Ich weiss das Gott uns liebt!

P-day was super relaxed today. We went on a 7 mile run which was so awesome. The whole time we were running through the trails by the river I couldn't help but be soaked up with joy. I love Germany so much! I am so lucky to be here. I was just so happy as we were running through the trees. It is such an incredible blessing to be here.

Mom!! That is the craziest thing about the ice storms. We met with one of the members in our ward on thursday and she told me something about Atlanta and kids staying over night in the school because of the ice, but I didn't really think anything of it. That is so crazy! I am glad you drove home safe!!!

So this week was super rough! I mean I was happy the whole week, but the work didn't go to great. EVERY single one of our appointments fell out. And people really didn't want to talk to us this week. I felt like everyone here in Singen knows who I am now, and they avoid us like the plague. It is funny sometimes how people react when they see us. haha It was frustrating week, but good. I am learning so much on my mission and patience is definitely on that list:)

I say this like every email, but I sure love the branch here in Singen. It is a whole lot of crazy, but just so incredible. Yesterday I just sat in testimony meeting in awe, listening to everyone bear their testimony. I just have so much love for the people here. Really when you think about it, love is seriously the key to everything. That is another thing I have learned on the mission, how to give your complete heart to things and just love it, even when everything seems to be going wrong. When we love those we serve, when we love the Savior, when we love what we do, EVERYTHING falls into place. There is nothing greater than love.

Speaking of Love, since Valentines day is coming up soon, Sister Smith and I decided to dedicate these next to weeks to doing personal touches. We are calling it the "Two weeks of Love" and going to do something for a member or an investigator every day to show them how much we love them! Then on Valentines Day we have Zone Conference so to end it we are making the whole zone Valentine's Card with quotes from Elder Uchtdorf's talke "The Love of God." Here is a good excerpt from the talk:)

"Because love is the great commandment, it ought to be at the center of all and everything we do... Love is the healing balm that repairs rifts in personal and family relationships. It is the bond that unites families, communities, and nations. Love is the power that initiates friendship, tolerance, civility, and respect. It is the source that overcomes divisiveness and hate. Love is the fire that warms our lives with unparalleled joy and divine hope. Love should be our walk and our talk. When we truly understand what it means to love as Jesus Christ loves us, the confusion clears and our priorities align. Our walk as disciples of Christ becomes more joyful. Our lives take on new meaning. Our relationship with our Heavenly Father becomes more profound. Obedience becomes a joy rather than a burden."

Ahh, that talk is so good. But anyway. I love the holidays so much, and I figure that I could spread holiday cheer still! Even if I am on my mission. Holidays are the best:)

Well tomorrow we have Zone training meeting and then afterwards I am headed to Offenburg with Sister Brinck in the Schwarzwald for an Austausch. It is about 2 hours away from Singen so I am excited! It should be fun! 

Well I lvoe you guys!! Have a great week!!

Tschüss:)

Sister Allman

Here is a picture of me in Konstanz last week! It is soo beautiful

Random Gedanke diese Woche

Guten Abend meine liebe Familie!!!

Sorry I am so late emailing. Sister Smith and I did a service project all day today, so pday is starting a little late! 

I love the Elders and Sisters in this mission so much. They are so fun and just great!! The funny thing is is that I am almost 23, and most of the other missionaries are 18, 19, and 20! It is so weird. I always forget that we are not the same age! hahah Well the Elders definitely don't let me live my age down. They are constantly cracking "Old People" jokes and making me feel ancient. It is so hilarious. Saturday we had Finding Day in Bad Säckingen and Friday night we recieved a text from the district leader which said "Hey Friends! In Honor of Sister Allman we want to find 40 potentials tomorrow!" (because I am soo old). hahahhaha That is just one little example, but literally everyday there is something from a member, my companion, or the elders, telling me that I am old! It is so crazy because I feel like I am 19!! But just add 4 years.. o dear.

But saturday at lunch during the finding day it finally hit me how young these missionaries were. All the Elders in my district were talking about spongebob and quoting it and just dying laughing. I thought it was so weird. Then I just started thinking of Mckay and Kyle and how they used to be obsessed with Spongebob. Then I realized that all the Elders I have been working with are Mckay and Kyle!! It was like I was hanging out with all of Mckays friends.These Missionaries are Mckay's age and could've been my efy kids. It was soo weird. Then I felt old. hahah Especially because a few of them are 18!! and just graduated. They weren't even freshman in highschool when I graduated... and some of them were born in 1995! ahh So basically age is weird on the mission. It has kind of freaked me out. hahah  It is going to be so weird when I get home because I am going to look at people my age and think they are soo old because all I have been around the past year are 18, 19, and 20 year olds. haha O dear. I also hope I will be able to come back more mature, not immature. haha

Sister Smith and I are having such a good time together!! O man. It has been great. Sometimes we get distracted and talk a little too much, but we are working on that. We really are pushing each other and helping each other reach our goals and potential. It is soo great. We are already seeing so much success together!! The Lord is really blessing us.

O! We had interviews with President and Sister Miles this week. It was soo good. I told President that I felt like "A Late Bloomer" as a missionary, just because it took me a while to figure out what I was doing, but I told him that I am just soo happy with who I have become as a missionary and so thankful for my time here in Singen. He laughed when I said that and said jokingly back "Well we need a lot of beautiful flowers in this mission!" It was really funny. President and Sister Miles are the best! I am so lucky because I am in the last group of missionaries that has them as mission presidents! They go home a week after me.

Okay, this part is kind of weird, but i think yall would think it is funny.

Well, I dont know what the heck has been going on these past two weeks, but lately all these men we contact are falling in love with me. It has been ridiculous and hilarious and I have no idea why. It just started happening out of the blue when it didnt happen really before. But the funniest experience ever was yesterday. We went by on this potentials after our eating appointment, his brother stuck his head out the window and seemed so mad. Well our potentials Christof and his brother came down and talked to us to set up an appointment. Well as soon as his brother came down and started talking to us (The angry one) he just started saying "O you girls are pretty! I like the way you dress!" Sister Smith and I gave out a awkward laugh. Then he just looked at me and keep pointing at me saying " O, du gefällst mir! O, du gefällst mir!" He said that probably 20 times which means "O I like you! O I like you!" Then he just went off and was like " I have to be honest and speak from the heart, but O I like you. Your nose! Your eyes! Your lips! O I just want you to be my woman!" hahahha He went on for about 5 minutes and his brother interruppted him and said "Shhh!!! Stop! I want to talk to them about the Book of Mormon!" We made an appointment with Christof, and walked away. Sister Smith and I just started dying laughing as soon as we walked away. I have never met anyone so forward in my life. Lets just say that it was an interesting experience. haha but I thought you guys may think it was funny.

Sorry this email is scatterbrained and not so much about the work. But the work is going well. Erwin is making so much progress! He came to church yesterday and loved it. His friend Reino came and picked him up from church and we ended up teaching him and Reino and now Reino is a new investigator! We are meeting with them again on Friday. I have no doubt, I know erwin will get baptized, and he has even invited his friend to learn more as well! This gospel is incredible!

O we also have another new investigator!! She is the cutest lady ever. Her name is Frau Astone and she is about 35, married and has two daughter 7, 10. We had a great first lesson with her and she was so excited for us to meet with her again. It is so great because she has a family that she could bring to church! So Sister Smith and I were super excited.

I love being a missionary!! It is seriously the best. Every sunday during sacrament I just am overwhelmed with gratitude. I love this gospel. I love this work. I love germany. I love it. It is so hard, but so amazing. I met the most incredible people everyday and I am pushing myself in ways that I never thought I could. I am meeting people that will forever change my life and be my eternal friends. It is the best.

Well I love yall more than you could ever know!!! Dad feel better!!! I hope those kidney stones pass!!!!!

Schöne Woche!!

Sister Allman:)

Heilige Kuh

This week was great!! Sister Smith and I are working so hard and the Lord is blessing us. We've only been together about a week and a half but we are a good team. First off, I have had so much energy. It has been so great. We have been waking up thirty minutes early and going running for about 45 minutes then eating no gluten! It has been amazing about how much energy I have! O my goodness, I have noticed I recognize the Spirit so much better as well. This has been so great and I seriously have gained a testimony of eating healthy and working out. It makes such a difference!

Here is a little miracle story! So on Wedsnesday after comp study we headed out to go by on a potential. As we were headed to the potential we were talking to everyone we say.  The fourth person we stopped was interested! His name is Ali and he is from Turkey. We told him all about the Book of Mormon and he was so excited. He then looked at us and said "What if we headed to a cafe right now so we could talk more about it?" Sister Smith and I were both a bit flabbergasted. But of course we said ya! We went to a cafe and gave her an overview of the Book of Mormon and he kept saying thank you to us since we had stopped us. It was a great lesson and we are going to meet with him again this week! Isn't that cool?? There are really people out there who are prepared. We just have to find them.

Have I ever told yall about Erwin?? I met him on a bus my first transfer here. We got to talking and I told him I was from Georgia and he was so excited because his favorite band is the Allman brothers. Then I just happened to show him my name tag how I was Sister Allman and he was so excited. Well he always wanted to me with us but was just so apprehensive. Finally he came to the Thanksgiving Dinner and met our GML and just loved him. Well he has been coming to church regularly but didn't want to meet with his, only just at church. He also found out about baptism and kind of freaked out. The B word scares him so bad. haha But it has been a miracle. Finally he is meeting with us and he is reading in the BOM and just loves it. Yesterday at church he told me he felt like the Prodigal Son. He said that a year ago he didnt want anything to do with church or God, but now he is so interested and he just loves coming to church. I know he will be getting baptized! It is so amazing to see the changes he has already been going through. Wow. I love seeing how the Gospel of Jesus Christ really changes peoples lives. It is incredible.

So something weird happened to me this week. Starting Thursday I just lost my appetite. Friday night I didn't sleep at all and I was wide awake the whole night! The next morning I was stil wide awake and I tried to eat something but I couldn't. I was a  nauseous and a little shakey too and it was just so weird. Well I asked the Elders for a blessing because we were meeting them at the church for a joint teach thatmorning anyway. I was so nervous becuase we had two eating appointments that day, and I thought there was no way that I would be able to eat all the food that people stuff us with. I thought for sure I would throw everything up. Well the Elders gave me a blessing and through the power of the Preisthood I was fine!! It was great. In the blessing it also said that I will not get sick again on my mission. Thank goodness! I mean shingles, then a bladder infection, I am sick of going to the doctor haha. But my testimony was just strengthend over the priesthood. It is the best! Okay, maybe this part was too much information, but o well!

Thanks for all the prayers. The work is going great. The Lord is blessing us, and I am so happy to be here. I know there are just miracles waiting to happen.

Well i love you all!!!! Have a fantastic week!!!

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