nesmith

Guten Morgen!!

Mensch, there is just so much to tell you all--I have no idea where to start! I do, however, have some very interesting stories that just tesitfy to me that this is the Lord's work!

Let me tell you, first, about Paradise. Ahh...I visited paradise last Tuesday, so I had to wait a week to tell you about it. Schade! Sister Russon and I went to the home of the Gaggia family for dinner last Tuesday. Mrs. Gaggia is a professional caterer, and let me tell you...the food was divine! We had a traditional Swiss food. If I could remember what is was, I'd tell you...just know that it was amazing. We ate outside on her patio and it was so wonderful! Ah! Their backyard opens up to a field and then there are some old buildings (some storks built their nest on the top of the factory's chimney) and then it's just completely open after that. The grass is such a vibrant green here and it's all just so gorgeous! Good food, wonderful company, and such a picturesque view made last Tuesday a paradise and certainly something I'll never forget. I wish I could describe it better for you, but honestly, words really can't describe things here, it's so gorgeous!

Later on in the week, we visited Don in his shop in Wil. I was really excited for this because, well...Don, meine familie, is from Kansas. KANSAS! And guess where? Overland Park. He visits Olathe every September though because his best friend lives there (really close to us, too. Crazy!). It was interesting talking with him because he couldn't get over the fact that I was also from Kansas and kept saying what a crazy coincidence it was and asked my companion, Sister Russon, if I was sent here because he was from Kansas. Nope! When he said what a coincidence it was, I was filled with the spirit and was able to testify to him that it was no coincidence that I was sent to Frauenfeld at this time. (I must say that I was a bit surprised by the words that came out of my mouth, my friends, and I know that the spirit took over to speak to him, because the words I spoke to Don were very direct and bold....not how I normally speak)

I told Don that nothing is a coincidence and that everything happens on the Lord's time. I was sent to Frauenfeld for a reason and that I was sent to speak to him for a reason. It was no coincidence. Noone but my trainer knew that he was from Kansas and that I, her new trainee, was also from Kansas. Präsident Matern simply knew that I was suppose to go to Frauenfeld; he didn't know why.

Isn't that amazing?? Everything happens for a reason. I was sent here at this time to speak to certain people. There are people here that need the gospel and each day here testifies to me that I was called to this mission to speak with these people. It's amazing!

Other exciting news:

We have an appointment this Thursday with the first person I met when we did a Tür-zu-Tür approach. Stoked!

People have a difficult time pronouncing my name. Is it bad that I kind of find it funny? I helpt them out...people just seem really confused about how to pronounce my name. There's a boy in the ward that looked at my name and said, "Hey, it's like Joseph Smith, but with N-e in front of it!" Precisely, young man...precisely.

I've been trying to find a cello to rent here, but it's so expensive! Everything here is ridiculously expensive. I was beginning to become discouraged, sadly...but then, on Sunday, there's a couple in my ward (they work at the mission home, too) that said that they've had a cello in storage for about 20 years and that I'm more than welcome to borrow it. So I tried it out and it's actually pretty decent! The Lord is mindful of everyone, my friends. He is. Anything that's a concern to us is a concern to Him. He knows each and everyone of us and He knows how we're feeling! AND they said I can use it my entire mission! What a blessing!! I'm playing in church in 2 Sundays (if I get the cello back, that is...it's in the shop getting the fingerboard reattached. Yikes...), otherwise Sister Russon is playing a piano solo.

O, Mensch...there's so much more to tell you all! I wish I had more time...and also my camera cable. I'm sorry that I forgot it. I meant to send you pictures this week. I'll do my best to send them next week.

I love you all! And I would love you even more if you wrote! I know you're busy...I understand!! I didn't think I would be so busy. I still have so many people to write back. I'm sorry to those who have yet to hear a response from me. I promise to send them out in the next week.

Liebe,

Rachel