Let it Snow!!!

IT'S SNOWING!!! It's kind of funny because I Skyped my parents on Christmas and told them that we hadn't gotten much in the way of snow here and that it was just bitter cold, but that night it was like the weather angels dumped a bucket of it on us. It really hasn't stopped since then and man, it is cold. You would not believe our walk to get to the tram this morning. It was snowing in our faces. It was actually quite funny, but all I'm saying is, thank goodness for fleece lined tights. Those things are genius. 

Anyways, how was everyones Christmas?? I must say, mine was pretty fabulous. For one reason or another, they take three days to celebrate Christmas in Germany, so basically, we had no idea what to do with our time this week that would be a good use of it. People don't really do teaching appointments when they are with their families celebrating the holidays SO we sandwiched our Christmas between service projects. On the 23rd we went up to Inglostadt and helped the branch there make packages for homeless people. There was food, hats, gloves, tooth brushes, tooth paste, and some other goodies in all of the packages. Then on the 27th, after Christmas we cleaned the church here in Augsburg. The person on the calender to do it this week, was one older lady, so we helped her out and did it together. It was a really good time. I can't think of a better way to have spent my Christmas week on my mission. 

But in terms of the actual holidays, I'm pretty sure I'm going to explode any day now because all we did for those three days was go to members' homes and eat. On Christmas eve we went to a Macedonian family's home and ate some really good Macedonian food. I really can't describe what it was, but it was delicious. In addition to eating, we sang some Christmas songs and I got to play the violin (because they just happened to have one). Basically, a lot of my music ability is gone, which was pretty depressing, but I can still read music (you kind of have to try to forget how to do that one) so I played a bunch of hymns and one of the Elders accompanied me on the keyboard and we jammed...as much as a missionary can. 

The following day was Christmas and in the morning, Sister Baker and I listened to my favorite Christmas CD (Sing Choirs of Angels by MoTab) and opened our presents from home. Basically my parents are awesome. We got supplies for making chocolate chip cookies and have already made a batch. It made my day because I love chocolate chip cookies and they just don't have the stuff to make them with here, so I have an awesome family who knows me well :) We went to brunch at one family's home on Christmas. We played all sorts of card games and even did soft archery (which is legal for missionaries to do because it it a suction cup, not an actual arrow) and then after that we went to Markus and Alexa's home for Christmas dinner and to Skype our families. Markus and Alexa got baptized in September and are just super great. We Skyped our families at their home which was really nice of them. Seeing my parents was great. I just love my family a lot. It was really great to talk to them and hear their voices. My sisters and their husbands were even conferenced into the call, so I got to talk to them too. A lot of people talk about getting homesick after talking to their family, but I kind of just got even more excited about being here. Of course I love my family and miss them, but this is the time for me to be here doing this and I know that when the time is up, my family will be there pick me up at the airport, but until then, I'm going to enjoy this awesome adventure ahead. That's just how it is.

On the 26th, we had one last eating appointment for Christmas in a little village literally in the middle of nowhere. Seriously, when the train stopped, there wasn't even a platform. We just stepped onto dirt. We ate more food and had a good time. We played some Uno, and then went home and died. Basically, I never want to eat again...but alas, this week is New Years, so we have three more appointments to go. I just need to give my stomach a pep talk or something. I can do this.

But anyways, that was my Christmas. It was really great. People are just so kind. Being a missionary continues to be the bomb diggidy. I hope you all have a great week. Make good choices!

Love,

Sister Smiley

Pictures: The snow today, fake archery, and me sitting at the table on Christmas right after I skyped my parents

Frohe Weihnachten!

Tis the season everyone! This is it. Christmas is actually this week and I can't believe it! The members in this ward are amazing and made sure that we were taken care of for the 24-26 of December. Basically, all we are going to be doing for those three days is eat. That's ok with me though because these people really know how to cook up some really lecker specialties. It's kind of weird being a missionary on Christmas. I keep trying to decide how I feel about it and I'm still not entirely sure. Yesterday at church a lady in our ward talked to me about how sad it must be to be so far from home on Christmas and all of this stuff, but when I walked away from that conversation I decided that this year, there is really no other place I would rather be. Yes, I love my family and miss them and easily think about them everyday, but there is just something about this work that sucks you in like a magnet. I just know that this is exactly where I am supposed to be right now.

Oh! and speaking of places I'm supposed to be, I had a really nice conversation on the tram this morning on my way over here to do these emails. I sat across from an old-ish man and I just got into a good conversation with him. He was actually Italian and spoke really good German (which is good because then I didn't have to try my 8 weeks of BYU Italian on him) and he just told me what he believed, so I got to tell him what I believe. It wasn't a very long tram ride, but I got to give him a Christmas pass-along card, so it was a good start to the p-day. 

Oh! And another thing! Katherina came to church yesterday!!! She is an investigator who we have been working with for about a month. She walked right in and all of the sisters who we have had be joint teaches at our lessons were awesome. They scooped her right up and explained how everything worked. I basically wanted to cry when she walked through the doors because we have been waiting for her to come to church since we met her. I think all went well. She had a positive experience and was all smiles the whole time, so I couldn't ask for much more. 

It's kind of interesting. I came up with this thing in my head last night, but anyone who knows me knows that I really like flowers. I think they are evidence that there must be a God because they are just so beautiful. Over the summer, I really like working in our yard, ask my parents. My favorites are dahlias. If you don't know what they are, google them or something, but they are just so pretty. And at the beginning of every summer, my mom and I hit up Lowe's were we get the plants. We put them in the dirt, and then throughout the rest of the summer we take care of those plants pretty diligently. I usually do about three dahlia's a year. Well every day after they are planted, I like to go out in the morning and water them and make sure they are doing ok. Sometimes they get enough sun, and sometimes it is too much. If you water them too late in the day, the afternoon sun will burn them and if you miss a day or two of watering them, they get weaker. You can still keep them alive, it is just harder. After a while though, they really flourish. There are more dahlias and they are just so pretty. I think about that and I think about the people I work with here. Right now, I am a crew member of the Ship SS Augsburg. I'm trying to care for and help all of the passengers on this ship so that they can have the smoothest possible sailing experience. Sometimes, it's really hard and I just want to do something else, but then something happens like Katherina coming to church and I see how important it is to keep doing this. I love doing this so much. It's flying right by and I'm trying to treasure every bit of it because one day, I won't be doing it anymore. I love being a missionary here doing this work!

But anyways on another note, we had exchanges this week and guess who came to Augsburg with me for a day? SISTER MEHR! It was fun to be reunited a little bit. She's awesome. And then on Monday last week, I took Sister Baker to one of the big Cathedrals in Augsburg. It's called Dom and is really pretty, but yeah, that's my life in a nutshell lately. I hope you all have a great Christmas and make good choices!

Love,

Sister Smiley

Pictures: The cathedral, Sister Mehr and I together, and Sister Baker and I, last p-day

#DasGeschenkWeiterGeben

Hi Everyone! How's it going? Things in Germany are pretty darn good. We had our Christmas Conference this past wednesday AND IT WAS SO GREAT! It was my zone (Munich Zone) combined with Stuttgart Zone which is just loads of fun because I ran into lots of friends from former districts and areas. Some ward members made us a delicious meal of ham, potatoes, and sauerkraut. It was really delicious and I probably gulped down more than I should have, but it was so good. People over here really know what they are doing with potatoes. Anyways, we also had a gift exchange. We all had to bring a small gift and before we started eating we did this switch-aroo thing where we passed them all around in crazy directions. I ended up with a German Christmas CD and some little LED lights. It was fun. AND as a Christmas present, President Kohler did not hold back. He has lots of connections and so...drum roll please... we got to watch Meet the Mormons. We were all freaking out. It was really good. It just kind of explains that while we are "Mormons" we are normal people with jobs and families. I will admit though, it was SO American. It was really funny. Everyone kept pointing out thing things about it that were "so American" while we were watching it. It was really good though. I wish it was translated into German so we could show it to people here. 

But, as part of the more spiritual side of our conference, President talked to us about the Church's Christmas Initiative. If you haven't seen or heard of it yet, check out mormon.org because it is so cool. Quite honestly, I don't know what it would be in English, but there is a video online about why we really celebrate Christmas. The Church even made special Christmas pass-along cards for us to use. The theme is Er ist Das Geschenk or He is the gift. We are just trying to talk to literally as many people as possible about Jesus Christ and share with them why we celebrate Christmas. We have already had so many cool experiences with this Christmas initiative. 

On Friday actually we had a painter in our apartment, because our landlord felt that the wall needed to be painted. So, while he was at the wall painting, I sat down in a nearby chair and just started talking to him. It wasn't anything too intense, but I then asked him if he was excited about Christmas. He said no. I asked him why and he said that it is because Christmas is all about money and he just thought it was pointless. I asked him if he believed in Jesus and he chuckled a bit and then said no, and then I asked why not. He said Christ just can't be real because it is too amazing. At that point it did kind of hit me how depressing Christmas would be if there was not a birth of the Son of God to celebrate. It would be totally commercial without Christ. Well anyways, I didn't really push anything on him, but looking around our apartment and seeing my tag, he could tell I was a missionary for some sort of religion, so he asked me what I believe. This was probably one of the coolest moments of my mission. I just got to tell this man what I believed about Christ and the Book of Mormon and why I celebrate Christmas. He was very sincere about everything, so I gave him a Book of Mormon and told him to watch the Er is das Geschenk video and he said he would and I really feel like he did. I didn't get any of his contact information or make an appointment with him or anything, but I got to talk to him about our Savior Jesus Christ and why he means so much to me. It is moments like those that just make a mission so worthwhile.

On Saturday we had our ward Christmas party and this ward has a tradition where they go into the forest with lanterns for a little bit and sing songs and read Christmas poems. The missionaries were asked to sing the first Noel in English (because we can do that). So we did and I think it went ok considering one of the Elders is tone deaf, but it was a fun time. I really like talking to the young women in this ward. They are great. It was just a really good time to get to know the ward better.

But yeah, that is my week in a nutshell. Things in Augsburg are good. I'm glad that I get to be here doing this. It's a privilige actually and I don't think I could take this time of my life for granted if I tried. I hope you all have a good week and make good choices!

Love,

Sister Smiley

Pictures: Us wondering what the heck we think we are doing going out into the pitch black at 5:00 in the evening, me and some of the young women at the ward christmas party, and just a random shot at the party (Sister Baker is a goofball)

It's a Girl!

Hi Everyone! Well transfers happened and I said goodbye to Sister Mehr which is always sad, but I went to the Munich train station and picked up my very own brand new golden missionary! Her name is Sister Baker. She is from Teton Idaho (I guess it is close to Rexburg) and her mission is her first experience leaving the States. She is such a beast. So far, she has handled everything like a champ. She beasted her first Sunday, and her first eating appointment, and we had a lesson with a less active family with the Elders on Saturday which went a little crazy, but she just rolled with it which is a really good trait to have as a missionary. She never learned German before she came on her mission, so I'm trying to help her with it because it is really frustrating when you can't communicate with people. Normally, the rule is that you speak German whenever you aren't in the apartment and English or your native tongue when you are inside the apartment. She got here and asked to speak German all the time. I don't really mind because it's good practice for me, but of course, I'm not mean so we switch into English if something needs to be explained. It hasn't even been a week, but I already feel like I am learning so much from her. It is going to be a growing experience for both of us I think.

All in all, the week has been good though. On Friday we hosted a movie night in the attic of our ward building because it's perfect for that kind of thing. The movie was the Polar Express. Obviously, we the missionaries did not watch it, but we invited all of the ward members, their friends, our investigators, and basically anyone we saw on the streets. The turn out was pretty good. We got an appointment out of it with a family who is investigating the Church, so that makes it worth while. We made lots of popcorn that night and decorated the attic with loads of snow flakes that the Elders cut out. It was quite magical. 

On Saturday, I had the opportunity to take Sister Baker street contacting for her first time. It was just about 30 minutes because we had an awkward gap of time between appointments, but it was really cool. Sister Baker wants to share this gospel so bad, I can tell. I really love that about her. I love the desire that she has to really bring others unto Christ. We are going to channel that desire and really make things happen. This is the Christmas transfer. Miracles happen during the Christmas transfer. 

Oh! And speaking of Christmas, I didn't even tell you yet what our p-day was like last week. Sister Mehr and I demolished the Christmas market in Augsburg. Needless to say, it is beautiful. The Elders and a ward member joined us as we walked around to all of the stands and looked at all of the pretty things. The Elders made fun of us though because we were actually shopping. Why else would you go to a Christmas market? It was fun. We all got some things and some really good food. There is one stand where you can get everything imaginable for a nativity set. There are little buckets with baby Jesus in just about any size. We laughed at that one a bit. It was really fun though. I am just so blessed to be serving in this part of the world. 

I am taking Sister Baker to the market today :) This week we have a couple of exciting things coming up. On Wednesday we have the Christmas Conference for our zone. President is basically traveling all around the mission and doing this conference for all of the zones. I'm really excited though. I don't know what exactly we are doing, but Christmas is in the title, so it must be great. On Saturday, we have the ward Christmas party, and the missionaries were asked to sing The First Noel. I don't even remember the last time I sang a hymn in English, so we'll have to work that out. It should be fun though. I'm excited. We have been inviting people to that like crazy. 

But yeah, that's what my life is like these days. I hope you are all doing well and making good choices.

Love,

Sister Smiley

Pictures: Sister Baker and I with our tiny little Christmas tree, Sister Mehr and I on transfer day after getting her suitcases onto the bahn with some miracle, and Sister Mehr and I at the Christmas market last week

TRANSFERS!! I'm Being Trusted with a Golden...

Hi Everyone! I hope you all had a great week. We got transfer calls this past Saturday and I get to stay in Augsburg. Why? BECAUSE I'M TRAINING A BRAND NEW MISSIONARY FRESH FROM THE MTC. Sister Mehr is going to Munich which is really funny because she is going to be my Sister training leader which means we are going to go on exchanges. We are pretty pumped for that because then we are only kind of split up and I will see her again on the 10th for the Christmas conference. 
Transfers are just always crazy. We were dying on Saturday morning when we were waiting for the call. There just aren't enough Sisters coming into this mission, so they have been closing down Sister areas like crazy and Sister Mehr and I were scared that we were going to be closed, but lo and behold, we are getting a little baby missionary here and I'm going to have to act like I know what I'm doing. I'm pretty nervous to train for real this time. Technically I've trained before, but I've either done it in a drit or have come in half way through the training program, so this time I'll actually be starting from scratch. I'm going to the Munich train station on Thursday, say goodbye to Sister Mehr and then look for my golden. It's going to be an adventure for sure. Stay tuned to see what happens!

Anyways, we had a good week in addition to our transfer call. On Monday we were wandering around in the main square of Augsburg waiting for the Christmas Market to open and we found out that in a few minutes they would be having the opening ceremony for the Christmas Market, so we stayed and watched. There was a stage set up, the Mayor gave a speach, a local choir and brass band played some songs, and then in the Rathaus there was this thing where ladies dressed up as angels came out of the windows and did a little performance thing. Then the Mayor's voice came on and he said "Der Weihnachtsmarkt is öffnen!" and at that moment all of the lights came on in the town and all of the little stands opened their windows. It was pretty magical. It belonged in a Christmas movie for sure. Sister Mehr and I roamed around, got some bratwurst and kinderpunsch and my first purchase was a really cute Santa ornament. It is just so beautiful. I can't believe I get to serve in this part of the world. Sister Mehr and I are going back today for her last p-day in Augsburg and we are going to tear it up. 

On a different note, we had a really good lesson with our new investigator this week on the Plan of Salvation. It went so well. We talked to her for a bit and asked how reading in the Book of Mormon has been going and she said she prayed about it and just felt good. I couldn't possibly ask for anything more. Moments like that just make you so happy to be doing this work. I feel so priviliged to be doing this. Sometimes, the German is tough, and running around to catch trains and busses is exhausting, but when things like that happen, you just love everything about being a missionary.

On Wednesday we had a member to visit. They told us to come by, so we made some brownies and prepared a spiritual thought and found the train station where we needed to get off. Well, we got to the right train station, hopped off, held up our map and literally all we saw was fields. It was pretty comical actually. Sister Mehr and I just gave each other the kind of look where you say "What on earth do we do now?" Well, after a great deal of searching, we found a street sign that led us into the right direction and after only an hour and a half of walking, we found the address...And the member wasn't home when they said they would be. So we left the brownies, wrote a nice note and began our journey back to the little train station in the middle of nowhere. That's basically my life right now and it's just funny. We do waht we can and that's all we can do :)

Oh and guess what!? We actually did get to celebrate Thanksgiving!!!! Turns out, a member in my ward is half American and her American father happened to be in town the week of Thanksgiving, so she invited all four of us missionaries over and we had a German version of Thanksgiving. Instead of potatoes we had knödel and instead of cranberries we had purple cabbage. It was really good. It was so nice of them to think of us and invite us over. We had a good time and shared a killer spiritual thought about gratitude.

So overall, I'm not gonna lie, life as a missionary isn't the easiest thing I've ever done. I think about what I was doing before my mission and that was just peaches and cream, but my goodness, there is just something about this work that makes you excited to wake up in the morning and exercise even though it is pitch black outside and you know you'll be walking forever. It is just amazing.

I hope you all have a good week and make good choices!

Love,

Sister Smiley

Pictures: Us and Sonja at the Christmas market, what the market looks like from above, I was an idiot and burned my finger on the stove so I spent the evening with it in a cup of cold water. Sister Mehr laughed at me...