Liebe Familie minus zwei-
Mom sent me the email my mission president's wife sent, telling you of my arrival. Sorry if there are some letter mix-ups in this email---the keyboard is NOT normal as it has all the umlauts and other funky keys. Also, don't judge my lack of English skills. Apparently, I'm forgetting how to spell and words are escaping my mind.
We've had so much rain here you'd think it was fall in Ireland. TOday was beautiful so I was really abokle to experience the city. OUr churhc building is right next to where Oktoberfest is held. MACHO CRAZY time coming up.
All is well here in Munich and I'm really getting the hang of things quickly. That first Tuesday was the roughest day as far as jet-lag. We walked off the plane at 7:30, no customs, and had Pres Condie, his wife, and the assistants were waiting for us. Then, our bags were immediately loaded up and driven away and we just stood there on the street heading the other direction. We were given a BoM, some pass-along cards, and were sent on our way; being reminded that we couldnät enter the mission office until we had given the stuff away. So, with sleep still in our eyes, and ears not even popped we headed out into the unknown. By the time we finally had walked to the mission office, the jet lag was starting to kick in. But no, we were not given a break nor a place to rest. We were taken down to the conference room where we were in workshops and training sessions the whole rest of the day. Sis Condie told us that if we feel sleepy, we were to stand up. By noon, there was no one sitting and it was like that for the rest of the day. Around 16:30 we were herded to the mission home down the block and were able to unload. We were fed a true German meal of Leberkäs und Brötchen. It was amazing!! While we waited for our food to digest, Pres Condie played his phantastisch Organ for us. His skills are phenomenal!! Following a testimony meeting and further enlightenment from the Assistants, we were about asleep in our chairs. Then came the big moment,,,,,,,the revealing of our first areas. The Assistants brought out a big mission map and Pres Condie pulled out his list. One by one we were called up and our area and trainer were revealed. Munich it is!!!! The four sisters stayed in the mission home for the night, while the 6 Elders crowded into the office secretaries and the Assistants apartments. Can´t imagine how cozy that must NOT have been.
Since then, I haven't had any problems with Jet Lag. But MAN, that was the absolute worst experience of mz life. I never want to feel that tired ever again. Not kosher!
Mz companion is Sis Schulthess from FL. She´s super patient and helps me a lot by pushing me into stopping people on the street. One of our favorite phrases is ´you never get checked out like this as a civilian´. It´s true!! Everyone here simply stares. Not just at us, but in general. It´s nerve-wracking, but I´ve just gotten used to having unofficial staring contests. I ALWAYS WIN!!! Her German skills are super and that helps a lot. Oftentimes we just randomly switch in and out of German-mode with no problems. It´s fun. When we´re alone on the street or train station we´ll speak in English then as soon as one of us sees someone approaching, into German mid conversation.
We cover two different wards. One of the German ones and the International one. Meaning-----I speak English half the time. Most of our investigators right now are English-speakers. We´re teaching two women from Africa and one of them even has a baptismal date. We are looking forth to our first convert, named Comfort (Nigeria), Sept 12th...and we taught her everything. She looks and acts like an Aunt Jemima - super friendly and welcoming and always ready for hugs. It´s an awesome feeling to have someone know that everything zou´re teaching them is true simply because they´ve prayed and felt the love. We´re hoping to be able to get another meeting with our other investigator Sally (from Kenya) this week so we can get her scheduled for a baptism as well. It's true what the scriptures say about the gospel going to the poor and the humble first. The only people who are receiving the gospel are the ones from the worst conditions. I've officiallz learned what it means to be living "in Asylum". We teach Comfort and Sally in Asylum homes. They have amazing stories and wonderful spirits.
Had an interesting experience at church yesterday. My testimony of the priesthood and of the officers of the church has grown. Since we cover two wards, we stay at the church all day. The first ward meets at 9:30 (German) and the International ward meets at 14:30. The German ward went without a hitch - no investigators. The International ward was where the experience happened. In Relief Society (which is the first hour), the lesson was on the Priesthood. Things quickly got out of hand. American members started saying that Bishops were men and that it was alright to turn down callings. Two women in particular got quite heated in their remarks about Priesthood holders. I don't know exactly what happened, but I started to cry. The things they were saying were completely out of line and were even mentioning temple stuff with ease. I was hurt in a completely different way then I've ever been hurt before. I was just blown away. Luckily, our investigators hadn't arrived yet. There were Utah members there, and they tried to get things straightened out by stating the truth about the Priesthood and those who hold it, but the women causing the problems would not back down. It was absolutely awful, but I gained a very strong testimony of the Priesthood. I was asked to introduce myself in sacrament meeting and apparently, I brought those women to tears.
OUr first Pday started with an appointment who turned out not even to be there. That means our Pday (which usually ends at 18:00, now ends at 19:00. We got groceries and picked up small things. Then, we went to the Rathaus which is BEAUTIFUL!! We got there right as the 16:00 bells rang (thez onlz ring twice a day). As we walked out of the courtyard we saw people smiling and waving in our direction (which is super super weird in München). Turns out, they were from Salt Lake. It was odd, but it gave us a boost. The milk-maid style looking dresses that the Riccola brand use (traditional German dresses) are worn like everyday clothes. They're even worn to church. It's awesome! We went and tried some on and man, when they say they're meant to be tight they mean it. The dresses are called Dierndel and they're sold everywhere evene the Walmart kind of stores. Neato!!
Address
Alfred-Schmidt Str 35
31379 München
We take the U-bahn everywhere and I´ve finally started being able to figure out where we´re going. I got a map today so I'll be able to give directions soon.
Funny food story----Here zou HAVE to eat everything and I'm learning how to eat so it looks like I'm eating more than I actually am. Anyway...so we were teaching Comfort in her room in the Asylum (she's luckz to have her own room) and were eating a meat sauce over rice. It was really good and my companion and I were gladlz able to finish the plate. Then, Sis Schulthess asked Comfort how she made it. (In mixed ENglish and German) "You take the m###n and the tomatoe...." Afterwards Sis S and I were talking and the recipe came up. My comp says "yeah, I was waiting for your reaction to the magen" Apparently, it was MAGEN we ate...not MUTTON. And for those non-German speakers 'magen' = STOMACH.... It was interesting, and I told my comp NEVER to tell me what we're eating even if I ask.
Tell TAy to just get the cases they have at the MTC bookstore. There's a 40%missionary discount. If he still says to send them, tell him he'll be able to get them at his mission home. He'll survive until them.
Whenever we talk to someone Sis S usually starts the conversation then I jump in. The person we talk to stops after the first word I say and asks "are you German". Apparently I could say Eichhörnchen and people would know I had native ttraining. It-s super funny.
If Isaac Moats thinks he's taking over my family, he'd better watch out.
Gotta go now
ALLES LIEBE
Sis Lind
We've had so much rain here you'd think it was fall in Ireland. TOday was beautiful so I was really abokle to experience the city. OUr churhc building is right next to where Oktoberfest is held. MACHO CRAZY time coming up.
All is well here in Munich and I'm really getting the hang of things quickly. That first Tuesday was the roughest day as far as jet-lag. We walked off the plane at 7:30, no customs, and had Pres Condie, his wife, and the assistants were waiting for us. Then, our bags were immediately loaded up and driven away and we just stood there on the street heading the other direction. We were given a BoM, some pass-along cards, and were sent on our way; being reminded that we couldnät enter the mission office until we had given the stuff away. So, with sleep still in our eyes, and ears not even popped we headed out into the unknown. By the time we finally had walked to the mission office, the jet lag was starting to kick in. But no, we were not given a break nor a place to rest. We were taken down to the conference room where we were in workshops and training sessions the whole rest of the day. Sis Condie told us that if we feel sleepy, we were to stand up. By noon, there was no one sitting and it was like that for the rest of the day. Around 16:30 we were herded to the mission home down the block and were able to unload. We were fed a true German meal of Leberkäs und Brötchen. It was amazing!! While we waited for our food to digest, Pres Condie played his phantastisch Organ for us. His skills are phenomenal!! Following a testimony meeting and further enlightenment from the Assistants, we were about asleep in our chairs. Then came the big moment,,,,,,,the revealing of our first areas. The Assistants brought out a big mission map and Pres Condie pulled out his list. One by one we were called up and our area and trainer were revealed. Munich it is!!!! The four sisters stayed in the mission home for the night, while the 6 Elders crowded into the office secretaries and the Assistants apartments. Can´t imagine how cozy that must NOT have been.
Since then, I haven't had any problems with Jet Lag. But MAN, that was the absolute worst experience of mz life. I never want to feel that tired ever again. Not kosher!
Mz companion is Sis Schulthess from FL. She´s super patient and helps me a lot by pushing me into stopping people on the street. One of our favorite phrases is ´you never get checked out like this as a civilian´. It´s true!! Everyone here simply stares. Not just at us, but in general. It´s nerve-wracking, but I´ve just gotten used to having unofficial staring contests. I ALWAYS WIN!!! Her German skills are super and that helps a lot. Oftentimes we just randomly switch in and out of German-mode with no problems. It´s fun. When we´re alone on the street or train station we´ll speak in English then as soon as one of us sees someone approaching, into German mid conversation.
We cover two different wards. One of the German ones and the International one. Meaning-----I speak English half the time. Most of our investigators right now are English-speakers. We´re teaching two women from Africa and one of them even has a baptismal date. We are looking forth to our first convert, named Comfort (Nigeria), Sept 12th...and we taught her everything. She looks and acts like an Aunt Jemima - super friendly and welcoming and always ready for hugs. It´s an awesome feeling to have someone know that everything zou´re teaching them is true simply because they´ve prayed and felt the love. We´re hoping to be able to get another meeting with our other investigator Sally (from Kenya) this week so we can get her scheduled for a baptism as well. It's true what the scriptures say about the gospel going to the poor and the humble first. The only people who are receiving the gospel are the ones from the worst conditions. I've officiallz learned what it means to be living "in Asylum". We teach Comfort and Sally in Asylum homes. They have amazing stories and wonderful spirits.
Had an interesting experience at church yesterday. My testimony of the priesthood and of the officers of the church has grown. Since we cover two wards, we stay at the church all day. The first ward meets at 9:30 (German) and the International ward meets at 14:30. The German ward went without a hitch - no investigators. The International ward was where the experience happened. In Relief Society (which is the first hour), the lesson was on the Priesthood. Things quickly got out of hand. American members started saying that Bishops were men and that it was alright to turn down callings. Two women in particular got quite heated in their remarks about Priesthood holders. I don't know exactly what happened, but I started to cry. The things they were saying were completely out of line and were even mentioning temple stuff with ease. I was hurt in a completely different way then I've ever been hurt before. I was just blown away. Luckily, our investigators hadn't arrived yet. There were Utah members there, and they tried to get things straightened out by stating the truth about the Priesthood and those who hold it, but the women causing the problems would not back down. It was absolutely awful, but I gained a very strong testimony of the Priesthood. I was asked to introduce myself in sacrament meeting and apparently, I brought those women to tears.
OUr first Pday started with an appointment who turned out not even to be there. That means our Pday (which usually ends at 18:00, now ends at 19:00. We got groceries and picked up small things. Then, we went to the Rathaus which is BEAUTIFUL!! We got there right as the 16:00 bells rang (thez onlz ring twice a day). As we walked out of the courtyard we saw people smiling and waving in our direction (which is super super weird in München). Turns out, they were from Salt Lake. It was odd, but it gave us a boost. The milk-maid style looking dresses that the Riccola brand use (traditional German dresses) are worn like everyday clothes. They're even worn to church. It's awesome! We went and tried some on and man, when they say they're meant to be tight they mean it. The dresses are called Dierndel and they're sold everywhere evene the Walmart kind of stores. Neato!!
Address
Alfred-Schmidt Str 35
31379 München
We take the U-bahn everywhere and I´ve finally started being able to figure out where we´re going. I got a map today so I'll be able to give directions soon.
Funny food story----Here zou HAVE to eat everything and I'm learning how to eat so it looks like I'm eating more than I actually am. Anyway...so we were teaching Comfort in her room in the Asylum (she's luckz to have her own room) and were eating a meat sauce over rice. It was really good and my companion and I were gladlz able to finish the plate. Then, Sis Schulthess asked Comfort how she made it. (In mixed ENglish and German) "You take the m###n and the tomatoe...." Afterwards Sis S and I were talking and the recipe came up. My comp says "yeah, I was waiting for your reaction to the magen" Apparently, it was MAGEN we ate...not MUTTON. And for those non-German speakers 'magen' = STOMACH.... It was interesting, and I told my comp NEVER to tell me what we're eating even if I ask.
Tell TAy to just get the cases they have at the MTC bookstore. There's a 40%missionary discount. If he still says to send them, tell him he'll be able to get them at his mission home. He'll survive until them.
Whenever we talk to someone Sis S usually starts the conversation then I jump in. The person we talk to stops after the first word I say and asks "are you German". Apparently I could say Eichhörnchen and people would know I had native ttraining. It-s super funny.
If Isaac Moats thinks he's taking over my family, he'd better watch out.
Gotta go now
ALLES LIEBE
Sis Lind
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