Liebe Eltern - - - HAPPY BIRTHDAY MOM!!! Hopefully you'll get mail soon.
Alles gute von die Alpen!!! This week, I felt like we were that yodeling climber game on the Price is Right. We had an appointment for service to this extremely inactive woman (Melanie Kaiser) and her family. She was baptized in Graz in the 70s ish and when she got married, her husband said no to her going to church so she's been inactive for 12 years. They have 4 children and the husband is old enough to be their grandfather (she is mid-thirties). Interesting, but that's a common thing among the farmers in the mountains. She invited us to come help on their farm - - IN THE ALPS. It was a long drive up to their home, but it was all worth it. The most beautiful and quaint little farm ever. Just like in the movie Heidi. We were mainly doing garden work and Dad, if it is at all possible, I think Sis Kaiser loves her garden more than you love yours. We worked for about 3 hours and then took a Jauzer (dinner break). We walk into their woodframed home (being sure to duck for beams) and into the kitchen where there are wooden discs at each place for plates with a hunk of cheese and meat in the middle followed by a basket of bread. All that was missing was a goat to wander through....but one did walk passed the window since the house is built into the mountain. (see pic 1,2).
THIS (pic 3) is what we encountered on the way home. No wonder everyone always tells me that my name is Austrian (and they argue against Danish).
On Thurs, we went to visit another inactive old lady who lives about 45 min away. We called that morning and asked if we could stop by. She said yes, so we packed up and left. When we got there, she wasn't there so we contacted all along the mountain. LITERALLY. No success, but we got to hear real cowbells in action. Really, this week I felt like Heidi...minus the grandfather. (pic 4)
Friday morning we left to travel to Vienna for Stake Conference. We had gotten permission to go up early and do Exchanges with the Sisters there. I got to work with Sis Carroll who was my unofficial companion (meaning, when I needed someone to teach in German with me, she'd come from the German classes and go with me) when I was moved to the Fast Track in the MTC. She was also my travel buddy. I realized this weekend how much I don't like big cities...and yet, how much I miss working in one. Everything is connected and there are members close by willing to come on Joint teaches. On Saturday, our Exchange ended at 6pm (exchanges last 24hours). President Condie spoke at the adult session that night and asked all the missionarires to stand up and recite D&C 4. Good thing I'd just finished learning that last week. The Stake President spoke last and I really liked a particular joke he said. (Please pass on to Bishop Parks) - - There's no difference between a graveyard gardener and a Stake President...they both take care of a lot of people and no one listens.- - (see pic 5 Me, Sis Carroll, Sis Alder). We took the train up to Vienna, stayed with the Sisters, then rode back on the bus with the branch. A good 2 1/2 hour journey through the mountains.
The Sunday session of Stake conference was really neat. We met in the Vienna International Center (kind of like the Salt Palace in SLC). Sis Alder and I were in the choir. As I was sitting there (front and center might I add, right beside the speaker) I noticed someone who looked familiar, then I just shrugged it off and forgot about it. As we were taking a picture, someone said "Anne". Turns out, that face was Avery Hill's, my friend from the Elms. She is on a study abroad in Vienna. Really wonderful to see a familiar face, but REALLY weird to hear someone say my name. And around other missionaries too. I got a glimpse of how returned missionaries feel when they begin to be called by their first name again. Since Pres and Sister Condie spoke at both sessions of conference, they brought the mail from the office, so I was pleasantly surprised to have received 3 letters...more than almost my whole mission combined. Thank you to Bro Monn for the monthly update!! I also got a really great letter with pictures from Emily. Mom, I love the card!! Thanks. I needed something new to stick above my study area.
An interesting thing stuck out to me from the conference. It's not enough to make sure the calf stays away from danger, we need to be there for the rescue as well. They need protection just as much as the preparation. In reference to new members and youth. We can't just rely on preparing them for the hard times, but also picking up the pieces. This particular principle became really evident last night as we were getting ready for bed. We'd had an appointment with Janosch and Shirley right after arriving back from Conference. We could feel that something was up, but we'd brought a member with us so we knew they weren't going to open up with us. Shirley always leaves Sun night at 4 to go to Berufschule (like Votech where you learn skills for a job) and we always make out an appointment to meet with Janosch during the week. This time, he said he'd call us later to make out the appointment. Later, when he called, he told us that he's moving to Graz. Things with Shirley have taken a turn and he's moving out. He emphatically assured us that he's still going to go to church and so will Shirley. If I'd heard that from anyone else I wouldn't have believed it, but Janosch bore his testimony to us and we knew he would. We're going to meet with him every Tues when we're in Graz for District meeting until we can transitition him over to the Elders there for more regular meetings. This is a blessing in disguise because the whole reason Shirley and Janosch didn't set a baptismal date was because they weren't married. They want baptism so bad, so we began praying for something to work out (mainly for their families to accept each other) and now it has. We'll be able to get Shirley baptized since she was ready long before we started teaching Janosch. And Janosch is strong enough to handle the transition to the Elders. AND he'll be able to go to Gen Conference there this weekend. (Us too).
Today, Sis Alder and I rented bikes. WAY TOO MUCH FUN!!! We're going along a trail around the city. Should be great. The weather is BEAUTIFUL today.
Gotta go teach the gospel and praise creation!
Auf Wiedersehn!
Schwester Lind (sounds so much better than Sister)
As for mail - I'll let you know on Mondays if I'll be transferred or not. Sis Alder gets mail on Thurs/Fri when they mail it Mon so let's give that a try. We're currently in the 3rd week of transfers so the next date that I could possibly be transferred is Oct 18th. I would find out that Sunday the 17th, and wouldn't actually leave until Wed. So there's a suggestion as far as mail. Also, I can't send pics to Tay, so if you could forward this to him sans pictures. Thank you!
SIS THURSTON - - - Good luck in the MTC. You'll be great and the people you'll teach in NC will appreciate the preparation you'll go through there as well. P.S. I got your letter. I've decided you're definitely in charge of the roommate newsletter when we're all old and married.
ASHLEY - - - You've been on my mind a lot this week. I hope everything is going great. You're amazing and don't let anything get you down. Dance a little 'Parlez Vous Francais' for me.
Alles gute von die Alpen!!! This week, I felt like we were that yodeling climber game on the Price is Right. We had an appointment for service to this extremely inactive woman (Melanie Kaiser) and her family. She was baptized in Graz in the 70s ish and when she got married, her husband said no to her going to church so she's been inactive for 12 years. They have 4 children and the husband is old enough to be their grandfather (she is mid-thirties). Interesting, but that's a common thing among the farmers in the mountains. She invited us to come help on their farm - - IN THE ALPS. It was a long drive up to their home, but it was all worth it. The most beautiful and quaint little farm ever. Just like in the movie Heidi. We were mainly doing garden work and Dad, if it is at all possible, I think Sis Kaiser loves her garden more than you love yours. We worked for about 3 hours and then took a Jauzer (dinner break). We walk into their woodframed home (being sure to duck for beams) and into the kitchen where there are wooden discs at each place for plates with a hunk of cheese and meat in the middle followed by a basket of bread. All that was missing was a goat to wander through....but one did walk passed the window since the house is built into the mountain. (see pic 1,2).
THIS (pic 3) is what we encountered on the way home. No wonder everyone always tells me that my name is Austrian (and they argue against Danish).
On Thurs, we went to visit another inactive old lady who lives about 45 min away. We called that morning and asked if we could stop by. She said yes, so we packed up and left. When we got there, she wasn't there so we contacted all along the mountain. LITERALLY. No success, but we got to hear real cowbells in action. Really, this week I felt like Heidi...minus the grandfather. (pic 4)
Friday morning we left to travel to Vienna for Stake Conference. We had gotten permission to go up early and do Exchanges with the Sisters there. I got to work with Sis Carroll who was my unofficial companion (meaning, when I needed someone to teach in German with me, she'd come from the German classes and go with me) when I was moved to the Fast Track in the MTC. She was also my travel buddy. I realized this weekend how much I don't like big cities...and yet, how much I miss working in one. Everything is connected and there are members close by willing to come on Joint teaches. On Saturday, our Exchange ended at 6pm (exchanges last 24hours). President Condie spoke at the adult session that night and asked all the missionarires to stand up and recite D&C 4. Good thing I'd just finished learning that last week. The Stake President spoke last and I really liked a particular joke he said. (Please pass on to Bishop Parks) - - There's no difference between a graveyard gardener and a Stake President...they both take care of a lot of people and no one listens.- - (see pic 5 Me, Sis Carroll, Sis Alder). We took the train up to Vienna, stayed with the Sisters, then rode back on the bus with the branch. A good 2 1/2 hour journey through the mountains.
The Sunday session of Stake conference was really neat. We met in the Vienna International Center (kind of like the Salt Palace in SLC). Sis Alder and I were in the choir. As I was sitting there (front and center might I add, right beside the speaker) I noticed someone who looked familiar, then I just shrugged it off and forgot about it. As we were taking a picture, someone said "Anne". Turns out, that face was Avery Hill's, my friend from the Elms. She is on a study abroad in Vienna. Really wonderful to see a familiar face, but REALLY weird to hear someone say my name. And around other missionaries too. I got a glimpse of how returned missionaries feel when they begin to be called by their first name again. Since Pres and Sister Condie spoke at both sessions of conference, they brought the mail from the office, so I was pleasantly surprised to have received 3 letters...more than almost my whole mission combined. Thank you to Bro Monn for the monthly update!! I also got a really great letter with pictures from Emily. Mom, I love the card!! Thanks. I needed something new to stick above my study area.
An interesting thing stuck out to me from the conference. It's not enough to make sure the calf stays away from danger, we need to be there for the rescue as well. They need protection just as much as the preparation. In reference to new members and youth. We can't just rely on preparing them for the hard times, but also picking up the pieces. This particular principle became really evident last night as we were getting ready for bed. We'd had an appointment with Janosch and Shirley right after arriving back from Conference. We could feel that something was up, but we'd brought a member with us so we knew they weren't going to open up with us. Shirley always leaves Sun night at 4 to go to Berufschule (like Votech where you learn skills for a job) and we always make out an appointment to meet with Janosch during the week. This time, he said he'd call us later to make out the appointment. Later, when he called, he told us that he's moving to Graz. Things with Shirley have taken a turn and he's moving out. He emphatically assured us that he's still going to go to church and so will Shirley. If I'd heard that from anyone else I wouldn't have believed it, but Janosch bore his testimony to us and we knew he would. We're going to meet with him every Tues when we're in Graz for District meeting until we can transitition him over to the Elders there for more regular meetings. This is a blessing in disguise because the whole reason Shirley and Janosch didn't set a baptismal date was because they weren't married. They want baptism so bad, so we began praying for something to work out (mainly for their families to accept each other) and now it has. We'll be able to get Shirley baptized since she was ready long before we started teaching Janosch. And Janosch is strong enough to handle the transition to the Elders. AND he'll be able to go to Gen Conference there this weekend. (Us too).
Today, Sis Alder and I rented bikes. WAY TOO MUCH FUN!!! We're going along a trail around the city. Should be great. The weather is BEAUTIFUL today.
Gotta go teach the gospel and praise creation!
Auf Wiedersehn!
Schwester Lind (sounds so much better than Sister)
As for mail - I'll let you know on Mondays if I'll be transferred or not. Sis Alder gets mail on Thurs/Fri when they mail it Mon so let's give that a try. We're currently in the 3rd week of transfers so the next date that I could possibly be transferred is Oct 18th. I would find out that Sunday the 17th, and wouldn't actually leave until Wed. So there's a suggestion as far as mail. Also, I can't send pics to Tay, so if you could forward this to him sans pictures. Thank you!
SIS THURSTON - - - Good luck in the MTC. You'll be great and the people you'll teach in NC will appreciate the preparation you'll go through there as well. P.S. I got your letter. I've decided you're definitely in charge of the roommate newsletter when we're all old and married.
ASHLEY - - - You've been on my mind a lot this week. I hope everything is going great. You're amazing and don't let anything get you down. Dance a little 'Parlez Vous Francais' for me.
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