Guten Morgen! I write you today from Konstanz, Germany. We decided to check out other places in our district, so we came here.I promised you all pictures, so I hope these will do. I´m bummed because I have a ton I want to show you all, but I´m having problems with the computer here, soo....I´m afraid I´ll have to print them off and send them home. I may be able to scan some...not sure. We´ll find out.
There is some exciting news here: our investigator, Alex, is getting really close to baptism. Yesterday, he talked to us about setting up a baptismal date! Woo! He said he just isn´t ready for baptism and would decide at some point whether or not to get baptized. And yesterday, he talked about setting up a baptismal date. The ward here is amazing. They´ve helped us so much with Alex, as well as all of our other investigators.
Let me explain the photos before I forget: We got together with some other missionaries and we decided to go on a boat ride in Biel and so the first 3 photos are from that. I´m sad I´m unable to send you more, it was beautiful (and ridiculously hot) that day. The last photo is from our apartment window. Not the most exciting view, but the sunsets here are really pretty.
Unfortunately, I must bid you adieu, so my time is up. I hope you all are doing well. Help out the missionaries in your area. It´s greatly appreciated, believe me!
Love,
Sister NeSmith
Guten Morgen!
I hope to find you fairing well. We're here in Zürich to play soccer with the other missionaries in celebration of July 4. Sadly, no one here celebrates it. However, I heard fireworks around our area Saturday evening, which made me happy. Here, the big celebration is August 1, so I'm excited to see all the fireworks and displays then. It'll be cool.
Please don't be mad....I even brought my camera and cable, but alas...there's no USB port that is accessible for the users of this internet cafe. Dang. Sorry about that. I even have some really awesome photos for you! Next week. We'll be in either Frauenfeld or Konstanz, Germany for Pday, and I know I'll be able to send them then. Be excited, family and friends. Switzerland is gorgeous!
The work here continues. President Condie, our new mission president, has different ways of doing things (naturally), so we'll see how things change. It's kind of strange, honestly, that our mission is now huge. Southern Germany, majority of Switzerland, and all of Austria...crazy! I'm not going to lie, I'm serving in the most beautiful mission in the world. And the people here are so great!
I've got to tell you...give the missionaries referrals!! I love them! The ward here is amazing, they're really focused on missionary work. We have a couple of members that have given us referrals, others that have been working with their friends and want to turn the teaching over to us...man, it rocks! We now have a new investigator, Jacqueline, that has been going to church for a number of years on her own. She didn't grow up religious, but she recognized the importance of it a number of years ago and so she's been going around to different churches because she just wants the truth. And not just a little bit of the truth, but the entire thing. I think we can help her out there. She's way awesome and she's so sweet! I'm really lucky that I get to teach her.
Alex, one of our other investigators, is doing great. He asked some of his member friends about earrings and men the other day and when they told him that men don't wear earrings in our church and that the women only wear one earring in each ear, he called us right away and asked us. So we explained that the prophet has asked us to maintain a clean appearance and that the men refrain from wearing earrings. So...he took them out! Alex is awesome, everyone. He really is. He keeps commitments and he loves to learn more. So awesome! I love this work!
Leider, I must bid you all farewell. I hope you have a splendid day and that you were able to enjoy the 4th of July. Much love!
Love,
Sister NeSmith
Guten Abend!So, I was originally going to include pictures from today in this email, but...we had planned to push off emails until tomorrow because we were spending the day with an investigator, but then we ended up with time and so now I find myself in an internet shop without my camera cable. Tis a shame, really...I took so many photos from our trip today with my good camera. I'm afraid that the pictures will have to wait until next week. Today Sister Dittli, Fiona, and I went to Biel and hopped on a boat around a sea/lake/large mass of water, and then just hung out, really, with other missionaries in Biel and such. It was a relaxing Pday, which was needed, honestly. Some elders want to put together a huge game of Soccer next week to celebrate the 4 and we'll grill and just have a jolly old time. We're just trying to figure out where we'll have it--Zürich or Pfyn (which is in my area, and not as easily accessible to other missionaries, so I'm not entirely sure how that'll work).I can't lie...this past week was really difficult. We weren't really able to meet with many of our investigators, and so we have been cleaning out the area book and going back on former and potential investigators, as well as a Greek lady that we met at a bus stop that invited us over. Unfortunately, there weren't that many people there, so we'll have to go by on them again. Cleaning out the area book is a long process and our area is quite large, so there's a lot of traveling to include as well. This past Friday was an excellent day because not only did I receive 2 letters and a postcard and a package (what an amazing day!), but we were able to meet with 2 investigators, a wonderful member in the ward, have an appointment for a former investigator, now have a new investigator (I LOVE member referrals!!), and man...yeah, we've just been doing a lot. It's been great!This Wednesday, we'll officially have a new mission president, President Condie. It´s sad that President Matern is going home, but I guess he couldn´t stay our mission president forever...We also have Zone Conference this Friday and I just found out that my assignment is to put together a gift basket of baked goods for the people that help us out. At least this gives me a reason to bake. Woo hoo!
Anyways, I´m afraid I must close here. Don´t forget Alma 7:23!
Love,
Sister NeSmith
Hopp Schwiiz!!
Oh man, there's no time to tell you all the craziness that's been going on with the World Cup. It's crazy!! I can't believe Switzerland beat Spain. Spain!! It was crazy. Oh my goodness, it was crazy.
I'm happy to hear that people actually read this. Amazing!! Hello, world!
Well, not too much is going on in Frauenfeld. Lot's of finding...lots and lots of finding. Some people are receptive, but the majority of them aren't, sadly. Man. But I get to stay in Frauenfeld for another transfer, which rocks! Way stoked. The people here are so awesome and helpful. I wish I could introduce everyone here to people back home. Or...you all could come here from the States, experience the joy of Switzerland and I can introduce you then. Wonderful!
Yesterday, we spent the day with one of my favorite families here: The Gaggias. We went to Bischofszell with them and walked around the city. Every year, the decorate the town in roses and have a festival, so we went with them for the opening day. It was beautiful. And then, we went back to their place and learned how to bake some amazing Zopf, we have Duel of the Fates as our new ringtone and we all just had a merry time together.
Ahh, no time today, I'm afraid. We're going on a tour of Zurich with some other missionaries. I'll do a better update next week. Sorry! I love you all and pray for you constantly. Hopp Schwiiz!
Love,
Sister NeSmith
Guten TAG!!!
Sorry about the lack of email yesterday--things were a bit crazy. We went to Singen, Germany for pday so we could meet up with the sisters in the mission. We didn´t do a ton, honestly, but it was great just getting together to chill by the Bodensee (we met up in Singen and then went to Radolfzell...something like that?).
I have some rather depressing news: The baptism was cancelled. Very sad and unfortunate situation. I hope that wherever he ends up, he´ll find the Gospel again. He loves it and was truly sincere in his desire to learn more and be baptized.
I know we´re only suppose to write home about the really exciting things and never mention anything discouraging that´s happened to us, but...that´s not how it truly is, so I can´t do that.
This week has been really frustrating, I must say. We had all but 1 appointment cancel on us or stand us up, we lost half of our investigators because they said the gospel was "too much work," or that they just weren´t interested anymore. That means that we´ve been dooring a lot more. (There are some hilarious stories from that, by the way. Remind me to tell you when I get back.) Fortunately, we´ve received a couple of referrals (love the members here!), so we´ve been trying to set up appointments with them.
Sister Dittli and I are working really hard in our area, working with the ward members and finding people here. Yes, last week was frustrating. Very frustrating, but the work must go forward. It will go forward--nothing can or will stop it! And I´m lucky that I get to be a part of it and be involved in the process of people coming to Christ. How special! How wonderful! We may have been frustrated, but our spirits are high and if you´re not moving forward, you´re only moving backwards, so press on!
I do hope all is well with you all. I love you!
Love,
Rachel/Sister NeSmith
P.S. The mission merges July 1, so here´s the new mission address:
Alpine German-Speaking Mission, MunichLommelstrasse 7D-81479 MunichGermany
P.P.S And transfers are next Thursday. I´ll find out this Thursday whether or not I stay here in Frauenfeld or if I´ll be going somewhere else. Tune in next week to find out!
Hello, hello! Greetings from a very warm Switzerland. It's warming up, which I'm not particularly thrilled about....but it's lovely weather, I can't deny that. I'm afraid today will be quite short, but I hope the ridiculously exciting news makes up for it.
"Friederich" is getting baptized! It's a "for sure" thing now. Our stake president talked to him over the phone and then talked with President Matern and they gave him the okay! He's way stoked and can't wait! Ah, we're all so excited! We're thinking we can set the date for June 6, right after church. Woo!!
Other exciting news: The Frauenfeld Branch will become a ward this next Sunday! Woo hoo! We really are too big for our building and by the time the addition is added, it'll be too small, still.
Man, I'm so excited about our baptism! He was truly a golden investigator. It just goes to show that the Lord still speaks to us today and people are searching and when they hear it, they recognize it right away. It's so rad! I love it!!!
I'm afraid that'll be it for today since we don't have time. I'll send you pictures soon!
Liebe,
Sister NeSmith
P.S. yes, Jonathan, my district LOVES my baking. And I've been baking a ton, so they're very, VERY happy.
Mein-e Gut-e!!! Crazy things are happening here in Frauenfeld, my family! The work is certainly progressing--people certainly recogniye the voice of the Lord when they seek Him!
I believe I mentioned one of our investigators that just so happens to be from Iran. Friederich (name changed for protection), is from Iran and fled the country due to political and religious disagreements and randomly came to church with a friend of his a couple of weeks ago. He became very interested in the church because he saw how good the people were and so he was curious to find out more. We were able to get him a Book of Mormon in Persian and within a few days, he had finished all of 1Nephi! Not only that, he could recall it in perfect clarity, using names and situations. It was amazing! Now, a few weeks later, he's almost done with the Book of Mormon and in our lesson last Thursday, we talked about the blessings of baptism and he told us that he wants to be baptized! He's so excited about the gospel, he's brought some of his other friends and asked us if we could get him a Book of Mormon in Persian and if there wer missionaries in his friend's area and if there was a church building close to him. It's amazing! He's already an awesome missionary and he's not even baptized yet! It just goes to show that people recognize the voice of the Shepherd. I love this work!
We're doing a lot of work with the ward over the next few weeks. Sister Dittli and I are meeting with everyone and getting to know the less actives in the area so we know how to best help everyone. We're staying VERY busy.
We're so stoked about "Friederich." Unfortunately, there have been some problems that need to be sorted out. We're worried that since there's a chance he could go back to Iran (doesn't want to), he can't be baptized. He told us that he doesn't care, though, what happens; he's just so excited about the Gospel! It's so amazing and makes everything worth it. So awesome!
Sister Dittli and I are spending our Pday today just organizing everything in the apartment. Not exactly the Pday I had in mind, but it will help to have everything organized. We've found some way old brochures and pamphlets that the Church used to hand out. Way awesome looking...too bad we don't use them anymore. I'll send you pictures of them. They're about 50 years old-ish.
Anyways, I best be going...so much to do! The work is going strong here, hopefully I can keep up with everything!
I love you all!
Liebe,
Rachel/Sister NeSmith
Guten Morgen! I write you today from Konstanz, Germany. We decided to check out other places in our district, so we came here.I promised you all pictures, so I hope these will do. I´m bummed because I have a ton I want to show you all, but I´m having problems with the computer here, soo....I´m afraid I´ll have to print them off and send them home. I may be able to scan some...not sure. We´ll find out.
Unfortunately, I must bid you adieu, so my time is up. I hope you all are doing well. Help out the missionaries in your area. It´s greatly appreciated, believe me! 
