SO MANY WEIHNACHTSMARKTS

She sent a couple of pictures of her advent calendars (chocolate, of course) but I don't feel the need to post them unless I get requests.

But we're not actually going to a Weihnachtsmarkt today. We're going to the Christkindlmarkt in Nürnberg. I am so excited! I have developed a deep love for Kinder Punsch (kid punch) which is a spicy, warm drink that is delicious! Imagine how Christmas smells, and then imagine that smell in a warm, delicious drink, and that's Kinder Punsch. Plus, every Weihnachtsmarkt has a different cup that you get when you buy a drink. So far I have mugs from Rothenburg and Ansbach. Today I get the Nürnberg mug! I am so excited!

This week was.... Really slow as far as work goes. We had to drop a few people because we've been trying to meet with them for over a month now and they keep ditching us at the last minute. It's really sad and I wish we didn't have to do it. But, it will be okay. I know that the Lord has a plan for them and that they will find their way to the knowledge of the restored Gospel eventually. It just seems that they're not quite ready for it yet, and we're not the right missionaries for them. That's okay. Some missionary in the future will see their name and teach them and then they'll be baptized and it will be great!

Transfers were this week. One of our Zone Leaders, Elder Taylor, is leaving. He got called to go be a Zone Leader in Frankfurt. I honestly can't remember the name of our new Zone Leader, but we should get to meet him on Wednesday at District Meeting. Which will be interesting with two new people. Elder Hatch (our lovely District Leader) is getting a new companion because Elder Keck is getting transferred to Michelstadt which is it the Frankfurt zone. It's fine. I was warned by my teachers that a mission is basically a year and a half (or two years) of endless goodbyes. It's fine. This is why email was invented.

We had breakfast with Zeynep and Caroline this week. We had a good, German breakfast and it was delicious. Lots of bread, butter, and jam. Caroline is from Kenya and tries to go back to visit her family every year. She also goes to restock on spices and her favorite foods. One of them being a delicious strawberry jam. I have altered my shopping list, and Sis. Knutson and I got rolls and jam this morning so we can have some for breakfast instead of just cereal and/or yogurt. Not that either of those is bad. It's just that the rolls were better.

Anyways, we haven't had lunch yet. I think that's why I keep talking about food and such. We did get some apples today, but they're so we can make more apple crisp. We've made it twice this past week. Once for the ward picnic, and then again so we could give some to the Ansbach (On-s-bock) Elders at their street display on Thursday. We also gave some to the Zone Leaders, and they returned the favor by giving us a pan of pumpkin spice muffins. They were super good, and I think we should keep the good food chain going. Though now that Elder Taylor is leaving that might be hard. He is the best cook out of all of us.

We have a few member appointments set up this week so we can encourage them to use the new initiative and invite friends to our ward party and Christmas Eve service. What we're planning on doing is asking them to think of one or two people they can talk to, and he writing down those names while we watch the video for this year. The, we give them a few cards and challenge them to go and ask those people to come to the Christmas Party or watch the video. It can be kind of scary, but it's also really good.

If I may, I'd like to invite all of you to do the same. Watch the video, then share it with a friend. It can be as easy as just sharing it on Facebook (though I do consider that cheating), or going and talking to someone about what you believe and what Christ means to you. Don't be afraid to get outside of your comfort zone and take a chance. I know the Lord will give you the words you need to say the moment you need them. Just believe that He will help you and do it. We just have to start the process. Then the Lord and the Spirit make up the rest.

I love you all so very much and I hope that you are enjoying this Christmas season as much as I am. Have a great day, and a fantastic week!

Love Always,
Sis. John