My story starts in November of 2011. I first arrived in Cottbus and I had 6 months left of my mission. Little did I know at this point that I would be spending my last 6 months in this amazing place.
I learned quickly that Cottbus had not seen a baptism in about 5 years at this point, and the members, especially the Bishop, was more than excited for missionary work. I was determined at this point to do all I can do to help this ward reach their own goal of a baptism.
My new companion, Sister Olsen, had only been in the mission field for 6 weeks at this point, and she explained to me that we will be teaching two less actives and their non-member wives during Sunday School. I showed up to church that first Sunday and met Jeffery and Katrin. The other couple was not their. This is where the story begins.
Katrin was introduced to the church about 15 years prior to this. When she was a teenager, she said that the missionaries were offering a free English class at the church and she wanted to learn. As she attended the classes each week she met Jeffery, her now husband. Jeff was around her age and a member of the church. They dated and Katrin started coming to the different activities at the church. She never did meet with the missionaries though for discussions. Jeff and Katrin got married about 10 years after they first met. 5 years later I came to Cottbus to serve there. Jeff went less active a year and a half before I came and was starting to come back to the church. Katrin would come every Sunday with him. To make a long story a bit shorter--about 1 1/2months later, the Bishop came up to me and said that he was planning on talking to Katrin in his office that Sunday and for my companion and I to go to regular Sunday School.
Afterwords, the Bishop informed me that Katrin has agreed to finally take the lessons. . . He asked if I was going to be getting transferred and when I told him no, he was thrilled that I would be the one to teach her. I was too!!!
Every Sunday we taught Katrin a new lesson. Jeffery never came to the lessons because he did not want to be the reason she joins the church. .. she needed to do it herself.
I would never forget the day I asked her to be baptized--to my surprise, her husband showed up for that lesson and little did he know I would be asking Katrin that day. Jeffery was sitting right next to her and as I asked her to be baptized, and she replied yes, the face of Jeffery was priceless. There was so much joy and excitement in the room. Jeffery had no idea that she was even considering this and then what made it the best was when I informed him that he could be the one that baptizes her.
The spirit was so strong and the joy in that room was amazing. We left Jeffery and Katrin, so they could have a moment together before Sacrament meeting. I went out and talked to Bishop in private. I promised him I would tell him when she said yes. Bishop had tears in his eyes and was more than excited. I remember seeing him crying on his wife's shoulder at one point. The ward exploded with excitement. . . . it has been 15 years since everyone first met Katrin.
There is a bit more to this story on how the ward found out, but when we asked her why she wanted to be baptized she said, in German of course, "I want to raise my baby boy (almost a year at this point) in a church that live what they teach and I know I can be with my family for eternity."
Tears were brought to my eyes as she said this. I was so grateful to be there on her baptism day, 25 March 2012.
She will always have a special place in my heart. Her baptism was picture perfect!!!!
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