Vienna (Wien) 2/5/16 - 16/5/16 Woche 93 & 94 - Stuff, UNO City, Vanrosen und Hochzeitsempfang!

Woche 93 von 102- Stuff....

Servus!

So Montag after shopping we cleaned this place up a bit before us and Wien 4 went to go meeting up with the Sisters at Heiligenstadt, grabbed something to eat and then took the bus up to Leopoldsberg, which is like a little "mountain". It's more of a hill after Switzerland, but whatevs, with a Panorama view of Wien. It's pretty beautiful! Unfortunately it was a tad bit cloudy, so the view wasn't sooo splendid, but it was still pretty nice! Then we "hiked"(more like walked) from Leopoldsberg to Kahlenberg, which was also pretty nice. Then we "hiked" down to the bottom. Got a bit lost and stuff, passed through some crazy vineyards, which was pretty beautiful, then headed over to the chapel to email. 

After that we got changed, did a walk and talk lesson with A.  It was interesting and then finished the evening with some area book work!

Dienstag after a bit of studies we headed off to the centre to have lunch and district meeting! We did Pancakes as a district and they were super good! 

Then DM I did my own thing. I based it on what I set as our district vision for the transfer, which is "Mit Macht und Vollmacht- Lehren, Lernen und Finden!" So I based it all on scriptures and each missionary did their assignment on one of the scriptures. I asked them to study and prepare for. It worked out brilliantly and the Golden of the district (Sister Lundgreen) did the best job, like legit; if every missionary put as much thought into their assignments, district meetings would be incredible! We do our meetings auf Deutsch as well, so she really did a fantastic job! I'm impressed! Then it's Sister Neugebauer’s birthday tomorrow so we all did a sneaky card, including Elder Neugebauer and got a cake and had a little birthday party for her. Then after that we met up with M, M and B. It was a great lesson, then after that we did some vorbeis and finding, before heading to the chapel to meet with the Sisters and the Bishopric to go through the ward list and get a low down on everything and also report a few things we've found. It was super useful! Then home, sprach and dinner! Also, Elder Meiners got a package from M and A (the are a new member couple from Augsburg, who I met a few times when I was in Kaufbeuren and they still remember me, even though I was only there for 6 weeks) and they included a couple of little things for me. How awesome is that?!? 

After studies and mittags we headed out to Johnstrasse to meet an Ehemaliger at Maccies. It was interesting! So we meet this guy there and he's like: ‘Can I get you a Cappuccino?’ and we're like: ‘Nope, we don't drink coffee!’ - so he goes and gets himself one! Then he comes back to us and is like: ‘Are you sure I can't get you anything?’- so we are like: ‘No, it's fine!’- type of a thing, then he disappears again and comes back with another 2 Cappuccino’s for each of us. That was a little awkward.... Then he's trying to persuade us into drinking it; that it's not really coffee, it's more milk, etc. Finally we managed to move on from that subject and then he goes off on one about refugees and gets all racist and talks about how "Uncle Adolf had it all right, didn't he?" It was sooo awkward! We tried a number of times to take control and come to a gospel topic, but he just kept going back to his racist remarks, so we made our excuses and left. Our boiler in the apartment is having some major issues, so the guy was supposed to be coming to look at it and sort the problem today between 14.00-16.00, so we had to wait for that for a bit. He came at like 14.45 and was here for about an hour, so that was fun. Then we did some finding and vorbeis nearby. We got let in by an older couple. She comes to church every week (but I had no idea she was who she was) and he doesn't, because he's basically housebound. So we went and shared a little lesson. It was quite spiritual and we got to know them a bit better. They're a pretty cool couple. Then we headed over to Bishop and family for Abendessen. It was really good and so much fun! He has a cool little family. Then home and that was Mittwoch!

Donnerstag after Personal and Comp, we headed over to the chapel, as there's a Sister in the ward who deals with all the garden stuff and she asked us to do something for her; so we went and did it. Then we came home for mittags, got changed and did some Sprach, before heading over to the Familie S. So these guys, Elder Brady and I tried each week to get an appointment, then each time, just 1hr before they would call and cancel. I decided that this transfer we'd give them a break for a few weeks before calling them up, then he got in touch with us, so we finally met them. They are such a cool family! Then we headed over to the centre for Englischkurs. We do that during Deutschkurs, then we also have an extra one for Deutschkurs students who also want to do Englisch! So we had back to back English today, or more so, I did, whilst my companion just sits there taking a chill hour! Then after that fun, we had a lesson with M and B! It was cool! We spoke about the family and read through the family proclamation, as we got hold of it in Farsi, so that was cool! Then we headed home and the day was over! I am soooo dead!

Freitag gave a lot of time for reflection and thinking and that type of stuff, so home was on my mind a bit and can you believe that 2 months today I will be in Munich for my last evening, as a missionary in this mission. Weirdness! No getting trunky! Home can wait another couple months! Anyways, after the normal morning business (studies, mittags, etc.) we decided that today we were going to take a day out of the city. We had a few less actives and formers who live in a place not too far, but still a good way out of the city, called Klosterneuburg. It was sooo refreshing to be out of the hustle of a city and to get nice clean country air. It was soooo good! Legit, I have missed the middle of nowhere! So we did a load of vorbeis there, loads of walking, I think my feet are wrecked after all that walking. We legit walked miles and miles today. Craziness and because of that, we had loads of thinking time, as some people lived in legit the middle of nowhere on the outskirts of this little town. It was super pretty though, but that filled up like all of our day and now I am wrecked, plus it was super sunny, so that was fun! 

Gemeinde Putztag Samstag! So after studies we headed to the Gemeinde Putztag, to clean the chapel. That was fun! M and B also came to help, cause they are little legends! So yeah we helped the ward clean the chapel, although the missionaries, M and B were about 50% of who turned up, but hey! After that, we popped back to get changed and grab lunch before heading to the centre to help out Wien 4. Their person never turned up, so they did a member lesson instead with their joint teach (she was female; for a female investigator, which is why they needed us there to help). Then after that, we went to meet N again. It's been a while, cause he's been super busy.... So we met him at work again. He made us a pizza again and he had a friend there who was speaking to us the majority of the time. It was interesting and we were there for quite a while. Then we headed home, which took way longer than it should have, no idea why. Had dinner and that was the day! 

I don't actually know where to start on Sonntag.... Church was interesting, sacrament was Mother’s day-based, which was super sweet. Before that we headed home, had mittagessen and did a bit of studies before heading back over to the chapel for Skype time!!! After that, we had a lesson with a former. That was interesting; then home for dinner and that was Sonntag! 

All my Love,

Elder Ammon Robertson xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Woche 94 von 101.5- UNO City, Vanrosen und Hochzeitsempfang!

Hallo!

Well P-day was fun, sort-of! After studies we went and did shopping before cleaning the apartment quickly and heading out to Donauzentrum with Wien 4. So we went to this place for lunch called Burgerista. It's similar to five guys, but not soo messy looking Burgers. It was really good! Then we headed to the Vienna International Centre (UNO City) to check it out, ‘cause some people say it's super cool, so we went to see. We got there and had to pass through like airport-style security just to get to the Visitor Centre part with the gift shop area and stuff. Legit, the UN take their security pretty seriously. Then basically the guided tour only happens 3 times a day and costs like €10 and it would be a 40 min wait for the next tour. You can't leave the visitor centre part unless you are on a tour or accompanied by someone who has invited you. So we're considering leaving, then we realise that actually Wien 4 have a load of members who work there and it was lunch break time, so they text their GML who works there and whilst waiting for a response, another one of their members walks through and speaks to us and gets us in. 

We have to like Sign in with our Passports and stuff. It was sooo official. Then we got these little Private Visitor badges. We got in and then their GML came and met us and he did a little made up tour for us (cause obviously he just works there. He isn't no Tour Guide) - it was cool. 

Then ‘cause it was lunch time, we got to go to the UN Cafeteria. It was huge! We had some cake as well and yeah! It was pretty cool and probably way better than the actual tour and we got it for free! After that little adventure we headed to the Insti Centre to do emails and then met up with B and M for the evening! It was a cool day! 

Dienstag! Oh Dienstag! After studies we headed over to the 2nd ward building for Zone Training! That was interesting! After that, we headed to the centre to quickly prep for Englischkurs and then taught English. That was fun! Then we headed back home to have a bite to eat before going to Gemeinderat for the rest of the evening! I also got an email from Bishop with a very similar picture (but not the exact same) which Mom sent and he said with it: "Dear Elder Robertson, This is what I found of my Romford time...I believe the picture looks much like the one you showed me the other time.... Anyhow, please give my best regards to your parents and if the habit remains in the family, I'll be excited who gets to be your eternal companion! Liebe Grüße, Christoph" What a joker! He is such a fun Bishop!

So Mittwoch after a block of studies, we headed over to the Tennis Club for the Bruder V lunch. It was the first one since transfers. It was pretty cool, but different, without any Brits with me! 'Twas cool anyways! Then we headed to the Centre to meet with M and B. We started going through Christ-like Attributes and also did a little extra German Class for them, which was good! They really want to try and learn the language as much as possible now. So we're doing an extra Deutschkurs for them, along with the one on Tuesday and Thursday they do at the centre and the other one they do online. After them, we headed out and did a few vorbeis and some finding before heading over to B and R for GMK. Oh, I never mentioned on Sunday that F finally received the Priesthood and got called as Gemindemissionar. So we had GMK. That was cool, and F was great; and was giving a load of ideas of how we can get some more young investigators and even offered to go dooring with us in Student Accommodation Blocks. Pretty sweet! After GMK our GML and F left and then we spent the evening with B and R. I love them sooo much! They're the BEST! Then we ran to catch the train and home! We've had some pretty packed out days recently and it looks like tomorrow will be pretty similar! 

Donnerstag! After studies and mittags, we headed off to the 8th district where we did a bit of finding and vorbeis in the pouring rain. I think it was more walking in the rain and vorbeis than anything. Then we headed to the centre to meet up with F. That was a cool lesson. Then we did Internet and learnt how to use family search. I still don't have a clue, but hey! Then prepared for Englischkurs and taught English! Then we met up with the Sisters, as they were coming to help us out with a lesson; so we got there and they weren't even home, so we did a few vorbeis with the Sisters on people who lived nearby, who we may potentially need a JT with if we taught, but nobody was home. It kind of sucked, so we headed home and had dinner! It wasn't the best day!

Happy Birthday Ashleigh! So what did we actually do this Freitag.... So after studies we headed to the Centre to do Sprach. Then once we got back we had to head over to the chapel, as we were helping the W's set up for E and A's wedding reception thing for tomorrow evening. That was fun! It lasted a little while longer than we thought it would, but we got a lot done and helped quite a bit. It was looking really quite nice when we left. Then we got home and had a very late lunch before hitting weekly planning and appointments.  After that, we headed back home, had abendessen and that was Freitag!

Samstag after studies we headed off to meet M and B and went off to the Familie E to help them move. That was fun! Legit, I have never helped so many people move house/apartment as I have since being here in Wien! I'm becoming quite a pro at this business! That filled a good chunk of the day and we got Pizza out of it! Then we headed home to shower again and get ready before going out for a bit of finding and to go by on a new member who hasn't been to church for a few weeks. His address was wrong and finding really sucked this week, like legit, nothing, not a single person. We headed back for a bit of Sprach before going over to the chapel for the Wedding party of E and A. It was the strangest thing ever to be at a wedding... but it was cool! The food was incredible! They also had a band there. That was strange- normal music that was super loud.... I'm not sure how I feel about that! Oh, also highlight of the night- so we were eating and we were sitting with the Sisters and a few other members on our table, and I hear "Englander" being said, so look up to who said it and it was a lady in the ward talking about me to the guy sitting next to her. Then she goes and tells me what she was saying about how you can tell I'm from England, because I have my food well presented on the plate and eat it with manners. Then she turns to my companion and she says and I guess the Deutscher has been learning a few things! Then to the Sisters … and she goes off on one about these American girls, not knowing how to eat properly, etc. It was soo funny! Then literally 2 minutes later, one of the Sisters was pouring a drink and the cup just falls and messes up the table and this lady's face was a picture! Way to prove a point! Haha! Then after it, we helped clear up a bit before really having to head home! It was a fun day!

Church was actually really nice this Sonntag! Sacrament was led by the Young Men, with it being Priesthood Commemoration Day! That was super cool and we had 4 investigators at church with us! So that was super cool! We were supposed to be teaching the Investigator class today, but we were having another investigator come who wanted to have a lesson with someone who speaks Polish and Sunday school was the only time this member could have helped us. So the Sisters covered the lesson for us and we had this lesson with A and a Sister in the ward who speaks Polish. That was interesting! I always love lessons when you have no clue what's being said. Then we had Priesthood and that was the best Priesthood class I think I have ever attended. There's a part member family in the ward and the man isn't a member, but he comes near enough every week and this week he was teaching the Priesthood class; like this guy isn't even a member, but he did such an amazing job and everyone was respectful and listened and participated! It was just incredible! After church we headed to Schw. K for essen and it was amazing! Then home for some studies and out to meet A to go for a 'walk and talk' lesson. That was interesting! Then we had a little bit of time left and finding this week has been atrocious. We've been doing it, but it's just that we have had absolutely no success from it whatsoever! So I really wasn't up for doing any finding anymore. I was just so demotivated from finding that there was no point, but my companion wanted to do it, so we went. The whole time just constant rejection, rejection, rude, snarky comments, etc - but then we were almost back home and the very last lady we speak to was soo cool! We had a pretty cool conversation. To start with, she said that there was no point in meeting with her, ‘cause there’s plenty of other people who need to hear us, as she already believes. Then we kept talking and ended up exchanging numbers. It was soo cool! We're excited to see how it goes with her - and that was my week! 

Well, I wish you all a wonderful week! Love you loads and loads!

Alles Liebe,

Elder Ammon Robertson xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Vienna (Wien) 18/4/16 - 2/5/16 Woche 91 & 92 von 102- Zentralfriedhof, Zone Training and Zone Activity

Woche 91 von 102- Zentralfriedhof, Zone Training and Zone Activity

Hallo!

Wie gehts?

So we decided that this week seen as we live in a 4-man that we are gonna try shopping together and see how much better it works for us. So after studies we popped over to the chapel and did our emails, posted some photos on the cloud (Are you proud of me? Each week I've been in Wien there hasn't been a single week without photos....) So after emails we headed out to go shopping and it worked out quite a bit cheaper than normal and hopefully it will make life a little more time efficient as well, instead of one of us waiting for the kitchen to be free and all that. Then we came back, had some essen and then cleaned for a bit. The highlight of our P-day was our little trip to Zentralfriedhof- It's like the biggest cemetery in Europe (maybe even the world, but I'm not too sure on that one, so don't quote me). It was crazy huge! Like some of those headstones were mental! I'll send some pics, but it's a tad weird, cause it's like pictures of graves and all; but there is a Mormon Section of it, which is super cool and it's probably the prettiest part of the entire Friedhof (again weird pictures). 

P-Day Activity

We saw the graves of Beethoven and Strauss and there was a memorial for Mozart, as he is actually buried somewhere else.... but it was cool! Then we headed to the British food store by Karlsplatz- I got myself some Crumpets! Sooo happy! I've missed Crumpets soooo much. Then we headed off to the centre, as we were supposed to be meeting a former there for the FHE that they do for the JAE. We also invited M and B to join us just in case this guy didn't turn up and if he did - then we'd just have 3 investigators there. He didn't turn up though which sucked, so we spent the evening with B, M and some JAE. It was a cool evening! 

Dienstag began after a run and getting ready with getting Elder Bonnke anmelded and to post something off to die Schweiz to get him Abmelded properly there. Then we headed home and did a bit of studies before leaving to go to Zone Training. So Zone Training was interesting- like it's the first thing of the transfer, which was a little strange seen as normally we have at least 1 DM before any zone thing. But anyhow.... So the whole thing was based on Patience, working with members and ward leadership. It was interesting! Then after all that, President allowed each zone to have a zone activity after zone training today, including a bit of money to use with it, to celebrate the fact that as a mission we overreached the mission goal for the last quarter. So that was fun! Basically our ZLs decided that we would do a tour of a few sites here in Wien. When you work right by/on these sites - it isn't actually all that special, but it was still cool none the less. So we started by heading to Schottentor and seeing the Votivkirche, then onto Rathaus, Parliament, Museumsquarter/Maria-Teresien-Platz, Hofburg Palace, Spanish Riding School, Stephansplatz, Karlsplatz, der Heldendenkmal der Roten Armee/Schwarzenberg Palace and lastly up to Belvedere! It was a right killer of a day- sooo much walking, so many selfies to photo bomb - so many pictures of cool things to take. Legit it was crazy! I am pretty convinced we totally broke the rule of not looking like tourists. It was crazy! So I have hundreds of photos from today, like legit over 300. I'll just put the group ones, cool sites and my awesome photo bombing selfie pics on the cloud! Enjoy! 

Then after that we found our way back to the Centre (without getting lost again- I haven't got us lost once so far! Proud moment). So then we planned a few things out and met with M. We went through the 4th chapter about ‘Freedom to Choose’. Then we headed home for abendessen. Oh, I also got Momma’s news!!! That was sooooo awesome to read! Congratulations! 2 weeks in a row! What’s it gonna be next week? 

I don't even know what to write for Mittwoch.... It was a day! A long day! We studied, ate, did a bit of area book stuff, then went out and did a load of ehemaliger and weniger aktiven vorbeis with a heap load of finding. 'Twas fun! We did get let in by one of the ehemaligers though, so that was cool! He was nice and invited us to come again for dinner. Then after doing vorbeis and finding for like 6hrs straight, we headed back to Schw. V for abendessen. It was a really nice appointment. It seems that the Sisters go pretty often, but this time all 4 of us went and it was really good! Then after that we headed home and the day was over. 

Donnerstag began after a run with some nice studies, before popping out and doing a bit of finding! We had some pretty awesome conversations and got 3 potentials from it! Woop, woop! Then home for mittags and sprach before heading over to the centre to sort out Englischkurs. So our students didn't turn up on time, so whilst waiting for them I went through the guidelines that I put together for missionaries’ use of the Centre.... Then we went out and did some finding before coming back for a lesson with M. Our translating JT didn't turn up, so we ended up just reading in the BoM with him, but that was still good and probably what he actually needed. Then we went and did some more vorbeis and finding by Westbahnhof. We went by a less active guy and ended up having a lesson with him! That was cool. He was a funny guy. Then home, abendessen, planned and then we did ‘drink night’. Basically we all just have a drink of our choice and just chat about any old topic for the night. I guess it all goes with living in a 4-man! Haha! 

Freitag began after studies by heading to do a few vorbeis, before coming back for mittags and Sprach! Then we did some weekly planning! I hate weekly planning, but I only have 10 more of them to go! Wahey! Well, after that we headed to the centre to meet with M and B and have a Skype lesson with the Sister who speaks Farsi. We spoke more about fasting and decided that we were going to fast together for them. It was a pretty powerful lesson. Then we chatted with the N’s for a little bit to discuss a new member from our ward who is JAE age, but seems to be more less active than new member. We discussed a few things they can help us with in terms of getting him involved in JAE things. Then we did some vorbeis and stuff and then home. I made some Mexican Rice for dinner, but it wasn't the same. They don't do the spices you actually need for it over here, so it wasn't as red/orange as it should be and it seemed really stodgy. I think that may have had something to do with the fact I used fresh tomatoes, because there is no such thing as canned tomatoes over here. Oh well, it still tasted alright! 

Well Samstag is supposed to be running morning, but we were both dead as fetch today, so gave that one a pass. I know, super lazy! So after studies we headed over to M and B place and had lunch with them. M made us some Iranian food and lots of it. It was soooo good. Then we ate like loads of coconut ice cream and began to fast with them that they will get the erlaubnis to stay here in Austria. We shared a little lesson, M played some music on his instrument for us and then we headed over to the centre for Englischkurs. That was interesting- we spoke about Phrasal verbs. 'Twas cool! Then we did a load of vorbeis and finding before meeting the Sisters at Ottakring to go with them to visit one of their formers. Then we left and did a few more vorbeis and finding before heading back home. I have a feeling I may have Hayfever. Like legit the Pollen in the air here is like visible and it's huge- I have never had Hayfever, but recently I have been sneezing so much and my nose is running like mad! I don't know! 

Oh Sonntag! What a crazy day!?! Church this morning was great! The talks were brilliant- they were mainly based on Service and serving others, but each touched on it in a different way! It was good. Then the rest of the meetings were also good! After church we went over to Sister P’s for mittags. We had Burritos and they were sooooo good! The Sisters did the spiritual thought and it was all about learning to listen to the Spirit. After our appointment we headed home and on the tram there was a group of youths who were speaking in Schwiezerdütsch! It was so beautiful to hear that again. I really do miss a bit of Swiss German! So we did studies and then went for a walk with Andreas again and spoke about the Book of Mormon and numerous other topics. I think these Sunday evening walk lessons are gonna be a regular thing, which is nice. Then home, abendessen and planned, collected numbers and that was our day! It's been a pretty good week and time is just flying by! 

Anyways, I just find that super awesome and such a blessing that after waiting so long and many prayers and fasts for good news on the job front with Dad; that within a week, my parents both get new jobs! Just as Mom said last week about putting our trust in Heavenly Father and He will provide, even a hundred fold. It is so true! The Blessings come in so many different ways and we really don't recognise them most of the time. It goes with a spiritual thought we shared this week. So we played the thankful pen game and twisted it up a bit by using the talk from April 2014 by President Uchtdorf and in it he mentions: "Being grateful in times of distress does not mean that we are pleased with our circumstances. It does mean that through the eyes of faith we look beyond our present-day challenges..... True gratitude is an expression of hope and testimony. It comes from acknowledging that we do not always understand the trials of life, but trusting that one day we will." One day we will see how much we have learnt through those challenges and how much Heavenly Father truly does provide. It rarely ever is in the timing of which we hope for, but His plan is perfect and His timing is sure for when we need it more than ever and will gain the most from it in terms of our Spiritual Progression.

Have a great week guys!

Alles Liebe,

Elder Ammon Robertson xxxxxxxx

Woche 92 von 102- I just realised either I missed a week, can't do Maths or it's actually 92 of 101.5...... I think I'll go with the latter!

Hallo!! 

Can you believe it..... You only have to suffer reading through 9 more of these after today....

Well, last Pday after studies we headed out and did shopping for the week before heading into Wien to go to Café Central for Mittags. So basically, we figured when in Wien you have to go to a typical Wienerisch Café; so we asked around last week where people would recommend and Café Central was number one, plus it's supposed to be the oldest and poshest in Wien, so we figured why not! So last week we made a reservation as if you just turn up you have to wait forever normally and then this morning we went. It was soooo posh! Legit! So we had something proper to eat before indulging on some cake! I got the Ungarische Gulasch- that was sooo good! A little overpriced, but it was really good! Then the cakes all looked amazing, but I settled for the 'Frühlings Kuss'; which was like a Creme Schnitte, but with one of the layers of cream as a rhubarb filling type thing. It was sooooooo good! 

Then we headed to the Centre to do emails before heading down to shopping city süd, which is basically like a giant mall! They have a Primark, which was beautiful! Sooo British! The best part was that they sold some British sweets and stuff as they do back in the UK, so I picked up some Chewitts and Polos. I also grabbed some running shoes, cause the casual shoes I have aren't good for running, so I normally borrow Elder Threlkeld’s for running, but I figured only €11 for a pair at Primarni was good enough, so now I don't need to borrow any! Plus, they only need to last me another 9 and a bit weeks! Sweet! Then we headed back up to Wien and started work. After that, we need to umsteig right outside B and R’s place, so we figured we would go by and see how they were - seen as they weren't at church yesterday. That was cool, they let us in, we chatted, shared something with them and they gave us some snacks, cause P-day is a bit hit and miss with proper meals. Haha! It was a really cool evening! 

So Dienstag after studies, we headed off to Meidling to meet with St. Pölten to tausch. I decided I'd stay and work with Elder Johnson seen as last time I worked with Gappmayer, but I do have permission to tausch with them twice this transfer, so I'll get to work with both! So we headed out to Stadtpark and did some finding, then the Sisters joined us and we did a bit of power finding in Stadtpark! It was actually some really good finding! We got a few potentials! Then we popped over to the Centre to prepare English and then had Englischkurs before walking and finding home and having dinner! 'Twas cool!

Mittwoch began by having a morning full of studies, mittagessen and Auswertungsgespräch before heading off to Meidling to get the train to St. Pölten to tausch back! Our train went from 5 minutes late, to 10, onto 15, then 20 and on to 30 minutes late. By which time, the next train was going, so that was fun! There really is nothing quite as good as Swiss Public Transport! It was a really fun tausch and working with Elder Johnson was great! Then we tausched back and Bonnke was ill, so we headed home and he slept whilst I made use of my time! Also, the Euros turned up this morning!!! Thank you soooo much! :D

So Donnerstag Elder Bonnke was still ill, so it was another stay at home day. It's a good job today was run day, so I could get out! Plus, after lunch I popped over to the chapel with one of the Wien 4 Elders to order tickets for DM next week! Then home again to wait out the day!

Freitag after studies my companion started complaining about toothache, so he spent the morning on the phone to the nurse and then calling up every possible dental practice for an appointment today.... Most of the dental practices close at 11.00 on a Friday apparently, but we finally found one, had lunch and headed to this dental appointment. The problem was that he had a gum infection. We did a vorbei whilst we were nearby, but they weren't home, so we headed home and did some weekly planning. It was more like a power weekly planning, cause we had an appointment with M and B and this skype lady to get to. That was good! I love meeting with those guys!

Samstag was fun! Interview day! So after a bit of studies, we headed over to our chapel for interviews and district meeting! My first DM as DL! It was weird, like it was a great meeting, but interview DMs are always really 'here and there'; cause someone is always out of it, so that was fun! My last interview in the field, like my next interview with Pres will be my death interview! That is soooooo weird! From what he said I think I'm going to die here, cause he kept asking if I'm alright with doing my last transfer here, but he also checked if I was okay moving on.... So who knows, but I believe when I die; Wien 1 Elders will probably close, cause he needs to close a whole load of areas this transfer, so we shall see. I got my temple recommend renewed as well (my recommend is auf Deutsch) and he asked me to create some lists of things, which he'll be asking me about in just over 2 months’ time. That was the strangest thing ever! Anyways, after interviews we had training with President and the Graz district all about Baptismal Records (I think that’s what they are called in English), so that was fun, then home to finish studies. This evening we headed out and did some finding before meeting the Sisters to go to T for abendessen! Oh my goodness! It was soooo much fun! Legit this woman is mentally insane. She is such a hoot! We just had sooo much fun the whole evening! 

Sonntag was a pretty interesting day! Testimony meeting was great, M got up and bore his testimony, which was the coolest and sweetest thing ever! The feeling when one of your investigators gets up to bear testimony in testimony meeting is amazing! Then the other classes were alright! Funny story from Priesthood- so Elder Bonnke was asked to read something and he starts reading, then one of the old guys starts shouting at him in English how he needs to speak louder and sit up straight, no actually stand up and read it. In the meantime, another old guy joins in the shouting and some others are like he is German - he can speak German! Like it was soooo bad, but sooo funny. Like old people just have the smallest issues, which they make such a huge deal of, like if you can't hear, read along, but the fact that he was saying it in English was just hilarious. People just assume that all missionaries are Americans and can't speak the language very well.... That’s the worst stereotype, which you never had to deal with in Switzerland, cause we are all Europeans. Well, after church we had a "quick" GMK. It was alright, but I'm not super impressed with our GML.... Oh well! Then we headed to B and R’s for the afternoon. It was so much fun! I love going to their place! Then our appointments for the evening fell out, so we went by a less active and spoke to her on the door. It was pretty cool, plus she is going to help us with teaching a Polish guy! Then we headed home, did some studies, had abendessen, planned, collected numbers and phoned the ZLs.  

Well today was an adventure, but more on that next week. For now, that’s everything unless something comes to mind!

Alles Liebe,

Elder Ammon Robertson xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Vienna (Wien) 4/4/16 - 18/4/16 Woche 89 und 90 von 102- Tausch, Wien Team Lunch, Schönbrunn Picknick, Herbs, Versetzungstag und...... ja!

Woche 89 von 102- Tausch, Wien Team Lunch und Versetzungsanruf!
Hallo!
How was your guys' week? Can you believe that today marks the beginning of my second to last transfer..... Time is going way too quickly!  Well, anyways, onto this past week!
So P-day was a pretty dead one. Not much happened. After studies, we quickly popped to the shop and then had to wait in for our new washing machine to arrive as ours’ died on us last week, so yeah! During the wait and after we just cleaned the apartment and just did a real good clean of it, as like we don't get those spring clean days in our mission like Ash did. Once we finished here, we popped over to the chapel and did emails, then we basically started working early and went into the first district for some finding. It was pretty sucky. Too many people and nobody wanted to stop. So yeah! Then we headed to the Instizentrum to have a lesson with M. We went through a recap of the Restoration, as it has been forever since missionaries last met with him. It went well, then we did some more finding before coming home for dinner - and that was our pretty lame pday!
Dienstag - After studies, we headed off to the Centre for Distriktessen und DM, because we did lunch on Sunday and the Sisters did dinner. St. Pölten got to cook us all lunch for district meeting today. So that was super good! Then we had DM! It was probably one of the best I've had in a while. Then we waited around a little for the ZLs to arrive, as today we were going on a Tausch with them. Then we tausched! I'm in Wien 2 with Elder Mitchell, so we started heading back to their apartment, so I could drop off my tausch stuff and we could do some Sprach. On our way back we just like bumped into 3 Americans who started speaking to us. It was super weird. Like the first one was by the Rathaus. She just stopped us asking where we're from, because she's from Utah and studied at BYU. That was cool! Then we take the U-bahn and on there the person opposite us is from California. She’s an exchange student in England and just took a trip to Wien. Then as we were leaving the Bahnhof we walked past this cafe where some lady starts frantically waving at us beckoning us to come inside; so we did and she's a member from Atlanta, Georgia so we got chatting to her. Haha. It was crazy! Then we finally got to their enormous apartment, dropped off my tausch bag and did some Sprach, before heading over to an investigator called W. We taught him the Plan of Salvation and it was so cool! It feels like ages since I last taught someone who is hearing this for the first time, like A and his J were the last ones, but it was so cool! Just seeing that glow in somebody’s eyes who is learning for the first time what God’s Plan for them truly is, it's such a beautiful experience! Then after that, we headed to a less active lady called N. That was an interesting appointment. She's a little bit crazy! She was telling us how she was at this course for unemployed people, like the ones they do in the UK I think and this guy did something she didn't like; so she grabbed his bag and threw it out the window! Like what the fetch. Then he grabbed his phone out to call the police on her, so she wacked him one over the head to stop him and then she’s going off on one at us how she is always bumping into devils. It was actually rather humorous.. but yeah! Then home and we had dinner. And that was Dienstag!
Mittwoch was a cool day! So we began with our studies before heading out and doing a bit of finding on our way to the Tennis Club, as it was time again for Lunch with Bruder V (from Wien 4, who takes all of the Wien team out to lunch once a month).

Lunch was awesome. Starter was Broccoli Soup, then this time I had the spare ribs and it was like an entire rack of ribs with little potato wedges and a salad- it was soooooooooooo good! Like legit! Then Elder Mitchell and I shared the spiritual thought. We did the thankful pen game and based it on gratitude, especially with being grateful for two special things which today is the date of- 1) The birth of Christ (D&C 20:1) and 2) The organisation of the restored Church in the Latter-days! It went pretty well, then we also had some cookies which we shared with everyone to show our gratitude for the work which everybody does! It was cool! Then we tausched back and we headed to the centre to teach M and B. We basically read with them and then taught a lesson from gospel principles, as they also have a copy of that in Farsi! Then M was still feeling ill, so we gave him a blessing! That was super nice- it feels weird giving blessings auf Englisch, but it was still really nice! Then we headed out and did some finding for a good solid few hours before finding out our service appointment this evening fell out, but the member who organised it felt bad about it, so took us out for dinner instead. It was one of the JAE, so he took us to Maccies and then we just chatted and ate and then home and that was our day! Pretty cool, huh!
So Donnerstag after studies we headed off to the chapel to do ticket orders for St Pöltens train tickets to DM on Tuesday, then back home for Mittagsessen! After essen we headed out to Josefstadt to do some finding in the nähe from the Instizentrum. It was interesting, not too many convos, like people were super closed today for some reason. Then we headed to the centre to do Englischkurs for our two students. This time we planned to do it before Deutschkurs, as our students also do that and we had an appointment at 17; so we needed to head over to that part way through Deutschkurs. After Englisch, one of the Sisters asked me if I could give her a blessing. It was a really nice experience again, but doing it auf Englisch is still a little strange, but legit having the opportunity to exercise the Priesthood and to give Priesthood blessings is such a beautiful experience. I am so grateful for the Priesthood and the blessings I see it bring each day! Like I feel so lightheaded after giving a blessing, it's a real beautiful, yet strange feeling- like you just enter such a holy and sacred sphere of influence as those words come out. I love it! After that we began to leave and Elder Neugebauer cracks one- "White for me, white for me" then proceeds to tell us this story about working with someone who pronounced weight and wait, as white. I think he actually just thought he was funny insinuating something....! Then we get a text and the appointment cancels on us, which sucks, so we did some more finding and tried to hunt for someone that Elder Brady taught last year, but we couldn't find him, so we went home quickly to check the area book for the address and back out! So the plan was to go by this guy, now we had his actual address, but an Ehemaliger wanted to meet! So we met him up at Karlsplatz (Errand of Angels moment) and then we walked up to Schottentor with him, which took a while; chatting about life and talking about the gospel, answering some of his questions, etc. Then we grabbed something to eat together, chatted some more and that was our evening.
Freitag began nice and early, so I finally caved and went for a run with Elder Meiners. Then after studies we popped over to the chapel to check and see if Bishop had replied to an email we sent him yesterday, but while we were there the offline maps app (we have decided to automatically update), needed to re-download all of the maps again, which was stupid, which also meant it lasted a little longer than planned. Then we popped back home for mittagessen and do weekly planning. We also got a text from M saying that the blessing we gave him back on Wednesday worked, cause he is now almost perfectly fine. So that was really sweet! Then after that, we met up with him and his brother again, but this time we had a senior missionary sister who also speaks Farsi - Skype in. It was pretty cool! We went through a few baptismal interview questions with them and their answers were amazing! Like they are so prepared and ready to be baptised. Definitely our most progressing investigators. Then we went out and did a few vorbeis and finding before coming home and having a bit of abendessen.
Samstag- Transfel Call Day! So after frühsport we waited a little while for transfer calls to come and then they finally rang! So..... Elder Brady is going to enter the most beautiful country ever and he'll be going to Biel! He best get learning some Français! Haha. I am going to be getting my third Deutscher Mitarbeiter, Elder Bonnke!!! He was also in my MTC group, but as a German he dies the transfer after I do, so he may well be killing me off. I'm also going to be the District Leader, so that will be fun! My District will be staying the same except for us and the Sisters; Sister Jest is dying and Sister Price is going to be getting a Golden! Sooo excited we're gonna have a Golden in the ward and District! So excited for that! Well, after that and studies and a bit of Mittagessen we headed to the Instizentrum for Englischkurs. It was a good class, then we sorted a few other things whilst there before heading to the baptism of Bischof Soucek's daughter. It was a really cute baptism and M and B came. I love going to baptisms, they are the best! Then we met with M and B and read with them. They chose to read 2 Nephi 31 with us and spoke about baptism. It was such a spiritually lead meeting with them. I love those guys - they are so prepared! We set a conditional baptismal date with them for the 25th June!!! (I'm hoping it's gonna happen just to make my birthday complete). They are like the most sincere people I have ever taught. Like they are exactly what it means to come before the Lord with a broken heart and contrite spirit! Wow! Then we did a load of vorbeis this evening and that was basically our day!
Elder Brady und Sister Jest's letzte Sonntag in der Gemeinde Wien 1!!! It was actually a pretty nice day. Sacrament was really nice- fast and testimony meeting was actually really nice and we got a new counsellor on the Bishopric. That was cool, but also sad; as the old counsellor is moving out of the ward! Then Gospel Principles was cool, then Priesthood was also pretty good! After church we had GMK and then headed to a relative of Elder Brady who lives in Wien. So she is like his second cousin, twice removed or something like that. So we went round for mittags and they did a bit of family history together. It was cool! Then we headed home and did our studies and that was basically our Sunday!
Oh, did I mention I also cut my hair again this week. It was getting really quite long, so I really needed a cut! Well, yeah! That is that!
Love you Millions,
Elder Ammon Robertson xxxxxxxx

Woche 90 von 102- Schönbrunn Picknick, Herbs, Versetzungstag und...... ja!
Grüezi wohl! (I miss a lil bit of Schwiezerdüetsch so you get some this week!)
Montag began after personal with Elder Brady having his Swiss Conference Call- Anyways, after that we headed to Schönbrunn again, as we had an appointment there with one of our members for a picnic. We went and it was like a district p-day with our member, had a picnic and played some games!

Then we headed to the chapel, did emails, popped home and got changed before going off to Ottakring to grab a few things before going to Baagii with M and B! It was a really fun evening! Then home and that was our P-day!
Dienstag began and actually continued without any proper studies, as we needed to go get Elder Brady Abmelded before he takes that lovely long train ride to Zürich tomorrow! So after that, we popped to the Instizentrum to sort a few things and make a few lesson plans before having district meeting. Our last meeting with this district. It was kind of sad! Then we met up with the other two Wien districts at "Herbs" (the place is actually called Schnitzelwert, but mission culture has it as Herbs. I think it's like the name of the old owner or something and they love missionaries there) for lunch and like an end of transfer thing. It was sooo good, and sooooo filling! Then we headed back to the centre to meet with M, M and B! That was a cool lesson. We did the third one in Gospel Principles, which talks about Christ being pre-ordained. Then after them, we met with R. Then we did Englischkurs, before heading to the chapel for Gemeinderat! That was fun! It was a really fun day!
So transfer day is officially now on Mittwoch. So this morning began bright and early, as we needed to head down to Wien Meidling for 8.30 for Elder Brady's train to Salzburg. It was so weird, like next time I am heading down to Meidling, with suitcases, it will more than likely be in 12 weeks when I die! Scared much! So we got there like 15mins before his train, chatted a bit with other missionaries. So my two Britts are leaving the zone, so now I'm the only Brit here! Sad times! Sister Jest is going home, and Freeke is heading to die Schweiz for her last transfer, so it was so weird just to think that the next time we ever see each other will be back in the motherland in just 12 weeks’ time! Super strange! Time just goes way too fast!

Transfer Day at the Bahnhof

Then I got to spend the time with Elder Lyman while we waited for our new comps to come in! So we headed back to the Wien 2 apartment, did our studies, had Mittags and then headed out to teach a potential investigator. We spoke to her about the Book of Mormon and she fed us some cake. Then we did a few vorbeis before heading back to Wien Meidling to pick up the 17.30 income. So that load was the group that were coming in from Deutschland or somewhere else in Austria. Then we waited for like an hour until Elder Bonnke came in at like 18.30, cause there wasn't too much time to go anywhere and Lyman’s new comp had his suitcases with him, so we just waited. Then we headed home, let my comp unpack, had dinner and that was transfer day!
Did I actually ever mention how I'm getting a bit better again with doing Frühsport? So every second day Elder Meiners and I will go out for a run in the morning and Donnerstag was one of those run mornings. It kills me every time, but at least I'm doing my Frühsport! So during studies I thought about planning DM for next week and then realised that actually I don't need to worry about that one, cause it will be zone training instead. Well that makes life easier. So after studies we headed out and did a bit of finding. We got one potential and had a few good conversations. I actually like the way Elder Bonnke finds, it's great! Then we came back for Mittags, headed over to the chapel, as we had an appointment with this guy who was making some sort of film for the Burgtheater (big Theatre opposite Rathaus) about happiness and what happiness means to us and in terms of Religion; so he was going round a few different religious groups and asked us to do it as well, so we got it all approved and sorted through Public Affairs and stuff and then today was it. So he like interviewed us on camera about it. It was actually pretty quick and he said that we'll get a copy of the film once it's complete. So we shall see how that goes! Then we came back home, did a little area update, looked through the area book and did some calls; then we headed out to get Elder Bonnke his Vorteilscard at Westbahnhof and then did some finding out and about around Vienna, giving him a nice guided tour of the city whilst talking to people about the restored gospel. It was fun! I'm quite surprised actually that we didn't get lost, but so far, so good! Then we popped to the Instizentrum for the end of Deutschkurs to set up a time and topic for the guys we also do Englischkurs with. Then headed back to the chapel, to get a call from the guy we were supposed to meet to say he will be there an hour later, so we did some vorbeis nearby, then he called again as we got back to the chapel saying he won't be able to come at all tonight, so we did some more vorbeis and finding and then had Abendessen. What a day!!!
Freitag was actually really quite boring the majority of the day. Studies, essen, weekly planning, etc. Weekly Planning was like mega long, but kind of a typical big area catch up and sorting this area out in a more organised/European manner! Then we headed off to Stadtpark for some finding, which was absolutely beautiful there and then did a load of vorbeis before meeting up with B and M for a skype lesson with the lady in the States who speaks Farsi. It was really good and that was basically our entire day!
So after another run and fruit smoothies, Samstag morgen began with helping the Familie L move house. It was actually a really nice move, as they had already got everything packed and all of the furniture they took apart to makes it easier to transport and stuff. Now that is how sensible people move house- forget the whole take the entire built up wardrobe down 20 flights of stairs rubbish! So it was really nice and easy, plus a decent amount of people from the ward came to help out. Then after that, we headed home to shower and get changed before popping down to meet a potential whom Elder Brady and I found a month or so back. So we met him at work, which wasn't quite ideal, but it worked out easier for him. He works at a pizza place, so we taught him the restoration, with it being his work there were a few distractions with customers/deliveries coming and going, but it was quite quiet most of the time. So that was cool, then he gave us lunch on the house! It was super good pizza to be fair! So that was a cool appointment. Then we headed home to finally do some studies for the day before heading to the centre to do Englischkurs. That was fun! I taught them conditional sentences, so the whole 'if-clauses'- that was fun! I only confused myself about 20 times..... Oh the joys! Then we did a few vorbeis and some finding before heading home and having dinner whilst watching 'Errand of Angels' (it's approved for us Austrian Missionaries- hahaha!) It was so funny to see places where we have been and even worked and the best bit was just not even having to read the English subs when they speak Deutsch- which made it even better, as the English subs give the translation in correct English, but the Deutsch is actually absolutely terrible from Sister Taylor, which makes the commentary from Sister Kellar even better! Hahahaha! We'll have to watch it when I get home and I can explain bits to you, so it actually makes sense to be funny!
This month is flying by so quickly, like we are over half way through and it only started like last week or something! Time is going way too quickly! Well Sonntag was a fun day- so last transfer I left Elder Brady to do all of the translating, but now he isn't here and I have a Deutscher, I get the joy of doing it all. Legit, it is so difficult. I have no idea how to say half of that stuff auf Englisch- Ich verstehe schon, aber..... I can just NOT translate properly. So most of Sacrament meeting was an Elder Robertson made up show, which sort of went along with what the speakers were actually saying and then even when I was getting it in a good flow of translating, I would Denglisch that thing so bad it was untrue! Then Gospel Principles came round and the topic was on fasting. Again, I got the joy of translating cause the teacher refused to do it auf Englisch, even though everyone who was there could speak and understand English perfectly fine. So I got it again- although this time it was so much easier! Then we had Priesthood and Elder Bonnke and I had to teach that one, but to be fair the theme passed pretty well with the teachers as it was Ch.8 of Howard W Hunter about Sharing the Gospel throughout the World. It went really well. We got them all involved and it was actually a really spiritual priesthood lesson. Then after church we did a load of the chitchat business, set up some appointments for this week and then home for lunch and studies! After that, we headed back over to the Gemeindehaus to meet A. So A was a former in the area book who we called up on Thursday to ask if we could meet again and he said sure, so we set up an appointment for Sonntag abend. Well at church today we were speaking with who we thought was another A’s who comes to church every week, but isn't a baptised member and he tells us that we are meeting with him tonight. So that was pretty cool! So we met him and went for a walk together, spoke about all sorts of things, got to know his story and what is keeping him from baptism, etc. It was really quite interesting and none of it was written on his record, so that was good to get to know! Then we did a bit of finding in the humid rain, then home for dinner. Planning and my first calling up to collect numbers. This district is so cool, I love them all.
Mega viäl Liäbi,
Elder Ammon Robertson xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Vienna (Wien) 21/3/16 - 4/4/16 Woche 87 & 88 von 102- Lederhosen Eingekauft, Tausch in St. Pölten, Ostern Vortrag und Dienstprojekt! Schönbrunn, Karlsplatz, Gelato, 100 Days, Dienstprojekt und General Konferenz!!

Woche 87 von 102- Lederhosen Eingekauft, Tausch in St. Pölten, Ostern Vortrag und Dienstprojekt!

Hallo!

So, after studies we began p-day by heading to the centre, so that Elder Brady could sort Uni stuff out on the computers there. So I did a bit of emails while he did that and sorted a few other things, then when he finished we decided we would just keep doing emails then, so we did. Then we headed out- I printed pictures off to do some Tschüssbuch entries and then we went Lederhosen shopping for my comp. We found a place where the hosen were on sale, so he got some and I couldn't resist, so I also got some. Although I didn't get the full outfit and just got the hosen and socks. You know, Lederhosen are actually super comfortable! They're great! Then we headed back home, went food shopping and it was time to work. This evening we were invited over to dinner and FHE by Familie S. It was a really nice evening. The Sisters did a really nice spiritual thought, then P asked us for a blessing, as he was ill. So we did! They are a really cool family! Then home, planned, had a Lederhosen party and the day was over! 

Lederhosen Party

So Dienstag morgen began with a bit of studies before heading back to the Lederhosen shop, as they forgot to give Elder Brady his change back and he didn't realise till we were almost home yesterday; so we went back to pick that up this morning and we went in and they were like completely einverstanden and gave him his change. They said that they did realise they were a little over on the till, so it all made sense! Then we headed this time to Pfahlhaus to have district meeting. It was pretty good, based on commitments again. Then after DM we joined with the other two Wien districts and practiced our missionary musical number for the thing on Friday. We finally settled with 'I Know that my Redeemer Lives', went through it a few times and we ended up sounding pretty darn good. Then we tausched and I headed to St. Pöllten with Elder Gappmayer, so when we got here we headed over to the GML (I think that's who he was) and gave him a blessing and then they also fed us dinner. After that, we headed over to the Chapel where they were having a course for teachers and they wanted us to join in and input and stuff, so that filled most of the evening; then we headed home, did Sprach, planned and now I am writing my journal!

Mittwoch began with studies and lunch before Elder Gappmayer and I headed out to do some finding in the Innenstadt for like 3 hours or so before tausching back. Then Elder Brady and I headed back to Wien, popped home to drop my bag off and sort out a progress record before heading off to the H's for GMK. They're both ward missionaries, so we do it at their place. Then we did some finding before heading home for dinner. I still really need to sort some Tschüssbuchs out, so that was my day! Oh, I forgot the crazy circus girl story. So as Elder Gappmayer and I were finding we stopped this guy and had a little chat with him and whilst we were talking to him, this woman/girl stopped and started lingering around us, then the convo with this guy ends and just before we start walking - this girl starts shouting at us at like the top of her lungs about animal abuse and how wrong it is. Like who knows where that all came from! I'm guessing she just wanted a rant and figured that we would listen to it. Then she's going on about how animals have feelings, just like humans and how they only get vicious because of the way humans react and treat them. Then she goes on about how she was born and raised in the circus and has like a pet tiger and bear and how next time she comes out to town she's gonna come out with her tiger on her shoulder and her bear, which is like this tall (as she gets on her tiptoes and reaches as high as she can); and she won't even put a lead on them, as she'll just let them roam and then we'll see what happens. Then she just went on and on forever about how evil people are to animals. It was fun! It was just like one of those crazy tausch moments.

So, Donnerstag began with studies before heading out to do some finding for a few hours before heading back for a late lunch. So, finding began by the chapel as we saw a guy waiting outside reading the notice board they have, so we thought we'd stop him and see if we can help. He said he wanted a Book of Mormon, so we gave him one and got to know him a bit- he didn't have any interest to meet, but told us his religious background, of which he believes Joseph Smith is a prophet and that Christ, Mohammed and Joseph Smith will all come down in an UFO for the second coming - and our genetics will change, so we can live for 1000 years, it was crazy! Then the rest of finding sucked, nobody wanted to know, let alone stop to speak with us. Then home to eat and then out again. Headed to the centre for Deutsch course, then we taught our less active who has now started going to Deutsch course. It was cool. Then we helped the Sisters sort the thing for tomorrow's Easter devotional and that was our day! 

So, Freitag was a very plain day for the majority of it, so studies, lunch, weekly planning. Then after we finished with that we headed to the Instizentrum to finish a few preperations for tonight, practiced our musical number and then we had a quick 15 min lesson with a guy who has fallen out every time since I've been here, until he came for tonight's thing, so we nabbed the opportunity to teach him. Then it was our Easter Fireside. It was actually pretty well attended- and the majority of them were non-members, granted they were from Deutschkurs, but it was really well attended and went really well. It was a really nice evening. Plus I made some Choc Fudge Cake and it went down pretty well! 

Singing at our Easter Fireside

So Samstag was all planned out and we were going to have a real power find today, but then last night Wien 5 asked us if we could come and help out with a service project, as a family in their ward was moving house and they needed more hands than were available, plus it was one of our Bishop's brothers, so we agreed and got up nice and early to get to Deutsch-Wagram for 9.00 this morning. So we basically took stuff out, loaded the van and then drove over to the new place and unloaded it. It took quite a while, plus some of that stuff was beastly! Like my biceps are gonna be way sore in the morning and my back might be a little achy aswell. So it took like 3 trips as well and each time that van was chocka, but it was fun! They also fed us lunch during. Then we needed to head home to get re-showered and changed before heading to the other side of Wien for a dinner appointment. It was really nice and the Sisters took the spiritual thought again.... Then to the centre for a lesson with M and B! It was soooo good! We told them last time that this time we want them to teach us the restoration, so they need to prepare. So tonight was it.... It was soooo good! They are the sweetest guys ever and they did such a great job, legit the Spirit was there as they taught, it was sooo cool! Then we headed home and hopefully can get an early night after today and seen as the clocks go forward tonight.....

Sonntag was a tiredsome day! I like just died, but we were still in good time for church to greet people and get given colourful boiled eggs... Very different to getting a chocolate egg back in the mother land.... Here we get colourful boiled eggs; but church was great. The talks were all based on Easter, the Atonement and the Resurrection. It was really nice. Then Sunday School was on the Sacrament linked into Easter again. It was really good! Priesthood was also pretty good, so yeah! Then we set some appointments! We set up a J appointment as well, which we are super excited about (Bruder J was one of our MTC teachers). Then a few people turned up to church at the very end of the meetings, so we had a chat and tried to get a potential or two out of it. Then we finally got home, had lunch and did studies before heading over to Sister P for dinner. It was soooo good and we got the spiritual thought this time. Wahey! Then we did a bit of dooring and had a funny/terrible experience. So Elder Brady was at the Klingle and all of a sudden one of the bells just got stuck in and kept ringing and just wouldn't come out, so he pressed the next one to try and stop it, but then that one also got stuck in, so we had two bells ringing on a constant ring and couldn't stop it. So we try like everything and then managed to stop them. Then it was just too awkward to keep dooring there, or ringing the klingel at the front door of this apartment block. Plus, it was close to our time to go home, so we just walked it and that was our day!

It was an okay week. It kind of sucked, like we could barely get in contact with anyone we wanted to and next to nobody wanted to speak to us on the street, but hey, it happens! Well, I have no idea what the plan is today, so we shall see next week what happened.... Have a great week guys! Love you loads and loads!

Fröhe Ostern!

Alles Liebe,

Elder Ammon Robertson xxxxxxxxxx

Woche 88 von 102- Schönbrunn, Karlsplatz, Gelato, 100 Days, Dienstprojekt und General Konferenz!!

Höi! 

So, Montag began with Personal study, then we headed to the chapel to watch some of the Women's General session of General Conference, cause like you know! It was actually really good! Then we did emails, which is also fun before heading home for essen. Then the afternoon was the real P-day. So we began by heading to Schönbrunn, walked around the grounds and took some pictures, then we felt like a bit of Errand of Angels, so headed to Karlsplatz and took some pictures and walked around for a bit, then we popped up to Schwedenplatz and had some Eis/Gelato at that place which is supposed to be the best in Vienna, so I'm guessing that's the one Dad or Mom mentioned a few weeks back that's supposed to be the best in Europe or whatever it was. It was soooooooo good! I had Hazelnut, Mango Cream, Raspberry Cream, Strawberry Yoghurt and Praline. They were all soooooo good!

P-Day in Vienna

And they even have authentic Italian Gelato

Then we headed to do some work - did some vorbeis and finding. Then we were close by a member who the GML mentioned to us hasn't had HT/VTs for a while, even though they are like super active, so we went by and they let us in. Got to know them a bit and it was super cool. We shared a spiritual thought and they invited us to come back again on Thursday, but this time for food as well. It was super awesome and they are really cool! Then we did some more vorbeis and finding and that was the day!

So Dienstag began with studies before heading off to district meeting. So this week my assignment was to speak about district meetings and why we have them and so on. It seemed to go pretty well. So yeah! I also got my '100-day' poem from Papa- loved it! Doing a bit of Maths with today being 100 days to go - Did you know that it will be 2 years and 103 days between the moment I opened my Mission Call to the moment I step off that horrible plane journey.... Craziness! Well, after DM we met with M and B. It was good! Then we did a bit of finding around the Rathaus and found a guy from England. He lives in Leicester and just graduated last year from DeMontfort, so that was cool! He was totally open to meet with missionaries, so we got his details and then when we popped back to the centre for Deutschkurs, I put his stuff into the referral system. It was so cool, but weird - sending a referral back to my home mission! Then we helped a bit with Deutschkurs, before going shopping as all the shops were closed yesterday, so Pres told us to shop on Tuesday instead. Then home, did Sprach and had essen!

What a looooooonnnnggggg day! So Mittwoch studies consisted of personal and then leaving the apartment to get to a less active members' to help her move house. Meine Güte!! It was craziness! The Sisters were there helping all of last night and got there early this morning to help sort stuff and pack it all into boxes and bags and stuff .. and we got there this morning at 10 and the place was still crazy. Like my goodness! So we went and basically carried everything from the top floor of this building and down the stairs (which was like a narrow, windy staircase)! It was crazy and there were some beastly items, like 2 washing machines and a monster of a cupboard, a giant sofa and like boxes which were absolutely chocka full of books! It was mental! So we were there most of the morning and early afternoon, before we took a lunch break. So we headed with the Sisters to this Indian restaurant, which they wanted to try out. It was actually really good, and a good price as well.

hungry and weary from Service we went and got Dinner (Indian)

Then we headed back to help some more before we needed to pop home to get changed to have a few lessons. So we headed to the Instizentrum and met with F. We spoke about the 10 Commandments with him and stuff. It was a good lesson. Then we had a bit of time to think of what we were gonna do for the next one. So there's two guys who are part of Deutschkurs who also want to do Englisch to improve their Englisch, but we are supposed to do Englisch, the same time as Deutsch, but no-one ever comes for it, so we decided we could do another Englisch class for them, so we had our first one with them. We basically just did a getting to know/conversation based class, so we could come to know how much Englisch they can speak and what areas we can actually teach, to help them. Legit though, their Englisch is great, so we are kind of stumped, but they are gonna come up with some things they want to learn and will let us know tomorrow at Deutschkurs. So that was cool. Then we were about to leave the centre and the Sisters call us to say that this less active we were helping still needs help and could we come and help. So like we are in missionary clothes, it's 19.00 and if we went home to get changed and then back to hers we wouldn't get there till 20.00 at the earliest, so we just went in our missionary clothes. It was like the most unorganised move ever. But we also had the help of M and B this evening. They are legit the coolest investigators ever! I love them! So we help with all of that and then didn't end up getting home until late. These are the times when a 4-man apartment is the best, cause we just called them up and said we are like 10 mins away; can you throw a pizza or something in the oven, cause like we were starving at this point and tired and sore, but it was a pretty effective day, even if we did do way more than our allowed 4-hours of service a week.

So Donnerstag after studies we headed out to the Familie S for lunch and ate soooo much Schnitzel it was unbelievable! Then we did a bit of finding before going to set up for Deutschkurs and helped out with it. Then cleared away, spoke with our Englisch course friends and then headed out to the lady we helped yesterday, as we needed to collect B's jacket, which he left in the moving van - and she also wanted a blessing. Then we met them to give him his jacket back before being back out on the street, before coming home for dinner .. and that was the day! 

April Fools! Freitag after Comp study we headed off to the J's and so we went round to just talk about missionary work and see how we can help them and how they can help us in the work and to get to know them better. It was a really cool appointment and of course we had to get a picture with him. Then we headed home for lunch, did sprach and then weekly planning. Sorted a Fortschrittsbericht and then headed to the H's for GMK and dinner. It was a pretty chilled day, which was kind of needed after Wednesday's moving.

So after studies we headed off to the centre to meet with the Deutschkurs students who we are also teaching English to, so we met them and taught them about Tenses in English. My mind was blown! Teaching your native language is so difficult. Then after that, we did some finding, bought a new Monatskarte seen as ours run out today, then headed to a member's. It was a really strange appointment. Like super weird! Then we rushed it to Pfahlhaus to get there just in time for General Konferenz! The signal kept dropping so it really sucked, but from what we got, it was a really good session! Oh, also I saw something cool today on a wall as we drove past on the tram. It was like engraved, but not engraved, I don't know how you call it, like it was sticking out of the wall, but written on it and it basically said: "Don't be an Apple if you are a Banana, you will always be a second rate Apple" I thought that was pretty cool, like don't try to be something you're not, don't try to be someone else, or even like someone else, cause you will only ever get to second best, but when you are the original you, you are the best you. I just found that super cool, so figured I'd share it.

Sonntag morgen after studies we headed off to Pfahlhaus for a beautiful day filled with Conference!! This time everything worked perfectly, like I think they decided to use the internet today, cause the satelite was being real bad yesterday and we missed half of it, but today was no problem! It was all just awesome! I loved the Priesthood session and the other ones of course, but I just got sooo much out of the Priesthood one! A lot of it was based on Marriage and Family, which was kind of strange with being a missionary, but it was also a really good Conference! Although my favorite line came from President Uchtdorf when he said: "Es gibt nichts Gutes, ausser man tut es... For those of you who do not speak the Celestial Language......." Hahahaha! That was just my favorite line from the whole thing! It just made it even funnier considering we all understood it anyway and then he pulls the whole celestial language card! Hahaha! It was the best! Also, for meals we did lunch for our district and then the Sisters did Dinner and for that they did a Roast Dinner! It was super good - with Yorkshire Puds and everything! It was a really good day, but I am so tired!

Sorry this email is really short and not much happened this week, but I do have a load of pictures, so I hope that will make up for it!

Alles Liebe,

Elder Ammon Robertson xxxxxxxxxx