Cherries, WWIII, and a MIRACLE

Sister Ingalls, back at it again with another pday!! (I know. These get more lame every week.)

Top 5:

1. I'm just just going to put this on the table and say that I cannot keep a plant alive to save my life. I remember as a kid my mom let me grow a strawberry plant, and if I learned anything from that, my only knowledge of gardening is to NOT water it 5x times a day or it'll probably die. Well, apparently Germans know something I don't, because their gardens are absolutely GORGEOUS! We visited a lady last week and when we got there she was working in her garden. I swear, that thing was the Garden of Eden. Right in the middle of it all was a huge cherry tree! We talked and ate cherries and it was the greatest thing ever. I will somehow learn their ways and grow a cherry tree like that.

2. My German is not so great, but I've been doing everything I can to get to know the members at church in Zwickau! So Sunday consisted of me asking all of the older elegant ladies (they have a little possy, it's the cutest thing ever) grammar and vocab questions and talking to EVERYONE. So yes, I use my ward to teach me German. It's cool, I love them with all my heart!

3. There is a thing called German windows. They are a beautiful nightmare. Yes, they open 3 ways but DO NOT INCLUDE SCREENS. Naturally, that means fruit flies are TERRIBLE during the summer time, because AC doesn't exist. My solution? The vacuum. Yes, I have no mercy against those nasty little things. The first thing I do when we get home every day, before I even put my purse down, is wage war on those little creeps. This is a war that they will not win.

4. Today, Sister Alton and I found a traditional German clothing store! We had a ton of fun trying on Dirndls. Yup, I love Germany.

5. I was able to witness an amazing miracle this week. On Friday, I went on exchanges (switching companions) in Köthen and got to be with none other than my MTC companion SIS. THORPE!!! That wasn't the miracle, but pretty dang close. So our plan that night was to give a lesson to a lady that had been meeting with missionaries for quite some time. She knew everything we could teach her, but didn't personally feel ready to be baptized. Sis. Thorpe and I both really wanted to help this lady, and both really took studying what we could teach her seriously. Since we are both brand new, and tbh don't know German very well at all, the assistants to the mission president came with. Well, they actually ended up being an HOUR late, so we got to know this lady REALLY well. I'm pretty sure I used my entire vocabulary... But the lesson went really well, but she still felt like we just wanted her to get baptized and join her church. At that moment, I stopped being able to understand anything she said at all. All I heard was 'taufe... taufe... taufe' (meaning baptism). I cut off the conversation and said, in very broken German, "Look, honestly I had no idea what you just said. But I did hear you say taufe a lot. I want you to know that the only reason that we talk about baptism is for you to progress and receive the further blessings that God willingly wants to give to His children." and went on talking about what I'd been inspired to study that morning about the Gift of the Holy Ghost. It's truly a remarkable gift from God to teach us and guide us. I saw her eyes soften, and saw the spirit manifest to her that this message was true. It was silent for a moment, then one of the elder quietly asked, "Will you be baptized today?" Everyone was super startled! But the lady jumped up, looked at her calendar and said ABSOLUTELY! After that we started planning and coordinating, and we drove to the place where she'd secretly decided a long time ago that she wanted to be baptized. It was the most beautiful lake, and an even more beautiful baptism. Afterwards, she just couldn't stop smiling. She kept saying that she felt brand new, and she was exactly right! She said she woke up that morning knowing it was a special day but not knowing why. I have so much love for her!! p.s. I did this story terrible justice because I wanted to keep it short, but if you want the full story, I sent it to my mom!

Like I always say, I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! Yeah sorry Fam, they are going to have to drag me out of this country when I have to go home. I love you all, thank you for your support and love! Go do good this week in your little corner of the world!

Love,

Sister Macey Ingalls

PS. If you are confident in your recipe skills, I would definitely love it if you sent your favorite recipe. For some reason I want to eat things other than raw vegetables and cereal...