Unpacked and ready to go!

Date: Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Hello family!

So . . . . I am in . . . . Dusseldorf! It was pretty funny. President Ninow called Sunday night to tell me that I was leaving and Sister Niebergall would be training. On Monday I wrote notes to all our investigators and called some ward memebers to wish them farewell. Then on Tuesday President Ninow called again and said I would be staying but Sister Niebergall would leave. So she packed her bags. Then late Tuesday night he called again and said we would both be staying, but to keep our bags packed just in case. But yeah, we ended up staying! We were happy. We get along really well and neither of us wanted to leave. I am so glad to still be in Dusseldorf! I love it here. Going to church was funny. All the members that I had called had very surprised looks on their faces when they saw me. It was really funny.

Um, the work is going a little slow. We are doing everything we can, we have so much finding time. We have found a couple new investigators and are hoping for the best with them. We have had some really neat lessons with them. It is so cool! My companion said something that really struck me the other day. She said, "If people only knew that our lives revolve completely around them, they might make more use of us." And I thought, "That is so true!" All we do here as missionaries is help people all the time. All we do is try to find them and bring them closer to God and more happiness. Then I thought, that is probably exactly how God feels. If we only knew how much he was really there for us. All the time. The scripture in Moses 1:39 means a lot more to me now. It's truer now. :) This mission experience has helped me relate to that scripture a lot better. It was a really neat chain of thoughts. I love thinking, pondering. So many thoughts come. I also am so grateful for leaders and the Holy Ghost. Last week I had some questions about the progress of one of our investigators and so I asked my mission president about it, and he gave me some very wise counsel. It was so simple yet so profound. Also before when I had talked with this investigator I felt the Spirit so strong and I knew everything was in place. It was really neat.

As for the 4th of July, Germany does not recognize it as any sort of Holiday. :) My companion and I did where red, white, and blue though. I don't think anyone caught on. Which is a good thing. We did sing the American hymns though that night. It was fun. What did you all do for the 4th of July? I think every holiday should be doubled with Thanksgiving. There are so many things to be grateful for. I have been keeping a list that I'll share with you someday.

Well I feel like there are things I wanted to tell you, but I just can't remember them. I hope everything is well there though. That is so exciting that you are the Gospel Doctrine teacher mom! You will do great. You taught me so many gospel doctrines that I appreciate so much. Also thank you for those quotes. The one from Elder Uchtdorf especially touched me. It was really good for me.

I love you all so much! Do you know that? I sure hope so because it is true! Not only do I love you but I like you and get along with you and I think you are all just fantastic wonderful people that I am so glad I get to spend eternity (with Bliss ;)) with!

Love Sister Fitzgerald,

P.S.
Mom I think in one of my earlier emails you said that Taiwan was turning into two missions. Does Ric have a new mission address? Or could you send me his address again?

Also do you have the Nauvoo Illinois Mission address from when I lived there last year or does Evan have it?