An evening full of cottan candy, jumping on bubble wrap and banging on pots and pans. Oh wait you didn't do that? What a pity.
Here in Germany people go crazy on New Years. I mean cray-zy. No need for details but due to safety reasons we had to be home by 6:00 and boy did we celebrate. (Pictures below) BUT then the rest of the time was spent making goals. Lots and lots of goals. Which I love. So much. Really. I think Sister Johnson and I might be the only two missionaries in the entire world who actually enjoy planning. But we really truly honestly do.
Although sometimes I have a hard time with goals... don't get me wrong. love em. Raise your vision. help you stay focused, makes you become a better person etc. but sometimes I have a hard time with the whole specific but broad, measurable but qualitable (is that a word?)realistic but showing your faith dealio. Like how do I know if I am doing enough? How do I know if I am making a difference? How can I reallllly know that I am helping people? Even if I had a billion lessons did it really help people? What if I didn't talk to ten people today but I stopped to wipe an old ladies tears? What if my goals aren't reflecting all the things I did behind the scenes this week? How will I ever know that I am making a difference? Answer?
You don't.
'We must be faithful in all we do never forgetting the why behind it.' New goal. Don't treat people or lessons or finding or anything in missionary work as a check mark off on someones to-do list. Rather Love God. Love my fellow man. and Bring them all closer to Christ. sometimes the best things you do aren't even measurable. or Seen. or Appreciated. Sometimes bringing people closer to Christ is met through examples and going after the one and sometimes taking a moment in my busy schedule to play tea party with a 4 year old. Or stay late after church to help clean the dishes because you know the person doing it has back problems. Or sometimes taking a moment to really listen to someone's concerns instead of jumping right into the lesson. Or using all your money to pay for a lost bus ticket (anytime comp). Or letting go of your crazy perfect schedule to make room for the emergency appointment on your busiest day of the week. Or loving. helping. serving.
Letting go of good things for better things and then letting go of better things for the best things.
That's the goal.
Now listen to some Elder Holland widom and 'Run fast to the tape. Help all you can. You can rest later.' And here comes the familiar words...
Here. we. go.
xoxoxox
s.heywood
And the Vermillions are out. Sad day for the hearts of Münster. I love them so dearly.
Peacin' in with Domo. And I look a little crazy.. but he is awesome. and I need to stop loving all these people so stinkin' much.
Now if this isn't something straight out of a movie I don't know what is... Cute little mother-daughter dance to an accordion playing man on the cobble stone streets of Germany? perfection.
And what did I tell you about our party skills?
Fondue German style? yes.
How do you stay up until midnight and still go to bed at 9? set the clocks back. brilliant.
