Apply the word of the Lord

I am going to do the best I can to be an example to this mission, and it all depends on relying on the Lord.  That's the key...everyone says that there is no key to missionary work or finding or teaching but there is!  It's taking the work off of yourself, putting it on the Lord in every situation, and then acting in the way that He wants you to.  That includes being humble and unforgetful.  What is really cool is that this key applies to real life as well.  I could have used it more and gotten a lot more help when I was home but that time is gone and I can only plan for the future. 

The important thing to do in this work is to change, not only your behavior in the work of the Lord, but your nature.  If you only change your behavior on your mission, you will have learned a thing or two but you will go back the same you.  When a missionary's nature changes, he goes home a new man, sees the world different.  Yeah of course the situations are different when we are home but our nature and attitude that we have developed on our missions should not dissolve because it's a different routine.  I love it.

We have found a lady who would like to be baptized as well :)  She has a husband as well, who is on the way.  We taught a first lesson this last week and then came back two days later to teach a second and commited her to enter into the fold and she accepted with tears in her eyes :)  I am really excited for her.  She came to church yesterday and had a great time meeting the members and our other investigator who was there, was teaching this new lady haha.  It was a cool sight to see.  I know that as she takes this step it will better her situation and the situation between herself and God.  

This last week I have studied about King Josiah ( 2 Kings 22 or so and 2 Chron. 34 I believe...I don't have my scriptures with me).  He came into office as elected by the people, at the lofty age of 8.  His father was killed on the throne by naughty men and the 8 year old steps up to the plate.  Well, this 8 year old gets a little older to the age of 26.  I this time, he tells the high priest to go check out the Temple which was pretty cleaned out from earlier people.  So the priest checks it out and finds a Book!  Not just any book, but the Book of Laws or Books of Moses.  The servant read the words of the Book to King Josiah and Josiah ripped his clothes (they were probably expensive).  That's how struck he was from these words.  And how do we look at the Old Testament?  Especially the Book of the Laws?  Don't lie!  I know how it is!  If we had an option to read the 4 Books of Moses or to go cut off a samurai's ponytell we would probably choose the latter because the second option involves us not living anymore but anyways, Josiah reads the Book, 'rents' his clothes and then tells the servants and priests to go pray for him, Judah and all the people.  They do and go to a Prophetess, who apparently went to college in Jeruselum (BYU) like the scriptures say, who speaks the words of the Lord saying: that God is going to punish this people greatly because of what they have done BUT, He will forgive Josiah for his open heart, humility and because he had brought forth true repentance to the Lord. Okay.  10 points Josiah.  What now?  Slam dunk is coming.  Josiah calls all the Holy people in the land and brings them to the Temple to do what?  MAKE COVENANTS IN THE HOUSE OF THE LORD.  'And the king stood by a pillar, and made a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord, and to keep his commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all their heart and all their soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were writtenin this book. And all the people stood to the covenant.'  Sound familiar.  2,000,000 points for Josiah.  Good job brother, but it doesn't stop there!  Oh no!  He cleanses the Temple, throws out all the baal crap and 'puts-down' everything that has to do with other God's outside of this Book.  I don't know exactly what 'put-down' means but it definitly is not a pat on the back :)  He burns it all and just erases the practice of baal worship in the land and among the people.  I can't number the verbs that are used here to 'brake' the things of baal.  I love it.  He then practices the Passover meal with the people and worship the God of Isreal, the God of Jacob and of Abraham.  He had turned his heart to the Lord through hearing, understanding and trusting in the words of the Lord, through the mouths of His Prophet.  

May we hear a little better, understand a little more and trust completely in the words of the Lord through the mouths of His Prophets.  We can show that we hear, understand and trust, as we ACT on these things.  Don't go ripping up other churches but apply it to your life in that you change yourself to apply the word of the Lord and to feel it's power.  

Sorry for the rambling hehe,

Love, Elder Hays

Doors

Gruß!  We did a lot of service this week.  We helped a family for a couple of days to move in to their new home and they really appreciated it.  They have had alot of stress and I hope they are doing better.  We brought them by banana bread that I made the other day.  

I was on exchage with Elder Glad this week who is the Zone Leader in Hamburg.  We had a great time, pulled out the bikes and biked to a village out side of Pinneberg to do some finding.  We had picked out a street on the map but when we got there we realized that it was all businesses.  We had also picked out a back-up street to do if the one didn't work out so we headed there.  On the 4th door we knocked on, a lady came to the door, probably in the late 30's and we started discussing the gospel.  We gave her some of the 1st lesson, mainly on the Book of Mormon and talked for a good 20 min.  After pure testimony was given, she accepted a Book of Mormon and the challenge to read the chapters we had given her.  She said we could come back and explain more as well.  

Earlier in the week, Elder Liddiard and I were doing doors in the same area as the last area, but a little more north.  We doored for about an hour before we talked to a lady who was cleaning her garage out.  Come to find out, she already knew all about the church and Joseph Smith and has a Book of Mormon on her shelf at home.  She had gone to church with her friend while living in southern Germany.  After moving away, she didn't have the chance to learn more but still has the Book of Mormon.  We talked for a bit and answered her questions and she also accepted the challenge to read and pray about the Book of Mormon.  

I am very grateful for our Mission President and his wife.  They are some of the best people I have ever met and know they are sent from God.  They know what to say and how to say it in a way that helps us grow and to find answers out for ourselves.  

I hope you are all doing well and keep me updated on everything :)  

Love you,

Elder Hays

Blessed

Well my dearly beloveds. I am doing super well!  I am blessed from our Heavenly Father to have the true desire to help people recognize the Atonement of Jesus Christ.  I love this work and I obviously miss you all to death but I am really caught up in what I am doing here.  I love every second.  

We have had a cold couple of days but just Jacket weather, nothing too serious.  The trees are starting to bloom and it is becoming super green.  Flowers popping out!  Love it.  

I kind of forget sometimes that mountains actually exist.  I miss them obviously but it has been a while since I have seen a hill or two.  I can't wait to meet all of these super great people in the ward!  People keep saying names and I am just out of the loop I guess...

We are teaching a lot and getting on average 3 new investigators per week.  The ward is giving us referrals.  I have a fire burning inside of me and my mind set is not on just filling my day, but it's on how can I use these 5 min to bring someone to Christ.  I still need to improve but we are going uphill.  I am really enjoying it.  My body doesn't work as fast as my mind wants so that has been tough, but I am doing well.  The ward here is great.  There are a few members that I have really gotten close too.  We get along really well.  We are invited to eating appointments about 4 times a week.  We've just got to get some baptisms for them.  We are working our butts off.  

Elder Liddiard is doing well.  We both had our first experience of doing doors here in Pinneberg this last week and it went okay.  I just wanted to show him the difference between doing doors or dooring a street and going out to find someone in faith.  Sometimes we forget that God has prepared people and we shouldn't be the ones deciding what to do and where to go but in prayer we can know where we need to go and what we need to do to find the person whom he has prepared.  

We had a miracle happen this week!  But it is not fully developed so I will just tell it all next week okay?  Okay.  Glad we're in agreement.  

We taught a good lesson to Frau S***** and she said that she would be baptized when she gets an answer so that was a good step for her to express how she feels.  Frau K**** is doing well.  She just needs to stop smoking and she can be baptized the next weekend so we are getting members to help her out.  

I have studied this week a lot about patience and why it is important in our missionary work and in life over all.  One scripture that President Kosak always quotes is from the Book of Doctrines and Covenants, Section 123 and verse 17:

 17 Therefore, dearly beloved brethren, let us cheerfully do allthings that lie in our power; and then may we stand still, with the utmost assurance, to see the salvation of God, and for his arm to be revealed.

It's like the story in Mosiah 24 or so where the people of Alma are persecuted for praying.  They do everything that lies in their power, and then waited in patience for the salvation of God which came in the right time.  

The story of Joseph Smith in Jail in section 121: 1-8 or so.  God will not leave us but like it says in Mosiah 23:21 The Lord tests our devotion to Him even when it's not so easy for us.  

I love you all :)

Love, Elder Hays

Great week

We had a better week!  We had good numbers which means we helped and taught a good number of people:).  We have 4 Progressing investigators who keep our commitments and about 20 people who we teach regularly.  The Lord has blessed us.

Elder Liddiard is doing swell.  I gotta keep my eye on him because if I look away, like Enoch, I am afraid he will be translated to Heaven.  He is getting a hold on missionary work and his german is coming along magnificently.   

We had the opportunity to do more service which was obviously fantastic and especially in 20°C weather!  It was great.  T-Shirt, shovel, sun and motorcycles driving by.  Nothing better haha.  

We have a great week lined up with a good number of Joint Teaches with members and a bunch of inactive member lessons are planned.  It will be a good one.  I am baking banana bread too!  I love to bake all of the sudden...

I read a scripture this morning as I was preparing for an investigators lesson in 1 Corinthians 15:42- 58

42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. It is sown in corruption; it is raised in incorruption:

 43 It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:

 44 It is sown a natural body; it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body.

As we came to earth we were weak and when we recognize this fact, we have the opportunity to become strong.

 45 And so it is written, The first man Adam was made a living soul; the last Adam was made a quickening spirit.

 46 Howbeit that was not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual.

 47 The first man is of the earth, earthy: the second man is the Lord from heaven.

 48 As is the earthy, such are they also that are earthy: and as is the heavenly, such are they also that are heavenly.

 49 And as we have borne the image of the earthy, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.

 50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.

 51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.

 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?

 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law.

 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

 58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

As we follow the commandments of God, when we come to the borderline of death, we will have no fear, for we will have no guilt, and we will receive the promise of Eternal Life; to live with the Eternal Father of our Spirits and enjoy the presence of the Son, who are one in purpose, as we die in His mercy, so will we be added to this harmony of purpose.  The faithful saints will say at this borderline, 'O death, where is thy sting?  O grave, where is thy victory?'.  Death is destructive and stings because of the regret and wounds of sin.  The reason that sin is there or the strength of it is becuase of the Law that was 'irrevocably decreed in heaven before the foundations of this world, upon which all blessings are predicated—And when we obtain any blessing from God, it is by obedience to that law upon which it is predicated.'  (DC 130:20,21)

Might we strive a little harder to keep the commandements of the lord, to live the law of the Heaven, upon which we receive blessings for the future and present.  God loves us so He sent His Son to make the sting of death dissolve, as long as we follow in faith, trust and obedience.  

I love ya'll,

Elder Hays

Service

I preached the gospel this week!  And ate good food.  We ate yesterday with Famile Gulla!  They are actually moving to Los Angeles in a couple of months but they are super cool.  We played with their boys for a little before we ate.  We had noodles and spagetti sauce, a great italian salad and apple musli :)  Super yummy.. 

Too bad for Zoe (our cat was hit by a car) ...I hope everyone at home is okay.  I'll send Bella (our very sad dog) a Plan of Salvation brochure.  It explains a lot.  'Preach the Gospel to every Creature...'

This week we did a lot of service, which was amazing to get my hands all dirty :)  I loved it so so much.  We served an investigator and helped her in her garten with a member and we had some tea afterwards and talked about the Plan of Salvation.  On Thursday, we made an appointment with an inactive member in the ward who hasn't been to church for 'many, many years'.  She has a husband and two daughters that aren't members.  The husband invited us over and a member to dinner on Thursday and we had a great time.  The member has great contact with them and is good friends with them.  The member was Bishop Juchau's Distrikts Leiter in Pinneberg, Brüder Trierweiler.  It was a great lesson and we taught out of Alma 7, about what Christ did and how we not only recognize what He did, but how do we apply it to our lives.  They loved it.  We will be serving them this week :)  My companion is doing great!!

I baked cookies (I know right) this week and we wanted to deliver them but they have been sitting in the fridge and have been almost eaten...mmmm

Earlier in the week we had two trees cut down on the Church's property because of the danger of falling, so on Saturday we helped some members take it to their homes to use.  It felt good :)  I just remember being up at the cabin doing all of the tree work and driving the 4-wheeler around with the trailer.  Fun fun.

Yesterday we had a good day.  I was pretty disappointed with the numbers this week to be honest, but we have prayed and set goals in faith to improve this month.  I have located the holes that need to be filled :)  

I want to quote my great friend Elder Jared Potter in Orlando, Florida for my famous spiritual thought of the week. 

'Check your humility, or [the Lord] will check it for you ;).' 

Have a great week my friends, true love only comes once and my heart belongs to the gospel :)  (okay, true love will come twice then if that is the case)

May the force be with you,

Elder Hays