Back in Bruck

Grüßi meine Lieben -

I hope Grandma gets recovered fast or Grandpa is going to have to learn a new cuisine. I didn't know she was getting surgery. Was it planned or emergency? How is Aunt Irene doing? I had a dream the other night where I was home from my mission and Irene handed all the family history work over to me. Then the thought came 'maybe she's still alive so that I can take over her work'. Our family's history and stories have always intrigued me and I love old antiques and stuff. If that'S the reason she's still around, sorry that I'm not home sooner so she can go. I'm working on it. Lucky for me, President changed my release date up a month.

So, I'm back in Bruck and so far, things are going SOOOO well. Working with Sis Downs is so much fun and we are really getting things done. 'Git er done' as we say in the Boro. It's nice to work with an experienced missionary because you don't have to explain what you're doing every two seconds nor do damage control if things don't go according to plans (in their eyes). We just go and if something comes up, we just laugh and find something else to do. I haven't laughed so hard in a long time (since I was with Sis D). It's such a freeing feeling. I can truly be myself again. It'S great! Sunday at church was kind of weird but great at the same time. It was odd to walk in and see and remember everything from what seems like centuries ago. It was great because people were genuinely excited to see me...even people I didn't expect would be. Manuela is still going semi-strong and I got her to commit to stop smoking. Great start! On Saturday, we're going with her to Vienna for the Stake Women'S day! That will be weird too because then I go back and see familiar faces again and yet remain detached from that area. That'S the weirdest part about this transfer, coming back and reattaching after leaving it all behind so suddenly this exact time last year. The branch doesn't know Sis Downs and I are leaving in a month, but with me they should be able to figure it out since I was here a year ago. Sis Downs and I are still trying to figure out what President Miles had in mind putting the two of us here together when we both go home within 2 weeks of each other (she goes home first).

BONUS....I get to end my mission in Austrian Countryside before winter really hits!!!!
What's even odder is that we are spending about half of the transfer out of our area because of the Stake Women's Conference, Interviews with President, Mission Sisters' Conference, District Meetings (which take min 2 1\2 hrs to get there).

I found the land of my ancestors!!! (See pic 1). We had an appointment with an investigator the other day and, of course the first meeting with a new missionary is the same get-to-know-you stuff. He asked where my name came from. Denmark I said. Then he got all wide-eyed and told us about a little village 3 min away named Lind. OF COURSE we HAD to drive there and check it out. I'm convinced I'm Austrian!!!

--
Alles Liebe SISTER CHOCOLATE