December 17th

Hey Family (:

This week has been great!

I've had so much fun getting to know the Columbia 2nd ward.  This 

ward is huge...well, compared to wards out here. It's like the size of 

small ward in Utah. 

The Ward Christmas party was this past Saturday.  I met our 

investigator, Viola and her husband Jon..he's a member.  They're so 

cool. They have the cutest little boy, named Jack.  Jon and I bonded 

over guitars and St. George.  He has 2 nephews who graduated from 

DHS. 

It was funny..on Sunday, the 1st councilor in the bishopric was 

conducting  sacrament meeting. While he was speaking, I was looking 

around,  ya know, people watching, thinking about plans we have for 

this ward, when I hear him say "and now we'd like to invite our 2 new 

missionaries up, Elder Mason and Sister Brinkerhoff, to bear their

testimonies.."  uhhh...that caught my attention real fast. He could tell, 

too. I dunno, maybe you had to be there...it was funny, though!

Oh, we've started this game called "Count how many times someone 

asks me if I'm from Germany, speak German, or if my name is German". 

...I've lost count. But, there's this guy in the ward, both Sundays, he comes 

up to me and calls me Schwester Brinkerhoff, and says something in 

German, all I can do is smile and nod. haha. Oh man...I love my name. 

It provides great entertainment! 

I'm so excited for Christmas. 

We're getting a little Christmas tree today! Hopefully...(:

OH! My goodness...how could I forget to include this.  Yesterday night, 

we get a call from a number that I recognized, but couldn't place. It was 

the Charles Town Sisters! Sister Newhouse says "Sister Brinkerhoff, I have 

someone here who wants to talk to you..."  I hear this "Hey baby girl!"

I'm obviously confused...cause that's what my mom calls me.  I reply with 

this quite befuddled "Heyyyy...?" She says "It's Brenda!" I, of course,

remember she calls me baby girl, too! haha. Well. Let me brief you on 

Brenda. She is the Ward Mission Leader's wife. She has been coming to 

church for 12 years, but has never been baptized.  While I was serving 

there, I knew she would get baptized, I just wasn't sure of when. WELP. 

That is why she called me! She said.. "K, listen listen...here's the deal. I'm 

getting baptized tomorrow night at 7:30.  I told President that I want you 

there. Can you come?"  UHM. DUH! haha. THIS IS A MIRACLE! I'm so excited. 

We are scrambling to find an investigator or less active member to go with 

us, so we can go!  We have a ride...just not an inv or la!  We've even tried 

people from Glen Burnie and Baltimore! Sister Mecham is in the process of

finding someone from Berryville, which would be perfect, because Berryville 

is 15 minutes away from C-Town. I'm so giddy! I can't even stand it!!!! (:

Well. That's about it for this week.

I LOVE YOU ALL! Talk to you soon ;)

<3/Sister Casidee Ann Brinkerhoff