Saying Goodbye!

This past week was so full and busy and these next couple days are so booked too that I don't know when I am going to have time to say goodbye to everybody that I love here. Sunday was so nice. Everyone remembered that it was my last Sunday and gave me the biggest hugs, sometimes they hugged me and then looked into my eyes and then hugged me again, and then said beautiful words that brought tears streaming down my cheeks. I love them so much. They have touched my heart forever and I hope that I have done the same for them. I never knew that by coming out on a mission that I would gain so many friends. Not only friends but people that I honor and have learned so much from. I am going to miss them dearly.

I had my last appointment with Justine last night. Her faith has grown so much since I first met her. She explained on Sunday that when she first was meeting with us, she was just curious on what the differences were of the religions like Catholics and Lutherans versus us. Then she explained that now she will probably become a member of our church. My heart was pierced with warmth and love. Visiting that woman for every week for 6 months straight was worth it.. Tears filled eyes and made me not want to leave. I want to see her progress, and I want to see her baby boy that is due in a couple months. I want to see her enter the waters of baptism, and I want to see her in the temple being sealed with her husband. But those are a lot of selfish, needy wants. I am grateful that Sister Wrathall is here to enjoy those blessings coming up. I am excited for her to continue her mission and to witness miracles like I have. She deserves it. I am so blessed to have taught, met, and been loved by so many people here in this beautiful land. I love it so much and there is no way that I am going home and never coming back. For that appointment, we took a member with us and her name was Diana, like my mom :) On the way home from Königstein (where our appointment was) she asked me, "So Sister Tuschling, what are you taking back with you from what you learned on your mission?" It caught me by surprise. It really got me thinking of what I truly have learned and how I have changed. And the only thing I could think of was love. I love people more than I ever have before in my life. I love my family and friends more (probably because we are 5,000 miles apart!), but I realize now how much you guys mean to me and I love you. I see people through different eyes now. I truly see them the way Christ would, as they really are, as children of God. I have never cried over so many strangers before because they didn't come to church, or they didn't read, or anything in the sort, but I have never felt for them the way that I do now. My heart has changed towards people. I love people. Everyone has their own story and background and I love that! We are so unique and we all need some tender love and care sometimes. All in all, I have figured out for myself the true meaning of love on my mission. And I will continue to try and love others the way I have here. I am grateful for her question last night to kick me into gear and to think of what I have learned while being out here. I have learned a lot of things, but the biggest which has changed me to the very core is love. The Frankfurt Germany Mission is not the best mission because every mission in the nation is doing the work of the Lord, but the Frankfurt Germany Mission was the best for me. I have loved being out here and being a tool for my Heavenly Father. I have loved helping people put a smile on their face, or to give them a little bit more hope. I love it. And I will always love it. Thank you for your prayers, they were felt every day. See you all very soon!

Liebe, Sister Tuschling

The calm before the storm...

 The calm always comes after the storm and it is so true. After being cancelled on like 8 times this week, we finally saw the fruits! You just always have to press onward!! Friday, Saturday, and Sunday were the fruits of this "durch einander" week!. They were so good!!!! We were able to teach David from Ghana, Africa with a missionary couple from Lyman, Wyoming and we set a baptismal date with him for the 20th of July! And then we just had the hand of the Lord watching over us because everyone we went by on were home and they want us to come back :) And Justine (our cute pregnant Chinese woman that we are teaching) and her husband listened to what we had to say and that was the first time that he even sat in and listened!! And they are coming to church next week! And CHURCH!!! Oh don't even get me started on church!! The Spirit was so strong and I absolutely just adored the testimonies that were born. One very special testimony that was born was my dear friend, Alejandra. She is from Peru and is 24 and was baptized in November. Before, I recalled talking with her and she committed to bear her testimony in church before I leave and so I reminded her :) Missionaries never forget! She was so nervous, and she was worried that she didn't have a testimony or a "cool" story to tell. Which you don't need a cool story. All you do is go up in front of everyone and you tell them how you have seen God lately, or how you feel about him. Well since it was my last fasting testimony meeting I got up and bore my testimony. The entire time I had the feeling to read from Doctrine and Covenants 46:13-14. It talks about the gifts of the Spirit, and I tried to push that thought away because I didn't know how to tie that in on what I was going to say, but I followed the prompting anyways. After I get done, Alejandra got up!! This was her first time ever to bear her testimony in church!! Which is a big deal. And she goes up there and explains that she is doing it because she promised me, and that she dedicated it to me. She had already started crying before she got up there, and I tell you what, her tears were matched with mine. She said that after she was baptized in November, she always hoped and wished that Heavenly Father would send someone her age, because the missionaries are usually 18-21, and she being 24 needed someone to relate with. Then, she continued that she wished that she could talk to a convert too about her doubts, fears, and problems because all the other missionaries had grown up in the church. And even though she never really prayed for it, she had always hoped and wished for someone to come. Then she said, "He sent Sister Tuschling to me...." And then she was gone... and then I was gone... She told of all the similiarities that we both had, and then she added that just the night before she had been reading in Doctrine and Covenants 46 about the gifts of the Spirit too.. She thanked me, told me how much she is going to miss me, and how much I have helped her along this path... I felt so loved and needed at the moment and I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for us all. The whole time in Frankfurt I have wondered, "What am I doing?? Why was I in Friedrichsdorf for so short of a time of only 6 weeks, and why have I had different companions every transfer here? Who am I helping?" Alejandra. I have been here for her and I have needed her too. He does truly know us. And I am so deeply touched and grateful for that knowledge. Liebe, Sister Tuschling

Dreams Rolling Forward

Heavenly Father loves us so much. He honestly does. I could not have asked for a better end to my mission. I was able to go to the temple and see the Dortmund Ward (where I served for 8 months) and was able to watch people that I help teach enter into the temple and do baptisms for the dead. It truly was a dream come true to see Birgit in the temple, along with Schwester Böning. My first appointments with both of these women I remember very distinctly. They both were not keeping the Word of Wisdom and they both didn't know if they could do it. After patience, hard work, and unlimited faith they were both in white in the temple closer to Heavenly Father. Tears couldn't help but roll down my cheeks as I saw them. My heart was full of gratitude and love I could have died literally and gone to heaven. It was amazing :) We also have been working with a man from Ghana named David Asum and he has so much faith. He has come to church more than 3 times and so we met with him this week. We talked about how we keep the commandments of God so that we are blessed, but he also added and taught us that we do them because it protects us from temptation, sin, and we do it because we love God. I love being taught :) Seeing other people's faith truly builds my own faith. We had the precious opportunity to invite him to be baptized and he gladly agreed :) I love asking people to come closer to Christ. Last night was truly special to me as well. We were able to watch Joseph Smith: The Prophet of the Restoration with the Brande's (senior missionary couple) and Alejandra (who was baptized in November) and the spirit was so strong the entire movie. After it ended, Sister Brande bore her testimony of when she found out that Joseph was truly a prophet and the spirit was so strong. And I had the feeling to share my experience when I was in Palmyra, New York before my mission and told that when I found out that Joseph died the day I was confirmed (June 27th) tears again were pouring out and I couldn't help but bear testimony of the gospel. The next thing I knew, all of us were just balling away. It felt really good to bear such testimony and I know that when we do our testimonies become so much stronger. I love my Savior and everything He did for me. I love Heavenly Father and I know without a doubt in my mind that He knows each of us by name and I am so lucky and grateful that I found that out over 3 years ago. I couldn't imagine who I would be without Him, or where I would be. I am forever grateful. Liebe, Sister Tuschling

Happy Mother's Day!

Frohe Mutter's Tag to all of the mom's out there reading this, and everywhere around the world, and also future mothers. Wow was it great to talk to my family. I am so thankful that Heavenly Father has been protecting them and taking care of them as I have been away. I will be forever grateful. This week was an interesting one!! I now know what it is like to be a Zone Leader or Distrikt Leader haha and sort of how a General Authority (okay not really to their level) feels when they have to give speech after speech and talk after talk, and I honestly want to know how they have time to do those things!! In the last week I have assignments given to me and I have had to wake up earlier than the normal 6:30 missionary routine! But one thing that I have learned recently is how important it is to study things out throughout the day involving conversations with people, and also in our own minds. But when all is said and done, to really prepare for something begins on our knees. When we have anything that is causing more stress than normal and you feel like you just can't get your point across, I promise you it begins with a humble action of kneeling and talking to Heavenly Father about it. I have a testimony of it and I found that out as I have been laid with splits to plan, talks to give, and lessons to teach. I can't do it without Heavenly Father and He is always right there to give us the answers. I am so grateful that He does :) Also something miraculous that happened this week was that Justine and David came to church!! As long as I have been here I have only seen one of the people we teach come one at a time, but yesterday they both came!! And our ward was amazing at saying hello and fellowshipping them. I love tender mercies and yesterday had a accumulation of them! I love the people we teach. I love them with my whole heart. It is going to really hard to say goodbye in a month.. I love teaching. I love teaching them. I love seeing them grow in faith and acting in faith. I love the gospel. I love Jesus Christ. And I love my Heavenly Father. I know He loves me, and He knows and loves you too, trust me :) Liebe, Sister Tuschling

Training Take Two!!!

Exciting times!! On Wednesday we had 25 (12 Elders, 13 Sisters) new missionaries come into our mission, and they were welcomed with open arms. Five new areas/cities were opened up to Sisters and many are training. You could really feel the excitement and nervousness in the air when they started announcing companionships. I looked over to poor Sister Miller and her face said it all. "I am ready and willing to do this, but man am I freaking out!" She received a beautiful new companion and they are in Darmstadt ripping it up. And I now have Sister Wrathall, already in love with the work, the people we teach, and the ward. I am so excited for her to have this journey and starting it in such a wonderful place. It is going to be so hard to leave. But!! Sister Wrathall from northern Georgia is 19 and is 5'10" and has RED HAIR!!!! President put the two readheads together!!! He said he knew who should be her companion right when he met Sister Wrathall... Me!! Frankfurt better watch out!! She is one of the new 19 year olds! She turned 19, 19 days after Präsident Monson made the announcement of the age changes. She never went to college so this is her first time living away from home for more than 2 weeks, she has been to Germany before, and took 4 years of German in high school, and is brand new to the mission life, and here she is with me... 5 years older!! But we both are missionaries! And we both love the gospel. And we both are fiery about it :) She will learn and grow more than she will ever even imagine or guess. I am excited for her. When I met her, and she asked me how long I had left, I was honest and told her 6 more weeks and her shoulders just dropped down because you could see the stress of taking over after being in the area for just 6 short weeks, but she will do just fine :) Who the Lord calls, He qualifies! I love when new missionaries come in because they have the excitement and their eyes are opened to new experiences and new miracles. Zum Beispiel! We had about 20 minutes before our appointment began and so we decided to go find a building that we have to go to next week, and after getting lost, and barely finding it, we had to turn around and go back. On our way back, a man walking towards us waved his arms in the air to get our attention and said, "Sisters! Sisters!" and then pointing to himself he said, "Bruder! Bruder!" We looked at each other and thought, this guy has to be a member. And so he was. He spoke very little German and very little English. Man I wish I learned Spanish some point in my life! He was from Venezuela and needed to get to the Consulate and needed our help to find it. It was a sight I am sure to see us on the busy street in Frankfurt using hand and body guestures trying to communicate. Then I had the idea to call Sister Yolanda Kraft who is in our ward, from the Dominican Republic, and native speaker of Spanish. From handed the phone back and forth and Yolanda translating through the phone, we were able to help find the Consulate, and she was able to invite him to church the next day. I love how Heavenly Father loved this man, named Eduardo, so much that He sent us to find a building the same street that Eduardo needed. He would have never found it, and I am grateful how the gospel is the same no matter where you are at in the world. I love it!! Bis nächste Woche, Sister Tuschling

Changes!!!

Changes!! Big changes!! We got a call Friday, not Saturday like normal, saying that I would be training again!!! And that I will be staying in Frankfurt :) I am so excited and happy that I will stay with the people I have grown to love and adore!! There is so much work to be done here! Then Sister Miller got the phone and President Schwartz told her that she will ALSO be training and that she is headed to Darmstadt. That is where Präsident Uchtdorf is from and his family is there. And she is opening up that area as well. That is a lot for a missionary for only being here for 6 short weeks but she will be great. She is qualified. The Lord is definitely sending people out here more prepared and ready to work. Thinking back to my first 6 weeks, I was NOT ready to open and train at the same time. Times are changing!! I am excited for Sister Miller. Now she can really work the way that she believes and she'll be able to learn and grow and she will become a very strong servant of the Lord. I just hope that what I taught her will help her a bit :) Miracle story of the week that I am still amazed at involves our dear 75 year old friend Nita. Nita is from the Philippines and she is the most faithful person I have ever met. She believes in God through and through and prays all day every day to Him and I look up to her so much. The thing with Nita is that she understand everything! She knows that Joseph Smith was really a prophet, that Christ came to the Americas, that the Book of Mormon is true, and that the Priesthood has been restored to the earth. She knows our church is the true church. Is she baptized? No. Will she be baptized? Not any time soon. We have been teaching her and have been wondering on what to do and then Saturday happened :) Sister Miller was inspired to respond to Nita's concern and worry about always being alone. Sister Miller explained that when she was feeling alone at home, she would do indexing or family history work. I have never seen someone become so excited at her age before. Nita opened up and was so touched that we do family history work that she was in tears. She would have came to church the next day if she could have. Family History!! Who knew that that was the key to opening up this dear woman's heart? Way to go Sister Miller :) I love this work and I love seeing people become more like Christ the more we teach them about Him. I love my Savior. I am so appreciative of Him and this work is the Lord's work. He is the head of it and runs it. Have a great week!! Liebe, Sister Tuschling

Frau Koch

When I left Dortmund I never would have imagined that I would have met another dear old Frau Koch. In Dortmund for 8 months, my companion and I would visit Frau Koch every Sunday night. It was amazing to see her light up every time we would come over. She would always have something prepared for us to eat, to drink, and was ready to discuss the Book of Mormon. By the time I left, she was praying, she went to church twice, and she thought more positively. She did tell us however that she would never be baptized, but told us that after she died I could be baptized for her. Her heart and my heart broke when I got transferred, and I left never thinking I'd meet anyone like her ever again. Well its funny how Heavenly Father places people in our path. When I got here to Frankfurt I heard that the sisters here were teaching a Frau Koch as well and I was super excited. My companion at the time told me that she had a stroke and that she wasn't able to see her for months. Then time rolled along and my companion got transferred and I received Sister Miller. Together we were going through people to find and try and contact. I came upon this wonderful woman, Frau Koch. I couldn't seem to get her name out of my mind. So one day, I took the phone and called her. She answered and when we asked if we could come by took no time to reply, "Oh natürlich!!!" ("Of course!!"). We trodded our way down her street not knowing who she was or what she expected, but we went in with high hopes. She opened the door and the 85 year old lady had a walker but had a huge smile behind it awaiting us. We sat down and got to chatting. She explained her remarkable history and contact that she has had with the church since she was 12 years old. Her father and stepmother were baptized here in Frankfurt/Offenbach and unfortunately died in the war in 1945. The only thing that got her through those moments of darkness and fear was her best friend. Her best friend was always making the best of situations and had a different "light" about her. She soon afterwards found out that she was LDS and since those times, Frau Koch and her have been friends ever since. Her friend lives now in Sacramento, California and they still write to each other. Frau Koch has gone over to see her, and to Salt Lake City to visit. At the end of this story I was so shocked that I didn't even hear what she said afterwards. Apparently she has been in contact with the church all her life and has shared it with her family. They all live in Switzerland they and she finally have decided to be baptized. On the 16th of June, she will enter the waters of baptism with her daughter, son in law, and her two grandchildren :) I cannot even guess what the joy and excitement her friend will experience when she finds out!! I just remember Hermana Avery's reaction after telling her that I wanted that same desire and I will never forget it... I am so grateful for meeting Frau Koch and looking at her situation and now her desire to take that next step of faith. It is never too late to begin believing. It is never too late to change. Liebe, Sister Tuschling