I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord‏

Liebe Familie und Freunde,

     Dear Humidity, 

         I've had it with you. Feel free to go away, and not come back until I am back in America.

     Love, Sister Bice. 

     I honestly do not understand why people choose to live in such humid places. And I don't even think its THAT humid here. Just compared to what I am used to. At any rate, there is nothing worse than trying to study and having to free your sticky arms of paper every time you set them on your desk and pick them back up...sheesh!

     Wow what a week! We were in Stuttgart Monday, Tuesday, AND Wednesday. Zone Conference on Tuesday was simply wonderful. I love everything about Zone Conference.  I think one of my favorite parts of the whole conference was the testimony meeting at the end. I was so impressed by the testimonies of the new missionaries. And so touched by the testimonies of the Elders going home. I am just so amazed at what missions do for people. I feel like the experiences I am gathering on my mission are preparing me to go home and stand steadfast and unwavering in the face of the adversity and trials that lie ahead for all of us. Sometimes I feel like I'm not changing as much as those around me..but maybe it's just easier to see in others. At any rate, the gospel is amazing. And what it makes of people is even more amazing.

     After Zone Konferenz we had an austausch with the Pforzheim Sisters. I worked in Pforzheim with my would-be-companion Sister Smart. Annnnd I found out why Sister Smart and I weren't companions after all. It's because..we get along way too well! I felt like I'd found my long lost twin! At first we found all the little things we had in common amusing..then they kept  on popping up and it was just weird! In a cool way. :) She even stands like I do! Like a flamingo.:) And! She lived in St. George as a kid, and loves rock climbing, and peanut butter, and, and, and. I'd list them all, but I'd run out of room. :P Anywho we had a hoot together, and I learned so much from her. Her testimony and love for the gospel are amazing. I hope we really do end up being companions an some point! If not, we've already planned some fun activities for when we get home. :) Anywho, she is training next transfer! She is going to be a wonderful trainer. :) So I have been carrying a Russian BOM in my backpack for weeks right? I felt like I should put in in there once, and haven't been able to bring myself to take it out. Sister Smart and I were contacting and talked to a man, who sicked us on his wife. We found the hose and she was waiting for us. She wasn't German, and Sis smart asked what her mother tongue was. "Russian". Sister Smart was starting to say that we had the BOM in russian when it hit me, "oh! I have one!" We chatted for a bit, she took the book, and we set an appointment. They have seven kids. Hah. *fingers crossed!*

     ..........Ok mom calm down I am getting to the point with transfers...

     *clears throat and sings..* "I'll go where you want me to go, dear Lord. Over mountain or plain or sea. I'll say what you want me to say dear Lord...I'll be who you want me to be." So! I woke up Friday morning, bright eyed and bushy tailed. (ok..that's a lie. I was real tired, and my abs were killing me from the ab workout Sister Smart and I did on our exchange on Wednesday..) Anywho, I was still in the process of becoming mentally awake when the phone rang and gave me a heart attack. 6:45am. It wasn't the Zone leaders, which ruled out the possibility that Sister Lina nd I would both be staying here in Göppingen. It was one of the Assistants. "Guten Morgen, Sister Bice, wie geht's Ihnen?" "...müde." "Hah. Are you ready?" "..bring it on.." "Sie werden versetzt. Nach Wels.." "...nach wo?" Hah. Wels, Austria. White washing. The area was actually closed this last transfer, and there were elders there before. So! My new companion, Sister Baxter, and I will be going in and "pink washing" the place. Sister Baxter has been serving the "black hole" for over a year. Switzerland. Appropriately named the black whole because once a missionary goes in, they hardly ever come back out because it's such a pain to get a visa there in the first place. Anywho, Sister Baxter just finished training too. I met her at the mission home when I picked up Sister Lin. She seemed cool. :) How do I feel?

........way excited. 

     We have a ward! A real live ward! And yes, I am excited to white wash. There are definite challenges that come with it, but I feel like that was the best thing that ever happened to Sister Schulze and I when we were working together. I love white washing because there are no pre-set opinions, politics, "set ways" or other things that sometimes sneak into missionary work. And it really requires unity from the companionship, because both companions are starting from the ground. Saying goodbye to Göppingen is proving to be hard though. Especially my less actives. I had a last appointment with Sister Claus last night. I have been meeting with her the last 6 months. She cried. Then I cried. And even Sister Lin cried. I have grown to love these people so much. Saying goodbye is never fun. But the beautiful thing about the gospel is that it's never really "goodbye", rather, "aufs Weidersehen". I am so grateful for the things I have learned and the friends I have made here in Göppingen. I pray that I never forget them. But! I plan to write:) Anywho, I must say...I have a transfer phobia. I always feel like I'm going to get a call from President the day before telling me I'm not actually getting transferred. But! Assuming that isn't the case and all goes as planned, I THINK my new address is:

     Kirche Jesu Christi

     Sister Natasha Bice

     Spöttlstr. 8/14

     AT-4600 Wels

     Austria

...but you might want to wait until I get there and make sure before you send anything? The AP's sent me that address but it seems a little off to me..we'll see...

     Sister Lin is pretty nervous about taking over Göppingen, but she doesn't need to be. She is going to be great. I keep telling her that, but I'm still working on getting her to believe it. Hah.

 So! My favorite scripture of the week is Ether 12:4. "Wherefore, whoso believeth in God might with surety hope for a better world, yea, even a place at the right hand of God, which hope cometh of faith, maketh an an anchor to the souls of men, which would make them sure and steadfast, always abounding in good works, being led to glorify God." I thought about this scripture a lot last week. A lot of people out here ask us how we can believe in God when the world is so awful sometimes. But this scripture doesn't say that "those who believe in God will be free from all their troubles and their cares" rather, that they "might with surety hope for a better world..." A ship doesn't need an anchor when the water is completely still. It needs an anchor for when the storms come. The same goes for us. If we never had any problems, we wouldn't need hope or faith. However, it is our responsibility to develop these Christ-like attributes in the times of stillness, that they may prove an anchor in the times of storm.

Anywho, I am out of time! We have a district p day today..we are going to see a Castle! Woo! I'll send pictures next week if it's cool:) I love you all! Bis nächste woche! :)
Love, Sister Bice