Gettin ready for New Years...slash Christmas review (27.12.10)

Christmas celebrations are three days long here - 24th (Heilig Abend), 25th (Christkind comes), 26th (Zweite Feiertag). We were invited to members' homes all three days.

24th
We went to visit a very old member in a Pflegeheim (Old Folks home) and sang to her. She has Demenz (Dementia) and is fading fast, but she sang along and then when I read the CHristmas story she commented and voiced a couple of words. Then, we took the train and walked to the middle of nowhere to visit the Rodrieguez family. They are an amazing family with their youngest going to BYU Idaho this week and the next youngest leaving on his mission in Jan. Speaking English all night, sharing stories, singing songs, baking, and cooking..and being on the other end of a missionary christmas phonecall...all in all, a wonderful night.

25th
Visited the Schaals. (They are a 38-40ish year old couple with no children. They are really reallyy helpful to us and check on us regularly to see if we need anything. They have even offered to rent a truck to move our furniture when the new apartment is ready). She made soup with Knödel (my favorite), then pulled out the big guns - - - goose, Knödel, glazed chestnuts, brussel sprouts with chestnuts, stuffing with apples and chestnuts, and Holunderblüten saft (Elder berry juice). THEN she brought out a big surprise - A&W rootbeer. We sang songs and played a super fun game called Robo Rally (dad, you should checkk it out), then had cinnamon ice cream with orange marmelade.

Spent the evening with a Weniger Aktiv (less active). She wants us to teach her live-in boyfriend so we started with the basics and watched The REstoration. BOth received it well as Sandra said that she needed some help with her testimony as well.

PHONE CALLS HOME - due to procrastination\laziness from a certain baby brother, MY TIME-SLOT for phone call was taken which stressed me out because I was thinkknng my parents just weren't home. Then, they finally got him to call back later since with was already 9:50pm my time and I needed to go to bed. It was great to talk to family though we weren'T all on the phone at the same time. It was odd to think that this time next year, I will be WITH my parents. I even got to talk to Grandpa and Grandma Hailes as well as Pat. PERFECT Christmas day!!!!!!!!!!!

26th
Church as usual. Only 7 members there because of the holidays. If I haven't explained how church is here in Ulm, allow me to enlighten you------9:30am Hymn practice, 10:15 RS\EQ, 11:00-12 Sacrament meeting. That's right, no Sunday School. After church, we were driven home because Sis A is having stomach problems. I was feeling a little under the weather as well, having contracted a cold or something similar and having a 99* fever. When we got home, we both fell asleep, not having gotten much sleep the night before (Sis A was in the bathroom and I was congested).

Dinner at the BRanch President's home. I felt like I was in some ritzy restaurant. There were candles everywhere, BEAUTIFUL table settings complete with long-stemmed glasses. We had a steak and mashed potatoes all arranged on a fancy gold platter. I can't even describe how fancy it was. BEAUTIFUL!!! Definitely going to do that when I get home. Simple and beautiful. She even made whole-wheat cookies with chili powder for us to take home. RECIPE WILL BE PROCURED NO WORRIES!!!!!!!! She gave us a Christmas CD with music from this area, Austria, and Switzerland. PERFECT!!

NEW YEARS EVE aka Silvester
We are going to the Schaals again - along with the whole branch - for games, party, and fun. We are allowed to stay out late as long as a member drives us home.

Since Sis A and I are both sick, we are looking forward to a nap today. ESPECIALLY since we've both gotten no sleep the past two nights.

Mom - we received a letter from President today stating when interviews are. Wwe will be on Jan 6 so I will be able to get mail, that was sent to the office, then

New Year tradition I learned about this weekend. They carry a little plastic pig in their walletss for good luck.....I do too.

GUTE RUTSCH INS NEUE JAHR!
SISTER LIND

Pictures are from our walk from Bahnhof to the Rodriguez Family. BEautiful sunset and the snow.

Christmas is in the Air (20.12.10)

This week, I have learned to trust whole-heartedly in the Lord. I'm more than positive that is what I'm supposed to learn this transfer. After talking with Sis Condie I learned that I need to delve deeper in my prayers and scripture study so that I can gain the strength to keep going. That is the only place where I will find comfort and strength. I have learned how important it is to be an example of good Sister missionary work after hearing many things said about other Elders by my companion. I KNOW that part of the reason I am here is to set the path for other Sisters. If I set the example of how to treat Elders and the work, then there will be no question about why Sisters come on missions...NOT because they can't get married. I have learned and am still learning how to open up to people and share my thoughts and feelings. That's always been something I've struggled with and now I'm realizing how important it is that I let things come out instead of holding on to them. Still working on writing them in my journal, but I have these weekly letters to document many things.

We're getting our heater fixed tomorrow. The Elders before us apparently decided to either use it for a trampoline or to climb up on the bunkbed because the steel bolts and screws holding it to the wall are completely broken off on one side. Luckily, a Sister in the ward is in charge of checking on things in our apt and is going to be there with us.

THis week we had a District streeting in Göppingen. That was really fun and helped me realize that I do have the skills and desire to do this work. We each (the whole district) floated around the main square near the Christmas Market and individually talked to everyone who passed. I had many good conversations and I felt like I CAN do this missionary work thing. Sis A and I decided to split up so I just stayed in mission rule proximity to her so we weren't schwarz (breaking rules). I learned a lot about my technique and how to change up the message. Definitely went better than the Austellung in Klagenfurt where I got cursed out by 4 people IN A ROW. 'I had confidence in Sunshine...I have confidence in rain'.......................and SNOW. BOy was it cold standing around on snow for 4 hours, but it was great. On the way home, one of the Elders (from Holland) said the absolute funniest thing I'Ve heard in a long time. His English is wonderful (as with most Europeans), but they still always give objects genders (because that'S the way it is with other languages). So, Elder Von Stokkom said the following in reference to his broken oil vial....'Everytime I fill it, it empties itself into my pants'. Quote of the day for sure.

We are so booked for Christmas holidays that it'S great. No new investigatores as CHristmas is an impossible time to get any here in this area of Europe. Since there are two Feiertagen (days of celebration - Dec 25 AND 26th) we have members calling us for appointments and we've already been snagged for New Years. Looks like we'll be playing a lot of Ligretto as well as that's the biggest thing around here. It's like Nerts only better. Before leaving Salzburg, I was given a box of the game so I'm set.

My legs are super warm as I have learned to love leg warmers. I have one pair that I love love love and wear everyday. I'm also resourceful and thrifty. My Austrian coat has shorter sleeves (the style, not my freakishly long arms to blame) so I found some green leg warmers (the exact color of the trim) and I wear them on my arms. PERFECT!!!

Popes- Thank you thank you thank you for the wonderful surprise package. It really made my day
Pres Parks - Thanks for your words of wisdom.
Bro Monn - I really appreciate your monthly letters and updates. THank you so much

1- me in front of the Alps in Salzburg
2- little smoking man. They are a big deal here and this was the perfect momento for my mission

Gotta go
Viele Liebe
SISTER LIND

Sister Lind has been............... (6.12.10)

TRANSFERRED!!!!

Yep, it's true, I have been transferred yet again. This time to Ulm, Germany. It's near Stuttgart. I'll be working with Sis Anderson, one of the Sisters I came with from the MTC. I'll be Senior companion and I'm pretty positive she's not going to like that...she's from Philly. I was really looking forward to Christmas in Salzburg (home of Mozart and Silent Night), but I get to enjoy it somewhere new. I always like change and new things. We got the call Sun morning and it blew us away. Not only was I getting transferred, but Sis Schlegel has been transferrd as well (in der Schweiz). They're closing this area for SIsters. Not enough work for both Sisters AND Elders AND a Senior Couple. Mom - I think that Carolyn's brother will get to work here in Salzburg in place of the Mangums who are going home end of Jan. Too bad, I will just miss them. (Tell Carolyn thanks again for the laundry bag...all my companions so far have been jealous of it...Sis Alder worked with the Sis Mecham Carolyn talked about just before I went to Bruck).

No injuries this week, just really really cold bodyparts.

Packages arrived today - Sis Alder sent the package from there to me and it arrived gleichzeitig with the one dad sent. I LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE the CDs that were included. Doris Day singing Toyland, Tony Bennett, Barbara Streisand....I'm in heaven. I absolutely love the strumpfhosen. I'll be stylish and warm. I've gotten more accostumed now to wearing socks, strumpfhosen, socks, leg warmers and boots. I love my leg warmers too. €1 was definitely well spent.

Mom - when the Moats kids come over, you should introduce Babes in Toyland to them. That way, you'll always say you GOT to watch it every year at Christmas. Watch it once for me then too. Then, watch Errand of Angels.

Since I've been transferred (again) I won't know what'S available technology-wise until I get to email next Mon. I'm going to see about getting a phone card that could work Germany and Österreich to use for Mother's Day and Christmas. I've skyped plenty of times, but never with Tay...he never wanted to. I know for definite mine works. Tay's should too as his is fancier. I don't know the password for my Skype off the top of my head, but sign on to my computer and check it out. Ask around too, there'S probably members or friends who've used it before and give give you details.

Yesterday, we went to a Krampus Lauf. Havwe you ever seen Devil heads at Christmas time? Well, here'S why. Since today was St. Nikolaus Tag, he's been wandering the streets looking for good children. Alongside him comes the Krampus. He whips bad children on the backs of the legs. THis gives them a chance to change their ways before CHristmas eve when the Christkind comes. Instead of just ONE Krampus, there are hundreds of people dressed up like Wookies or Lord of the Rings characters and parade down the street scaring people and chasing teenages, and 'whipping' the backs of legs. These people make their own costumes and in order to participate, EVERYTHING has to be from nature. The masks\heads are carved out of wood, the whips are horse hairs, and the costumes are of some kind of skin. THey walk down the street with giant cowbells attached to their backs and march to the rytrhm. They are led by 8 people in Lederhosen chiming more cowbells the size of a tractor tire. It was really cool and kind of scary because you were never sure when one was going to come stare into your eyes or whipe your legs. Luckily, I just got my hair extremely ruffled (nuggy style), but Sis SChlegel was scared to death when, while I was been nuggied, one came up behind her and wrapped its arms around her head and gave her a nuggy. It was really funny walking home with light socket hair. Definitely a night to remember. We'D gone with some JAE (young single adults) and the Senior Missionary couple and it made it all the more fun.

We had an amaing contact this week. Almost everyday Sis SChlegel receives a packaged so each day we get our doorbell rung fromthe post man. Friday morning, we get buzzed so we go down to the mailboxes to retrieve yet another big box of goodies. The Post man then asked us if we'd be willing to help his 11 yr old son with his English. BING missionary time. We told him about the weekly English class at the church and gave him our card with the information. Then he asked how much it costs. He was dumbfounded and blown away when we told him it was free. Then, he asked why. BING missionary time. We ended up talking to him for 20 min about the church and he asked if He'd also be allowed to come to the ENglish class. TODAY, he buzzed again with more packages (this time for me). We ended up talking to him for another 10 min about the church and got his information for the Elders. HOpefully, the Elders will be able to baptize not just him, but his entire family...wife, husband, and 3 children. YEAH FOR MAILMEN!!!

We're still working with Frau Lugonjic, trying to get her ready for her baptism, but it's not going to happen. We started introducing the stop smoking program written by an Elder in the 80s which, when followed exactly, will remove the need and addiction to cigarettes after only 7 days. Using prayer, grapefruit juice, vitamin c tablets, prayer, mouthwash and brushing teeth she could be done with smoking forever. It's amazing and I know it would have helped her, but she wasn't as ready to give up smoking as she said she was. Sad to say, she will not be getting baptized next week.

Until I send my address in ULm, please don't send any mail to Salzburg, I'll probably never get it. Instead, send to mission office. We have zone conference on the 12th so I will get anything then.

Today, besides a little packing, we are going to the Oberndorf church....home of SILENT NIGHT. It's going to be beautiful in the country and hopefully not too many tourists....aka Asians with cameras or pushy, impatient Americans.

This computer is havng problems so I may not be able to send any pictures this week. I'Ve got pictures from Krampus Lauf, Salzburg, and fun, but you may have to wait till next week to see them. Sorry. The Three Kings day (where they write on the doorposts) is Jan 6. Mark it on your calendars! It'S apparentyl super big here. As big as the 12 foot Alpine horns we saw\heard last night.

Zum St. Nikolaus viel Süßigkeiten!!!
Sister Anne-bear