Shoulders Back, Chin Up, Smiles on...Now Go Get 'em!

Hi everyone! Well, it looks like I'm in Freiburg now. Saying goodbye to Augsburg was super depressing, but that is just how it is on a mission. You gotta pick up and go because there are more people that you need to love. 

Transfer day was insane (as always). Getting from Augsburg to Munich went pretty smoothly, but it's when I got on the train to go to Stuttgart that things started getting crazy. There were about 10 of us on the train and 6 of them were brand new fresh shell shocked missionaries straight out of the MTC. I was the oldest missionary (in terms of how long I'd been on my mission) on that train. I don't know how I became so old, but anyways, getting them all on the train was an accomplishment alone because they just kind of wandered around the train station, letting it sink in that they were actually in the field, which I understand, it is a big deal. But OH MY GOSH you need to get on the train because if we miss it, we have messed up our travel plans for the rest of the day. Somehow we got all of them on and their 20 suitcases onto the train with 30 seconds to spare. Well, then we went to Stuttgart and when we got to the stop, we had a limited time to get us and our suitcases off the train. In under two minutes, we got all of the missionaries and our 20 suitcases off the train. I have never thrown so many suitcases in my life. If anyone wants to tell me I am not tough, they will get a suitcase thrown in their face. I now know the real reason that I had to do trek when I was still in Young Women's. Shoving that cart across Wisconsin was practice for shoving those suitcases off the train. Needless to say, I was pretty sore the next day. 

Well, after that I met with my new companion Sister Earnshaw. She is probably one of the sweetest people I have ever met. She is from Pennsylvania and just finished being trained last transfer so I am her greenie buster. We had two more train rides to take in order to get to Freiburg. They were both an hour long and required a lot more suitcase lugging, but somehow, everything worked out. We made it to Freiburg and the Elders there met us at the train station to help get my suitcases to the apartment. I think I know just a little bit what that handcart company felt like when the rescue team came to help them. I was ready to cry when they took my suitcases out of my hands and rolled them away for me. That sounds a bit dramatic. All I'm saying is, I'm glad that transfer days don't happen all the time.

WELL, now I can tell you what Freiburg is like. IT'S BEAUTIFUL! It is a college town because there is a university here and it is surrounded by mountains. We are right by Switzerland and France and you can really feel it. Augsburg was really German. I would say that Freiburg is really European. Also, since there is a university here, there are a lot of YSA's. They have a center here and a lot of activities that we get to go to when we don't have eating appointments. That's another thing. The ward is really great. We have a solid handful of eating appointments next week and they are really excited to help us with the missionary work which is really all that a sister could ask for. 

One thing is, I have never gotten such a strong reaction to my last name before. Oh my gosh. I got introduced in Relief Society, Sunday school, and Sacrament meeting and everyone laughed a lot when they heard my name. I figure it's a good thing because it will be easy for them to remember. Sunday was fast Sunday, and the bishop "invited" me to bare my testimony first. This is my fourth area and fifth ward on my mission and a tiny tid bit that I have learned about the "introduction" testimony is that it makes a big difference to walk to the pulpit with good posture. It just makes you seem less sheepish and like you aren't afraid of the ward members. Just keep that in mind if you get the opportunity to do an intro testimony somewhere. 

Anyways, I really haven't been here that long and there is still LOADS to learn. I kind of feel like dead weight to my companion right now because I don't know anything about the area, but I'm trying to be helpful. I hope all is well and that you are all making good choices.

Love,
Sister Smiley
 

Pictures: The view from my kitchen window in Freiburg, the goodbye picture at the train station, our last district picture in Augsburg