Beautiful windows in the chapel near Borg Castle.

We were all over the place this week! We were in Erlenbach, Otterbach, Otterberg, Winweiler, AND we had our Stake's Sommerfest in Idar-Oberstein (about an hour drive from Kaiserslautern). It was so much fun, but it was SO hot! The missionaries were in charge of putting on a game for the kids so we did bobbing for apples. When we ran out of apples for the kids we put in a watermelon for the adults. We were laughing so hard seeing grown men biting chunks out of the watermelon trying to get it out. We played a lot of frisbee and ate some amazing food. It was also a great way to talk to the members about the people we teach and see when they were available so they could mitbelehr.

On Donnerstag (Thursday) we served the Koch family. I'm pretty sure they thought only 7-8 people were going to show up, but almost 30 people showed up! They were so grateful because they had to do a ton of hard work and it made it so much easier. I got to mow the lawn (woo!) and pull weeds.

We met with Christina again this week and we've been meeting with Tony almost every day. Other than that it was the last week of summer vacation so everyone was out of town.

Today for Pday we all went to a Borg (castle) SURPRISE! This one was in Hohenecken and we were able to climb around inside it like we did in the Frankenstein castle last week.

The missionaries were also asked to give talks in sacrament meeting again as well. I spoke about the importance of daily scripture study. One of the scriptures I shared was:

John 5:39 "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."

I know that when we study the scriptures daily we are able to learn more about Christ and the plan God has for us. The scriptures are so important that they have been preserved for us to read.

Next Sunday is the Freiburg temple open house so we'll be in Saarbrücken!

Die Schriften sind so wichtig sie haben vor für uns bewahren. Ich weiß dass wenn wir den Wunsch haben, Christus zu folgen, Gott werden uns segnen. Ich bin dankbar für die Propheten im die Schriften und für die Erkenntnis wir haben. Ich bin dankbar für das Evangelium Jesu Christi und für die Gelegenheit es zu teilen.

(The scriptures are so important they protect them for us. I know that if we have the desire to follow Christ, God will bless us . I am grateful for the prophets in the scriptures and for the knowledge we have. I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and for the opportunity to share it.)

Bis nächste Montag! Until next Monday!

- Sister Luymes

District outing to Borg Castle and nearby chapel on Prep-Day.

Borg Castle ruins along the upper left ridge line.
Chapel above the Conradt Hotel.

Beautiful windows in the chapel near Borg Castle.

We were all over the place this week! We were in Erlenbach, Otterbach, Otterberg, Winweiler, AND we had our Stake's Sommerfest in Idar-Oberstein (about an hour drive from Kaiserslautern). It was so much fun, but it was SO hot! The missionaries were in charge of putting on a game for the kids so we did bobbing for apples. When we ran out of apples for the kids we put in a watermelon for the adults. We were laughing so hard seeing grown men biting chunks out of the watermelon trying to get it out. We played a lot of frisbee and ate some amazing food. It was also a great way to talk to the members about the people we teach and see when they were available so they could mitbelehr.

On Donnerstag (Thursday) we served the Koch family. I'm pretty sure they thought only 7-8 people were going to show up, but almost 30 people showed up! They were so grateful because they had to do a ton of hard work and it made it so much easier. I got to mow the lawn (woo!) and pull weeds.

We met with Christina again this week and we've been meeting with Tony almost every day. Other than that it was the last week of summer vacation so everyone was out of town.

Today for Pday we all went to a Borg (castle) SURPRISE! This one was in Hohenecken and we were able to climb around inside it like we did in the Frankenstein castle last week.

The missionaries were also asked to give talks in sacrament meeting again as well. I spoke about the importance of daily scripture study. One of the scriptures I shared was:

John 5:39 "Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me."

I know that when we study the scriptures daily we are able to learn more about Christ and the plan God has for us. The scriptures are so important that they have been preserved for us to read.

Next Sunday is the Freiburg temple open house so we'll be in Saarbrücken!

Die Schriften sind so wichtig sie haben vor für uns bewahren. Ich weiß dass wenn wir den Wunsch haben, Christus zu folgen, Gott werden uns segnen. Ich bin dankbar für die Propheten im die Schriften und für die Erkenntnis wir haben. Ich bin dankbar für das Evangelium Jesu Christi und für die Gelegenheit es zu teilen.

(The scriptures are so important they protect them for us. I know that if we have the desire to follow Christ, God will bless us . I am grateful for the prophets in the scriptures and for the knowledge we have. I am grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ and for the opportunity to share it.)

Bis nächste Montag! Until next Monday!

- Sister Luymes

District outing to Borg Castle and nearby chapel on Prep-Day.

Borg Castle ruins along the upper left ridge line.
Chapel above the Conradt Hotel.

The following is Adrienne’s talk in Sacrament meeting on August 28^th, English and German…

Now that I am a missionary my greatest regret is not studying the scriptures very much. I read them and I was familiar with them, but I did not study them. Most people know they should read the scriptures daily, but they do not know how to STUDY the scriptures. The scriptures have a purpose and they are to be USED by us. The principal purpose of scriptures is to testify of Christ, helping us come unto Him and receive eternal life.

In 2 Nephi 25:26 it says "and we talk of Christ, we rejoice in Christ, we preach of Christ, we prophesy of Christ, and we write according to our prophecies, that our children may know to what source they may look for a remission of their sins."

If we are to follow Christ in order to receive a remission of sins and gain eternal life, we must read about him in the scriptures. Faith in Christ is a Gift from God and comes through studying and living his word and his gospel.

When we are baptized we promise to endure to the end. One thing we must do to endure is to "feast upon the word of Christ." It does not say snack or nibble the word of Christ.

2 Nephi 31:20 "Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope, and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life."

To feast on the word of Christ requires daily commitment. And the more we show him our commitment the more he can bless us. The scriptures are a way to receive revelation from our
Heavenly Father, a way to find guidance, comfort, peace, joy, they are often compared to a map.

2 Nephi 32:3 Angels speak by the power of the Holy Ghost; wherefore, they speak the words of Christ...for behold..they will tell you all things what ye should do.

The scriptures are so important that they have been preserved for us to read. I know when we commit to study the scriptures daily and through them learn more about Jesus Christ we will find ourselves on the path to eternal life. I am great full for the prophets we are able to learn from and for the effort it has taken to preserve these sacred records. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.

Nun, da ich bin ein Missionarin meine größte Bedauern ist nicht studieren die Schriften sehr gut. Ich habe sie gelesen und ich bin vertraut mit Ihnen. Aber ich habe die Schriften nicht studiert. Wir wissen dass wir täglich lesen müssen aber Sie wissen nicht WIE die Schriften zu studieren. Die Schriften hat ein Zweck und wir müssen Ihnen benutzen. Das Hauptanliegen der heiligen Schriften ist, von Christus Zeugnis zu geben und uns zu helfen, zu ihm zu kommen und ewiges Leben zu empfangen

In 2 Nephi 25:26  es steht "Und wir reden von Christus, wir freuen uns über Christus, wir predigen von Christus, wir prophezeien von Christus, und wir schreiben gemäß unseren Prophezeiungen, damit unsere Kinder wissen mögen, von welcher Quelle sie Vergebung ihrer Sünden erhoffen können."

Wenn wir zu Christus zu kommen um Vergebung unser Sünden und ewige Leben  zu empfangen, wir müssen über ihn in die Schriften lesen. Der Glaube an Jesus Christus ist eine Gottesgabe. Sie wird denen zuteil, die Gottes Wort lesen und nach dem Evangelium handeln.

Wenn wir sind getauft wir vorsprechen zu bis ans Ende ausharren. Etwas wir müssen tun ist "am Wort von Christus weidet." Nicht knabbern an oder schnappen am Wort von Christus. 

2 Nephi 31:20  es steht "Darum müßt ihr mit Beständigkeit in Christus vorwärtsstreben, erfüllt vom vollkommenen Glanz der Hoffnung und von Liebe zu Gott und zu allen Menschen. Wenn ihr darum vorwärtsstrebt und euch am Wort von Christus weidet und bis ans Ende ausharrt, siehe, so spricht der Vater: Ihr werdet ewiges Leben haben."

Zu festen  brauchen täglich Verpflichtung. Die Schriften ist ein Weg Offenbarung von Himmlischer Vater zu empfangen, ein Weg zu finden Führung, tröstlich, Friede und Freude. Sie sind im Vergleich zu einer Karte.

In 2 Nephi 32:3  es steht "Engel reden durch die Macht des Heiligen Geistes; darum reden sie die Worte von Christus. Darum habe ich zu euch gesagt: Weidet euch an den Worten von Christus; denn siehe, die Worte von Christus werden euch alles sagen, was ihr tun sollt."

Die Schriften sind so wichtig sie haben vor für uns bewahren. Ich weiß dass wenn wir den Wunsch haben, Christus zu folgen, Gott werden uns segnen. Ich bin dankbar für die Propheten im die Schriften und für die Erkenntnis wir haben. Ich bin dankbar für das Evangelium Jesu Christi und für die Gelegenheit es zu teilen. Und Ich sage dies im Namen Jesu Christi. Amen.

"Excited to be in Otterberg" selfie.

So this week was adventurous! We went to Otterberg (7km North of Kaiserslautern) and got stuck for a couple hours and ate wild blackberries for dinner! We had zone training so the Sister Training Leaders spent the night in our apartment -- that was a party! 

This week we worked so hard and even though there isn't a lot to show for our work (just yet) we saw so many miracles. One of my favorites was a guy that we talked to on the street. When we first started talking to him he seemed pretty mad that we were talking about God. As we shared with him more about the restoration and the plan of salvation you could tell that his heart was softened. He started actually listening to us and you could tell he was feeling the Spirit. Even though he didn't give us his number or let us give him a Book of Mormon, I know we were able to teach him and help him understand something Heavenly Father wanted him to understand. 

There was so much that happened this week I'm having a hard time remembering it all. So I'm sending a bunch of pictures from the past week from our adventure to Otterberg, and our street display from last week, plus our adventure to the castle in Frankenstein today, and the last picture is the saddest thing I've ever seen. 

Love you all!

Sister Luymes 

As for Jesus, she was someone we doored this morning, haha!

Frankenstein's castle excursion with my district.

Me and Sis. Williams
Our future's so bright, we oughta be wearing shades.

District shenanigans at Frankenstein Dorf

Panoramic view of Frankenstein Dorf

View of Frankenstein Dorf

Dooring in Otterberg Dorf

Looking for wild berries in Otterberg Dorf

Yup! We're a pretty happy district - stuck in Otterberg Dorf.

Parking ticket with a party hat -- anyone?

Dinner was the "wurst" tonight, as in weis wurst.
YES we had vegetables too, mom.

I've officially survived my first transfer (6 weeks) in Germany! Wooooo! We have a HUGE group of new missionaries coming in (about 13 sisters and 17 elders). We were pretty nervous because they tend to do some weird stuff when there are so many new people.  But we only have one elder (Elder North)  being transferred in our district and he'll be replaced by one of the new elders! Fun!

Well this week I feel like everything you could ever experience as a missionary (except someone getting baptized) happened. We were dooring and a couple let us in and we gave them the first lesson. We met some really mean people on the street one morning, then 2 minutes later we were having someone asking us for a Book of Mormon and giving us her number because she's super interested. We met a guy who tried to cure us of all diseases and turned our soul into fire (yeah he was veeeeeeeerry interesting). We got a bunch of awesome lessons and got a ton of really promising potentials. We missed our busses, but ended up running into people we've been trying to contact. We had lessons fall through and people forget about appointments. But we were able to serve some people because we had time. So, all in all the week was all over the place.

Something that rang true this week was that the blessings from Heavenly Father CAN be in the big things, but most often they are in the small things. The same is for the guidance of the Holy Ghost. We get frustrated when things go wrong or when things fall through, but if we have patience and we are willing to listen to the still small voice we are more able to see the small miracles.

1 Kings 19:11-12
11   And he said, Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord. And, behold, the Lord passed by, and a great and strong wind rent the mountains, and brake in pieces the rocks before the Lord; but the Lord was not in the wind: and after the wind an earthquake; but the Lord
was not in the earthquake:
12   And after the earthquake a fire; but the Lord was not in the fire: and after the fire a still small voice.

Ich habe so viele liebe für euch!

- Sister Luymes

Sister Perkins and Sister Elowitt on our favorite fountain,
The Sistine Chapel Fountain.

Onward Christian Soldier! -- Sistine Chapel Fountain;
one of many fountains in Kaiserslautern.

We came across this doormat and laughed our heads off for
10 minutes strait. They never answered the door...
"You rang.  Your request is being processed, please wait....Abort"

I had my first interview (not counting the ones on the first day in Germany) with Präsident Stoddard. He's so
funny. I don't know I'm too well yet, but I've got a year. 

Funny story yesterday we were dooring (tracting) and a half naked man opened the door and Sister Williams started talking to him and didn't notice his junk! He was about 80 years old. I was scarred for life......

ANYWAY! We went to Repunsel's tower today! Soooo pretty! And an awesome hike! We plan on going on a bike ride next Pday through a Forrest and a meadow. I love this place! My district is so amazing we click super well and work hard and have fun together.

Love youuuu!

Sister Luymes

View of Bad Homburg from the tower (not to be confused with Hamburg in the North)

Proof I was in Rapunzel's Tower

Sis Williams and I from the tower.

Maybe if I hadn't chopped off my hair for charity
I could have been a Rapunzel substitute.

The following are Adrienne's comments to mom on learning the German language...

Yes speaking another language is frustrating, but it's nothing more than I expected it to be. Sister Williams and I make and keep language goals so we don't mess around. I'm trying to learn the German "r" I keep doing a Spanish "r" but it just doesn't always work out. Word order, articles, and past tense suck. But I can see humongous improvement every week. I ask a ton of questions and sister Williams knows the answer 95% of the time. People understand me for the most part and I can understand what people say, but I could repeat what they said back. I translate sometimes for the English speakers in my ward. What I struggle with is when conversations move from subject to subject really quickly and people are talking fast. I can't really keep up quite yet. Fun times!

Our street display in K-town.

My favorite moments of this week just all happened to be caught on camera (see below)! We had a street display and we gave out 36 Books of Mormon! These are also a great depiction of what Kaiserslautern looks like and where I'm at everyday. We sang some German hymns and we talked to a TON of people. Since then we've had 3 lessons with some of those people.

We had 2 dinner appointments one with the amazing Susanna (an investigator) and the other with Victor (a member). At Susanna's we (the German Elders came along too) helped with yard work and then she made us an amazing German dinner with Wurst and potato salad. She attempted to make Guacamole for me but we had to use bread as chips because German chips are weird. It turned out tasting pretty German still haha. We had spaghetti at Victor's house on Sunday and he attempted to make it taste American by mixing chili soup with the tomato sauce. It just tasted very interesting.

We also went on a very long unplanned bike ride to Steinbach. It was an hour train ride and then it was supposed to be a 20 minute bike ride from the train station to the person we were visiting. But it turned into a 40+ minute bike ride through a beautiful field and forest. Needless to say we were VERY late to our appointment.

This week I learned about the importance of having faith and putting your trust in God. In Alma it talks about the Stripling Warriors  "Now this was the faith of these of whom I have spoken; they are young, and their minds are firm, and they do put their trust in God continually."

It's sometimes very difficult to recognize the hand of the Lord in your life. My companion and I have to remind ourselves of things we've seen everyday that show us that we really are where the Lord wants us. Everyday, every hour even,  we can recognize the blessings and miracles that happen and we are again and again assured that we are doing the things He wants us to do.

Viel Spaß!

- Sister Luymes

Street contacting in K-town.

Street contacting in K-town.  Do you see the Claire's and H&M?  #justlikehome

My Kaiserlautern homies.

Street singing (hymns) almost as fun as tunnel singing at BYU.
When it gets cold we're headed to Leonidas for some fab hot cocoa.

Heidelberg Bridge

Rhein River

Hello everyone! It has been another crazy week in Kaiserslautern. I might add that I've been on my mission 2 months as of this week!

I had my first split with the STL's in Heidelberg and I learned SO MUCH.  I was with Sister Clifford and she and I were super busy all day. We taught a women through a translator (we spoke German to him and he spoke Farsi to her) on Skype so that was interesting. Later in
the day we taught a women who's less active, Frau Brightenhuber, and she was so sweet. We talked about the Freiburg temple open house that's coming up. Sister Clifford let me take the lead in the lesson (my first time taking the lead in an all German lesson!) and it went super well! I was able to bear my testimony to her, explain the importance of the Atonement, answer her questions so she could get to know me a little bit,  AND I understood everything she said!

Another miracle this week was Sunday (yesterday) was the best Sunday yet! We got a call from Susanna who told us an hour before church that she changed her mind and was coming to church. We had a guy who we contacted on Saturday show up to church. The Elders had an
investigator show up to church. AND the ward was super welcoming to all of them and invited them to sit next to them and talked to them. This is a huge deal for the missionaries because our ward isn't the best at remembering to welcome new people. We also had ward members
handing us loaves of bread and food. And all the missionaries spoke in sacrament meeting. Then after church we went by on a potential's home (which was a miracle we even found it) and they invited us in and introduced us to their 3 adorable children and we taught  them the entire restoration lesson. They loved it and asked if they could come to church next week and if we could come by to teach their family. Sister Williams and I were pretty much floating on clouds our entire dinner appointment and all the way back home. BEST. DAY. EVER.

I've been studying charity this week and even gave my talk on it. In 1 Cor 13:13 

"And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest is charity."

I truly believe that we can become the most like Christ when we have charity. And I know we will have the most success in life and in missionary work when we have charity.

Love you all!

Sister Luymes

Sister Williams hangin' with some graffiti!

Here's a little bit about Adrienne's companion Sister Elise Williams...

Hi, I grew up in Huntsville, TX. Both of my parents are doctors. I did 3 semesters at UT studying biochem. I have 4 sisters and I'm the second oldest and I have 24 cousins who are like my best friends. I'm companions with your daughter and she's pretty cool. I like soccer. I like blue. I really like Nacho Libre and Napoleon dynamite. I think my SAT score was 2140 or something like that. I eat ice cream a lot. I honestly can't think of anything else, but I'll come hang out with you when I get home.
Love,
Sister Williams