Monday, May 25, 2015

Woche 49: eine neue Versetzung

Woche 49: eine neue Versetzung
Montag
Well, since I stink at remembering stuff, I can actually use Monday for something useful. Last week I totally forgot to mention if I am staying or not. so here it is... I will be staying!!! St. Pölten B got shut down so now there will only be two of us here. And Elder Smith is my new companion.  (Actually I added that tidbit from my personal email from Michael in last week's update).

Dienstag
Tuesday we had District Meeting like always. We went up to Vienna and had lunch with everyone. The Parkers(senior couple here in Vienna) had left overs from Family Home Evening and so we ate that and it was pretty good. And then during District Meeting we talked about the importance of studies. Not just as missionaries, but as normal people. It helps us start off the day right with strength to follow the commandments and resist temptation. And then we discussed about being more effective teachers. We should show  how much we love this gospel! Live it with light and life(if that makes sense?) We need to be more relaxed and normal, haha. But it was good. 
District Meeting
Mittwoch
Wednesday was our last day together!!! What? But we had a lesson with a guy named "M". He is pretty cool. We taught the Plan of Salvation to him and he had some pretty good questions about the afterlife and what the difference is between the spirit world and the three kingdoms is. So  we shared Alma 40 to 42 with him and talked further about the Resurrection. It was a good time. And then we went over Sister Zettl's house. And we talked about the Restoration and how it was so important!

Donnerstag
Transfer Day!!! Well, you remember how I said St. Pölten B was getting shut down and how it would only be Elder Smith and me? Well, Elder Seewer ended up having Visa problems so has to stay here until it gets here or else the application gets cancelled and he might get kicked out. Sooo, Elder Seewer and I stayed while the other two went off to there new areas! Which actually turned out to be a good thing because we had a super important inspection that day and we would have just a tad bit late if we left. So that was good, haha. And then Elder Smith eventually came in! Crazy, but now we are in a trio until Elder Seewer's Visa comes in and who knows how long that will take!

Freitag
Friday we started off by meeting with "P".  We talked about the Book of Mormon. He had some questions concerning the great and spacious building in 1 Nephi 8. We answered his questions and then talked about how wonderful it is that God has prepared a way for us to be the ones who partake of the fruit and to not be ashamed of it! How awesome! And then we watched Special Witnesses of Christ, and we heard from President Monson and his testimony of the Book of Mormon! It fit so well. And then we talked about authority and how it is super important! We explained that if a random civilian pulled you over because you were speeding and wanted to give you a fine, what would you do? Most people wouldn't even pull over to begin with. but if the guy was a police officer, then what would you do? Of course if you were in the wrong you would pay it. And it is the same way. We have to be baptized with the proper authority if we want our covenant and our plea for forgiveness to reach heaven. And then we talked about the Restoration, and because Joseph Smith restored His church, then we also have the authority on the Earth again.

Samstag
Saturday it rained all day. In Vienna and St. Pölten and Krems.... My goodness, but it was still good. We went up to Krems to meet up with "G". And we talked about the gospel of Jesus Christ and all of the steps to return back to live with Heavenly Father. And then he expressed such a strong desire to be baptized. He said that the past year, when he met missionaries and before contact was lost, he has felt the blessings by reading in the Book of Mormon and by living the Word of Wisdom. He said he was also super excited to have the privilege of the constant companionship of the Holy Ghost. It was super amazing to see him have this desire.

Sonntag
Sunday was good. We had a friend visit, her name is "M" and she is starting to come regularly from now on. Which was way awesome. But, we started to plan for everyone here while Elder Seewer is still here. We have a quite a bit of work to do here in St. Pölten now, which is good! Well, I know this church is true! I know with all of my heart that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that through Him can we be forgiven and enjoy true happiness. And through Him, can we also return back to our Father in Heaven. It is such a blessing to be here Austria proclaiming His restored gospel! Well, have an awesome week!!!
~Elder Albrecht~
Siehe, ich bin ein Jünger Jesu Christi, des Sohnes Gottes. Ich bin von ihm berufen worden, sein Wort unter seinem Volk zu verkünden, damit sie immerwährendes Leben haben können   -3 Nephi 5:13

Monday, May 18, 2015

Woche 48: Bleibe ich, oder nicht.

Woche 48: Bleibe ich, oder nicht.
Transfer news:  I will be staying here.  St. Pölten B gets closed down, which means the other three leave.  Elder Smith will be coming to me.  (Well, there are a million Elder Smiths in our Mission).  I believe this one is from American Fork, UT.


Montag
P-Day.......... I still don't know what to write!!! Well, Elder Wahl and I have almost made a full harmony line to O Holy Night. I guess that is something new!


Dienstag
Tuesday, we had Zone Training in Vienna. We talked a lot about technology and how we can appropriately use it and how it correlates with missionary work. We also talked about becoming unified as a mission but more specifically as a zone. We are doing this 40 Day Fast, and we will be purifying ourselves. And then we talked about how important the Holy Ghost is. This last week, I read the talk "Unleashing The Dormant Spirit," and it talks about how the Spirit is important in every aspect of our life! Which is a crazy thought when you really think about it. Every single moment of lives, we should be thirsting for the presence of Him. No matter what it is!!! That really stood out to me, how often do not just have the spirit with me, but His influence as well?


Mittwoch bis Donnerstag
Wednesday and Thursday the days just mesh together!), we went to some Shoe services... But not because of our shoes, two weeks ago we met some guy on the street who said we could come by. So we went by and had an awesome discussion with him about Churches and why there are so many. We also read the Book of Mormon with him and he said he will read a little bit. This Wednesday we will bring a Book of Mormon in Armenian for him. But it was way cool. And then we went to Traisen Markt and tried delivering a Book of Mormon. Unfortunately, no one was home, but we were able to get into contact with some of our older investigators!


Freitag bis Samstag
Well, unfortunate news... I got sick on Friday!!! But all is well in St. Pölten. I am better now. So nothing much happened on Friday sadly. And on Saturday we had to take it pretty slow because I still was not feeling that great.


Sonntag
Sunday, started off with a heart attack, but ended up being absolutely amazing. So Sunday morning, I woke up and wasn't able to speak at all! It was pretty scary. I just couldn't speak. But we got all ready and then went to choir practice. I played the piano since I couldn't sing. And let me tell you, the Spirit was definitely there as we sang. It was so beautiful. And then we had church. And we had some pretty good lessons about the Book of Mormon and the lost sheep. And then we had to help an investigator find their way to church. And there were a ton of road blocks! But luckily we made it to Sacrament meeting on time. And then while the Sacrament was being passed out, the Spirit was so strong. It was so quiet and reverent and peaceful during those few moments. I could really feel the power of the Savior and His Atonement. And then after church, we had a lesson with another investigator. We talked about the Restoration and Joseph Smith. And then we watched the Restoration movie. It was so awesome. Before we watched it, we told "J" to pay attention to the words and what was going on, but also to how she felt and what was being said to her in her heart. And during the movie, when Joseph Smith was walking towards the woods to say the prayer that started it all, the Spirit just intensified immensely. It was such a powerful experience. After the video was over, we just sat there for a few moments, not saying anything and enjoying the silence. And then we asked her what she thought about it, and then how she felt. She said she felt really good.She felt at peace, and really relaxed. She said that she was going through a very hard time, but a lot of the stress from everything was suddenly taken away. During the movie, she said it was just gone, taken from her. How amazing! She said she read in the Book of Mormon everyday, and that she would come to all three hours of church next week. It was amazing. And then we went to Wiener Neustadt with "M", the one who came to church. And we just had a blast. They were putting on a musical fireside there, and it was sooooooo good! It is called, Auf der Suche nach Gott. On the Search for God in English. And at the end of the day, "M" said that we "changed her life today." She really enjoyed Sacrament meeting and the fireside. And yet again, the Spirit was so strong during the Meeting. I think that yesterday I finally understood what it means and why it is so important to be constantly under the influence of the Spirit. I can testify that not only is it so important to have the Holy Ghost with us at all times, it is also a blessing and a privilege! We should want this! This should be one of our highest priorities and strongest desires! I know that this church, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is the one true and living church on the face of the Earth. I know that this is where we truly find happiness. I know with all of my heart, that the Book of Mormon is true. It contains God's word and the fullness of the everlasting Gospel! I know Joseph Smith was a Prophet of the Lord, and that the church and gospel was restored through him. And because of that are we allowed to have another Prophet again on Earth! Have an amazing week!

~Elder Albrecht~
Siehe, ich bin ein Jünger Jesu Christi, des Sohnes Gottes. Ich bin von ihm berufen worden, sein Wort unter seinem Volk zu verkünden, damit sie immerwährendes Leben haben können.
-3 Nephi 5:13

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Woche 47: eine kommische Woche

Woche 47: eine kommische Woche

Montag
P-Day................................................................................................................
 
I wonder what tales these shoes would tell...


Dienstag
Tuesday we had District Meeting and discussed how to better missionaries. There is a talk called The Fourth Missionary and it is sooooooooooo good! Everyone should look it up because it can totally apply to callings and such. But we discussed the importance of giving everything, not just giving Him our time and talents but our heart, mind, and will. It is so important to do that! And we talked about being more obedient. We aren't disobedient so to say. We keep the rules, but it is just in small things that we can do better at. And then during all of this, we get a call from Sister Brunnsteiner. She told us that "I" finally called her back! "I" said that everything has just been way crazy and because of testing for the school she works at it is even crazier. But she still has interest and still wants to meet with us! What a miracle!!!
This picture is from the weekend they got to train with Elder Bednar.  I love finding random pics of my Elder!
Mittwoch
Well, Wednesday we went down south to Lillienfeld. But it rained almost the entire day! We were so soaked! We went dooring all day, but no one was interested.

Donnerstag
Exchange day! I was with Elder Seewer for the day and we went to take care of his Visa and stuff. And then we had a Lunch appointment with Sister Sindl. And then we went to an appointment with "R".  He does believe that only one church can be the true church, he just isn't sure which one is. And then we went finding! A lot of it. It was weird. For the first time I was the only one who could speak German. It was all on me, because Elder Seewer is so new to it all. It definitely made me reflect and be grateful for everything that the Lord has helped me with. I never realized how much progress I have made with German. It is so crazy!

Freitag bis Samstag
Friday and Saturday we had a lot of fallen out appointments. I just don't understand why, well I am sure I do, but it is frustrating sometimes, but I just gotta keep my head up!

Sonntag
Sunday we were with the Hirschmann's and skyped! Yay, it was awesome!



~Elder Albrecht~
Siehe, ich bin ein Jünger Jesu Christi, des Sohnes Gottes. Ich bin von ihm berufen worden, sein Wort unter seinem Volk zu verkünden, damit sie immerwährendes Leben haben können   -3 Nephi 5:13

Monday, May 4, 2015

Woche 46: We Have a Very Specific Purpose as Missionaries

Woche 46:
Montag
Monday, was Monday... Played the Piano and stuff. Don't really know what else to say...
 
Elder Jakobi struggled when opening this bag.  I don't know why, but we all found it extremely hilarious and laughed and laughed and laughed.
Dienstag
Tuesday we met with President Kohler in Vienna. So, we talked about effective teaching, especially when we start teaching someone for the first time. We discussed the importance of setting expectations. Both the investigator and us need to know why we are there. We have a very specific purpose as missionaries, and we need to make sure that they understand that. And then after that we had interviews and District Meeting. We talked about the importance of being obedient, even in the small things. Obedience brings blessings, exact obedience brings miracles. I think that's how it goes... And then I had everyone play Telephone! Fun, and in German. The sentence got way messed up. Which was good. And then we read a couple of different things in Preach My Gospel. We discussed things that strengthen the power in our prayers. For example, if we pray using the right language, thee and thou, one of the obstacles\people are gone. And so on and so forth. Until we have no obstacles between us and God. And then the first person stood up and told us what he said. It was a shocker because it was way different. We need to make sure nothing is hindering us from a faithful and powerful prayer at least everyday!
Elder Wahl & Elder Albrecht

Mittwoch
Wednesday we went down to Lillienfeld and Traisen. And it is so pretty down there! Beautiful weather, rolling hills, green grass and a nice river through the valley. Oh my gosh! It reminds me of the scripture Alma 30:44. Everything just proves there is a God, and especially this part in Austria!!! But we did a ton of dooring and tried focusing on the Book of Mormon. And we found 4 people who were interested in the Book of Mormon! We knocked on one door and said that we were sharing this book with people for free and he said no and then was like, wait, did you say free. And then we told him what it was and he said he would read it and we can come by and follow up!


Donnerstag
Thursday we had a lesson with "M", she is the one from South Africa. She said she didn't that she didn't have time to read in the Book of Mormon but she was planning on reading it to her friend in the hospital the next day which was way cool! But we talked about God's plan for us and how we can know everything for ourselves. We don't need to believe someone else nor should we. We can believe on their words of course, but we should find out for ourselves. We should build our own testimony!
Freitag
We did a lot of walking... Friday was a Holiday. Tag der Arbeit, otherwise known as Labour Day. So none of the Buses ran and everyone was probably in Vienna. So we didn't really get to much of anything on Friday.

Samstag bis Sonntag
Well, we had lunch with Sister Brunnsteiner. She is pretty much my favourite member here in Austria, I mean... Well, she fed us some Austrian food and dessert which was just so good!!! But unfortunately Elder Wahl was sick the rest of the day along with Sunday... But he is all better now! And I also realized that my accent is so different and I can't speak English that well anymore!!! NOOOOOO!!! Good thing I don't need it too much for the missionary work!

~Elder Albrecht~
Siehe, ich bin ein Jünger Jesu Christi, des Sohnes Gottes. Ich bin von ihm berufen worden, sein Wort unter seinem Volk zu verkünden, damit sie immerwährendes Leben haben können   -3 Nephi 5:13