The field is white.....with snow

Liebe Familie,

Nothing really exciting to report and since I don't have too much time, this will be a rather short email. Sorry!

Karin - we met with her this week and she is having amazing progress on her English. Sis Dietz picked up the Book of Mormon off the table in the corner of the room and asked if she'dread. SHE HAD!! Then, Sis Dietz bore testimony that you can find any answer to any question by reading. Karin thought for a moment then said, flipping through the pages 'where can I find a scripture to read when I'm sad?' BING!!!!!!!! We showed her the Schriftenführer (index\condensed Bible Dictionary in the back). We told her about church and FHE. She was so excited and wants us to do FHE with her entire family. COuldn't make it to church though because of being sick. Next week!

The Branch President has asked us to concentrate our efforts on Weniger Aktives so we've made the goal to contact and or visit every single one of th 50 by this Sunday. Pray for us...it'S cold and Germans can be stubborn.

Schwester Blaschta taught me to knit yesterday and gave me a scarf she'd started (one of her MANY unfinished projects) and needles. I'm not the best, but it doesn't look TOO out of shape. Hey, maybe I want it to look like a snake or an S. I'm learning.

On Sunday we had a Young Women program in Sacrament meeting. Since there is only one YW, it was supported by the entire RS (all 9 of them). Sister Dietz and I were in charge of Musical Number. We accompanied the group with I am a CHild of God. Me on the Piano and Sis Dietz on the flute. It was awesome! Since then, the branch has really opened up to Sis Dietz. Especially Bro Rodrieguez. After Sis A's outburst towards him when I was suffering that Flu virus night, he will not even speak with her nor invite us over. On Sunday, he came up to me and invited us for dinner and for Sis Dietz to bring the flute so we can play. Bro Manke tipped his hat to us as we passed him on the bus on our way home. I really really loved this branch, but now, they are my everything. I feel so grateful to have been asked to stay this 2nd transfer. I really feel like I've gained their trust, and that is super important to me. We'll see what happens

On Valentine's Day, Sis Dietz and I have our 7 month anniversary. (8 months if you go by how much we have left till our release date Dec 22). It's amazing how fast time has passed and how much I have learned about myself. Especially since Sis Dietz came. We play a game while we wander in the wilderness of the countryside. She asks me a question about myself and I get to ask her. I've learned to dig deep in my emotions and past to find the true answers and not scratch the surface for answers I know won't make me look bad or different. We have learned that pretty muich, Sis Dietz and I are the same person. We get along so great!!! Let me share with you a few examples------

1) Both love Doris Day, While You Were Sleeping, old movies, ladybugs, scarves, Michael Buble, games
2) Both born in Alta View Hospital
3) Favorite flower...Sunflowers
4) Both prefer plain cheese pizza...and both eat the crusts first
5) I love to cook, and she loves to eat
6) Both listen to Jim Brickman (we have no choice really but we both love his music)
7) Both are stubborn and don't like having limits put on us (like missionary lists handed down that say who we can and can'T call...if they don'T say it to us, it's fair game)
8) BOth love to laugh (she knows exactly how to make me laugh and we do it often...I*'ve never laughed so much as long as I can remember)
9) She makes me feel special...no longer as self conscious about myself.
10) She helps me stretch my spiritual wings
11) We went into the MTC on the same day and were both trained by Sis Schulthess
12) She'S so amazing and I truly feel blessed.

Back update - I've been having severe back spasms that cause me to not be able to sit for long periods of time and the pain shoots down my legs. The only comfortable position for study, sleeping, etc is laying flat on my stomach or back. Not sure what is wrong and the pain has lasted for about 2 weeks. Sister Condie has been keeping a close eye on me and has spoken with the Area Medical Doctor (mission doctor for Europe) and I have to go see an Orthopädie Doctor at the University. Pray that nothing serious is wrong. I DO NOT want to go home.

The church is true, the book is blue (so are our noses), and I really miss you
SISTER CHOCOLATE

PIc 1 - The field is white, already to...shovel (or just walk through between villages in Deutschland)
Pic 2 - The Donau (Danube in English)
PIc 3 - I love winter on the mission (me in Salzburg)

I LOVE THIS TRANSFER

Servus!! First of all, I know that I need to repent for not emailing yesterday.....SORRY!!! We had a service project opportunity that we couldn't pass up, but it went a lot longer than planned. We had to split our Pday in two parts so we decided to email today after District Meeting.

Things in Ulm are going amazingly well and I absolutely am going to LOVE this transfer. Sister Dietz and I get along so well it's as if we'd known each other in the preexistence. I've never laughed so much ever and she really helps me try my spiritual wings and fly. I've learned so much from her in such a short time. It's great and I truly feel blessed to have her here loving the same people I love. It's incredible

Also, WE HAVE A NEW INVESTIGATOR!!!!!!!!! Finally, we've broken the Ulm curse. Karin Horn (the woman we'Ve been speaking English with for FLight Attendant school) accepted a Book of Mormon and her mother has already read it. We're so excited to get another appointment, this time with the whole family, and teach them. They are so ready for the gospel it's phenomenal. We showed up on WEd for our appointment Karin for Englisch, but she wasn'T there. Her mom came to the door and when she saw us, she grabbed hold of me and held on so tight for so long just to thank me for giving her the Book of Mormon. I can'T WAIT to talk to her again.

So, on SUnday I did\didn'T have a talk. Last week, I'd been given a topic for this week. I prepared all week long and had some good stuff prepared. Get to church, they announce the speakers..........I didn't have to speak. BUT, I learned a lot from the preparation. My talk was on the difference between Sin and Transgression. I've got one word to sum it all up - - - - Knowledge. Think about that for a minute and if I have time I'll go into a little bit of detail.

REally cool moment of the week....We had to buy next month's Monatskarten (monthly tickets for bus and train) for which we'D been given 2800€ CASH to pay for. We got to the desk and the asked for them. After filling out paperwork (and the desk clerk asking for a pass along card...also cool) they told us that it was going to cost 60€ more. PANIC HIT!!! I'm freaking out not knowing if I had enough cash. I scrounged around in my wallet for any cash coins anything to help out. Turns out.....I had EXACTLY 60€ in coins and a 20€ bill (since 1 and 2€ are coins not bills). I amazed even myself. Someone upstairs was really blessing me in that moment.

Relief Society activity on Saturday was also amazing. We filzed (felted) flowers. It was really fun and at first really hard but actually super easy. I'll send pics next week. Basically, we took unspun wool and layered it, then poured boiling water and soap on it, then rubbed like mad until it became felt. My flower is yellow with a pink marbled look (like my favorite roses). Pretty awesome. When we went to the Blaschtas for dinner SUnday, we felted some more (Sis Blaschta reminds me sooooooooo much of mom as far as loads of stuff, lots of crafts, etc) and SIs Dietz and I made rings. It's an awesome hobby and craft. Next week I'm hoping to learn how to knit (the GErman way which is faster than the America way I'm told). Sister BLaschta also gave us a 1000 piece puzzle yesterday which is totally aweome picture of superstitions by James Christensen. Check it out online, pretty amazing artwork. Sister Dietz and I play games every single night before going to bed. It's so great, but we're running out of games. Ligretto, Jenga, and TOss up are the only ones we have and it'S amazing. We're getting so good at them too.

SIster Dietz and I have hit the ground running and it is amazig work we've done. She and I are so much alike that it makes the work fun as well as spiritually uplifting. We started by making calls to all the Weniger Aktivs who, beside their name on the ward list missionaries had writing notes about not wanting contact from the church an<ymore. Sis Dietz and I have the same feelings about such ridiculous lists. If it doesn'T come from personal experience it doesn't count. So we called everyone. All of which said they wished for contact and one even said that she'D thought the church had forgotten about her. We'll be going by for a visit this week for sure. This new transfer of actually working has made me wonder what the missionaries in my home ward have as far as area books, investigators and weniger aktivs. I would love to take a peek into their planners and feel what I grew up knowing. I love missionary work.

It's gotten super super super cold this week. Back into boots, heavy scarves and hats.
Lots of Love from the city with a museum abut BREAD

Sister Chocolate

Flu the coop (3.1.11)

DAD - received the letter\picture Ron took

I'm pretty sure you're wondering why in the world I would put that title as a subject for this email. No, I didn't misspell it...I just have\had the flu.

Last Monday I had a headache and that was all so I didn't worry. Tues I woke up with a fever so I called Sis Condie and she grounded me (102* is well over the fever limit for missionaries being outside...100.5* is the limit). So, all day Tues I was sentenced to sleep and drink lots of fluids. Around 7pm I really didn't feel well and the fever hadn't gone down at all. Around that time, Sis Rodriguez called us and asked if we needed anything (as she does frequently, having a missionary in St. Petersburg she checks on us as if we were her own daughter...or how she'd like her own daughter to be checked on as a missionary). SHE WAS AN ANSWER TO MY PRAYER!! When she heard that I was sick in bed, she said that she'd be there in an hour (living a ways away). When she arrived, she brought her husband and son (our ward mission leader...19 yrs old...leaving for mission on the 12th) and plenty of medical needs. After assessing my condition, she called Sis Condie to see if they should take me to the hospital (because that's what her husband was adamant about...he's a stubborn Columbian) but that was out of the question unless absolutely needed...which it wasn't (breathe easy mom). I received a blessing in bed because I was not strong enough to get out (or down if you want to be politically correct as we do have a bunkbed). Sis Rodriguez stayed with me and on the phone with Sis Condie until about 11pm, then they decided to call a doctor who is on call here in Ulm 24\7. He arrived and assessed the situation as a flu virus and prescribed Ibprofen 600 and lots of liquids and sleep. After he left, Sis R informed me that she'd received permission to stay with us overnight. That was another prayer answered because I knew Sis A would not want nor be ablet o care for me. Sis R had brought homemade Chicken Noodle Soup, oranges, american flu medicine, cough drops, herbal tea (it's a BIG thing here), and treats. I couldn't eat anything but did drink lots of tea and Orange juice (which I never want to see again as long as I live...too much is too much). She stayed the night and made breakfast for us the next day. She also secretly had picked up my prescription and bought more orange juice for us. Sadly, she disappeared as quickly as she came while I was asleep. I will forever be thankful to her for her love and kindness. She was a temporary mom when I needed it most. Wed-Thur-Fri I was grounded until my fever dropped below the Missionary Dept limit and I felt strong enough. Needless to say I wasn't too happy about having to stay inside, but I got a lot of studying in. I finished D&C (which was my goal) and reread it and read the whole PoGP in one day. That's pretty good if oyu ask me. As of Sat night, I'm on page 100 in Jesus the Christ.

Yes, I'm alive and still kicking (which I was also doing throughout the week having been grounded). Though not much time was spent teaching, I learned a lot and was able to really get some study in. I learned a lot about the Savior and his love for me. I realize how much I really do need to let my will be in line with the Plan that has been preparedd 'before the foundation of the world'. I was also able to set many goals and review my goals from last year. I'm more determined than ever to achieve EVERY SINGLE ONE and I know now, which I didn't last year, how to set reasonable goals and then to encompass them with many little goals so that step be step I can achieve them all.

Fri morning Sis Condie called to check on me (she called everyday) and said that since my fever had dropped, if I behaved myself and slept all day I could party for New Years Eve. At 5pm I was feeling SO much better and was merely congested and sore throat so Sis Condie said I could go. New Years Eve we went to the Schaal family's for a traditional Schwabisch fest. It's tradition to have fondue with lots of food so that'S what was planned. The Blaschtas were there and another family from the stake (Kindermann) with their 4 kids (who became my shadows by the end of the night). We saw amazing fireworks from 360* out on the street. It was so much better than lighting our own or going to see a big show. The Schaals live on a hill up a bit so we could see loads of different fireworks. I learned to play a new game of Mancala (it has four rows of holes and no big ones on the ends) and we played Ligretto, Robo Rally (which have become my favorites), and a new game called Ubongo (also a new favorite).

Sunday I was still doing great so we decided to go to church. As long as I kept my throat wet (cough drops\water) I was fine, just a tad congested;but when I didn'T, I coughed up a storm. Sis Rodriguez took us to her house for lunch (more soup....this time veggie) and then the Blaschtas had us over later for games and dinner. I am so grateful for this branch who really jumped to the rescue when I needed it most and constantly checks on us. If I'd been anywhere else, I don't think the members could have helped quite as much (Salzburg, the ward is way too big. Bruck, the branch is way to spread out). I'm glad for the fact that Sis Rodriguez is American and was able to help me feel better in a way I was used to and help ease me in to the German way of treating the sick...................TEA. I still love tea, but if someone says 'would you like some tea' I think I'll pass....at least for now. I still don't like orange juice, but I do like honey-filled Alpen cough drops.

Today I'm doing so much better. Sis COndie says I still have 4 days where I'm considered sick and need to take it easy. Sleep is still good, orange juice (yuck), my prescription, and...............tea.

Still alive, but have a bad case of CABIN FEVER
SIS LIND

Mom - please add Ordean Monn and Sis Duffield to the email list.