Döner macht Man schöner

Hallo Familie!

So a new transfer has begun with a new companion and it is so awesome!! This is my first companion who is not my trainer or a golden and she has been on her mission for about a year now. It is great working with someone who already knows the ropes! Man. I am just ready for a transfer full of miracles. My time here in Singen has been hard, but I feel like everything is about to take off.

O my goodness!! Guess what?? So remember when I was in the MTC and one of the coolest elders in my district had to go home and fix some things?? Well Elder xxxx is back in the field and is now in my district!! I am soo stinking excited. I was flipping out when I found out. I was able to see him when I picked up my new companion it was was such a happy reunion. The Atonement is the greatest gift that we have!

We found 2 new investigators this week! That is 10 in the past 6 weeks! I think my record, but I know we can do better! The only problem about these 10 investigators is that they are ALL men. hahah We need to find women. But our two new investigators are super solid. First is David. He was found on finding day and he is 23 and a soccer player for the Singen soccer team! How cool is that? We had a great first lesson with him and he just soaked up everything and when we had the lesson with him there was youth night at the church and he met a ton of the members who play soccer and totally welcomed him in. He asked great questions and is really searching. When he was leaving he was really excited to read the Book of Mormon and for a next appointment. We are super excited to see what will happen with him.

The second one is just the best!! His name is Alex and he is the boyfriend of a member in our ward. He comes every Sunday to church without fail. When his girlfriend can't come he comes with her kids. The missionaries have asked him so many times to teach him and he has always said no. So Eva just about the greatest lady ever, had this idea to make "Special Edition Books of Mormons." We met with him and Tabea on Wednesday and gave them both their own special edition book of mormon and committed them to read it together. Well yesterday at church I went up to them and asked if we could make another appointment for wednesday and they said they couldn't because they have two birthday parties, but then Alex said "What about Friday?? We aren't doing anything then!!" He really wanted us to come back so now we are!!! It is so awesome. He has told Tabea that he wants to take her to the Temple one day and I think this is the first step! I am excited. The past 4 transfers I have really felt like I have had this connection with him and I really think I am here in Singen to teach him! So I am excited to see what happens.

Yesterday we soo cool at church. I had to give a talk! We never get assigned topics to talk about, it is always your choice when you talk. so All week I had been thinking about what I wanted to talk about and I thought I would just do this talk from Elder Uchtdorf. Well I tried and tried to write a my own talk but nothing came, and then i realized maybe i should change my topic. I was freaking out because I couldn't figure out what I to talk about. Finally Saturday night after planning I looked at the talk "We are never alone" by president monson and felt like I needed to do that. I had nooo time to write my talk but heavenly father helped me and everything flowed just so fast. Well It was the coolest sacrament meeting ever because all three of us who spoke talked about the same topic. It was such an inspired sacrament! Bruder Zimmerman (he spoke with me) just came up to me after sacrament and was just flabbergasted. That never happens in sacrament, but all three of us unknowningly chose the same topics about how we are never alone. It was so cool and I know Heavenly Father led all of us to talk about that topic.

Well the weather here in Germany is actually not so cold. There is no snow and it is probably about 40-45 degrees every day. It isnt bad at all and I am hopping winter just skipped this year because it has been such a mild winter. How is the weather in Ga?? Everyone keeps talking to us about the crazy cold weather in america right now. hahah

Well this work is great. It is hard, but so rewarding. You meet the craziest and most incredible people everyday. What a great opportunity this is.

Have so much fun at Shaun's wedding. I am so sad that I am missing it!! But send his love to Rachel and him for me. Take a ton of pictures and have so much fun in Domincan Republic! Love you guys!

Sister Allman

Guten Rutsch!

The Highlight of this week was definitely going to the Temple on Saturday. The Bern Temple is so beautiful and I was able to recieve this strength and peace for the new Year. Mensch, what a great opportunity we have to attend the temple and recieve the peace and love from the Savior.

 

Happy New Year by the way! O man new years eve was so much fun. Our branch had a Sylvester (New Years Eve) party and had invited several other branches and President allowed us to be at the whole party until members took us home. So since other branches were invited our district was able to be there. It was a dance with karoeke but sadly there were not that many people. There were probably 40 people? Even though the small numbers we still had a blast. I have told yall about Kim Joy right? She is this 21 year old girl in the branch who has down syndrome and she is the cutest. When she is around she never leaves my my side. Well the whole night she was wanting me to dance with her and do karoeke with her. She constantly was grabbing my arm and pulling me to the dance floor. She is strong too! So sometimes it was hard to get away. haha But lets just say I was so exhausted at the end. One it was past my bed time, two I hadn't danced so much in a long time. She never wanted to miss a song! After the party there were so many fireworks. People go crazy here with the fireworks and every family shoots of their own. Honestly it was kind of scary, but it was cool to be able to experience. It was definitely a night to remember.

 

We had a lot of lessons planned for this week but almost all of them fell out. It has been hard teaching people during these past two weeks but now people are starting to come back from the Holidays and it will get better.

 

We had a lesson last night with a potential named Simon. It was actually really funny how we found him. We talked to him the first time our first transfer here, then we ran into him our third transfer and he remembered us! Then two weeks ago he saw us talking to a lady and drove up to us and gave us his number and said "I want to talk with you guys about the Bible!" Well last night we met with him and it was so good. He doesn't really have a religion, but he said he relates the most with the Buddists. He said he has always been on the search and a lot of his ideas are so similar to the beliefs of us. It was such a great lesson and it was so refreshing to meet with a German who is just super solid and not crazy. haha We have high hopes for him.

 

One thing that I absolutely love about the mission is that you meet so many different yet incredible people! I would never have this opportunity to meet people like this again. People that will help shape who I am suppose to become.

 

Well I am staying in Singen for another 6 weeks! My new companion will be Sister Rachel Smith. She has been serving in Passau, Germany for the past 4 months and is just one transfer younger than me, so it should be good. I am ready to see miracles this next transfer and give everything I have to the Lord!!

 

Love you guys!

 

Sister Allman

Switzerland Temple!

Hallo Familie!

Ich habe gedacht das diese Woche ich auf Deutsch schreiben kann. Wunderschone Idee gel?

Nur Spass

This week! I dont really even know what to write. It was so much fun talking to the family. Ahh so good seeing all yall. Also, to all who wrote it the "Things I love about Elysse!" book, thank you so stinking much. It was the best present ever!! I cried. Goodness. I have the best friends and family.

But since talking to yall last, the week was great! The day after Christmas we headed to Familie Zimmerman and spent the whole day there. It was such a blast.

Friday, Saturday, and Sunday we went back to work! I honestly was so ready to get back to work. I was sick of being lazy and eating tons of food. hahah Within those three short days we were able to find a new investigar! His name is Abraham and he is soo open. He loves the Bible and was so excited to read the Book of Mormon. He says in his free time he listens to preachers so we are going to send him conference talks. I feel really good about him.

I am just so grateful for how much I have learned opening and training in this area. Man, it was so hard, but I am such a better missionary now. I am so grateful for this time. Saturday is transfer calls. I am so curious to will see what will happen. Sister Freimann and I have both been here 6 months, so either of us could go. The weirdest thing is that if I do get transfered it will most likely be my last area... man.. time goes by so fast. I cant believe I have been out on my mission longer than a year.

The Elders here is Singen are so great. It is so much fun working with them. Since we were fed so much unhealthy food the past few weeks, we are doing a vegetable and fruit only detox until wednesday the 8th. Elder Chapman is going home the 10th, so we are helping him look good for when he gets off the plane hahah. We are all doing it, even the Gurneys said they were going to do it, so it is great to be able to help each other stay strong. hahah

Well for new years our ward is having a party! Supposely New Years in Germany with the fireworks are crazy, so I am excited to see them. But of course I will miss yall:  and the best of all, I am going to the temple in Switzerland on Saturday!! I am so excited. Everything will be in German, but it was be so good!

Well i love you guys. Have a great new year. Gute Rutsch!

Sister Allman

Here are some pictures from today during pday:) We played basketball with the Zimmerman Family.

O du Fröhliche

What a week it was!! When 1 door closes Heavenly Father opens 3 more doors!

So this week was a little crazy because we were in Freiburg for 2 days, but we were still able to get so much done!! The Lord blessed us with 4 new solid investigators. O man. I would just like to tell about one of them. His name is Brittel and he is from Sierra Leon. We met him and his friend on the street a week ago. I heard them speaking English so obviously I had to stop them! So we talked and they both love Jesus so much and wanted to meet with us to learn more. Well we had a lesson with them on Tuesday and it was so good. Brittel is so open and ready to hear about the Gospel. His story is so incredible. Sierra Leon used to be a part of a great war and he has been through so much! Man. But the cool thing is is that he used to be Muslim. He said that he used to be the guy that would argue with all the Christians and tell them that they were wrong. Then he started comparing the muslim and christian religions and said if anyone will tell me which faith direction is really right, it will be God. Well he started researching both and praying and then he got a answer that Christian is the right direction! So now he believes so strong on Jesus Christ. Well he came to church yesterday and really loved it. Our GML (Ward Mission Leader) told him that he was always welcome here and Brittel responded "I won't miss a Sunday!" He loved church and wants to learn so much. He also said there was a mormon church building right by his house in Sierra Leon and so many people used to invite him to come. The other wonderful thing is is that we have this awesome member in our ward named Samuel who is the Elders Quorum President and is also from Sierra Leon! So he is helping a ton as well. We are meeting with him again tonight and he is also cooking us an african dish! We are hoping to be able to set a baptismal date with him tonight-he is so ready! Miracles I tell you. The Lord never ceases to amaze me.

It made me soo happy to see the pictures of yall with the wonderul members from Munich! Ahhh Do yall just love Munich??? O man, as cheesy as this sounds, Munich has such a special place in my heart!!

Freiburg was great. It was so much fun being able to spend the night with the 4 other sisters. I think my favorite thing about it was that after Zone Training meeting on Wednesday all 30 something of us missionaries went Christmas Caroling in downtown Freiburg next to the Christmas market. It was my favorite thing ever! We had a big crowd around us! People were talking pictures, singing along and it was the best because we really made some people's days! It was the best. I must say this is already one of the most unforgettable Christmas's that I have ever had. Christmas as a misisonary is the best. Goodness. I love being a missionary.

We had our ward Christmas party Saturday night. It was a great turn out. There were 12 non members there and 4 less actives. 3 our our investigators were there and they really enjoyed it. Ward activities are the perfect way to invite non members to come see the church! It was so successful and one of the men that came is coming to church next sunday now! So next ward activity, invite a non member friend:)

Well I hope yall are having so much fun traveling europe! I am so happy yall got to see Munich, Vienna, Salzburg, Budapest, and Slovakia!! ahh all those places are heavenly!!!

Ich habe euch so doll lieb!

Sister Allman

Happiness

This week! Wow, all I can say is that everything that could go wrong, went wrong. Basically in short, we are starting fresh again from scratch. Achmed last minutely moved, and Zorro can't really meet anymore, so our two baptismal canidates are no longer, and now we are out FINDING new solid investigators! But good thing about Achmed, he will continue meeting with the missionaries in Karlsruhe and get baptized there! So it is all good.

I should be really upset that everything went wrong and that basically we have to start over, but I am not at all!! This week was still so wonderful and I am just as happy as a peach. It is so crazy!! Man, this was probably my happiest week in a long time-and everything went wrong, but I can't complain! I am serving the Lord and his children and I couldn't be happier. Also, I find it such a blessing that we have to refocus on  finding. I have had this goal that I have been working on to become a "Master Finder" and now Heavenly Father is helping me really focus on it! Tender Mercies everywhere!

Man, something I loved this week was train and bus contacting. I met so many incredible people and I truely felt Christ's love for them! It is so much fun. It is the best meeting God's children from all different types of the world and learning from their culture. Goodness, I am just in the best mission ever. I'm sorry if you disagree, but this mission is the best in the world haha and this is the best descision I have ever made-to come on a mission!! Every doubt or fear I had before the mission was so dumb. Seriously, every blessing outweighs the sacrifice of going on a mission by a million fold. Ahhh!! sorry I am just soo happy.

Well this week should be so wonderful. Tuesday we have 5 lessons lined up with potential investigators, Wednedsay and Thursday we will be in Freiburg for Zone Training meeting and our Zone Christmas Conference (We'll be staying the night with the sisters there), then Friday we a few lessons with potentials and we get to teach seminary (I am so excited), and then Saturday in the ward Christmas party! Christmas season is the best!

So Yesterday one of our potential investigators had a christmas concert in an old catholic church and we got permission to go!! It was so incredible. It was a beautiful classical concert in this old church and the sounds from the echoing high ceiling was incredible! The whole time I was just in awe and couldn't help but be so grateful for this opportunity to serve in Europe. After the concert our potential Helen was soo excited to see us. She also went up to someone and said "Look!! The mormons came!!!" hahah She was so excited. We have an appointment with her on Tuesdayand I am excited to see how it goes.

O my goodness. Guess what!!!! Sister Freimann and I get to go to the Temple in Switzerland on 4 of January. I am so excited! Normally missionaries who serve in Germany are not allowed to go, only the misisonaries in Switzerland, but Sister Freimann got asked to speak at the Stake Sisters Conference there in Zolikofen and so we were able to get permission to go. So basically, we are soo lucky!! And I am so excited to be able to go to the temple again and see the first temple that was ever built in Europe. It is going to be amazing.

Woah, can you believe that one year ago yesterday I gave my farewell talk?? It is freaking me out to think that I only have 6 months left. The time is going by so fast, so I am just going to enjoy every minute I have doing the best work in the world!

Also, guess what?!! Malcom Felt's wives, little brother, is serving in the same ward as me here in Singen! It is so awesome. He was also super close with spencer and jacob so  I feel like I am with Spencer and Jacob when I see him. It is great!! Is spencer home from his mission yet? and when is jacob getting married?

Well I love this work, I love this gospel, I love being a missionary, I love the people, and I love you all!!!

Have a great week!!!!

Here is a picture from when we made ginger bread cookies with sister gurney this week!! Kind of scary, but o well!

o and ps-the branch here is so wonderful. One of the members called us this morning and asked us to come by tongiht because she found gluten free bread for me... isnt that the sweetest????

CHRISTMAS!!

Happy Holidays!!

Christmas is here and it is the happiest time ever. Christmas in Germany is seriously so magical! I am so excited for you to experience the Christmas markets on Friday! Ahh I am just so excited for yall to go to Munich and meet all the wonderful people that have changed my life!!!

This week was wonderful! We definitely had a Miracle with Achmed!! Lately he has been struggling again to know that if Jesus Christ was really the Son of God. So we've been refocusing on strengthening his faith on the Savior. Well on Friday we saw him and he said he had a dream. He said Jesus Christ came to him and told him that he wanted him to be baptized. When he told me that my mouth just dropped to the ground. I told him that was his answer and he agreed!! I asked him if he believed that Jesus Christ was more than a prophet now and he said yes. I was just so amazed. What a miracle!!!! 

Speaking of miracles I studied Ether 12 this morning and then all about Miracles. Something that I have learned on my mission is that God is a God of Miracles. We read of so many miracles from the Bible and from the Book of Mormon, and have they ceased?? NO!! There are constantly miracles all around us, and we just need to look!! I am so incredibly for all the amazing miracles that I have been able to witness on my mission. I have no doubt in my mind that our God is a God of Miracles and also a God of Love, and that he is constantly blessing us with miracles no matter how big or small they are!

Remember Simplice??? Well on Thursday we were in this little town going by a potential. As we were walking back to the bus stop which was far a way, we hear  this bus come and stop right where we are at and the doors open. We looked up and their was Simplice yelling "Sisters!!!!!!" He had seen us earlier and after he dropped off all his passengers he came a different route to pick us up to go back to singen to pick up his next passengers. It was so awesome and he was just so happy to see us. He introduced us into passengers on his bus as his sisters in Jesus. hahha So great. During his 20 minute work break he asked us if we could pray with him so we prayed all together. It was so great. haha

So Basically the Gurney's are the best missionary couple in the world. I have been so excited for Christmas so on Saturday night they invited us over for  dinner and to help decorate the Christmas tree that we wanted to surprise the elders with. We listen to Christmas music together and all had a great time decorating the Christmas tree. It was a great way to get into the christmas spirit. Well we took the tree to the elders and surprised them and it was so much fun!! Doing stuff for other people reallly brings you so much happiness. They then dropped us off back at our aparment, and when we walked in we saw this beautiful tree that was decorated with advent calendar ornaments all over and presents!! I could have cried I was so happy. The Gurney's had snuck into our apartment when we were gone all day and had surprised us with our own christmas tree!! It was the best ever and this is already one of the greatest Christmas's I have ever had!!!!

Well I am so excited for yall to be in munich. I cant wait to hear about it. Well i lvoe you guys!!!!

Sister Allman

Here is a picture at me at one of the Christmas markets

and the other is the tree that we decorated for the elders

11 months

Hi Family! I can't believe about that crazy storm in Phillipines. I am glad to hear that Mckay is safe. I just found out about that yesterday at stake conference because someone prayed for the people in the Phillipines so I started asking around and found out. I am so glad he is okay.

This week was really great. I ended up being in Switzerland for about 4 days because I had the austausch there and then we had stake conference Saturday and Sunday. I really love Switzerland. So it was fun. This week is going to be even crazier because tomorrow we have interviews with President from 9-12 and the zone training meeting from 12-3, then the Sisters serving in Freiburg and Offenburg are coming and we are doing a mini tausch, and then on Wednedsay we have Zone Conference from 10-5. Then Saturday there is a stake youth activity here in Singen and we are helping with it. So I think this week is going to be a little crazy.

The Austausch with Sister Lohmann went so well. I loved working with her! We were unstoppable together and made a great team. It was really great to learn from her. It is crazy because I am one of the oldest (longest out on mission) sisters on the mission, so seldom do I have the opportunity to work with someone who has been out on the mission longer than me. Gosh isn't that weird? Tomorrow will be exactly 11 months for me on my mission. I'm not going to lie it is freaking me out! Time is going so fast.

We were only able to meet with Achmed once this week because he was out of town. He read some anti mormon literature so the lessons haven't been going as well, so we are a little worried, but we will see what happens. I am just praying my little heart out because I know this Gospel will change his life. But I feel like it will be good. If he is reading daily in the Book of Mormon and praying I have no doubt that he will be baptized. Because the Book of Mormon is the evidence!!  If anyone reads the Book of Mormon and prays about it they are going to get an answer. (I have no doubt:)

Zorro on the other hand is sooo awesome. O my goodness. We met with him a few times this week and he just loved everything. We taught him the plan of salvation and just keep nodding his head and agreeing. We were able to set a baptismal date with him!! So that is awesome. He just keeps saying "Ich lass mich taufe! Ich lass mich taufe!" (I am going to get baptized!) hahah So great. I wish I had a picture of him. He used to be a truck driver and always wears this leather jacket and this big black mustache. hahah I hope you can imagine him in your head. He is so ready.

I really love being a missionary. Last night we were talking to the Ehepaar The Gurney's and we got on the topic of the beginning of my mission. Satan was really on me the first two transfers of my mission. I honestly hated being a missionary and I wanted to come home every single day. I just remember feeling like there was this dark cloud constantly surrounding me. I look back on that time and I am just soo grateful. That time I probably hit my lowest of all lows that I had ever experienced, but I am so strong because of it. And it is so great to see how far I have come. I can truely say that I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!! I love it. It is so hard, but you experience things that you would never be able to experience without a mission. goodness. I just love being a missionary:)

Well Christmas is coming and I am so excited!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I hope everyone is getting excited to listen to Christmas music. hahah

Okay well i love you alll!!!

Have a wonderful week:)

Sister Allman