4/10/17 - "Are you afraid of planes?"

What an amazing week--so busy!  We ended our transfer this week and I thought for sure I would stay in Alverca. But on Sunday afternoon President Tavares called me and said, "Elder Herrmann, are you afraid of planes?" I said, "Uh, no President." He said, "Good, because you will serve in the Açores as a zone leader!" The Açores are these groups of islands in the middle of the Atlantic ocean! I will be flying out on Thursday! My new comp is a Brazilian who is ending his mission after this transfer and is a way good missionary! I am so excited to serve with him! I will be serving on the island of St. Miguel in the area of Ponta Delgada! Something cool is that the ZL's get to do divisions on all of the islands so  I'll see it all! 

This week I did divisions Tuesday in Vila Franca De Xira and we met this guy named, João.  He was really cool and we taught him a lesson about faith, it was awesome! On Wednesday we had another division with the zone leaders and we taught this Portuguese family again and it was amazing.  I learned a lot! On Thursday we went to the mission office and my comp had his "school of the dead" where he learned about what to do after the mission.  While I was in the office President said, "Elder Herrmann are you ready to be transferred?"  I thought he was joking with me like always. On Friday we worked really hard and we were in the street and I was playing with this dog and it jumped up and bit my mouth and now my front tooth has a little chip in it--oh well, it builds character. Saturday we got some bad new that the Portuguese family decided that they didn't want to hear our message anymore so that was a bummer. 

It was a crazy week!  When I found out I was leaving I felt really sad but also happy because I am excited for this opportunity.  I  just really love this ward!! I said all of my good byes and it was so sad.

I am excited for the new experiences I will have this summer in the Açores!  Love you guys, boa semana!!!!

-Elder Herrmann

4/3/17 - General Conference is better than Christmas!

This week was good! We met this family of 3 who are sweet! The mom is Maria and we taught her along with her son who is 21 years old and her daughter who is 16. We taught them the plan of salvation and they liked it a lot.  Maria is very catholic and wants nothing to do with our church.  She believes all missionaries took a class in psychology and are there to trick them. But the two kids are really interested and want to learn more. 

I did SEF this week which basically mean YA BOI is finally LEGAL here in Portugal!! I had zone conference this week and it was so good.  President Tavares taught us what it really means to be a disciple of Christ. He taught us from Mosiah and Alma how we can “know” Christ:

"For how knoweth a man the master whom he has not served, and who is a stranger unto him, and is far from the thoughts and intents of his heart?"  {Mosiah 5:13}

"Yea, and they had waxed strong in the knowledge of the truth; for they were men of a sound understanding and they had searched the scriptures diligently, that they might know the word of God. But this is not all; they had given themselves to much prayer, and fasting; therefore they had the spirit of prophecy, and the spirit of revelation, and when they taught, they taught with power and authority of God."  {Alma 17:2-3}

SO this week I focused on doing those 3 simple things—studying, praying, and fasting with more of a purpose. Literally the small things make such a big difference. After the conference we did TRC’s where we do a fake lesson and we learn where we need to improve.  Of course with my luck I got set up to teach President Tavares.  I was so nervous but it went well and I learned a lot of things I could do better. 

The highlight of the week was General Conference. We still haven’t watched all of it because of the time difference.  We still get to watch the afternoon session and a little of the Sunday morning session. But man, General Conference is better than Christmas here on the mission!! It’s just so good and everything they said really was inspired of God.  I felt such gratitude for being able to serve. I am so thankful to be on a mission and to really change my life.  Also, I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon.  I found it interesting that our prophet, Thomas S Monson, said something so simple yet so powerful--if we read the Book of Mormon EVERYDAY we will see a difference in our lives and our testimony will deepen. We all need to make time to read the scriptures in our busy lives. I also loved the talk given by Yoon Hwan Choi.  His experience that one person accepting the gospel can pass down happiness to future generations.  And that same happiness can go to generations that have already passed on through temple work.  I loved the idea that when we are feeling down we do need to "look up”. I feel a great responsibility to bring the gospel of Christ to people in Portugal to bless not only them but future and past generations as well. There was so many good things to write about! It was an amazing conference!

I love this work and am proud to represent our Savior and His church every single day. I know this gospel is true! Have a great week!!

- Elder Herrmann

3/27/17 - Antonio, Isha, & Ruben

There was a lot of rain this week which means it is harder to find people. But despite the rain we met Isha who is a 30 year non practicing Muslim and moved from the Middle East to find peace. She told us she was looking for something new. We taught the first lesson to her and she was pretty overwhelmed because everything was so new.  So we starting teaching the lessons at a slower pace. She is amazing and I am excited so see what happens with her.

We taught Antonio a lot this week.  We fasted and prayed for him and he finally found a job. But because of his job he has to work this Sunday—it’s kind of a day to day thing. He is so ready to get baptized but the rule in our mission is that investigators need to attend Church at least 2 times before they can get baptized. We are praying that he can make it this week. The problem is he really does need the money so when he gets called in he needs to go.  He said he is excited to hear from the prophet and follow his counsel. We are excited for him to hear General Conference!  He was so prepared to hear our message!

We have been teaching this man named Ruben Silva who is Portuguese and has a girlfriend with 4 kids--they are so funny. When we first met him he wanted nothing to do with us and said he didn’t believe in God.  But we convinced him to let us in. We taught the plan of salvation to the whole group.  The girlfriend and kids are religious so they were really attentive and liked the message and us.  Ruben still said he didn’t believe what we taught.  A week and a half later he let us come back and finally said he know God exists. WHAT A VICTORY!!! The spirit can change anyone’s heart. Even though he has a REALLY REALLY long way to go, he is on this path and that is what makes me happy. 

This week I have been really focusing on listening to the Holy Ghost.  I can tell a difference when I TRY to listen and then be obedient to its counsel.   Also I have been reading this book, “The Power of Member Missionary Work”.  I’m reading it in Portuguese so it’s pretty slow going.  There was one part I liked a lot where he went through every blessing we will receive when we share the gospel. There was 20 some promised blessings and I know I feel more happiness!

A funny thing that happened this week--in the missionary manual it says that Sunday is the best day to knock doors. This does NOT apply to Portugal. We had a couple of men run us out of their building shaking a cane at us shouting, "This is my day of rest!!!!" Our pointing out the difference between rest and the Sabbath didn’t help! haha 

Well that’s all for this week.  So grateful that Luke came home from the NICU this week.  I love you all!  Vamos batizar todo mundo!!!! 

-Elder Herrmann​

Antonio

View overlooking Lisbon

Biting Elder Richards hahaha