This has been a week of sad goodbyes and crazy new hellos. I think that's what my whole mission has been like, actually. Wednesday I said goodbye to the Franzes and then to Elder Nielson. They were some of the best friends that I've made on my mission... so Rostock is feeling pretty lonely without them.
As it always is, the seasons changed. And this season is going to be crazy!!
NEW THINGS IN THE LIFE OF ELDER OPENSHAW:
Elder Wehrend - known to be the blond-haired, blue-eyed, hyperactive Germanest Elder that this mission has to offer.
800 Years of Rostock - There is a huge clock in the town square counting down the days until the city turns 800 Years old. The countdown is now at around 12 days. Which means 12 days until this city turns into the biggest party in Germany. We are signed up to help with set-up and clean-up for everything which will probably include picking up lots and lots of beer bottles that people leave around the city.
World Records - I don't know why everyone in Rostock is attempting to win different world records right now... but they are. 2 days ago there was a man who rode his bike for 24 hours straight through the city. In 2 weeks we will be contributing to the 'longest matchbox city' ever. (I'll include a picture)
Raad the Yazidi - We met with this really awesome man, Raad. He is a Yazidi (google it), and was probably one of the coolest people I've ever met. His whole life has been filled with crazy persecution and opposition but he is one of the most positive-minded people ever. He has been driven from his home numerous times, faced all sorts of dangerous situations, and wasn't allowed to study because of his religion/race. Through all of that he ended up becoming a doctor and was working at the hospital for 2 months until he had to flee to Germany. He is now working on learning German so that he can take the medical exam and start working here.
Just like Raad, I think that we've all faced trials and opposition in our lives. We all face hard goodbyes and difficult circumstances. I have faced those things too. And just like Raad, we can make it through those things. I sometimes hate reading to the end of a chapter in a good book. I often wish that a chapter would continue or another chapter would quickly end. But a good book is more than a chapter. So it is with our lives, we often wish that a chapter of our lives would continue forever or that another chapter would quickly end. But the beauty of the book of our lives is in the combination of all the chapters.
If you find yourself in a new chapter of your life or in a chapter that you wish would end, remember that the author of your book allows you to write many things for yourself. God gives us the ability to become the writers of marvellous stories. Now, I'm going to end this email and keep writing.
Love,
Elder O
P.S please appreciate the shorts that an african member made in one of these pictures.
