I Love Being In My Own Personal "Wilderness" Out Here If You Know What I Mean.

January 19, 2015

Greetings from Germany!!!!!! Sorry I don't have that much time but I will do my best to get in the good stuff.

LIFE IN LÜBECK THIS WEEK WAS ROUGH

HELLOOOO not too much time but let me try this again.

Yes this week was rough. but ya know what, life is rough!!

SPENT WHAT FEELS LIKE THE WHOLE DAY OF EACH DAY THIS WEEK OUTSIDE GOING TÜR ZU TÜR; KLINGELING AND TALKING TO PEOPLE: not going to lie it was discouraging sometimes. But attitude is everything I have learned. Some days were harder than others, what for emotional problems, etc. Sometimes peoples coldness hurts more than at other times. naja. so ist es.

I have really realized how much I love being on a mission, and sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. If I didn’t know that this is the right place for me to be in then there is no way I would be here. I have really learned how important it is for each of us to cultivate and continually develop our testimonies. If we have a testimony, let us recognize how blessed we are!! If people really knew what was at stake for our time here on earth, they would be asking us to be baptized. But that's not how it is. Heavenly Father has a plan. We all accepted this plan. We need to help others remember that they accepted this plan too.

We have received sooo much rejection this past week! BUT I know that the Lord has prepared people here in Lübeck. We just need to find them. Hard it is, yes. But worth it, of course.

Saturday night  I threw up three times!! I was sooo weak and achy yesterday. Just slept all day. Before I got sick I kept praying that I would stop feeling nauseaus (uh spelling??) then I finally realized  that the feeling would only go away after I threw up. It was inevitable. So I threw up. Three times. Did I feel better and not nauseus? Yes! Sorry for the gross and random example but I know that when we accept the Lord's will and get over ourselves, life will get a lot better. Repenting means changing our will and becoming more in einklang with that of the Lord's.

Sorry this email was a little rough around the edges and short. I LOVE YOU. Thanks for the good thoughts and prayers. I love being in my own personal "wilderness" out here if you know what I mean. LETS DO WORK THIS WEEK.

DEEP WATER IS WHAT I AM WONT TO SWIM IN

true words from Joseph Smith indeed

liebe grüße

Sister Mittleman

Doctrine and Covenants 18:10 Is Like My Life.

January 12, 2015

Oh hey. Happy New week and new transfer!!!! I AM STAYING WITH A COMPANION. Let the good times rollllll. This pleases me.

SO GUES WHAT RUTH BACK IN BRAUNSCHWEIG IS ON DATE FOR THE 31ST OF THIS MONTH!!!!!! I AM SO HAPPPY. wow. What a life!!! I am so happy and excited for her. I love and miss her so much!!!

So we had mission tour on Wednesday, and Elder Kopischke was there!! It was six hours of goodness and lots of feeling the spirit and getting answers. He came in without an agenda, and he just asked us what we wanted to talk about. SOLID. He invited us all to write down a question at the beginning of our time together, and then to find the answer by the end through listening to the spirit. At the end he asked everyone to raise their hand if they got an answer, and everybody raised their hand. The Holy Ghost is real! He talks to each of us, and gives us what we are seeking for.

So I saw all my Braunschweig friends, Elder Chadez, Brimhall, Carpenter, and then Sister Harris. Oh and Elder Meeks!  SUCH FUN. Ruth had given sis Harris a present for me, so sweet!! It was a watch!! I had a letter for sis Harris to give to Ruth.

Braunschweig Friends- Elder's Chadez, Brimhall & Carpenter with Sis Mittleman

MTC Friends- Sister Kronwitter, Elder Kraefter & Sis Mittleman

Now to answer some of your questions...

My bday??? Wahhhhh I dunno. Ill think about it

The area is super humid, Lots of rain and clouds. But really pretty of course.  Sunday eating appointments always mean the good German food. Yesterday I ate like a queen at a members house. rotkohl, potatoes, goulash, green beans, noodles, juice. and ice cream to top it all off. SO DELISH. Otherwise I eat a lot of cheese, yummy German bread, and nutella and gummy bears. Livin the life. German food is truly delicious.

My companion and I are staying together, which I am stoked about!!! sister Murdock is done training now!!! We are ready to move forward and DO WORK this next transfer. jetzt geht's los, lemme tell ya!!

Best thing that happened, talking to an investigator, Catherine, about baptism and the Book of Mormon. She reads in the Book of Mormon every day, and on Sunday she was telling me how much she relies on it, and its where she gets her answers from. She speaks English, lived in the US for almost 25 years. As she was talking haha i just gave her a hug. She is so precious and so tender!!! She has a desire to be baptized and join the church, there are things she has to learn still and stop doing, like coffee, but she is progressing and we are movin' along!!!!

Most challenging...being tired with the weather and waking up when it is so darn dark outside!!! But alas it's all worth it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MONTY AND HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO YOU MOMMA AND POPS. Love you allsosoooooososososososo much. Miss you tons, but I know I am where I am supposed to be. I am really having the time of my life here in Germany. BELIVE ME. Doctrine and Covenants 18:10 is like my life. It has changed my life. fur realz.

Stay real my loved ones!!!

looooovoe

sister mittleman

Madison's 6 week calendar cover.  

I Love Taking Little Moments To Realize That I Am A Missionary In Germany!

January 5, 2015

OH HEY we are in 2015!!! I seriously feel like 2008 or 2010 even were just last year. BUT IT'S 2015!!!! I turn 20 this year!!!! I will be in Germany THE WHOLE YEAR!!!!!! JAWOOOOHHHL.

So this week was cool with bringing in the New Year, but actually pretty rough with our missionsarbeit.

I SAW TRAINER NORTON. aw yeah. When we first saw each other here in Innenstadt, we had one of those running toward each other moments and then embracing. sooooo fun and sooooo lovely! The last time I saw her was when she left braunschweig to Berlin at the end of my first and her last transfer. She was not just a missionary, but also my COMP; MY FIRST TRAINER. Oh man reuniting was so sweet. It was weird seeing her not in a skirt and ohne namenschild! I LOVE HER. Her family was realllly aweseome, they took us out to lunch on Tuesday, then we saw them again New years eve at a members house. Hollaaa!! Such a cool tender mercy that I am serving here where she also served. Tis fate I tell you.... star crossed companions or something. Hey Sister Norton when you read this and laugh!!

Madison & Trainer Norton

NEW YEARS EVE WAS INSANE. So we were at our gml's house from 6 to 9, chillin and eating würstchen, salats and Berliners. A family from BS was there tooo!! That was fun and sis Norton and family. After we got home, we planned and got ready for bed. Not going to lie. I stayed up. Well, I read the scriptures in my bed. PARTY ANIMAL OR WHAT.  I finished the last 15 pages or so of Doctrine and Covenants, read Alma 5 for a little chastisement, then Alma 26 for some real motivation and excitement. At around 11:55 the real fireworks started. IT WAS CRAZY. Truly sounded and looked like warfare outside.  I stood outside on our little balcony for about 15 minutes before going to bed. Ill show you videos one day when I get home...

Sister Murdock is such an up front and honest person. I love it. We both have the same mind set and goals as missionaries. Her German is coming along! I really hope we stay together next transfer.

Being a senior comp is interesting. Going from being a little Golden and relying upon someone else to all of a sudden being the one with more experience and whose German skills we rely on has been fun and eye opening. So yes I do lead momma. I love it!! I love helping my dear comp as well.  But through small and simple things great things really do come to pass. I know it.

We finally got to meet with one girl this week after a while, I had never met her before, and her mom was there too! That was a bit of a miracle, at how open and interested she was. haha, we were just talking in English, and then when I said the first vision auf deutsch they both were like whoa you are undercover with your German. hahahaha that was funny.  Found this other kid the other day when we were klingeling his door and he came up behind us. He is really busy going to berufschule but hopefully he will call us this week. Outside of that nobody is constant enough to talk about! But we are working on it. Tomorrow actually we are meeting with this dude we met a few weeks ago who was really interested. I'm stoked!!! mal sehen!!

Two goals I have so far for the year: read the BOM auf deutsch two times. Memorize a scripture every week. Other goals are still in progress.

I wish I played the piano better, that is a lacking area in the ward!! But being able to sing well is really helpful haha!

Nooooot sure if I need anything...

We have mission tour on Wednesday! Elder Kopischke, the area 70 will be talking to our mission in three different meetings. BUT HANNOVER ZONE will be there so i get to see LIEBE SISTER HARRIS and my other braunschweig buds. Did I tell you that Elder Carpenter, my first district leader who made the really good cinnamon rolls, is one of my zone leaders? He's such a stud. I'm stoked to hear from Elder Kopischke! (i was in the mtc with his grandson or some relative)

I CUT MY HAIR THIS MORNING. will send pics. Schw Tauche in the ward did it. yaay for healthy hair right momma :)))

Thanks for your happy and encouraging emails!!!! I love all the stories and quotes you send!!! I love you so much and can't wait (but actually I can) to be home and hug you and just be together again!! Sometimes I get a little homesick for a few moments, but like you say, I totally feel Father in Heaven watching out for and blessing me and my family as well. I am always at peace, although I am away! I love taking little moments to realize that I am a missionary in Germany! What a blessing and sacred trust this calling is! I love the Gospel, and I love being a member of the Lord's church. I know the Book of Mormon is true, and I love reading therein. The plan of salvation is so real! We are living through it right now!!!  Let's do it right!!

stay real and Liebe Grüße

SISTER MITTLEMAN