Servus! Baba

Servus Familie!

I am in Austria and I am so happy. It has been a good few days. I KNOW this is where I am suppose to be. I really feel like my time in Munich and Singen prepared me for this area. I just feel like there is somethings I am suppose to do here. I really feel like Graz is about to blow up and I am ready to see miracles. I am really happy to be here and am ready to give everything I have. Graz is really cool. It is way bigger than Singen, but smaller than Wien(Vienna). Ít is a perfect size and there are old buildings and architechture everywhere. We travel on strassenbahns and there are people everywhere. It is beautiful. The austrian accent is crazy, and I have to learn a new german, but I like it! My companion is Sister Regnier. She is super cool and from California. She has been out about 11 months. We are already having a lot of fun. I came hereon Thursday and we got in about 8:45 at night. I came with 5 missionaries from Munich to Vienna where I then met my companion. Then we headed on a 2 1/2 train ride to Graz. The Elders picked us up with the ehepaar the Tews. The Tews actually live in Fruit Heights-in the near from Tami! Everyone here is really great. I just feel really good here. I can't really describe it, but I just know I am suppose to be here and the Lord has work for me to do. All I can say is that I am so happy to be here.

 

It was a great week. The beginning of the week consisted of many goodbyes. O man it was tough. I love the gemeinde in Singen so much. Monday thru Wednesday consisted of us running to all ends of our areas and it was way busy. It was so cute, before I left the we had a joint teach with the Elders and they surprised me a with a goodbye gift. It was so nice! I love the missionaries and of course the Gurney's so much. I am going to miss them a lot. Thursday I was on the train all day. It was so much fun being in Munich and seeing Sister Tranum and Michael. I just love them. They are the best! I then headed on the train for the rest of the day. Friday we got me registered and we had a few appointments. I met a lot of the JAE's (YSA). I am so happy there is a JAE Zentrum here. I love working with the JAE's so it will be fun.

 

Saturday we headed to Vienna for the district leader meeting. That is one of my new responsibilities of sister training leader. I realized that it is going to be pretty crazy being sister training leader because we have to be in Wien a lot, and that is a 2 and a half hour train ride. But I am not complaining..I can go to Wien as often as they want me too. haha But that night we had stake conference. It was soo good. First off, I saw so many of the JAE's who I was friends with in Wien. It was such a wonderful surprise and everyone was so shocked to see me. I could've cried I was so happy to see these people. I have never loved people as much as I loved the JAE's in Wien. They have such a huge place in my heart. It was such a happy reunion seeing them. It was like I hadn't even left, besides the fact that some of them are married now. I just felt so at home being at the stake conference. I felt like it was where I was suppose to be. I can't even describe to you the connection I feel with Wien. I know I probably won't have the chance to serve there as a missionary (besides exchanges), but I really feel like one day I will be back in that stake. Something is waiting for me in Wien. I don't know.. I just know I will be back one day. But I was so happy. President and Sister Miles spoke at stake conference. It was the last Stake conference that they have as mission presidents. It was just so crazy that I could be at their last because I was one at one of their first stake conference when I was in Wien 2 and a half years ago. The whole session was about missionary work and they committed the members to pray for the missionaries and investigators by name. The best part was that they had made a video of the missionaries in the Wien stake that were out on the missions. It was so cute. David Meissner, Joel Dospil, Clara Nemec were both on it. It made me so happy. It was just a great night.

 

On Sunday we were back in Graz for stake conference. It was actually a broadcast from Salt Lake City. Elder Bednar and Elder Hales spoke. The best part about it was that Elder Bednar did his talk in German. He served in this mission when he was younger, but it was really powerful that he did it in German. It was soo good too! The ward is big! It is the biggest in the mission. I met a lot of members and I am excited to get to know them more. The GML is soo awesome. He is 23 and loves missionary work-everyone tells me he is the best gml in the mission, so we will see! I don't really know what else to say for now. I am so excited for these next few transfers here and I already said this but I really know this is where I am suppose to be. It will be great.

 

Well I love you guys. I am praying like crazy for our family. YOU GUYS ARE THE BEST FAMILY A GIRL COULD EVER ASK FOR:)

 

Sister Allman

 

This is a picture in my favorite city in my area in Singen. Also I uploaded some pictures on dropbox mom!!

ConGRAZ on the new Area!

What a week what a week.

First off, I am headed to Graz, Austria! I am soo excited to go to Austria! It also means that I am in the Vienna Zone so I will be headed back to Vienna a few times a month for meetings and Austauches. I am beyond excited. Also the new zone leader in Wien is Elder Curtis who was in my mtc district so I am excited to be working with him as well! It'll be a great adventure serving in a new country and as the Sister Training Leader. ahhh Graz has the biggest ward in the mission and it is the 2 biggest city in austria! ahhh I am excited. I am leaving on Thursday and I will probably be in the trains for about 8-9 hours. It is sooo far. The Sister in the office told me it takes the longest to get to graz from any other place in the mission, especially because it is surrounded by alps and you have to go around a big mountain to get there. Goodness I am excited.

But with every ounce of my heart I will  miss Singen!  Man. It was soo hard saying goodbye to the members yesterday. I love this gemeinde so much. It is a whole lot of crazy but so full of love. I love it. Yesterday I just had to hold back my tears the whole day. It was so hard. Especially bearing my goodbye testimony. Man. I have been in Singen over 7 months! It is crazy. But I know I have eternal friends here in Singen. All day yesterday the members were saying that they were going to call Church head quarters and tell them that I couldn't leave. They all said I have to finish my mission here. It was cute. I am so incredibly grateful for my time here in Singen. I have learned more than I could ever thought and met people that have changed my life. It has been a great 5 transfers here.

This week was so great though. On Saturday our ward had a Talent Abend. It was soo wonderful. It was a great success and there were 5 nonmembers and some less actives! Our investigator Erwin was just the cutest and performed with the guitar and then Benji sang. He brought 3 of his friends and his daughter. They loved it and had so much fun. It was such a great opportunity to invite people to see the church and become acquainted with it. Erwin is making a ton of progress as well. This week we met with him this week and talked with him about baptism. He didn't freak out. It was really a miracle and the lesson went well. I have no doubt, one day he will get baptized. It will just take him some time. Yesterday when we were saying bye, he said that I have to come back and visit and go to the disco with his daughter. haha Goodness I love this work and the people you meet with it.

Last night we finally met with the very first potential I ever found in Singen. Her name is Marianna and she is from the country Georgia. We have been trying to meet her for the past 5 transfers, but it just never worked out. Well her lesson was incredible. She is so ready. She said that she has been searching for the truth and she knows there is a life after this. All of her questions were about the lessons we teach. I don't know if that makes sense, but she was so excited. She had a lot of back pain to and so Elder Gurney gave her a blessing and at the end of the lesson she said he pain was fading away! It was incredible. It was so cool to see that the first potential I found here in Singen is a new potential. She is going to get baptized. We are all sure of that. Sister Smith and her new companion will meet with her on Friday.

Oh and one other cool thing! We set a baptismal date this week! His name is Christoph and he is searching for the truth. He is african and such a huge believer. We taught him a great first lesson and he was soo excited to read and come to church! He is solid. We are meeting with him again wednesday.

Well that was the week. It was such a great week to end my time here in Singen. I love Singen so much and for all the incredible people I have met here. It has been such a blessing to serve here!! ahhh the mission is the best. I am so grateful to be here. There are miracles everywhere!!

LOVE YOU ALL!!!

Sister Allman

Singen immer noch in Singen

I am still in Singen! We actually don't have transfer calls until this weekend. So I have no idea if I am staying another transfer in Singen or leaving. So Don't stress yet! Why did yall think that it was this past weekend?? So I have been in Singen now about 7 months now, so everyone thinks I will be transfered, but I definitely think I could stay another one. I have no idea.. We will see what happens. It is weird to think that I could be transfered into my last area.. ahhh As soon as I find out I will get Sister Gurney to email yall:) But I am predicting I will stay here for a 6th transfer...

 I read in my journal from my first two transfers and it just amazes me how much I have learned and grown on my mission. I have made so much progress! It is seriously incredible and I am so thankful for that. I just think of how much the mission has blessed my life and I am overcome with immense gratitude. I always thought before my mission that I would be able to help so many people, but then I realized the mission has probably effected my life more than I have effected anyone elses. It is crazy like that. A mission is a win win, you can help others come unto Christ and let them to partake in his redemption, and you can also go through a refiners fire that helps you change which will help the rest of your life. It is incredible. Hopefully that makes since, but I am thankful for my Savior!

My Austausch in Offenburg was so fun! It is great to be able to experience a new area with a different companion. You learn so much! Offenburg is also so different than Singen. The scenery is just so different (Since they are in the middle of the black forest) and people talk with crazy accents there! hahah It was cool because I did the tausch with Sister Brinck and she is gluten free too! She gave me some great ideas with eating. I am becoming a gluten free pro. The Lord is helping me so much.

Sister Smith and I had the opportunity to teach seminary this week. It was so much fun. I love the youth, but I also realized how hard it can be to teach them, especially when they don't really care to be there. But it made me excited to work with youth again in the future. It is cool because our mission is doing a mission wide fast together for the youth of the church and so that we can teach more youth. I think it is great. 

Erwin is doing great! He has been to church 8 times and just loves every second. Yesterday after church he asked us if we could meet by the baptismal font for his lesson. He is making so much progress and he loves the gemeinde. We are meeting with him again on wednesday and he is also performing at the Talent Abend this Saturday. He is basically a member, he just has to get over his fear of baptism. One thing I have learned on my mission is that patience in a virtue, so we just have to have patience with him:)

This week we have Zone Conference in Freiburg which is about 2 1/2 hours away. It should be good, I am excited to learn from President and Sister Miles!

well i love you guys so much! Have a great week!!

Sister Allman:)

Here is a talk I have been really studying the past few weeks. It is the best!

http://www.lds.org/ensign/1974/11/good-habits-develop-good-character

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