December 22, 2009 We had our first family home evening and dinner last night at the JAE center. We fixed taco soup with cheese and sour cream, cut cucumber, carrots, red peppers, cut apples and clementines and cookies. They finished everything. The family home evening lesson was short but about President Uchtdorf's message from conference. The young sister who gave the lesson did just a great job. Her name is Rian and she has an Italian background and loves pasta. Her parents are divorced and she is living on her own and going to school. She is strong in the gospel. The activity was for the JAE to get to know Elder and Sister Hadley. There were prepared questions and I think it was a good time for all. There was one empty seat the circle and the person who had an opening next to him would and would be asked a question. What is your favorite food, funniest movie, place you have been, book you have read and so on. We got to know the JAE and they got to know us. We really had a great time. It was after 11 pm when we got back to our apartment. JAE love to talk and stay where they feel welcome, accepted and loved. Today was our p-day and we went to the city hall and registered so now we are legal in Germany. Every time you move or come into the country you have to ameld or register with the local city hall. Then we opened our bank account and so in 10 days we will have a bank account and a new little card so we can pay our rent and expenses to the mission for each month. This will be done through a wire transfer. Then we went shopping for groceries and trying to find things that we can make for the dinners we will be cooking. It is difficult to find cream of chicken soup, chocolate chips, molasses for cookies, all bran cereal and a few other things. However, we do find interesting cheese, yogurt, bread and bakery items. We have not had a problem with finding things for us to eat. We are able to get around a little better and can actually find places without using the GPS. We have got lost a couple of time though. I got some great e-mail messages today which I needed very much. They were what you should send a missionary who is a little homesick. They shared scriptures with me and told me that I could do this. I need to hug my computer when I see you on Skype. I know it will get better but right now it doesn't seem like it. Thank goodness I get along with my companion and he understands what is happening. Elder and Sister Shumway from the area office will be down here on Thursday morning to train us what to do at the Young Adult Center. We have lots of questions. There is so much we don't know. Monday morning we met with the president of the JAE for the Darmstadt area. She is so organized and so strong in her testimony. She is really directed at helping the JAE increased their testimony. We spent two hours with her just talking about what needs to happen for the next year and her telling us her conversion story and something about each of the JAe here. It was a great meeting. This was just before the Family Home Evening. Well our p-day is over and we are tired to good night until we talk again. We love you all. Elder and Sister Hadley