Did you know that I ride in a Mercedes EVERY DAY!!! (11.4.11)

Hey all -
I made it through yet another transfer call day. I'M STAYING IN ULM!!!!!!!!!! THis is by far my favorite place on my mission and I really feel like I've finally found my mission niche. AND Sister Dietz is coming back to put up with me again. She'll be the first companion I've had for more than 8 weeks. Sis Alder set the bar at 8 weeks and then I was emergency transferred out of Bruck and into Salzburg. Then, Sis Dietz here in Ulm for 8, then she was transferred to Switzerland for 2 weeks to help another Sister who's companion had caused many problems (who I then was put with here). Now she'll be back and make it a new record - - two and a half transfers (if she lasts that long).

P.S. If you don'T understand the subject of this email, let me explain. The buses are Mercedes and we ride them everywhere. Not many people can say that they'Ve been chauffered in a Mercedes for 18 months.

Don't worry about sending a camera. I bought one from a member for only €40 ($60). It is brand new and originally costed €130. Such a steal and it'S amazing. It's a Canon Ixus 130 with 14 megapixel. Word travels fast in this branch about anything and I'm so grateful for their concern and love. YOu know you've been here too long when members start showing up at church with things they 'thought you'd like'. I really love this branch. The member had bought the camera for her husband's birthday at a closeout of the local 'Best Buy' kind of store, but then he'd gone out and bought himself one so she was stuck with an extra. They don't make cameras anymore that take my kind of memory card (XD...the small one like you sent to me) so that was a dud at trying to just find another similar. This one takes the SD cards. I took my camera to another shop to have them tell me exactly what's wrong and they said ____ in the lens shaft is broken and it would cost €400 to get it fixed.

I leave and mom takes over my job idea - Substitute teaching. I know she's just opening the doors so when I get home I can just slide on in. PERFECT!!!!

Glad to hear Grandma's doing alright. HOpefully you'll make it out there for her birthday.

As for Mother's Day - - Since I'm staying in Ulm, the same system works for the phone. We have a cell phone and a festnetz (landline) so we'll be able to call simultaneously. I don't know as far as time or such, but will let you know. We have church till 12 and then meetings afterwards so probably around evening night ish.

Not too much this week. Things were rough and I've had to trust in Heavenly Father more than ever before in order not to slip and fall. My self-confidence and desire to be the best have taken a beating and my personality has been worn down, but I know that things will get better. Sis Dietz and I figured that she is the Band-Aid companion. She gets sent to Sisters who've had the rought companions and she builds them up. I am the companion President COndie can count on to deal with the hard companions. Not sure I like that, since everytime it happens I suffer a lot. Luckily I've had both of the hardest Sisters there are in this mission so I think it's all uphill from here. AND, I had them both here in Ulm where the members have been there to keep my from hitting rock-bottom.

Missionary work is not easy, but it's worth it!!!!

Our District is crazy, but amazing at the same time. Each of the 4 Elders is in love with Star Wars and it makes for absolutely entertaining phonecalls, District Meetings, and train rides. I now have a Jedi Name (Repen AnLi), two big brothers who protect me (Two Elders who have just taken me under their wing), and a planned party for District meeting on May 4th....May the FOURTH be with you....(get it?)

Lots of Love from Ulm
SISTER CHOCOLATE...who happens to be craving Reese's Eggs!!!


Mom - blouses to me are the collard button-down ones. The shirts I'm thinking of are the kind like you can get at walmart (cotton, lightweight, colorful, patterned maybe). Preferably short sleeve, but three-quarter is my favorite.

Dad - Thanks for taking care of my finances and such. I really appreciate not having to worry about that ever, since you're the money-wiz. If I were better at math, I would've done accounting. I love it THAT kind of math...the practical kind.