Cassidy Nichole: Monday December 8, 2014 Halle, Germany

Wow, just wow....I don't know where to begin! It seems like I just got here yesterday, but I'm glad I didn't because that day was a little stressful! So I talked to you right before our plane to Amsterdam took off…It was a huge flight and totally full! I think as missionaries we gave out 3 or 4 Books of Mormon and got 2 or 3 referrals! So that was awesome! I slept for a total of like 7 hours I think, which was pretty good for a 10 hour flight! We flew kind of over Canada and Greenland. I got to see the Northern Lights!!! Ah soooo cool! They look like they do in Polar Express a little bit, except for I haven't seen Polar Express for a while so maybe not! But they were pretty and yellow! So that flight was good.

We got off in Amsterdam and it was so dark, so we couldn't see anything cool. We all went to the bathroom in the airport and Elder Woodside comes out and says, "so we were all going to the bathroom and the cleaning lady just comes in and starts sweeping away....welcome to Europe I guess!” SOOO funny! All the boys were freaking out! By the way, the toilets there and here are all circular, and I feel like I'm going to fall in every time! Crazy! There were also huge pictures of ladies not dressed appropriately, we were definitely not in the MTC anymore! Oh! I did love that airport though! Everything looked like it came straight out of Ikea!

So then we had a short flight to Berlin. I slept. We got out of the plane on the cement like in the movies! So that was weird. It’s a really small airport. President, and the AP's met us there. So nice and they are so funny! We went back to the Berlin chapel, and had Dominos pizza, and did some finding and sat in classes. We then went to a hotel and slept, for a really long time! We were able to sleep in! YES!!! We slept until like 9:00! We got all ready and went downstairs for breakfast. It was SOOO good! Bread, cheese, ham, but no water, just orange juice and milk! Anyway, way better than the MTC! Then we went back to the chapel and met our new companions! It was terribly sad and it was all I could do to not cry! (I did still cry...) I'm going to be honest and say that I miss my companion Sister Isrealsen, but I love sister Lisonbee! Her first name is Sydney.

So, as you know, we are serving in Halle (Hall-ah). It’s about as big as Salt Lake City, but doesn't really feel like it. We took 2 different trains to Halle and it took us like 2 1/2 hours. With my luggage it was awful! Horrible! But I made it. Oh! Elder Gurlach and Elder Silver are with us in Halle and we serve together in the same ward! We see them about every day and it’s AWESOME! I am so glad I'm not the only new one in the area! Ok, so we got to Halle and had a lesson with a newly baptized guy. We teach him in English because he wants to learn more of it! All the lessons I have been to so far in are English because we have a lot of foreigners. It’s cool, but my German hasn't really progressed. It’s hard to pay attention to people when I don't understand them, and when they aren't talking to me. But I'm trying!

Ok, I really don't have a lot of time! It’s cold. I wear a scarf everywhere. Everyone does! The Christmas market is cool! It’s like Fiesta Days, rides included, but just in the winter and Christmas themed! Our ward is about 50 members. We have no investigators. We spend a lot of time finding. It’s kind of fun! We are trying to have it be more effective!

Ok, so we ate at a member’s house yesterday and I’ve never eaten so much in my entire life! Super good tomato soup! Then red cabbage, and klosse, those are potato ball things that are boiled and everyone makes, but I didn't like them...awesome! But we had this really good meat! We eat with the Elders also! Elder Gurlach is awesome and kept making fun of me from across the table because honestly I was about to explode with eating so much. I didn't eat dinner last night, or breakfast this morning! It's pretty here! And...I had a Doner on Friday! So cool! And, there is stuff growing here still! Weird! I'm cold all time!

I need to make a more organized list! I really don't have any more time because we had to take a survey. Also, jet lag, not so much! I did pretty well because I slept on the plane. I'll write you guys a letter soon! You sound like you are doing great! The members make fun of me because I’m so tiny! Plus, I got told I look Russian, and that I look 15. Awesome! Really, all is going well, I'm living! And the food is pretty good! And no one talks to people, or smiles, and everyone looks older than they really are. We are in East Germany and you can really tell. Apartments are run down!

Love you soooo soooo much! I'm doing great and will be better next week with emailing!

Love – Sister St. John