Liebe from Linz

Guten Tag!

This last week has been quite the adventure! Heavenly Father is SO cool. Soooo I have already learned that miracles happen everyday on missions. I have seen large miracles - like the change with Charles from an alcoholic to a fun-loving member missionary. I have also seen small miracles like making a train for some reason when all odds and logic say otherwise. Well this last week, we saw two really cool miracles. 

First, the miracle of a woman named Constance. So last Saturday night, Sister Schonherr and i were done with all our set appointments and we had about an hour left to work. It was a crazy rain storm outside so we thought about going home and doing area-book work and just calling former investigators. Well that just didn't feel right. We both felt that we should just go out. So we decided to go by a former investigator that the Elders had a taught a year ago. So with our map we headed out. Since we had been in Linz for only a week...i still did not know for sure where to go. We got to the main train station and there we were checking buses that would take us where we wanted to go. As I was looking at the map, a young lady asked me in English if i needed help. haha I guess my name badge and confused facial expression gave me away. So we talked for a few minutes and she helped us know where to go, The bus came and she got on too. Aside from the directions, we had small talk and we were just being friendly. We literally had two minutes to talk. Before we knew it, our stop was there. I quickly asked if I could give her a card (a pass-along-card)  and she took it. It was a Book of Mormon one. I asked her what her name was and she said "Constance". I told her that our phone number was on the card and that she is welcome to call us! After getting off the bus, I thought, hmm she was really nice. It was worth being in the rain just for that. So we found the former investigator and of course, she was not home. We were so bummed knowing that we could have stayed and talked to Constance longer. We usually try and get a phone number or address so we can contact them, but with the time constraint it didn't happen. That night Sister Schonherr and I prayed that Constance would have the desire to call us since we were not able to get her contact info. Soooo on Monday we were eating lunch when an unknown number started calling. Sister Schonherr answered it and looked surprised by the voice on the other line. It was Constance!!! She asked when the next meeting in church was! We told her Sunday and we offered to meet during the week, but for various reasons an appointment during this last week didnt work. So we planned to meet her for church. SO cool right?! Ok and that is not even the best part...At the end of the conversation, Constance also mentioned that she had ordered a Book of Mormon! Whhhhhaaat? So great. 

I have such a strong testimony of the Lord's love and plan for each and every person. We simply followed our feeling and did our best. Even though we did not have time on the bus to share with Constance our testimony or what the Book of Mormon was about, the Lord made up for it. We were simply friendly, happy girls in the midst of a dark, cold, rain storm. The Lord touched Constance's heart and she was prepared to act on her prompting. I am so grateful for the Lord and His ability to take our simple seven loaves and a few fish and then make a miracle with them. He takes what we are  and our efforts and feeds thousands. It truly was a miracle. The Lord and His angels are preparing the hearts of the people all over the world. Constance has one of those hearts. She was actually sick yesterday, but we will be taking over the Book of Mormon this week!

The next miracle this last week is also really cool. We were heading to Haggi's house - the woman from Mongolia - and we had two Books of Mormon in Mongolian. We got them from the Elders. So we tried stopping by Haggi, but she wasnt home. So after missing a bus, we finally started heading home. On our way home, walking down the street was a young girl around 24 years old. Trying to get Sister Schonherr to get over her shyness, i told her to give her a card. As we stopped and talked with her she explained that she was a student her in Linz. She was from Mongolia. I was super excited and said "Oh that is great, this book - The Book of Mormon - comes in all different languages!" Then all of sudden, I remembered...uh I have a Book of Mormon in Mongolian in my BACK PACK! So I got it out. Her name was Gana. She said that she was wanting to learn about Christ. She then asked how much the book cost...I told her free! :) We exchanged numbers and went our separate ways. How cool is that? The Lord and His timing. He knew ok Sister Jaynes and Sister Schonherr will miss their bus, then Haggi wont be home, so I will send them just at the right time down a side street to Gana. Who is from Mongolia. They will have their second Book of Mormon in Mongolia and it will be perfect! We have Gana's phone number so we will be calling her this week. 

I have always tried to see the Lord's hands in my life and in the work here. I have seen Him work miracles and noticed His tender mercies time and time again. I know that when we want to see the GOOD and we want to see the Savior in our lives - we will be able to. When we look to Him and rely on Him, have faith and then  go to work, He can work miracles. Every morning and throughout the day, Sister Schonherr and I pray to find the prepared people here  in Linz. This last week, we really saw our prayers answered as we have met the many wonderful people here in Linz. 

God hears and answers our prayers. 

It may not be in the manner or time we would like. 

But He answers. 

XOXOXOXO

Schwester Jaynes

p.s. here are some pics from Salzburg this last week! That is the house from the Sound of Music!