8/10/2009

This letter is a crack up! In the email I wrote to her I asked if she got to do any site seeing as this is a typical activity for missionaries on some P-days (preparation days where the missionary takes care of business like laundry and writing to the fam!) I told she should go see the Pergamom Museum in Berlin as it has one of the greatest exhibits in the Ancient World. She was responding to an email I sent at 1 am. I had returned from taking Katie to meet Jimmy halfway to her house. I had had an energy drink that kept me up for hours after my return home, but it was a good trip and a great visit with Katie! Here's this weeks letter!

Hey!
I am so glad to get an e-mail from you, even if your a little crazy with an energy drink... Ha. But, we don't really do much because we are in a beach town, so that is pretty much it. Maybe when I am closer to Berlin, but we can't leave our area.

Well, we had transfer calls on Saturday, I don't know if you know how big of a deal that is, but it was the height of excitement this past week. I am staying with my trainer here in Greifswald and one of the elders is going west to Rostock. I am so glad to be staying because that means I get to see our investigators progress.
As far as Sandy is concerned I have a lesson to share with you that I learned this week. So, Sandy is an interesting person with lots of little quirks and has a piercing between the eyes, lots of ear piercings, I think some tattoos, and black hair. Well, after setting the baptismal date this week we had a meeting and taught her about the word of wisdom--not too hard, she doesn't smoke or drink, and chastity. She said she'd keep it. So, that night she left us with an old man named Bernt who is mostly blind. The following three days we couldn't get a hold of her and her phone was turned off for a while. I just knew something like that would happen. Finally my trainer called her again and she answered the phone. What excuse could she make now? I thought. Well, it turns out she had a heart attack in the middle of town and went unconscious and was life flighted to Berlin. She is in the hospital there and will return to Greifswald soon. Wow. I felt like so mean just to assume so much about her when she was in the hospital the whole time. So, that is the biggest lesson this week.
Oh, my gosh, by the way the internet place is playing the song, "Way Back into Love" from that one Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant movie (Music and Lyrics). Haha, I just had to tell you. Oh, and it's in German!
Last Tuesday I went on my first tausch--exchange. I went to Rostock for the day and it was quite an adventure and a fun way to see how other missionaries work. The sister I was with is one transfer older than me so we are both Golden (young in the mission) so it was quite an interesting experience. The sister has a really bad accent and people would respond in English, then I would say something in German and they would respond in German to me and then I would have no idea what they were saying so she would respond and the circle would repeat. We talked to so many more people, it was crazy. But, when I got back to Greifswald I was so appreciative of my trainer because we have more in common so missionary work isn't so boring and we talked to so many more people after that. We taught 23 Sonstiges--um... Lessons? during the week. It was amazing and I am so excited to continue that hard work.

So, the senior missionaries in our area don't like us. I'm not exactly sure what happened, they went to Berlin for the week and then came back and were cold and distant and called Sister Shallenberger and I "mouthy." I was so offended. Ugh. People. But, at least at our weekly pow-wow in which they serve us grilled cheese sandwiches and tomato soup (the best thing in the world--and they know how much I love it) I put on my--as you call it--perk and they just love me. What can I say? I learned how to shmooze from Christian! Speaking of which, tell the lame-o to write me back! Ha, and tell him I love him!
Okay, so yesterday we ate with some members-the Lorke's- and they are the most interesting and quirky couple ever. I don't know how else to describe them. They fed us borsht last time. This time they fed us salad and a pretty good soup. Then, came the interesting food that made my stomach do weird things the rest of the night. It was this kraut wrap with ham and white kraut sauce stuff. By the way, I just learned that kraut means cabbage. And the other half (Dad would have died) was pasta and soy meat sauce. Then, we had this weird cottage cheese dessert. Then we played a game and had more dessert which was a plum cake with this weird butter egg sauce in the middle and coffee--pretty sure it was decaf, all I know is it was made of wheat and disgusting. The lady isn't allowed to have sugar so we all have to suffer.
That is pretty much how my week went, hope you enjoy all the stories! And, I hope you keep these e-mails because I am horrible with journal writing, this is the closest thing I've got!
Thanks for the advice about an awesome sight to see, I sure hope to see it someday! And, tell Sara congratulations! I had it written in my planner and told everyone about it! I can't believe I've only been gone 3 months and have missed 3 weddings. Crazy.
I hope you had fun with the family all being there. I told everyone yesterday that since you were all together you probably had a picture of me with you and talked about me the whole time. Haha. Just kidding. But, I am having a fantastic time and want to tell you how much I love you!
Oh, and I would really really like some stories of Dad's mission!
Love Sister Turner