Dear Family,
Yes, it has snowed off and on all day long this first day of spring. Yesterday we had to drive to Bamberg for our interviews with the president. It was raining when we left, then we had kind of hail, then snow. When we started home we were going west and the sun was so bright I could hardly see but by the time we got closer to Wurzburg, it was raining again. This morning we looked out the window to see the cars all covered with snow. Idaho isn’t the only place with crazy weather.
Our phone rang at 5:30 this morning. It was a call from Salt Lake. It was the sister of Sister Gunter, the one who we had been meeting with her and her husband but she asked us not to come back, at least while she was there. All this sister told us was that she was in a psychiatric hospital in Lohr. We didn’t know where Lohr was and we had no idea what had happened that she would be there but we promised the sister that we would go see what we could find out. We got out our maps and found Lohr. It’s nearly 50 miles from here and when we got there we had to find the hospital. Hospitals here are like big campuses. There are several buildings and each building is for a different purpose. We started out in the radiology building asking directions to the psychiatric center. That was another mile drive up the road and a whole other campus of buildings, all psychiatric related but a lot of buildings. We finally found out where she was but were a bit nervous about going to see her, not knowing if she would want to see us. We just decided to go to the desk and ask how she was and if she was up to having visitors. They called her name over the intercom and pretty soon here she came down the hall. When she saw us, she broke into a big smile and gave me a big hug. We went into a little room where we could talk. She told us that the day before she had been at work and there seems to be a lot of contention where she works and someone said something really rude to her and she just lost it. Her heart started beating really fast and she became nauseated and couldn’t quit crying. They got her to a doctor and his decision was to put her in this hospital and try to find out what was going on. She seems glad to be able to talk out her problems that have been eating on her for years and years. We just hope she will understand again the value of the gospel in her life and the help it can be to her if she learns again to trust in the Lord. We called the sister in Salt Lake when we got home. Sister Gunter had told us to tell her sister that she was okay and not to worry about her and that she would call her or her husband would call her as soon as they could.
That took a big chunk out of our P-day. Yesterday we had commented that this is the first time in along time that we don’t have a bunch of appointments on our P-day and maybe could actually find something fun and interesting to do. I guess it’s just as well that we had this to do because of the yucky weather. This afternoon we visited someone in another hospital. This is another part member family. They have the cutest little 6 year old boy who had some kind of surgery. This is the second time we have visited there. The mother is the member and she really appreciated our coming to visit. She said the days get pretty long for her. She has wanted us to come and teach her family but they wanted to get this surgery behind them before we did. Then tonight we had an appointment with a young man the bishop asked us to visit. He is a member but has some emotional problems that have kept him from keeping a good job. He is going in for a psychiatric evaluation to see if he can get on disability. He wants to get married. The girl he wants to marry is Stephanie, our friend from the FHE evening group who is in a mental hospital right now! I get a little nervous thinking about that combination but tonight he said he really wants to marry her and she’s really anxious to get married. Oh, the messes we get ourselves into!!
Not everyone we meet and work with is emotionally troubled. Last Friday evening we met with the sweetest woman. She is the grandmother of one of the boys who is just waiting for his birthday to get baptized. We had a wonderful meeting with her and when we finished, she thanked us for coming and said we had answered many questions she has had. Those questions started when she was working at a hospital and a woman had a baby and the baby died before the Catholic priest got there to baptize her. When the priest did get there and saw that the baby had died, he told this mother that there was no chance for this baby, that she would be going to hell. The mother was devastated and after the priest left, this lady went to the mother and told her she didn’t think the baby was going to hell and that she would see her again sometime. She told us she didn’t know why she felt this and it has been a question in her mind for many years. How thankful we are for the gospel! She asked us if we would come back this week. She would be Grandma Price’s twin if her hair was a little whiter. She has Grandma’s sweet quiet manner too. Alex, her grandson, is so excited that we are teaching her.
Last Saturday morning was full of happy news when the phone rang. It was so good to talk to Zach and hear and feel his enthusiasm about his mission. He’s so excited about going to and English speaking mission so he can get going with teaching the gospel. What a great attitude. I can feel the emotion Chris and Dale are feeling. It’s something you always hope for and plan for for your boys (and girls) but when it happens it about tears you up. I think the term is “bittersweet” but the blessings make up for the feelings such times bring. We’re looking forward to sharing missionary experiences for most of the first half of his mission anyway.
Later on Saturday morning we got another call. It was Thomas from our FHE group. It was his birthday that day and he said he wanted to read us something his parents had written inside their birthday card. I can’t remember it word for word but it was something like, “We are so proud of you for choosing to follow the Savior and want to give to you for your birthday our permission for you to be baptized now.” They had told him earlier that he would have to wait until he was 18. He was so excited!! He was almost breathless when he was reading that card to us. He is just an outstanding young man. Both he and Alex talked in church on Sunday. They had been asked to speak before he knew this. Alex talked about baptism and Thomas talked about the gift of the Holy Ghost. Both talks were just outstanding. Dad asked Thomas if he would send him a copy of his talk and he did. I’ll try to copy it onto this letter. We’re as excited about this baptism as we were of Petra’s-----well, almost anyway.
Petra continues to do great. She was upset when we met with her this week because she had tried to get into a church web sight and had put the word “Mormon” in and as you may know, there are many anti-Mormons who have information on the internet under this title. Here in Germany, the church asked that they stop using this name for such things and when they refused to, the church took them to task and now they have quit doing it so much. But much damage has already been done and Petra didn’t know what to think. We spent the whole time talking about this and she seemed satisfied when we left. I get the distinct feeling sometimes that something really good is about to happen in Europe as far as the gospel being taught because there have been so many negative things toward the church going on. I feel that Satan knows that something good is going to happen and he’s trying to get his licks in while he can. That’s just my opinion but I feel it very strongly. Our district leader told us that one of the general authorities said recently that the time was soon coming that the European countries would have another chance for hearing the gospel. When Dad was here in the early 60’s, this area was among the top baptizing areas in the church. There are so many people here and so many good people that something like this just has to happen!
Yesterday at our interview with President Rakow he talked to us about going on another apartment inspection trip. He wants us to wait until the weather is a little more settled. That will be a nice change and hopefully not quite as frustrating as it was last fall. We feel like we know how to find our way around a little bit better. I’m sure we’ll get lost a few times but hopefully not as often as we were before. He also said he has no plans of transferring any of the senior couples for now. He told us to plan on being here for Bishop Moffit’s farewell party in August but that he wasn’t planning on us spending the rest of our mission here. Bishop Moffit is the bishop of this ward and has finished up his time in the Army to pay back for his medical school. He is going to be joining a pediatric practice in Twin Falls and is really excited about it. That’s where he grew up. I think I mentioned that he knew the Lewin’s there. Small world, isn’t it.
I’ll try to get Thomas talk printed on here and end with that. Thank you for the letters. They mean so much to us. It’s so good to be able to stay up with what’s going on with the family. We love you dearly and are so thankful for each one of you. Know that you are in our prayers every day.
Much love,
Mom
Good Morning, Brothers and Sisters,
I would like to begin with a scripture that's written in the Book of Acts that tell us about a time when the church was in a similar situation as it is now. It hadn't been there for quite some time, and there were a lot of people having the desire to join the true church of the Saviour. In Acts 8: 14-17 it says: "Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John, who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might recieve the Holy Ghost ( For as yet he was fallen upon none of them, only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then laid they their hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost."
When Brother Bacon asked me to talk about confirmation and receiving the Holy Ghost I wasn't quite sure how I should approach the topic. That problem was solved. Yesterday, on my 17th birthday my parents gave me the greatest birthday present I have ever been given. They gave me permission to be baptised in the Church of Christ. I can't tell you how I felt. I was filled with graditude to Heavenly Father for giving me into such a loving family, that taught me so much about the Saviour and, maybe even more importantly, gave me an opportunity to experience the love that my Heavenly Father also has for his children.
But why am I standing here? Why am I standing in front of the congregation of the Wuerzburg Ward of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- Day Saints? What is it that lead me here?
My first experience with the Lord's church I had around 3 1/2 years ago in Oakland, California, where I was spending my summer holidays with my father. He had called up an old friend, who offered us to show us whatever parts of the city we's like to see. I had seen a picture of the Oakland LDS Temple in a brochure. I didn't know to much about MOrmons, but it sounded interesting enough to go take a look at it. We saw the beautyful white temple from afar, on top of the Hills. As we were driving up the Hills I was able to see parts of the beautyful large Building. And there was this feeling. It wasn't totally strange to me. I had felt it before, but never as intense. Looking at the temple i felt my heart burning, a mixture of comfort and exitement. As we got out of the car and stood in front of the temple, I was speechless. We were told that we couldn't enter the temple, but that there was a visitors center, right next to the big building. As we entered, the first thing that caught my eyes was a large, white statue of the saviour, smiling and with open arms. Different stars and planets were painted on the wall. A nice South American Sister welcomed us and asked weather we would like to have a quick tour. We sat down in chairs in front of the beautyful statue. We were surrounded by soft music and the mighty, kind voice of the Lord. we were lead through various rooms, and shown videos and presentations about the life of Christ, pictures I had seen before as a child in children's Bibles or movies. I still couldn't tell where that feeling was coming from. In the last room, we were given little cards, where we could decide weather we wanted to order a copy of the Book of Mormon. I had no doubt in my mind that I wanted to learn more, and I knew that what I had just felt had changes my life forever.
Why did I tell you all this? because now I know what that feeling was, which made me feel the desire to learn more of Christ's gospel. It was the same feeling I had when the Missionaries first visited our house. It was the same feeling I had when I read in the Book of Mormon, and the promise of the lord which is given in the Book of Moroni became true. There it says: And when ye shall recieve these things, I would exhort you that ye would ask God, the Eternal father, in the name of Christ if these things are not true; and if ye shall ask with a sincere heart, with real intent, having faith in Christ, he will manifest the truth of it unto you, by the power of the Holy Ghost.
I would like to bear my testimony that I know that the Holy Ghost exists. I know that Heavenly Father lives and that he loves us. I know that the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only way back to our father. I kbow that His church was restored through the prophet Joseph Smith, and that iti is lead by a prophet today, namely Gordon B. Hinckley. I know that next sunday I will be given the Holy Ghost through the Power of the priesthood, and that it will stay within me, if I stay true to the gospel.
And of this I bear testimony in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.
