2017, Here I Come!

Augsburg


It's crazy how fast a year flies, and yet how many precious memories can be filled within that short time.  In the space of 365 days I have lived in Hawaii, Arizona, England, Austria and Germany.  




Among the crazy things that 2016 brought upon me were getting swarmed by wild dolphins, jumping in the road to save a drunk man, and learning German.  Among the more incredible opportunities were befriending and hearing the stories of people from all over the globes; watching conversion journeys unfold; and experiencing the effect of the refiner's fire upon my own faith.


The wildest thing to think about is that this is the year that many of my friends and I come home. 2017... Just.... WHAT.


Awkward Finding Moments:- #1: We were dooring an apartment complex. Someone rung us in without asking who we were, but at the same time that we were walking through the front door of the apartment, another guy who lived in the building also walked through. He was holding a kitten, and he warned us to shut the door quickly before the cat could run outside. We did so. He set the kitten down in the hallway (don't ask why he didn't just wait till he got inside his house) but then the kitten just booked it. Up the stairs the kitty flew, as the man shouted, "Meine Katze!" We started running up the stairs as well, and suddenly we could hear a bunch of yelling kids. "A cat just ran into our apartment!" On the third floor, the door which had initially been opened for us was now the scene of a flurry of excitement. The cat owner was swarmed by giggling kids as he took his shoes of and entered the room to fetch his pet, whilst we were left standing there in the open doorway gaping. After a minute of being forgotten we just left.
- #2: We rang the doorbell at the outside of a gate. The gate opened. We had thought that the bell belonged to a certain house before realizing that that house was blocked by a hedge and that the bell actually belonged to a house at the end of a long driveway. We approached the house and LITERALLY COULD NOT FIND THE DOOR.  Awkwardly we decided to leave..... BUT THE GATE WAS LOCKED AND WE COULDN'T LEAVE THE PROPERTY.  So then we had to go back to the house, literally go around the house to the back where we finally found the door.  A nice British guy opened it (probably wondering why in the heck it took us so long to get there) and said he wasn't interested and that he was on his way out the door. Sheepishly we asked him how we could exit his property cause we were locked in.  We had to wait for him so we could get out.
- #3: interrupted a romantic moment................................




Some Good Doorstep Commentary:

 - "So you're Jehovah's Witnesses?" "Actually, were from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints!" "Ohhh so you're Catholic?"
- "Hello, we're missionaries and we're sharing a message--" "A message?" The elderly lady said, before launching (with thick dialect) into some spiel about all the funds she has had to pay lately but how she could probably scrounge something up. She disappeared, and then came back with €2.50 in change. "Ohh no no we are actually here as a service!" "Wait what? You're not here looking for money?"
- "You're missionaries?!" One old man said, as if shocked that we still even exist. "I haven't seen missionaries for a long time. Compliments to you."




Other Notable Notes:

 - my New Years diet saved me from eating a super-alcoholic chocolate given innocently at an elderly member's house; the other 3 missionaries suffered the taste of nailpolish and the sensation of burning in the throat apparently
-On day 3 of Christmas we spent enjoyed a lovely day playing games, eating German steak pinwheels, cookies,  and taking a walk up to a mountain which has been a sight of significance for the Germanic people for 4000 years or something crazy like that.  Now the sight of a small chapel, it was once the home of a castle and the witness of many battles.
- New Years Eve was spent with an AWESOME family whose basement is like a secret lair; it's decked out with all sorts of trophies and metals and has a disco ball. We ate food and shot off fireworks. 'Twas pretty lit.
- A lady let us into her house whilst we were dooring and was SO NICE and gave us water and asked us questions about ourselves. We shared a little message and when we gave her the Book of Mormon she GENUINELY seemed like she was going to follow our invitation to read Alma 32. WHEN WE WERE LEAVING SHE WAS JUST SO NICE AND SMILEY AND GAVE US A BAG OF COOKIES.
- On Sunday we met with a young guy who literally had to walk a lot of the way to Germany on foot. I am continually blown away by the bravery of the people I meet here.  He shared with us some fascinating things from his home culture and religion; we shared our beliefs about Jesus Christ. It was a wonderful meeting.

With the beginning of the New Year there is always the talk of resolutions and new beginnings. Of course I myself have my own goals. But the longer I am out on my mission the more I come to appreciate the power of the Atonement and the idea of a REAL new beginning. Through Christ, we can all find new life.  More than just a change of calendar inspired by another rotation of the earth around the sun; the kind of resolutions we make when we follow Jesus Christ can be eternal, purchased by His great atoning sacrifice.  I invite you all to think about that.

Love Always,
Sister Lundgreen


Oberammergau Town

Augsburg
Today, we traveled many hours to visit the snow-frosted Oberammergau.


I have never seen anything like the frescos splayed in dramatic detail across the outer walls of buildings; nor have I seen such beautiful wood carvings, which the town has been famous for for centuries. We wandered though many shops before I chose which Nativity set to purchase.  In one, we spoke to a man whose picture was framed on the wall on the front page of a newspaper.  His brows were creased in concentration as he whittled away his masterpiece, wood shavings left and right along with other completed proofs of his amazing talent.  He told us about the once-a-decade Passion Play, put on by the residents of Oberammergau, a beloved tradition begun in THE SIXTEEN HUNDREDS. "The people here must be very religious," guessed Sister Gach. He agreed with a solid yes.

*stay tuned next week for more pics*




The best way to sum up this week is that the morning after Sister Franchino got here I tried to get up and then immediately had to lay on the floor before I passed out. It's been a fun few days of fevers, coughing, freezing, and struggling to breathe. But all is well in the land of the Celestial language, at least it's pretty here. As a trainer, one has to try and give their golden a good first taste of the mission she has been called to. For the first dinner hour we visited the Christmas markets. I also had to make sure she tried a döner. I felt bad that I was so out of it but we worked hard anyway.

The golden fire is REAL.

Notable Notes
- I look forward to this following week of knocking on as many doors as possible before Christmas is over.
- Sometimes in tiny towns the buses come very rarely so you just get to take an hour walk through the rolling hills.
- It was so depressing saying bye to Sister Howsmon.
- I was showing 5-year-old Spanish twins all my pictures and for those of you who understand Spanish they were calling all my pictures feo and estupido haha
- Accents are a struggle when learning a language. Nobody wants that super-American "ar", but sometimes it's hard to do the German R than to just skip the R altogether. For example, I was trying to talk about how in Arizona we have spicier ("scharfer") things like how we grew jalapeños in our garden... But in my attempt to not sound American she thought I was talking about sheep ("Schafe").
- We got a have a nice chat at an Irish pub
- A flirty guy slipped his number to my golden #awkward
- We have gotten so many little gifts from members, they are the best.

This week I have been reading lots in the New Testament as well as in Preach My Gospel.  There are two quotes that I found: "Pure religion includes caring for the poor." and "By caring for the poor we help fulfill our baptismal covenant and retain a remission of our sins."  I love that. I was so proud of the young women's and young men's groups this week as they brought what they could together, to decorate for Christmas the home of a family who's father recently lost his job. We don't have to do much to show others that they matter, and I think that really shows all the difference.

Love Always,
Sister Lundgreen

Chestnuts Roasting

Austria

This week began with the Vreugdenhills, on the mist-blanketed top of Kalenberg.  We watched their little dog race ahead through the leaf-strewn path, and squinted over the edge of the mountain where the view of Vienna was devoured by white nothingness.  






We wore thick coats and gloves whilst we pointed at the villas of millionaires, explored the chapel built as a wedding gift to Empress Sissi, and stood reverently on the hill where Austria was dedicated.  The steaming bowl of soup (and not to mention the birthday cake!) was definitely welcome  afterwards. While home is hot as 97, it's been dipping down daily into the 40s here. 


I'll admit, this week flew by and I can't remember much to report. But along with getting caught in the rain, traveling around town giving stake conference invitations to those who haven't been to church in a while, and waiting 30 minutes for a guy who never showed up (#ithappensmorethanyouthink), here are some random   
Notable Notes: 
- We accidentally went to the U.N. when trying to find stake conference




- Chestnuts roasting on an open fire are a legit thing.  So are gingerbread cookies and Christmas lights in October! #canitbedecemberalready . 
- We had eating appointments with SEVEN MEMBER FAMILIES (and it was even actually supposed to be nine!).  Our ward is the best!  I love getting to know them.  Our conversations ranged everywhere from Christmas traditions to the low food supply during Depression/War times to phycological tricks like the Linker Method which help you remember long lists of random words.  
- Friday was exchange with Sister McClellan as well as Teodora's birthday dinner and YSA waffle night.  We agreed that that evening was the awkwardest of awkward, a comedy of mishaps, an utter social disaster.  But even despite the hour-late guest, the stolen food and all the absurdities in between, the night was salvaged when (after we got home) our sweet friend whom we had invited texted us saying that she had had a fun time and that she was grateful for us. Awwww!
- We ran into another friends on the subway TWICE this week.  We also ran into one of our members twice.  This city is so huge I don't know why it happens.
- Is there a third Divergent movie out or something because I thought I saw it out on DVD at the store.... I didn't even know they had so much as a PREVIEW out for that thing. Have I really been out that long?
- There were five sisters in the apartment on Saturday night. Ya know, spontaneous exchanges, like my third transfer.  'Twas fun.


- I have been getting nineties songs stuck in my head all week.  Don't ask me why, all I listen to is Christian Rock and EFY music.
- During language study I finished reading the German Old Testament's Book of Tobit.  I have been thoroughly entertained, and only slightly weirded out.
- We had an appointment where we talked about the Plan of Salvation, which is my favorite gospel topic.  I know it for sure helps ME understand this crazy world a little better!




Well this week we had stake conference, so all the members in this half of Austria had the chance to meet at the huge Austria Center Vienna.  The highlight for me was listening to a British member of the Seventy.  To loosely quote him: 
"You may be kind and they will be rude.  Be kind anyway.  You may be happy and they will be jealous. Be happy anyway.  You may be honest and they will cheat you.  Be honest anyway.  You may give your best and it will never be enough.  GIVE YOUR BEST ANYWAY."
I invite you this week to be your best self, to continue working hard and seeking Christlike-attributes no matter what the world throws back at you. You have so much potential, don't let it be squandered by those who try to tell you otherwise.
As he finished, "In the end it's between you and God.  It was never between you and them anyway." 

Heartstrings

Austria
  
Oktober Fest

    I remember the first time I had ever heard of Vienna was in the song Vienna Waits for You.  I had always been charmed by the idea of the city; it sounded beautiful and classic in an artsy European sort of way, but I had hardly dreamed of ever seeing it.  When I was assigned to serve here, I was of course thrilled.  I had no idea why (to be honest I knew hardly anything about this capital of Austria) but Vienna was the one city I sincerely, sincerely hoped I would have the opportunity to serve in after being called to the Alpine Mission.



    
 Six months later, my heart is captured; I am head over heels.  I love Vienna, and the idea of leaving this place where I have fallen not only in love with the ward members but with the random people we speak to on the streets, the meshed cultures, the Greco-Victorian architecture, the crazy subway system, the Wienerisch dialect, the classic arts, the incredible war-torn history... It's hard.  I still have AT LEAST another three weeks before I leave here and already I am trying to brainstorm ways to return.




"Exotic" decor


     But that's the wonderful thing about a mission.  I knew before I left that there would be times that were hard.  And that is true.  But I had ABSOLUTELY NO IDEA how much my heart strings would be tugged by the people who's stories I would never have had the chance to hear otherwise.


Things that went down this week:

- lots and lots of streeting through random neighborhoods and leave-strewn parks

- a number of opportunities to meet up with the COOLEST young people
- a sports night and a game night (I played chess for the first time in my life)
-  a beautiful garden-side lunch with the Bishop's family (LOVE THEM)


-  a Pakistani buffet where we sat on the floor and talked about traveling Greece (among many other things)
- a stroll past the Opera and a three-story H&M in a Victorian venue
- a lot of backtracking and rerouting and running through the station to catch the subway and otherwise just having to completely scrap our original plan
- an AMAZING fireside featuring Susan R. Madsen

Too short.... Story of my life...


Vienna's mini Oktober Fest
     Confession time: I am not the best missionary out there (haha). I am a natural introvert, and speaking with strangers is definitely not made easier when clumsily using a new language.  It is not uncommon for me to, for example, chicken out when Sister Slack says I should talk to the person walking past, or for me to just absolutely wing it when a lesson doesn't go as planned.   Besides this, my brain is an disaster-of-an-attention-lacking mess, I still accidentally call people "dude" (what can I say, I lived in Hawaii!) and I got way too excited when I heard "Rolling in the Deep" at the store the other day. But I am learning so much.  I am learning better how to follow the Spirit.  I am learning better how to see people for more than just how they look on the outside.  I am learning about gratitude, about facing fears, about strengthening testimony, about other points of views on religion and even politics.  I am learning about myself!
     I absolutely loved listening to Susan R. Madsen because she really hit home with how we as women can really step it up and use our unique attributes to influence the world for good.  We need to get educated, she said, both in the university and in the doctrine of gospel, because that is the way to truly impact the generations ahead of us.  She also pleaded for us not to be silent nor to confuse "humility" with "low self-worth." This reminded me a little of the parable in Matthew 5:


14 Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 

15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 
16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

Let us be strong.  Let us not think that are too small or insignificant to make a difference, but rather let us be a light to shine forth in the darkness around us.  Let us see ourselves as our Father sees us, and live up to that potential He has given.

Schöne Woche! Tschüss!

I'm a Mom Now

Austria


 This week began in the hospital.  No really.  And when I say hospital... I mean maze. It was a good thing I had native-German-speaking Sister Gudnason with me, because otherwise there would have been no way I could have known what to do as they ordered us to fill out such and such form and then go downstairs to such and such desk and then go back upstairs to the first desk then to a second desk for more paperwork then back downstairs to pay then back upstairs to give the second desk the receipt to get the appointment before finally sitting in the waiting room for an hour, before FINALLY getting to see one doctor who sent me to a second doctor who did a test and sent me back to the first doctor.  FORTUNATELY - the tests were positive.  Although I had feared an infection, all the hearing troubles and ear pains were only some leftover side effects of last week's illness. A trip to the hospital felt quite dramatic just to find out that little bit of information.  Oh how I miss my American Urgent Care.



Anyway, is the golden fire real or IS THE GOLDEN FIRE REAL.  Sister Slack, my Mitarbeiterin, my Tochter, has a drive to work like none other and is so brave in talking to people despite her newness with the language. It's strange going from being the way-younger junior companion to suddenly being the one to hold the fort down; I can no longer just turn for help when I don't know the German or when I'm not sure how to handle a certain situation.   But we are trying our best together! We are setting lots of goals including talking to EVERYONE and speaking as much German outside the apartment as we can. I can say I am a proud mom.


Some fun facts about German:
- Some English words get integrated in. For example, I have heard both "gebrainstormed" and "geskyped" over the pulpit.
- You get used to not understanding everything on food labels so sometimes you don't just don't even pay attention. Sister Slack wanted to buy chocolate and it wasn't till after we took a bite, noticed a suspicious taste and then looked at the wrapper that we realized it said "rum" on it.



Some notable notes:
- Sister Slack likes "dog contacting," in which she tells someone that she likes their dog and asks if she can pet it, and then we get to chit chatting.  After doing this, a lady actually offered her own phone number to meet up with us again! So sweet.  We also talked to a guy walking his dog who was a self-proclaimed "polytheistic heathen." We also tried to ask a guy how old his puppy was and he ignored our question and went right into some rant in which we learned that apparently America is the Illuminati state.
- We visited the elderly Vodusek couple again. Sister Selph had left behind some Reese's Peanut Butter Cups because they had once told us how much they love American peanut butter.  We had been planning to just drop it off but she let us in.  He had just gotten out of the hospital and they were so happy to see us! Who knew I could understand so much of the Wienerisch dialect?  They loved the Reese's... Although they tried to eat the paper wrapping.
- It's October and now we see SO MANY PEOPLE wearing lederhosen and dirndl for Oktober Fest type events. Also, we got to make pumpkin bread and pancakes.
- I saw Sister Price again!  So sad to say bye to her; this time she was with her family! Still crazy to think that I was trained by her in the same place where I now train Sister Slack.


- Sadly it's my last week to be a teenager - schade! Over the past 7 months of missionarying, when people found out that I was only 19 whilst out here in a foreign country preaching the word, their reactions were actually pretty entertaining. I will definitely miss this age.




Well this weekend was General Conference, and this time I really tried to listen with an open heart. One of the messages that stuck out to me was from Elder D. Todd Christofferson.  He talked about how "the grace of God does not merely return us back to our previous state." Rather, if we are faithful enough to trust, humble enough to learn, and diligent enough to keep working, we can become something so much greater!  Christ sees so much potential for us that we should never remain satisfied with or present state but rather strive to improve at every opportunity.

Schöne Woche!



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