Sooooo now to the next miracle. So there is a girl named Susan. Susan is from Germany, she is 24 years old, and was born deaf. Susan had a hard life and did not believe in God until about 5 years ago when she nearly died from drugs. Well 4 years ago, Susan was in Germany in a restaurant and she sat at a table next to 4 elders. She noticed the little black name tag and using her phone, she typed asking who they were and what they were doing and then showed it to the elders. The elders explained how they were the Mormon missionaries and tried giving her a Book of Mormon. Susan did not really understand and did not take the Book of Mormon, but wanted more information so she gave them her phone number. Sadly, the elders never contacted her. Well Susan read more in the Bible and attended a free-Christian group which helped her come closer to the Savior. In May this last year, Susan was wondering what to do with her life and as she prayed she felt that she should come to Austria. So she did just that. She was in Vienna for a few months until this last month. She once again prayed and felt she should come to Linz. A couple of weeks ago, she was registering in the city at the court house where she saw once again a Book of Mormon which the elders "forgot" while they were there. (The elders remembered they left one there) Susan almost took the Book of Mormon, but decided that someone would for sure return to get the book. She was reminded of her encounter 4 years ago with elders. This is where the puzzle pieces begin to fall into place. A few days later, she was riding in the city on the subway where she saw two young men with the same black name tag...the Elders! She once again typed on her phone and asked if they were the Mormons. One of the elders said yes and tried giving her a card with the info on it. Susan said it was ok and they went their separate ways. That night Susan said she got on the internet and looked up "Mormons in Linz" and found the address of the church. Last Friday night, there was a wedding at our church so a few hours before the family was there preparing for it. On a Friday afternoon, when normally no one is at the church, a member found Susan outside of the church taking a picture of the "Kirche Jesus Christi der Heligen der Letzten Tage" sign. After communicating through reading lips, the member was able to get Susan's information to pass along to the missionaries and was also able to give Susan her very own Book of Mormon.
We received the information from the member and made out an appointment for the following day. The member was concerned with how we would communicate with Susan. It was then when I explained that I had learned american sign language (ASL) in high school. I also explained how I had taken seminary my senior year in sign language where I learned the church vocabulary and signs.
As we met with Susan, the gift of tongues or hands was definitely real. I was able to sign and understand Susan. As I signed the opening prayer, I could not believe what I was doing. Here I was in the Alpine German-speaking mission, speaking sign language! It was one of those moments when I knew I was where I was supposed to be. The Lord knew that I needed to learn sign language so that I could meet Susan here in Linz years later. Although German sign language and American sign language are different, the Lord is providing a way for Susan to learn about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the Restoration of His church. The Lord and His plan for each of us is real. God's timing and His love are perfect.
I am grateful for this huge miracle, but also for the small miracles everyday.
Ich liebe euch!
XOXOOXOXOXOX
Schwester Jaynes
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