Liebe From Graz!

Liebe Familie und Freunde!

Wie gehts!?

All is good here in Graz! 

I am contantly in awe of how fast time flies here.

We had Zone Conference this last week.

No big deal, we just took a train into Vienna for the day!

Vienna is a really cool city! It reminds me of NY with all the charm of Europe. 

The train ride there was BEAUTIFUL! I will try and attach a few pictures. 

Missionary work is still going here in Graz. 

Not because of anything Sister Holmstead and I are doing, but simply because the Lord is working with the people.

Charles is seriously so awesome. You would all die laughing if you saw us teaching Charles!

He is hilarious. He lives in this sketchy apartment building we call the "Miracle House".

Charles sends nearly all of his money to his son for school in Nigeria so he lives off of nothing.

His common saying this last week was that "if God can feed the birds, He can feed me" hahaha

A few members from the ward have brought Charles food and he is defintely seeing the blessings from the Lord. 

Charles has such a big heart. Charles was an alcoholic for a while.

He has always been Christian but simply chose not to follow Christ for a while in his life. 

He first met the missionaries last year, but then was not progressing so things stopped. 

He decided things needed to change in his life so that is when he met my companion and her old companion. 

Charles has been so prepared by the Lord. 

He has been very open and really seeks to understand the Gospel. 

He bears simple but such powerful testimony of the Savior and the Book of Mormon. 

We taught him the Plan of Salvation and he is 100% wanting to go the celestial kingdom. (he brings it up nearly every lesson)

He has committed to living the Law of Chastity and Word of Wisdom.

It was so cool. The night we taught him the Word of Wisdom, when he learned that we dont drink coffee or black tea he immediately stood up.

It kind of scared me at first, but he just walked over to his cupboard and took out the coffee and tea and handed them to me. 

He wanted me to throw them away for him. haha He just so willingly accepted it - it was so awesome.

One of the first times he met with the sisters he stopped drinking alcohol so he testified of how he had already seen the blessings.

Last night we taught him about Tithing. Him having really nothing right now, it was special to see how he knew he would be blessed. 

We promised him blessings and when we asked if he would live it, he said "Ya, Why not?!" hahah 

Charles is just awesome. We are on schedule as far as teaching him, so i think his baptism will be on Feb.2! 

This work is just so neat. It honestly is a front row seat to miracles. 

The Lord works miracles constantly. 

But these miracles can happen with each of us too.

I read Elder Bednar´s talk from last years conference on the Atonement...so good!

He talks about the enabling power of the Atonement. 

He said "I suspect that many Church members are much more familiar with the nature of the redeeming and cleansing power of the Atonment than they are with the stregthening and enabling power. 

It is one thing to know Jesus Christ came to earth to die for us--that is fundamental and foundational to the doctrine of Christ.

But we also need to appreciate that the Lord desires, through His Atonement  and by the power of the Holy Ghost, to live in us--not only to direct us but also to empower us."

The talk is really great - i think you all should listen or read it! 

All i know, is that we cant go through this life alone. 

At least we cant go through this life alone and enjoy it and be happy.

The Lord, through His perfect Atonement made it possible for imperfect people like you and me to progess and be happy. 

I am so grateful for this beautiful truth. 

There is no way i could be here in Austria, speaking German, talking to people about the Book of Mormon without the Lord. 

I always tell people that my life right now is evidence that there is a loving Father in Heaven. 

Yesterday, i was sitting in church and we sang I Need Thee Every Hour, one of my favorites! 

The message of that song is so true! We do need Him all the time. 

I am so grateful for the companionship of the Holy Ghost. 

For the peace, beauty, guidance, and strength the Lord blesses me with. 

Through Christ anything is possible. 

I love our Savior. 

When you are discouraged or do not know what to do, go to our Heavnely Father. 

He enables us to do all that we need to. 

Ich liebe euch!

XoXoXo

Schwester Jaynes