Hey there redneck

 Wow sadly nothing super exciting pops out from this week. We've been grinding the member work and trying to get our ward back up and running. Honestly this has been a really hard area. I've heard from a lot of people that Köln is really hard and a character building area. I suppose God has bigger things in store for me that require a refining furnace. But it's okay, I pray that I'm humble enough to be refined. 

I think one of the hardest things about this area is the ward... we visit tons of people but they all don't want to come back to church because of the ward. The ward seems very closed. This area used to have 2 wards and a branch but now they're down to one ward with 30 active members. Whenever we have people at church none of the ward members talk to them and they don't come to the activities that we plan for our friends. I get that they have normal lives and it's hard, but it's hard. I don't know what to do. Obviously I can serve the bishop like it says I preach my gospel but if anyone has other ideas I am very open. 
We had transfers this past week and I'm staying in Köln with sister Maughan. We're hoping to make it a great transfer. We both feel like we're on the verge of something big so we're exciting to see what that is. If there's one thing I learned from this transfer it's that I am now hick. There was an elder in my district and he was so country it was hilarious. We would walk around with his cowboy boots and he had a country accent. But now the whole district has an accent and it's been so fun. He thinks I'm so hick because I come from Elko. So he would always call me redneck. Sadly he got transfered and his comp is British. Which means that this America loving Elder has to spend the 4th with someone from Great Britain.... It's so ironic and has been the joke of this week haha. 
The exciting things that happened is that we Bible bashed with a catholic friend. We just asked what he heard about church and he went off about how their church us true because it has the oldest traditions and has all the bodies of the 12 apostles. It was a very strange exchange and we just tried to validate and say that we can have our own religions and we should respect each other. He told us that we were just young and have limited knowledge. So we love that haha.
We also got caught in the rain after an appointment for about 20 Minutes on Sunday. The trains are always so crazy on Sunday and run on whack schedules. So we were soaked and cold for 2 hours trying to get home. It was awful and as a result I now have a cold. So I've been battling that for a couples days but don't worry Sister Maughan has been taking good care of me. 
I love you all so much and how you have the best week! Please let me know if I can help in any way!
Love Sister Nielsen 
1. Typical service
2. Japanese grocery store
3. Some Jungs playing soccer
4. This explains our district to a T
5-6. I think I jumped higher
7. Mirror selfie before contacting 


8. Us caught in the downpour 


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