hallo familie

Hallo familie--thats German =)

I think I start every email the same way...but it has been yet again, another great week! And to top it off, last night I had my President's interview (once a transfer) and after it President Holmes gave me his personal credit card and said for Sister Hofmann and I to go and eat as much dessert as we wanted at the Nauvoo cafe, ha, it was so awesome! I love President, he is pretty intense but he also really spoils us =)

This week I saw many miracles, in particular with the German people. The stereotype for Germans that come to Temple Square is that they know lots of crazy/false stories about Mormons and are pretty much scared to even listen to missionaries. Basically, they think we are aliens. Yet TONS of them come through on their way up from Bryce Canyon and on their way to Yellowstone. So Sister Hofmann was feeling pretty discouraged and so I suggested we fast for the German people to have their hearts softened and for us to meet the prepared ones. And guess what?? We did!! In the last three days, 4 German families have accepted missionaries to bring them Das Buch Mormon!!!! It is amazing how after 30-45 minutes straight of praying for the Germans on our tours I just love them so much. I pray my heart out and I testify to what Sister Hofmann is saying in English and I know they can feel the Spirit; as I study their faces I can see their eyes change from cold and skeptical to very peaceful and accepting. I tell Sister Hofmann Germany will need another temple after her 18 months, and she just laughs, but I don't want her to ever get discouraged!

So a couple of weeks ago we met a guy in the MoTab on the way to his practice and after a great conversation we found out his sister in the Philipenes does not really know anything about the church and he referred her. This week we passed him and he was SO EXCITED to tell us his sister and her husband are now meeting with missionaries. YAY!

Also there is a Sister coming next transfer from California (Sister Mondaca) and we took her family on a tour before she went to the MTC. Her brother Kenny is 20 and hasn't been to church in over 5 years. He was really touched on the tour and the next day he came back and showed us the brand new set of scriptures he bought with his name on them! He was just glowing and seemed like a different person, I was so happy. He also referred a friend of his who accepted missionaries and when we called to tell Kenny to tell him he said he has read his scriptures every day, the missionaries are teaching him, and he feels very at peace now! WOOHOOO!!! I love my mission. People think we "don't see the fruits of our labors" but trust me, I come home every night feeling so blessed and happy I feel like I could pop... I can't imagine what would happen if I actually saw an investigator get baptized =)

I LOVE YOU SOSOSOSOSO MUCH! -Sister M. Olsen