where do i begin??

I AM ON CLOUD 9!!!!

oh man so ill just start from the TOP

I left at like the crack of dawn to get to Berlin
to pick up my new missionary.. I totally passed
out on the train and missed my stop..

awesome.

So i was cassuuuaallllly and ffashionably ( a given ) late
for the trainers meeting..

We listened to a sweet little lesson about how
our new missionaries will NEVER forget their trainers..

Then we were assigned our new companions fresh
off the train..

I love new missionaries.. they look like deer in headlights..

Back when i first got on the mission ( look at me talking bout
them good old days).

When you entered the room you KNEW which one was
your trainer... seeing as how it would be the ONLY
other girl in the room.

But this new age change has totally shaken up missionary life.
A Sister who hasn't even been out 6 weeks themselves are
training!!! I assume that is how it must be alllll over the world
right now. I know lots get overwhelmed with new leadership callings
and they haven't even finished their training pamphlet! ahhhhh

well anywho..

I have been assigned to serve with

SISTER ERINN TOLMAN

She is just a doll. She is from WEEZER Idaho ( i love that name... with a y)

ymcmb

Idaho. She is super super sweet annnnnnnnnd

is completely 100% IDENTICAL to

Selena Gomez...

-_-

awesome.

i just look like either 

a. that awkward no name fan that follows her

b. her body guard

bless my heart

She has a SUPER big desire to work hard! I love it

it will be a great way to finish off what time i have left.

After the meeting we scurried along our way to catch
our train to KASSEL.... im still not over saying that ahhhhhhh

While we at Berlin Hauptbahnhof a man came up to us
and asked if we spoke english. He is from DC and needed
help buying a train ticket.. He was suppppppppper funny and

reminded me identically of usher... yeahhhh

He was super greateful for my help and then asked us who we are 

and what we are doing in GERMANY... We explained we
are missionaries from the church..

He said '' MORMONS??!!!'' I LOVE mormons..
I play soccer with like 50 a week.. but noones ever talked
to me about it... Geez how do i become one of you mormons..

Well sir... we would be happy to help you with that.

Unfortunately he was heading back to DC but we got his
contact info and will be sure to refer him :) haha. Before we left

he said:

 OH HEY.... what ever happened to those awesome
commercials you guys use to have??

Family... isnt it about... time?

They use to make me feel all good inside

hahahaha.

After that exciting encounter.. I was star struck from the
days adventures and we continued trying to figure out
where the heck we were supposed to go.. Sister Tolman said:

'' I'm super excited,, what train do we take? where do we live?
what is the ward like? wheres the church? do we have investigators??''

Well......

no idea which train..

i have an address for our apartment

the ward is... um we will find out
the church is..... to be announced

and..... investigators? no not yet

Hahaha white washing is just wonderful.. But unfortunately
we don't even have a lost area book to pick up.. We are
starting from ground zero and trying to build ZION.

The train ride into Kassel was BEAUTIFUL!! It was all misty

and we were winding through huge green hills with cute villages

tucked up in them.. I legitimately thought i was on a train
to Hogwarts.. Sooo... stoked

The city is beautiful.. Best way to describe it
is where Pinnochio lived.. mixed with Heidi..

We got to our apartment and well..

ITS AMAZING.... I have no idea how the church got this for us.
Have you seen shark tale? You know his apartment??

( geez this email is full of movie references.. naja)

Well ours is 10 times more amazing.. We are like in the tallest building
in Kassel. on the top floor!! We have a 360 degree view of the whole city!!

Our apartment is all glass so you feel like there is nothing there!!

We have a huggggggge wrap around porch...
pday tanning..

ahhh for real there are no words.. its like my DREAM apartment..

post mission life.. ugh

While settling in we found a carved stick.. with a note from a little

member who helped set up our apartment a few days prior..

He told us that he has carved us this stick to help protect us
from vampires..

swag.

Well.. I'm at a loss of words.. Were just settling in and getting
going so not toooooo much to report on..

We did get some referrals from the Elders.. but they just
gave us all of the crazies.. I am eager to find new people and
help people take their first actual swimming lesson!!!

in baptismal waters..

Kassel is EVERYTHING and more i dreamed of.. I am so happy
to be here i wake up each morning and miss morning sport because
I'm too busy praying thanking god for sending me here.. hahahaha

I am so happy and can tell you right now
GOD ANSWERS PRAYERS!! 

This gospel changes lives..

I look back on the last bit of my life and never dreamed i would
be where i am today. I am so thankful to my father in heaven

for helping me overcome trials and clear my path for me.. I feel
now more than ever i am where i am supposed to be and have
never felt so much TRUE joy as i have as a missionary for the
church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints.

Line of the week:

Group of new missionaries:

Sister: ohhhhhhh what am i going to do without
one direction in my life..

Me: Who the heck is that?

other sister: this AMAZING brit pop boy band

Me: soooo... kinda like nsync

Elder: DON'T YOU DARE COMPARE THEM TO NSYNC

well.. I'm out of the loop.
and 100% OK with it.

We are off to see some sites than begin our journey to turn this branch into a ward!

view from our apartment

our vampire weapon

TYPICAL area book referral from the elders.. thanks for nothing

i got a little excited about kassel... no i just spilled while sitting down

mission calls are inspired

So I will begin this weeks email with a short story....

Many many years ago in Hamburg, Germany lived a young man by the name of Helmuth Hubener

Being wise beyond his years for a 16 year old. Helmuth was also a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.. Helmuth had a very broad outlook on life and talent for overseeing certain current circumstances one faced during the reign of Hitler in Germany.

Helmuth grew concerned with the power of the rising political party and was disgraced at how they treated foreigners ESP. Jews. Helmuth knew God viewed all his children equally and that such a political group would poison and destroy many lives.

He acquired a small radio ( very illegal during this time to own in Germany ) and every night when his grandmother went to sleep would listen to foreign news reports from the BBC for updates on the war.

His speculations were true! He saw right through the lies that Hitler was telling the citizens in Germany

For example: 

German broadcasts: Germany proves successful with the bombing of British air craft carrier. No survivors for Britain

The truthful BBC report:
Ship still afloat, noone injured.

Becoming more concerned as time went on and as the political group grew stronger. He became determined to expose Hitler for the liar he truly was.

Although only 16 years of age Helmuth began to print VERY bold messages degrading the political party in hopes to help his fellow Germans learn the truth..

Helmuth later let two of his best friends in on his plans as hope for reinforcement .. One young man being Rudi Wobbe.. Only 15 years old at the time.

Together these 3 young men printed red leaflets and painted the city of Hamburg red late at night hanging the bulletins along all the streets

 A crime that at that the time was viewed to be the most SERIOUS of sins for a German to commit.

A popular known saying was " he who fights for his country may die, but he who betrays his country must die"

Noone dared even whisper anything but pleasing thoughts about Hitler.

One day while at his Sunday church services Rudi Wobbe noticed his friend Helmuth..did not show up..

Their nightmare had happened.. Helmuth had been caught by the police and arrested.
Weeks later.. Rudi too was caught and arrested.

The story goes on that all 3 young men faced weeks of interrogation, beatings, and imprisonment in hopes to get them to admit their crimes.

Not allowed to communicate one with another or to recover in-between beatings.. They endured the harsh punishments and were later all brought before the dreaded " blood court" in Berlin.

The Blood Court in Berlin was where only the most serious of criminals were taken..

Here stood 3 young LDS young men to fight for their freedom as well as their lives.

The first called to the stand was Helmuth Hubener. Witness reports on the trial explained Helmuths performance to be "unforgettable". 

Just a young boy he stood confident, and held his own openly and confidently degrading Hitler before his own judges.

Helmuth denied the help of his two friends, stating they were innocent and had nothing to do with what had happened.

Later that night after the trial, Rudi was able to speak one more time with his friend Helmuth. He asked him WHY he would do that!?

Why would he take all of the blame when all 3 were obviously guilty.

Helmuth answered:

 " I have faith enough to know that whatever happens to me.. God knows what I did was right.. and I need not fear"
A report the next day was delivered to Rudi Wobbe's Prison cell stating

Helmuth Hubener

Beheaded... 

Total time of execution: 11 seconds

Helmuths last words were found in a note he wrote home just minutes before killed.. Stating that he regretted NOTHING...only that before he is to be killed, that he will be forced to break the word of wisdom

( before execution, the victims are given wine to relax them )

The story of these 3 young men is a famous tale in Germany for War heroes. Hitler feared and was so threatened by the intelligence and testimony in these 3 LDS teens, one faced the most cruel punishment executed during the war.

There are to this day many books, monuments and people thankful to these 3 young men.
Including a film now available at Deseret book.. " Three against Hitler"


Rudi Wobbe lived on by the grace of God and spent the remainder of the War in concentration camps and imprisonment. Rudi later was later freed by British soldiers and returned home to Hamburg.

Just months later, he was called to serve and labor in the KASSEL, Germany Mission..

Serving in Kassel, Rudi Wobbe met and baptized my grandpa Wilford Diederich.

Helmuth Hubener had such a testimony of Gods plan for us he will willing to save his best friends life..

Although Helmuth Hubener never personally got to serve a mission, 

Because of his FAITH and TESTIMONY... His best friend lived on and brought my dad's family to the gospel.

If only Helmuth knew...

Now, in 2013

The granddaughter of Wilford Diederich would be called to serve and labor in


KASSEL GERMANY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!


I HAVE BEEN ASSIGNED TO OPEN UP THE CITY AND BE THE VERY FIRST SISTER TO SERVE IN KASSEL!!!!!!!!!


I'M GOING HOME POPPY!!!!!!!

CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!!!!???

Präsident Kosak called late Thursday night to personally tell me the news. I was absolutely shocked and I was speechless!!!
I bawled my eyes out

President knew my grandpas families conversion story and wanted to help make a full circle in this story and for me finish my mission where it all began.. Love that man with all my heart

KASSEL!!!!!

Ahhhhhhhhhhhh I am so happy I could die.. It is so bittersweet.. I feel I JUST got to Bremen to open that program and train, then transferred to Hannover to be a sister training leader and now I'm off again!

I was told that I accomplished what I was called to do to help these two last cities.

The Bremen sister program is running great with baptisms lined up and planned, and Hannover i was able to help all the sisters I was assigned to lead as well as meet and baptize Brother Dirk and strengthen the ward here. Sister Fugal is one of my favorite people I've served with and I'll miss her sooo much

But my mission is not over yet.

God needs me in KASSEL!!

If only Helmuth knew. He just like any member may not get a chance to serve... Or like any missionary.. He may not of baptized.. but Helmuth will never know until heaven what difference he made. The seed he planted and the testimony he shared.. saved lives and to him am I eternally grateful..

Some missionaries may baptize and reap the efforts but most missionaries plant seeds!!

EVERY MEMBER A MISSIONARY

I report to Berlin on Thursday to pick up my brand new missionary and together we will arrive in Kassel and open up a brand new program. Sisters have yet to set foot there!!

I'm training AGAIN bahhhhhhh!!
Together we tear up Kassel and  serve my remaining 12 weeks together


Just a glimpse:
This week was hecctiiiccc we had a mission Zone Trainers conference in Hamburg. We once again had to rise at the crack of dawn.

I feel like I'm actually in Alaska.
In complete seriousness it remains light here till 1 am and is bright again by 4 am.

Sister Fugal and i have been getting clever at ways to help us stay asleep
- drugs ( sleeping pills..relax grandma)
-  a electric fan
- blindfolds
- playing soothing music
- moving furniture from the sun
- switching ends of the bunk beds ( made so much more room for activites )

Last, All is made super conveniently worse by our curtains.....that we don't have.

Dirk was blessed and received the Priesthood yesterday in church.. I cried. I have yet to tell him I'm leaving :( poor little elf.

Tears. Lots of tears this week. Bah

The church is so true.
There is not a doubt in my soul

I was almost as happy this week as I was that one time I pulled up to David Archuleta at a stoplight in South Jordan before we both left on our missions.

Oh. My. Gosh
Not one person I love and respect more than that guy. 

Summer 2014.. Goal

Go out with David... not at a stoplight..

who can help a girl make a wish come true? 

Don't worry..
In 12 weeks Bella in Berlin may be coming to an end. But you can stay tuned and look forward to Bella in P-TOWN and her adventures trying to live amongst the Zoobs

Can be spotted possibly breaking dress code by wearing a university of Utah hoodie or in some other way...

#outcast

God bless me and my series of unfortunate events to come


Line of the week:

Sister: Deeds what happened with you for transfer calls??

Me: heading back to my roots in Kassel and training again

Sister: what is that like your 3rd kid? President must really trust you with posterity... You should try the pill its easier. I did.. Worked for me. One kid is all I got

( posterity/kid: mission lingo for trainers/trainees)


Special reminder for everyone this week

" tell someone you love them today, because life is short. But shout it at them in German, because life is also terrifying and confusing"

Ich liebe dich! there i said it.. now its your turn!!!

Kassel here I come....

sister missionary probs

I hate p-day... no i lied i love p-day..

I just feel sooo weird..

Sitting at these turkish internet ladens with not

a clue of what song is playing.. 

getting trunky emails 

and not being out working 

BAH I"ve lost it haven't i?? naja

lets see.

Lets start with what i learned this week...

First,

note to self: never EVER  play the game... never have i ever.....

 with missionaries (what was I thinking)

#GO UTES

Second,

Sleeping on a bunk bed and trying to be creative with 

sleeping in different directions results in a 

COMPLETELY THROWN OUT BACK

I couldn't walk, turn my head or sit up for 3 days this week!!

Our sweet senior couple rushed over and 

poured voodoo oils all over me to help with 

the pain.. Apparently there is some HUGE

new trend with these Oderra oils?? or something

Witchcraft i tell ya... but it works..

and smells good..

I smell like a walking advertisement for Icy Hot

Third,

I learned how to use chopsticks

( upgrade from my stab technique i had prior)

Fourth,

I learned that hairspray removes ink from letters

where you didn't mean to write something in pen..

Fifth,

I learned that this work is amazing...

NOTHING NEW THERE

ahhhhhhh

Lots of weird weird encounters this week..

Things that are probably not blog worthy..

One of my favorites just to give you a sneak peek

was attempting to teach a New Members mother..

She owns a African Hair Salon called: '' Harlem '' 

We dropped by to share the good word

with her..She couldn't of been less interested in our message,

but we shared it anyways...

When we asked her how she felt about our message is all she answered:

Which one of you will marry my son?

o_O

awesome.

Well.. Our happy little Elf Dirk is doing AMAZING..

This week leading up to his receiving the Holy Ghost

Satan was working soooo hard on him..

JUST GIVE UP SATAN

Dirk remained strong and is now the newest member

of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

wow... such a blessing. He sat down with me after

his blessing with tears streaming down his cheeks..

He turned to me and said

'' Sister Diederich... today.. my life begins ''

BLESS HIS HEART

I love being a missionary

Why did i not serve earlier!?!?!

oh wait.... 

I'm one of them 22 year old dinosaurs you use to hear about

I wish i could share more.. but this week

was VERY NORMAL and working working working

I could swamp you with boring stories about

dooring, finding, rejected referral requests, investigators playing hide and go seek etc...

but i wont..

Instead i will compile a small list of

SISTER MISSIONARY PROBLEMS

When Elders wear a loved ones Cologne

or in sister fugals case this week.... an Ex's (that is rough)

When you can't GOOGLE or PIN it.... so you 

end up trying to set up the Apartment Fan

with a can of tomato soup and a pair of scissors..

As a sister your the AUTOMATIC GO- TO for:

Mints, Tissues, Hand Sanitizer, What to buy your

girlfriend back home advice, Chorister for meetings, Baked

items, Decorating Calendars and planning events.

When your companion forgets to wear her nametag

and you walk around looking like JDUBBZ (jehovah's witnesses) all day..

When you get mistaken for a lesbian couple

At conferences meetings,, etc.. There is always

conveniently a bench saved FRONT ROW for you

by the elders.... thanks babe

After a week you run out of sweater scarf combinations

Your only outlet for decorating is ripping Ensigns apart

and gluing the pictures onto your wall

The Young Women think you toooo old and 

the Relief Society thinks your toooo young

Almost immediately following being asked

what your age is... Your asked why your not married

yet and on a mission instead

THX.

I love you all so much..

Hannover is amazing!! We are seeing

miracles.. This week we found

a new sweet young college student to 

teach! We have our first appointment

with her this Tuesday at a members home!!

The Lord is really blessing us and i couldn't be happier!!

Line of the Week:

(note: THIS IS NOT A DRILL.... REAL LIFE )

Elder: Sister Diederich... do my shoes match my eyes?

Me: .....

(I  look up and down at eyes and shoes back and forth)

Nope..

Elders Companion: Duuuudddeee she just checked you out!!!!

-_-

dont worry... hahah our Zone leader that overheard the conversation took care of it..

My Zone leader asked me how i would like my form of an apology..

I said in comic book form...

because lets face it... i don't like reading long essays..

sure enough... i got a comic book apology 

gotta love the elders

pampering session

dirk's tank runneth over.

oh my word

WHAT A WEEK

This week we went on a couple exchanges..

I live on a train.. I know people by names that work at the train station

I can identify and tell you life stories of EVERY hobo that lives there..

I need a vacation.

The sisters are doing pretty good.. Lots of little things here and
there but all together their getting work done and getting along.

This week i finally figured out how to eat Quark (german version of cottage cheese)
without gagging.. its a complex process.. BUT

I felt more accomplished then a colorblind person playing
with a Rubik's Cube..

Friday morning we had to wake up at 3:30 am. to get ready and

catch a train to Berlin!

I ROLLED out of bed.. which hurt extremely bad seeing as how
i sleep on the TOP BUNK

We barely caught our train and found the Elders

had saved us a seat..

Nice right??

uhhh...We didn't sleep a wink..

Then we had a loooooooong day of meetings with the Zone Leaders
and A.P's etc..

We had a lesson about Stress.. Before the meeting began President says..

'' We do NOT want medical emergency room problems with missionaries
getting those things inside your stomach that bleed...-  what are those called?? ''

EVERYONE STOPS and turns around and stares at me...

WHAT ARE YOU LOOKING AT?

President then says '' Ya...... Sister Diederich can give testimony for that ''

ma bad.

After Berlin i was sooo excited to just catch some sleep on the

long 3 hour train ride...

But they found us again.. and sat by us..

#gottalovetheelders

Lets see... what happened this week..

IDK.. uhm

DIRK GOT BAPTIZED!!!!!!!!

oh my gosh.. I've never seen such a happy person before!!

Right before the meeting started i leaned over to him and asked
him how he was feeling..... VERY happy... but nervous he said

He was concerned there wouldn't be enough water in the tank
to cover his big belly and that he would have to REDO his baptism..

bless his heart.. god love him.

Well.... that concern left him quickly seeing as how

THE TANK OVER FLOWED

We were interrupted in Sacrament by someone saying

THE WHOLE HALL IS FLOODED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

oooooooooooopppssssssssssssss
Well on the bright side.. The chapel got a quick scrub down
and there was PLENTY of water for the baptism..

I was super nervous to play my piece i worked on but i DID IT
and it went well.. All those piano lessons i never went to paid off!

This week was amazing.. I've never been so happy
before.. Things are really taking off on my mission and we are
going FULL SPEED!

I don't have lots of time.. We have another exchange we have
to leave on today.. bahhhh so much for having a p-day
the 4th of july was obviously not celebrated here in Germany
I didn't get to see any fireworks... but heard
gun shots... that is close enough right??

GOD BLESS AMERICA

I love you all so much.. The church is TRUE

last time i checked... which was today!!

I love you all so much.. This gospel changes
lives! I am so happy out here.. no words

bahhhh gotta run!!!...

hahaha.... i got ya.. you think i'd run!?

Come on some things never change!

TSCHÜß

Line of the Week:

( german study with sister fugal )

Sister Fugal: bahhh grammar.. What is a kicker?

Me: I donno.. the only kickers i know play football

(Beware: German words don't always translate to what it means in English)

divide and conquer

IS IT SERIOUSLY P-DAY AGAIN!!
IT SEEMS LIKE I JUST LOGGED OFF OF EMAILS 

this is not okay.

what happened this week?

idk.

Well ill start from the top.

Last P-day after logging off Sister Fugal and i went to do what i do best

swipe that credit card of big hows

After shopping we decided to stop and get lunch at a little cafe and i ordered
a nice old American hamburger.

Can't explain why... or how.. 

BUT i sit down in my chair and my hamburger decided to sit on me.
I then was attacked by a swarm of pigeons and lost the fight.

Leaving a HUGE stain on my skirt, lettuce and ketchup all over me and 

a I had a huge childhood relapse from my fear of the film THE BIRDS

I have learned one VERY important thing on my mission..

and that is that..

God has a VERY good personality

Very VERY good one.. We will get along reeeaaaaaal well.

Well for starters i will talk about the happy jolly elf named Dirk.
our miracle man.

He is doing amazing. 
We came along a few stumbling blocks but he is keeping commitments
and SO prepared for next Sunday!

He and i have lots of nice chats on trains
and in appointments. He just continually thanks
us for helping him find the truth and tells me
not to bake anything or do anything special for
his baptism.. he is just happy to be baptized..(take note America)

He will be baptized next Sunday after Church..
I am really excited and nervous for the program.

I am going to be playing a musical number on the piano

``If you could hie to Kolob```..

Dirk loves it... He asked what Kolob is...

We will get to that later sweetheart.. One day at a time.

This week while we were at a members home i was warned
before hand about the little son.. He is a HYPER little fellow
and we had planned to do the DIVIDE and CONQUER

Divide and Conquer definition:

Missionary game plan for one distracting the kid while
the other teaches the family the lesson.

I got the kid.

We arrived and began teaching our lesson when the little
boy Devine.. Yes his name is Divine.. 

Crawls up on the couch next to me.. holds my hand
and

PASSES out..

I was dying inside. Sweet Spirit

Ever since that special moment DEVINE has been my

little boyfriend. He lovvvesssss coming to find me at church
and hold my hand.. Or hold onto my skirt while i attempt
to teach Sunday school..

We have lots of members from Ghana that have been
recently baptized so this week i taught a small Sunday
school class just for these people.. It was in English..

I was SHOCKED at how horrible my English is. I was
struggling the whole time to find words for

gospel or heaven..

ahhhhh... bless my heart.

The members from Ghana are the happiest most
faithful people i know.. After my class a lady thanked

me and said.. We are a poor.. but SMILING people.

I asked her why she is sooooooo happy when she has
so little?

I was expecting answers like.. Its warm in Africa,

we have adorable children like devine... etc etc etc

But she told me.. Because we know Gods plan
that is all we need..

Well that seems to be enough of a spiritual thought..

food for thought.

I love you all so much and appreciate every friend
and family and even those i don't know that write me!
It means the world and i PROMISE ill write... soon.
I don't know where time is going..

Love getting those emails this week
saying '' your coming home.. get trunky... etc''

You know who you are.

BAH thanks for the reminder.

I feel like a kid in neverland. 

LEAVE ME ALONE I'm NOT LEAVING

Questions.. VERY important question

I am stumped/confused/concerned

WHO IS GANGNAM? and WHAT IS HIS STYLE?

what is this nonsense?

Line of the Week:

pillow talk with sister fugal

Sister Fugal: these beds are miserable

Me: I say we weld them apart

Sister Fugal: You cannot weld things apart

Me: hahahah... i know.. im just tired

(but really i had no idea you couldn't)

Sister Fugal: Well... it could be worse.

Me: Your right... at least its a little more roomy

than the holocaust



Life is good... sister D.

divide and conquer

i got the kid