November 26, Hannover

Dear  Family,

Wow, I can't believe you got in a car accident, Dad. That must have been crazy! I'm so thankful that the Lord has protected you and the people around you so that no one was injured, or died. I also pray daily that He will bless you guys for the duration of time that I'm away from you.

   This has been an interesting week. On Tuesday we went to Bad Fallingbostal and taught C and R. We only had about half an hour to spend with them, and I feel like their excitement is starting to go down a bit. On Saturday we met with them again, and halfway through our lesson, their mom got home. We decided to stop the lesson and read a story from the Book of Mormon with her and everyone. It went really well, and we made a new appointment to teach the mom (B) and the kids this Saturday. We're really excited and believe that it will help a lot to teach the mom the lessons with them.

  Anyways, after we taught them on Tuesday, there was a Thanksgiving dinner at Seminary and we, the  missionaries, were invited. So we were coming back to Hannover Hauptbahnhoff, and the driver laid on the horn and slammed on the breaks and hit something on the tracks that clunked and banged underneath us all the way to the end of the train. He then stopped and told everyone on the speakers that a person had jumped in front of the train and committed suicide. It was crazy. A couple days later we found out that our investigator worked with this man, and that it really was a suicide. I'm not sure where I’m going with this story, but, ja, I, just never thought that I'd be in the train when someone would do that. Sad!

  Other than that we also got in contact with J again! He said he didn't have minutes on his phone for a really long time and that he just put them on again. He's doing well, and we watched the DVD, Joseph Smith: Prophet of the Restoration, with him. It went well, and we invited him to baptism, but he said he still needs time to figure it all out. So we'll keep meeting but we have to try and figure out what we're going to do with him. Before this, it had been 6 weeks since we saw him.

   B is way awesome! We had a joint teach on Wednesday. R, her friend who texted us about her, taught with us and it was such a big help. We taught the first lesson and the spirit was really strong. She's excited to keep meeting with us and R will continue to be there with us as we teach her! 

Also O P (less active member) made us lunch that day! It was really good, and we read Alma 24 with him and his 12yr old son! He loved reading the Book of Mormon because it helps his reading for school, and we could tell that O really enjoyed it too. We'll be visiting him weekly and hopefully help him reactivate himself. We can definitely tell, and feel that we're influencing him with the spirit.

   The lady that came to church last week (B) met with us on Wednesday also. We invited her to baptism and she said once she finds out if this is true that she'll get baptized. She just couldn't set a date quite yet. But we're going to be keeping on her and helping her feel the spirit and the truth from our message.

 Our Chinese investigators are also doing well. Xiang met with us yesterday and we taught him a lesson on eternal perspectives, such as baptism, and temple marriage. He said that he wants to get baptized but won't be able to until probably the end of January, because he'll be gone for Christmas holidays and New Year’s Eve. So next time we'll set a date with him and help him prepare. He said he talked with his parents and not this Sunday, but the next Sunday, he and his girlfriend will come to church with us! :)

I'm so happy that I belong to the true Church of Jesus Christ. F (a member) has been asking me lately why the Restoration was so important, if this priesthood authority really is important or if it doesn't matter, and if Jesus Christ never intended anyone to need Priesthood Authority. It forced me to do a lot of studying and in the end of every study session, it made me even happier and more grateful, that I do have that Priesthood authority, and that I am a member of The Church of Jesus Christ. This is the truth, and it starts with a simple testimony. Then the Lord in his abundant mercy and love adds to it!

I love what it says in 1 Corinthians 2:

9 But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love him. 10 But God hath revealed them unto us by his Spirit: for the Spirit searcheth all things, yea, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
  
The fullness of the Gospel has been restored because of a loving Heavenly Father, and a loving Son in preparation for His second coming! 'God is Hastening His work' as President Holland said in General Conference when the change of missionary age was occurred. We don't have to serve him; rather we're allowed to serve him. Wir müssen nicht; sondern, wir dürfen! Ich bin so dankbar für die Macht des Heiligen Geistes und das tiefe Zeugnis das er in mir gepflanzt hat. Ich weiss dass Gott lebt. Ich weiss dass seinen Sohn, Jesus Christus lebt und leitet seiner Kirche auf dieser Erde in diesen letzten Tagen. Und ich weiss dass das Buch Mormon wahr ist. Durch den Einfluss des Heiligen Geistes habe ich dass herausgefunden. Ich bin so dankbar wegen dieser Erkenntnis, und freue mich auf Mission zu sein!

Thanks for everything and for all of your letters. I love you all and can't wait to hear from you again next week. Please stay safe, and keep being awesome! :)

Love Elder Luening

Translation: "We must not, however, we may ! I am so thankful for the power of the Holy Ghost and the deep testimony that he planted in my heart.I know that God lives. I know that His Son, Jesus Christ, lives and leads His Church on the earth in these last days.And, I know that the Book of Mormon is true. Through the influence of the Holy Ghost, I have found out. I am so thankful for this knowledge. and am so happy to be on a mission."