Giving Compliments...

We learn so much on the mission about ourselves and how to help people, but really the more we help people, the more we figure things about ourselves.  I found out this week that complimenting someone on just a little thing goes a long way, and literally just showing love for people makes the difference in trust and appreciation.  One of the ladies in our Ward is such a good mom, a wonderful loving wife, and she is just so sweet to everybody that she talks to.  She gave a talk yesterday at church and it was about eternal families and it was nice and simple.  I appreciated even more because I understood everything that she said :)  But most of all you could really tell it came from her heart because she even cried a little bit during it.  I really appreciated it so after church I told her I really enjoyed it and it really moved me.  And that she did a wonderful job and then I gave her a really big Sister Tuschling hug and she looked at me and said, "that (the hug) was really nice and thank you.  I was so nervous and I don't know if it made sense or if I made it too simple."  Then right away she gave me a hug again :) After that she asked us to come on by on Thursday to her grill that she is hosting for the whole ward and told us to bring people that we are teaching!!  Gerne!! (Gladly!!)  The little things in life really do make a difference.  No matter what it is.  I also have learned more about honesty and trust this week too.  A lady that has been on the border of coming to church and not coming to church called us the other night.  She told us that she was having a problem that she hasn't had for a year and asked us personally to pray for her so she would have the strength to overcome it.  She had no doubt of what we thought, but she knew that she needed help and so she asked us because she trusted us.  And now this week we are praying like crazy to help her so that she can really become a strong member :)  I love honesty and trust!!  The coolest thing happened yesterday too!!  Man I love Sundays!! It is the day of miracles!  We went by a family that has not been to church in honestly 30 years and most people don't even know who they are.  So we decided to drop on by!  Right when they opened the door, smiles were on their faces and let us in right away.  They said next time we should call because then they would make spaghetti for us (can you tell they are from Italy??).  I loved them from the moment I looked into their eyes.  We asked how they got to know the church and they told us their conversion story.  Long story short, they were moving to Dortmund and on the way they lost most of their important items; clothes, appliances, pictures, etc. all but a blue book that they got from a couple young men years before.  They accepted to take it but never thought about reading it later.  So on their journey they couldn't understand why they lost everything they had besides this Book of Mormon.  They became curious and showed up at the church one day, had the missionaries over, and were baptized soon after.  Things happen for a reason :)  Again that same day we went by on a lady who hasn't been to church for a long time either hoping to finally reach her.  We had gone by more than 4 times and always hoped to reach her but never did.  But before we got to the door I looked at Sister Sprouse and said, "I want to meet her so bad and talk with her."  So when I kilingled the door, no answer.  I left my finger on the kilingel while Sister Sprouse was crossing her fingers on her right hand.  A few seconds went by and then she crossed her fingers with her left hand.  Thirty seconds later goes by and she crosses her legs (isn't she funny haha??).  Before we go I klingel one more time and then the magical "buzzzzz" happens.  That means someone inside lets you in!!! Woo were we happy!!!  We see her face and she wasn't too happy to see us because we came a bad time but she let us in but said "5 mintues."  We take what we can get always!!!!  We ended up staying for an hour and a half talking about Dortmund and how she loves family history and how she grew up in the church.  She is an awesome woman and has lived such a full life.  She was even part of the building of our church building back in the 60s!!  She said we could come back any time too :)  I love little miracles and tender mercies that Heavenly Father gives us.  He is so loving and merciful and He truly loves us so much, we can't even comprehend it.  I love this work and I love my Heavenly Father, and I love my Savior Jesus Christ and thank Them everyday for my life and this experience that I get to enjoy here in Germany.  Liebe, Sister Tuschling