Sunday, November 19, 2017

The one where Sister Gach went home and I went back to Munich... 11/14/2017

Hellllllooooo!

Wow what a week! We had so many appointments! Wednesday we had a lesson with Nicole, a woman found the transfer before I came but that we finally made contact with. She had missionaries come to her over 20 years ago but then they never came back. We showed her the book of Mormon and explained it to her. She asked us about what we believe about the after life and when we said we believe we can live with our families forever she told us that she would not like that and she wouldn't like to a lot of people again nor does she want life to go on... it was really sad honestly. But we talked about how God knows us perfectly and that He will take care of everything and we will have so much joy. She said she'll study the book of Mormon and pray about it. :) We then went and had a lesson with Maria and her daughter, they are from Brazil. We taught the plan of salvation and it went really well. They are such a cute, sweet family, and my Portuguese comprehension is slowly but surely improving:))) Wednesday night we did the Young Women's activity. We talked about missionary work and played some games and answered all of the young women's questions about missions. Our ward has such solid and amazing young women. I think a lot of them will serve missions. It was a super awesome evening. One of the girls asked if we had family pictures..the reactions to my (giant) family picture(s) were hilarious. They were all so shocked at the size of my family, Sister Gach and I were laughing so hard. 

Thursday we went to Schwester Schulers and Bruder Caló was there as a mitbeleherung (a joint teach, aka he taught her with us.) We taught about the spirit world, temple work, and family history work. Bruder Caló was so helpful and has a lot of experience with it. Schw. Schuler made us lunch, and there happened to be meat, so I finally got to eat some meat...and also watch Sister Gach eat meat. Bahahaha poor thing. Then we met with Marilou before her appointment. Marilou is so sweet. She's having a hard time but she is honestly so strong. She's a good example to us of strength, and the gospel will only help make her stronger. We also were invited to the Lucas families home for dinner and we had vegetarian tacos and American brownies! It was awesome. Sister Lucas told us all about her mission and about life after the mission. 

Friday we were able to have a lesson with Beatrice over Skype. It went really really well. She's amazing and I love her. We taught her the gospel of Jesus Christ and she listened and understood it so well. She forgot to take her book of Mormon with her to Spain and she was so sad. She shyly asked if there was anyway to read it online or if there was "an online version" when we told her there was she was so froh! Beatrice is just so funny and sweet, I'm glad we are still able to meet with her and teach her over Skype while she's in Spain. :) 

Saturday we spent the day in Zurich, we had a zone conference and Elder Johnson from the area authority was there. It was such an awesome zone conference. Elder Johnson spoke to us for a while and the opened it up for questions. It gave all of us a chance to ask questions we had and see his thoughts on them. There were some interesting questions asked but he gave such good answers, and you could tell he was led by the spirit with his answers. He's a really awesome authority and I'm grateful for the opportunity we had to hear from him. It was also really good to see Sister Mellor, Sister Hunter, and Sister Hill again. I love those awesome sisters!

Sunday we went to Bruder Prellers and had a quick delicious lunch and then we drove with him and the Lichtblaus to stake conference in Zolikofen. I sat next to Sister Lichtblau and she told me all sorts of stories from her life and all of the miracles she's seen and experienced. I could probably listen to her all day  (and she could definitely talk all day). Sister Lichtblau has such strong faith and truly has seen so many miracles in her life. She is such a strong woman and an example of having faith to see the miracles. She doesn't have any doubts, she just believes. She's wonderful and I love her so much. The stake conference was really good. There was am interesting talk with props and a fairy tale and I felt like I was at the timpanogos story telling festival, but it got the children's attention and she tied the three little pigs into the gospel really well. We spent the evening packing and preparing to go to Munich early the next morning.. 

Yesterday we left our apartment bright and early and spent the day traveling to Munich. We went out to dinner with President and Sister Brown and then spent the evening in the mission home. This morning Sister Gach left and got on a plane headed home, and Sister McAllister and Sister Slack came and picked me up for a day in Munich. It's been so good to be back here, I love Munich! I go back to Switzerland tomorrow afternoon and will be picking up my companion Sister Harwood in Zurich and then we will travel to Reinach tomorrow. It's been a lot of traveling the last few days but it's been good. 

Sister Gach has been such a great companion. I have loved serving with her and I've learned so much from her. I have seen myself grow so much from her example (and her cooking lolol but really...we be growing). I'm so grateful for the opportunity I had to serve with such a great missionary. I've learned something from each of my companions that I wouldn't have learned with anyone else. Ahhh I love all of my companions! I can't believe Sister Gach is going home and that missions aren't forever... I just really love my mission and this opportunity to dedicate my time to serving the Lord. ♡

"Once again may I emphasize the principle that when we truly become converted to Jesus Christ, committed to Him, an interesting thing happens: our attention turns to the welfare of our fellowman, and the way we treat others becomes increasingly filled with patience, kindness, a gentle acceptance, and a desire to play a positive role in their lives. This is the beginning of true conversion. Let us open our arms to each other, accept each other for who we are, assume everyone is doing the best he or she can, and look for ways to help leave quiet messages of love and encouragement instead of being destructive with bashing." -Marvin J Ashton 


Sister Carley Lundskog
Kirche Jesu Christi HLT
Lommelstraße 7
81479 München 
Deutschland










Sunday, November 12, 2017

The one where I'm just so happy!! 11/7/2017

Heeeelllloooo everyone!!

AHH I'M JUST SO HAPPY!!! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY! 
This last week has been wonderful, we got spoiled by members and met with so many of our friends!

On Wednesday we met with Annette and her daughter. Annette is the woman from California/Armenia that we met a few weeks ago. We taught the restoration and it was amazing. Annette has a heart of GOLD. 💛 I love her. We also saw her yesterday to say goodbye because unfortunately she's going on a trip for about a month or so.. So probably when she gets back there will be two new missionaries, but Sister Gach and I can keep in touch with her over Facebook and help her connect with the new missionaries when she gets back so it'll be okay. It was sad to say goodbye though. :( We also had lunch with the Lichtblaus, a wonderful older couple in our ward. They are seriously awesome and shared their conversion stories with us, and just talked about their life experiences. They then drove us to another family in the ward, the Schaffters, and we had dinner with them and talked about the team Christus initiative. 

Thursday we went to meet a Brazilian woman we met a while back on the way to district meeting. Hahaha Portuguese gives me such a headache. I felt like a golden again. We also met with our friend Elizabeth and talked about the plan of salvation. Every time I study the plan of salvation or teach it, I feel the spirit so strongly and I just love it. The plan is real folks!

Friday was Sister Gachs birthday and we went to the Prellers home for lunch and GMK. It was delicious and such a pleasant time. We were able to celebrate and sing to Sister Gach and they had some presents for her. Then we went dooring and found a very beautifully decorated home...hence the dog poster photos. The classic things we find here. I love it. We visited another member that evening and had such a spiritual uplifting time! After we went home and did weekly planning, ordered a pizza and fries and then did a spa night. 

Saturday we went to a child in our wards birthday party for a quick bit and then went dooring in a cute little dorf. :)

Monday we saw Annette again for a little bit to say goodbye, we had a lesson with another friend Dominic, and then we had dinner with the Hug family. The Hugs are awesome. It's a family of girls and they are so sweet. It made me miss my sisters :). We ate fondue with them and then had family home evening. 

Basically our ward is amazing, the members are wonderful, we have so many opportunities to teach, and I don't want to ever leave Reinach. I LOVE IT. 

Today we had district p ay and decided to enjoy the fall and go for a hike. Hahaha. This has probably been my favorite pday on the mission. It was so fun and absolutely gorgeous. And of course, I loved being back in the mountains hiking around. 😍😍 

"When I think of the Book of Mormon, I think of the word power. The truths of the Book of Mormon have the power to heal, comfort, restore, succor, strengthen, console, and cheer our souls. ...My dear brothers and sisters, I promise that as you prayerfully study the Book of Mormon every day, you will make better decisions—every day. I promise that as you ponder what you study, the windows of heaven will open, and you will receive answers to your own questions and direction for your own life. I promise that as you daily immerse yourself in the Book of Mormon, you can be immunized against the evils of the day, even the gripping plague of pornography and other mind-numbing addictions." -President Nelson, October General Conference 

I LOVE YOU ALL, have a fantastic week! 

♡// Sister Lundskog 

Sister Carley Lundskog
Kirche Jesu Christi HLT
Lommelstraße 7
81479 München 
Deutschland