Cassidy Nichole: Monday December 15, 2014 Halle, Germany

Ok, first thing first! I'm SO SO SO sorry for my last email! Last week was a mess and I didn't write down things I was going to email about. We also had to cut our P-day down 2 hours because of a concert we went to, and I had to take a survey. Anyway...this email should be better! Oh! Also, thanks to Brooke and Karron for packages in the last days at the MTC! I loved them so much! Really I am so blessed to have so many people who love me, and who were willing to send me things!

OK, so on Monday last week, we did some finding after we did emailing. Finding is hard because it’s so weird to talk to each other here in Germany. It's so quiet everywhere! Komisch (funny)....anyway...we ate food at the Christmas mart! It's awesome and like Fiesta Days but all month! We got fries and Bratwursts! Which were both great! We then were in charge of the ward FHE (Family Home Evening), which we really shouldn't be in charge of as missionaries. But the problem in this ward is that everyone that is worthy to have a calling has a calling. So...we take over the other things, like we also teach Relief Society sometimes. Things are weird here! Anyway, at FHE they had tea...I honestly hate it. I’ve tried like 5 different kinds and hate them all. Oh well, I guess I'll just have to live with it!

Dienstag (Tuesday) we had a lesson with a less active, which is pretty much all we do. Visit with less actives and go finding. But, Karla, this less active let us know that she actually has a desire to go to the temple and get married to her husband! So cool! Also so weird to think that a lot of these people have never even seen a temple in person. We are so blessed! Take advantage of it! Then that night we went over to the Mitta couple’s house for dinner. It was spaghetti and the most normal meal and conversation that I have had since I got here. I don't know if it’s just who we teach, or if it’s Germany, but we teach a lot of people who are just socially awkward! But I love them, so it's ok! Oh, and while we were at the Mitta's, their dog got into my bag and ate our chocolate! (I’ve had my fair share of chocolate since I’ve been here!) We weren't too happy about it, however, it reminded me of Brownie (our dog) a little bit!

Mittwoch (Wednesday) we went and got groceries for Sisters Shrütar and Comfort, who are both less actives, and they are both sick so they couldn't go get their own groceries. But this day was weird! NO ONE would talk to us! SO weird! Because usually we will say hello and ask them some question about Christmas or their family or something, but this day no one would even acknowledge that we were there. And...it was the coldest day that I’ve had since I’ve been here!

Ok, so there is a little bit of a difference between the cold here and the cold in Utah. It is more wet, but not too bad. My scarf is always kind of damp. I don’t know, it's hard to explain. But it's cold, especially when the wind blows! So just imagine walking around in 30 degree weather....but in a skirt...yeah...it's awesome! Ha! But my coat is doing great! I don’t think I’ll buy one unless it starts getting really cold! I do wear a scarf every day, and I’m glad I brought my two heaviest ones! It's weird because here, everyone wears a scarf and a huge coat everywhere, and when they go inside they hang them up, all in one spot. Like at church, they actually use the hanger things! It's funny!

Ok, so this night we actually almost got a new little kid investigator! His mom is a member, and he is not, and he is nine! We have an appointment with both of them this next week. Hopefully he has a desire and hopefully his mom will let him make the decision for himself!

Thursday, we had our Christmas Zone Conference in Dresden! We had to be there by 9:30 am and it’s about 3 hours away. So we had to get up early and take a couple of trains to get there! It's nice because the Elders here in Halle get to travel with us, and we see them like every day! Its fun and we are pretty good friends with them! Ok, so this Zone Conference was AWESOME! I love our AP's and President! And I got to see people from the MTC! There’s like 3 kids I knew from high school that were there! I think there is 5 of us in this mission that went to MMHS! Crazy! Also, I'm the only one that didn't take German at MMHS before coming here. OH! I got to see Sister Hill! Man I love her! We did also get our Christmas packages! We opened them later that night!! THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!! Man that really meant the world to me to get that package! I LOVED everything that was in it! So creative mom! Tell the family thank you! Also, tell the Young Women thank you! The notes were much needed and so cute! Thank you!

Freitag (Friday), the first thing I have written down here is that the bread is SO good here! Which is so true! My companion wants to always get American style bread, but last week I talked her into getting some other wheat bread that is amazing! I eat a piece of toast with peanut butter every day pretty much! They have peanut butter here! We went to Beesen today, just a city outside of Halle like 5 minutes. It was sooo windy, and not many people out. BUT.... in the last 10 minutes we prayed that we were going to talk to one more person, and to have us know what to say. So, there was a lady in a purple coat that was down the path a little ways coming towards us, we felt like we needed to go talk to her. She was carrying groceries so I asked if we could help her, she said no, but then saw my name tag and said (in German) "Hey! About 20 years ago I met with some Elders from your church...." and it went off from there! We have an appointment with her tomorrow! Except I can’t go because I will be on an exchange with the sister training leaders tonight and tomorrow! So also, on Fridays we have German study with a new member named Enrico. He's awesome, but one of those kind of socially awkward people I was telling you about! Anyway, we also do that with the Elders, and Enrico said he was very impressed with elder Gurlach’s Deutsch... Aber (but), he looked at me and said that I need a little practice. Yeah... I know! It's hard! And I'm not catching on as fast as I would like! But that’s ok! I will keep studying and God will help me!

Ok, on Samstag (Saturday) we volunteer at a soup kitchen at a Catholic church with REAL Nuns!!! I didn't know people actually still did that! Anyway, several people there kept saying that I looked like an angel...funny! Also, I had the most delicious thing at the market! It’s this cylinder that they wrap dough around and bake it quickly, then put butter on it and roll it in whatever you want! We got zimt (cinnamon) and sugar! And it’s still kind of doughy on the inside when you eat it! MAN, it is SO GOOD! You would love it mom! Also, we helped sister Shütar put up her Christmas tree! I have pics of that I will send!

Sunday, normal, except for we only have 2 hours of church, they don't have Sunday school! Weird. And we watched the first Presidency Christmas devotional for Sacrament, which was also weird...whatever! We had an eating appointment and I didn't have to eat as much this time! It was mashed potatoes with Goulash, so meat sauce. They put stew stuff on top of everything! Oh, and then we went finding in Neustatt, and there was guy peeing in the bush to the side of the path hahaha! Welcome to Neustatt!

K, so some fun facts. The strollers here are really cool! And everyone has them because everyone walks everywhere! Tons of people have twins...kind of really weird. No drinking fountains or public bathrooms. The streets are really dirty! The only animals I’ve seen is pigeons and a couple rats... yeah, that was gross... the police sirens here sound weird, like classic England sirens that would be in the old movies. Also, tons of PDA, also weird, and I think public transportation is weird also! Ok, so I’m in an East German city, so Neustatt basically means new part or new city. So it was built by communists, so all the buildings look the same, except for they’ve tried to fix and paint them...but they are still the same. And everyone’s apartments look the same. Laid out the EXACT same! It’s weird!

So, really we have been focusing a lot on Christmas and that Christ is the gift! We finally got cards that we get to pass out to people that say that on them! Also, in our Christmas devotional sister Kosak said that the Shepherds came with HASTE to Christ! And I thought that was interesting! They came with haste to him, and so should we! I've also been thinking....what can I give Christ for Christmas this year? I think that is a good question, and I would encourage everyone to think and do whatever you think of! Christ is the ultimate gift. He lives and loves each one of us! 18 months really isn't that long to give to Christ for all he has done for me.

I love you guys so much! Have a good week!!

Love, Sister St. John