Blondie in Berlin: TAUSCH WITH "SISTER" LANKWITZ [ BERLIN ]

April 22, 2014

HIS HANDS

his hands

tools of creation

stronger than nations

power without end

and yet through them we find our truest friend

his hands

sermons of kindness

healing men's blindness

halting years of pain

children waiting to be held again

his hands would serve his whole life through

showing man what his hands might do

giving, ever giving, endlessly

each day was filled with selflessness

and I'll not rest until I make of my hands what they could be

'til these hands become like those from galilee

his hands

lifting a leper

warming a beggar

calling back the dead

breaking bread, five thousand fed

his hands

hushing contention

pointing to heaven

ever free of sin

then bidding man to follow him

his hands would serve his whole life through

showing man what his hands might do

giving, ever giving, endlessly

each day was filled with selflessness

and I'll not rest until I make of my hands what they could be

'til these hands become like those from galilee

his hands

clasped in agony

as he lay pleading, bleeding in the garten

while just moments away

other hands betray him

out of greed, shameful greed

and then his hands

are trembling

straining to carry the beam that they've been nailed to

as he stumbles through the streets

heading for the hill on which he'd die

he would die

they take his hands, his might hands, those gentle hands

and then they pierce them, they pierce them

he lets them, because of love

from birth to death was selflessness

and clearly now I see him with his hands

calling to me

and though I'm not yet as I would be

he has shown me how I could be

I'll make my hands like those from galilee

It was in Hamburg that Sister Darrington shared this song with me. I remember sitting at the kitchen table on Christmas morning as she read the words aloud for our district. Something special. She had read and had sobbed simultaneously.

This Easter week I pulled out this song again. I know God lives. I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. Really for me, I think a lot about 'Sister' and how she really touched my life and changed my life. She is an example. A friend. Above all, a disciple of Christ. ( ** I love that Heidi refers to Sister Darrington as "Sister"..just shows the closeness of their relationship)

I can say that my tausch ( exchange ) with her this past week was one of the best days of my mission. We have both grown since Hamburg. Do you know that she served me every second she was with me. I didn't know that I was broken at all or in need of anything, until she found all of my cracks and then filled them. I find that she understands me and my experiences better than almost anyone. So pretty much we stayed up until almost 3 in the morning talking. But it wasn't what President would call ''Babylonisch''. It wasn't about boys, or after mission life, or whatever. It was about the Spirit, it was about our testimonies, it was about our experiences. People. Us. Life. I can say that one of the most wonderful blessings in life is having the companionship of the Holy Ghost. I can’t go without the guidance, the peace, the comfort, the inner peace. The whole time we were together we marveled at how strong the Spirit was. It feels so good. I am so grateful for love and friendship. That strengthens my belief in God.

"Sister"

Me and meine liebe "Sister". Love this girl SO MUCH.

Tausch (exchange)with Sister Darrington..

Tausch! Mensch, probably one of the best days of my mission being with "Sister" again

I studied more about the Atonement this week. Jesus Christ and His Atonement is central to EVERYTHING. It was the greatest manifestation of love. Do you know why I claim to believe in Jesus Christ?? Why I say, Ich WEIß, I KNOW. Because I have learned that God testifies of truth through the Holy Ghost. And I believe that I have experienced that. The Holy Ghost speaks peace to the soul. Love, joy, peace. Longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith. Meekness, temperance. As I have studied this week, I have FELT and EXPERIENCED that. When I was out on the street this week I just went up to everybody and started sharing my testimony of Christ. I felt kind of like I was on fire. I just felt so empowered, so good, so full of light and I was so HAPPY, and all I wanted to do was share it with everyone. When I read in the scriptures and wrote my thoughts, I received silent confirmations as I felt in my heart the workings of the Spirit. It's just all good. My thoughts were uplifting, my understanding enlightened. All I know is that I feel a tangible energy around me that seems to comfort me and guide me, and I don’t want to lose that. I can only trust that it is the Holy Ghost, and that God is really there, he loves me, and He is pleased with what I am doing.

I LOVE THE PEOPLE HERE. I love being a missionary.

Monday 21 April ( excerpt from Heidi’s journal)

''. . .Whenever we talk about Jesus Christ I get a good feeling in my heart. I feel peace. I feel empowered. I really do believe that I have experienced the Holy Ghost testify to me the truthfulness of Christ. I believe that God is making truth known to me. I was very grateful to be at the Beesley's yesterday, and that for Easter Sunday we could spend it together. All believers. There was a very tangible energy in the room-and I know the Spirit was there with us. I spontaneously bore my testimony and with everything I said it really felt like my heart was burning. Everyone else opened up as well, and the testimonies shared were some of the most sincere testimonies I have ever heard.

''We also met with R** and L** . . . I love them so much. I still have the image of R** and L** standing outside the 181 bus window. Smiling and waving. L** with his pink bicycle. His nose running. Natürlich! Sister Bronson and I are smiling and waving back. My heart was so full and is so full.''

Seriously, it is the most natural thing to want to share the gospel with people when you sincerely love and care about them. ''Love is something very important to me. It's so powerful. Feeling and experiencing love makes me want to believe in God. It makes me want to live. It makes me happy.''

Even yesterday, we got time to meet with J**. Earlier in the week he announced to us that he was really preparing for baptism. His desire may still be small, but when it is founded upon truth and righteousness it is destined to grow. I have already watched his faith grow, and I believe in the power of God. I believe that God makes truth known to us. He can touch hearts, because I have experienced it myself. J** invited one of his friends to meet with us the other day. We met once and J** gave us some missionary advice before she came. Ha ha. Actually though, he is a really good missionary, and it is actually helpful getting some teaching advice from one of your own investigators, just saying . . . But his advice was this. 1) Be a friend. 2) Be an Example. 3) Teach them.

Meeting with the two of them together was really amazing. I really felt the Spirit. Especially when J** shared his own experiences of why he believed in God. He invited D** to do the same. Missionary work is a little bit contagious I think! So after we left, D** didn't really seem too enthusiastic about learning more, but J** did about four hours more of missionary work after we left. . .

We met up for Chinese food yesterday and then went to Tiergarten for Family Home evening. We gave her a book of Mormon and she was grateful for the gift and wants us to help her understand it. Yesterday I think I laughed more than I have in a long time. It felt so good. I have made a new good friend in D**! And I can’t wait to get to know her better. Apparently J** already taught her about the word of wisdom because yesterday at the restaurant somebody walked passed with some beer. . .

''Do you like beer? Oh! Me neither!''

''Do you like coffee? Oh! Me neither!''

''Do you like tea? Oh! Me neither!''

Ha ha it only took a few seconds and some laughs to realize where this was coming from.

Anyway, it has been an INCREDIBLE week. I am happy. I am grateful. I am enjoying the warm weather. I love you all!!

Love,

Sister Heidi Elaine Shelley