4 - 10 JANUAR 2016

Hannah, Andy, Silvanus Wegner

This week has been a sick week for both Elaine and I. She first caught a cold and had a bad cough. That inevitably was passed on to me. We were able to continue our missionary work, but I worked from my apartment office instead of going to the area offices.
     On Saturday we attended the baptism of Hannah and Silvanus Wegner. Hannah is the wife of Andy and Silvanus is his stepson (Stiefsohn). All three are from Ghana, but Hannah lived in Spain for 10 years prior to marrying Andy. Silvanus is 13-years old and is the son of Hannah from a previous marriage. They live in Aschaffenburg (about 30 minutes southeast of Frankfurt) and are part of our little Offenbach branch. Andy has been a prospective elder for several years and is now back active in the Church. Hannah just recently had twin (Zwillinge) boys named Daniel and Joseph. They are tiny little fellows and as black and cute as they can be.
       We have needed more families in the Offenbach branch. All three speak only English - that is no

The Wegners Baptism

German. Fortunately, many of the branch members speak pretty good English. The baptism was this past Saturday. Many of the branch members showed up for the baptism and it was a beautiful experience. Johannes Stadtmuller, a young elder about 20 years old, gave a talk on baptism in English. He did a wonderful job. His parents are serving in the Bern Swiss Temple as missionaries. Lukas Gehrig, a returned missionary, gave a talk on the Holy Ghost. Andy baptized both Hannah and Silvanus. They are the first convert baptism we've seen in the year we have been in Offenbach. It was so much fun to witness this and be involved. I conducted Sunday meetings, and we confirmed Hannah and Silvanus in our sacrament meeting (Abendmahlversammlung), sustained them as members, and then sustained Silvanus to receive the Aaronic Priesthood and be ordained a Deacon. The confirmations were very sweet and done by the two missionaries (elder Banks and Sommer). To see them have the gift of the Holy Ghost confirmed upon them was very choice. Now they have the special gift of the spirit to always be with them and be a comforter, a testifier of truth, and a 

Elders Banks and Sommer

helpmeet to stay on the right path. In priesthood meeting we Andy (a Priest) conferred the priesthood on his son and ordained him to Deacon. It was a choice experience.
       We have other investigators that are coming along and might soon be ready to make the commitment to become members of the true Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. I think we are beginning to see the fruits of our prayers, fasting, and labors. It is sweet. So glad that we have the opportunity to be involved in Offenbach.
       Elder Walker (below) and his wife are from Salt Lake City and serve as public affairs missionaries for the Europe Area. He is holding Daniel and Joseph.

Elder Walker with twins Daniel and Joseph