Frohe Valentin Tag (14.2.11)

ALLES LIEBE VON DEUTSCHLAND!!

I got the Christmas box!! We had Zone Conference this week (Feb 8) and I got it. Thank you thank you. I LOVE the PJs and Pillowcase and I have the little tags hung up above my bed as the 12 days of Christmas is still above my desk. Love it all and both with follow me to every apt. I mixed the letters up to spell HOME FANS as FROHE WEIHNACHTEN is a little too late. Under the HOME FANS I have the picture of mom and dad in front of the temple. I LOVE IT TOO!!!!!!!!!!!

Zone conference this week was AMAZING!!!!!!!! We learned so much about overcoming certain specific fears and teaching a 'Zero' lesson. This lesson is what we do at the first appointment. We get their religious\family background, give an overview of the doctrine in the lessons, ask for questions they have (about life or the doctirne), commit them to a 3x4 (3 lessons a week for 4 weeks plus church, prayer, scriptures and then they'll know the church is true), then we extend a baptismal commitment to them for when they know it's true they will get baptized. THe Area Presidency introduced this lesson to the mission in July of this past year and I really and truly have a testimony of it. IT WORKS

WE GOT 2 NEW INVESTIGATORS THIS WEEK.....stay tuned for the stories

Had Dr appt today. Found out that parts of my spine are crushing each other right above my tail bone. I had to get an xray (really cool) and I've been prescribed pain medication and Physical Therapy for 2 weeks (maybe this means I'll get to stay in Ulm another transfer. This transfer ends (we move) on Mar 2nd and we get transfer calls on the 27th.

We may get to go on the Ward temple trip to Frankfurt in March if we're still here. Keep us in your prayers that for once on my mission, I won't get a new companion each transfer. It'd be nice to get to stick with someone longer than 6 weeks.

THis week we did a surprise service project for Schwester Blaschta. We reorganized, redecorated, and dejunked her entire apt minus bedrooms. When she came home from the hospital she called us in tears thanking us for what we did for her. Then, she asked us what we wanted for dinner on Sunday (since we wouldn't take any money or anything for our work...we voted on Tacos. She made them (amazing soft shell) and came out with multiple cans of A&W ROOT BEER. Saliva was rolling down our chins. What a wonderful Sunday Evening.

Sis Dietz and I have been making calls to all of the former investigators in our Area BOok and have made some great contacts of potential new investigators. We made contact with 21 yr old Jenny ZImmerman (an American) who is great friends with Schw Blaschta. We invited her to SUnday dinner with the Blaschtas and she fell in love with us. We're all great friends now and we'll be working with her a lot. AND, shes our new investigator no 1.

We have kept our committment to talk to the first person we see each day and this week we saw blessings from it. We walked out the door on Friday and stopped a man who was on the phone. That day was my turn to talk to someone and I was super super nervous. I asked him about his belief in after death existence. He said 'that's a really good question' and asked if he could meet with us. His name is Illija from Croatien.

Sis Dietz and I have been making calls to all of the former investigators in our Area BOok and have made some great contacts of potential new investigators. We made contact with 21 yr old Jenny ZImmerman (an American) who is great friends with Schw Blaschta. We invited her to SUnday dinner with the Blaschtas and she fell in love with us. We're all great friends now and we'll be working with her a lot. AND, shes our new investigator no 1.

When SIs Dietz came from Singen, she brought with her a referral from a member there. That member had become super close with Sis Deitz and since she left Singen has called us multiple times a week to talk to Sis Dietz. We set up an appointment with Claudia (who lives in the middle of nowhere). She was very receptive to us though we were told that she doesn't do well with new people. SIs Dietz had never really done a full zero before so she'D asked me to kind of take the lead. When we got to the Überblick, I basically was able to give a shortened first lesson. When I bore testimony about the First vision and recited it to her, I felt chills run down my entire body and now I KNOW that JOseph Smith really and truly did see Heavenly Father and hear his voice. I've kind of known it was true before, but now I know that my thoughts before were nothing compared to my firm conviction now. New Investigator no. 2.

This area is slowly blooming and I'm so grateful to have the opportunity to watch the spirit work and I just turn it on and guide it like a dog on a leash. I love the people and I love the work here like no other area I've served in (part of that has to do with the fact that this is the first area where I have been able to stay longer than 6 weeks.

Sister Dietz and I discovered abrand new ice cream shop this week. We got Spaghetti Eis (Ice cream). It reminds me of Nordhorn and the shop even has all those funny shaped ice cream creations. We were so excited! (picture attached). TO those who aren't familiar with Spaghetti Eis - it is Vanilla Ice Cream put through a press to come out like noodles then covered with Strawberry sauce and shaved white chocolate. Prety creative and amazing!

MOM - - YOur question 'Got any suggestions as to how to work best with people who aren't investigators yet?' will be answered in my next letter as time has run out. THe scripture reading challenge I extended (to finish the BoM by Mar 1) ends of course on Mar 1st. I am a little behind, but will finish on schedule. Lucky for me I get a whole hour a day just to read.

Gotta Go,
ALLES LIEBE
Sis Chocolate

DAD - Got your Valentine Letter to Ulm. Did not get Amanda Link's address. Please get her email address and have mom add her to the list of who gets my emails.

QUESTIONS\REQUESTS - What is Lauren Harris' address? Would you send me a copy (not the original) of a Jim Brickman CD?

SIS NELSON - HAPPY BIRTHDAY SISTER!!!!!!! Hopefully you got my card today as I sent it last Monday. If not, please watch out for it.

SIS THURSTON - Do you know an Elder Peters from Kearns UT?? My companion SIs Dietz is a good friend of his and we both discovered that we have friends when both of us received a letter from NC Mission.

SIS PALMER - What was that ward game you said you made? What it is about?

ASHLEY - DId you get my Valentine's day card?? It had your name written all over it and I included some really great German photos just for you.

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