Tschus Munchen

Guttttttttten Tag! I hope everyone is doing well! We have had the craziest week! Full of emotions and miracles. To start off with, on Saturday I received my last transfer call. The assistant to the president and a good friend of mine, Elder Orchard called Sister Kutschke and I...that meant one of us would leave Munich. After him giving us a hard time, I finally told him to spill the beans - he told Sister Kutschke that she would be staying in Munich and getting a sister that was in Austria and then he made me guess where I was going... Elder:"Ok Sister Jaynes...do you think you are going to Vienna?" Me:"No..." Elder:"Ok, Salzburg?...." Me:"No..." Elder: "Serbia??..." Me: "Yes...." Elder:"Well Sister Jaynes, You are going to FREIBURG!!!!! You will LOVE it!" So I am heading to Freiburg! It is near the french border and supposedly a beautiful student city with a gorgeous river that runs throughout the streets! I have heard nothing but good about the place. The night before we received transfer calls I just prayed and prayed - the words of "I will go where you want me to go, dear Lord..." describe my prayer that night. For some reason, I felt that I would be transferred and turns out that feeling was right. Regardless, saying goodbye to these people is not fun at all! I have learned so much here in Munich and have experienced so many things. I have met friends and have really come to love the ward. As i thought about the entire situation, I knew it was bound to happen. I have had such a story-book mission including all of the unexpected events! It would be too easy or comfortable to finish my mission here in Munich, it would be too expected so of course I need to be transferred! haha 

So my very first Sunday here in Munich, a friend of mine, Angie, walked into the church. I still remember Bishop coming and finding me and telling me there was a lady that walked in and would like to learn more about the church. So I sat there and spoke with her. I was able to give her a Book of Mormon and we made an appointment. Over the last six months since being her in Munich, I have been privileged to see this young mother come closer to our Savior. I have seen the light of the Gospel come into her eyes and feel her beautiful home with the spirit of the Lord. I have also seen the adversary try to stop her.  I have seen him try anything and everything to stop this young family. Well the last two weeks we have not been able to meet with Angie. The last appointment we had was on a Sunday and which ended with her telling us about the anti-mormon things she had read. As I sat and heard her and watched her I could tell how unhappy she was. I saw a completely different person. I did not like it. All I could do was to speak from my heart and to testify of what I knew and what had helped me so much. We ended the appointment and I was not sure what would happen. I knew our Father in Heaven would have to take it from there though...and that is exactly what He did. 

The last two weeks consisted of distanced text messages and Angie being "too busy" to meet with us and to come to church. I was pretty hurt. Well Angie knew transfer calls where Saturday. Saturday afternoon she texted us and asked if we knew what was happening. I told her I would be leaving. She wrote a nice messages of how much she would miss me and that she would try to come to church. So yesterday Angie and Christoph came. They came and were a happy couple. Inside I was still sad and hurt at what had happened and how sad Angie was, but I had the prompting to just be happy and myself, so I was. We had great meetings and fast and testimony meeting was super. I gave my farewell testimony and was followed by little Anastasia bearing her testimony. Another one of those moments that I will never forget. After sacrament, goodbyes were said and there Angie and Christoph were waiting in the foyer to say goodbye to me. We hugged and Angie just clinged to me. She pulled back and told me she had something to tell me. Angie then said with a smile on her face - the same genuine smile I had seen earlier so often - that she would like to be baptized!!!!!! She began to explain the last two weeks she distanced herself from the church have been the worst two weeks of her life. She was so unhappy and hopeless. In these moments of sadness, she knew what was missing...she knew that was her answer! We hugged again. My heart was about to burst. My last Sunday in Munich was the perfect ending to this journey here in Munich. It ended with my dear friend Angie finally getting it. It was not an easy path. It was not the most desired route, but it was just what she needed. And what I needed. 

Angie gave me a beautiful letter that I will cherish my entire life. She explained her feelings and her journey. At the end, she concluded with her testimony of the Savior, the prophet Joseph Smith, and the Book of Mormon. She thanked me for bringing so much light to her life. Each time I think of it I am overwhelmed with gratitude for the Lord. All of the goodness she has felt and happiness she has received is from Christ. I am so grateful to have been able to be a tool in the hand of the Lord. I think constantly of the verses in Alma 26:1-3....

"...My brethren, behold I say unto you, how great reason have [I] to rejoice; for could [I] have supposed when [I] started from the land of [Graz] that God would have granted unto [me] such great blessings?And now, I ask, what great blessings has he bestowed upon [me]? Can ye tell? Behold, I answer for you; for our brethren, the Lamanites [Angie, Elena etc], were in darkness, yea, even in the darkest abyss, but behold, how many of them are brought to behold the marvelous light of God! And this is the blessing which hath been bestowed upon [me], that [I] have been made an instrument in the hands of God to bring about this great work."

I am so grateful to be a missionary! I am grateful for the chance to help others be brought to the Light of God. A light that makes people happy, brings purpose to life, and strength to do good and become better. This light changes life. I have seen it change mine and the lives of others. This is not the work of man - but of the Almighty God, we are His children and He wants all of us to come back to Him. All we have to do is come unto Him. We have so many things to rejoice about! Life is so good. 

Ich habe euch ganz doll LIEB!!!!

XOXOXOXO

Schwester Jaynes

p.s. Nicole had prayed that I stay in Germany...so her prayer was answered too...haha! :)