartments...stay tuned.

-- 

Sister Claire Michelle Woodward

Sr. Woodward enjoying the rain

The result of so much rain--beautiful countryside

5-27-13: Draining Time

Time is a precious gift. This week I felt like I was opening the gift of my mission a little too quickly but...there is still plenty of wrapping paper left so nobody panic.

Taufe for reals!

Despite great adversity leading up to the baptism, Lisa got baptized on Saturday and she is so happy! We spent a lot of time this week supporting her and prepping for the program and service. The baptism was supposed to start at 5:00 Saturday evening and Sister D and I got to the church at 2:00 because it takes three hours to fill the font (strange water heating problems prevent fast filling). Two people from the neighboring city of Groitch were also getting baptized on Saturday, so the Groitch elders helped prepare the program and get everything ready before the baptism.

A few things went slightly array during our prep time. We started out with no keys for the kitchen or for baptismal clothing, but acquired those at approximately 4:18 and insanely quick sandwich making ensued. Lisa was supposed to arrive at 4:00 but due to a series of unfortunate delays, she arrived at 4:55. We scrambled to find baptismal clothes that would fit and rushed upstairs so the meeting could start fifteen minutes late. So all was well. 

Except the well.

Meaning the baptismal font.

Because as we started the program before the baptism, Sister D gasped and said she needed to go check the water downstairs. 

She ran downstairs and....the font was empty. 

Because it had been a little too full beforehand and so Sister D had pulled the plug to drain it a little... but forgot to plug it again....

She remained remarkably calm at the time and turned on the water again and started boiling water in the kitchen. Which leads to our...

Wunder der Woche

Because a three hour job somehow was managed in 45 minutes through the aid of many ward members, all the available faucets in the church, and the Lord, who somehow kept the water warm. Three people were therefore able to be baptized with the allotted water and Lisa was just glowing with the joy after her baptism.

We were also glowing, but that was partly from the sweat of running around and gathering water.

Whew.

It was so great though. Lisa is normally a happy person, but she just looked so excited about the decision that she made and so much at peace. Plus five of the six missionaries who had taught her managed to make it :)

I am so grateful for the gift of my mission and for the gifts other people can hopefully receive from me being here. 

The newest church member in Leipzig!

Quote of the Week

A quote from our conversation regarding our desire to get a dog and talk to more people...

"Sister D, we all have to make sacrifices on our missions. You´re going to have to forfeit your eyesight, or possibly pluck out your eyes, so that we can get a guide dog so that more people will talk to us on the street. It`s a sacrifice we must make for the work to go forward." --Me

I haven`t lost my sarcasm yet in case you were wondering :)

Love you all. Especially those of you that write me :)

Sister Claire Michelle Woodward

Sister D and I at a service project

5-13-13: Immer Besser!

We had a great skype conversation with Claire on Saturday and could see for ourselves how happy she is. So it was easy for us not to cry about missing her and just rejoice that she is happy living in Germany and doing her best to find people who want more joy in their lives. 

Full blown missionary work with a tablespoon of sickness and twelve quarts of goodness this week. Still facing the Triple E dilemma (ebullience exploding everywhere).

We're a tad too excited and maybe plan a little too much for a day (curse these short twenty four hour days and the requirement of sleep), but we're getting better (our companion slogan is "immer besser"). There is just so much to do and so much to learn!

Nothing sums this week up better than the following quotes...

·         After teaching two guys from Africa about the Book of the Mormon and seeing their miraculous acceptance and eagerness to read pray about it.... Sophie (an 18-year-old member who came with us): "This is why I love Africans! German people are always like 'I don't need God,' but Africans....they are willing to do anything to get closer to God!" Thus we are teaching a lot of foreigners. And the occasional stubborn German. Shaku (African number one) after hearing Sophie talk about how the Book of Mormon helps here in her life: "Yes, I will read this book because I want to know what she knows."  Yeah son.

·         After talking about how to improve our talents to meet the needs of our diverse teaching pool.... Me: "Hey, if we teach a deaf man, then we'll need to learn Braille." #thinkingalittletoohard. Or not at all.

·         Elder Normon (commenting on Sister D's and my companionship): "You and Sister D match each other."

·         And speaking of Sister D....I love her so so much. Here are some cute things she said this week: (looking up at me with huge, questioning doe eyes) "Was soll wir zu tun?" (What should we do?) #cutebeginningmissionaryGerman  She always asks what we should do, but then almost immediately cries out "Wir müssen beten!" (We must pray!) Because Sister D knows the power of prayer :)

·         (while talking to people on the street the day before Mother's Day)…. "Hast du eine Mutter?" ("Do you have a mother?"), because you never know. We're still working on conversation starting skills that lead to Gospel topics. Also, "Haben Sie eine Frau?" ("do you have a wife?") #personalquestionstorandompeople

-- 

Sister Claire Michelle Woodward

5-6-13: Triple E Week

Apparently training a new missionary is a very happy experience so far! 

EXPLOSIONS OF EBULLIENCE EVERYWHERE!!!!

And I'm not cleaning it up. 

Packing the Impossible

Two 85 pound suitcases and one 45 pound "carry on" later, Sister Diederich made it to Bremen (*I think). We at least made it to Berlin together to pick up our new missionaries with two umsteigs (train transfers) as well. Huzzah!

Francesco's parting words to Sister Diederich...

Insert 5 minutes of Francesco preluding us with various Mozart pieces.

Sis. Diedrich: I'm going to cry when I leave!

Francesco: Stay cool, stay cool

Sister Diederich: What should we do when you come visit me in America Francesco?

Francesco: Um....I think I'll take a shower.

Bringing in the new....

I AM TRAINING AND I LOVE IT! My new companion has now survived four days in Leipzig! Short bio: She's from Texas, went to BYU-Idaho for three semesters, is super hard working, and is brimming with fresh MTC excitement. She is so happy to talk German in her endearing American accent and says hello to everyone we see. Picture Snow White, and then change her name, and you have my new companion. We get along really well. Love. her. so. much. 

DIE Wunder der Woche

If you have been studying your German articles, you would recognize that there was more than one miracle this week. I'm sharing two.

I went to Berlin on Thursday to bring Sister D (my new comp) back to Leipzig. I gave her a really good first night because we met with Lisa, who is the biggest miracle I've seen on my mission. Six weeks ago, Elders Atkinson and Huebsch found Lisa on the street and invited her to Family Home Evening. She accepted and then they taught her about the Book of Mormon. They were emergency transferred a week and a half later, but on their last night here, they invited Lisa to be baptized at the end of April. She accepted and then was taught rapid fire for three more weeks by another set of elders as she prepared to be ready for her baptismal date. A week before her scheduled date, she and I were talking and she told me she was freaking out and she didn't know if the Book of Mormon was true yet and she still had a lot of questions. I told her that it was okay to wait until she knew, so we botched her first baptismal date. Right before the elders left that were teaching her (we inherited her after), she told them that she was ready to make another baptismal date and she knew that the Book of Mormon was true. So our first lesson together in Leipzig....we got to set a baptismal date with Lisa!!! She is so ready and has such a strong belief in what she has learned in the past month. We are so blessed to help her prepare for her upcoming baptism.

The second miracle happened yesterday, when Sister D and I went to some student housing to talk to people about what we believe. We only spent an hour there, and we were able to meet and teach four students who wanted us to come back. That is more than I've experienced on my whole mission so far. Good gracious, golden miracles falling from the sky. so. cool.

Privileged

I am privileged to serve a mission. If I learned anything from the past twelve weeks and the busy and exciting last few days, it is that I am privileged to act as a representative of Jesus Christ at this time. To teach people about the Gospel. To bring people closer to Christ. To talk to strangers on the street. To meet with ward members. To be as awkward as possible because people do not go on missions to act like normal people. I love it.

As an end note...WE GO RUNNING EVERY MORNING AND IT MAKES MY HEART SING BECAUSE GERMAN PARKS ARE MAGICAL AND SISTER D SAYS GUTEN MORGEN TO EVERYONE!
-- 

Sister Claire Michelle Woodward