Dear family,

Good news. 
I'm in love with Duisberg.
And my companion. 
And my life. 
This place is so happenin', like y’all have no idea. 

We went over to a less active’s apartment named Koronka for a German lesson on Friday. She's from Bulgaria and doesn't speak much Deutsch, so we teach her! When we got there, she motioned for us to come inside and to wait a second while she ran to another apartment...and she came back with a friend!!! We got to know him for a little bit, and within a couple minutes, he had opened up to us about some things he's currently struggling with. He didn't go into too much detail, but he let us know he's dealing with a lot of guilt—so much guilt, in fact, that he hadn't really been sleeping for the last 3 days. We read with him in Alma 36 about Alma the younger whose soul, much like Peter’s, was wracked with pain and torment for the space of three days because of mistakes he had made and deep remorse he had felt. We bore testimony that those burdens, that weight, could be lifted from off his shoulders through Christ and His atonement. He told us that he's gone through periods of his life where he's felt very close to the Savior and can clearly see His hand, but that he always ends up unintentionally distancing himself from Christ. "I want to form a connection with the Lord that doesn't break" he said "and I don't think it's a coincidence that I'm sitting here with the two of you today." He repeated that over and over—that there was no way it was a coincidence that we met. Toward the end of the lesson, he even confided in us that the very night before he contemplated taking his life. 

Yeah. 
Definitely not a coincidence that we met. 

I know the Lord knew what Peter was going through. 
I know the lord was aware of his struggles and cared deeply about his challenges. 
And I know His gospel provides the peace and hope that Peter, along with the rest of the world, so desperately needs. 

P.S. Peter came to church yesterday!!! Woohoo!!! 

On Saturday, we had a lesson with Naoimi, our upstairs neighbor!! She's from Nigeria and has 5 kids—Mighty, Progress, Princess, Dominion and Holy. (No, I'm not kidding you. Those are their actual names). The sisters met her a few weeks before I got here and had taught her a few lessons...and we were able to set a baptismal date with her for September 5th!!! 

Yup. Things are looking pretty good here in the dirty D (that's Duisburgs nickname, btdubbs). Between all the lessons we have and the added STL responsibilities, I constantly find myself praying that I can find time to do things like eat…and shower...and sleep...we're super crazy busy from sun up to sun down, but I'm loving every super crazy busy second(: 

Hope y'all are loving life!! 
Have a great week! 
Keep it real (: 

-Brookie