Fall is in the air...and it's gorgeous (11.10.10)

Highlights of the week

Montag - Set a Baptismal date with Shirley - November 7th. It's more of a goal for her than an actual set date because she still has a long way to go. We committed her to have a phone appointment with us during the week since she's in school. I hope she can recognize the changes she needs to make in her life not only for baptism, but so that she and Janosch can work things out. He's willing to give her a second chance, but she doesn't realize what her actions are doing. Ayban texted us to say that she had to cancel our appt for tonight and the rest of the week because she was too busy...I got worried she didn't want to meet anymore at all.

Dienstag - Interviews in Vienna. We met up with the Elders and the Eheparr (Senior Couple) on the train. At the church building in Vienna, we had a District meeting with the Zone Leaders while President Condie pulled one person out at a time for a 10 min interview. Our District is really small so it didn't take long. In our interview we were asked to share a scripture that really touched us this week and then share an experience of when we noticed the Holy Ghost affecting our investigators. Then, we could ask President Condie any question we wanted to and talk about anything. It was great and I learned a lot. We also got mail and supplies...we are now the proud owners of duvets...we didn't have any and had been sleeping under only sheets.

Mittwoch - Stopped by on Ayban - not home

Donnerstag - I decided that there are no black cows in Austria...only brown (maybe that contributes to the fact that chocolate is so much better here....already brown, no need to dilute the stuff from black cows).

Freitag -

Samstag - Since all of our regulars investigators were either out of town or didn't have time to meet with us, we had A LOT of time to go contacting (honestly, my least favorite thing). We'd decided to stop by a member's home so we drove there and then wanted to 'door' the building. We hiked up to the 7th floor (no elevator) and started from the top. No one was home and I was getting discouraged. As we hit the Erdgeschoss (main floor) we knocked on a door and a woman came out. We gave our spiel and then asked her if she'd like to come to church tomorrow. She (Martina) agreed and we made out an appointment for Sun evening. Then, we called a member to see if they could pick her up, they agreed. Martina is kind of scary. She wears all black (even her hair and glasses), wears alien\Iron Maiden Tshirts, and smokes. I was intimidated.

Sonntag - we met the member at Martina's apt - she was waiting outside for us (wearing all black, smoking, and wearing a cross around her neck. We decided to go with her and the member to church and just leave our car there till later. Church was great. Martina stayed for all three meetings. RS went in with Priesthood and the lesson was on Faith in Jesus Christ. Martina said she liked how everyone could participate and make it a discussion. Since we meet in the chapel, she also asked why there was no cross up. Ping, teaching opportunity. We taught Sunday School\Investigator class. We had decided to watch the Restoration. Since Martina was the only investigator there, we invited Sis Cseh and Mark (from Hershey) to join us. The discussion after the video was perfect. Sis Cseh and Mark both bore their testimonies (we had to translate for Mark). Overall, great. It was also nice that it was Testimony meeting. She liked that too. After church, we decided to go vorbei on Shirley since she had cancelled our appt on Fri and Sat and wasn't at church. She didn't come to the door even though we heard her and Lukas inside. Then we walked back to pick up the car - a good 40 min walk or so. We decided to take the scenic path over the mountain instead of around it. Our walk took us over Schloßberg (the big clock - every city has one). Along the way, we called an inactive member to see if we could stop by later. She said that she and her son we just eating and then were going out to enjoy the sunshine and invited us to come along. So we caught the bus (because our car was farther away than the planned) and drove to Schw Hernaus. When we got there, she told us to get in the car. We thought we were just oging to sit outside in the sun, but oh no, not in Österreich....we were going in the mountains. 2 hours later, we had our appt with Martina. She'd invited three of her friends to be there and after entering the extremely smoke-filled room (everyone and their dog smokes in Austria) we got started. 30 min later, we had four new investigators (Martina, her friends Anita, Linda, and Anton). After Martina, we didn't have any set appointments, so we decided to go visit some inactive members in Leoben and stop by on Ayban since we hadn't heard from her all week. First, we went to her apt which is in a creepy building in an interesting part of town. Luckily I had my flashlight. She wasn't there so we left a msg and then decided to try her boyfriend's house, where we usually meet. Along the way, we got contact information and taught plenty of people. Night time, Sunday night is when interested students are out and about. She was there and was so happy to see us and even made out an appointment for us to come back. As we got outside the building I just stopped and was awestruck by the stars...they were all there and glowing brightly. Sis Alder and I just stood there and stared for about 10 min. They truly are a beautiful sight when you'r ein the mountains. I saw the big dipper and it reminded me that home isn't that far away because that exact same big dipper shines over our driveway at home.

Pic 1 - The day we rented Bikes.

Pic 2 - I just love seeing my name all over the place. I'm not even sure anymore if my ancestors really did come from Denmark...maybe Austria should be my new home

Pic 3 - The German word for 'Repentance' is 'Umkehr' and the word 'Möglichkeit' means 'possibility'...I just love German words

Pic 4 & 5 - Schloßberg in Bruck an der Mur

Pic 6 - Aren't the mountains BEAUTIFUL in fall.

Today, Sister Alder and I are going Wandern with Sister Cseh (the little old lady who miraculously speaks English). We're going to a place called Grüner See (Green See\Lake). I'm super excited because I've heard so many wonderful things about this place. Especially with all of the fall colors coming in, IT WILL BE BEAUTIFUL!! Next week we're going to Bärenschutzklamm (which is world famous) with the Elders in Graz and our Branch President. It'll be awesome! Look it up, there are some really neat pictures of it. Basically, it's a ____ with waterfalls and rickety ladders that climb all the way up.

The church true, the book is blue, and my shoes still feel like new (that's the only rhyme I could think of). No matter where you go in the world, there's a comfort in knowing that you learn the same things and feel the same spirit.

Alles Gute

Sister Lind

President Condie has asked me to get a Driver's License. We have to pay the first €60 and then the rest is reimbursed. I have to get a doctor's appt (€35), a translation of my american license (€15) and then the actual license (€150ish).

No cool title this week - Still in Bruck (4.10.10)

Grüß Euch!!!

Sorry, no pictures from me this week as I forgot my cord in the apt. Sis Alder gave me hers to get our pictures from last week's Pday when we rented bikes. We rode along the Mur for about an hour and a half. Then on the way back, we stopped in a little old church which was built in the 1200s ish. It was beautiful and I got some amazing pictures of the architecture and some of the neat memorials on the outside. I'll send those next week. They're amazing! Mom - we go to the local library for emails. In München, we went to an internet shop, but here it's free. Sis Schulthess was all about ease, not cost.

Received your card\letter and a letter from Vickie. It was like Christmas to get mail just for me. Even when we get ads I get excited. It's interesting to me, the few letters I've received read as follows (minus the one from mom)

Kiche Jesu Christi
Sis Lind
Salzlände 15\21
8700 Leoben
Österreich
Germany - - - > in case there's any confusion, I'm serving in AUSTRIA. Österreich is the German word for Austria.

This week, besides the amaying conference, not too much to report. Friday was a particularly powerful day. Every Friday, we have what's called "weekly planning" where we sit down with our area book (records of all investigators ever for the area), Preach My Gospel, and ward list and plan out the entire week as far as appointments, what we'll teach, how we'll find new investigators and how we'll get people to church. Total - - 3hrs every week. (Sis Alder and I have to take a couple breaks during that time or else we go loopy).

So finally we left our apartment and headed to an appointment in Bruck (30 min away - where we have church) and to pick up a member to take with us. We were teaching a man from Africa (all in English), but since we're sisters, we can't meet alone with him so we brought a little old lady named Sis Cseh. She's as Austrian as they come and serves for months at a time in the temple. She speaks no English. We drove to her apt and she wasn't there yet (she'd gone to get her watch fixed. We waited for awhile then decided just to leave; we'd just have to meet with Collins outside. As we got to the end of the lane, there she was, speed-walking towards us. As she got in the car she exclaimed how she felt prompted to walk down that street even though she usually took a shorter way home. If she'd gone the other way we wouldäve missed her. We get to the appointment and Sis Cseh tells him that she speaks 'a liddle English'. We are teaching about Priesthood, Sis Alder and I switching off translating for\from Sis Cseh when suddenly Sis Cseh starts bearing her testimony in ENGLISH!! Extremely broken English, but it was beautiful. It was truly powerful. Then, as we were driving away, Sis Cseh told us that she wasn't sure what she said in her testimony, she just said it. GIFT OF TONGUES ANYONE. She then told us that if we had anymore appointments today that she'd love to come with us. How did she know that we did indeed have another appointment right then. So, Sis Cseh accompanied us to meet with Erwin. He's about 45 and still lives at home with his mom (which is why it didn'T matter whether or not we had another woman to bring). He's OBSESSED with the 'oldest fish in the world...1000 years old and still living'. As he pulled out his BoM, we noticed that he stores it right alongside the fish book AND brought it out on the table for our meeting. Weird!! There's definitely a reason he's still at home. The spirit was super strong in our meeting though each time we bore testimony to him or attempted to answer his questions (from when Sis Alder met him on the street) he just laughed at us. I was getting ticked off after awhile. I do not appreciate being laughed at while I'm bearing testimony. NOT COOL! DON'T DO IT!! Sis Cseh was a great asset because she could relate to him as they are both born and raised in the area...and she has a super powerful testimony. She's been a member for 40 years and you'D think we'd brought a General Authority with us. It was a wonderful lesson...aside from his rudeness. Sis Alder was perturbed as well.

Shirley and Janosch are not doing so well. He's moved to Graz....and long story short...many things happened in Graz while we were there and now we don'T think they're getting back together anytime soon. Shirley called us Sat morning and asked us if we could find someone to watch Lukas (age 3) so she could go take a test in Berufshule. She was going to be picking Lukas back up Sun morning. We were able to get a couple in the branch to take him overnight. Long story short...she didn't show when she said she would and we come to find out (through the counselor in the branch presidency...story to follow) that she'd gone to school not for a test, but to go with friends and ended up cheating on Janosch. The members have really shown to me that they truly care about each other and the investigators. The problems with Shirley and Janosch spilled over into conference and the members stepped up and took over. When the Counselor in the Branch Presidency (age 23) and his wife (age 22) dropped us off at the train station Sat night, we unknowingly unloaded a lot of our frustrations and problems that had been building up inside of us with regards to the Shirley situation and how her calling us to find someone while she went to take a test late on a Sat then come home (4 hr train ride) and then be back at school Sun by 3 didnät make sense. When we got in the train, we felt really bad about doing that and called the counselor. He didn't answer, instead pulled us aside Sunday between sessions to tell us not to apologize. He told us that he and the Branch Pres are there for us to talk to when we need it. He knows that there are a lot of things in the branch that get piled on our shoulders and he told us to come to them whenever we need to. Janosch is still strong in his faith and we'Re more than positive we'll be able to get him baptized and receive the Priesthood by Christmas. He's so strong and through all the things that happened, he still clung on. We're so proud of him. Sis Alder was saying to me last night, that the spiritual banks of the two of them have switched. Shirley was the one that took the gospel on frist and was ready to be baptiyed. Then the missionaries were able to get Janosch to meet with them. Now, after all that's happened, he's the strong one. It's an amazing transformation. Though he's living in Graz, we'll still get to meet with him and we'll meet with Shirley here in Bruck.

CONFERENCE WAS AMAZING!! But, Sis Alder and I cheated a bit....we watched it in English. Saturday, we had lunch at a members home (where they served 'milk shakes' which were really just milk with pureed bananas...odd) and then they took us to the Relief Society broadcast. We watched that in German because we didn't know there was a room set up for English. Apparently, in this area, if anyone speaks\understands English, they like to watch broadcasts in English so they can hear the actual voices. I don't blame them, hearing a 20 yr old voice out of Pres Monson and a man's voice for Sis Beck was a little disconcerting. By the time Pres Monson began to speak, we found out about the English room and dashed back there to hear his stories in English. We didn't get the gist of his talk for awhile, but then it was glorious. If you could send a transcript of that session as well, I'd appreciate it. Or the Ensign itself. (It takes an extra month and a half for us to get church magazines through the church) Then, there was an hour break before the Saturday morning session began. I don't have my notes with me, but the talk that struck me the most was Elder Holland. His power and authority blows my mind, anytime he speaks. He means it and you know it. I was also particularly touched when we started talking about the sacrifices of his parents and how grateful he is for all parents. I echo his words with my whole heart. I was also particularly affected by his statements about Sister Missionaries and couples. Sis Alder and I couldn't remember a time when they'd specifically spoken to Sisters. We'd decided to go home Sat night and sleep in our own beds instead of staying with members which was nice because then we could take time to ponder and meditate in our apt instead of being entertained (and fed) by members. I've had enough coleslaw and cucumbers to las tme a lifetime. And by cucumbers I mean cucumbers in balsalmic vinegar, then floating in vinegar. yuck! Watching the Saturday PM session Sunday morning threw me off. 4 new temples!! Amazing! Especially the ones in the Philippines and Mexico - the church is really growing down there, but don't forget what I said in a prior email...'Germany is the sleeping giant of the church. This is where the most retention is' I'm planning on writing a nice long letter with more of my conference thoughts, but that's the one I can think of at this moment. The music was especially moving. I usually write down any words or phrases that I like. I really liked the closing song from Sun AM. Dear to the Heart of the Shepherd has new meaning for me because I can apply what I'm doing to the lyrics. The scripture about the seed and exercising a particle of faith was quite a topic for the conference. I'm currently reading the BoM all the way through and that was where I was at so I truly felt prepared for the talks. I was also pleasantly surprised to see Pres Packer standing at the pulpit instead of speaking from his chair. I also noticed the Pres Monson was especially witty this time around. I really liked Pres Uchtdorf's segue into an airplane story.

I have a new vegetable that I really like. It's called Kohlrabi. We stopped by a member's house (he's an old man that we come do service for occasionally) and he loaded us up with fresh veggies. Note to dad for growing tomatoes. Stick a stake in the ground and tie a fishing line to a green house style roof (tie the tomato plant up to the roof). Don't let them grow out in the open and they'll produce better fruit. Keep them partially shielded from the elements. Also, I've decided that I love anything made with Marillen (Apricots). Sis Kaiser gave us a huge jar of homemade jam and that's about gone and then Sis Cseh gave us Marillen Krapfens (Berliners). Oh, and Muesli is the way to go. Sis Alder and I discovered Strawberry Muesli with white chocolate shavings while in Vienna and the Sisters there gave us the box to bring home. It's like a fancy dessert for breakfast....except with half the sugar of American desserts.

What's the status on the PA temple? We were watching the news thing between sessions and they were talking about the Ukraine temple and the solar-powered church and I just thought 'I wonder how the PA temple is coming'.

Mom - DO NOT WEAR BLACK AND BLUE TOGETHER!!!!!!! 'Don't bruise yourself by matching black with blues' Wear the scarf with green, camel, burnt orange, or even red. Fall colors mainly. To wear it the Austrian way, just tie it in a knot at the back of your neck (like a bib). If that's too cowboy for you, pull the knot just around the front till it reaches your collarbone. For you, put the knot on your right side (since you're married). I on the otherhand would put it on the left since I'm single. I have to be careful whenever I wear my colorful scarves that I don't put the knot in the wrong place or else we get funny looks. I'll take a picture of me in my edelweiß scarf as a demo (though mine's the baby of yours).

We have interviews with Pres Condie this week so any mail sent to the office will be brought down to me. We get ten minutes each to talk about things with him and then we can ask him about any quiestion we want to and bring up any concerns. We're traveling up to Vienna again since that'S our Stake center and the Zone location.

Here's a link Sis Condie sent us with a map of Austria - Graz is right by the word Austria.
http://maps.google.at/maps?q=austria+map&oe=utf-8&rls=org.mozilla:de:official&client=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=%C3%96sterreich&gl=at&ei=QtupTNviA5HOswaRkZygDA&sa=X&oi=geocode_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CBoQ8gEwAA

I haven't even thought about Christmas. I'm just living one week at a time. It's getting colder and I'm glad I bought some really warm Strumpfhosen before I left München. They're my best friends on two different occasions - a) it's cold b) I forget to shave.

Like that 'Price is Right' game (27.9.10)

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.

Yo-doh-lay-he-whooo!!!! (20.9.10)

Address:

Kirche Jesu Christi

Sister Anne Lind

Salzlände Str 15\21

8700 Leoben

Österreich

I am in the heartland of Austria in a Bundesland called Steiermark (Styria) which is the home of Yodeling and incomprehensible German. I thought Bayerisch was hard to understand, Steirisch is IMPOSSIBLE! I'm determined to learn something. It's really funny to hear two Steirische speaking.Our district is based in Graz and our stake is the Wien (Vienna) Austria stake. And, since it's conference coming up I'll get to go there. I'M SO EXCITED!!!

Bruck an der Mur is AMAZING!!!! It's a little city nestled in the middle of the Alps. We actually live in a town called Leoben which is like a little Provo because of the University that is located there. Our entire ward covers about 300km long. It's a bunch of little cities and only one ward (located in Bruck an der Mur which is on the extreme east of the area). It's a car area, but there is a train that we use occasionally. Our district meeting each week is in a city called Graz which is south from us. We'll take the train there. My companion is sister Alder from Beaverton Oregon. She's the friend from BYU I told you about being in my mission. She's AWESOME and I really feel like this is the actual start to my mission. We're both the same age, have the same likes, and love to experiment when cooking. Pretty much you could say that we're the same person. Sister Schulthess was transferred to Singen (Germany) which is West on Bodensee, right on the Swiss border. She'll finish her mission there as she goes home end of October. She's actually training my German-branch MTC companion (of four days).

I usually wear a different pair of shoes each day or every couple of days. Nothing is being worn out yet except for a shirt or two. I really like the Walmart ones I got because they are comfortable and easily layered, and easy to throw on. I save my nice button-down ones for meetings or when President does interviews. So as you can imagine, those aren't worn quite as much. I really really really love my cardigans and I wear one of those every day so maybe in a couple of months I'll look into getting a couple others.

Tay - an L-shaped rip is usually how fabric tears in clothing so don't think you're special this time. PS I want to hear this dog attack story, I seemed to have missed that one. Also, did you get that card I sent from München?

I don't remember ever going to the Boardwalk so I think dad had a made-up memory. I do remember going to a literal BOARD WALK when we went with the Cheek's to the beach. The time we went with you to AC it was yucky and raining the whole time. There's a really good chocolate here that a member gave me before I left that had rospetals and white chocolate. I kinda liked it even though I despise white chocolate. P.S. mom, if you got those runny caramels...they're one of my favorites.

Pic 1 - Little German grandma in München (Schw Bayer)

2 - From a mountain we drove over to get to church

3 - Leoben (sorry about pic, it was raining)

4 - a bridge for the autobahn

The new apartment is HUGE. We actually have a separate bedroom, a separate study area, and the toilet is not in the same room as the shower (it's down the hall). This apartment isn't as well stocked with things as the München apartment, but the basics we have (except for spoons). This area used to be an Elders only area, then it was closed up until about 3 months ago when they reopened it and Sis Alder was there when that happened. What'S super great though is that it's not above a garage so the floors aren't freezing cold and the heaters actually work. Since it's such a vast area, we get a car. Each month we have 2000 km to use. Last transfer there was a Sister here (with Sis Alder) who had been sent home because she'd gotten tendonitis, not told anyone, then got frostbite to top it off, so they mostly drove which means that our miles for the rest of the month are scarce. That Sister was transferred to where I was (in the same apt and everything) and has been assigned to be a secretary in the office along with her new companion. We have to buy tickets whenever we use the trains (unless we call the office and get the preordered), but we are reimbursed for stuff like that. Before leaving München, President Condie asked me to get a driver's license so I need to start doing that. The procedure is that I will pay up to $100 and then the rest will be reimbursed. I'll have to get a doctor'S appt and other little things such as getting a translation of my license so that's why it's expensive. I'll keep zou up to date on that though. Don't have anything with that this coming week.

Most of our tracting is street because of the area. We drive to an appt or referral, then walk around before and after. If the referral isn't there, then we 'door' the building meaning we knock\klingel on every door in the building.

We have a really really really great investigator couple named Janosch and Shirley. They have a 3yr old son named Lukas. Janosch is from HUngary and Shirley is from Brazil. Their story is that they were in the wrong crowds and Shirley got pregnant at 17. When Lukas was born, they moved in together and have been happily unmarried ever since and have really changed their lives around completely. They truly love each other and Lukas so much. Shirley was contacted on the street and invited the missionaries to come teach her. She accepted everything with open arms and really wants to be baptiyed. Then she invited Janosch to meet with the missionaries as well. He accepted and really takes everything in as well. He wants to be baptized too, but he and Shirley have to get married first. And they know that and want to do it. The only problem is that their families are very very much against their getting married. His dad wants him to marry a HUngarian and her mom (living in Graz) just hasn't accepted Janosch as the best one for her daughter. Exciting news though is that Shirley gave us her mother'S address and we're going by on Tues when we're in Graz for disctri meeting.

You'll have to tell me about the underground bunker. It sounds super interesting. My kind of thing.

Church on Sunday was interesting. It was nice to noly be in charge of one branch...much less stressful. There's a 30yr old guy here from Hershey who's a grad student here at the University. I had to translate for him. We meet on the second floor of an apt building, but the area we meet in was rebuilt into a church for us. The branch is about the size of our branch in Bray. And it's populated by all old people. A couple and their baby, and two older people are transplants from Graz. Meaning, they live in Graz (1hr away) but their calling is to serve in our branch. There used to be a branch in each city with loads of members, but when they reduced it to the current branch in Bruck, the numbers died instantly. It's just too far to travel.

Today, Sister Alder and I are going to rent bikes and go for a ride since this is the first day all month that it hasn't rained at all.

This weekend is Stake Conference and so we're traveling up to Vienna on Fri and doing 24 hour Austausches (exchanges) with the Sisters there then coming back with the branch Sun afternoon. Next weekend we'll go to Graz and stay with members for General Conference.

Tschüßi Baba!!

Sister Lind

P.S. mail stuff to me. We're in an actual apartment building so it's fine for packages too. If you have doubts about something...send to the office. They'll get it to me ASAP.

Dirndl day (16.8.10)

Servus!

This week has been crazy!! First off, the ancient old pipes to our building broke so we've been without hot water for 9 days now. Our apartment is above the garage in it's own building so according to our assumptions of what the land lord said (in Bayrisch) we're not that important. I didn't think I'd be taking sponge baths at age 21. Each morning, we boil four pots of water and then take turns in the bathroom. Pres and Sis Condie were in our ward again this week (they're usually traveling the mission) so we told them about it. Sis Condie invited us to come shower at the Mission Home any day we wanted to. TODAY WAS THAT DAY!! You never realize how much zou miss a hot shower till you have to "sponge it". At 7am this morning, a huge backhoe came into the little couryard, so we have hope that we'll have hot water soon.

News - We've got another baptism planned. Barbara, from Nigeria, has been following the crowd of Africans that come to church each week. We finally got a meeting with her. Her only hesitancy is that she thinks she'll have to be perfect 'no sin' after she's baptized. The Sundaz School lesson this week solved that problem. She'll be baptiyed the same day as Comfort. AND, we found out the Elders have a baptism scheduled that day as well, so we're going to have a "triple dunking" (according to Gabriel, who was baptised on Sunday).

Food Story AGAIN - We teach Comfort every Sat and Sun and she always feeds us when we come on Sat. This week we had another adventure. She had made "Pounded Yam" which is a powdered yam mixed with boiling water. It's sort of like reallz really stiff mashed potatoes. She put a softball-sized kugel on our plates then went for the soup. Sis Schulthess had told me about a similar dish called Fu Fu, where zou take off pieces (with aour hands) dip it in the soup and then swallow it. NO CHEWING!! I got nervous and my throat tightened up. She returned with soup with a nice, big, gray FISH staring out of the pot at us. Before she dished that out, she slopped some okra 'soup' (more like paste) onto our plates which had stringy stickyness coming from it. THHEN she glopped soup and a hunk of the fish on our plates. I waited for some silverware, but my companion just laughed. Here we were, sitting on a couch in an itty bitty room with our plates in our laps and no utensils. Off we went. Fingers and all! The fish = catfish. I accidentally swallowed a little bone which doesn't feel good. We called Sis Condie when we got home and she told me to drink hot fluids. The bone is gone, but my throat is killing me. And, I think with all the rain we've been getting, I may have a little tingle. From this experience, I learned that when zou just swallow food, zou get fuller faster. And now, I have no qualms about swallowing pills....of anything else for that matter.

We have a new investigator. Her name is Gioma, from Nigeria. The Elders found her and gave her to us. She just had surgerz to have a tumor removed and that surgery has caused her to go blind. She's onlz about 27. We went to her Asylum to meet with her and when we arrived, the guards wouldn't let us in. They told us to go to the office and get permission so we trudged 3 blocks and got a note from the man in charge. Back at the Asylum, the guards looked at the note, conversed a little under their breaths, then laughed and said we weren't allowed in. Sis Schulthess was MAD!!! Apparently, the Jehovah Witnesses had been there the day before and caused a ruckus so they think we're going to do the same.

Bought a Dirndl today. It's blue with a red Schirtzl (apron). The Elders and Assistants invited us to go to Dachau concentration camp, but every tourist attraction is closed on Mondays. We're planning a big trip to Neuschwanstein at the end of this transfer.

I'm now officially reading only my GErman scriptures. Pres gave all the new missionaries a mini german bible and it's wonderful. I'm also finallz comfortable teaching a lesson by myself.

Missionarz work is fantastic!! It's no picnic that's for sure, but I really enjoy it when we have an appointment to meet with people. Wandering around stopping people on the street for two hours is not so fun. We're meeting with an extremelz inactive woman named Schwester Cheeseman (not KäseMann, CHEESEman). We just go and give a spiritual thought. Last time, her daughter and Enkelin were there (non memebers) and by the end, they all said they'd be coming to church on Sunday. We're doing something right.

Interesting Fact - It's true that South America has the most baptisms, but Germany has the highest retention rate in the church!!! TAKE THAT TAY!!! There are stubborn people, but the ones who listen, stick with it forever and truly believe. That's given me hope that we'll find people who'll listen....even after 20 doors being slammed in our faces. No one has let us in nor asked to meet with us from the street, but the lessons are powerful. Like I said before, the gospel goes to the humble and poor before the rich will even taste of it. I hold to that firmly.

No photos this week - tghe internet cafe computer is having issues.

Servus!!

Sister Lind

PS our nametags say 'Sister' because Schwester is associated with a nun. Definitely don't want to be that.

I will now be serving in.... (13.9.10)

Bruck an der Mur (Austria, near Graz).

Transfer calls came Thurs night and both Sister Schulthess and I will be leaving München. It was quite a surprise (and very rare) for both companions to be transferred. Their replacing us with Sisters who will be serving in the main office. They won't be in our apt but our positions\wards. Every six weeks are transfers so watch out when mailing. If it's close to the sixth week, safest thing is to send it to the office. I'd say to keep the ward bulletin up to date and maybe put the mission office address on like the 5th week of a transfer just in case someone writes to me.

It was funny when we told people because we never get appointments with members (besides old ladies) and when the news leaked out (from the Assistants and the Secretaries) everyone began to invite us over for our final Abendessen. The next three days are packed. We even have to make appointments for the new sisters coming in.

Comfort was baptized yesterday and it was PHENOMENAL!!! I finished the dresses Sat night (could only work on them during food breaks\Pday) and the day couldn't have been better. Sister Schulthess and I had to do the music and speak so it was packed, but absolutely wonderful. About 7 of Comfort's friends came and were 'so impressed and touched' by the service (they came to church AND the baptism) that we were able to make appointments with every one of them (between us and the Elders).

Check out the Ensign from Jan 2001. There's a little article\blurb about the Book of Mormon finding someone. That article is about a man from Nigeria who lives in the international ward here. Also, while preparing a talk for Comfort's baptism, I came across an article that I used that had a blurb by Sis Loski (Sept 2008 Ensign, pg 22).

We went to the JAE (YSA) dinner the other day and come to find out one of them served in the Düsseldorf stake and even in Osnabrück. Turns out, the branch is now a ward and there's a branch in Bad Bentheim. Also, there are MANY ACTIVE MEMBERS IN NORDHORN. That's amazing!!! It blew me away when I found that out.

That's so random about Keri's parents meeting up with Tay. As we'd always say....ONLY IN UTAH AND ONLY MORMONS. Sounds like he's doing great. Is he in Santiago itself or a little suburb. His email to me wasn't very clear.

Schöne Grüße aus München
SISTER LIND