"Heavenly Father Knows!!"

There is nothing better than singing out of the window of our apartment and seeing our neighbors stop and look to see where in the world it was coming from!!  If they didn't know where the Mormon Mädels lived, now they do!!!  Tuesday night we were able to meet up with Valentina, an older lady that we have had contact with for awhile now.  She is really poor, and hasn't got enough to even eat a meal.  So we called her up and she let us come over.  We brought over some apples and bread..  It really opened my eyes to how fortunate we are to have food everyday and have meals everyday.  The poor thing.  We also explained the Book of Mormon to her and gave one to her in Russian so she could read it.  She was grateful for the food and the book, and the whole time she was offering us little goodies and I felt guilty when I had to take one because I knew that she had nothing for herself but she would not let us leave without taking something.  Man... And then a couple days ago we were called her and she told us how she does not want our book or our company anymore.  My heart ached and was sad for a lot of the day because I know this church can help her with her internal happiness, and can help her with her food situation too.  So Sister Sprouse and I will go back in about 2 weeks to see how she is doing and take over more apples and bread.  This work is mentally tiring sometimes.  But then there are the times where you are just on cloud nine because you see how Heavenly Father is just helping those that you love.  For instance, Ana Castro is an amazing new member in our family in the church and she is just so strong.  She still has a hard time at home with her mom and husband, but she gets through and she tells us with a smile on her face.  She is awesome and I will always remember these people here.  They give me strength, when I see theirs :)  On Sunday we were able to hear from our wonderful Prophet again.  He was in Frankfurt and all Deutschland were able to see him through Satelitte to hear his counsel to us.  He talked mainly on the topic of love.  We should reach out to those who need our help.  He told a story about an older man who had a birthday and he waited and waited all day for someone to come visit him on his birthday, but no one came.  Birthdays mean alot.  Even if people don't act like it is a big deal, it is deep down.  And then he told a story about when he was bishop he followed the promptings of the Spirit to visit a woman in the ward.  She had not been at church for a very long time, neither did the husband.  She opened the door and she says, "Bishop, how did you know today was my birthday??"  President Monson had no idea it was, he just followed the feeling of going by, and so he said, "Heavenly Father knows." :) But by the end of the conversation they had on the doorstep, both of them were coming to church!!  It really does make a difference to do a little something everyday for someone - it doesn't have to be someone you know but someone.  Someone is waiting for someone to reach out to them and you could be that person.  It matters.  I look for those opportunities but I am also forever grateful for the moments when someone helps and reaches out to me.  I love you all and let us all work to serve one another and follow President Monson's words of "May us all reach out to those who long for love from us and visits from us."  Bis nächstes mal :) Liebe, Sister Tuschling PS - I am going to start learning French :)