January

New Year's Eve was crazy. The sisters texted us and said "Does it sound like WWII at your place cause it does at ours." All night and part of the day too. There were fireworks that sounded like lightning and bombs.

On Sunday a girl from Sweden showed up. She's here teaching yoga and met with the missionaries in Sweden. She's read almost the whole Book of Mormon. There's also a guy from Madagascar. We're teaching Michael, a 25 year old from Benin. He came to church and said "Yeah I like it here. This is nice."

We're starting a German class, besides our English class. For the students to study here they need to study German for awhile too so I think we'll have a decent turn-out.

Marina is from Russia and she's confused about religion. She's really obsessed with everything being really clean. She needed help with her electricity and moving a refrigerator so we called a bruder (brother)from the ward. We met him and he had his massive dog with him. So we go over to her place and she is terrified of the dog. Anyway, he fixed her light, etc and she is just super nervous. She says "I need to go to the store. I'll be back..." So she comes back and gives the brother a thing of soap and says "Here. This is for your dog. Go wash him." He starts getting upset because he loves his dog. She says it smells! He starts saying "Well you smell." Anyways, we were in the middle of it, not knowing what to do. He goes to shake her hand to leave and she won't touch him; she says he is too dirty! So awkward! Anyways, guess you had to be there.




I've really experienced some amazing things that testify to me how real God is and how He really knows each of us by name. The Lord is totally involved in all aspects of our lives. I've also found a greater testimony of the restoration and Joesph Smith. It all just makes so much sense why it had to be him and why it had to take place when it did.

I am so grateful to be here in Germany. I love the German language and culture more all the time.

Food in Germany

Sr Wittmaack said that her last companion was a picky eater and would sneak food onto her plate without the people seeing. One time there were elders and the sisters. No one liked the food so they all shoved it on Sis W's plate and she ate it all. Ha.

We eat chocolate ALL day long. Right now it's 10am and I've already eaten some.

We were teaching Bill the other day. He's from Ghana and knows Will Smith, besides looking like him. He asked us to sit down while he finished cooking some goat. So he comes in and gives us bowls of the grossest food I have ever seen! It was this soupy brown stuff with huge balls of goat fat, fish with the bones and all. You would lift your spoon and it was sticky and thick. He went back in the kitchen and I could not stop laughing. So Sis W put some of the big gross stuff in my bowl and suffered through eating part of it.

December in Tiergarten

Our apartment is small but really cute.

We went to Momo Platz, right by where the Berlin Wall was. It really represents how amazing it is for us to be able to be in this wonderful place doing the work we are doing!

There were Christmas events all month: concerts, dinners... Yes, it is cold here. And dark. I think I've seen the sun once for a couple of minutes.

We're teaching Hamad who is from Iran. He's awesome and he already read 20 pages of it. But if he goes back home, his life is in danger so we have to get permission to continue teaching him. Janosh is from Hungary.

Mathias ist getauft!

Mathias is amazing! He's 21 and never knew much about religion. He had never prayed before but he couldn't be more solid now. He comes to eery activity is just so happy and perfect. He has such a close relationship to God when two months ago didn't know anything about Jesus Christ. His mom and brother came too.

Greetings from Deutschland!

I can't believe I'm here... I'm with Sr Wittmaack from Northern Germay. She's great. We are in Tiergarten and assigned to the Institute. It's fun to be with all the young adults; I couldn't ask for a better area.

Sr Wiitmaack, me, Sister and President Borcherding

Novemer in MTC

The weather was so nice that they played kickball. Definitely a highlight of the day... "So a new president of the United States, huh? Pretty crazy! We found out Friday morning and then the day went on. It's funny how secluded the mtc can be - which is a good thing. .. I was so excited to get that extra hour of sleep (from Daylight Savings Time)...

The other night my roommate said she heard me yell out in my sleep "nein!" Ha ha. Dn't know if I meant nine or nein? Maybe I'm dreaming auf deutsch already!"

On Tuesday for devotional guess who came? Elder Busche!!! I was so excited. Before the meeting begins they just have their name and picture posted and so I walked in there and was soo excited. My companion was way confused because most everyone had never heard of him. .. His wife spoke first and has a really thick German accent. It was so exciting to see these German people. I felt so much love for them, it made me feels so much reasurement that this is where I'm supposed to go."

"At a fireside Sunday I look over at Elder Bentz's notebook and it's this random drawing of some room? I was like what is that... he writes down on his paper... a level from Halo 3. Ha ha so funny. Made me think of Ted and Nick."

"I read a really good talk by Elder Wirthlin "Lessons Learned in The Journey." There was a quote from a Dr Carson: 'I began to understand that I was in control, that I could go anywhere I wanted to go, and that I could do anything I wanted to do. The only person who really determined or limited my success was me. Once I understood that, the whole victim mentality went right out the window. I realized I didn't have to sit around and wait for anybody to do anything for me.' Apply that this week and do everything you want to do! It's up to us."

Happy Thanksgiving! They've really go things planned here - no free time, maybe to not let missionaries think about home... We had a really good devotional this morning with Elder Neuenschwander, then dinner at one and sack dinners later. We've got a service project and then another fireside tonight... As we celebrate Thanksgiving today I am full of gratitude all of you and all that you do and have done for me."
"I sang in the choir on Tuesday at the devotional... Choir is definitely not my thing but music is a powerful tool to bring the spirit."

"Those Deutschers better be ready for me!"

Halloween in MTC

Halloween night "I made everyone dress up with me. We hiked up our skirts, put on our glasses and took some pictures as nerdy missionaries."

October in MTC

Maggie's companion, Sister Pruden, was great. "We get along really well and haven't had any problems - and I'm so grateful for it." "We have a district of 4 sisters and 2 elders. 5/6 of of us are going to Berlin... My teachers are really great. One was in Berlin and it's awesome when he talks about our specific mission."







"The German is slowly coming. I guess I learned more in Austria than I thought because a lot of what we have been doing so far is review... General Conference was a neat experience... to be with so many missionaries watching it... The food isn't bad either. I'm not used to eating just 3 meals a day. I'm always wanting to be snacking."

Richard G Scott spoke at a devotional and "bore an amazing testimony and after invited everyone to come and shake his hand. So we all waited in line and had our turn. It was a really incredible experience. I felt like I got a glimpse into what it was for Christ to personally serve everyone." They also heard from Elder Tad Callister, Sheri Dew, Elaine Dalton, and Elder Perry.

Maggie enjoyed the RC, TRC and other acronyms. "I called this man and we started talking. He had a thick Spanish accent so I had to really concentrate to understand him. Well, he starts talking about how he has read in 2 Nephi and he really liked it. We kept talking and then after a minute he starts laughing and says... I'm a member. So funny."
"Ich liebe alles sich! Ich liebe das Buch Mormon. Unsere Framilie ist fur immer!"
"I brought the picture of Melissa, Matt Harpring and me with me and was telling my rommmates about it last night. None of them seemed to care. Ha ha. Go to the Jazz games for me!"