Kurbis Soupe o so lecker!

September 30, 2013

So to start off my email I would like to say that I keep having these reoccuring nightmares!! I have had it 3 times on my mission so far. It is my wedding day, and I am dressed up and ready for everything to happen. It is about an hour before we seal the deal, and I freak out and I find you mom, and I tell you I don't want to marry this person. And you tell me it is okay and then I call off the whole wedding. hahahah What the heck? Why am I having this dream on my mission?? hahah Maybe there is a reason that I was suppose to come on a mission, because if I didn't, I might of found someone and gotten engaged but then called it off? hahahaha o dear. Thank goodness I don't have to worry about dating and boys for another 9 months!!!

This week was great. We were able to find a lot of potentials, the leaves are changing colors, and I have been able to eat pumpkin soup!! Fall is here and I am so happy. Yesterday I was sitting in sacrament meeting and a huge love came over me. I love the branch here is Singen so much! Since we opened this area, we have been able to work a lot with the members and it has been such a blessing. I love the branch here so much. It is soo diverse! We have Russians, Asians, Americans, Englanders, Crazies, propers, and all of the above! It is such a rag-tag group of people and I love it so much. One of my most favorite things about the mission are the people we are able to meet. That is the best part of being a misisonary is being able to feel just a glimpse of the Love that Heavenly Father has for his children. He LOVES each and every one of his children so much, that we can't even comprehend. As I was overwhelmed with this love, I realized my time here in Singen has been so hard, but it has also been so worth it, and I am so incredibly grateful!!!!

MIRACLE ALERT!!! so saturday we were going by on some potentials and we met this man named Akhmed on the street. We told him all about the Book of Mormon and we were able to give him one, but not get his information. He told us he was going to come to church on Sunday. (so many people tell us that but never come). Well, Sunday rolls around and sacrament begins. As I looked into the foyer, I saw this man, Akhmed walk into the church with his Book of Mormon. I went and grabbed him and he came and sat by the GML and I. I asked him if he had read in the Book of Mormon and he showed me where he had read too, and he had read the first 99 pages!!! We talked after church and set up an appoint for 6:00. We met with him and it was great. He is Muslim, but I think he has so much potential. He is really open and excited to learn. We have another appointment with him tomorrow, so we are excited.

This weekend is conference and I am so stinking excited!! Conference is like Christmas for missioniares. We have been counting down the days to be able to hear the counsel of the prophet and his apostles!! O man, I can't wait. The Relief Society broadcast will be broadcasted at 4:00 on Saturday, then 6:00 will start the saturday morning session. Sunday we will watch Saturday afternoon at 2:00, then sunday morning at 6:00. They will broadcast the last sunday conference at church the next sunday.

Well Love you guys, thanks for all the prayers. They mean soo much!! Enjoy conference!!!

Sister Allman:)

Here is a picture of sister Freimann and I. A while ago we went to a second hand store and bought dirndls for super super cheap. It was awesome. That is us today! We are going to a castle with our district and wanted to wear our dirdnls.

and here is a picture of me with to YW. We were invited to the yw activity and did makeovers on each other. I curled michelles hear, and joyce with the mask curled mine!

Mein Hut, Mein Hut der hat drei ecke

September 23, 2013

Today Schwester Voigt, a lady from our branch took us on a bike ride to Raldofzell a beautiful lake town and then took us out to lunch. It was so much fun and it made me think of our times in Hilton Head. But it also made me fall in love with Germany even more. Seriously I feel so lucky that I get to serve here. Southern Germany, Austria, and Switzerland are seriously magical!! Sometimes you just feel like you are in a fairytale. I love it so much! Schwester Voigt is this cute 72 year old lady who is super fit. She told us that she doesn't want us calling her Schwester Voigt, only Oma. hahaha So cute.

This week was such a fun one. We had lots of oppurtunites to work with the members and it was great! I really love the branch here. Everyone is so strong!! On saturday we headed to Zurich, Switzerland for a sisters conference for the relief society and that was so fun to be able to see the other sister missionaries in our mission and spend time with the wonderful ladies in our ward! After the conference Schwester Stemmer (who was driving us) stopped at Rhein Falls because she wanted to show us it. We had such a great time!

We had a wonderful lesson with a potential investigator last week. Her name is Frau Moridian and she is from Iran, but she has always been Christian. She was met by Sister Freimann and Sister Lohmann while I was in Switzerland for an austauch. She was saying that there has been so many times where people have tried to stop her on the street and she always tells them she has no time. Well this time when Sister Lohmann stopped and talked to her, she said that her heart was pulling her and telling her to stay. Sister Lohmann told her all about the book of mormon and she said she felt this strong feeling in her heart and she knew she needed this book. Then she told us that after her conversation with Sister Lohmann she went home and cried. She knew she needed to meet with us and learn more. HOW COOL IS THAT???? So we gave her a book of mormon and she wanted another one so she cool share it with her friend. Miracles I tell ya, miracles! Hopefully we will meet with her this week.

We haven't been able to meet with Simplice this week sadly, he was sick and has been super busy with work, but hopefully this week.

Fall is finally here and I love it so much!!! O my goodness. The next 4 months are going to be amazing because it is fall, thanksgiving, then Christmas!! I am so excited. Sister and Freimann are sooo excited for Christmas. Every dinner break or lunch break we watch the lds "Joy to the World" video in German just so we can hear christmas music. hahahha Fall and Christmas are so magical here and I am so excited to be here for it!!!!!!!

I can't believe yall are all moved out of the house, but I am happy yall are staying in Georgia and that dad got a full time job as a professor!! That is so awesome. I am also happy I get to go back to my home ward.

Well Sister Freimann and I are working our little tails off but making sure to have fun too. After contacting all day we make sure to play on a playground for a few minutes, or grab icecream or something. We are really do our best at finding joy in the journey.

LOVE YOU GUYS!! I put some more pictures on drop box and here are some more!

You guys speak to people about Jesus, don't you?

September 9, 2013

Mom, o my goodness. I got the package today and it was the best ever!! Thank you sooo much!! I  loved it soo much!!!!! 

This week was probably the best we have had in Singen. I am not going to lie, I was really struggling. I was feeling like the worst missionary ever because our numbers were so low. I kept asking myself, why am I needed here in Singen??? Well finally I had a reality check-and it was so awesome!! I finally realized that maybe I am not neccesarily needed in Singen, but in all reality, I am the one that needs Singen. Seriously, being here in Singen, opening and training has been the hardest thing I have done on my mission. I have really had to get out of my comfort zone and push myself beyond my limits. But, because of it, I have been becoming the missionary that I want to be. I have learned how to contact, work with the ward, and I am still learning things. I decided I needed to stop worrying about how low are numbers are, and focus on living up to my potential as a missionary and focus on being the very best I can, and that is when the rest will fall into place. So that is what I have been focusing on, just trying to be the most obedient and best missionary I can be. 

One thing I have seen on the mission is that their are some missionaries that have this natural ability to be amazing missionaries right from the start. From the get go they have no fear and it doesn't scare them to be bold or to talk to people on the street. They just really know what they are doing. Then you have those other missionaries, who want so badly to be great, but they have a few more obstacles to overcome, or it takes them a little while to figure out their place as a missionary. I am one of those second missionaries. It has really taken me a while to become the missionary I have wanted to be. I have really, really, had to go out of my comfort zone and do things I have never thought I had too. And now after 9 months, I am finally getting there. I still have so much to learn, but I am grateful for Singen and how it has help mold me into the missionary I am today.

So we found this awesome potential investigator named Simplice. He is one of our bus drivers here in Singen and one Wednesday night when I was getting on the bus I dropped a ton of the pass along cards. He saw one with Jesus' face on it and looked at me and asked: "You girls talk to people about Jesus, don't you?" I said yes and we talked a little bit then I went to sit down because there were people behind me waiting to get on. He called me back up and I started telling him about the book of mormon as he was driving. He was so excited to meet with us and gave us his information. Then that night we got a text from him that said: "Hello Sisters in Christ, the time of good is the best...i'm happy to meet you sisters in Jesus name...Jesus is my savior, my redeemmer, my life...and my Lord... I love him, I adore him, I please you tonight to pray, may the holy ghost open my heart and my soul to his word...Amen in Jesus name." hahah Isn't that so great??? We had a lesson with him last night and it was so great!! He is so prepared. We weren't able to set up another appointment with him because he didn"t know his work schedule, but he is so excited to read more in the book of mormon. We feel so lucky that we were able to meet him!! We have high hopes for him as an investigator:)

So my branch here is so great. We need about 5 more people to be baptized in order for it to become a branch so everyone is really gung ho about missionary work. It is so great. The hole branch is just so loving and I have loved getting close with the members. Yesterday we had an eating appointment with Familie Zimmerman it was so great. Brother Zimmerman said something to me and it made me so happy. He said: "Sister Allman, you are so cool. Ya, you really just are so cool and everyone here in the branch just really loves you." That made me happy. It was really great to hear-especially when it has been soo hard.

but really. This week has been so much better. This transfer is going to be so much better as well. I am excited for the miracles sitting ahead of us. 

I love y'all so much!!

Sister Allman

You guys speak to people about Jesus, don't you?

September 2, 2013

O man. It sounds like both of you are having some much fun with your adventures in the British Isles. I am jealous! But like mckay said, after the mission, you can take both of us:) 

This week was good/really hard! We are having no sucess finding people to teach. We are talking with everyone, but we just can't seem to find those people being prepared to accept the gospel. I am not going to lie, it is SUPER frustrating. But it is okay, because like Ether 12:6 says, "you recieve not witness until AFTER the trial of your faith." O man, are we having trials of our faith right now, but it is okay. Seriously, the mission is the pure refiners fire. but o boy- I am learning so much. I am really struggling with the language as well. I just cant seem to get it down. Sister Freimann and the members are really trying to help me-and I am working way hard to do all I can. I am really nervous that my German is not going to be very good when I get home, but hopefully with diligence, hard work, and prayer/fasting, I will get it down. German is so stinking hard. 

One thing that has been really great about singen is that we have really been able to get to know the branch. President told us that he doesnt want us filling out time in our planner to contact or find, but that we should contact and find on the way to visit members, potentials, and less actives. So we have been going by so many people in the ward every week. Everyone has the coolest stories, and it is amazing to hear what they have been through and how they found the church. The members here are soo strong and just the greatest examples ever.

Tonight Eva, one of the ward missionaries is having a birthday party in the church for all the less actives. She is super close with a lot of the less actives, and is doing this just so the missionaries can come in contact with them. She as called all the less actives and have made sure they are coming, so today we are working with the gurney's to get prepared for that. How awesome is eva? She is constantly trying to figure out how to reach out to the less actives because she was once a less active herself. When members help the missionaries, it is the best!!

Well have so much fun in england, or ireland! Wherever you two are. Find One Direction for me and tell Harry Styles to wait for me:) heheheh

LOVE YOU GUYS

You guys speak to people about Jesus, don't you?

August 26, 2013

Hallo meine Familie! O ich vermisse sie!

Last week and this week, Sister Freiman and I have really been studying about faith. We have really struggled being here in Singen and not having anyone to teach. It has really taken a toll on us. We are both really terrified with street contacting and it has been a trial for us to find people. So we figured our faith wasn't strong enough, or something wasn't really clicking because everything we were doing kept failing. Well we finally realized that our faith was strong, but we weren't doing enough. For instance-2 Nephi 25:23-For we labor diligently to write, to persuade our children, and also our brethren, to believe in Christ, and to be reconciled to God; for we know that it is by grace  that we are saved, after all we can do. We both realized that Ya our faith was strong, but if we were really putting our faith to use we woud stop thinking about how scary it is to talk to everyone, and forget about ourselves- and do the Lord's work. Yes, we have been working hard these past few weeks, but we haven't been doing enough, and we weren't talking to enough people. Had we really done all that we could? No. So this week we really worked hard to put our faith into action. We prayed to have all the strength we could to talk to everyone and then put our faith to work. At the beginning it was so hard. We were rejected, rejected a little bit more, and again rejected, but we kept going. Sometimes we faltered and we would chicken out to talk with someone, but we were trying out best. Well then Thursday when I got back from an austausch I was determined to talk to EVERYONE and not let one person pass me by. After lunch we went out and I forgot about myself. I talked with everyone. It was crazy. The fear was gone. It was truely a miracle. The Lord was helping me. Then Sister Freiman wasn't scared, and she started talking to people too! The greater miracle about it was that we started finding potentials! One person after another wanted to hear about the gospel. We were able to find 12 potentials within 3 hours. That was such a huge miracle! We found 12 potentials all in one day, and that is more that I have ever found in one week! It was such a miracle, and I know it was because we did out very best and talked to everyone. The Lord blessed us and he led us to people. All we did was work and do our best-and then the Lord made up for the rest of our weaknesses.

I have learned so much since I have been on a mission. It is probably the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I am constantly being reminded of my weakness's and my shortcomings, but I have also experienced things that are going to help me into the eternities. A mission is really the refiner's fire, but I am becoming who the Lord wants and needs be to be and it is such a blessing.

Have yall read Elder Uchtdorf's priesthood talked "Four Titles?" Well Seriously, this talked has changed my whole mission. I read it a few times a week. There is a quote in it that has just affected me so much, and it has kind of been my motto lately.

"Perhaps it is true that we are weak. Perhaps we are not wise or mighty. But when God works through us, no one and nothing can stand against us."
Man, isn't that powerful?? I just try and remember that each day. I am soo incredibly weak. I can't do this mission alone. But seriously, I have learned and I have testimony, that when we let God work through us, we can be a powerful tool in his hand.

Guess What??? I got to be a missionary in Switzerland!!!! We did an austauch with the Sisters that serve in Winterthur, Switzerland and I got to go there and work with Sister Robben who is from the Netherlands for Wednesday and Thursday. I loved every second of it. They speak the craziest form of German down there so it was hard to understand, but I loved it. The people there were so open and nice and with their crazy Swizadeutsch accents they just all seemed so jolly to me. haha Not to mention, it was absolutely beautiful. It was such a great opportunity for me to work there. Sister Robben and I talked with everyone we saw, and the last person we contacted is going to be baptized. She is one of those people that you hear about that is prepared to hear the gospel. Her name is Bruda and she is probably 17 or 18. We stopped her and told her were were talking to people about Jesus. She stopped and said "O I have time for this!" We started telling her about the Book of Mormon and she was so excited. She told us that she had lived in Brazil for a while and always saw Elders and wanted to talk to them and get a Book of Mormon. She took the Book of Mormon and was so excited to read and meet with us again to learn more. It was seriously such a testimony to me that the Lord is truely preparing people to hear our message. 

Well thank you for all the prayers. They means so much.

LOVE YOU!!!

Sister Allman

Das ist mein Freund!

Hello Family!
I am sorry I am the absolute worst because I haven't taken any pictures, but I will take some soon!

Well, opening an area is dang hard. Man. One thing that I am really going to learn this transfer is patience. We are outside most of the day and talking with tons of people and getting rejected over and over. The rejection usually isn't mean, but when it happens so often and you are not having any sucess finding potentials, you start to get a little frustruated. That is why patience is GOLDEN when you open an area. I know as the weeks go by, everything will get better, but sometimes that is hard to remember. Finding people is just something that is not one of my strengths. I mean we talk with everyone but I can just never seem to get their information-BUT I know it will come with time. I have been studying a lot about weaknesses lately, and I KNOW that the Lord will help my weakness of contacting turn into one of my strengths. I just can't give up.

Good thing is- this week is going to be so much better!! Sister Freimann and I have really been trying to figure out what we need to focus on right now. We both had a strong feeling that we need to focus on the part member families and other families in our branch- so this week we have a lot of appointments set up with familes and one potential family so that is going to be way good.

Saturday our district had a Finding Day in Schwemmingen and we straight street contacted for 5 hours straight. It was so hot and we found no potentials. It was a long day. Sister Freimann has been having a lot of trouble with her feet because we walk so much, so she was in a lot of pain and she was really struggling. I suggested that she get a blessing from Elder Gurney. She was hesitant so I told her I was going to get one too. After I said that I thought " I really don't need a blessing, I am fine," but it seemed to me that she didn't want to get one on her own. So I decided to get one. I was thinking in my head if it was still okay if I got a blessing even  if I didn't feel like I needed one... I didn't really know what to do because I didn't want one either. Well when we got back to Singen, Elder and Sister Gurney picked us up and took us to their house. They are seriously such a great ehepaar (Senior Missionary Couple). They have done so much for us!! But When we got to their house they talked to us for about 30 minutes and told us some stories. It was in that moment when I really felt like I needed a blessing. It was so weird. It was like the Lord was telling me that I really needed to recieve this blessing from Elder Gurney. It was crazy because I didn't even really want one at first. Well the blessing was awesome! O man, one of the best I ever gotten. I know the Lord was really speaking through Elder Gurney. One thing he said was "You are so young on the mission, and you are definitely not ready to be a trainer." That sentance was very BAM hahah I completely agreed with it and I thought about it a lot. I am so young on the mission, I still have no idea what I am doing, and I am not adequate enough to train alone. But, I am not alone. The Lord is helping me every step of the way. If I was training without the Lord's help, I wouldn't be able to do it. But I can do it, because the Lord is guiding me. He went on a said so many other things. Two other things that stuck out to me were "Use your personality to find people," that was really cool because sometimes I feel like to be a certain way in order to be a good missionary, but this blessing reminded me that I need to be myself and use my own personality! The other thing was "People at home are relying on you right now." That was cool because it reminded me that I have not only the Lord with me everystep of the way, but I have my amazing family and friends back home who are my cheer squad also helping me every step of the way. Man, I am so lucky.

How awesome is the Lord? Seriously, I have experienced so much as I have been here in Singen showing me that the Lord really knows each of his children. We are never forgotten!!

Well my branch is just so great. There is the cutest girl and her name is Kim Joy. She is 21 and is down syndrome.  We have become best buds. She is constantly following me around in church. It was seriously the cutest thing ever because in sacrament meeting yesterday the Branch president was talking about how he was so grateful to have 6 missionaries in the branch and he was naming off all of our names. When he said my name, Kim Joy yelled "DAS IST MEIN FREUND!!!!" (That is my friend!!!) It was seriously the cutest thing in the world.

Well thank you for all the prayers. I love yall so much. Next week I will make sure to send pictures!! Well love you!!

Sister Allman

Ich fühle wie Singen!

July 22, 2013

Hello Family!

As you already know because of Michael, and Schwester Tranum, I am getting transferred. :( I am way sad, but I know the Lord has another plan for me. I am headed to Singen, Germany, a small town right on the border of Switzerland. I am serving in the Singen Branch, which is a part of the Zurich, Switzerland Stake. I think my area has a little bit of Switzerland in it to which is cool! I never thought I would have the opportunity to serve or go to Switzerland, but now I do! It is awesome. But, I heard the dialect there is pretty crazy, so I am probably going to have to re-learn German. Supposedly people speak there as if they are singing. haha I have heard it is really beautiful as well because it is in the area of the Bodensee. Besides that, no one really knows anything about Singen! haha There are no Sisters there right now, so I will be opening it. That means we have no investigators, no area book, a brand new apartment, so basically we will be starting from scratch. I also will be training, so on Thursday my companion will be fresh off the plane from the MTC. I am kind of freaking out!! When president called and told me I was  in shock. It is definitely going to be way hard, but I know it will be good for me. I know I will definitely learn and grow a lot in these next few transfers. I asked Elder Orchard and Gochnour to give me a blessing, and that has made things so much better. I have felt at peace, and I know that Singen is where I am suppose to be going. It is going to be an adventure for sure!

I have absolutely loved my time here in Munich. I have been through SO much here. It was here where I was in my darkest time, and here where I was blessed with so many miracles. I have grown so much here and I am so grateful. I love the people here as well. Mom and Dad, and I am so excited for you to meet some of them in December. Ya'll have to look out for Schwester Fisherlaudenbach, The Arnold's, Birko, Angela, Marja, Britta, the Mason's, and Schwester Matthies. (Also Schwester Tranum and Michael of course!) Ahh they are all just the best.

Our investigators are doing great. Have I told ya'll about Tao? He is from China and is just about the cutest ever. He loves the church so much, but he just has a problem with alcohol. He has been investigating the church for 2 years now, so when we first met him we were a little skeptical. He moved here about 1month ago and came and found us. He has made so much progress!! Even though he had investigated for 2 years, not once had he gone to church or read the Book of Mormon. Well he has been reading in the Book of Mormon every night and he came to church yesterday! He loved it. He was about 30 minutes late and felt so bad. In Sunday School he said the closing prayer and it was the cutest prayer ever. He asked Heavenly Father for forgiveness for being late, and thanked him that he could come today, and thanked him that he could read in the Book of Mormon. He is just the best. He has a baptismal date that he is working towards and I know he will be able to do it!!!

Marja is in Finnland right now. She went to the Temple and she said it gave her strength!! I was so happy. I am also happy because I get to come back for her baptism in 3 weeks!!! She is awesome. I can't wait for ya'll to meet her.

Well Missionary life is an adventure. I am so weak, but the Lord always fills in the gaps and helps me. I know that is exactly what he will do when I go to Singen. I know that if I rely on him and the Spirit, everything will be just fine!

WELL I LOVE YOU GUYS!

here are 2 pictures from last p-day, we went to Garmisch and went hiking!!

Sister Allman