Mon, Aug 08, 2011

Hallo!!

I just love the MTC so much!!!! I'm so happy to be here. It's seriously the best place. I don't feel like I have much to say this week because I'm just in the routine. Nothing new really. I've been writing a HUGE hand written letter and I'll be sending that off eventually.

Sorry to hear the garden isn't doing too well this year dad. I just love getting garden and weather updates. It seriously makes me so happy. I'm like "That's my dad!"

I'm so glad that Jeff is starting his papers!! Do you know when he's putting his availability date? Keep me updated. Advice I'd have for before the mission is READ PMG! I was told to do that but didn't really pay much attention so I didn't and now I wish I knew what was in there and there just isn't enough time to read everything I want. But I do have a goal to finish it by the end of MTC. But yeah, make a goal to read it all before you leave. I promise you you'll be blessed.

I hope AZ was good. I'm sure it was because it's sun shiney and beautiful and you got to look after pets. Yay! How'd you like the Mesa Temple, Dj? I hope your birthday was good. I see that you got a mustang....that's so nice of our family (I'm sure it was mostly dad's idea though, no?)

How are you doing with school things, mom? I know everything will work out, Mom. I also hope mom could find her way to the airport. That could be bad news.

That sounds like a way fun Youth Conference! I'm so lucky because since Sister McCappin is an international sister, they let her and her companion (that means me) go to the Salt Lake temple. Since they're in Utah they can't just not go to the Salt Lake temple! So yay! I'm excited to go again. We went to the temple this morning and did initiatories. It was awesome, and its crazy how differently you think of the things in the temple as a missionary. Someone asked me when I was due and I kindly told her I'm a missionary and that's the MTC food... I think. I don't feel like I've really gained much weight, but maybe I look like I have. Woo! Awesome. Oh well.

That adventure of Sarah getting carted across the parking lot at Toads was awesome. I wish I could've seen it.

That's fun that Rachel got to go to a Webkinz party. Did you get anything fun, Rae?

I'm still writing a long handwritten letter so I don't really have much to say.

We committed one of our investigators to baptism! I know its not real, but I am SO happy about it. And I always get so........I can't think of the word........ shoot. I always feel like its real and I care about these fake investigators just as much (maybe) as a real one! I'm so excited for him. Our other investigator won't really break and tell us anything about his life so we're not exactly sure how to help him yet.

I would still love to get some pictures of our family (our most recent ones and just fun ones of camping, maybe a picture of our house, a picture of Freckles, a picture of me and Megan). If you can't send them that's totally fine.

Thanks for your dearelder dad and everyone elses (except Jeff. I'm still waiting for his) letters! I really appreciate all of your testimonies and it totally strengthens mine. I was so happy to get a letter from you and a package from the Dyes this week. It feels good to know people remember me!

Megan! CONGRATULATIONS! My companion is from Austrailia (I dunno if you ever knew that) and she was so excited to hear you're going there. She was like....peeing her skirt. I'm so excited for you! STUDY PMG!!!!! I regret not knowing what is in that book! I'm seriously so excited for you, but that's kind of a long wait, but you can do it! Don't get married while you're waiting or I'll be so sad :) I love you!

Our elders still never cease to amuse me. Their most recent obsession is calling each other Zegeuner (gypsy) and catapulting bananas off our desks. I told the elders I sang a German song in choir called "Zegeuner Leben" meaning gypsy life and they begged me to teach it to them... but I never learned the real German words. I kinda just said the same vowel sounds as the rest of the choir. But I taught them as best as I could. They're trying to learn it now. It's funny. They're also trying to translate the Arthur theme song and the Backstreet Boys song- Backstreet's Back and making a dance to it. I don't know how they have time to do that, but they make time I guess. We rearranged our seats because we were in need of a change and I hope its a good change cuz so far it seems a little distracting. But I love getting to know new people.

I know this church is true with all my heart. It just makes sense. Everything fits together so perfectly, no church created by a man could make this much sense. I know that it's AFTER the trial of our faith that we get a witness. It doesn't work the other way around. God doesn't want us to get a witness then believe in Him. He first wants us to believe and then we'll get a witness from Him. I'm so glad I get to serve Him. I love Him and want to do all I can to bring others to Him! I love you all! Hope you're all doing well!

Love,

Sister Niebergall

August 1, 2011

Hello family! I'm sad to hear the internet is down, but I'm very glad you let me know! I'm still loving it here! It's so wonderful to focus entirely on the Savior every day and helping others come unto Him. It's really the best thing we could do. Thank you for the package of things I need! And the letters in it too, they made me really happy. I'm excited to hear your responses to the scriptures I sent!

One day this week at 2 in the morning the fire alarm went off. It was quite the adventure. Wasn't a real fire, but I thought it was so I grabbed my scriptures, backpack, and of course my name tag. I felt really silly, but oh well.

So, I've pretty much gotten into the routine of things so I don't have anything really to say about my schedule (Jeff I'll write you about the MTC schedule) but as of now I'm used to it so there's nothing really to say about it. So I'm pretty sure the things I say in my e-mails will just be funny things that happen around the MTC and spiritual experiences.

First of all, there is a TON of guy love here. TONS of it. Elders hanging all over each other and....I dunno, it's weird. But I find it hilarious. They've confessed its because they can't touch girls. So Jeff, be prepared for that. Also, our Elders have decided to make excellent use of their language study time by translating songs like "Space Jam" (put dein handes in the air wenn sie fühlen fine!) and "Lean on Me"(du bist my freunde) Our Elders are seriously hilarious.

So, I was shocked to hear about Greg Grey. Wow, it really shows you that you never know what is going to happen and when Heavenly Father needs you home. Just makes me more motivated to be the best I can. Also makes me realize how much more often I need to tell you all that I love you! I LOVE YOU SO MUCH! Thanks for being so supportive. I love you so so so much I can't even express it. Heavenly Father is helping me so much and I know that's a lot because of all your prayers. Thank you so much! I can't say I love you enough! And Grandpa, I can't believe I've been here a month almost and next month I'll be in Germany. That thought kinda just freaked me out in a great excited kind of way! I can't wait to meet the Germans and teach them about the gift that has blessed my life more than anything else in this life. I'm also really excited to learn "real German". Woohoo! But yeah, I'm so impressed with how much Heavenly Father helps me learn German. There's no way I'd be as far as I am without Him.

I dunno if it's the food here or what, but I've had some really strange dreams. I don't know. I just thought I'd randomly include that, but apparently all the elders have weird dreams too- like wedding dreams. I haven't had weddings dreams in case you were wondering. Just dreams about me trying but failing to convince and elder not to get drunk and running into the Sisters from "The District" which is a movie we watch frequently here. Funny funny!

Sunday Sister Faerber played the piano for me and I sang for about an hour. It was so great, I haven't sung for so long and it really was so so much fun. Thanks for sending that music so that could be possible!

We went to the temple this morning. It was really nice to go back- a little hard to stay awake in those comfy chairs, but I never fell asleep completely. The temple was gorgeous and I know its the house of God.

I would love to see our family pictures! It seems like everyone that is here has a picture album of family and fun pictures. If you have time, I'd love if you could send some family pictures and fun pictures of our family in a little album so I can show you guys off! I'd love it.

Wednesday we're getting new Deutsch sisters! I'm so so so excited! We're getting 2 of them in our room so that should be interesting. The other day some sisters from our zone hid in our closets and popped out after we'd had like 5 minute conversation. Sister Faerber even opened her closet and put something in and didn't see them. We're so going to do this to our new sisters. :) I'm excited.

So has there been any mission calls or engagements that I should know about? I feel so out of the loop!

I can't believe Deej is done with drivers ed. That's so nuts. I'm glad I'm gone for the first year and a half of his driving experience. Teehee Love you!

Tone deaf district next to this computer room is throwing off my concentration. They're singing monotonely "onward christian soldiers" in icelandic. Maybe that's how icelandians sing. who knows?

Well I just want you to know that I love the MTC. It's so necessary to come here and hopefully get all the kinks out of our teaching. Sister McCappin and I are learning how to teach more and more every time we teach whether it be "wow, that worked out really well! we need to remember what we did this time." or "wow........that was terrible. What do we need to fix?" Heavenly Father is helping us so much! Thanks for your support and prayers! I love you soooooooo much! The church is SOOO true and God loves His children!

Tschüs!!

Sister Niebergall