1/16/17 - Training!

This was a great week to end the transfer, I learned a lot! This week we had splits in Beja, a college town in the middle of nowhere. The thing that stood out was that while we were street contacting everyone was so open and nice! We would stop people and they would actually give us their info and say that we could come back another day! Tavira is known as one of the hardest areas in the mission so I’m so used to rejection and it was weird to have someone say yes! 

We met a Brazilian women who moved here 9 months ago and she is sweet! We taught her the first lesson and it felt like my spirit was on fire! She had so many doubts and problems that our message seemed to answer for her!  I think the Spirit was there because she was humble! Many times we teach "know it all" people and they aren’t humble so they don’t feel the spirit when we teach. “When they are learned they think they are wise, and they hearken not unto the counsel of God, for they set it aside, supposing they know of themselves, wherefore, their wisdom is foolishness and it profiteth them not. And they shall perish” (2 Ne. 9:28). After the split we were able to spend some time talking about doctrine which I love more than I can say!

I think this transfer has blessed me with patience (or maybe patience is something that I continually need and will have many opportunities to learn over and over again!) For example...on Sunday one minute before we started sacrament meeting the branch President said, "Elder Herrmann you need to give a 10 min talk today okay?" The old Chase would do it but freak out before and after because it was a surprise and I wasn’t prepared. But with this transfer I learned that patience and attitude are everything! I was happy for the opportunity to speak!

Knowing transfers were coming, I was nervous all night until I got the call and the zone leader said, "Elder Herrmann, you will stay in Tavira and you will be training a new missionary and will pick him up from the airport." I remember thinking, "WHAT? HOW? I’m only going into my 4th transfer?” After freaking out a little, I’m excited!  I’m going to pick him up tomorrow, his name is Elder Alves and he’s from Cape Verde (an island about 350 miles off the west coast of Africa). Yes, that’s 4 for 4 foreign companions! I am so grateful for the Lord’s trust and excited for more opportunities to learn and grow.

I love you all so much! Boa Semana! 
-Elder Herrmann

Tavira Sunset

Castle in Beja

At a Catholic church