Well family, A LOT has happened since I last wrote....
First off, I need to explain the title of this email....I've been emergency transferred to Salzburg. I have to start at the beginning of the story so you can understand the ending. A couple of weeks ago while we were teaching Anton (the father of Manuela) in the Pension home he asked us 'in your church, are you allowed to marry people 20-30 years younger?' Not thinking anything odd, we told him that we could and went on with the lesson. Then this week (Tues), after him being in the hospital or something all week, we finally got an appointment with him. At the end of this lesson he asked the question again. This time, Sis Alder jumped on it and asked (teasingly) if he had someone in mind. AND I QUOTE (translated) 'Yes, and she'S sitting right across from me'........ME. He was serious. THis was not a joke in any way shape or form. We immediately said the closing prayer and left. I was mortified. We laughed about it a little and brushed it off. The rule in the mission is that if anything like this happens (especially to Sisters) we have to call President Condie...and more often than not, if it'S a serious situation, the Sister is transferred that very day. So I called. He said for us to wait and see if things cooled off or changed until Sunday. We were also told to cancel our appt with Anotn and to break off all contact. That night, we recieved a very disturbing txt message and that message kept Sis Alder and I awake ALL NIGHT. We turned the phone off decided to call Pres Condie after District Meeting the next day (Wed). As soon as District Meeting was over, we noticed that we'd had 17 missed calls from Anton. I was freaked out!!!! Sis Alder called Anton to cancel our appt for Friday and throughout the phone call I had a boulder in my stomach and felt like I was going to throw up. Sis Alder told me I needed to call President. I didn't want to because I didn'T want to cause a fuss or be transferred before Manuela's baptism. But, I called. The next day, I had a ticket to Salzburg in my hand. Now, I am serving in the home of the Sound of Music. My new companion is Sister Schlegel from Dresden Germany. She is wonderful and I'm really noticing an improvement in my German. It was a hard transition leaving BRuck, the people, and Sis Alder (as we have become best friends). I switched places with Sis Solomon (my 4 day MTC companion). I feel violated. My privacy, happiness, area, investigators, companions, and peace were snatched away by a 60 yr old man. I don't think I'll be going back to Bruck for a long time. President'S philosophy is that if there is any chance of contact with the Sister then they need to get out of there ASAP and since Manuela is Anton'S daughter, and she was getting baptized, I needed to leave. Sad, but true. So, in answer to your questions....I don't know how the baptism turned out. I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye.
My new address:
Egger-Lienz-Gasse 23\1
5020 Salzburg
Austria
As far as mail is concernced (with regards to what you've already sent) Sis Alder will give it to President and Sister Condie next week at Missions Tour and I will get it the next day when we have Missions Tour. Elder Texiera is coming to our mission and there are three major meetings so everyone in the mission can meet and hear from him. I'm not exactly sure what will be going on but that's the plan. We are going to München for the Germany section, my old zone is going to Vienna, and there'S a meeting in der Schweiz. So no worries that things will get lost in the mail. Sis Alder is very responsible and WILL make sure I get everything. THat'S what mission mail is for. Anytime Pres and Sis Condie go anywhere for meetings, they bring mail and missionaries can receive supplies and mail from their old areas and other missionaries.
Funny story attached to this...interesting week...Wed when we were on and off the phone with President Condie, Sis Alder was talking to him while we were sitting on a bench eating lunch. An old man came up to us and kind of stared a bit. Then he asked if I had a BOok of Mormon with me. I qquickly answered no, but then realized that I did. I'd forgotten my Triple at home and had grabbed a Pass Along for the day. So I gave it to him. He was SOOOO happy. He said that he'd been looking for a Book of Mormon for 20 years and really wanted to read it. In return, he gave me a big box of Lindt dark chocolate. As I glanced at Sis Alder (who was on the phone) and back, the man had disappeared. THat moment taught me that though I'd been wounded, I needed to get back on the horse and keep going.
That's really all the news from this end. Don't worry about me, I'm safe and am beginning to open back up. Last week, I kind of withdrew from the world because of my fears and schock, but I'm myself again...except speaking 24\7 German....and sleeping on a top bunk (it's scary). Sorry if I scared you or made you worry, but that's the status and since Icannot as yet express my complete thoughts and feelings in German, this email is my outlet.
Salzburg is absolutely beautiful. It's not as big as it sounds. Size-wise it's just as big as Leoben, but much much older and more picturesque. It's like walking down the streets of the 1700s. I love it!!! We drive by Mozart's birthplace anywhere we go.
I LOVE YOU and please know that I will always be safe.
Sister Anne-bear
P.S. Mom, there is already a nice long letter on its way to Gma and Gpa. It's got a couple pictures. I started writing it last Pday, but didn't have the time to finish it until I got on the train to Salzburg. Sending pictures to me are fine.
Are we related to William Williams who wrote hymn 83?
Pic 1 - my (reenacted) face when I realize I would probably be leaving (after 1st phone call with pres)
First off, I need to explain the title of this email....I've been emergency transferred to Salzburg. I have to start at the beginning of the story so you can understand the ending. A couple of weeks ago while we were teaching Anton (the father of Manuela) in the Pension home he asked us 'in your church, are you allowed to marry people 20-30 years younger?' Not thinking anything odd, we told him that we could and went on with the lesson. Then this week (Tues), after him being in the hospital or something all week, we finally got an appointment with him. At the end of this lesson he asked the question again. This time, Sis Alder jumped on it and asked (teasingly) if he had someone in mind. AND I QUOTE (translated) 'Yes, and she'S sitting right across from me'........ME. He was serious. THis was not a joke in any way shape or form. We immediately said the closing prayer and left. I was mortified. We laughed about it a little and brushed it off. The rule in the mission is that if anything like this happens (especially to Sisters) we have to call President Condie...and more often than not, if it'S a serious situation, the Sister is transferred that very day. So I called. He said for us to wait and see if things cooled off or changed until Sunday. We were also told to cancel our appt with Anotn and to break off all contact. That night, we recieved a very disturbing txt message and that message kept Sis Alder and I awake ALL NIGHT. We turned the phone off decided to call Pres Condie after District Meeting the next day (Wed). As soon as District Meeting was over, we noticed that we'd had 17 missed calls from Anton. I was freaked out!!!! Sis Alder called Anton to cancel our appt for Friday and throughout the phone call I had a boulder in my stomach and felt like I was going to throw up. Sis Alder told me I needed to call President. I didn't want to because I didn'T want to cause a fuss or be transferred before Manuela's baptism. But, I called. The next day, I had a ticket to Salzburg in my hand. Now, I am serving in the home of the Sound of Music. My new companion is Sister Schlegel from Dresden Germany. She is wonderful and I'm really noticing an improvement in my German. It was a hard transition leaving BRuck, the people, and Sis Alder (as we have become best friends). I switched places with Sis Solomon (my 4 day MTC companion). I feel violated. My privacy, happiness, area, investigators, companions, and peace were snatched away by a 60 yr old man. I don't think I'll be going back to Bruck for a long time. President'S philosophy is that if there is any chance of contact with the Sister then they need to get out of there ASAP and since Manuela is Anton'S daughter, and she was getting baptized, I needed to leave. Sad, but true. So, in answer to your questions....I don't know how the baptism turned out. I didn't even get the chance to say goodbye.
My new address:
Egger-Lienz-Gasse 23\1
5020 Salzburg
Austria
As far as mail is concernced (with regards to what you've already sent) Sis Alder will give it to President and Sister Condie next week at Missions Tour and I will get it the next day when we have Missions Tour. Elder Texiera is coming to our mission and there are three major meetings so everyone in the mission can meet and hear from him. I'm not exactly sure what will be going on but that's the plan. We are going to München for the Germany section, my old zone is going to Vienna, and there'S a meeting in der Schweiz. So no worries that things will get lost in the mail. Sis Alder is very responsible and WILL make sure I get everything. THat'S what mission mail is for. Anytime Pres and Sis Condie go anywhere for meetings, they bring mail and missionaries can receive supplies and mail from their old areas and other missionaries.
Funny story attached to this...interesting week...Wed when we were on and off the phone with President Condie, Sis Alder was talking to him while we were sitting on a bench eating lunch. An old man came up to us and kind of stared a bit. Then he asked if I had a BOok of Mormon with me. I qquickly answered no, but then realized that I did. I'd forgotten my Triple at home and had grabbed a Pass Along for the day. So I gave it to him. He was SOOOO happy. He said that he'd been looking for a Book of Mormon for 20 years and really wanted to read it. In return, he gave me a big box of Lindt dark chocolate. As I glanced at Sis Alder (who was on the phone) and back, the man had disappeared. THat moment taught me that though I'd been wounded, I needed to get back on the horse and keep going.
That's really all the news from this end. Don't worry about me, I'm safe and am beginning to open back up. Last week, I kind of withdrew from the world because of my fears and schock, but I'm myself again...except speaking 24\7 German....and sleeping on a top bunk (it's scary). Sorry if I scared you or made you worry, but that's the status and since Icannot as yet express my complete thoughts and feelings in German, this email is my outlet.
Salzburg is absolutely beautiful. It's not as big as it sounds. Size-wise it's just as big as Leoben, but much much older and more picturesque. It's like walking down the streets of the 1700s. I love it!!! We drive by Mozart's birthplace anywhere we go.
I LOVE YOU and please know that I will always be safe.
Sister Anne-bear
P.S. Mom, there is already a nice long letter on its way to Gma and Gpa. It's got a couple pictures. I started writing it last Pday, but didn't have the time to finish it until I got on the train to Salzburg. Sending pictures to me are fine.
Are we related to William Williams who wrote hymn 83?
Pic 1 - my (reenacted) face when I realize I would probably be leaving (after 1st phone call with pres)
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