4-25-2016

I will study that talk in personal study.  Sometimes I love iPads.

Let me know what terrible dreadful things happens at home while you're at women's conference this time;)

Setting up appointments across multiple cultures is entertaining.  You have those who are very good at having it planned in advanced, those who prefer to make out the appointment that morning, those who just show up and wonder why you're not there, and those who quote Isaiah 55:8 and how we can't mess with God's ways.  If he wants us to meet, we will meet.

Makes weekly planning an adventure:D

I'm starting to get terrified for college.

You will never believe what happened this week.  A few weeks ago, Elder Jones gave us a referral that we haven't been able to get a hold of.  We finally get in contact and set up an appointment at the church.  We're at the church and the Elders are there with a member because they'd received a referral for a female through the church referral manager.  We talk a bit about our referrals, and find out that it's the same person.

We wound up teaching her, because she's a sixteen year old girl.  Mom, she's amazing.  For example: we showed her a picture of President Monson and asked her if she believed that he could be a Prophet of God. Her response? "I know he is.  you can see it in his eyes." She also talked about the power she felt just by holding the Book of Mormon.

There could be potential problems with her parents, but Sanaa is earnestly seeking for the truth.  She wants to know God.  

Then there's the person you contact who asked you to repeat what you said in German.  Even though you said it in German.

We also had a Zone Training about stress relief and I spent a day on Duisberg for a split.  Poor Sister Van Vleet had to deal with getting to an appointment with the wrong address on the ward list.  She did a fabulous job of it.

I look forward to hearing about Women's Conference.  Have fun!

Love,

Rachel

4-18-2016

Sewing for trek was my favorite part.  Make something purple for me😉

Normally my weeks are pretty much the same thing day in and day out
and my emails home are terrible because I can't remember what
happened.  Not this week.

This week, we went to the doctor.

So, Sister Van Vleet has had an infection on her finger for a while,
but every time I asked about it, she said that it was fine and that it
didn't really hurt.  Then she made the mistake of mentioning it to
Sister Jones (one half of the senior couple).  She told her that she
had to call the mission nurse right now and get it looked at.

Of course, she doesn't call for a week.  Every time I brought it up,
she'd have some sort of excuse.  I finally get her to call, and we
went into he emergency room in a hospital on Tuesday.  For five hours.
Actually, we only waiting three and a half in the waiting room, then
one and a half in a patient room with Sister Van Vleet's hand soaking
in disinfectant the whole time.  It was actually really cute, at about
an hour we were joking that we were forgotten.  Then the nurse walked
in and told us that we weren't forgotten, it was just really busy that
day.

Well, the doctor shows up, and in about three minutes she tells us
that she can't do anything and we need to go see a dermatologist.

We call the mission nurse, so he could set up another appointment.
Which was on Thursday.

We go in, the wait wasn't as long, and the doctor told us that he
recommended getting an operation to have it removed.  So, unexpected
operation on a Thursday afternoon.

Now, we just have toward for it to scan over.  But until then, she
can't get her hand wet.  Which puts me on dishes duty😄 (I actually
really like doing dishes.  It's calming)

We also had random rainstorms, appointments falling out, random
Romanians calling us over to talk with them. (One called out Mormons,
and the other was in his car and asked us what church we represent.),
and buses being late/never showing up and making you late to
everything.

So ya, that was my week. You need an adventurous one every now and
then to mix things up.

Love you all, and hope that your week won't be too boring😉

Love,

Rachel

4-11-16

The weather can't decide if it's warm or cold.

This week was full of far out there go bys, a few late buses that
through everything off and made us late, and language barriers.  You
just have to love language barriers.  The best is when your street
contacting, and someone gives you this look, and says kein Deutsch.  I
know exactly how they feel.  It's terrible when you have no idea
what's going on.

We got to watch the last session of conference. I loved it.  I just
love conference.

Our Relief Society President has asked us to go by a lot of older
women who are confined to old folk homes.  They're so sweet!  There's
this one lady who has dementia really bad, and can't move or talk.  We
go in and talk to her and sing some hymns.  This last time, both
Sister Van Vleet and I had this thought of getting to see her in the
after life, happy, healthy, and telling us that we're ridiculous and
our jokes are terrible.  It was really cool when we were talking
afterwards and realized that we both had the same thought.

Old people are amazing.

I love you all!

4-4-16

Everyone laughed when Pres. Uchtdorf said that.  Looks like I'm
learning the celestial language😄

There is a phrase in German: April macht was er will. April does what
he wants.  I feel like you can replace April with Utah sometimes...
It's warming up here.  It's nice.

The Women's Session was mind blowing.  It defiantly hit home here.
There are hundreds of refugees coming on almost daily.  I've met many
and taught a few.  In fact, we're teaching a Romanian family right
now.  Luckily, we can skype the Romanian elders to help with the
language barrier.

I know Kersten's moving.  She sent me her new address.  She's so
excited, it's adorable.  And of course the Sisters think you're crazy.
That's why we love you.

This week we visited a lot of older ladies that are confined to old
folks homes.  It was nice to be able to brighten up their day a bit.
I also may join Kersten in her keep mom and dad healthy craze.

I'm glad I'm out here too.

Love,

Rachel

3-28-16

Mom! I haven't seen the General Women's session yet!  That's at two in
the morning here and they haven't sent the talks to the gospel library
app yet.  Life in a forge in country is hard.  I also won't see the
last session of conference for a bit, so no spoilers.

I actually do love that you're planning my life for me.  Just so long
as I can hug my bookshelf when I get home, I'm good.

I love Jake.

On a more serious note, I am aware of what happened in Brussels.  The
mission told us not to worry, but to avoid large crowds and stay safe.
I'm not really worried.  After all, "For he shall give His angels
charge over thee, to guard thee in all thy ways." (Psalms 91:11 with a
German translation twist)

As for this week, the most entertaining thing happened Saturday night.
So, we're walking down the street and some guy comes up and shakes our
hand.  In my brain I'm going "less active, Elder's investigator, a
member whose face I don't recognize?" Because no one else would react
to us like that.  Then he turns to my companion. "You're tall, I'm
tall.  Do you like to tango?"

I left Sister Van Vleet to explain that we're not allowed to date for
eighteen months because I was internally dying of laughter and if I
opened my mouth I would have externally been dying of laughter.

But it was cool, due to the "we can't date you, we're missionaries" we
had a twenty minute conversation about religion.  He wasn't super
interested in learning more, but it was a memorable experience.

We also learned not to go dooring on a German holiday (Karfreitag)
unless you want to be chased down the stairs by a crazy lady in
underwear.  Or have an old lady yell at you.  Germans take there free
time very seriously.

That's all for now.  I hope you all had a fantastic Easter!

Love,

Rachel

It's a good thing Rachel will send Pictures to Kersten.  She only sends me pictures of flowers.

3-21-16

I'm glad Aunt Carol is doing better.

Most entertaining conversation ever:

Us: "Do you believe in God"
Random Stranger: " I am here."
Us: "Cool, so how to worship Him?"
RS: "No, I am God.  I created this world. Etc."
Us: "..."
RS: "Do you doubt? You look like you doubt me.  I don't like people
that doubt me."
Us: "Well, yes actually.  But would you like to watch a video about your self?"

He didn't watch the video.

We also had a split this week hat shows that God cares about the one.

So first of, Sister Markl was suppose to come to Dortmund, but had to
stay in Duisburg.  Then, taking Sister Roderer home, I got on the
wrong u-bahn, but because of that, we meet Janice.

Janice is amazing.  She was very curious about what we do and the
church.  We offered to give her a tour of the church the next day and
agreed to meet at Hauptbahnhof at five.

As we were walking towards the meeting place, we both were thinking
that she probably wasn't going to show up.  That's what usually
happens.  Of course, neither of us said it out loud, but we both
thought it.

She showed up.  We wound up giving one of the most spiritual church
tours either of us have given, which is impressive seeing how I had to
give Sister Roderer a tour earlier.

It was the first time Janice has ever set foot inside any church building.

Afterwards, she told us that she needed some time, but maybe in a few
weeks she'll actually come to a church service and learn some more.

Sister Roderer needed to be in Dortmund because of how well she
connected to Janice.  I needed to mix up bahns.  There was a reason we
couldn't get any appointments for that night.  This split was for
Janice.

Other than that, I don't remember what happened this week and what
happened last month.

Have a wonderful Easter!

I love you,

Rachel

3-17-16

Ana mentioned Aunt Carol.  Is she okay?

I've never realized how blessed we are in Utah with so many temples until I got here.  I can't wait to go back to the temple.

So, we found a Romanian family.  It cool because we have a recent convert Romanian family that can translate the lessons.  (The husband speaks a little German, but translation is always nice.) not going to lie, I'm a little wary after Tina.  But, they felt the Spirit in the lesson and want to learn more.

I love your daily quotes.  They always make my day:)

I'm so excited for the new Easter video that's coming out.  Those videos are magical.  

I love you all!

Love,

 

It's a good thing Rachel sends pictures to Kersten:)