Last P Day of 2012

Hello Family! 

It was so fun to talk to you all last week! I am a little jealous that Trey got an hour and 45 minutes and I only got about an hour but I'll get what I can have. Gram and Pa, I hope I put your correct email address in and I was so excited to talk to you two! I love you :] 

Dad, thanks for reminding Mom about the fudge recipe. I forgot about it on the phone too. One of the ward members here said that one of his favorite part about visiting America was the fudge he bought at the BYU bookstore. I wanted to make him and his family fudge for a thank you for the Christmas present and also to bring it to the District Christmas party. Becasue I forgot to ask, and I still wanted it, I experimented! It turned out pretty good actually. I used a little too much butter but Sister Neukomm liked that. I was very creative I think! We didn't have much suger so I used powdered suger. We had no marshmellows so I whipped some egg whites, and there are no chocolate chips in Germany really so I broke up some chocolate Santas we got. Then I topped it with crushed candy cane from your Christmas package! The Elders liked it so that must say it was at least OK. I attached a picture of my fudge.

 One Sunshine moment this week was Christmas! What a wonderful time to talk about the Savior during the celebration of His birth! The Cottbus ward really felt like home too, I got a little wave of homesickness in the Christmas Eve service and was hugged by so many ward members and given encouragement and love. We spent Christmas Eve with the Lehnig Family, the Grandma, Grandpa, mom, Dad, and 2 sons,  and they had a nonmember friend over and invited our investigator, Amin, who came to the Christmas Eve service over as well. What a wonderful feeling of togetherness was there and the joy that was shared! I am sad the Christmas season is over but the message is still here to share! 

Something that has helped me this week be a little better at always finding something to be grateful for is to sing a song, both in my heart and out loud. I am memorizing hymns in German to sing and it really changes my attitude to sing them. Sister Neukomm sings with me most of the time too! It's kind of fun to see what new topics or questions to ask come into my mind from singing when there is someone on the street with whom to talk. Like from singing "Komm du Quelle" a thought came to talk about God's patience and forgiveness which relates to His love and wanting to help us always. I also noticed that I can serve Sister Neukomm in helping her get to bed on time by singing her a lullaby which normally comes from the Children's song book. 

Something I've noticed this week in Personal Study, especially while  reading General Conference talks, is that the words "miracle" and "blessing" are pretty much interchangable. I think I will focus a little more on both these words this week, but I think they are very closely related. Miracles are always a blessings and blessings are miralces! 

We helped a member move a few weeks ago and in her basement we found old Liahonas from 1999 and 2000 the Conference issues and I have enjoyed reading them. In the April 2000 Conference the YW president gave a talk called "Ever After Happiness" and that talk helped me this week to be happy now. I love the Liahona! (that's the international Ensign) 

I also attached a picture of the Schwibbogen I bought. It's so pretty! 

  

The family in the 3rd picture is the Lehnig family who we spent Christmas Eve with. One fun German tradition is that you don't tell Santa what you want, but to get a present from him you have to perform something for him. Such as recite a poem, sing a song, or draw a picture. Sister Neukomm and I sang "Ruhdolf the red nosed reindeer" for Santa :] I liked that idea. 

For Transfer calls you already know I was nervous. ButI feel good about what happened. I know it's a part of the Lord's plan and He is in control. Sister Neukomm and I are together in Cottbus for one more transfer! It is her last transfer and I'm a little nervous of her just wanting to go home but we can do it. Pres Kosak said something really nice in his email to me about it. He said "You're such a great teacher and companion. I'd like to ask you to stay the last transfer with her together. Thank you so much."I don't know if I'd call myself great but I'm trying my best. Knowing he has confidence in me gives me confidence in myself. Talking to you all about it helped calm my nerves as well. Especially what Pa said about his perspective as a Mission President. I have been called to serve Sister Neukomm and I plan to do just that for these next 6 weeks. 

I hope you all have a wonderful week! I love you :] 

Love, Sister Walker


PS. This family is who we spent Christmas day with, Brother and Sister Schult and another member of the ward, Brother Grüschke. We ate yummy goose and for Santa here I sang 2 songs- >Mary's lullaby and white christmas. 

The next two are from the District Christmas party which we had on the 26th. The Sisters together and then me and District Leader, Elder Taylor, in a face off. We had a Santa Bowl football toss. 

Love you all! 

love, Sister Walker

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas Family!! 

You may not like this but I was thinking of telling you in this email that I didn't want to call tonight but I don't think Mom would have liked that judging by how many exclamation points she used when she said we can talk tonight. I just don't know what to talk about. I tell you everything in my emails. Nothing much happens that I don't tell you. But I guess the calls are more for the family than the missionary. I am excited to hear all of your voices too :] I probably should not have put make-up on becasue I'll cry it all off (that's another reason I didn't want to call, I didn't want to cry.) 
We will be calling from a Member's house, and we may be a little late calling but it will be sometime around 18 here. I'm not 100% sure of your time there, I'll let you do the math :] 
One Sunshine Moment this week happened on Saturday night. Sister Neukomm and I bought a Santa hat and Reindeer antlers which we wore while trackting all Saturday while giving Books of Mormon and Joy to the World DVDs wrapped up in ribbon. We made so many people smile and people were more apt to talk with us when they smiled. One lady especially laughed a little when she saw us and we wished her a Merry Christmas and asked if we could give her a book that speaks about Jesus Christ. We were able to bear testimony of the Book of Mormon to her and she really was excited to receive it. She took off her gloves so she could hold it with her bare hands and thanked us many times. Her smile and reverance about the Book of Mormon warmed me up from the inside! 
This week I've noticed a problem with myself that I had false expectations on what it meant to help Sister Neukomm. I was expecting, since she is taking her medicine and has a special schedule and so much love and support, that she would be more confident and would start taking the lead and being self motivated. When she didn't act how I expected her to, like when she skipped doors, asked to go home for a nap, or when she turned our 10 minute breaks into a half hour, I got frustrated and grumpy. I took everything she did personally, if she didn't go to bed or wake up on time I took it to mean she didn't appreciate my help in planning a new schedule and if she didn't put effort to help herself then why should I help her? As I'm sure you know, this attitude did not help anyone or anything. 
To fix this negative thinking and to stop taking everything personally, I have been repeating my favorite scripture over and over in my head. 1 Thessalonians 5:16 - Rejoice evermore. The "evermore" part is sometimes difficult when I want to talk to every living thing in Cottbus and my companions wants a nap, but I take a quiet moment to count a few blessings that I can rejoice over. Then we decide on a compromise, like work for 30 more minutes and then take a break. I still have a ways to go when it comes to patience and " rejoice[ing] evermore" but it's coming. 
I have come to see that the real progress Sister Neukomm is making is that she is feeling the Spirit more in her life, that she bears Testimony more often and that she is asking questions to learn from the scriptures not just to read in the scriptures. This is the important progress. 
My goal this week is to become quicker at finding a reason to rejoice when things aren't going according to my plans and to remember that the Lord's plan, the Lord's expectations, and the Lord's standards are better than mine. 
Thank you for the presents and all the Christmas cards! The cards are all on my window sill and they make me smile just looking at them! I opened my PJs this morning and they are so cute! Thank you! With my Christmas money I bought new boots- this time they are rubber boots with good sturdy sole. When for function not fashion this time. They are working great! I also bought a backpack from the brand Deuter which is what all missionaries suggested. It is actually for hiking and has a light medal frame for back support. It's working out well, it's not as cute as my purse but it's good. I also bought a Schwibbogen. No idea of the English word there. Wooden-lighted-bow (as in rainbow). Maybe google it for pictures. The wooden pyramides are here and they are a part of the German Christmas, but the Schwibbogen is an East German tradition to put it in the windows. The one I bought is of the Nativity scene with a decorated base of a German villiage. It is very cute, sorry I forgot to take a picture of it. Maybe next week I'll send you one. I wasn't thinking when you said $200, I was thinking in €, so I appologise if I went over. I really did try and I will keep trying! :] 
 The pictures are Sister Neukomm and me at the indoor Christmas market by the middle sized pyramid (the big one didn't fit in one picture) and in front of the Christmas tree.

The third one is another creative finding idea we did. We bought roses and handed them out on a really dreary day with our passalong card to sad looking people. It was fun to brighted people's day!

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas Eve and a Merry Christmas! Talk to you tonight! 

I love you! 

Love, 
Sister Walker 

PS- Mom, can you give me the fudge recipe when we talk tonight please? Thank you! 

Happy 3rd Advent

This week had a few Sunshine Moments, including Conference in Berlin, Miracles, an Ausstellung and the Choir Concert. In the Mission Conference I was Spiritually boosted and felt my Father in Heaven's love. I very much enjoyed hearing from President and Sister Richards as well as from President Kosak. 
I had a wonderful tender mercy given to me as well. I was feeling pretty bad thinking about the low numbers we have in Cottbus and wondering what I was doing wrong, trying to figure out how I can do better so that we can reach the Standards of Excellence. And then I was missing you all thinking about Christmas time, when one of the Sisters in a Missionary Couple came up to me and said "I want to give you a Grandma hug and tell you that you are doing a wonderful job!" When she hugged me I had to fight very hard from crying. Mom I thought of the blessing you got that said that Grandma received permission to specially watch over me on my mission. The Grandma hug I received from a Sister whom I've never met before and who I can't even remember her name, to me was as if  Grandma was giving me a hug and telling me that my efforts are good. I am doing what I am supposed to be doing and that all will be well. That was my favorite Christmas Present. I can always improve what I do here, but I felt that I shouldn't be dissappointed if I can honestly say I gave my best. My best is all I can give, and I try to give it every day. 
We had an Ausstellung (street stand) on Saturday and Elders from my District, from Dresden and the Married Couple from Görlitz came to help out! We were on exchanges so Sister Neukomm was not here! That was an adventure with a new Sister but wonderful and fun! We passed out over 400 invitation to my Ward's Christmas Concert, 2 Books of Mormon, and 7 of the "Joy to the World" DVDs! Miracles! We even had a little choir in the middle of the Christmas Market where me and 7 Elders sang.
 At the Choir Concert I was able to give a Book of Mormon to a couple who came there. That was the best part of the Christmas Concert! I was able to bear testimony of Jesus Christ in song and then again when talking about the Book of Mormon. That was another wonderful Christmas Present. 
One of our Miracles this week happened on Wednesday. We received a referal from the Office last week for a man who lives in Bad Liebenwerda. We tried to call him multiple times but never were answered or called back. On Tuesday night planning time, we both felt like we needed to go to give him the Book of Mormon he requested. We had talked about not going there because he hadn't returned our calls, but no, that wasn't right. So we went, found his house, and he wasn't home. Then his neighbor came and said that it was a family! And that they wouldn't be home till later. We left the Book of Mormon with a note and then the next morning on the train to Berlin we saw that this man, Nino Klingenberg, had sent us an SMS from a different number thanking us for the Book of Mormon and telling us he'll call us for an appointment for this week! That was a miracle! 
All in all it has been a pretty good week. I can say that I have given my best and I will continue to do so. I think the Christmas Spirit is really lifting Sister Neukomm's Spirit! We'll keep that up and share it with Cottbus! 
One little sad part at the Ausstellung was when our District Leader, Elder Bangerter, called us together and said that he had been transfered and was leaving to his new area directly from the Ausstellung. Even though it's the middle of a Transfer, about 20ish missionaries are going home so they can be home for Christmas. Elder Bangerter is now one of the Assistants to the President. He will do a wonderful job there! Now he can help the whole mission, not just our little District.
Speaking of my Distirct, the wife of our married couple, Sister Bauman, made a blog! The address is: thegorlitzdistrict.blogspot.de Now you can see what we do as a District! 
I hope you all have a wonderful week! Remember that I love you :] 
Love, Sister Walker 

PS- What did Gram have surgery on? I Didn't know she needed surgery! I'll pray especially for her, tell her I love her! 
PPS- A Present Idea for Lyssa... something fancy for her camera, clothes, new shoes, Pictures of Jesus for her house, new Disney movies...

Sister Neukomm and I celebrated Christmas last night after the Choir Concert because next week we have appointments with members on Chrsitmas Eve and Christmas Day so we decided to have a private party last night. Thank you for the presents! We got the Chrsitmas packages on Thursday. And Mom, I do like the outfits! I actually opened one of them on Friday and wore the outfit to the Ausstellung on Saturday. :] 
 Here are some pictures of our Christmas party! We started by singing Christmas songs and then opening companion presents. I gave Sister Neukomm a copy of "Jesus the Christ" in German. I can't remmebr if I already told you but at the Temple last week I schemed with the Elders on how to buy it for her at the Distribution center without her knowing. Very fun! And she liked it which was the best! 

She gave me very cute slippers and a necklace. Warm toes in the mornings now! 
Thank you again for the wonderful presents and the chocolate and candy canes! We used one of the candy canes for a spiritual thought for a member eating appointment and talked and read scriptures about the symbols. Candy canes are just starting to come to Germany so it was  very fun! I love you all! 

Your Gingerbread train and house are very cute! Cam, I love the overalls on your Gingerbread man! Here is our Gingerbread house, I decided I wanted to eat it becasue it looked so good!  :] 

Have a great day! 
Love, 
Sister Walker 

One present from Sister Neukomm's advent calender was dried Pepermint leaves from her parent's garden and a thing to put them in to make fresh tea. We did this and there was some little pieces of the leaves in our tea. When I finished I looked into my tea leaves and saw this. The Grimm!! Ahhh!!! :] 

hehehe... 

love you! 

Hello Family

One Sunshine Moment for me this week was at the Ward's FHV Christmas party. There were 3 non-members there who were invited by their friends! That was exciting to see. And also Sch. Tomczyk came! It's been a while since she's come to an activity, and it was really nice to see here there. There was a gift exchange there and Sister Neukomm and I had no idea on what to bring. The theme was thankfulness, so we thought that instead of going and buying something, we can write our testimonies and wrap some of our missionary resources. Sister Neukomm gave a Book of Mormon with her favorite scriptures highlighted, and I gave a Joy to the World DVD. One of the Non-Members got Sister Neukomm's Book of Mormon and Sch Tomczyk got the DVD. After Sch Tomczyk opened it and read what I wrote (which ended with something like "I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus love you") , she came over to me crying and said "Thank you! This was the best present I could have gotten. I haven't felt so loved in a while, thank you." And to add more sunshine, she came to Church the next day too! There she told me that she watched the movie and couldn't wait to watch it again, it made her feel so good. Wonderful! 

Another Sunshine moment was we got a referral from Sch Lehnig! That makes 3 referrals we've got from members this week! That is more than all my other weeks here combined! When we went to contact this referred lady, she was not home, so we left an invitation to the Christmas concert and will go back next week. While walking back, Sister Neukomm had a nice talk about how we can help eachother even more. It really helped me because sometimes I don't see how I help her. All I can see is how I should be doing better. It was very nice to understand eachother a little better and make plans to help eachother even more. I need to learn aim for perfection, but not be disappointed when I don't reach it quite yet. 

President and SIster Kosak visited us this week as well (if you go on the mission blog you can see a picture of it, I don't look so cute but what can you do? germanyberlinmission2012-15.blogspot.com) President wanted to talk to Sister Neukomm so Sister Kosak and I had a nice talk. She said something kind of funny to go with how we felt Bishop didn't want to help us,she said that the Cottbus Ward is the Pharisees of the German Saints. I laughed a little at that. It is a great Ward with great members, I think that the disappointment of slow growth has dampened their spirits.

We had a moment yesterday where we felt like Bishop didn't want to help us, and we tried to remember what President and Sister Kosak said. And instead on focusing how we wish things were, we started naming the good things that are. Like getting referrals is picking up, there are members who do want to do joint teaches with us, and we are forming better relationships with members. A positive attitude does a wonderful job of getting rid of hurt feelings or pessimistic thoughts. Can always work more on that. 

Another sunshine moment was that I wore the big ugly puffy Land's End coat for the first time because it was just so cold (a German expression is "schwein kalt" = "pig cold") and it worked wonderfully! I was so warm :] so maybe it's not such an ugly coat after all. We went to the Temple on Saturday with our District, and that was again a wonderful experience. I feel really blessed to be by the Temple and able to go. I did have a better week Dad because I have been praying more and really trying to get answers. In the Temple I got some answers that helped very much. I love the Temple! There were quite a bit of English speakers there, Sister Neukomm and I were the only two in the session to do German. One lady was from Colorado and she was very friendly and another was from Armenia who served her mission in Chicago. While at the Temple, I schemed with the Elders to buy Sister Neukomm "Jesus the Christ" in German for Christmas. It was funny. The Elders hid copies of the book in coats so Sister Neukomm wouldn't find them to buy it herself, then I took her out of the store and an Elder bought it for me, another Elder carried it in his backpack and then snuck it into the backpack we Sisters share. Very funny.

Speaking of presents, what I would like to get for Christmas is a good backpack. My back has been hurting lately and we think it is because I carry around a heavy side bag all day. So we have been sharing Sister Neukomm's backpack and it is working well, my back is feeling better! 

That is so funny about Audrey and Trey going to the same mission! :] could be a great story at their wedding hehehe... And Becka is wanting to go on one too! Yay! I would love it if someone I knew was to come to my mission. 

Mom, I didn't mean to make you feel bad about not sending letters everyday. It's really OK. I have the big poster you sent that says I love Kalyn and pictures and your cards, I'm good really :] 

I hope you all have a wonderful week and I look forward to see pictures of the gingerbread men! :] I love you all! 

Love, 
Sister Walker 




This is snow . I am stariting to like it. and am getting excited for a white christmas! Please excuse the exposed knees. I did not realize my skirt went up, it normally does not do that.

Here is my District at the Temple. Sister Neukomm adn I switched coats becasue she was cold. I am covering Baby Jesus so it looks like Mary and Joseph are looking at me :]

My email is being lame with sending pictures today. Sorry about that. Here is a nativity scene that I thought about buying for you all. It is all chocolate. We went to a chocolate factory on Monday with a member couple. Delicious chocolate!

Happy First Advent

Hello family! 

So in America there are the 12 days of Christmas, here in Germany there are the four Advents. For the 4 Sundays leading up to Christmas, you celebrate. Yesterday was the First Advent! The Ward got together at a Member's home and had a carol night where we sang Christmas songs, and read Christmas stories and of course ate lots of food. (side note on the food- the first food that I have not liked was served. It's called Schmaltz and it is cooled bacon grease, or any kind of fat, that is spread on bread and topped with a pickle. Not my favorite. I ate the pickle and Sister Neukomm ate the rest.) Advents calenders are very big here too. Back home not everyone does them and most of them are a little piece of chocolate, but here they are super big and fancy. The Lego one that the boys had last year is a start on what they are here. Really like a present everyday till Christmas! Sister Neukomm's family sent her a box of a homemade advents calendar with he presents wrapped in newspaper comics! It's so fun to read Calvin and Hobbes in German. I think it is even funnier in German because Calvin's already big words are even longer and more complicated in German so it sounds funnier :] The picture is of our Christmas Tree and  our presents. At the Christmas Party for the mission we did not get our Christmas Packages from our family so no, I have not opened it yet :] we don't know when we'll get them. Maybe Santa will deliver them closer to Christmas. 
At first I thought that having the presents out on our table would be a temptation to open them during my 3 hours of personal study, but I have been strong! And I actually forget about them until Sister Neukomm says something. I hope your package isn't too big, there's not very much room on the table to eat our food. :] 

The second pictures is something that made me think of the boys. It's the books they like to read in German! 

We saw this poster in Berlin and it made me think of home. It says Los Angeles greets Berlin.

 Mom, My note to Patti Peterson is this: "Sister Peterson thank you for all you did to encourage Personal Progress! I would not have enjoyed meeting all of the requirements as much as I did without your enthusiasm and support. Your love for us girls has blessed my life and has helped make me want to become a better person. Thank you and I love you!" Maybe throw in a hug as well :] 

Thank you for the fast, I did feel extra love and strength and I really needed it. This week has been hard and I've felt alone. And it's bitter cold and snowing where I have no desire to go outside. And I was very jealous of Sister Neukomm this week because of all the love that she is shown with packages and letters from home multiple times a week, a cousin in the mission that calls and checks on her almost everyday, and calls from her therapist and doctor, I just couldn't really understand how she could feel so sad with so much love everyday. When I was at my lowest pity party said a prayer and Dad, I did feel like I got a hug. And then when I got your letter that was like another hug. I know I am loved just as much, if not more, than Sister Neukomm is. And I don't need reassurance of that everyday because I know it. All I have to do is look at my family picture and I feel happy again. 

That goes along with a Sunshine moment! There are some Friends of the Church, who have been coming to activities and choir practice for 10ish years, but who have said they don't want to know anything more, and don't want a Book of Mormon. One of them, Frau Wichmann,  invited us to lunch after Church and we went with a little spiritual thought prepared but it turned into a big lesson about the Book of Mormon and Eternal Families. I introduced you all and when talking about how thankful I am for you the Spirit was so strong and she asked for a Family proclamation and a Book of Mormon! Her husband was interested too! What a miracle! 

I am excited when I can have a family of my own to add to our wonderful family! :] 

Mom, I think you have a beautiful voice. Your song will be great at the Christmas party! And the gloves Sis. Neukomm was wearing were mine, she left hers at home. They are all broken and worn because my nails are too long that they cut them. Can you believe it, I haven't bitten my nails in forever! They are long and pretty like yours now. And painted pink :] And your idea with baking a cake, we did bake Bishop cookies and took them over, that was fun. I did feel better after that. 

Dad, when you take pictures, I would like one of you and your cane please :] And thank you again for your note! It is hanging on my wall where I can read it everyday. The song Silent night is beautiful in German. There are more verses than in English and they are a little deeper than english that this song does bring a very special spirit. 

I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas time! I would like to share a quote that President Kosak shared with us: 

"There would be no Christmas if there had not been Easter. The babe Jesus of Bethlehem would be but another baby without the redeeming Christ of Gethsemane and Calvary, and the triumphant fact of the Resurrection. …This is the wondrous and true story of Christmas. The birth of Jesus in Bethlehem of Judea is preface. The three-year ministry of the Master is prologue. The magnificent substance of the story is His sacrifice, the totally selfless act of dying in pain on the cross of Calvary to atone for the sins of all of us. …The epilogue is the miracle of the Resurrection, bringing the assurance that ‘as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive’ (1 Cor. 15:22). …

I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Eternal, Living God. None so great has ever walked the earth. None other has made a comparable sacrifice or granted a comparable blessing. He is the Savior and the Redeemer of the world. I believe in Him. I declare His divinity without equivocation or compromise. I love Him. I speak His name in reverence and wonder. I worship Him as I worship His Father, in spirit and in truth. I thank Him and kneel before His Beloved Son who reached out long ago and said to each of us, “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28). [President Gordon B. Hinckley,“The Wondrous and True Story of Christmas,” Ensign, Dec. 2000, 2]

Merry Christmas and Second Advent! I love you!

Love, Sister Walker

PS. So I already bought a Christmas Outfit as part of my Christmas present from you. And I love it thank you! It is just the right size and everything! How did you know I wanted it? Hehehe Sister Neukomm and I matched for the Mission Christmas Party, the Hoho ZoCo. (Zone Conference). We got many compliments. We wanted to take a good picture together to send to our parents but it never worked out. Here are the best ones that we got :] 

Merry Christmas! I love you! 

-Love Sister Walker 

Happy P Day!

Hello Family! 

One Sunshine Moment from this week happened at our English Class on Thursday night. We were both a little sad we had English Class becasue that meant we could not go to the Bauman's for Thanksgiving dinner, but we prepared and went and were rewarded! Two new people came to our English Class! One of our students brought his girlfriend and a less active member came as well. That makes 4 non-members and 2 members who come. Another part of this Sunshine Moment is that everyone stayed for the Spiritual Lesson after the English lesson! We talked about the Book of Mormon and while none of the non-members took one home with them, they all listened and participated. I think that one of the students (Rita) wanted to take one but didn't want to be the only one who did. Maybe next week :] She really seems interested and has taken the first pamphlet and the Family Proclomation to the World home. 

Something that was another Sunshine Moment this week was in our Chumming Follow-Up. We left our little chumming paper on Tuesday with a message about the Book of Mormon and went back on Saturday to klingle. Next time I think we will have the days a little closer together. Between our leaving the paper and our return visit the Jehova's Witnesses came to the same street. From what we saw we think that they did some Anti-Mormon work. One lady after we klingled opened her window and started yelling at us. When she wouldn't listen so me saying we won't klingle by her anymore, only would scream threats to call the police, Sister Neukomm told her "Bitte, rufen Sie die Polizei an. Wir werden weiter klingle." Then she went and finished all the doors. 

It's things like that that I really can see the desire of Sister Neukomm to work. She is doing so much better, I am really proud of her and how hard she is trying. There are areas to improve on but we are working on those. 

Sometimes I feel stress trying to help Sister Neukomm and to find new investigators and to help the Ward. Something that has really hurt my feelings is in the past few weeks Bishop keeps saying that he is praying for Elders to come here and then alluding to the fact that when Elders come the work will go better. We really are trying our hardest, chumming, doing regular doors, following up on old contacts, trying creative finding ideas, and strengthening the less actives. I really don't want to sound like I'm complaining, I don't want to complain, but sometimes I don't know what more we can do and we still have no new investigators. Do you have any suggestions on something I can do better? Sometimes I don't think I'm doing a very good job and I don't understand why President has so much confidence in me. 

A scripture that has really helped me this week is John 4:36. It says something like "both reaper and sower will rejoice together." We may not be reaping a whole ton but we are sowing like crazy. Maybe someday we'll find out if any of our seeds grows. When I shared this scripture with Sister Neukomm, she related a story to it that helped me. Her grandma met the missionaries and receiced a Book of Mormon but then decided the Church wasn't for her so she said good bye to the Missionaries. Then years later her son (Sister Neukomm's Dad) read the Book of Mormon his mom had had for so long and gained a testimony of it. He was baptized, married in the Temple and his daughter is now on a mission. The first missionaries have no idea that their seed has grown and has planted others. Maybe something like that will happen to me. Though I would like to see the seeds I plant grow, it's not in my timing. 

Last Monday we went to the Zoo with some of the Elders in our District. The pictures are from that. Sister Neukomm and I sitting on a statue of her favorite animal (a Tapier)

 and the one of our Elders (Elder Huber from Austria) on the most fun playground thing ever. it is a circle that spins itself using the weight of what ever is on it. We played surfing on it and competitions who could stya on the longest and I decided I want one in my house when I grow up.

Then we also fed the ducks there and Sister Neukomm was hungry and wanted to eat the duck food. We were pretty much the only people in the Zoo so it was like our own private tour!

I love you all and hope you have a wonderfull week! On Wednesday is our Christmas party so Merry Christmas this week as well! :] 

Love, Sister Walker 

First P Day As Middle Aged Missionary

Hello Family! 

One Sunhine moment this week was on Friday night (which was also my 6 month mark. Pretty good day to have a Sunshine moment). Sister Neukomm and I have been trying something new for doors, we have a paper with a specific theme on it (this week we focused on the Plan of Salvation) and also our names and number and the time and date we will be coming back. We made these little papers out and placed them in the Postboxes on Wednesday and then on Friday we went back and klingeled. This has been effective in that the people are forewarned and more people talked to us and we've been able to make out more appointments than with regular doors. When we went back on Friday, a man answered a certain klingle and said no but then his 15 year old daughter came down the stairs and said she had some questions for us. We spent more than 30 minutes with her on the stairs answering all of her questions about the Plan. It is great to see that 1- our idea of doing doors with a specific theme is effective and 2- that people really do want to know the answers to the questions of the soul. This week we are going to focus on the Book of Mormon! Wish us luck! 

The Standards of Excellence in my Mission have changed. These are the Standards the President sets as what the goals should be and what areas we should focus on so that the whole mission is on the same page. Before they were focused on making out new appointments but now the focus is on finding new investigator. This has been our focus here and we are grateful for President giving tips and a measuring stick on how to effectively do that. Chi-Yu is doing alright, he just really needs to decide whether or not this is what he wants. He's had all the discussions many times but is not motivated himself. But we'll keep trying to help him. Michael will go back to school next week and then be home for Christmas a few weeks later. He is coming with us on Saturday to do some doors. Yay for missionary work! 

Transfer calls were on Saturday and both Sister Neukomm and I are staying in Cottbus for another transfer together. President Kosak actually told us we were both staying on Tuesday at Zone Training. He said that I am his most patient Sister so he wants me to help Sister Neukomm a little longer. I wanted to laugh when he said that. I'm not patient. Well, I have learned it from Sister Faerber and now have to exercise it with Sister Neukomm. I think you would be proud of me how much I've improved, but there is still a long way to go. Dad, your analogy about sprinting will never win in the shot put no matter how fast you run has helped me this past week a lot. I've been wanting to sprint but have had to slow down and use different muscles for this shot put. Sometimes I think it is the long jump though. Pick up speed, jump, then stop, and repeat. Trying to stay on my feet the whole time. Naja, I'm learning. 

I don't know if you thought I was joking or not, but last week we really did get manicures on P-Day. Sister Bauman (the wife in our Senior Couple) came up from Görlitz to Cottbus for a girl's day! We ate lunch at this yummy pasta place, then got our nails done, then came to our apartment for games and face masks! It was really fun :] 

The Baumans are wonderful! They are even throwing a Thanksgiving party on Thursday. Sadly we can't go because we are teaching an English class, but I told the Elders to each some mashed potatoes for me. We do have an eating appointment on Thursday with a member so I'll have some kind of feast on Thanksgiving. No Candy corn though. My 3 thankfuls would be though 1-I'm thankful for an amazing family that supports me on my mission 2- I'm thankful for prayer, the chance for a conversation with my Heavenly Father. He really does listen to every prayer, and when I feel alone or broken or frustrated or sad He is just a prayer away. I feel His love everyday through prayer. 3- I'm thankful I can speak German and am able to communicate the Gospel to the people in this Mission. 

I love you all and hope that you enjoy Thanksgiving! Tell everyone hello and I love them for me :] 

Love, Sister Walker 

Another P Day

Hello Family, 

I'm running out of ideas for subject lines. Maybe this one should have been "Why didn't you tell me that Jermey and his wife are expecing?! I had to figure it out from an email from Trey!" Or something like that. Anyway, if what I got from Trey's email is true, congrats to them! They will be great parents! And welcome little baby Eli to the family from me too please! The picture of Holland and Ryder with him is just so cute! I am excited to be a mom too someday in the future. 

To answer your email Dad, I'm sorry Ive been taking money out a lot. I can cut down on some spendings. Most of it though goes to buying warm clothes. I'm cold. But I think I am good with clothes now. I also had to get my boots fixed. Walking all day and with it being so wet my boots kind of fell apart.

Some of my money also goes to writing letters. Maybe I will stop that though, I haven't gotten any mail for 3 weeks since getting Mom's decorations. Hehe :] It's OK though. I have the poster thing from the family reunion hanging up over my study desk so I read that when I want a letter. Sister Neukomm and I also put little pieces of chocolate in our mailbox so when we don't get mail we can get chocolate. It's to the point that it's normal to get a piece of chocolate so when mail does come it may be a little sad we don't get chocolate. :] . I will do better with money, only for emergencies. Got it. I'll remember that right after getting a manicure today... tehehe. 

So few had quite a few Sunshine moments this week. One was we finally visited the butcher shop on the corner of our street and bought delicious meat. I love German butchers. They deserve a medal or something for supplying the country the wonderful food. I love the meat and potatoes diet. My waist not so much, but thanks to walking it's mostly happy. This portion size is what we made at home for ourselves. When we eat with members it is multiplied by at least 3. Sometimes they forget Sisters don't eat as much as Elders. But it's so yummy I want to eat it all.  The potato thing here is called klöse (spelling?) and it's a cross between mashed potatoes and stuffing. Delicious. And the German way of making gravey is so yummy. I'll have to teach you when I come home. Maybe I'll extend my mission (did you know Sisters can do that? I didn't till I got here.) and just stay with more German food and come home with Trey.

Another Sunshine moment was District meeting. It's really a highlight of my week. My District is like a family and we help each other, support each other and love each other. Each week a different companionship brings a treat and we meet at the Senior Couple's apartment. Sister Neukomm and I brought homemade peach cobbler one week, and in this picture we are eating a Pazookie some Elders made.

We also went to the Temple this week and that is about as Sunshiney a moment as you can get. The Freiberg Temple is the only Temple in the world where you need to make appointments to go because it is always so busy. Each week is a different language to accomidate all the countries that come to it. When we went, it was the Hungarian week. That was funny. I had to wear translators to hear German and then spoke in English (next time I'll speak German too) so it was a three language session! What a miracle! I was the first one dressed so I was in the room alone for a few minutes which was wonderful just to sit there and feel God's love so strongly. Then a  lady walked in and sat next to me. She was from Hungary and had been there all week doing her Family Names. I had my name on my lap to read it and when she saw it she got so excited! In a conversation of German and English and Hungarian, she told me that I was doing one of her hunsband's ansestors. When I got into the Celestial Room, she and her husband were waiting for me to say thank you. That was a wonderful feeling. I can't even put it into words. I just pictured the lady who I was a proxy for in the room as well also saying thank you. I've had few experiences that have been as special as this one. Temples are a wonderful place, I am so blessed to be able to visit one here regularly. 

Another Sunshine Moment was we were walking home and trying to talk to people on the street. No one wanted to stop and the rain was not helping but then as we were about to cross the street I saw a lady a little bit ahead on our same side and she seemed to have a light on her, spotlighting her. I knew we needed to talk to her and not cross the street so we went over and had a wonderful lesson and she asked for the Book of Mormon! That was a wonder right there. 

We also started an English Class here where for 2 hours we teach. The first is stricktly English. but the second hour is Gospel and English together. We had passed out around 500 or more invitations and two new people came. I was a little bit expecting more but take what I get. Both new people stayed for the Gospel part too where we talked about prayer. The SPirit was so strong it was amazing! 

SO in all, this week was pretty good. A few bumps but we're working them out. I hope you all have a wonderful week! 

I love you :] 

Love, 
Sister Walker