Time keeps ticking away, ready or not! To leave this assignment without having a replacement in view is a scary thought. There are so many things that are hanging in the air, so many more things we would like to see completed and so many things to pass on before we leave. The reality of our return is beginning to take a hold. As we talk to our Mission President about a replacement, he has only one answer; "we must pray someone here." He reminded us that this was the way you (meaning us) appeared on the scene at just the right time. We only have three weeks to go and it looks a little scary.
Even the young missionary force is getting smaller in our missions. We have felt that reality last week as we lost the Sister Missionaries here in Dortmund. The set of Elders left in Dortmund have more to do than they can handle and are asking for help from the members to go "joint teaching" with them.
Today was a wonderful day. We attended our meetings here in Dortmund and right after we drove to the Unna Ward (about a 45 minute drive) to attend a baptism of a mother along with her 8 year old son. The 12 year old daughter did not feel that she was yet ready. I was asked to conduct the baptism interview, which we did this past Wednesday. It has been a struggle for the mother to come to this point. She first met the missionaries some six years ago and had been meeting with the missionaries as she was able to. Her husband was abusive and was against her joining the church.. Since her divorce she moved to several places to get away. This now brought her to the point where she found the Church Building and walked in one Sunday and approached the Missionaries and ask what she needed to do, to become a member of the Church. It is now six weeks later and the baptism ordinance has been performed. Now the big question is how she will be able to travel the 50 to 60 kilometer each Sunday to come to church, with the limited means she has to buy the pass for the transportation. There are no members that live in that part of the Ward's boundaries. She displayed a greater amount of faith than I have, when she responded to our concern with; "the Lord will provide".
Later this afternoon we returned to Dortmund for a dinner appointment with a young couple. Nine (9) months ago both of them were in the young single adult group in our Outreach Center. It was so fun to see both of them so much in love and establishing a wonderful Latter-Day Saint home. By the way the food was delicious! Before we went home they showed us a CD from their wedding festivities. It brought some memories of our participation on this festive occasion.
We have a desire to endure to the end and finish with another baptism on the last Saturday here in Dortmund.
The whole area is turning into a winter-wonderland. It has snowed, of and on since the Year started. They are running out of salt to keep all of the streets clear and are now only keeping the major streets clear of snow and the rest are snow-packed. We are glad for the good snow tires that keep us safe without too much difficulty.
Several have asked again for our return information. We are scheduled to arrive in Salt Lake City on the 29Th of January at 2:05 PM (Delta). It is not until the 21st of February at 1:00 PM that we will be speaking in our home Ward. (Located at 6301 South 2300 East in Holladay,84121).
Thank you all for your encouragement and support.
Even the young missionary force is getting smaller in our missions. We have felt that reality last week as we lost the Sister Missionaries here in Dortmund. The set of Elders left in Dortmund have more to do than they can handle and are asking for help from the members to go "joint teaching" with them.
Today was a wonderful day. We attended our meetings here in Dortmund and right after we drove to the Unna Ward (about a 45 minute drive) to attend a baptism of a mother along with her 8 year old son. The 12 year old daughter did not feel that she was yet ready. I was asked to conduct the baptism interview, which we did this past Wednesday. It has been a struggle for the mother to come to this point. She first met the missionaries some six years ago and had been meeting with the missionaries as she was able to. Her husband was abusive and was against her joining the church.. Since her divorce she moved to several places to get away. This now brought her to the point where she found the Church Building and walked in one Sunday and approached the Missionaries and ask what she needed to do, to become a member of the Church. It is now six weeks later and the baptism ordinance has been performed. Now the big question is how she will be able to travel the 50 to 60 kilometer each Sunday to come to church, with the limited means she has to buy the pass for the transportation. There are no members that live in that part of the Ward's boundaries. She displayed a greater amount of faith than I have, when she responded to our concern with; "the Lord will provide".
Later this afternoon we returned to Dortmund for a dinner appointment with a young couple. Nine (9) months ago both of them were in the young single adult group in our Outreach Center. It was so fun to see both of them so much in love and establishing a wonderful Latter-Day Saint home. By the way the food was delicious! Before we went home they showed us a CD from their wedding festivities. It brought some memories of our participation on this festive occasion.
We have a desire to endure to the end and finish with another baptism on the last Saturday here in Dortmund.
The whole area is turning into a winter-wonderland. It has snowed, of and on since the Year started. They are running out of salt to keep all of the streets clear and are now only keeping the major streets clear of snow and the rest are snow-packed. We are glad for the good snow tires that keep us safe without too much difficulty.
Several have asked again for our return information. We are scheduled to arrive in Salt Lake City on the 29Th of January at 2:05 PM (Delta). It is not until the 21st of February at 1:00 PM that we will be speaking in our home Ward. (Located at 6301 South 2300 East in Holladay,84121).
Thank you all for your encouragement and support.
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