Miracles never seem to cease here in Graz. This last week has been full of craziness, with transfers and everything, but I have learned so much and it really has been one of the best weeks of my mission so far.
First off, Im not sure if I have told you, but we have an English class each week that we help teach. It is held in the church and is an excellent opportunity to just invite anyone and everyone! Usually we invite people and they are like thanks but no thanks (hahaha), but sometimes they really want to come! We usually have about 3-4 people come that are mostly members with an occasional non-member. One girl that comes is actually from Russia...she is a nanny here! Everytime I see her I think of Elder Jaynes teaching her in Russia! haha Anyways...this last week we had about 10 people at English class...Never has happened before!!!! Most of them were actually from Pakistan and Afganistan! They are awesome! They speak a little English, but just the basics. The topics we teach in English are simple but always have some type of spiritual thought. A few of the students that came are Christian or at least believe in Christ but cannot practice it.
One student is named Hussein. He lives in the Miracle House (Charles apt) and has come to a lesson of ours at Charles. He has come to Austria because life in Pakistan is crazy. He is really nice and you can tell he is just a loving person. Well when we asked him what he believed about Christ he actually said that he believes Christ was the Savior, but that he couldnt act on his belief because he would be killed. Even here in Austria, he said his friends from Pakistan who are here with him, would hurt him if he was Christian. It was so neat though because he just wanted to sit and listen to us teach Charles. He didnt say much, but he said thanks for letting him sit in on it like a million times.
SO Hussein came to English at the Church! The topic we taught about was role-models. We were talking about characteristics of good role-models and then asked everyone to choose someone who they looked up to or was their role model. As we went around the room, it was so neat to hear these simple answers in broken english. Well when we got to Hussein, it was really quiet in the room, because he has a really soft voice. Hussein began to explain who his role model was. He said that a few years ago, there was a war going on in his town. He said that his role-model would be his brother, who had pushed him out of the way when the enemy had fired a gun and took the bullet himself. His brother died from the shot. The room was so silent. Hussein was just so sincere and you could just feel the love he had for his brother.
It was this question and subsequent answer that really made me think the past few days. There is so much heartache and trouble in the world today. I have no idea why, but I have been blessed with such a great life. I have blessed to be born to a wonderful family who taught me the Gospel. I have born in a country that allows people to practice religion freely. I have the knowledge that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Redeemer. I am able to pray to my Father in Heaven everyday and to speak from my heart. As I have thought about the experience, I have been more and more grateful that I am here on a mission. I am grateful to serve the Lord everyday all day for 18 months. It is just a little way I can show my gratitude for the wonderful life I have and give something back to Him. Although we cannot serve full-time missions our entire lives, I hope we can all be grateful for all that we have. When we forget ourselves and the little things that are unfair in life, our eyes and hearts will be opened.
Life is so beautiful. The experiences, like this one, are priceless to me. With Easter coming up, the ability to celebrate our Savior's life and resurrection is something I am SO grateful for. I know He lives and that He loves us. I am grateful for His example and His love for us.
Fröhe Östern!!!!!!
XOXOXOXOXOXOX
Schwester Jaynes
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