you're still mad though..

but thats okay. because we preach forgiveness..

HAH.. your stuck

kk.. so lets chat. 

lots and lots of readers originally found my blog via my “ what i wish i would've known before i entered the MTC “ post. 

Well.. to make it up to you for my lack of blogging, i have made a sequel “ What i wish i would've known before i entered the field post”.

But..

Im not going to post that till next week.. gotta stir up a little excitement don't i?

Last weeks post was sort of like Miley Cyrus’s career…

ALL OVER THE PLACE

So this week i decided to write about one particular question a reader approached me about.. 

“ How exactly does one adjust back into Normal Life”

But first and fore most… Lets get rid of that AWFUL title “ Normal Life”.

I feel so many people get home from they're missions and say “ well… looks like its back to normal life”...  in other words.. “ back to the person i use to be, back to my old ways.” 

hold on. let me clear this up

NOTHING is wrong with who you use to be.. Unless it was a crazed ax maniac, then we better chat.. better you you and your bishop best be chatting.

I know for me personally when i got home, i literally do not remember how it was my skirt was removed, but before i knew it i was in sweatpants and out the door with my longboard skating. Does that make me a bad person? no. 

However, returning to our old ways as in our bad habits, attributes that are perhaps not totally christlike attributes you once had. 

After all, you spent ( hopefully ) 18 months-2 years developing attributes and skills you hope to maintain for the rest of your life! Removing that name tag does NOT mean game over.. 

If A.N.Y.T.H.I.N.G since i have been home i have noticed, now more than ever i’ve done more missionary work than ever before. I have lots and lots of friends on facebook, social media who know me, but had no idea what i was doing wearing them ugly skirts, posing with naked statues and eating weird food for 18 months via my posts my mom made on my account for me. 

AT LEAST once a day since i’ve been home, i’ve been asked, questioned and approached concerning my service as a representative of Jesus Christ and have been able to share my testimony in more ways than i thought imaginable.

( (  i know what your thinking.. “ she served in germany.. of course she is getting more luck here in the USA ))

ehhhhhhhh (kinda like that fog horn sound)

WRONG.

Believe it or not.. the church in Europe is RAPIDLY growing.. we had our hands full constantly! Whether or not that meant they were interested, well thats another story for another day.

where was i going with this?

oh ya.. going back to OLD WAYS..

I think one of THE most heartbreaking things iv’e noticed upon returning homes is seeing both friends, and those who don’t know me ( via facebook stalking ) that perhaps aren’t living exactly as they should be. 

More specifically RM’s.. That doesn't mean they are bad people, out YOLOing their life away.. But little things..

I love the scripture “ .. by small and simply things are great things brought to pass”

Ive noticed small things such as, poor music, foul language, laziness and other seemingly small things have a GREAT impact on so many missionaries i admired so much.  Slowly you begin to let your guard down, and ultimately lose that light and glow you once had upon your arrival home.

Does this mean you have to wake up your brothers at 6 am for companionship study every morning? or beg your dad to have weekly planning with you? or stalk your sisters everyday because you need a companion and don’t want to be alone?

no… psh… who does that.. 

me. 

i did that . . .

Well after my family completely AVOIDED me.. i realized ok ok.. aiight. 

I may not have a missionary schedule any longer, but i CAN continue to be missionary minded.

Ive heard it said that the TRUE success of your mission.. is who you are 1 year after being home. 

Lets be honest.. you just spent a nice big chunk of your life as a representative of Jesus Christ..

how could your life EVER be normal?

Every single week ( minus the companion ) i have my own inventory.. I do not talk to myself.. but i sit and during my study i evaluate where i am.. am i growing? am i coming nearer to the lord?

My mission president LIVES by the motto 

“ living life in CRESCENDO”.. <

For those who know music a crescendo is when you amplify, GROW, gradually and boldly.

notice that word gradually..

The Lord does not expect us to be perfect by tomorrow.. but to gradually c.o.n.s.t.a.n.t.l.y grow nearer to him and to ultimately become like him.. 

For those of you preparing to serve.. begin now in laying the foundation for the rest of your life.. Figure out WHY it is your serving, you will find more meaning in your service and it will be everlasting.

For those of you who are out serving.. look back and remember why you chose to serve, think of who you hope to become.. and do it. By deciding now.. today who it is you want to be when you are home.. i promise you it will work and stick!

For those of you who have removed the name tag.. its never too late to start again.. to recommit yourself.. to be the missionary you once were, or hoped to become. 

Life will never be normal again.. so why try to be?

I am far from perfect.. i probably never will have it all figured out any time soon. 

But i do know one thing.. 

That my 18 months in Germany were the best months of my life and for my life.. That i love my Savior Jesus Christ.. i know this is his work. Nametag or no Nametag we are called to the work..

STAY TUNED NEXT WEEK for a killer sequel post to “ what i wish i would've known”

ooh.. kill em.

gott sei mit euch

SISTER D

<<< CONTINUE SENDING ME YOUR QUESTIONS AND THINGS YOUD LIKE ME TO WRITE ABOUT.. besides school.. i have no idea what to say on the subject.. its the worst. > > >

u p d a t e

oh em gee..

Can you all forgive me?

I know I know.. I said I would write when I got home and I have failed. Miserably.

But let me explain myself..

I thought I would  know what to write about.. but truth be told, aside from missionary work and the gospel. Well I had just about nothing figured out. 

I suffered from POST mission floating disorder:

Post mission floating disorder: a made up disease I thought up to describe the symptoms of an RM who feels awkward, out of place, trunky and loads of anxiety.

DO NOT BE ALARMED.. coming home is not as bad as it sounds. I just was very poorly prepared for it! SO…. Ive spent the last few months getting my footing, finding my new curve for writing and figuring just HOW  I can continue to inspire my readers to come closer to god, be strong member missionaries and full missionaries all while having a little fun..

Because lesssss be honest.. im all about it.

So ill start from the top..

My arrival home was like expected.. I spent the 18 hours of travel hyperventilating, trying my hardest not to look at the airplane movie monitor next to me and ya know.. check my pulse every now and then to ensure I wasn’t dying. The man next to me watching Crazy Stupid Love with Ryan Goseling sure made it difficult to keep my composure.

Once we landed in america my mind was blown. EVERYONE spoke english, and worse they were all walking around and smiling. 

Lets get one thing straight..Germans are not mean people, but addressing complete strangers with a friendly hello is very un common for them. So you can imagine being in an airport where everyone is smiling, and saying “ hi sister”, and then theres me looking behind me and saying “ what?…. oh me!? your talking to me.. dont hurt me..  i have NO money." 

Most people when in america would do something exciting.

I went to applebees and bought a hamburger.

Getting off that plane in Salt Lake City was a feeling ill never forget. Seeing my closest family and friends all waiting for me, i didn't realize until i saw them just how much i missed them. My mom was convinced i was suffering from post war anxiety, seeing as how i was hyperventilating and crying so hard i couldn't even speak. I was happy yes, but scared out of my mind. 

I DID NOT REALIZE UNTIL THAT MOMENT HOW TRULY WEIRD I’D BECOME.

As a family we drove to my Stake President office to be set apart, he gave me the most b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l blessing and advice for the transition home. The whole meeting he referred to me as Sister Diederich, then as we came to an end and my name tag was removed he said “ thank you for your service… Isabelle”

DAGGER

who da heck is that.

That first night home was pretty overwhelming. Surrounded by family and a few close friends my brothers spared no time in showing me the latest youtube videos, songs and everything else i missed. 

I can honestly say i felt a small part of me die when i was introduced to  “ what does the fox say” and a look at miley cyrus’s new look and video. I was also clued in on the news crazes of snap chatting and instagram.

i could've sworn in my head i was hearing the words “ abort. abort. abort”.

The last words my mission president told me echoe through my head every single day. His parting words of wisdom for my group of 3 missionaries leaving the mission home proved impactful. He gave me a small list of things to do to ensure a smooth transition.. so I thought I would share them..

1. continue your good habits – as missionaries our days revolve around reaching out to others, having the spirit with us, serving everyone else first, and also setting time aside to study the doctrine.. He PROMISED that if we made sure to study and pray every single day that we would remain active, happy and missionary minded.

2. Go to church all 3 hours. This was shocking to me at first.. being a missionary spending less than 6 hours in the chapel on Sundays seemed rare. But with the name tag removed I noticed how easy the ideas slipped into my mind to sleep in a little longer, leave a little earlier. Or do the infamous feast and peace ( get the sacrament and goooo)

3. be ACTIVE in your calling and serve diligently.. 

4. Give a vocal prayer at least 1x daily.. and if at all possible do it in your mission language.. Its been the greatest way to keep up my german.. I also study half of the time in my scriptures in german.

So aside from that wonderful advice a few things .. I also have decided to add on a few of my own.

1. To this day I STILL miss my mission.. I think about it daily and find myself always telling them mission stories I once LOATHED hearing around RMs… 

But I realized something.. I had to remember.. that if the lord intended on you to serve for the rest of your life.. it would’ve stated so in your call packet. However, the lord has other plans for you. He needs those strong soldier back on the home battlefield. He wants you to come home, get an education, begin a family, serve your local branch and pass on what it is you have learned.

2. Just because you no longer have a name tag to wear, doesn’t mean you cant constantly be a representative of Jesus Christ in all that you do. Since i’ve been home I made it a GOAL to find at least one missionary opportunity a day. I inquired of the lord, shared with him my goal and he has helped align our wills and make it happen!

3. Keep in touch with members, investigators, new converts and everyone you met while serving. All of the people you met had a BIG impact on your life, and you can bet you most likely had an even greater impact on theirs! By keeping in daily or weekly contact via skype, calls, letters or facebook. I have found it to be a great way to keep myself happy, avoid too much “trunkiness” and continue to motivate them in the gospel as well as myself.

Well as for me here today. Life has never been better. 

I am still as awkward as a clam, mutter to myself in german, and am less than comfortable talking about anything other than the blue book or my main man Joseph Smith. But im improving.

Im loving life as a full time student, Salt Lake City temple worker and having a full time job

I know this is where the lord wants me to be. 

k your still mad. i said im sorry for not posting sooner. 

stay tuned peeps. more to come. 

« « « «  SPECIAL NOTE » » »»

I would LOVE to hear your thoughts, questions, advice and things youd like me to 

continue writing about. Because, as we all have noticed. I did a horrible job on my own.

Some ways you can contact Sister D:

email: belladiederich@gmail.com

facebook: Isabelle Diederich ( yes.. i still use/love it)

twitter: @bellediederich

instagram: isabellediederich
pinterest: Isabelle Diederich

or just drive to the Shivers parking lot on 33rd South.. Im there once a day for a diet coke.. 

OK I LIED I GO MULTIPLE TIMES A DAY

wir hören uns!

a.k.a NEXT MONDAY

HURRAH FOR ISRAEL