The Prayer of A Child

Grüßt euch!!! I hope you are all doing well! The week here in München was a good one. Fast, but good! We were unfortunately in the doctors office quite a bit with my companion...she is fine, she is just always really tired...and so the mission nurse wanted her to get checked out - Healthy as a Horse! Silly Germans. Well there is no huge updates on anyone, but the work is going forward! Miracles continue to happen all over the world! We were able to see Elena and the kids often this week! They are the best. There were a few tender mercies this last week that happened just at the right time. Probably one of my favorites that led me to think a lot happened at Elena's. We were there with the family and the topic of me going home came up. The kids are aware of me either getting transferred next week or in May. Talking about the subject is not all that fun. Well as we were talking and all the kids were telling their opinion...cutie Nicole who is 6 years old speaks up. Nicole suggested that we pray right there and then that Heavenly Father would let me stay in Germany. She offered the prayer. The child-like Faith was so pure, sweet, and sincere. She was talking with God - her Heavenly Father - and she knew He was listening. I could have just died. I thought to myself, how could I ever say goodbye to these people. Then I decided we do not talk about those kind of things. A few days later we were again at their home, Anastasia wanted to pray and asked our Father in Heaven if I could stay until August...miracles never cease, right?! :) 

As I thought more and more about this experience, I began to think of children and their importance in the Gospel. I thought of how the Savior used the children as examples of how we should act and become. Is that our first thought as soon as something happens - to pray? Nicole knew exactly Who could and would help her. Do we have the same trust that God hears and answers our prayers? Without hesitation do we take our desires to the Lord and expect Him to help us. There is so much we can learn from children. I know that God hears and answers our prayers. Sometimes the answer is different than we expect or hope. Sometimes the timing of the answer is not the most optimal according to our plans, but He always answers. He lets us exercise our faith, learn through the hard times, and find joy in the journey. He wants us to become better people and be happy. We gave a man a tour of the church here in Munich and he was saying how he thought hell is actually here on earth. He had served in the military and has seen some awful things happen. My mind could not help but also think of how there are moments of Heaven we experience here on earth. Our ward mission leader said something interesting yesterday as we were talking about this. He said something along the lines that "Earth life will be the closest thing to hell for the righteous, but also the closest thing to Heaven for the unrighteous". I am so grateful for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I am grateful that the Gospel is simple and the way back to our Father in Heaven is laid out before us. We just have to keep pressing forward and rely on Him. I am grateful for the Lord's tender mercies and for the prayers from children.

Ich habe euch LIEB!!!

XOXOXOXOX

Schwester Jaynes