Spaghetti with Salsa

      Hallo! Where in the world did September go?! Wowza this whole thing is really starting to fly by. This transfer has by far gone by the quickest! I seriously still can’t believe that this is the last week
of this transfer. Yep, that means that transfer calls are this Saturday. The curiosity is alive! I think that I will stay in Rostock with Sister Nielson but who knows! I honestly would love to be transferred haha, but we will see!
      This week has been one of those on the mission that is used as a standard to compare other hard weeks to, so you can feel grateful it just isnt as bad as "that one week". Haha well, it was "that one week". Coming into this week we had a lot of new appointments that we have been waiting all transfer to come together. A lot of people were out of town and finally got back, or we were able to re-initiate contact after a long time away from missionaries. Needless to say, we were so excited for this week so hopefully see a change of pace in Rostock. Sadly every single appointment fell out this week. Every single one except for members. It is a hard week to look back on to be honest. But dont we all have times like that? It really does make us appreciate the good times when we have them. Or in my case my old area of Dresden ;) haha Just kidding!! (kind of.)
      But no matter how bad things get there are ALWAYS some laughs to be found. This week that came in the form of two maintenance men. My companion was feeling really sick so she was laying down for a little bit while I was studying. I heard the doorbell and I knew that I would not be able to properly communicate with whoever was there, so I ran and got my companion. She shot out of bed in her groggy state and opened the door. Well these two, relatively large I might add, German man just walk right in and head to our bathroom. We were both SO confused at what was going on. They were apparently there to change our bathroom filter, but they didn’t even bother telling us. I think both me and my companion had thoughts from the movie Taken the entire time. We can blame the panic on that, and the fact that there were two men in our....missionary apartment.....yeah that doesn’t happen every day or and day for that matter!! They were there for a minute is all and then just walked out and closed the door behind them. I don’t think we moved the entire 60 seconds they were there and the second they left we just lost it and were laughing so hard! Oh Germans....they will always be entertaining to me.
      This week we also did what I like to call a Cookie Tour. My companions make fun of me that I make them do this, but it works! This is where you make lots of cookies and then go around to less active members and old contacts and leave them some cookies with a note. It is always so fun to see their faces light up when you give them the little treat. It also allows us to break some of the ice that has been created over time. Next week, or the week after, we will visit them again and see if we can make out appointments with them. Everyone loves feeling loved.....and what better way than a cookie tour?! haha this is the argument I have to have with my companions. I once heard from a very wise actor that I cannot talk about on my mission ha, "All you need is love." Holler to that.
      I also had my first eating appointment in Rostock. In Dresden along with most areas you get fed 1-2 times a week. However, in Rostock everything is different :). It was at a member’s house, Brudder Schmidt. He is famous mission wide because he is hilarious and LOVES missionaries. Not only is his famous, but so are his eating appointments. You never know what you are exactly eating and he gives you inhuman amounts. Well after getting a fair warning I prepped by not eating all day and had the plan just not to look down at what I actually was eating. I guess I lucked out for my first time, or so I was told. We had spaghetti with salsa. An interesting combo I tell you what! haha. They weren’t lying about the inhuman amounts either......he was not going to let me leave until I had two plates....so we were there for a while. All my companions say I am the wimpiest eater.....but I just say that I am the only normal one as I smile and they have to finish mine too :).
      Well as stated before this week was a tad bit on the rough side. As me and my companion found ourselves lost in the middle of nowhere, surrounded my farms and a sewage plant, freezing our tushes off.....I sadly let my thoughts get negative. I remember just thinking, "You have got to be kidding me! Could this get any worse?!" And then it hitme. ….This week’s spiritual thought of course haha. We all have difficult days and there will be plenty in the days ahead. And there is only one person that truly knows what we feel during these times. Jesus descended below all things in order to rise above all things. He did this to show us the way. He expects us to follow his example. If we yoke ourselves with Him, with his help, we can rise above all our challenges. No matter how difficult they may be. No matter how hopeless you feel. Consider all that the Savior has done, and all he continues to do for us. Jesus will love you, lift you, and manifest yourself to you if you love him back and keep his commandments (John 14:21).
      Even in the most troubled trials of life, he has told us, "Be of good cheer and do not fear, for I the Lord am with thee, and will stand by you, and ye shall bear record of me, even Jesus Christ, that I am the Son of the living God, that I was, that I am, and that I am to come." (D&C 68:6)......Hold fast to that promise. Our journey to Him isn't just physical, it is emotional and behavioral. It involves accepting and embracing His atonement is infinite and covers every aspect of our lives. Our sins, weaknesses, pains, sicknesses, and infirmity. (Alma 7:11-13) "It means we can’t let go of those things that hold us down in the gloomy fog of our own inversion and live instead in the warmth and love of His light."
      President Eyring said, "The words 'come unto christ' are an invitation. It is the most important invitation you could ever offer to another person. It is the most important invitation anyone could accept." Let us all accept the invitation to come unto Christ. Remember Him in your daily lives and let him carry you on the days of difficulty. He will, I promise.
      Well that about sums up my week here in Rostock! I am so grateful for all the amazing support and love I feel from back home. I don’t know what I would do without it! I am praying for you all! Have a great week! KEEP THE FAITH!!!

Sister Linford

Kirche Jesu Christi
Sister Jessica Linford
Friedrich Str. 14
18057 Rostock
Germany