Last Week in the U.S.

 Guten Tag!

This is is my last week in the mother country. I leave on Monday from the MTC at 3:50 in the morning. Then my flight leaves to Atlanta Georgia at 9:45. I arrive in Germany on Tuesday at 8:30 in the morning. So that will be a fun day for me trying to get used to the 9 hour time difference. I'm excited but also pretty nervous because I have never left the country. So I have no idea what to expect. I'm going to miss the MTC and my district so much. I know my last email I made it sound like I didn't like the MTC very much. But you never truly appreciate something until it's gone. That's how I feel with the MTC, there's such a good spirit here. This week I've been trying to soak up everything and not take anything for granted. I'm going to miss my district so much. We do everything together and I can't imagine leaving them. I think they're going to be the hardest to leave. I really hope that our plans become a reality to meet up after the mission. My teachers have also been great and I've loved learning from them. Brother Schild is my favorite. He's this 6'8, very skinny guy. He looks just like Roger from the cartoon 101 Dalmatians or linguini from ratatouille. He's so funny and we have a lot of heart to hearts. He has some crazy stories and I love it when he teaches. Don't get me wrong Brother Adam's and Sister Esplin are also great, but Schild takes the cake.
A crazy thing that happened this week is that I ran into Sister Holley!! We just got done teaching our 30 minute German lesson with Steven. We were pretty nervous to talk straight German for that long, but I think it went well. I don't know why I freeze up at the beginning of lessons but thankfully meine mitarbeiter took the reins. She did great and I was so glad she was able to cover for me. But we taught him the first lesson and how the Holy Ghost testifies to us of the truthfulness of all things. He responded "Geist? Spooky, halloweenish." So I had to come in and explain, want to know how I did that?.... "Nein, er ist Freundlich" (No, he is friendly). So I pretty much just taught about Casper. That was the joke of the district this week. We were supposed to have another lesson with him on Monday but he was gone so we have one tomorrow. Don't worry we're going to re-explain who the Holy Ghost is haha. Then after, I recognized Sister holley across the hall and I had to say hi. We caught up for a little bit. It was so good to see her and I haven't smiled that big in a long time.
I had a really special experience in the temple last week. A couple of sisters that I live with were talking about their Guardian Angels and how they've seen their hand in their lives. As I was sitting in the celestial room, I was pondering this. I asked in prayer if I had Guardian Angels and this warm feeling came over me. Then I asked if grandma Nielsen was one of them. The feeling came even stronger and it felt like a hug from her. I got pretty emotional and I knew that she's watching out for me and will be with me as I go to Germany. It was super special and I felt close to her.
For our last devotional we had the Godoys speak to us and it was so good. I felt the spirit so strongly as he spoke to us. He talked about his conversion story and the Angels that God put into his life (the Sister missionaries and his wife). It was a great devotional to end on and by far my favorite. One point hit me when he said we shouldn't judge others and think they aren't ready to receive the gospel. I should trust that everyone is ready. I just knew that the lord would lead me to those that are ready. I envisioned myself on the cobbled streets of Germany and I was just led and told who to speak to. I was also reminded of the gifts that I have that are shared in my patriarchal blessing. I knew that through those I would be able to relate to them and touch them.
I don't want to leave the MTC. There's such a good feeling here and I'm surrounded by lots of friends. I know Germany will be hard and different but I'm up for the challenge. This week I've really learned about the power that comes from me wearing my tag. I get to be a representative of Jesus Christ. I'm so grateful that I get to show him how much I love him by being able to serve him for 18 months. So far I've loved being a missionary. 
I love you all and hope you're doing well!!
Sister Nielsen 
1-2. Sister holley!!



3. We take too many pictures with just the girls
4. The skies are always so pretty here
5. Our huge branch 
6. Shipped dinner
7. Esplin and Adams 
8. Table etiquette 


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