Cottbus-And So It Begins

November 2, 2015

Wellll here I am in Cottbus!  Saying goodbye on Tuesday to everything and everyone in Leipzig was hard. I got a little teary eyed as my train went out of sight of the missionaries that were there to see me off. I really loved Leipzig. But alas, change is good.

I'm glad to be somewhere new. in comparison to Leipzig, COTTBUS IS TINNYYYY. (okay, well not thaaaat small) oh man I got here and I was like, where are all the people??? haha I have been saying similar things for the past week, Sister Fehlmann just looks at me funny when I do.

Ahhh yes my companion aus Freiberg, die Sister Fehlmann!!  this is her second transfer. she should be flying out on the 16th...... I have no idea what will happen to me or the program here. it's driving me crazy but I'm trying to be okay with it. naja. it's weird but cool having a German companion (again). Haha like she will ask me in the morning if she can turn on the light and I'll respond, and then after like 10 seconds I'll wonder, did I just say that in German?..... I've been grilling her with all of the little things I've always wanted to know how to say but never had the chance to learn. She is pretty mellow, which is cool. but sometimes it makes me feel like I'm on crazy pills and am hyper all the time. Haha my energy isn't all balanced out all the time as it was with Sister Reed. BUT I really like her!  Schade that we have two weeks but hey at least it's two weeks, right

So last Tuesday I saw Sister Kosak (Wife of Madison’s previous Mission President) at the ward choir practice!!!!!  Ahhhhh I wanted to die it was so fun to see her. She even drove us home!!! Then on Sunday I saw that the Kosak’s came in the building, and then I said hi to Sister Kosak, AND THEN President Kosak turned around and just gave me this smile and it melted my heart!!!!! Oh it was so nice to talk with him for a few minutes, he and his wife are so dear to my heart. He talked to me in German and I was in Heaven. So they asked me to share my testimony first in the sacrament meeting and introduce myself, and right when the bishop said that, President Kosak like cleared his throat really loudly and turned to glare me down with that adoring glare he has. Oh man as I was walking up to the podium all I could think about was all the stories he had ever told us of the wrong way to introduce yourself to a ward haha. Introducing yourself to the ward of your former Mission President was a bit intimidating for me. But when I got up there it was all good. With this being my fourth city I have applied a lot of what I’ve learned in the past. President and Sister Kosak just beamed as I talked (I dared to look at them a few times, but maybe more than a few times, the ward had like 60 people there). And I felt the spirit as I gave my testimony so I just felt so good. Then when I walked down and back to my seat President leaned toward the aisle and whispered thank you.  Gooooood times.

Soooo Dad to answer your question I actually really love silence. loooove it. People need time to think, to recognize their feelings and testimony through the spirit. 

Sister Reed said that Rene and Holger were at church yesterday, and that Rene was glowing. HERRLICH.

Best part of the week was probably just enjoying how pretty it is here, the leaves are changing and it's gorgeous. 

Challenging part was when I took a shower and forgot to close the window. haha. I FINALLY have a bathroom on my mission that has a window and of course winter is coming so it has no reason to be open when I shower anyway. Rookie mistake. 

Today is my first time emailing from here, and next week might be my last time for a bit. mal schauen. I despise not knowing!!!

My ponderize scripture for the week is Helaman 3: 35

 35 Nevertheless they did fast and pray oft, and did wax stronger and stronger in their humility, and firmer and firmer in the faith of Christ, unto the filling their souls with joy and consolation, yea, even to the purifying and the sanctification of their hearts, which sanctification cometh because of their yielding their hearts unto God.

I just love the wording of this scripture, especially the phrase "yielding their hearts unto God." Like that talk from Sister Marriott. I love my Heavenly Father, and I want to make His will my will. Have a solid week.

liebe Grüße aus Cottbus,

Sister Mittleman

Goodbye Leipzig!

October 26, 2015

I AM GETTING TRANSFERRED AND I AM GOING TOOOOO COTTBUS. 

wassup Cottbus wassssup

 wasssup Cottbus wasssup

COTTBUS

jump on it jump on it jump on it

ANYWAY. 

Soooo yes I am leaving Leipzig after 5 months. Cottbus is the home ward of the Kosaks!!! haha awww yeah!  My new companion is a German visa waiter. She has been here for 6 weeks so I am like her 2nd companion/trainer wahhhhh. buuuut here's the thing! I called her to get all the deets and she said that she actually should be getting her visa in like 3 weeks. Aaand she is going to the Salt Lake Temple Platz Mission!! Waaaaay cooool but a bit of a bittersweet thing. I'm stoked to be with a German again but if she leaves in 3 weeks then I'll be way sad. Naja! we shall see!!! I leave tomorrow and I'm excited.

LAST CITY HERE I COME.

What I will miss most about Leipzig is just how gorgeous it is. The style of all the buildings and just how cooool it is. This place is really cool, and I have loved walking these streets. The people are always entertaining, as well. Tons of different personalities here. This city is just straight up cool. I hope to come back someday. (Someone today told me it's great for a honeymoon, holla! ;)

The ward here is also awesome. I was sad to share my testimony yesterday for the last time, here, I love this ward a lot. It's huge, but good. 

Best thing this week was meeting with Rene and Holger. We met on Friday and our ward mission leader, Bruder Pabst came. SO GOOD. I love them so much. We had planned to invite Rene to prepare to get baptized either at the end of November or beginning of December, and he said yes!!! YESSSSSSSSS. it was awesome having our gml there, he is a stud and just helped bring clear understanding to everything we talked about. The sisters in the other ward had a baptism on Saturday, so the two came to that as well. Rene said he knows he doesn't feel ready right now, but he wants to work on getting there. I know I said this already, but he GETS IT. What the goal is, why it's important. and he wants it. I have met three people like this on my mission, Frau Devers, Marita (the inv of the sisters who just got baptized Vorgestern) and Rene. It's gonna happen for him, sooon! We got ice cream today and then we went to the top of this building that overlooks the city, and he was just talking about his baptism and how he feels. My heart melted!!! I don't want to leave him!!! But I might be able to come back for his baptism, so that keeps me feeling okay. oh man I love him so much! So we were at the top of this building, looking out over the city, and then I turned around and the two had pulled out a little present for me! aw man. They gave me sweets and a little picture frame with a pic of us when we were on the way to the temple.  I will miss them so much.

Mannn now that I’ve typed up all this good stuff about Leipzig it makes me want to stay so bad!! And now tonight we will go say goodbye to more people who I love!!! But it can't and won't last forever. the relationships will and the memories will, though. I am grateful I could serve here. Oh Leipzig.  

We said goodbye to Elder Aust this morning, who flies home on Wednesday. He was my district leader in Lübeck and then zone leader here.  (he's from Fresno) (TOTAL STUD) It's sooo weird how the time goes by sooo fast. I was in Lübeck like 10 months ago!!!! and now I only have 4 months. 

I am grateful I can serve my Savior, and my Father in Heaven. I know that the Lord will continue to use me and my little efforts to bring to pass good things. This Gospel is worth sacrificing for. Next week I'll be in Cottbus what what!

ALLES LIEBE AUS LEIPZIG FOR THE LAST TIME

Sister Mittleman

I Really Am Grateful For The Time I Have To Serve The Lord And The People Here.

October 19, 2015

ICH WAR KRANK but now I'm back.

Yeah so not that much happened this week, as Sister Reed and I were both pretty sick for a few days. Many days spent in bed in the jams, and pug shirt. Lots of reading in the scriptures.

We DID find some health to meet with Rene and Holger this week. RENE IS SO COOL. So last Sunday in church we had talked about baptism, and during our lesson this week, Rene said that he does have the desire to be baptized, but he doesn't know if he can. His reasons for not getting baptized are all really good! I know that sounds lame, but what I guess I am trying to say is that he really understands what it means when we choose to get baptized. He said that right now everything is freiwillig, all voluntarily done, but when he is baptized he has promised to do these things. YES THANK YOU. He likes going to church and talking with us, but he just needs to realize that he NEEDS these things. When we know and feel how the commandments enrich our lives, we become willing to keep them. We strengthen our willingness when we strengthen our testimonies. So that is what we will do with Rene, help him feel the spirit confirm to him that it's all good and worth it. We talked about the plan of salvation, and it went really well. Haha, Holger had forgotten everything from our lesson with him so it was a good review. I love those too. Rene had to work yesterday so he didn't come to church, but we will see him again this week. Man I love them!!

Yess transfer calls are on Saturday. Change would be cool! This district is really old so it would be goood to go somewhere where everyone is a little more fresh on the mission. I have three transfers after this week so it's totally possible that I leave! I really love it here, and I love the people I serve and serve with. Oh Leipzig. We shall see!

Sister Reed is doing well. She and I sang in church yesterday and it went sooo goood!! She sings so well, and we sounded pretty darn good with our harmonies. Goooood times!! Singing was so much fun, I wish I could do it more often. I really love Sister Reed and spending like every waking minute of the day with her. We laugh and just stick it all out together. I would hate to have to leave her.

ON WEDNESDAY IT SNOWED FOR LIKE 3 HOURS. Thankfully it did not stick. We were sick so we were inside. It was way cool and pretty though!! I hope this winter isn't too coold. mal schauen. That sight though was definitely a highlight of the week.

HEY like a year ago in Braunschweig, the last Sunday of my first transfer this one lady just showed up to church, wanting to learn more, and so Sister Harris and I (haha mostly Sister Harris since I was so new and I couldn't understand her so well) taught her a few times before I left. SHE GOT BAPTZIED THIS WEEKEND!!!! waaaahhhhh crazy right!! I am so stoked for her. I just remember her giving me a hug after I had written down her number and address and trying to say in broken German that we would love to come visit her. What a tender mercy it is to know that she has entered the covenant of baptism :)) Life is so goood!!!

I really am grateful for the time I have to serve the Lord and the people here. My mission means so much to me, my testimony and growth are so important and precious to me. I love being here. I love my Father in Heaven, and I love my Savior Jesus Christ. They live!

alles liebe aus Leipzig,

Sister Mittleman

Snowing in Leipzig

This City Is Gorrrrgeous. I Love It :)

October 12, 2015

This week was goooood I'm tired right now so sorry if this is short.

It is turning to autumn and feels like winterrrrr ahhhhh this week was chillly. Time to start missing California again!!!!!

We met with Renè and Holger this week. They brought us some Christstollen Bread. it's like fruitcake you see during Christmas. We taught the restoration, it went really goood. We gave Renè some good suggestions for reading in the Book of Mormon, and he was excited. We asked if he came to church what he wanted the investigator class to be about, and he said baptism is really interesting to him. Woohoooo. Yesterday he came to church in this cute little sweater. He stayed for all three hours!! Our gml taught a solid lesson about baptism. It was awesome. Rene loved the verses in Mosiah 18 talking about Baptism. I love that guy, and I am grateful he is making his way forward.

Thursday we had a zone training meeting. That was cool, sister Reed and I gave a short thema on Elder Cook's talk from conference. I love missionary meetings :))

The Assistant’s were there, and before it all started, they and we had gotten there earlier so Sister Reed and one our Zone Leaders could practice something together, and before they started, Elder Wpf went up to the podium and told me to come with. Haha he is from Canada and sooo precious! He had Elder Siddoway play and then we just sang together, oh my gosh he was so excited and it was all just so random but fun.

Transfers will come again in two weeks. So the last Saturday of this month we will find out. After this transfer I only have 3 LEFT. That's nothing!!!!!!

Moving quickly on to the next question...

Yeah for p-day here we stroll around the city center, or take a nap. Next week we hope to go to this cool war monument-Volkerschlacht Denkmal. Can't believe I have been here 4 months and have not been there..... Honestly just walking around Innenstadt here is a tour enough. This city is gorrrrgeous. I love it :)

Hardest part of the week was the chilly weather.

2 highlights not missionary related were 1. The gemeinde ausflug to torgau. Spent good times with the ward on a little outing, saw a castle, ate bratwurst, eis, and flew kites on this huuuuuge field. It was awesome. 2. Yesterday our eating appointment before church was at this old couple in the ward. schnitzel, rotkohl, potatoes, and gravy over it all. IT WAS SO GOOD. Oh my gosh German food is amazing and I love when little old German ladies make us heaven in the form of food. For dessert we wad Mandarins, they also served us this "wein" that was like 100%direkt saft of grapes without alcohol. Germans know how to drink their juice.

We sing on Sunday in sacrament meeting, Elder Clarke will play, and Sister Reed and I will sing together. "Our Savior's Love" I love it and I'm stoked.

A scripture I read this week and which was also mentioned at my Zone training meeting is Alma 23:6. It's not important to just believe, but to be CONVERTED. two different things. Sometimes it is clear to see in others if they believe, or if they are truly converted with their whole heart and soul. Sometimes it is harder to see that in ourselves. May we all ponder our personal comittment to the truth! 

I know that Joseph Smith restored the church of Christ. I know it’s our responsibility to do while here on the earth. I know God loves us, we are His.

alles liebet

Sister Mittleman

Gemeinde Ausflug

OH GERMAN RELIEF SOCIETY PRESIDENTS AND THEIR FUN IDEAS.

October 5, 2015

We are sitting in the Internet laden, and some guy in a bandana next to me is getting angry that the Internet isn't working. He is mumbling angrily in Spanish wooooo goooood times....

ANYWAY......

This week was automatically goood because of general conference!!!!! But other things contributed as well.

We got to spend the evening of Elder Clarke's birthday with him at the Todd's. Sister Todd made texas sheet cake and it was sooo rich. It was really fun, I was glad to be there. haha can't believe he is finally 20!!! 

Tuesday at district meeting the couple serving here half the week, Elder and Sister Hilton, shared some thoughts on discipleship. I LOVE THE HILTONS. (Yes parents of Brother Hilton, instructor at BYU) they shared some of their own experiences, and it was just so cool. They are schon älter, so they are very wise! They gave such strong testimony of the importance of this work, and how all of our sacrifices are worth it. I was actually a bit surprised at how touched I was. Seeing people who have been Disciples of Christ for so long, and who are STILL choosing the right and defending the truth was really meaningful for me. I hope I can be like Elder and Sister Hilton one day. I'm glad I can be here with them.  They feel so much like family. What a blessing.

Friday at church there was this KARTOFFELFEST aka a potato party..... OH GERMAN RELIEF SOCIETY PRESIDENTS AND THEIR FUN IDEAS. Haha probably the first and last time I will attend a party full of songs, poems and food dedicated completely to potatoes. It was soooo fun!!! A less active sister from the ward came with whom it is hard to meet with. She had a chill time. Lots of members brought friends with whom we had good talks with and of course the food was amazing. There was potato salad, the Todd’s brought funeral potatoes, bratkartoffeln, kartoffelpuffer, potato soup, even some sweet potato bread. Kartoffelfest 2015 did not disappoint.

Thursday we had an AMAZING lesson with Rene and Holger. It was our first real lesson with just the two of them. FINALLY. Rene curiously read through the baptismal interview questions, and asked awwwweeeesome questions about several things. He talked about how he'd had this amazing feeling at church but then he left he lost it, and so he wanted to know what to do to keep it. Music to our ears!  That was probably one of the most spiritual and funniest appointments I have ever had. Those two are just so sweet and sooo funny. Oh man it was so gooooood! 

They said they would come to one of the sessions of conference, and might bring a friend. haha, so we were standing outside the church yesterday, checking out the scene, and then this blue slightly hippie looking van pulls across the front and turns into the parking lot. We couldn't really see who was driving, and so we were like who can this be? Then all of a sudden (while the car was still moving along) the back door slides open, and there is Rene, smiling and waving. Oh man it was so funny!!! Totally unexpected but so good! I am proud to call them our investigators and friends. They did bring a friend. This one was a little like the one from a few weeks ago, but better still. They stayed for a session, and found it overall good. Can't wait to see them this week!

SO CONFERENCE. Totally good! As I read through my notes from today I realized that I received solid revelation for the questions and concerns that I have. I watched the women's conference and 3 others (the Todd’s are having us over for fhe to watch the Sunday afternoon session with their family wooo) Some of my favorite talks were President Nelson's and President Monson's as well. President Nelson just said it so well about the women we need in the church. I like that he said we need women who will not just make covenants, but who will keep them. I mean, it can be easy to make covenants, but keeping them is the sifting part. I was just so encouraged and strengthened in my resolve to be strong and constant in my conversion. And with President Monson I loved that he talked about being an example. The world is bad. Our standards and faith really do stand out. We have the light of our testimonies, and therefore we have a responsibility to stand up for them. It is hard, but it feels right and it brings peace. 

I know that the men and women who lead the church are called of God. They are not just people who we have chosen who we think and hope will do a good job. We can feel assurance that THEY are the ones chosen by God. I know through the Holy Ghost that President Monson is God's chosen prophet. I know that Christ leads this church. I know His Gospel is true. I love my Redeemer. The Atonement is real. I love being His representative, I looooove being a missionary. 

ALLES LIEBE

SISTER MITTLEMAN

Leipzig Lerche Filled with Marzipan

Altes Rathaus, my faaavorite sight of Leipzig