Sister Elizabeth Winters: I need to pick up an Australian accent.

Dear Mom and Dad,

So.........I'm training an Australian. Hahahahahaha. I think this is one of the funniest things that has happened to me. I could never see myself even serving with an Australian, let alone training one! (I don't think we have any sisters from Australia except Sister Angeloudis, now....)

Well! Her name is Sister Angeloudis. (Say An-gel-ooo-dis.) She is absolutely CRAZY and way fun and I love it. I have just been laughing the whole weekend.

This week.........was actually somewhat slow. BUT! We did have some really good things happen. Marija came to FHA, which we weren't expecting. She wasn't able to make it to church because of work, but she came to Family Home Evening!, which was good. She really enjoyed it. She's going to Bosnia tomorrow, so we're hoping she can come again tonight. :)

Monday night, right at the end of the spiritual thought, it started POURING. Absolutely DUMPING. The rain just CAME DOWN. And because I was so transfer-stressed, but I love the rain, I grabbed Sister Arnold and ran outside and we just danced and got DRENCHED to the bone. I've included a picture, but it's hard to see. But it was so healthy and necessary, and Heavenly Father knew I needed a rainstorm because of everything that had happened with transfers. I LOVE THE RAIN SO MUCH. R and J were just standing there, watching us be insane (because the weekend had pent up all of our emotions and everything) and just thinking that we are crazy, which we are. ;) Roberto said afterwards, "You got up and ran outside, and I was about to say, 'Do you need an umbrella?' but then you just ran into the rain and got soaked......." Hahahaha.

And also Monday night, I cut a watermelon. I don't think I have ever done this in my life, actually.

Tuesday, we finally met with A!, which was so good. We talked about the Plan of Salvation, which is my favorite thing to teach. And then later, when we're teaching other things (like the law of chastity), we can always refer back to the Plan of Salvation. It's SO GOOD.

We also had a trainer training meeting that day---a conference call over the phone, because there were 16 goldens coming in, so they couldn't bring us all to Munich. President said there are 30 coming in next transfer. Whew! I really, really respect President Kohler. He is SO COOL. He's so down-to-earth, so REAL. And he loves us, and loves the work, and he works SMART, and is teaching us a lot. I love him.

That night, we went to the Ss'. I also really, really respect AS. He is awesome. His wife said she would order me some ColaCao (it's the BEST) from Spain. I had it all the time at J's, but haven't had it here. But then es hat mir eingefallen and I mentioned that and we all raved about Colacao. OH my goodness. She's AWESOME. I love that stuff.....

Wednesday, we went to J and S's. Afterwards, we had district lunch at the center and took a tour through the depths. It's way ancient and I love it. :) Hehehehe. That night, we were supposed to meet with R and the Fs, but then R didn't get off work in time to be there. The Young Women (Jungen Damen, JD) and the Young Men (Junge Maenner, or JM) put on a farewell party for the Wellses, which was fun (but must have been stressful for the Wells family, because they were leaving---flying back to America---the next day). It was really difficult for Sister Arnold because that was the last time she could say goodbye to some of the members. Trying to explain many, many times what had changed with transfers was......a lot. Oh, man. I think it's going to be even harder when I leave this place.

Thursday was transfers. I cried after Sister Arnold got on the train and took off. But then Sister Green (training in Freiburg) stayed in Stuttgart, and we visited a ton of people. Afterwards, we picked up our goldens! And then went home and had dinner and talked about our area and the work and stuff.

Friday, we got Sister Angeloudis anmelded (registered). Saturday, there was a Taufe here for an 8-year-old boy, which we invited a bunch of people to. Roberto came (who hadn't actually seen another baptism besides attending his own). Afterwards, we did some family history with him, which was SO FUN. I LOVE family history. I wish I had more time to do it.

Sunday, we went to the As (Int'l ward) after church. 'Twas good.

I really have been laughing the whole weekend. Sister Angeloudis says so many funny things. It's really interesting. She is a lot like Sister Gilmour in a number of ways. I love it. She has a very colorful soul and I love it, because I am a color-within-the-lines personality, but I feed so much off of these kind of people. Sister Angeloudis is crazy. I love it. And she's willing to try and put herself out there and try to speak German and she's going to be awesome. It'll be way fun.

Our transfer scripture: Mosiah 15:14. And these are ^athey who have published peace, who have brought good ^btidings of good, who have ^cpublished salvation; and said unto Zion: Thy God reigneth! :D We are all about JOY this transfer.

I love you SO MUCH. So so so much.

Love,

Sister Beth Winters

We were DRENCHED.