Stress reaches a new level (28.3.11)

Spring has Sprung and we've finally hit 17° and always sunny. Flowers are popping up under the brown leaves.

This week, a lot happened - Ulmer Miracles as always. Sister Dietz was unexpectedly transferred 2 days ago (Saturday). We got the call Tues night after an EXTREMELY stressful situation with Jenny and we were up all night (till 2) making sure she was alright and got home safely after institute (long story short, she had to walk home for 2hrs by herself because her stepdad purposely didn'T come pick her up). Sis Dietz is NEEDED by a Sister in Switzerland. She won't be staying there though because of Visa things with the US. And I was given that Sister's companion. Things are not going well and I have regressed from who I had just learned to be. My self-confidence and strength is waning. President Condie gave me words of advice and strength Thurs at Interviews but wouldn't tell me who my new companion was or what to expect. Her name is Sis Hecht, age 25, convert of 2yrs, from Dresden. Please pray for me!!

Franziska is more than ready for her baptism and we can't wait. She came to church on Sun and we had an appt with her Sat to resolve her concerns. She was worried about not being perfect after she'S baptized. We talked about the sacrament and the Atonement. In the middle of the appt, her daughter Pam (in Utah, getting baptized on the 3rd of April) called and wanted to talk to me. She talked about her love and appreciation for me and Sis Dietz for finding her mom and getting her to baptism. THis family is awesome and I can'T wait to get back to Ut and visit. After the phone call, we talked to Franziska a bit more then she just stopped, thought, and said 'WEll, what are we going to do.....(pause)....I'm going through with it. Saturday is my day.' PERFECT!!!!

How is Grandma Lind doing? How did she fall? What's the status on her head and hip?

After an extremely stressful Tuesday night, we were determined to prepare Ulm for this unexpected and stressful transfer. Jenny will hopefully be moving out this week and into a new apt so we will be able to set a firm baptismal date with her. Her family has caused a lot of problems for her in the past and she's ready to be set free. This weekend, she planned to come to church and so she borrowed her stepdad'S bike (without asking) in order to ride from the middle of nowhere to Ulm so she could stay at a member'S house so she could attend church Sunday. Saturday night at 9.30 when the couple arrived home from the temple (after Jenny had arrived at 8.30pm) they noticed that the bike was gone. Jenny hadn't locked it up and someone had stolen it. Because she is deathly afraid of her stepdad, she decided it would be best to go home Sun morning and face him rather than think about it all day at church. We called her that night and she told us everything was ok and she'd be paying for the bike)

General Conference this weekend will be amazing. Just before the YW broadcast on Sat, Franziska will be baptized in Tübingen (we don'T have a font and Conference is only broadcast to 3 places in this stake. Then, we'll get to watch the Sat Sessions in English. Sun, we'll see them again in English (always better) cuz I get distracted by watching their lips move and the voices not lining up or a woman translating for Pres Monson (messes with my brain). SATURDAY IS MY HALFWAY MARK!!!!!!! Sis Dietz and I calculated it and indeed April 2nd is halfway.

Back update - went to Dr. No need for MRI anymore, but continue with medication and Physical Therapy for awhile. I even get to add massages for the next 2 times. Too bad I'm extremely ticklish on my back or else I could just chill out and relax.

Have a great week and enjoy conference
Alles Liebe
SISTER CHOCOLATE

Pic 1- The first flowers in Ulm
Pic 2 - OUr District. (Elder Chandler, Vernal UT; Elder Graff, Spanish Fork UT, Elder Barluschke, Wuppertal Germany; Elder Hamilton, UT)
Pic 3 - Before Sis Dietz left, she requested Spaghetti Eis one more time.

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Spring has Sprung...a leak (21.3.11)

Exciting news...................WE HAVE ANOTHER BAPTISMAL DATE

Meet, Tante Toni (Franziska Pulga to the world). She was on the Potential Investigators list that we were trying ot make appts with. When we got to her name she said that she would be delighted to meet with us. So, Thurs we went by to visit her. She opened to us with open arms. (Her story now follows) . . Her daughter is now living in West Valley City (married to an inactive member) and her husband's parents referred Franziska. Her daughter's husband is working on getting the priesthood so he can baptize his new family (she had 3 children before they met and got married). Franziska goes and visits them every couple of months and goes to church. As we walked in, she asked us where the church is because she wants to go. As we were sitting talking to her, she pulls out the Gospel Principles manual saying that she'S read it 3 times already. We were blown away by some of the other things she said. Then, I just flat out asked her if she wanted to get baptized. She said 'of course. When's good for you?' After we picked our jaws and tongues off the floor we set a date - April 2nd before General Conference broadcast. THEN - we had a return appt on Saturday to go through the baptismal interview questions and talk a little bit more with her. When we got to the Word of Wisdom part (we noticed her coffee machine as we walked in) we asked her if she was ready to give up coffee. She said 'Of course. I don'T need that. Life's not about coffee, it'S about the Holy Ghost being in me and God being pleased with me'. (jaws on floor again). She is so ready for this gospel. In the missionary world, we say that she's a 'Golden investigator' (perfectly ready and prepared for the message). Well...Tante Toni is a Golden Golden.

Sister Dietz's mom sent me a card and inside was a surprise small sum of money. She wrote that she's so grateful that I'm her daughter's companion and some other things. Then, Sister Dietz told me she'd told her mom about the sad state of my backpack, so she sent the money for me to use to get a new one. That was a tender mercy!!

The weather is beautiful (with occasional rainy days) and the flowers are everywhere...in the lawns. Mom, those purple flowers you were talking about are EVERYWHERE. In the US we have dandelions, here - - crocuses and daffodills. I love Germany.

Sister Dietz made an extremely interesting calculation the other day during our lunch Pause. On Saturday April 2nd, we will hit our halfway point of our mission, have a baptism, and enjoy General Conference IN ENGLISH. What a beautiful day that will be!!

We have Interviews with President Condie on Thurs so any mail sent to the office, I will get. This transfer ends April 10 (when calls come).

Love you all - REMEMBER - I never let a letter go unanswered...it'd just be nice to get some...hint hint

Alles Liebe
Sister Chocolate

8 months on the nose (14.3.11)

HAPPY ST.PATRICKS DAY WORLD....minus Germany. We'll wear green, but there's nothing else around to signify this amazing holiday. I'm surprised they haven'T picked up on it..any excuse to drink their beer is always in fashion.

THe flowers are blooming and we got up to a whapping 14° degrees today and yesterday.

If it wasn't for dad's email and the 8 written in my planner, I would've totally forgotten about how long I've been here. Holy Moley time flies. SOme days I think, '8 months, THAT'S IT' and others ' I've been out HOW LONG?'. All in all, a great time.

We're in the process of doing the final touches on Jenny's baptism, but we can'T get a hold of her on the phone. She doesn't have money on her phones so she can't make calls. AND, she told us to call every night at 8 and she has yet to answer the phone. We're stressed and the ward is stressed. There hasn't been a baptism here in a year +. HOpefully, everything straightens out. Keep her in your prayers.

LUdmila is going strong. The language barrier is slowing us down, but it is teaching us to teach very very simply. We've started using more visual aids and scriptures that she can read out loud from her RUssian Book of Mormon. We're going to try and get her to come to church this week.

Friday to Saturday we did an Austausch (Exchanges) with the Sisters in Singen (right on the Swiss border). President asked us to do a three way and invite the new set of SIsters in the Zone (included Sis Anderson). STRESS!! We worked it out with Sis Condie (who said President doesn't understand that 6 girls in one apt all night and all day is not a good combination). So, SIs Dietz and I got to go Friday night and the other two came Sat morning. We did a street display where we sang while people walked by. It was a beautiful day. After that, we split into companionships and hit the town. Sis Dietz served in Singer for 4 transfers so she knew the place like the bvack of her hand. I was serving with Sis Ray from St. George. IT WAS AMAZING!! She and I went and tried to visit an old lady, but she was sick and didn't come to the door. So, we drove (they have a car down there) and went by on a couple of people. I even got to go into SWITZERLAND. We street-contacted people. Now I can say that I've served in all the countries in my mission. We only were there for a couple of hours, but it was beautiful. See pictures

Tonight we're going to the Beier'S home for dinner and we'Re teaching FHE. We're really excited AND we'Re getting an AMAZING spaghetti recipe. (Dad that's coming your way for sure). Last night we had dinner at the Blaschta'S and Sis Dietz and I both agree that it was pretty much the most delicious dinner we have eaten on our missions PERIOD. It was amazing Salad (Tomatoes and Cucumbers cut up and coated in a really easy Balsamic mustard, jam dressing. Getting that recipe too). THen, we had roast beef and mashed potatoes, and cauliflower with cheese. Sis Dietz and I had to be rolled home and put to bed, we were so happy.

So That'S about it from my end as I emailed on Wed this passed week. Let me know if I've forgotten anything.



Love you all and can't wait to hear about your 'boring' adventures. SIS CHOCOLATE

PS
Amanda Link - YOur letter is in the mail on its way to you. Let me know when you get it.
Ashley - There'S a letter on its way to you
Ron and Sydna - Thank you so much for the card!! It made my day.


Could you email me your favorite articles out of the Ensigns from this year thus far. We don'T have those and we're running out of Conference Talks to read till next time.

Congrats to the Mabry family. I can'T wait to have another adorable shadow follow me around when I get home. (Mom, could you make sure they're still getting my emails. Sis Pitzer and Laura Michalsky as well.

Fasching (9.3.11)

Pictures
1 - District Pday (round 3) We played Basketball and found this awesome skatebowl. Best DIstrict picture ever. THis was from last transfer
2 - OUr District before this Transfer. Yep, we'Re the best and have the best bunch of Elders
3 - LIND...can't escape the softness
4 - Spaghetti Eis is for Champions...or two Sisters enjoying the 11° Heatwave

So, yes it is Wednesday and yes I am writing. Elder Richard G. Hinckley (President HInckley's son) is touring our mission this week and we had MIssion Tour with him. Mission TOur is when a General Authority comes and gives an all day Conference\Workshop along with his wife, Pres and Sis Condie, and the Assistants to the President. It was phenomenal. We also had Stake Conference this weekend so we made a grand total of 3 trips to Stuttgart this week. NAPTIME!!!! Little beknowns to us, Elder HInckley speaks perfect German, having served his mission in Frankfurt 1961-1963 (30 months long). He got up to speak at Stake COnference, opened his mouth, and out comes accent-free German. My jaw hit the floor. HIs wife used a translator.

Mom- in a previous email you asked what you can do to help the new members and investigators\missionaries. Here's a little list SIs Dietz and I compiled. 1) When the missionaries come to eat, ask them to teach you a lesson. You could even pretend to be an investigator and riase questions and concerns that investigator might have. 2) Offer for investigators to be taught in your home. It's a good way to get to know the investigators and to see how the missionaries teach. YOu can gain a lot of trust of them and then KNOW who you'Re giving referrals to. 3) Ask them to teach Family Home Evening. 4) Invite nonmembers to the house when the msisionaries come over. 5) Offer to pick up an investigator for church or activities. 6) Befriend the investigator. 7) Give the missionaries service opportunities. 8) Offer yourself as a joint-teach (mainly Dad if there are Elders there). That's where a member accompanies the Elders if they are teaching a single woman (at least in our mission Sisters aren't allowed to teach solo to men) 9)REFERRALS!!!! You will never know how much it means to a missionary to receive a name of someone to try and teach. It can be anyone you think could use hope, a friend, the gospel, or a new outlook on life. Please, make it a goal to give the missionaries a referral a month at least. It will help their spirit and yours as well when you see people you know begin a new life. Even invite someone who you think may have interest to come to your house and then have the missionaries over for dinner. THat's a perfect casual setting for this potential investigator to meet the missionaries without the oddities of a formal lesson or them going to their door.

FAsching was yesterday. It's like the German Mardi Gras. Parties, costumes everywhere, and parades out the wazoo. Really cool

LUdmila - We have been meeting with Ludmila regularly and will be extending a baptismal committment tonight. Cross your fingers. We showed her the Restoration last week (in Russian) and she loved it...and us of course.

Jenny - Baptismal date bumped up to the 19th. We're way excited. NOw we just need her to answer the phone a bit more. She's a bit flaky occasionally.

Dettlef - New Investigator we found in our Area book. He'd been taught by the missionaries in 2000 and for some reason had fallen off the radar. We visited him with Schwester Blaschta and he was great...aside from the constant cigarette smoke int he apt. ALSO, he was showing us some of his treasures, one of which was a 1900 German edition of Dante'S Divine Comedy. I'd been goggling at all of his old books, especially that one and as he pulled it out, Sis Dietz AND Schw Blaschta turned to me to see my jaw drop as he offered to give it to me. AND SO I NOW OWN AN ANTIQUE DANTE. Really cool! Dettlef is an odd sort of person. Rocker looking, plays organ and guitar, loves books, and is kind of edgy. He was kind of rude to Sis Dietz when she first called to make an appt because of her German. But, in person, we both love him. I'll keep you posted on him.

That's pretty much all I got from Ulm. Till MONDAY

Sister Chocolate

BAPTISMAL DATE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (28.2.11)

Hallo meine Lieben

THis week was jam-packed with too much goodness for one email.

Mon - we scrimped the final cents of our MSF money for the month and bought groceries and one Chinese food box to share....using 1, 2, and 5 cent pieces. Let's just say I'm glad I didn'T have to balance the cash drawer.

Tues - Leadership training in Stuttgart. Because we're the only Sisters in this zone (and only 2 of the total 20 in the mission) we were specifically invited. Because of a train strike (again) all trains were delayed\cancelled but we made it there eventually...and legally.

Thurs - Had district meeting. Went well. Our district is amazing.
Fri - Transfer calls came.....and went. Sister Dietz and I are staying together here in Ulm. I am way excited to finally keep a companion fro more than one transfer (6 weeks) and to stay in Ulm. It's amazing and I love it. That night as we were walking to the bus from the church, I felt like I needed to call Jenny Zimmerman (our new investigator from America with perfect Spanish and German). As I was takling to her about her new job she starts next week and the new apartment she's getting so she can get a baptismal date, I felt like I needed to start simply asking her questions about the church and what she knows and understands. Schw Blaschta has been telling her that she can'T get baptized because she doesn'T have a testimony and she's been accepting that as law. When I'D asked her the questions (baptismal interview questions unofficially and in my own words) I told her that what she had just told me was her testimony. She then paused and told me that that day she had received her answer that the church was true and Joseph SMith was a prophet. I about leaped out of the bus window! Then, I felt like I needed to ask her one more questions. I said 'Jenny, are you prepared to act upon that faith and the snwer you have received and be baptized on Mar 26th'. She said 'I have been waiting for someone to ask me that question and for me to give this answer YES!!! So, we have a baptismal date with Jenny!

Sat - We had an Austellung in Göppingen (Austellung being a street display). It was an absolutely beautiful day and it went A LOT better than the last one\first one I had (where I was cursed out 5 times in a row from old ladies). People actually listened to us and we felt like we needed to door one particular building and there we found a lady who really wanted to know more. Sadly, we had to give the information up to the Elders there and not keep her for us here in Ulm. BUt, it'S her salvation, not my glory so I really hope something comes of this.

Congratulations to Gracie and the Mabry family. That is super exciting. Maybe I'll get to have two shadows when I come home. Lots of love to thhem and I can'T wait to hear more about the adventures.

MOM - I loved the msg from Carolyn's brother. Where are they serving?? I can'T figure out who they were talking about. For those who are still reading this email but don't know what's going on. My mom's great friend has a brother and his wife who are serving in my mission. Through the grapevine I received this msg:

''I went out teaching with one of the Assts to the Pres last week and we
taught a man and his 9 year old daughter. In the course of the evening
appointment I asked how the man had been "found" by the missionaries. The
Asst. informed me that "Sis Lind" had found him through her contacting.
Even though she is now in another area of the mission and I may never meet
her, I thought that was pretty cool to have that happen right away after
arriving. Tell Peggy we are already proud of her product.''

DAD - no worries. I have had a backup plan for my career since my second semester at BYU. I love literature, but teaching more and more makes me realize that I love teaching about thoughts and feelings (and the gospel) and not so much right or wrong answers. Then I took a Technical Communications class and LOVED IT!! I want to work for a company writing memos, formatting handbooks, proofreading documents, formatting websites and brochures. TEaching was a first choice but since the market is bad, that's become the backup.

TOEJOE JR. - sounds like you are loving your area. I received your letter this week and loved it. Tic Tac TOe is coming back your way...and a letter of course. I really appreciate your letters and I canr really see that this mission is the best thing for you. YOu are growing up super fast. Now, take the concenration and focuy your are learning and practicing and apply it in daily life. High school life ends at graduation (some people from home haven't learned that lesson) so move on. Let the past die, but learn from it and move on. Become who you want to become not what fits right now.

P.S. my district is amazing and sadly we're losing two of our members. One is going home and the other is getting transferred. Elder Svoboda (from Vietnam, Switzerland, England, ...) reminds me of Tay more and more everyday. He has a lot of the same mannerisms and sayings and even facial expressions. It blows my mind everytime.

Apparently everyone thinks M&Ms are my favorite (21.2.11)

Guten Fasching Alle,

THe easiest way to do this email is day by day - - helps me keep things straight and not forget anything. REason behind subject line will be explained later on.

Mon 14th - Dr appt. Got an X-ray. It's really cool looking and was quite an experience being in a German hospital not visiting someone, but there for yourself and learning\hearing big medical words you wouldn't haveknown in English let alone German

Tues 15th - Planned to meet with Claudia (referral Sis Dietz brought with her from Singen), but during District meeting she called and canceled, saying 'Ich melde mich' meaning that we don'T call her she'll call us. NOT GOOD!! We freaked out because of our devastation, but decided to wait a day or two before doing anything so as not to scare her away. It's sad when someone feels the spirit so strong and WANTS the truth, but then some little red someone (with horns and a tail) sits on their shoulder and pinches them another way.

Sister Condie called and gave me permission to pick up the prescriptions from the Dr. I feel like Grandma Hailes who has to sit down each week surrounded by pill bottles and fill up the weekly pill box. It'Sreally not THAT bad...just 4 a day. I'll live. That tied with Physical therapy will have me better in no time. CAN'T WAIT!!!

Wed 16th - Went to go vorbei on an older Schwester who wasn'T in church on Sun. Took us 45 min to get there, she not home, bus drives right passed us as we are standing at the busstop, have to wait 45 min till next bus, get home chilled to the bone. It'S getting colder now instead of warmer.

Was so excited because of Valentine's package received from Pope's (THANK YOU SO MUCH). Received some M&Ms and awesome card and hand sanitzer (WAS GREATLY NEEDED AND GRATEFULLY ACCEPTED).

THurs 17th - Sandra (a weniger Aktiv) called us and asked us to help her pack her stuff from her boyfriend's apt and take it to her new one. We loved theidea as it was in the morning hours and we could then wear pants because it's service. (we love weraing pants whenever we can...which is not often at all). We were so grateful and glad that Sandra called us because we've been trying to get an appt with her for 6 weeks but her interesting relationship situation hasn't allowed her to want to. She comes to church every week though so we were at aleast able to make contact weekly. We decided to take flowers to Claudia. She let us in the apt building but met us on the stairs saying she was just going out. We didn't want to go in anyway, but it was sad to see her that way. As we were walking back to the bus stop (within 5 feet of it) the bus pulls away. Knowing that the one we planned on taking came in 5 min we didn'T worry. Then, I look at the schedule again and notice the 'rb' means Rufbus, meaning that the bus only comes if you specifically call for it the day before. Another hour of dooring. After about 20 min of no one being home, we were frozen so we went inside an Evangelisch church to warm up a bit till the bus came. Oh yes for 24 hr open churches with bathrooms.

Received Valentine'S package from home with more M&Ms. Thank you very very much for the dark chocolate and the peanut M&Ms. We love them and Sis Dietz teases me that M&Ms must be my favorite candy...funny how I never knew that, but I am extremely grateful for a bit of Americanism in our crazy German lives. I love getting any mail and it is always a blessing to have Sis Dietz brnig me a letter from the mailbox as that doesn'T happen often and she always feels bad when we get the mail and there'S nothing for me. THough focusing all my efforts on my mission, it is equally important to receive a bit of uplift and love from people who really care. When a hundred doors slam in your face you're so blessed to go to bed having read a line from home or see a card from Christmas and know that though no one here wants your msg, there are others whose lives have been blessed by it. FAlling asleep with the last thing you saw beig someone giving you the finger or shouting in your face makes the days and nights go so slowly and no fun, making the next day so hard to want to leave the apt so I want to thank anyone who has sent me a letter, it was greatly needed and definitely always an answer to my prayers. I reread all my tiny stack of letters often and I love the pictures and cards. Thank you!

Fri 18th - First session of Physical Therapy. Got poked and prodded and twisted in all directions. There is a problem with the bloodflow and a pinched erve in my deep lower back. The therapist, named Bruno (always joked that if I ever got a massage or therapist he'D have to be named Bruno) said that 85 percent of people between 20-35 have this problem but usually it goes away with a week or two. Since mine has lasted 6+ weeks, they really need to do something. Then, after sessions of massages and exercises, I'll never have a problem with this again because my back will have strengthened itself. The problem is that my spine is out of coordination with all the moving and twisting we do so it just has to lose some inflamation and learn how to coordinate itself and I'll be fine in no time. No worries at all. My session ended with me getting to take a 35 min nap on a slab of heated mud (a process called Fango). That was quite enjoyable but I left the office in pain because of the prodding and twisting and then laying completely flat, but I have noticed a decrease in the intensity and frequency of the pain. Thanks for medical technology. Can'T wait for next time as I get an electric massage...Sis Dietz is quite jealous.

Sat 19th - We felt like we should call Karin THurs night to see how she'S doing. As she picked up the phone she exclaimed that she was just about to call us for an appt. YEAH!!!!! We met with her and her mom and Sister. After the appt we realized that we had just gotten 2 new investigators and they were coming to church. What a blessing to see and find people who are ready for this message which will bless their families. Especially when this family has already been exposed to the church in Columbia and knew all about Temples and the WoW. We can'T wait till next Sat when we will extednd baptismal commitments for them all. They had already accepted a 'soft committment' meaning that when they knew it was true they'd be baptized. Now comes the real thing with a date and a commitment. PLease pray for the Horn family. OH, and Karin got the flight attendant job with Lufthansa, but decided not to take it because it would take her away dfrom her son too often and wasn't paying enough for her to live close enough to the headquarters to work for them. What a blessing she said, because now she can meet with us and be close to her family all at the same time.


Gotta go.
Alles Liebe
Sister Chocolate............... who apparently has M&Ms as her favorite candy....and they are starting to become so.

Pic 1 - the flower I 'filzed' meaning felted.
Pic 2 - my x-ray.