Prophet in Hamburg

Happy 10 months!!! What a week!!! First off, we had a Gemeinde Fest (Ward Party) it was our culture party as a ward, and so many people invited their friends and had so much fun!! It was awesome.  We asked the Familie Zadi to come and play drums for us since they are from Afrika and that is their profession, and they did!! And he sang and played the drums and the Ward loved it!!!!!!  He almost had an encore going!!  It was awesome!  During the whole time Sister Sprouse and I were busy painting all the little kids faces :)  I painted many bracelets and a couple faces.  Children are so obedient and cute.  I told them to hold still and try not to move or breathe, and they do exactly that!!  I had to learn and not to ask them too much because they would literally do that too.  Example, I was painting a little boy's face and he wanted spiders and spider webs all over (Sister you better be proud of me!!) and so I told him not to move and not to breath either, and the poor little dear took my advice and did just that.  Then I had to explain to him that I was just joking.  He didn't think that was very funny..  Lesson learned, don't joke with children when it comes to breathing!  But they were so stinking cute afterwards when they saw the finished masterpiece from a Sister Missionary from Amerika with no drawing or painting skills.  They just looked in the mirror and smiled and then looked immediately at their mom and said that they loved it :)  Ana came with us to paint faces too.  She of course was so cute and was a little nervous, but in the end she painted some masterpieces too.  And then Saturday came around.  Saturday consisted of two very nervous sister missionaries, transfer calls, and Ana's baptism :)  Holy emotion rollercoaster!!  Sister Sprouse and I were so nervous we could hardly handle ourselves the entire morning!  Nine o'clock came rolling around and so we called in like normal, and waiting anxiously for the announcements of the transfers. They start with Düsseldorf district, then the Dortmund.  We hear some names but the when we heard, "and the Dortmund Sisters" our hearts dropped!!  One, because we are already together for 15 weeks! Two, our companionship is too much fun and we love each other too much too to stay together.  But then we heard, "will be staying together"!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAHAHHHHH!!!!! That is exactly what we shouted for joy and we jumped and hugged and jumped and danced!!!!  We will be together for another 6 weeks to work and to learn and to witness more miracles that happen :)  Heavenly Father knows us and knows what we need and I am grateful to be with Sister Sprouse again for another upcoming transfer!!  And I love Dortmund!!!  So then after that we were able to enjoy the rest of the day with huge smiling faces that were as bright as the sun!!  Good thing too because it rained all day :)  Ana's baptism was the most spiritual experience I have ever had and it meant so much to her.  I have never seen such faith before in someone in all my life.  She came alone to her own baptism, and still not knowing much of the people in the ward, and still was willing to make a promise  with Heavenly Father and to come closer to Him.  She is such an example to me on how much faith one can have and faith can overcome every trial or transgression.  As I watched her enter the water, her eyes were closed but yet she looked like she already knew what she was doing, and she did.  She came out with a smile on her face, and as we greeted her with the towel in the back room, she had tears in her eyes, and said, "That is the right way."  Quietly we embraced the moment in a hug and she repeatedly said, "I will never forget this.  I will remember this mometn the rest of my life."  And I can testify to that.  I can testify that she will remember it.  Nothing will ever take that feeling of love and safety away for the rest of her life.  I always remember my baptism and I am grateful everyday that I am a part of Christ's church.  The one He set up when He was on the earth.  And I know that He lives :)  And oh don't get me started on General Conference!! How wonderful it is to hear from our leaders and our dear Prophet.  I am truly uplifted and insipired and know exactly now what I need to do here :)  I am ready to start that too.  God bless you all.  You are always in my prayers.  I love you all.  Thank you for your letters and your prayers as well :) Liebe, Sister Tuschling    **PS - Oh yeah, I forgot all us missionaries get to see the prophet in Hamburg on Saturday the 13th!!!!!!  AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!***