MOM AND DAD I LOVE YOU SO MUCH

Mutter und Vater!

 

WOW! What a week it was. So on Friday we had the TRC and we were planning on teaching a lesson about faith to a member for 40 minutes. (Because at TRC you teach members and leave like a spiritual thought). About an hour before we had TRC, some of our German teachers came in and asked Sister Bauer and I if we would teach a girl who was coming to volunteer that was from Berlin, Germany and who knew nothing about the church. Of course we accepted!! We were so excited. Here name was Annika and she was in town visiting her exchange student sister from a few years ago.The lesson ended up going really well and we really felt like she was able to feel the spirit. We committed her to read 3 Nephi 11 and pray to Heavenly Father and she accepted!! It was such an amazing experience to teach someone who was actually German and who had no idea who the Mormons were. It was so crazy, in just 40 minute of time I felt so much love for Annika. I loved her and I feel like it was because I was able to feel a glimpse of what the Savior feels for her, and I just wanted to help her come to the knowledge of that love so bad!! We seriously felt so grateful for the opportunity we had to teach her. It just made me love those that I am going to be teaching so much more. Well the cool thing is that yesterday one of the teachers came in and told us that Annika went to church with him on Sunday and that they taught her another lesson! They said she seems really open to it!! HOW AWESOME IS THAT!?! Seriously, it brought me so much joy to hear that. THIS CHURCH IS TRUE!! WE SHOULD SHARE IT WITH EVERYONE!!! I am just so overwhelmed with gratitude for that opportunity. I feel so blessed and thankful that I was able to have a real lesson with a real person before I made it to Germany. It was an answer to my prayers and I am just so excited to bring this happy message to other people in Germany. I cannot wait.

 

Ahh I am just so happy thinking about Annika. Well on Sunday in Relief Society we got to hear from another amazing lady. Sister Burton the General Relief Society President spoke to us. Afterwards I went and met her and she asked me what mission I was going to and I told her. She knows Sister Miles sister. She then looked at me and said "Wow! You look like you could totally belong in the Nelson family!" (My mission president's wife is Russell M. Nelson's daughter.) That was really cool.  Another teacher, Brother Handley, (who served in the Alpine-German speaking mission) told me last night that I was going to be a perfect sister for the Miles and that I reminded him so much of them. I just think that is soo cool! Two different teachers have told me that, and then the comment from Sister Burton! I already feel so connected with my Mission President and his wife. I really feel like they are a big reason I got called to my mission, and I haven't even met them yet!! It really is just so neat how the Lord blesses us. I don't even know my Mission president and his wife, but I already love them and I already know they are going to be such a great influence on my life. I am so excited to meet them.

 

Dad!! I got a letter from Tiffany and she said you had to give a talk on Sunday about Family. I want to hear all about it!! Our family really is the best. Tiffany said you said that "Our family is FAR from being the traditional/perfect Mormon family, but really it is okay because we all love each other." I think that is so true. Our family is diverse in every sense of the word, but how grateful I am for that. Even though we have a lot of different aspects of our family, we still love each other so much and we never let anything get in the way of that. I am so thankful for the diversity of our family, especially because it has taught me not to judge and to love everyone. Our Family is not your average mormon family at all, but it is okay, because our love is so strong. Goodness. I really am so grateful for our family. It is the best and I think and pray about all of yall daily. I know I would be a completely different person without being placed in this family. I am also just so thankful to you and mom. Really, ya'll are the best parents anyone could ever ask for. I love you mom and dad!!!

 

So I leave in exactly 2 weeks!! I am getting excited. Don't get me wrong, the MTC is so great, but I am so ready to get to the field, and I am sick of the MTC gluten free food. hahah Supposely we are suppose to get our flight plans tonight or tomorrow. Ahh!!  SOO EXCITING. I will let you know next week what they are. What if I fly through the ATL?? I bet I will:)

 

This past Sunday we were talking to one of the members of our branch presidency and his wife for about an hour about Germany. It seriously made me so excited. I just feel like I have this strange/weird connection with Germany and Austria. I can't even begin to explain it. I know without a doubt that is where I am suppose to be. I feel like there are people waiting for me. I just can't believe I get to go back. Mom, remember when I was talking with you that one night trying to figure out how I could go back? Remember when I just felt like I needed to be there??  Now it is actually happening. I am going back and I am so thrilled. I am seriously so grateful.

 

Okay, so there is a new mormon message that my teacher showed us and I am absolutely obessed with it!! It is soo good!! It is called Earthly Father, Heavenly Father. Look it up! It should be on the home page of lds.org. I love everything about it. Is it weird that being a missionary has made me so excited to have a family of my own??? You think it would be the opposite, but I am just so excited to be a mom and have kids now! It is soo weird. haha

 

Also, I'll make sure to call the bank and figure everything out. I don't know why I didn't do that before I left. Whoops haha. How was dinner with Chris and Virginia?? Did you go to Mr. Geoff's yogurt place? How is everything??? Any updates on the house? Also, could you send me some pictures of our family that are printed?? I want to do something with my preach my gospel that I saw someone do. Thanks for always writing me mom. It really is the best:) I love hearing from you and I also love recieving the emails you send me from the cousins on missions. It really is such an exciting time with missionary work. I hope I answered all your questions from your letters, if not I will next time!! Crazy to think that I only have 1 more real P-day left at the MTC before I am in the field! ahhh!!!

 

O by the way! This week is our last week of classes. Since there are so many new Deutschers coming in next Wednesday the teachers aren't going to be able to teach us so we are just going to have study time our last week. I think it may get a little crazy... 3 districts of Germans combined for study time?? O dear.. Pray that we will be able to stay diligent! hahaha

 

AND yes!! I did recieve that package with the Martinelli's! My roomates and I are so excited. We are waiting until our last day of classes to drink it to celebrate. And thank you for the Valentine's card and candy/fruit leather. It was the best and made me so happy. Thank you sooo much. Yall are the greatest ever:)

 

Well I LOVE YALL SOO MUCH!!!

 

Elysse:)

 

Ps- read Alma 26, it is my absolute favorite chapter.

 

Also Alma 27:17 is really funny I think. Can you imaging seeing someone pass out from being so overwhelmed with joy??? I love it haha.

 

Also, Aunt Tammy is the best mom!! She sent me a valentine package with valentines to make for my district. Tell her thank you so much and that I was so excited. she is the best.

 

I LOVE YOU AND MISS YOU SO MUCH!! I PRAY FOR YOU DAILY!!

Elder Bauer and Sister Allman with two missionaries from Austria that are currently serving in the MTC

Elder Barnes, Sister Allman, and Elder Leslie

Sister Allman and Sister Bauer