January 17, 2015

Hello!

So, I'm sorry. This will be short with just a couple high light stories, and a spiritual thought, because I am running out of time. We need to pack, and clean the apartment and get it ready for the Elders. 

They're closing Wiesbaden American Sisters are and replacing us with Elders. So we both need to pack. I'm going to Nürnberg, and Sister Young to Köln. I will try to send lots of pictures because it's apparently really pretty over there. I'm excited.

Friday, we were on our way back from an appointment, this Hungarian man sat down across from  us, and then gave us a 20+ minute lecture on the history of Hungary, and the surrounding countries.  It was funny.

Monday, we went to a members house for dinner, and totally surprised them because they forgot and we forgot to call them. We had Gumbo for dinner. It was a good day :)

This week in my studies, I've been reading the talks that Shar sent me. My favorite one is "according to the desires of our hearts" by Neal A Maxwell, and I shared it with the members as part of our lesson all week :) it was pretty cool.  I love the words of the prophets, and they really are for us :) 

Love you, got to go!!

-Sister Montgomery

Happy 11th Birthday Angelina - January 14, 2016

Hi!

Report on All Things German: last Monday for P-Day, we went shopping with Sister Aschle at Kik in Mainz.  I got a new skirt (all of these things because I needed a couple things to spice up my wardrobe), 3 new shirts, some thermal leggings, socks, reusable hand warmers, and I think that's it. We spent over an hour there shopping. It was super fun :)

Tuesday we went to the Pullans. They told me  they had a package for me. Thanks Shar! I wore the socks Wednesday, and have been using the sticky notes for all kinds of things and studying the talks. They're great. Thank you!! Also, just so you know, they keep opening the packages, and have been about ready to open stuff, so maybe put a note on top saying it's for me or something, if you send any more.

Wednesday we met with the Stanton family.  They have twins, and they are super cute. We had Swedish meatballs, which were really yummy. We talked about mission stories most of the time, which was fun. Brother Stanton served in Thai Land, and Sister Stanton served in Croatia. They had fun stories. Unfortunately I can't remember any of them. It makes me sad :(

Thursday we had a split. I went to Frankfurt with Sister Funk who is going home at the end of this transfer.  We had a lunch Termin with the ward secretary. He served his mission in Finland! It was really cool, because they are a multinational family (He's American, and she's German. Super cute family, wish I had pictures). Then we were going to go to a street display, but it was raining, so it got cancelled and we did go-bys instead. We took 3 different busses to get to one house, because we got off at the wrong stop. And then, because Sis Funk and I were both companions with Sister Pettitt, we made her a "puzzle"-- we cut random shapes out of paper and put it in envelopes and are sending it to her :) it was fun :D

Friday we got up early and walked to the church and did Insanity with the Zone Leaders and other elders in the district. Then the APs called asking if we had steel-wool -- they'd made rice pudding and burned it to the pot and needed to clean it up. We didn't have any. They offered us a ride to Zone training (they're in a drit right now, so it's totally legal). We accepted, and they told us to be ready to go by 8:30. We went to a wedding :) it was super cool, and I totally made it into strangers wedding pictures haha. It was super fun. And freezing. I was really glad I had that big wool coat you bought me, Mom.

Then we went to zone training. It was really good.  The themes were really good, and super powerful.

I still have stories, but I'm running out of time. I have to go! Love you! I'll tell you the stories next week. I'll make sure they get in my letter for next week. Bye!!

-Sister Montgomery

Happy New Year! - Jan 4, 2016

Monday we were at the Wagners. Sister Wagner talked to us about the benefits of direct sales, especially with DoTerra, and I think I'm going to test it out when I get home. I'm interested to see how this turns out. 

Tuesday we were able to have a couple good conversations with nonmembers because we went to help with the USO, and they had already finished all the work, so we got to help clean the office instead :) there were some nonmember employees and volunteers there and they asked some questions (they saw the tags), and we were able to answer them. It was fun, and cool that we were able to give them the info they wanted/needed. I'm trying to be better at that; giving them what they ask for, not just jumping right into the lessons, and being sensitive to their needs. It's hard, but I'm getting better. 

Wednesday we were able to provide service to the Pullans. Brother Pullan had shoulder reconstruction surgery a couple weeks ago and has (obviously) been out of commission since. So, Tuesday night I asked Sister Pullan (who I had noticed was a little frazzled and stressed), if we could come over and help her sometime. She said she wouldn't refuse. So, we made an appointment for Wednesday afternoon, since we had nothing else planned. So, we got to go over and help her get her life organized and then make goodies (like fudge, and caramel, and frangoes). we didn't get to try them, though, because we had to leave and get other things done. Also, I wasn't feeling good (like all week), so we had planned on having our dinner our late, and me just going to bed and seeing if that would help. It did, to an extent. 

Thursday DDM was the best of my life. There were only 2 themes, (what are those in English? Devotionals? Spiritual thoughts? in your district meetings, what did you call it when someone taught a lesson?). Hey were both on embracing change, and setting goals. So, as a result, I've been studying that a lot the last few days. I've read, like, 2 or 3 different talks on the matter, my 2 favorites of which are "navigating the currents of life" by Mindy Anne Selu from the December 2015 Ensign, and "the best time to plant a tree" by Dieter F Uchtdorf from January 2014. They both talk about how we can set worth while goals, and continue progression even if we may have passed all the milestones of school and stuff. They're both super cool :) 

Then we had a sleep over with the Sisters at their apartment (we had presidents permission). We were super silly and it was a lot of fun. I'll send some pictures, and see if I can fit a video. 

The rest of the weeks was pretty boring. Just studies and contacting, since we didn't have a tone of appointments. I finally got drafts of my Resolutions. I want to make them something I can actually keep and accomplish this year, so I'm still figuring it out. I'll let you know when I get the final draft written up. It might take a while, since we don't have a ton of time to sit down and do stuff like that. It should be fun :) 

Love you all and miss you! 

-Sister Montgomery

December 28, 2015

 Hi! 

This week was good. We had member appointments every night this week, Jessica and Valerie came back from Turkey, and it made me so happy! We went to the Commissary on the 23. Dez. and found out that Sister Young's brother was in this mission at the same time as the 2nd councilor in our Bishopric! It was so weird. So, we took a picture and Bro. Johnson sent it to him over Facebook later. It was fun :) 

Christmas eve we went over to the Kramers. I rode their rocking horse. Sister Young took picures. She help the shutter down. And I now have a million action shots. It was quite interesting. We had Mexican food -- home made! Tamales, were the main course. It was yummy and fun :) 

Christmas came and went. And now we await the New Year. And, as Sister Young says "you enter the 3rd year of your mission." She's a goober. Sister Young is super fun, ridiculous, silly, and a joy to be around. We are often laughing, and talking about life. But it's not awkward when we're quite. We have lots of fun, and jokes, and life is enjoyable again. I love Sister Young :) 

Do you have any funny stories from this week? 

Anyway, Love you all!! Have a good week!!

-Sister Montgomery

Merry Christmas - December 21, 2015

This week was good. I've been praying all week, and I got a blessing to help, too. Priesthood blessings are my favorite thing since Peanut butter. They help so much. I always feel so much better after getting a blessing, whether it's been really rough, or just uncomfortable. They help a lot. As does prayer. And scripture study. And talking with your companion. Also journaling. Mostly blessings and prayer, though.

We had Zone conference on Thursday. Elder Johnson from the Europe area presidency came, and brought his son-in-law and his 3 sons ( his daughter died a few months ago). Elder Ballard said they should go to a zone conference when he saw Elder Johnson at the ward council conference a few weeks ago. So we got to see them. It was fun. Also, Elder Johnson greeted each of us individually. 

That was really cool. We got a new investigator Saturday. It's a part member family from Hawai'i. We taught him about eternal families, and I got brave and challenged him to take the lessons. He said yes, but with the stipulation that we go at his pace. We said "no problem." It was super powerful, and am super excited for Brother Lotomau. They told us all about Hawai'i, and I want to go visit. We had Hawaiian food -- stuffed shrimp, which I didn't eat. I was bummed cause I wanted to try it, but I would rather have been safe. The rest of the food was really good, too. I can't remember what all we had, but it was good :) and I am so excited :p life is good.

Talk to you, then! Love ya!!

-Sister Montgomery

December 14, 2015

Monday, we went to the Ruidisheim (roo-dis-HI-m) Christmas market with Sister Rolfe, and her three younger girls. Later that night she took us to the Mainz (mine-ts) market for dinner. Sister Rolfe is wonderful. She spoils us. She said she has some pictures from our photoshoot, but when she tries to tag one of the girls, it doesn't work. Have they accepted her friend request? Maybe you should friend her so you can see those pictures. Her name is Eleanor Rolfe, in Wiesbaden Germany.

Tuesday was ridiculously stressful. I think Transfers were stressful before, but they changed it, and made it 10 times worse. We met up with the Mainz sisters and split with them because Sister Lyman and Raiser were being transferred, and Sister Bates and I were not. Yes, I got to be companions with Sister Bates for a day, again :D It made me so happy.  Anyway. We went to an appointment with one of their baptismal dates, and came back to Hauptbahnhof and helped Sister Lyman get on her next train (sister Raisers train had left from Wiesbaden Hauptbahnhof 20 minutes before sister Lymans had, and she had to get off in Mainz. Then we found Elder Trippe by himself (he'd sent Elder Bolek to Paderborn already), and I got upset with the Mainz elders because they were not there waiting for him, and made him walk to their house.

The rest of the week was all on me, since Sister Young doesn't know the area, or the people, so I'm making all the interactions, and appointments, and getting us places. It's stressful. And being under the weather doesn't help. Or having a million and one appointments, or a street display, 

Anyway, I love you, and hope all is doing well.

-Sister Montgomery

December 7, 2015

Hi,

So, this week on Wednesday we went on a Split. I went to Frankfurt with Sister Godwin (who was in my MTC district, which was super fun), and Sister Lyman had a blast over here with Sister Funk. 

Thursday we went to a baby shower for a less active, and lost track of time, and were late for our cleaning check. But they'd showed up, like 45 minutes early, and then got mad at us when I called back to tell them we were going to be a bit late. I got really flustered and upset. It was a German couple from that mission presidency, and I was already nervous after hearing that they weren't the most tactful or sensitive, so I was having anxiety attacks and was sick all day. I'd gone to bed with a headache the night before, and woke up with it still. It wasn't the most fun.  So, we got home, and President Frankel got to work fixing our sink, (which the handle was broken), and Sister Frankel basically cleaned our kitchen. 

Saturday, we had transfer calls. It was super stressful because they changed he procedure on us. Normally we have a mission wide transfer call and everyone finds out then. But they made it so that each companionship receives a call and finds out what's happening that way. But for us, they waited till 8:30 PM to call us. And for the 2nd time in a week, I was sick with anxiety. Can I just say, I that I hate transfer calls, and transfers! Really. They're so stressful. I don't like it one bit. But. I just found out I get to go on a split tomorrow with Sister Bates :D both our comps are transferring. So, we get to work both areas for a few hours. It's gonna be fun :D I'm excited.

Anyway. We didn't get a call till 8:30. And we were at a member. We had an adventure with phone tag and the APs, and being held hostage till we knew. The whole family was sitting in the living room and fretting with us saying "this is stressful. I don't like it." It was a good bonding moment.

So. Sunday, 1/2 the ward told Sister Lyman they would come visit her up in Köln, and we got home way late from 2 bye termin, and junk.

Kay. I'm out of time. Love you! I'll give you more study details next week. Bye!!

-Sister Montgomery

Welcome to December - December 2, 2015

This week was nuts. I'll give you the schedule part, first, then the spiritual side. For some reason I have noticed that I have trouble remembering stuff. I need some sort of reminder. Which makes remembering what I learned in studies hard, because I'm terrible at keeping a scripture journal. Writing is just so slow, and breaking away every other verse to write down a thought or insight takes a long time. I'd probably remember a tone more, but for now, I think I will just stick to reading. Sometimes I use sticky notes, but I used all my small ones, and don't want to use the massive normal sticky notes I have, since I want them for other stuff.

Anyway, the funnest part of this week that I'm still recovering from was Thanksgiving. Wednesday we went over to our members house to help her clean & bake to prepare. We ended up just baking for a few hours. Went to our dinner appointment, came home, and started baking so we had the rest of the stuff for dinner at 1 the next day. We made rolls, a pie, and a turkey. Getting it all prepped. It was fun. I got some videos and pics that were pretty funny of us playing with the turkey, and just being silly as the night went on. Yes, Sister Lyman and I cooked our first Turkey. We had to get up early to get it in on time, and then it ended up finishing about 2 hours before we thought it would. It actually turned out pretty good :) we were quite proud of ourselves. 

I missed Dads stuffing, and Turkey, and the pink Jell-O stuff. And Danika's pies. Sister Lyman and Sister Wagner are both really good cooks, but neither of then can beat Danika, especially with her pumpkin pie. That's my request for when I get home: Danika's Pumpkin pie, and Dads Stuffing. 

Aside from that, we've basically just been helping people clean and get organized. That seems to be a trend here in the military ward, with everyone moving all the time. But it's fun. Tuesday, we ended up folding laundry for 2.5 hours straight. This was for the family who's daughter ended up hospitalized for diabetes. So they've been in and out of the hospital, and trying to ECS (get out of the military), and she just didn't have time to fold clothes. For about a month. So we did it :) needless to say, we were exhausted by the end of the night.

This week in Personal, I've been focusing on finishing the Book of Mormon, because President Stoddard challenged us to do so. I've been skipping around, but today I read Jacob 5. It was really interesting to read it all the way through in one sitting, because I don't think I've done that before. But, this time I tried to figure out which group was which branch, and the only one I got was the Nephites/Lamanites with the tree that half died. The others are still a complete mystery to me. I've also learned a lot about trust, and how it goes hand in hand with faith (they've become basically the same thing in my mind), and I've been working on expressing my gratitude for things, especially trials, and hard times, because they are a time for us to learn and grow.

-Sister Montgomery

Happy Thanksgiving! - November 23, 2015

(Insert greeting of your choice) =P

This week went by really fast. Last Monday was crazy. We went to one of the little Dorfs (so a village), and met the zone at a park there to play football, American style. It was flag football. I didn't play, seeing as my ankle was still being difficult, and I don't want to make it worse, especially because this is the second time I've hurt it since July. But everyone who played had fun, and some random German kid even asked if he could play. It was Flag football, so they had stripes of fabric tucked into their waists. It was fun to watch. Everyone was sore the next day, though.

Tuesday, we got to go to Offenbach (oh-fen-bah-ck) for a ward council conference about the Europe area plan, and Elder Ballard was there! He spoke a lot about how we need to keep things simple (because Christ is a master of simplicity, and Satan a master of complexity), and told the ward council to work the missionaries. Lol! He said "we have not yet lost a missionary from overwork." So we told our council on Sunday that we want to be the first :) 

Wednesday we did some go-bys on some of the single soldiers in the Barracks with our Ward Mission Leader and his wife. We made invitations to a thanksgiving dinner, and gave them to them. We were finally able to meet some of the YSA, which was cool, and let them know that they are loved, and to make sure that they know they are loved. That's really our job as missionaries. To make sure that people know they are loved.

In studies, I've unintentionally been learning a lot about gratitude the last few days. I've learned that it's important to be grateful for the little experiences we have, not just the big ones, and most especially when it's hard. Like this morning, we were running, and something- still no idea what triggered it- made me sick. My stomach hurt and I had to stop. I ended up sitting on the ground, about ready to vomit as my lower abdomen is wrenching in on its self. It was the weirdest thing of my life. But, I remembered to say thank you that I was able to run about 1/2 the route. I haven't seen a ton of extra blessings from practicing this, but I'm definitely noticing the little blessings more. I've been trying to read in Jesus the Christ, but an hour is just not long enough to feel like I'm making much headway, especially when I don't even get the whole our for JUST Jesus the Christ. Most of the time I'm in the Book if Mormon. President Stoddard challenged the mission to read the whole thing by the end of the year a couple weeks ago. I think I'm about 2/3 of the way through. 

The Christmas Markets, and all decorations are coming out in stores, and I am super excited to everything to be full blown Christmas. I have been waiting for this since, like, September, when Sister Lyman asked me to play Christmas music. It's been way fun.

Love ya!

-Sister Montgomery