Haag - Week 16

Salzburg Zone Conference, September 2016

Hey Everyone, 

Last full week on the mission this week, going all out! This week sure was cool though, maybe one of the best weeks of my mission. It's cool to have some of those weeks coming down to the end. The week just totally flew past us. Let me tell you about it.

 On Monday, we went back to my golden area, thanks to a hookup from President. The Elders and the Couple there organized it really well so that the members would all be at the church there. We had Family Home a Evening together where we are and played games and did a bunch of cool stuff. I also got to share a lesson back in my golden area, which was so cool to be honest. Felt like I finished the job I started. We got to go see the city a little as well and I bought a suit back in my golden area. I loved it. One of my favorite days ever. To be back where it all started was extremely cool.

Tuesday was kind of sucky, not going to lie. We had a finding day in Linz. We all gathered together and one companionship was a little late, so we just decided to start. We needed to take the Strassenbahn to the city center, so we tried to buy tickets for that, but the automat was broken. It wouldn't take any bank notes at first, so we were fishing every penny in there to get our tickets. We finally got it all in and grabbed the first thing that came out and got in the Strassenbahn right as it was about to leave. As we are in there, one of the ticket controllers comes to check our tickets. The machine had printed half blank, invalid tickets. This lady was so dang RUDE about the whole thing. It hurt my feelings pretty bad. In the end, I just asked her if we could jump off and print real tickets, and she told me no. So we get a fine. 70€ each! The last thing she says to me before handing me the ticket is, 'that's what you get for your belief in God.' Like what the heck? I was half sad, half angry. It didn't feel very good. That made Tuesday a little more difficult. Just the fact that she was so rude to us.

Wednesday, we had to pay for the tickets. So we went back to Linz and paid for them. The guy asked me if I was a tourist and I told him the truth, then he was like, 'Well darn, if you were a tourist, you wouldn't have had to pay.' I just hope I'm getting some honesty points somewhere. Karma better kick in here. We had an activity Wednesday night. We have 5 people in Linz getting ready to leave on their missions, so we answered their questions and concerns. It was a good activity. Thursday we were at our less actives family like normal. They are great, but he has such a struggle with the church. It's so sad to see. We work in their yard every week and he cooks dang good food for us. It was awesome. After that, we packed our bags and drove down to Salzburg for an exchange. When we got there, they had been raving about finding a ton of really cool people (cute girls) that week. They were totally in finding mode, and so were we. So we had a total finding exchange with a couple of appointments mixed in between. I worked with Elder Spencer and we found 30 potentials in 2 days. Most of them were college students and it was SO cool. I felt like I was back in Munich again, talking to cool people my own age. I've missed that feeling. Don't think I've had that much fun finding in a long time. They ended up with 56 potentials for the week, which has to be some kind of record. Fun, fun exchange, maybe the best of my whole mission.

Saturday was Zone Conference, and it was a killer one. Really well planned and carried out. We practiced teaching together and talked about giving our all as missionaries. It's all about our consistent persistence as missionaries. I gave my 'dying' testimony about the things I've learned on my mission. I remember watching my hero missionaries do that in my first couple transfers. Weird that it's me. I got the first really sad feeling on Saturday night. It was the first realization that this is it. I wish there was some different way for it to end. Maybe a less difficult, tear your heart out of your chest way. But I'm eternally thankful for these two years, and I've got no regrets, just a million lessons learned. (: I'd love to hear from you all in the last week of my mission,

Next week will be my last email home. Stay tuned. See you in 10 days,

Elder Hadfield

Haag - Week 15

So Family and Friends, 

Yet another week in the books. It's been wild how fast it goes by. I have two more weeks and then there's a sunny beachside waiting for me in California. What a transition. I'll probably feel useless and guilty on the beach. Breaking mission rules everywhere hahaha. Well, let me give you a rundown of the week.

On Monday, we were in Salzburg and went to a main downtown attraction. It was pretty cool. Nothing too exciting, but tons of history. We met 2 couples on the streets who yelled out, 'Elders!' That's another one of my favorite parts about being in a big, tourist city. Random members from all over the world who recognize a black name tag isn't just a new fashion trend. They both served their missions here and it was cool to talk with them.

On Tuesday, we had our district meeting in Linz. We came back afterwards and went dooring in Grieskirchen, a town in our area. It had poured all morning, and usually, when the weather is like that, people are even more mean than usual. But on this day, we found a lot of nice people. 4 people invited us in to talk and were really genuinely nice to us. Usually when they say come in on the door, we stand there with a look of confusion on our faces, like, 'What? Seriously?!' Hahaha just kidding. We had really good discussions.

Wednesday, I got hit with sickness. I'm not sure exactly what it is. There was a sister in our district who was sick last week and I think I got it from her. It's just a super sore throat, with a headache, congestion, and a stomachache. It's been so hard to sleep for the past 5 days. I think I'm close to getting over the worst of it though.

On Thursday, we had a finding day here in Ried. It was pretty successful I'd say. I was still feeling really sick, but we found a lot of people and it worked well for us. That, and it was just great to be with everyone. I love our district. We've been getting along really well with the members, and all of them love us, except for this one lady. We've been trying to figure out why, but she's just all over our backs sometimes. It's really annoying and we've been trying to do something for her.

On Friday, we went to see her husband who is really sick. We talked for about an hour and he cried and cried that the missionaries finally came to visit. I can't believe nobody mentioned this earlier. We gave him a blessing and it just felt good. We hope her heart softens up a little from that experience. That's been about it for the week. Our people took their last week of vacation for vacation. School starts today and thank heavens, praise the Lord. People will finally be reachable and home. I hate the summer break as a missionary.

Funniest story of my life. We ran into the shopping mall on Saturday to go to the bathroom, and Elder Walter was sitting on one of the toilets while I was peeing. Someone came and sat next to him in the stall and totally blew out both ends. Then started blowing his nose. Since I've been sick, Elder Walter thought it was me and he starts busting up laughing and says, "Muss dass sein?" Which is more or less the equivalent of, "Do you have to do that here?" Hahahaha, the dude must have been so embarrassed, but it made it all the more hilarious. I can't stop laughing about it.

So, Saturday and Yesterday was my 2 YEAR MARK!  does it seem like I've actually been gone that long, because to me, it feels like yesterday. To come to the point, that might have been the toughest 24 hours of my life up to that point. Standing in a security line, making the most difficult walk I'd made up the escalator. Waving goodbye until I couldn't see anyone anymore. Not going to lie, I stood at the top of the escalator and froze. Half of me was really excited, the other half wanted to turn back and run home. I stood there with my suitcase for a couple minutes just thinking. At that point, a returned missionary was walking from his terminal back down to his family. As I watched him walk with pride in his step, with 2 years proudly painted on his chest, I realized that was what I wanted. He looked at me and I think he knew. In passing by, he just said, 'It goes too fast.' Dang, was he right. I'm glad I had the courage to make that long, lonely walk, my past thudding with every footstep into a new future. My heart completely torn apart, but knowing what was right and what the only smart thing to do was. I've made walks that are just as tough since then, and I'll make one in 2 weeks yet again. But I'm thankful for the ability God gave me to make that walk. With a promise that He would be walking step by step at my side.

It's been such a cool adventure and I've learned loads about who I am, what my role is in God's plan, what constitutes His plan, His nature, how to work with people, how to speak a new language, about the scriptures, about covenants, and so forth. I've learned that people are ready and looking for the truth, that they want to be closer to God. We don't have to convince them, they want to come.

But the most important knowledge I've gained is from the Atonement, that we aren't alone on the lonely walks of life. That God loves me just as much as He loves the McDonalds worker, the guy doing time in prison, the guy who's struggling with drugs, the lonely man going through a little depression, everyone. Having had the job to walk by other people's sides and to stand in His place for the 2 years and be His hands has been an incredible job, more overwhelming than I could describe here. Everyone can have their life changed with a little Jesus, and just a tiny fraction of understanding the atoning sacrifice. I love that knowledge. It's been the best 2 years of my entire life. 

With love and prayers for the Red Sox, 

Elder Hadfield 

Haag - Week 14

Hey friends and fam, 

This was another good week. We had a few cool experiences, and some success in between. Some of the days are getting long, but that's kind of just how it is. We are nearing up on Oktoberfest, and I can't believe it's been a year since the last one. Some highlights from the week.

On Saturday, we had a finding day. The challenge this week from President was to give one book to a person each day. We hadn't reached it at all during the week and I felt bad about it. So we took it as a goal to hand out books on Saturday. We as a district gave out 9 books in just a couple hours and it was a cool experience to see that when we really want to get something done, Heavenly Father is going to provide a way. Very cool stuff.

We were at district meeting on Tuesday and spent forever waiting for a train to get us home. I was so upset and frustrated. What a waste of a day. We did some good things in Linz while we were waiting, but it just felt like a waste. We got on the train and sat down, and in walks a member from our ward and sits down next to us and we talked for the rest of the train ride, about  an hour. Yesterday, she bore her testimony about how she had been with some work colleagues who weren't the best influence, big drug addicts and alcohol everywhere, and she was sick of it and couldn't wait to get home. She prayed for a change of environment. When she got on the train, it was full and she was upset. Maybe she'd have to sit next to a weirdo, or yet another not very good influence, but then, she saw the Elders. When she bore her testimony, it really drove the point into me that sometimes my definition of successful doesn't always align with Heavenly Father's.

A had a job interview this week and will find out tomorrow if he got the job. Prayers.

I may or may not have gotten my first speeding ticket this week, which is more or less unavoidable here. They don't do police stops, just friendly little cameras on the side of the road. It was a really dumb situation. Construction where the lanes went down to 1 lane, and I had to get in, so I sped up, and BAM. They got me. DUMB. I guess we will see though. Luckily, those little camera tickets aren't expensive.

I guess that was my spiritual side of the week.   I think I prayed to Heavenly Father to hold off some good sports things until I got home. BYU Football won. Red Sox are playing well. Ryder Cup is my first week home. Thanks Big Man, you got me. 

That was the second spiritual side of my week. 

I love you all, have a good week. See you in 3 more. (: 

Elder Sam Hadfield

Haag - Week 13

Salzburg Zone

Another week down my friends. Just 4 more to go! 

Brief summary of our week:

Monday, we hung out in Salzburg and slept over with the Zone Leaders there.

On Tuesday we had Zone Training, which was pretty darn good. We slept over in Linz on Tuesday night after an eating appointment there.

On Wednesday, we met a new investigator Rahaf. From Syria, but has really good German. She's got a book and is reading now. We met with a bunch of less actives, and had a lot of food.

We were at a members house on Friday night and had a campfire and talked until it was time to go home about things I've learned on my mission and ways to improve our ward. It was great. That night, she sent me an email telling me about how thankful she was for me complete with dating tips  Hahahah. I love the members here.

On Sunday, President randomly showed up in our ward, and it was really good to see him in church one last time before I go home. It was nice that he came.  That's pretty much it from the week, but here's some pics to wrap this up.

Pres. & Sis. Kohler and their daughter came to our church in Haag am Hausruck August 27

Exchange with ZL's

Haag - Week 12

Hey Colleagues and Acquaintances, 

First week of last transfer is down. I don't know if I've mentioned this before, but when I was in Munich, Elder Croft and I had a goal in the 6 weeks before he went home to teach 100 lessons and find 100 new people. We came really close and almost hit the goal, and there were lots of blessings for that, we baptized a few people right after he went home from our hard work together. So I thought I'd try the same thing, but in the last 12 weeks. Because we are not in a city of 2 million, rather of 10,000.  a little different situation for sure. But it's going really well so far. 7 weeks in, we have 61 lessons and 47 people found. That's a pretty big accomplishment in my eyes. Huge turn around in this area. I'm pleased with the way things have turned themselves around.

Anyway, I'll have to tell you about a couple cool things from the week. On Wednesday night, we were dooring in Haag, and we passed what looked like this total homeless guy washing his clothes in the fountain in the middle of the city. Gross, right? Avoid him, don't talk to him. WRONG. He actually talked to us, and I think Elder Walter was a little grossed out at first, but I've dealt with these kind of people for the last 2 years. He spoke a little German, and I found out he was from Denmark. So I invited him to come over to our church on his bike and we showed him the church and taught him in the chapel. Really moving experience. Something totally different than what I thought. He actually ended up speaking perfect English, asked great questions about the Book of Mormon, took a copy, prayed about it in the end. It was honestly one of the coolest experiences lately. He's on a little tour around Europe and has been away from home for a month. He's headed to Spain on his bike. Wow. Brave guy. But we got his email address and I'm going to keep in touch with him. One of those head turners that makes you realize your first judgments are almost always not correct.

There's a former missionary from our mission here on a school exchange for a semester named Elder Morey. He and I lived together for the last 8 weeks of his mission or so. He was such a cool guy and a huge example for me. Anyways, we talked on the phone this week, and much to my surprise, one of my friends from high school was right there with him, Bee Eide!!! How cool is that?! It was cool to talk to her and to hear voices of a couple great friends. Those are nice little pushes to work hard and go all in for the last 6 weeks.

This weekend was also cool. We had a missionary from our ward leave to Zimbabwe. I got to be pretty good friends with him before he left, which I was grateful for. I'm really close to his family. On Saturday night, we had a ward party and grill night, it went great, and on Sunday was his farewell. There was tons of people there and he did a great job. But just being that close to that family and watching them this weekend has brought back a million different feelings and flashbacks to two years ago. It was a way cool weekend, maybe the best one of my mission. BUT…

Elder Hadfield and Calvin (headed to Zinmbabwe on his mission)

The coolest experience of the week was on Wednesday afternoon. I got a visit from S in Munich, our new convert! She had her last vacation day before going back to work and chose to drive 3 hours to come visit me and take us out to lunch. Words can't express how stoked I was to see her again. She's the biggest miracle ever. Another good little push. I love her. She's been through a tough couple of months, but has stuck to the truth and to the church, which is great to see. It's funny how much one person's life can be changed by a few basic truths. Another great push for my last 6 weeks.  That's where my thought comes in this week. I spent some more time thinking about S and her conversion story this week.

Elder Hadfield and S 

Back in December, right after she was baptized and confirmed, the week after was Christmas. For Christmas, the best present I got was a typed up letter of her conversion story, starting from the day she was born. I won't share details or anything, but she had a very rough childhood, up to the point of leaving home, being brought back, living in fear, and then meeting her husband as a teenager. Through all of that, she had a bad motorcycle accident, where she saw the life after this and felt herself being pulled away before being thrown back. She always wanted answers to what that was. (I remember being a little shocked seeing her tears when we talked about the veil of forgetfulness, like, 'Oh come on, that's not even the good part yet!') she got married, had kids, before her husband made some bad decisions and the marriage ended, her son had a transplant at age 6, her mom died of cancer and her dad had troubles too. Just thinking about all of that, I was living when some of these tragedies were going on. I didn't know her name, or who she was. But she was slowly being prepared. Maybe even from the time I was born. Now that's funny to think about. My mom held me in her arms for the first time, but at the same time, a lady in Munich was being prepared to hear the gospel from someone who was a tiny baby at the time, and was destined to become a sort of 'mom' for me on the mission. Going on, in Summer 2014, right after I received my mission call, she crashed. Went into deep depression and struggled. Moved out to a different part of the city, switched jobs, and the works. I, in the meantime, was sitting in class at BYU, ready to get out on my mission, hoping there might be someone prepared to listen to me. I spent the first 3 months of my mission in Munich Zone, and basically worshipped the zone leaders. I thought they were the coolest guys, most successful missionaries I had ever met. Why couldn't they have found her to teach her? They could have done just as good, or even better. But clearly, I think I was supposed to play some roll in this plan. I came back a year later and through a miracle, my companion and I found her, and being so prepared, she was baptized 6 weeks later. Such a cool experience. I would never have thought that sitting back home in 2014 during the summer, that someone had just hit rock bottom, and that I would be the one to bring them the gospel in Winter 2015. That has really strengthened my testimony that there are people being prepared for each one of us. Not for somebody else, but for us. For my friends in the MTC, for my returned missionary friends, for my brother who's just getting ready to go, for my buddies all over the world, for all members, there's a special role that we each have to play in someone's life to help them, and often without thinking about it, we fail to realize that we are being prepared to help someone, just as well as they are being prepared to hear what we have to tell them. That's been a huge testimony strengthener here.

I know that God's plan is perfect, and that we each play an important part. I've been so grateful to play such a cool role as a missionary for the past 2 years. Keep at it, I guess! The work has never been better. (: 

Love you all,

Elder Hadfield

Haag - Week 11

Einen Schönen Guten Morgen an euch alle!

It has been another week in mission life. There was a lot of going places this week, which often limits the time for missionary work. We still got some good stuff done though! 

We met with a lady named M this week, and she's way cool. Austrian and from Haag. She was taught 30 years ago and came regularly to church, but then the missionaries were transferred, and no more came and it just fell off. She's very open and we are hoping her heart changes a little from the things we talk about with her. Another one of those stubborn hearts. Some people are really open to hear new things, but are totally closed to changing their lives because of it, which doesn't make much sense in the end. 

We saw A this week! We went by his house and said hi. He was way cool with us. His situation is pretty dire. He needs work, otherwise his wife gets deported. So he's still in that situation. Satan can find anything to throw someone off the road to baptism I tell ya. He's great though, and I'm sure he'll be baptized, it's just a matter of when.

We also had a finding day with our district in Ried, the city where we live. Since the senior couple came as well, Elder Walter and I got to work with him. They go home like 4 days before I do. He is the funniest guy I've ever met. Just hilarious. So we all met at the train station and he jumps out of the car, and starts talking about how excited he is to get rejected by people. We ask him why he's so excited and he tells us he just loves the feeling of rejection. He goes, 'I'm the kind of person who enjoys receiving pain rather than inflicting it.' Hahahaha we were all dying. The way he worded it was so off color. I loved it. 

Anyway, it was a good time with the district, and we were able to find quite a few new people. I love our district, we've got so many different personalities. Sister Hofmockel is from France, and has a really cool story, Sister Grossen is from Arizona, Sister Gilmour is from Colorado and is a convert of 4 years now or so, Sister Puckett is from the beachside in California, Elder Walter from Germany but spent the last 4 years in China, and yours truly, Utah boy. Lots of different backgrounds makes for cool stories. We lose Sister Gilmour this transfer to Munich zone, but we get a golden in return to work with Sister Puckett. The rest stays the same. Good stuff.

One cool thing, on Saturday, I got to interview a family for baptism. They are from Iran and have been here for almost 8 months now. They became Christian opinionated in Iran and fled to live in a Christian land. It's very very dangerous right now for them, because they could be shipped back at any moment, and they also have violent opposition from Muslim friends. But they really want to do what's right, and have extremely solid testimonies. His interview was one of the greatest I've done on my mission. We used a translator who lives in Berlin who can speak Persian. He must sure be busy right now. Normally, a member of the mission presidency is supposed to interview those types of people, but I was assigned to do it because President couldn't make it out. Very very interesting story, and it's an obvious sign of the hearts of the children turning to their fathers. The only real way for this tribe of Israel to receive the gospel is for them to come here. Which is another good explanation for the suffering in the world. If there was no suffering, they wouldn't have to flee here, and would therefore never receive the gospel. Anyway, as it stands right now, they can't be baptized yet because they don't have a long term stay. I talked to President about it and he's talking with President Kearon and the Brethren in Salt Lake to try and get their permission. He said to not be surprised if they want to talk to me about the interview. That won't happen though. 

Afterwards, we went to an African's house in Linz, and I had my first Foo Foo on my mission. Basically what it is: hot peppers, raw onions, and tomatoes crushed together, with random fish parts. Top it with a few fish. (THE ENTIRE FISH ) Then take your bread dough and tear it into pieces and dig in with your hands. It was great. Awesome food, and it must be fun for Africans to see these white boys trying to eat their food. 

Anyways, I don't have much else to tell you. Just 6 more weeks! Isn't that weird?! It's flown by. 

Here's just a thought to end the week. 

In Revelation, Chapter 21, Verses 4 and 5.

4 And He shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.

5 And he that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new.

Alright, until next week! Love you all,

Elder Hadfield

Haag - Week 10

Hey Compadres!

I kind of failed to realize, or just didn't want to realize, that it's actually August. Thank heavens for extensions, otherwise I'd be coming home next week.  But luckily, I got 6 extra weeks tacked on to this great adventure. But it sure is weird to have people start saying, 'Hey, you go home next month!' Yes.... Thank you for the reminder friend. Leave me alone to my work.

The first counselor in our branch presidency leaves in 2 weeks on his mission to Zimbabwe, how cool is that? I'm excited for him, but it's odd reliving the excitement of a really good friend leaving on a mission and realizing that in fact it isn't you, but yours was actually 2 years ago. Rant over. 

I had a good week, lots of meaning to pull out from this week and I think my little spiritual side to this email will be in many ways intertwined with the things that happened. Each day of the week actually had a thought process bringing experience.

First off!!! COOLEST THING EVER. Most of you don't know this because I never mentioned it. F, the man I baptized in Munich, ended up in kind of a broken situation there and had to be shipped back to Cyprus. I got to call him and say goodbye to him, but I was really, really sad. I thought I'd never hear from him again. I started praying my heart out and I was just sad. But out of the complete blue, he emailed me this week and he's back in his home country! He asked for my number and about half an hour later, he called me! I got to talk to him. Best of all, his email works now as well as his WhatsApp and hopefully Facebook. I'm so grateful. Huge prayer answered there! 

On Tuesday, we had an appointment with a lady named M. I had found her last week on the street. She told me that she had lost her grandson from a horrendous motorcycle accident. She wanted answers about where he was and other things. I had asked her if she wanted to know where he was, and she said, 'Please tell me! Do you really know? How do you know? I want to know too.' So needless to say, we were way pumped up for this appointment. I was convinced that this lady was going to be our next baptism if this first lesson went really well. So I studied and prepared and practiced with Elder Walter for it. He is still not totally there with teaching, but it's coming. So we got there, and the lesson was SO good. We taught her the plan of salvation and about the opportunity to be as families together forever. By the end she had tears in her eyes and I was pumping out rays of the Spirit from my bones it was so strong. I asked her how it would be to be together as a family forever and we talked about the only way to do that is to live the gospel of Jesus Christ. She said, 'That would be the most beautiful thing I could imagine.' So I asked, 'When can we come again and talk with you about how that can happen?' And she goes, 'I'm afraid I don't have time for that I'm sorry. But it was nice to talk to you.' I sat there with my jaw on the floor! Nothing we said would change her mind either. I'd never been in that situation. You lay a ground principle so perfectly out and they love it and are eating up your every word, but eventually say they don't have time for it?! That's never happened to me in such a strong way before. That SHOCKED me.

Going on, on Wednesday, we met with a lady who has been meeting with the missionaries for 6 years now, and always comes to church, and loves the missionaries and everything about the church, but has no interest to change. We felt pretty strongly that this is decision time, not time to sit around. So in this appointment we asked her questions about why she kept coming. We were pretty bold with her, and she made it clear that she has no desire to change religions. An old, lonely lady. So we told her that we were sorry, but that if she didn't have desires to change, we couldn't come anymore. Then..... She started BAWLING. Oh my word! It was like dumping a girl all over again. We explained it very well to her, and she was insulting us on the grounds that if we were really messengers of Jesus Christ, we would do it differently, and that we didn't love her. I honestly can't imagine Jesus Christ doing anything different than what we did, saying, 'Sorry, maybe you're not ready now, but let's try again later.' Well, we had to leave to another appointment, and I felt bad leaving this woman sitting on the park bench crying, but who knows, maybe it's a point of decision for her! So, at this point, we've made 2 women cry, 2 days in a row.

On Thursday, we were in Wels, and we had a finding day there. By this point, I was a little fed up from the week we'd been having, and I wanted to try something new and get creative. I'm kind of surprised that I'd never done this before on my mission, but we took a small white board out on the streets and wrote the question, 'Is there a God?' With the answers 'yes' or 'no' on it, and let people tally mark it. It was WAY fun actually. If I had done this 2 years ago, we would have ended up with 90% God-believers. But it was almost 50-50, and I think it was really surprising people. It led to some awesome conversations and a handful of potential investigators. So, maybe it was a good idea. Lots of people looking for answers in our world right now! That may have been the funnest part of my week. I love talking to people.

On Friday, we met with a sister from Poland who is less active. She's excited that I have a brother headed there. (She told us that Polish has 7 cases. German has 4. Viel Spaß Jake ) She told us a couple reasons why she doesn't come anymore, and to be honest, they were all stupid little reasons for not coming to church anymore. I wish people could listen to themselves a little bit better. Sometimes it just sounds so self-centered and honestly dumb, the reasons they don't come to church anymore. It was sad to hear her story. But it is a story and has to be taken with the same amount of seriousness as any other. So all in all, I guess just l saw a common theme this week. There's a million questions, or reasons, or concerns, about the things going on in the world. Sometimes people just won't accept a good answer though. Which kind of seems really really dumb when you think about it. All these people looking for answers, but when we try to share our ideas or answers, they make fun of us or laugh in our faces. Eventually when that repeats itself, you end up with a bunch of moral pygmy's who want answers but don't know where to find them. But the Mormons CAN'T be right. No way.  It's kind of laughable sometimes, but it also makes me sad for our world. I'm happy that at least my family and I get to know the answers. I'm happy you all get to know the answers as well. It's just too bad that there's so few people who are part of the elect! But then I read these week the words of the Savior in Luke 4:18, which really moved me. It's my job too, as well as yours.

18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised.

I know His mission is ever further fulfilled, and He continues to heal my broken heart every single day. I love Him. I also love this work, and being on His errand. To preach the gospel to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, to help the blind see, and to set at Liberty them that are bruised. What a responsibility. 7 more weeks of this marvelous work and a wonder!  For all my Missionary friends, enjoy it as much as you possibly can, it flies by!!! 

More pictures from Halstatt:

Elder Hadfield

Here's to you Austria!