A Change Before Beginning!

 8 July 2024 

Guten Tag! 

A week ago was the official start date for the new Germany Hamburg Mission. We have been notified that we will be part of that mission, a change from our original assignment to the Germany Berlin Mission. 

We have not been in contact with our new mission leaders, Dirk and Anja Franz, but look forward to getting to know them. We have heard from my MTC tutor that that they are wonderful people (of course they are) and that we will love them too. 

German language learning goes well for the time we are able to put in. I really enjoy the EMBARK app used by the MTC as well as some of the other useful training materials available. It's just getting the "old dog" able to learn the new tricks that is the problem. However, we will continue onward! 

On Sunday, June 30th Ed and I spoke in our ward, Ensign 18th Ward, Ensign Stake in Salt Lake City, Utah. Several people have asked for one of the stories I shared so here is the story and the last part of my talk: 

Fifty years ago I was serving as a young 24 year old sister missionary in Thailand. The circumstances that took me there was a miracle and I knew I was supposed to be there, that God had a purpose for me in Thailand. But in the first few months of my mission I was struggling with everything and I was miserable.

 I did enjoy being on a bike! Fifty years ago many of the roads in Thailand were not paved nor did they have street lights. Also, at that time in addition to a few various kinds of vehicles on the dirt roads, there were working elephants and water buffalo on those roads so when it rained large potholes were the results. Our apartment was a ways away from the main city.

 One dark night I was struggling on this unfamiliar, rocky, and pothole filled ground. I was crying and miserable, asking the Lord “why?” 

Comfort and encouragement came in a familiar whisper: “pedal faster”.

 Although I was afraid of falling, I did follow the prompting given to me. … I put more effort into pedaling my bike.  What I found was that as I increased my efforts on the pedals, not only did I go faster, but I realized that the small generator attached to the back tire of my bike produced more energy to the light on the front of my bike. The faster I pedaled the brighter the light and farther in front of me I could see to avoid the potholes!

 My success along that road was directly determined by my personal  effort in moving the bike.

 This lesson has not been lost to me over the years.  In fact, I have found that in times of discouragement, distress, or challenge, this pattern, if I follow it, succeeds in bringing me more and more light to learn and grow all based on my efforts to work.

 Each Sunday we come together to share time remembering and honoring our Savior, Jesus Christ and His Atoning Sacrifice. I am grateful for the words of Tad Callister:   

“That he … had godly powers did not make his suffering any less excruciating, … To the contrary, it is for this very reason that his suffering was more, not less, …

He took upon him infinite suffering, but chose to defend with only mortal faculties, with but one exception – his godhood was summoned to hold off unconsciousness and death … that would otherwise overpower a mere mortal when he reached his threshold of pain.

For the Savior, however, there would be no such relief. His divinity would be called upon, not to immunize him from pain, but to enlarge the receptacle that would hold it. He simply brought a larger cup to hold the bitter drink.”    

When I think of this, I think, I can pedal faster.

I hope that during this mission as a 75 years old I will still be able to "pedal faster" if that is what the Spirit whispers to me again. I just want to make sure I can hear those preparatiory promptings when they come to me.

Until next time...