I have had that school house rock song stuck in my head for the past week... You know the one that's like... The great American melting pot? Ring any bells? No? Well you had a deprived childhood. I feel sorry for you. I would sing it for you but I am in Germany... and those are the only lyrics I can remember.. what a pity. But they got the words wrong anyway. What they really meant was: The great GERMAN melting pot. Seriously.
I think that may have been my biggest culture shock here.... Like no one is actually German. Weird huh? I don't know if it is just the area I am in or if I just happen to talk to all the non-Germans but it really is so true. Sister Teeples and I will just sit on the bus and play spot-the-German and try to guess how many of the people on there are actually natives... usually about two. Shocker. In just one day we met with a lady from Syria who spoke about two words of German and had a Pakistanian feast for a one year old birthday party (That is a whole different story. I will get there) and handed out The Book of Mormon in appx. 644444789467 different languages. Because of that I am learning more and more about how important languages are. It really is a piece of these people. We talk about speaking from the heart and how often we get frustrated because we feel like we can't fully express ourselves without speaking our native language. Language is a part of who they are and their background and experiences are all attached to that language. Sound familiar? That is so me. But these people may know some English and they may even be fluent in it, but thats not the language they think and feel in. If you want to really speak heart to heart with someone the best way to do it is in their language.
I want to speak heart to heart with these people but so many of them speak even less German than I do... (and that is saying something... ) So what do we do? Teach with the Spirit. Flash back to my very first letter about the Spirit not having any language barriers. Oh how beautiful. I am learning that in a whole different way now. Instead of me being the one with language barriers it is on the other end. I have never realized how crazy that must sound to someone. You are going to feel that this is true. Like what? No where else in the world would that fly... 'Two plus 8 equals four' 'That answer is wrong.' 'No I really feel that the answer is four.' Yep that doesn't work. And yet that's what makes the Spirit so beautiful. It is so different from everything else in the world. But if you just say that you will have this feeling they will look at you like you are crazy. But if you testify and then let them feel it. Oh boy it is the best. That is when their desires change. That is when they will have the spirit. That is when a change of heart takes place.
'When the Spirit touches hearts hearts are changed. This is how we come to feel the gospel is true.' -M Russell Ballard
So cool. Don't take that for granted.
xoxoxox
Sister Heywood
Vapianos. So dang good. With my favorite people ever. The Vermillions. And I even ordered all by myself. (or in other words pointed to what I wanted on the menu.... progress.)
Sister Teeples one year in Germany? Let's celebrate. Aka:ice cream.
Now I really slacked on pictures this day.. which is a bummer because it was definitely a night I will never ever forget. Let me just paint the picture for you real quick with a bunch of crazy pakistanians all speaking Ordu and the cutest little boy just beaming away as we just sit in the corner stuffing our faces.. not having a clue what anyone is saying and wondering how we got ourselves into this mess.. Every other one year old birthday party I have been to we end up playing pin the tail on the donkey or duck duck goose or something... But don't worry. They were fascinated with us because we were so 'nice and pretty' and that we brought him this dollar store truck.. and so one of the sweetest families end up giving us their number and address and said to come by this week! Who would have thought? Now we just have to get out of the friend zone and into the missionary zone.
Sadly.. the rein of district leader Elder Barney has come to an end... we sure will miss him.
such goofs. love them. can September 27th come faster?
one week's worth. how cool, huh!
