Woche 38 - This Church is on a Foundation of Simple Truths

Woche 38

Montag

Monday was P-Day, and I didn't even buy a tie. I am so proud of myself!!! Haha, but we just had a relaxed day. We played the piano, and ping pong. It was pretty rainy though. We were walking to buy groceries, and this huge semi drove by and went through a puddle. I got soaked! My pants were so wet, it was crazy! But, after we got dried and stuff, we went and had a lesson with Herr"Z". It was definitely interesting to say the least. We talked about prayer and about God and stuff. He thinks we are nice, but won't try out what we teach him. You can never know until you try it out.

Dienstag

My first day in Vienna! It is definitely bigger than St. Pölten. We had our District Meeting in some Youth Center. I guess that is where we normally have it. So, we talked about making sure we keep the Gospel simple. Because, it is just that! Simple. This church is on a foundation of simple truths. We have a living prophet, simple. We believe in continuing revelation, simple. We believe Jesus Christ and Heavenly Father are two separate beings, simple. And then we talked a little bit about how we can find 'Tips' in the Book of Mormon. We can find tips on how to better live our lives, or whatever it may be. Like 1 Nephi 3:7 teaches me to push forward with faith. 

Mittwoch

On Wednesday we ate at a member's house. She made us chili! It was way good. And we had Semmel with it. It is pretty much just fancy looking bread that tastes really good. Well, tried to go finding, but not much success. We then went to the church for what would be a fallen out appointment. And then we had a German Lesson with a New Convert. 

Donnerstag

Thursday, we had a lesson with a man named  "S". He is struggling in his life right now and we are just trying to help as best as possible. We are trying to help him understand that we really can find comfort in this world, even through the hard and difficult times. And then we traveled to a city called Krems an der Donau. We had another lesson with a guy named Gerald. We talked about the Word of Wisdom. He told us how he has blessings come from the result of living this commandment. And not just financial benefits. He also said that he really wants to get baptized, so he definitely has a great desire to follow Christ.

Freitag

Friday we had a wonderful lesson with "I".   We explained what the Gospel of Jesus Christ is. She read 2 Nephi 31 beforehand and then we explained it. We talked about Priesthood authority and why it was important. We then talked about blessings that we could find after we had received that Gift of the Holy Ghost. She really enjoyed the many blessings that would follow. We talked a lot about Comfort and Hope as well and how this Gospel is comforting and brings hope to us when we are faithful.

Samstag

Saturday, we went finding all day. And we found three people. One being a former investigator. But we doored someone's apartment and they answered and the entire family came out when we walked up and they seemed so happy!!! It was way cool seeing the entire family listening to us on the doorstep.

~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

Woche 37: Sankt Pölten

Woche 37: Sankt Pölten

Montag

Monday was pretty good. We walked around in the city and stuff. And I kind of fed my addiction. I bought I tie and a bow tie... Don't say anything, haha! And then we later went to the Ziegners. It was way awesome, but super sad. It was the weirdest thing saying goodbye to them. I also started packing this evening. Well, I actually just took everything out of their drawers, haha. So I pretty much just created a mess.

Dienstag

On Tuesday, we took care of some business and then drove over to Donauschingen to go by on some people. Unfortunately no one was home. So we stopped by on a member, the Justagas. They were so nice to us. They fed us real quick and then we talked a bit about missionary work. they have us a referral and said that they hoped that he still lived there. They were just so nice! And then we went over to Sister Mohommads to make Potato Knödel. It was pretty intense... Haha, but it was a lot of fun. I guess I should be able to make Knödel now right? Oh, I forgot to say earlier, but I learned how to make Wiener Schnitzel from Elder Hancey! So nice right?

Mittwoch

Wednesday we went by on someone we had met a couple of weeks ago. We went by and she was there. She gave us something to drink and then she began to ask us what we did as missionaries. Well of course we told her that we are here to share a message about Jesus Christ and His restored church. Well, she already knew about the Mormons because she has a granddaughter who is living in Provo, Utah at the moment. She said she doesn't really want to know too much and definitely won't change.  Then she asked a couple of more questions and then we had the opportunity to talk about the Book of Mormon and what it was. We gave her brief history, read the introduction and then read the promise given in Moroni 10: 3-5. She really felt the Spirit and said she would read the Book of Mormon. We testified of it's truthfulness and then we went on our way.

Donnerstag

 Well, quite literally nothing happened on Thursday. I traveled from Schwenningen all the way to Sankt Pölten. And it took pretty much the entire day.   I woke up at 6:30 as usual and then we went from Schwenningen to Rottweil. And then we took a train almost immediately after to Stuttgart. And then a train to Munich. And then a train to Salzburg. And then a train to St Pölten. So it was pretty long.

Elder Wahl from New Zealand is my new companion and we live in the apartment with Elder Jakobi from Germany and Elder Seamons from Idaho.  Everyone in this apartment plays music!   Elder Jakobi and Wahl play the piano. Elder Seamons plays the violin.  If only someone played the Bassoon here and I could borrow it!

Well, St. Pölten is awesome. The dialect is way different here than in Schwaben land. But it is way cool here. The buildings here are so Austrian!!! It's crazy! I saw the Alps on our way over here. And I saw all of my favorites missionaries from the MTC! Elder Wahl is pretty cool. He is funny and stuff.  I love him.

 

Sister Fenton and I.  One of my MTC buddies!

Freitag

Ok, for starters, I am so grateful that I have been given the opportunity to come and serve in St. Pölten in Austria. It is so beautiful here. It is so different here than in South Germany. The dialect is so much different, the culture is different. Like pretty much everything is different here except for the Gospel. I guess, that's what makes Heavenly Father's plan so perfect. He created such a big world with so many different cultures and traditions and ways of living, but yet the gospel is the same and brings us together. It's like the poem by Emerson, I believe. The one that compared mankind to grass. Our roots are all connected some way or another. It is so true!!! We all connected through the Gospel. And as a matter of fact, one simple truth, that we are sons and daughters of a living God.

I just love being a missionary. We have an investigator right now named "I". This last week we taught her the Plan of Salvation and explained to her the doctrine of the Resurrection and that everyone is promised this. And then we later explained how children are saved through Christ without Baptism. She was so touched by these simple doctrines. She thanked us and told us that she feels the hope. She also said that when she prays about the Book of Mormon she really feels like God does answer her prayers! She is so amazing. Experiences like this blow away every bad thing on the mission. All of the rejections, rudeness, and everything else is blown out of the water.

Samstag

Saturday, our area was having a Baptism. It was so beautiful being able to witness another child of God take upon themselves Christ's name and enter those waters. Being able to witness a new beginning and see them start on a new path towards our Heavenly Father.

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

Look what I made! Those are very German and Austrian cookies. They are called Vanillekipferl.

I used an Austrian recipe so it was in dialect and I didn't understand everything fully. I had to guess a lot. But it still worked out!!!  Everyone said they were amazing, so it was good.

Woche 36: Wohin gehe ich?

Woche 36: Wohin gehe ich?

This week was pretty crazy. It was super long, but fast at the same time. And it all begins at church on Sunday. 

Sontag

Sunday started out normally. We woke up, got showered and dressed and then headed out to church. We greeted people as they walked in and then we went to Priesthood meeting. During the meeting one of the Sisters walked in with some Young man and asked if he could sit with us. Of course we said yes. I introduced myself and then found out he couldn't speak German that well. He could only speak Romanian and Spanish fluently. But we talked anyway. Turns out he has been living here for a month and was baptized in Spain four years ago.

Montag

Monday morning, we went out to the church to start our emails. But before we really got started, we got a call from a member that could speak Romanian. She told us that a member of our ward, "P" needed help and so much of our day was spent helping him.

Dienstag

Tuesday, we had our District meeting in Schaffhausen. We discussed some major things from Misison Tour. We had some great comments on obedience and helping our investigators. It pretty much focused on how we need to follow the Spirit and be bold. There is something we learned in the MTC. "Boldness is never overbearing when it is done with love."

I don't really know why they are holding household cleaning supplies

Mittwoch bis Sontag.

Wednesday, we took "P" to the Bus Bahnhof and said goodbye to him. We then went straight to work for the next couple of days trying to find people. And something major that I learned these days is this. So, my German has been struggling. I can speak a decent amount, but for some reason I just can't form proper sentences and stuff. However, I have been able to understand what these people feel. The Lord stopped teaching me German so I could better understand the language of the Spirit. Just as important as learning German, was exactly that. And then of course we had transfer calls in the midst of all of this. I will now be going to Austria!!! Specifically St. Pölten. I am super excited to serve there. Well, I hope everything is well. Just remember, Positive and Optimistic.

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

Woche 35: Missionstour

Mom note:  It is hard not to be frustrated at whatever glitch is causing Michael's emails to be cutoff but I'll keep posting what I do receive and be grateful for it (and yes I recognize it's more than some receive)

Woche 35: Missionstour

Wednesday we woke up at 4 in the morning so we could catch our train at 6. We got dressed to look our best. Then we left to get our train from Schwenningen to Villingen. There we met one of our investigators. His name is "R" or his German name... Haha, but we took the train with him. And then we had to catch a train to Singen and we almost missed it!!! That would have been bad, but luckily we made it. And then we had to travel to Schaffhausen. Then we met the rest of our zone there. And we took a train with them to Zürich. And then we got left behind at the Trams all alone. We had no idea how to to work the Swiss machines, and then we did figure it out but we didn't have any Swiss Francs! Luckily some other missionaries arrived and helped us out. We made it to the church building right on time. Which was 15 minutes before. But everything got started smoothly. Elder Kearon was the one who came and visited us. He is a convert to the church. He was super inspirational. He talked about obedience, finding, and teaching. Here is one of his quotes. 

"When we choose to follow Jesus Christ, we are choosing to change. When we choose to change, we change the world." 

It was Awesome. He encouraged us to strive to be exactly obedience, as well as to figure out why we personally are obedient. He then told us

The Gospel is a happy Gospel. So live it and let people see it when you are talking and finding. 

Thursday was interesting. We were so tired from all the traveling from Wednesday. Meine Güte, but we tried to just go out and do. We also have been going through the member list trying to get in contact with less actives. 

Friday we had an exchange! I went to Bad Säckingen with Elder Young. We pretty much went out finding the entire time. But we tried to talk with everyone. We really tried to see everyone as "heirs of the kingdom of God." It helped a lot when we thought about it that way. 

Saturday, we did some more finding. We went into Switzerland for a little bit. I realized how much the Lord has helped me. As I have received so much help with German, the Lord has also helped me understand other languages, and dialects. I was able to understand the Swiss German decently. The Lord truly does help us no matter what!!! 

 

 

Woche 33 und 34: das Leben!!!

  Mom note:  The last two weeks have been weird when it comes to emails from Elder Albrecht, they are being cutoff by a notice that is being attached to emails on the missionary server.  I'm hoping it will get fixed soon because last week I got two lines and this week I got lots more but still not his full email.

Woche 33 und 34: das Leben!!!
 

Montag

Monday, we really just relaxed. We have been just going so fast with everything, it was nice to take a small break.

Dienstag bis Sonntag both weeks

Well, we actually did the same thing everyday! Well, we went by on former investigators and went dooring. I learned the principle of time and patience these couple days. Many of the people we went by on said they had interest and would love to start meeting with us when they find time. Some people just need time in the conversion process, because it isn't just about baptism.

Montag

Monday was fun. We were with the Schwarzwälder Family for Family Home Evening. It was fun. We ate some awesome Tacos. Then we shared a spiritual thought with them. So we took a 50€ bank note and asked want we could possibly do with it. Many things came up, like candy and food and games and the such. Then we asked who would like it. Of course everyone rose their hand. And then we crumpled it and asked again, everyone's hand still left in the air. We then threw it on the ground and stepped on it. Everyone still waiting to see who would be rewarded. We then continued to talk about all of the ways this bank note could get dirty and filthy and yet no one was phased. They all realized the bank note kept its worth. We then explained that Heavenly Father sees us in a similar manner. He sees us sin and get filthy and do many wrong things in life. But he still sees our value and that it has never left us. Just like how we wanted the 50€, Heavenly Father still wants us, no matter what. He will make us fresh and new.

View from our apartment

Dienstag bis Sonntag

Tuesday we had our District meeting in Schaffhausen finally. It was way good. We talked about the importance of strengthening our testimonies and how we create an atmosphere for people to grow their's as well.

Riding home from district meeting

This week was awesome. We saw how small the world becomes when you are on a mission. We went by on a former investigator one night. She let us in and was really nice. She didn't have any interest. She was stuck to her faith and wasn't moving anytime soon. but she told us how she shared the building with her three sons. Well, one of them walked in and it turns out he is pretty interested in what we were talking about. And then we were out finding a couple days later and we got talking to this man. He was way interested and told us to come by his house. We went further and then he walked to us again and asked if he gave us the right address so we could come by and stuff. Well, it turns out that he is one of the other sons. Crazy at how everything works. Even though the woman didn't have interest, her sons do!

Woche 32: Kilometer und mehr Kilometer

Woche 32: Kilometer und mehr Kilometer

 
Montag 
On Monday, we went to a beautiful little village in the Black Forest. It is called Neukirch. There was snow everywhere! It was so pretty. I also bought two ties. Fun fact: I came out with 18 ties. I now have 56 ties. And I have spent less than 15€ on them. A lot of them I aqquired from stuff missionaries left behind. I might have an obsession.

 
Dienstag

Tuesday we had a lesson with Herr "G". He lives an hour away from us so it is a pretty long drive. Well, we found a couple people who said that they have interest. I have learned on my mission how to communicate with people without having a full depth conversation. We met a lady from Romania and she didn't speak German or English, so we showed her the Book of Mormon and said Jesus Christ, God loves us in German and she accepted it. The language of the spirit is truly a miracle. And after we went contacting, we went to our appointment with Herr "G". We introduced the Plan of Salvation. It was such a good lesson. We explained the doctrine of the after life. He understood and accepted everything. He is very open and he prays about what we teach as well to find out for himself. He liked the fact that most of God's children would live in a kingdom of glory, despite the fact of not living directly with him.

 
Mittwoch

Wednesday, we went down to another part of our area called Blumberg and Löffingen. We went out finding but no one would listen. So we decided to go visit a less active that was in the area. Bruder Abt lives in Löffingen all by himself. No one has visited him in like 10 years. It is such a sad situation. He still believes in Joseph Smith and the Restoration makes complete sense to him, but he doesn't agree with all of the doctrines of the church. It made me realize something. We can't change doctrine because we don't agree with them. God is the master of the doctrines. We can't tweak them and fix them. We don't always agree, but we just need to study and come to the  knowledge as to why this doctrine is there, why God made it that way. 

 
Donnerstag

Thursday, we had our District meeting in Singen. We also had our Interviews with President Kohler. We discussed Agency and some other stuff within that. 

 
Freitag

We had another lesson with Herr "G". We discussed the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He is just a wonderful man. He has such a big desire to learn more about the restored church and to come closer to Jesus Christ. 

Well, this week was so awesome. I love being a missionary and having the opportunity to serve the Lord 24/7. Have an awesome week.

 

Celebrating Elder Bowler's gift of a reservation at a restaurant that serves American Style Hamburgers and fries

Lovely dinner with the amazing "Z" family who takes such good care of our missionaries!

Woche 31: eine neue Versetzung

Liebe Mutter,

The time feels like nothing! It is just flying by. It is just unbelievable.

Well, Elder Hancey is pretty great. He is a relaxed missionary but gets the job done. By that, I mean that he doesn't jump the shot too soon. But I think that we get along pretty well. 

I did get the book, thanks so much!

No luck with my bag...

Could you move the photos please, haha. I will try to update the dropbox. 

 
Woche 31: eine neue Versetzung

This week has been so good. We met so many wonderful people ready to listen. We met a couple and their granddaughter. They told us no and that they didn't want to change or read the Book of Mormon. But they invited us in to have some water. And then they started feeding us. No lesson or anything, but God is preparing them in other ways. And then we had a lesson with a man who lives an hour and half a way. He was a self referral and just loves what we have to say. He said he wants to come to church and he has been reading in the Book of Mormon. It is just great. He is so happy. I just truly know that this gospel changes peoples lives and makes them so much more happier. Jesus Christ truly is our Savior. He suffered for us and knows all of our pains. We can turn to Him in time of need, when no one else seems to be there, He is there waiting for you to turn to Him and say, please Lord, I truly do need thee every hour. He can bless us in unimaginable ways. I know this to be true, I have seen it in my own life. I know that this gospel is the gospel of Jesus Christ in its fullness. I know that we have a living prophet who receives new and modern revelation for us. We have the opportunity to receive this same revelation for ourselves personally through the study of scriptures and prayer. I know this to be true with my entire being. That is why I am here, to serve the Lord and help him accomplish His work. I love you all and hope this week is wonderful. 

Mit Liebe,

 

Michael's District