Hello everyone!!
Wow, what an absolutely insane week! After finally arriving in München and getting to the mission home, we had dinner together with the Mission President, his wife, and other office missionaries/ones that were leaving. Then we went to the church building near by and matched up the greenies with their areas and trainers. I was assigned to be trained by Sister Meyer in St. Gallen, Switzerland! We would be opening the area for Sisters, using an apartment that hasn’t been used in over a year. Completely empty. On Wednesday, I take the train from Munich to Zurich where I meet up with my new companion. We then travel to St. Gallen, arriving around 11pm – dead tired.
The next day we unpacked and went shopping to stock the apartment. We had a lunch Termin with the Elders and a member family that they had set up, and we studied. Then, we got the call…. Sister Meyer and I would be split up 😢
Long story short, due to new holes from mission reassignments, Sister Meyer joined another companionship further south in Switzerland and I got moved to Liesing, Vienna, Austria. The St. Gallen Sisters area was opened then swiftly closed.
So Saturday I took another train from Zurich to Vienna where I met my new trainer (Sister Halterman) and her comp that would be leaving on Wednesday to a different area as well as the Elders (Lusk and Altamirano) we ward share with. I was able to attend church on Sunday with them and meet a few members.
Main thing I’ve learned, using German all day is physically and mentally exhausting, at the end of every day I can barely keep my eyes open. And hours of straight German (like church) makes it happen faster. I’ve heard from other missionaries that this gets better in about 3 months, a little long for me but at least there’s a light at the end of the tunnel.
Sorry this email was just a lot of storytelling, hopefully there won’t be quite as much logistical stuff to share next week and I’ll be able to share more spiritual experiences!
I love you all! Sister Tripp
P.s. I knew I was going to get chocolate, but I am amazed by how fast I have acquired so much! And none of it I bought myself!
customs
Lake Constance (Bodensee)
St. Gallen, Switzerland
St. Gallen, Switzerland
St. Gallen, Switzerland
St. Gallen, Switzerland
Swiss Alps
Swiss Alps
Swiss Alps
chocolate stash
Karlskirche
Liesing, Vienna