Ping's Flowers

 It's been a fun week!

Highlights:



*Our little seven-year-old looked at the Sons of Mosiah in the

children reader Book of Mormon and yells "fitness!" It was so funny!

Their headbands looked like fitness bands to him!

*All these potential investigators are coming to the Musikalische

Abend! One woman came to church a couple weeks ago with her friend,

and enjoyed Relief Society a lot and ended up staying for choir

practice. She's coming to sing!

*I felt the power of the gift of tongues this week. We went to a

member's house to pray for someone who randomly stopped coming to

church. I thought she was going to say the prayer, but I had a funny

feeling that she would ask me.

She did.

I wouldn't be able to repeat to you what I said in the prayer. I used

grammar and words that I have NEVER used before. The Spirit was

strong.



*I hit my half-way mark this week.







We went to the first part of the Stake Relief Society Meeting on

Saturday, because I was asked to play flute as part of someone's talk.

In this talk, she told the most intriguing parable.





   There once was a king who in his old age had no sons, so he began

his search for an heir. He sent a proclamation throughout the land

that all who wanted, could come and try for the throne. Once all of

the people were gathered, he gave each potential heir two seeds, and

told them to plant the seeds, and in a years time, the person who had

grown the most beautiful flower would become the next king.

    There was a young man named Ping. He was excited about the

"quest", because he had grown many beautiful flowers, and he knew he

could do a good job.

    He carefully took the seeds home and planted them in rich and

nutritious soil, and set the pot by the window in perfect sunlight.

Everyday, he did all he knew how to do for the seeds. He watered and

nourished them carefully, but they didn't sprout. He knew that some

seeds took longer than other seeds, so he kept trying, and waiting.

       Still nothing happened. He moved the pot to a better patch of

sunlight, he was even more careful about watering and fertilizing, he

even started talking and singing to the seeds, and still nothing

happened.

    Eventually, the time came to bring his flower back to the king.

He wept to his father, afraid and ashamed that he would bring this

empty pot of dirt to the king. His father hugged him, and told him

that he should go to the king with his head held high, because he had

done all he could. His father told him that he had noticed how

diligently Ping had watched over this plant.

    Ping felt the truth of what his father had said, so he took his

pot and began the journey to the palace. On his way, he saw many other

people with pots full of beautiful flowers. They began to make fun of

him, and he began to feel ashamed. He knew he had grown more beautiful

flowers before, but here he was with a pot full of dirt. Then he

remembers what his father said, and lifts his head and continues on to

the palace.

   The king slowly goes down the row of flowers, studying each on

carefully. As he comes to Ping's pot, he stops short and declares that

Ping would be the new king.

    Everyone was confused, but then the king went on to say that the

seeds he had given out were cooked, and could not have sprouted.



It made me think about the things we try to do to prove our worth and

make sure that we are being good people. I think we forget that the

seeds are cooked. Meaning, what we do is not as important as what we

become.


We were listening to a talk by Blaine Yorgensen, and he said something

interesting...





"   The true test of being a Mormon isn't how many commandments we

keep, it's how much we love.   "



Love what you do.



I gave a Thema on obeying with your heart. I used an example from

physics. The compliance of something determines how well it keeps a

new shape under pressure. So if something causes a piece of metal to

change shape, the compliance determines if it stays like that. When we

are compliant to the commandments, it doesn't mean we are then all of

a sudden cool people or worthwhile people, we are allowing the will of

God to change who we are becoming.



God lives.

He loves you.

I love you too!



Sister Roderer
A visit from Sister Eschenmann. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Dust In The Wind

A lederhosen wearing brass quartet!

 Smiles and pass-a-long cards all around!

This week was incredible!! Mannheim is starting to gather some steam, and I am loving the ride!

Highlights from the week:

*Our mission made a goal of setting 10 baptismal dates this week throughout the mission, and we set 17 instead. Sister Megli and I contributed!

*There are a lot of people from China here to study at the University in Mannheim. Often they are interested in learning more, because usually God is not someone they know very well, and they are curious, so we always try to talk to them. So, the other day, we were walking by a bus stop, or actually BEHIND a bus stop, and Sister Megli sees this girl sitting on the bench, and she's whispers to me

"Go talk to her, I think she's Asian!"

So I turn around and run over there, and go up to her. She's got her headphones in, but I say clearly and distinctly

"Entschuldigung." (excuse me)

She looks up and pulls her headphones out.

Clearly NOT Asian.

There was this this split second where Sister Megli and I both freeze and in my head I'm like..

Sister Megli??

But it was too late to go back, so I start talking to her.

It ended up being a lovely conversation, and she was curious to learn more.

We were supposed to meet a potential couple in the city,

 and we didn't see them, but we also didn't really remember

 what  they looked like. So we saw a guy that could have been

 the guy we were  meeting, but he was with two other guys. 

Sister Megli was brave enough to  go up and ask him if he was

 the droid...erm man we were looking for, but he walked away. 

So, naturally we stalked him for like three blocks. 

He noticed and laughed at us. Well, it wasn't him, 

and we didn't  find our potentials, but we did find....

And then there were those two guys who were speaking what sounded like Chinese, and Sister Megli stopped them and we asked in German if they had a minute. They just stared at us, not saying anything.

We tried again.

English? 

No response.

Deutsch?

No response?

I remembered that I had a couple pamphlets in Chinese in my bag. I like them because they're so beautiful!!

Anyway, so then I ask

Chinese?

Sister Megli turns to me with this funny look that says

"Uhh...Sister Roderer? We don't speak Chinese...."

Still no response from these guys.

Blank stares all around.

Finally, one guy was like,

"Ok. So I'm kind of from America and speak English."

There was also the one door that we klingeled and they buzzed us in, and we get up there, and they've left the door open, but no one was there, and it was dark, smokey and smelly.

Like

"I've been in my apartment smoking for the last six months without showering" smelly.

We left.

We did not leave a card.

Or the sweet lady getting her mail, and still in her apron. She watched a little bit of "Because He Lives" and commented on how nice the pictures were. Then she offered us food, which we politely and sadly declined because we were fasting.

But my favorite was the guy who had heard of Mormons, and didn't have interest to meet (we tried hard to convince him otherwise) but was so excited to get a copy of the Book of Mormon.

I've thought a lot about identity this week. I mean, I always do, but this week was particularly intense.

Missions are such funny things. They're refining, enlightening, mind-blowing, and very humbling, "even to the dust".

So, during the week I finally dusted myself off, and wondered what I could change to be more believing, trusting, and confident in the future.

Insert talk from the Priesthood Session of General Conference.

"  Brethren, let me be clear: there is nothing noble or impressive about being cynical. Skepticism is easy--anyone can do it. It is the faithful life that requires moral strength, dedication, and courage. Those who hold fast to faith are far more impressive than those who give in to doubt when mysterious questions or concerns arise.  "

In thinking about it, I realized that he was not just talking about faith in God.

(Well, actually it is related to our faith in God, but in a "back door" kind of way.)

This quote also applies to how we see ourselves.

One to could change it to read...

"  Folks, let me be clear: there is nothing noble or impressive about candle hiding.

False humility is easy--anyone can do it. It is the confident life that requires moral strength, dedication, and courage. Those who hold fast to their identity as powerful children of God are far more impressive than those who give in to self-pity or self-doubt when moments of weakness or apparent failure arise.  "

Also, I was thinking about the Prodigal Son, and what inspired him to go home to his father and ask for forgiveness.

Obviously pigs and a hungry stomach were involved, but I like to think of it as:

"The humility of his circumstances humbled him to remember that he was worth more than what he currently was. "

He trusted in the character of his father, which gave him confidence in himself.

We all know what happens next.

He turns in the pigs for a cow, and is welcomed home.

Understanding the character of God, and His grenzenlos love for us should fill us with confidence that we are lovable, and that we are entitled to love ourselves, and in turn, those around us.

That's the theory.

This week I was all sassy and like well, if God loves me, then I'm just supposed to accept myself? What if we're ugly, or fat, or weak, or dumb, or can't seem to do anything out of the average ordinary? Do we have to love that person too, just because God does? What if I want to be someone who is beautiful, amazing, thoughtful, clever.....(insert attribute of choice) and loving me as I am now means I have to acknowledge that I might not be those things...yet...that means I might have to love a different version of me.

I really have been trying to figure out how Gods love can replace our fears and fill us with love "to the consuming of [our] flesh."

Still working on it, but I love the idea.

Right now, and I think that might be the Hauptsache, is that trusting and having faith that His love heals all things gives us the strength to keep hoping, and keep going.

And that's the most important part.

Love always and forever,

Sister Roderer

Unicorns, Candy, and Mormons

This week is the week it became clearer than ever that this is God's work, not mine.

This is also the week it became clearer than ever that God loves each
of His children, and has a specific, fascinating, and perfectly
applicable plan for the salvation of each of His children. He's
interested in getting us home, granting us light and enlightenment,
peace, hope, celestial expectation, and joy.
He wants us to be happy now and for eternity.

Contrastly, sometimes I'm over here like....hmmm I want me some chocolate.
I think although chocolate has its place in mortal joy, there's no
denying that, I learned that there is something greater.
In the spirit of General Conference and Zone Conference, I was trying
to figure what I could do to honor the Sabbath Day a little bit more.

Wear Sunday clothes all day? Do that every day
Only read scriptures and church books? CHECK
Don't watch inappropriate movies? I don't even WATCH movies
Don't listen to inappropriate music? EFY, anyone?

Then the inspiration came. Don't eat chocolate or candy or treats on Sunday.

Oh. *quickly chews and swallows the Christmas rittersport I was eating*

Folks, it works!! My Sabbath was more powerful to me because I didn't
eat candy or chocolate yesterday (after I got he inspiration)...until
I hopped the fence and gave in to cereal. But the cool thing was, I
really felt a difference! I urge you to try it, too. Pray and listen,
act, and then celebrate the difference. I'm excited for next Sunday,
so I can do it again!

Two best reactions ever:

First: We were meeting with this really cool guy for the first time,
and Sister Megli was doing a fabulous job of "how to begin teaching"
and setting expectations with him, and she asked why he chose to meet
with us.
He's like
"I've never met a Mormon in real life before...you're like unicorns!"

Why, thank you, Charlie.

Second: We were doing some doors in a student apartment complex, and
we started talking to this super neat guy. We said who we were
(The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints)
talked to him a bit about who we are and what we do, and then asked
him if he wanted to meet and learn more. He was a bit tentative, but
agreed to meet.
We gave him our card and he looks at it and is like all excited
"You're the MORMONS? Why didn't you SAY so before?"
In that moment, I felt a little more like a moron, than a Mormon.
That's not the typical reaction, folks, I've never had to respond to
that before! And it made my entire week.



We were challenged by our Mission President to read the Book of Mormon
all the way through by the end of the year, so I've been trying to
semi "speed read" through the Book of Mormon in German.
Wish me luck!
But, there has been one thing that I noticed. You know how every
president of the church has a theme?
Pres. Benson was The Book of Mormon,
Pres. Hinckely was temples,
and Pres. Monson is following the Holy Ghost.
Well, as far as I can tell, Nephi had a theme too. (In 1Nephi, anyway.
I'll let you know what I find as I go further.)

Evidence.

Again and again, Nephi takes about being "shown" or something along
those lines. Even in the chapters from Isaiah that he quotes in 1
Nephi, Isaiah says again and again something like "damit sie wissen"
or, "that they may know".

Cool, right?

I realized that sometimes I don't imagine God so excited to show me
evidence of His truth. I get so caught up in being ok with not getting
an answer right away, or I feel trepidation at the change that might
be in store, I forget just how much God loves me and all of His
children.

Also, awesome quote from Zone Conference:
"Don't try to change yourself on the mission...let the mission change you."

So my challenge is this:
Pray for something you need, like an answer, or hope or peace, and
then let life answer you. Let God answer you.
In a very hippie sort of way, let the good flow to you.
You'll avoid lots of pitfalls that way.
I can promise you.
Simplify, like President Uchtdorf suggested, and know that the Master
and Creator of Heaven and Earth is able to do His own work, He is able
to answer you.

Our job is to look for His answer, not only in the simple things, but
in everything.
I promise it will change your life. And you too, can go skipping down
the path of life, like a pioneer girl in a painting.