Guten Morgen meine gute Freunde und Familie!
I
cannot believe its already been another week... It feels like I was
sitting here just about 5 seconds ago writing last weeks letter!
Basically, our spiritual discussion for the day really pumped
me up, and by the time we left thursday I was ready to go!! Almost in
mockery of our happiness, literally the first 4-5 people we talked to
are examples of the people who literally say "You mormons are crazy! I
wish you would leave our city! you are probably being held against here
by your will by your church! Youre brainwashed! You have 5 wives! Youre
crazy! etc." I seriously dont think Ive had so many people in a row tell
me how crazy I was. Usually people just say "no time" or nothing at
all, so it was kind of surprising! Satan thought he had us discouraged
for sure, but we were able to just bear simple testimony to them, and I
even felt the spirit strong there on the street as those people walked
away raving about how crazy we were. Plus, after that we finally got
back in contact with Wayne! He had been partying pretty crazy at a Disco
and lost his phone, but we found him again, taught him a steller
lesson, and committed him to watch some General Konferenz on the
internet. Followed up yesterday, HE DID! We're meeting with him again on
Tuesday to talk about it!
Friday was the craziest day ever! I finally became a legal
resident of Austria because all my papers came in the mail, so I could
go turn them in for a "year visa". Looks like its official! After that,
we studied and started weekly planning, but had to cut it short becasue
we had an appointment with the Berk family, a potential who we found
before easter that we were pumped for!
We brought a BoM in turkish just in case, which was good,
becasue he was more comfortable with that anyways. We had a pretty good
discussion, and he was moderately interested, but didnt want to make a
return appointment. Just like most potentials, they just arent that
interested in know who god is. To them, its ok to just know that God
exists, or doesnt. Understanding him doesnt interest them. we left him a
challenge to read a little bit, and I feel really strongly that if he
does, he will feel it almost instantly, if he will just open the book.
We got him number so we could check up in a week.
This experience made me realize how disconnected I feel from
the world sometimes. I literally cannot remember life before I was a
missionary. Im really not sure how normal people function anymore! It
shocks me everytime that anyone could have something more important to
do than talk about God! I asked Elder Janis the other day how it was
possible that so many people jsut dont have time for God. He said "well,
there is probably a soccer game on tonight. or they have homework. or
they need to get food or hang out with a friend. Dont you remember when
you had those things, and you blew off a young mens activity or
something? In real life, people forget about God all the time" It really
hit me! I could vaguely remember a time when other things seemed so
important, but now I can just see, God really is the center of our
lives! I cant see how anything else could be more important! Look out,
because in two years, I can already garantee that I will be the most
awkward RM ever! ha!
After that pretty much everything fell out, so we doored
until we could come home to finish planning. There we found another
sweet potential! Another lady opened her door to us, and turns out she
had JUST got back from the hospital, after waking up from a 10 day coma!
She didnt explain much else, but she said she was weak, and gave us her
number and said "Ill see you back here in one week so we can talk about
God ok?" Im pumped for that one!
Saturday, before we went to Wien, we met with Amanda again to
get her excited for Konferenz. She just loves everything we tell her,
and has so much faith, and shes even read personally almost all the way
through Alma! We taught her quickly about chastity, which was simple
becasue she is married. But then comes the hang up. She told us she is
trying to decide between us and the catholic church. She feels like we
brought her so much closer to God, and helped her find the truth. But
she has a little issue with tithing... and apparently the preacher told
her "oh wow 10 percent, thats way too much. we only expect 1% here at
our church!" so shes tempted. We spent the whole lesson testifying that
the blessing only come through this Church! After we left I was kicking
myself, because I had an experience with Tithing before my mission that I
wanted to share, but I wasnt sure how she would respond. After we left I
was regretting that bad, so Elder Janis had me write down the
experience in letter form, and we left it at the church building in St.
Polten, where Amanda would be going to watch General Konferenz with the
branch.
In Wien, we got to watch Saturday and Sunday morning sessions
live, which means at 6 pm! Priesthood and Saturday afternoon were
played during the day on suday- it was seriously such an amazing
experience! I dont think Ive ever enjoyed konferenz so much as half way
across the world! The message of building our foundation on Christ stuck
out so prevelantly to me. How greatful I am for a prophet!
while in Wien, it turns out my Distrikt Leiter picked up the
mail from the office when he went to Munich last week for Jedi Council
(mission leader conference) so I got all the letters! Hopefully... I can
respond soon! I promise to get around to it soon!
So much to say so little time... enough about the events. Heres how the investigators are doing!
Amanda:
After the saturday afternoon session, she called us to talk to us about
the letter! she thought it was so nice, and she just loved konferenz.
as of now... shes moving her baptismal date up from Juli 31 to the 27 of
April!!!!! WHOOO!!! She is just a miracle!
Kurt: He is having serious issues with faith in a post life.
He loves to meet with us, but he just cant "imagine a ressurection". He
watched konferenz though, so we hope he felt the spirit strong. We hope
to get a baptismal date with him this next week!
Albert: he has been avoiding us all this last week. His date
is the 27th of April, but if we cant get in with him, and help him start
making some progress, hes going to need a little more time.
Wayne: we finally got back in with him! He has such potential, the challenge is just getting a 21 year old to ACT. SHEESH.
Well thats our main investigators... Im trying to think if there was anything else funny I wanted to tell y'all.
Oh
yeah! Germans CANNOT make a "th" sound, or a "w" sound. They seriously
cant. So Bartholomew is a little bit of a challenge. turns out they say
"Bart-olo-may" or "Bart-olo-mayus" Its pretty hilarious. Also, mad props
to President Uchtdorf. After hearing so many failed attempts by Germans
to speak English, his ability is INCREDIBLE. I have never had so much
respect. The only thing funnier than a German speaking english, is
probably an American speaking German! So i fell among company :)
I think thats about all! Love you all lots! Hope all is well!
Adventure is out there!
Elder Bartholomew
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