Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Elder Puriri Bids Auf Wiedersehen

Isaac Puriri, son of Rakipaka and Lani Puriri and brother to Rakai (25), Karamea (23), Ammon (17), Asa (13) and Hamilton (10), left November 18, 2009 for the MTC. For the next three months he will become proficient in the German language in preparation for a return to Berlin, this time as a fulltime missionary. Elder Isaac first saw Berlin in August 2007, when at age 17, he traveled halfway around the world as one of 74 Rotary youth exchange students for the ten months of his senior year in high school. The experience of being totally immersed in the language and culture, along with his classroom studies at Dixie High School, set an example of righteousness and honor for his family and friends. It also prepared him in many ways for what is certain to be "the best two years" of his life.

The history of the Church in Deutschland dates back to 1852 when the first missionary traveled there to introduce the gospel of Jesus Christ. Through all this nation’s political turmoil in the subsequent 100 years, devout members quietly lived their faith. During the dark days of the Third Reich and under communist rule (which did not end until the mid-1980's), members maintained contact with Church leaders, including President Monson and others, who bolstered the spirits of the members through occasional visits when permitted. Today, the Church in Germany has grown steadily and now includes dozens of stakes and branches, 14 missions, and two temples.

The Freiberg Temple, the 33rd operating temple, is the only temple originally built in a communist country. The church’s smallest temple when it was dedicated by Gordon B. Hinckley in 1985, the Freiberg Temple today provides the richest blessings of the gospel to members from Germany, Ukraine, Hungary, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, and Moldova.

In 1945, Elder Ezra Taft Benson was called to minister in Europe following the devastation of World War II. In 1963, he returned as president of the European Mission headquartered in Frankfurt. In August 1987, after he was sustained as the 13th president of the Church, he had the special blessing of being able to return to Frankfurt to dedicate the 41st operating temple.

Follow the spiritual adventures and travels of Elder Puriri on the blog his mother has set up for him at http://elderisaac.blogspot.com/. (scroll down on the right side of the ward blog to "Official and Unofficial Links" [the last gadget in the "black" section] . . . then click on Elder Isaac Puriri).

No comments:

Post a Comment