My SDP People

Before we moved, we read some fun facts about Berlin. One of Justin's favorite facts is that Berlin has more canals and waterways than Venice! It's also surrounded by 3,000 lakes as the most water-rich region in Germany. 

Woohoo!! 

Our first Sunday back, I was lucky enough to make connections with friends who have paddle boards and wanted to go frequently before fall! Thus began our SUP (stand up paddle board) group.  

Because we're so spread out, it takes some planning and coordination to even get to the lake. Walli takes the tram to our apartment, we drive our car out to pick up Alex and the paddle boards, then head to our final destination!!

Our first week we visited Groß Glienicker See. Found a perfect parking spot late in the day and got right in the water. 

Alex let Walli and me take the boards around to get familiar with how they worked as we tried to keep our balance standing up. Our group name quickly switched to SDP (sit down paddle board). Ha! 

 

The lake was beautiful, the water warm, and lots of people were spread along the various beaches we paddled through. I was in HEAVEN. Talking with two selfless, positive, kind, incredible women, enjoying the sun, and swimming around. I couldn't think of anything better.

The wind picked up as we were paddling back upstream towards the car. Definitely got a workout in and was even a little winded as we pulled up to the beach.

<3

We all talked about how much we loved the afternoon & would have to do it again... Again came the next week and this time we tried out Schlachtensee! A little closer and smaller, but the same results - happy, sunny, and beautiful water.

The last time I had been to this lake was back in January, when Logan and I watched our friends do a polar plunge. Maybe we'll actually get in for 2025!

There were lots of swans and rowboats floating around. Everyone was out enjoying the nice weather.

After dropping Alex off, Walli and I drove home and I couldn't stop thinking about how happy and grateful I am. One year earlier I had been pregnant and didn't have the energy or motivation to get out and meet people. It was a different phase of life than now and I'm so grateful for the friendships that I've been fortunate enough to create over the last 12 months. 

Our text thread looked pretty similar to the week before and we decided we had to get out at least one more time! It was almost September at this point and the weather was going to be dropping soon. 

Bless Justin for rushing home from practice to watch Logan so we could get as much time on the water as possible. Our third and final week, we headed back to Schlachtensee and the leaves had already started to turn.

On this particular day we were pressed for time but truly had a tender mercy. :') We passed a walkway down to the lake and right across from it was an open parking spot!! I threw the car in reverse speedy quick & we snagged that perfect spot. 

By this time we knew the drill for opening, inflating, and organizing the paddle boards, life jackets, and wet bag. We made it down to the water in record time and had some more quality conversations in and out of the lake.

I'll never forget those three SDP trips. I love spending time with Alex and Walli. They're some of my closest friends here and I love them so much. Excited to come back when it warms up again but for now, we have some canals on the agenda to paddle on in the coming weeks. 

Feeling Home & A New Berlin Guidebook

I was excited to walk into our apartment and see how everything looked, and more importantly, be home. 

But first, I'll back up. Landing in Berlin, being in our "home airport", and driving the familiar roads to our apartment was soooo happy. We've been back for a few weeks now and I can't describe it as anything else besides happiness. 

It feels so good and right to be back in Berlin starting another season of basketball and chapter of life. Walking into our apartment together felt so good & everything was just how we left it. Justin and I went to work sorting through dirty clothes and putting everything back in its place while Logan got reacquainted with his toys in the living room. He sat for over an hour completely entertained. I think he liked being home too. <3

Last year we had our personalized Berlin Guidebook, full of food, history, and places to explore. This year, we added about 30 new things above our completed list and are ready to keep seeing more of Berlin.

We had a free evening before bedtime and snuck out for a walk along the Spree and down to the Soviet Memorial we had been wanting to see.

Everyone was out on bikes, scooters, and their own two legs enjoying the end of summer's heat. I missed our city!

During our walk we passed the "Crier" statue. We've driven these streets countless times and I had never noticed this statue. It was built before the Wall came down and the individual is "crying out" towards East Berlin.

This is one of three Soviet memorials built in Berlin soon after World War II. More than 2,000 soldiers are buried behind the memorial. 

I wish I could remember more facts than I do. We read the plaques out loud and I did my best to internalize the history! Regardless, I don't remember many details, but it was a beautiful place.

Walked back to the car through the Brandenburg Gate and noticed this on the sidewalk. All of these tiny pieces of history that go unnoticed - by me!

The spot where Ronald Reagan said, "Tear down this wall!"

My favorite, favorite part of the city. Magnificent Brandenburg Gate with the funnest, most lively square behind it. There's always tourists and live music. & it's the finish line for the Berlin Half Marathon... See you in April!

The perfect way to start our new bucket list/guidebook and end our day. & some spiced chocolate chip cookies always seem to help too!! Making more of these asap.

Restored

 The definition of restore is: to bring back or re-establish (a previous right, practice, or situation).

When Mom and Dad visited Berlin last fall, Mom commented a few times about how many people there were in Berlin. And wondered, how many of those people have or ever will hear about Joseph Smith and the message of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Our ward in Berlin is pretty incredible. Last Sunday, I sat by a woman in Relief Society who I had not met before. Alice introduced herself and told me it was her first time at church. She came looking for hope and friends. During the opening prayer I had a strong impression to invite her to dinner that night. 

She and the missionaries came for dinner & now I have a new friend.

This Sunday was fast and testimony meeting. The first Sunday of each month in church, members go without two meals and give what they would have spent on those meals to the poor. Going without food includes fasting. Praying for blessings and giving gratitude to God for what we have. 

The first hour of church is testimony meeting. Any member or visitor may get up and share their testimony of what they believe and their faith in Jesus Christ. 

A Brother Campbell was visiting our ward, and bore a powerful testimony about the Gathering of Israel. Our ward is fruition of this prophecy. We have members from Honduras, Brazil, Germany, Switzerland, the United States, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Bolivia, and more, gathered to worship Jesus Christ in His true church. 

It was amazing to hear that testimony and look around and feel the power that comes from the Gathering of Israel. Our prophet, President Nelson has said it's the most important work happening on the Earth today. To gather all of God's children and give them the opportunity to make covenants with Him and return Home. 

Last night, Justin and I met with Alice and the missionaries again over video call. We were able to share the message of the Restoration with her. 

We testified that Joseph Smith, a 14-year-old boy in 1820 prayed to God to know which church was true. He had a miraculous answer to his prayer. God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ appeared to him telling Joseph to join none of the churches. None of them had the complete truth that Jesus Christ himself organized while he was on the earth. 

Joseph's calling as a prophet was to restore Jesus Christ's church on the earth. Not to start a new church, but to bring back or re-establish what had once been. 

Joseph's own words about this experience state: 

"I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other - This is my Beloved Son. Hear Him!"

I still have those words memorized in Portuguese from when I shared them as a missionary. I know Joseph Smith was a true prophet of God and he brought back Christ's church to the earth through many other miracles. 

I thought of my mom's remark as we were on a Whatsapp video call with Alice. Out of all of the people in the Berlin, at that moment, Alice was hearing the message of the restored gospel. <3