Dear friends,
well,
what can I say. The summer holidays have definitely hit home here in
the Züricher Unterland. Church attendance fell to about 25 this week,
mostly because our two biggest families in the branch are on vacation.
Record low for my time here is 11. We`ll get there, I`m pretty sure.
However, there were thankfully some people who jumped in to raise our
numbers: Sister W______, who was baptized a while ago, came to Church
for the first time in months, stayed the whole three hours, and said she
loved it. She also says she`ll come back every Sunday now if she can.
It`s a lot similar to Sister A_____`s story. She also pretty much
"reactivated herself" a while ago, which is so lovely :) It just came to
show that there are, probably in every ward or branch, people who don`t
come to Church but would love to if they were just invited by someone.
So...I challenge all of you to invite someone to Church next month who
is on your ward`s memberlist but doesn`t come all the time. And then you
watch the miracles happen :)
G_____
also came to Church again, despite the horrendous week he had at work.
He said he`d been working in three different cities within the two days
prior to yesterday and had rarely slept. He still came for the first two
hours and really seemed to enjoy it. :) The funniest thing was when we
asked him if he`d like to be taught a lesson in a separate room or if he
would stay for Sunday School in the chapel with the rest of the branch.
He thought for a moment and was like, "There`s so few people at Church
today, I think you need me here in Sunday School!" haha that was
precious. :) I don`t think I`ve ever been more amused about a lesson not
happening...
Talking
about lessons: This week was truly a BREAKTHROUGH week, lessonwise that
is. We taught not two, not two, not two, but indeed THREE lessons!
First, there is a man that Bonstetten Elders found for us. I went on a
split with Elder Dewey to teach this man named R______. Tons of
prepared, tons of good lesson! He is really busy though but we`ll stay
in touch. New investigator number 1! We also taught a couple that showed
up at Schwamendingen Church last Sunday, H____ and N_____. They are
super awesome and really concerned about how they can strengthen their
family. Well, we might have something for them! :) We got another
appointment with them for tomorrow, we`ll see how it goes :) New
investigators 2 and 3! Finally, we got to see the R_____ family again!
They are so sweet. What an angelic less active/part member family! :) We
scheduled this appointment...let me think...like in my second week in
Dielsdorf. Three months ago. They can only meet during the holidays,
which is why we got a "return appointment" for fall break, so to say.
haha I wish we could meet them more, and them giving us home-baked bread
and ice cream sure isn`t the only reason for that :)
We
also got to go to the Temple. It was such a great day! :) I love the
Temple more each time I go. I`m so glad we can go there once a transfer!
:)
Random
AGSM Moment: I gave a talk in Sacrament this Sunday, on preparation for
the Temple. Well...I wasn`t really sure what to tell people and quite
sincerely, the references that I got with the assignment didn`t help too
much. What would I talk about then? Think closely. Y`all know Elder
Friedmann well enough to guess right. I talked about the Temple and
how...the YOUNG WOMEN`S VALUES prepare us for the Temple! :) haha it
ended up being a little less random than I thought it would be, or than
it sounds now in retrospect. (Un)fortunately no young women were present
at Church this Sunday so there was no need for me to hide from them, in
an attempt to deter their admiration for me. It reminded me of the fact
though that I definitely want to marry someone who holds dear the YW
values. Anyone?! haha :)
Have a great week! :)
Elder Friedmann
