Christmas and cow tongue

 Hello family!

I loved being able to talk to you guys on Christmas. It's different not being at home, but this Christmas was really special. Christmas eve is when Germans usually celebrate Christmas. This is when the christkind comes and delivers there presents. The room where the Christmas tree is off limits for the whole day and then after dinner a bell will ring from that room. Which means that the presents have been delivered and they're able to open them. We went over to the Hadzik's for dinner. The dad, Thorsten, helps us with our lessons with falko. They are the sweetest people and they remind me a lot of our family. They're always inviting us over and helping us with our lessons. But we had a very traditional Christmas dinner with help. Which consisted of rot kohl (pickled cabbage), karotffel Krause (potatoes mixed with bread made into a ball. Kind of like stuffing), and rolaten (rolled up beef with gravy). It was all super good. Then we had a little musical talent show. Sister Barden and I sang and both played the piano. We then red the story of Luke 2 and we acted it out with their little house nativity set. We played werewolf and bang, ate cookies, drank tea, and then had banana splits. Long story short it was a night FULL of laughter, Christ, and very good food. 
Our mission president gave us permission to watch up to 3 movies on the living scriptures website. Sister Barden and I chose The Other Side of Heaven naturally. I love that movie, but let me tell you, it hits hard while on the mission. I could understand how he was feeling perfectly. We had lunch with a single adult from the ward. She had 2 other ladies over and the elders. More good food was had and then we had to run to the train for another appointment with a senior missionary couple the same one who had us over for Thanksgiving. We had an American dinner with roast and mashed potatoes. While there we got a call from a guy who found one of our cards and wanted to know what it was about. He's from Massachusetts, which means we'll be able to speak English! We've set up an appointment and are excited to teach him more. 
On Sunday we had an appointment with this lady from Russia. So we had a traditional Russian Christmas dinner. There was a ton of food. We had the beet soup and cow tongue.... with us being missionaries we were down for the challenge. It was not what I was expecting at all. It was soft and chewy. Bite your tongue a little bit and that's legit how it was, not appealing. I could just picture a cow with its tongue out the whole time. It doesn't help that you could see the taste buds on it still. It was definitely not something I would volunteer to eat again, but hey now I know what the weirdest thing I've ate on the mission is now.
Falko has officially been taught all the lessons. Which is way exciting for him. We fasted for him yesterday and hope he'll get baptized. He's fasting this weekend for am answer. He's also attending a young girls baptism with us as well. So I hope his heart will be moved towards baptism. As far as I know, he believes in the book of Mormon and Joseph Smith. But he's not sure if God wants him to be baptized yet. Other than him, we've been able to find really cool young people on the street. We've kept in touch and have been setting up appointments. I'm pretty certain that we can turn them into friends. 
This week has been really fun. Although, I'm not at home during the holidays I'm so glad that I'm able to able to serve the people of Germany. On Christmas, I've never been so happy as I was when I helped people as the savior would. Fasting for falko has also been really special. It's become more of a witness to me just how important baptism is and how much he could benefit from it. As I was studying, all of the talks I read related towards him and his situation. I have loved being a missionary and having myself stretched. It's not easy but I know it'll be so worth it at the end. I love you all so much!
Sister Nielsen:)
1. Our coburg excursion 
2. Falko und Bernd at church
3. We're cute sometimes 

4. The Hadzik family

5. Our Christmas appointment 

6. I saw a real life camel!!



Other pictures sent Dec 25 via messenger:





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