January 9, 2012 Wiener Neustadt, Austria
Dear family and friends!
Wow this week was crazy... just like every other week since June 15th…. but crazier. This week I really learned that this work is not about us at all. The Lord does his work in his time and his way and we can only enjoy it along with him. Do you remember my time in Waiblingen? We had an investigator come to church every couple of weeks. This past week, we had 5 people at church even though we didn’t even have any contact with the people the week before. The lord really leads them to come and he is the only one that when he tells someone to wake up and go to church, that the people will LISTEN to. But it was really a miracle. Oh we have had so many wonderful experiences this past week. There is a member who we visit who doesn’t come to church and is really having trouble coming back, but he has the strongest testimony of the truth and of following the spirit. He is like Nephi and will drop everything to follow the promptings of the lord! His name is Martin Schiebl.
Kiki, (or Holley), came back to church. Our bishop said that she didn’t want to meet with us anymore and she switched phone numbers and we couldn’t get a hold of her but she ended up coming to church and saying of course she wants to be baptized!!! And then there is Barbara Rollett who was a former investigator with whom we reestablished contact. The spirit was there the entire time, leading and guiding us to know what to say and to testify of the truth! I have never had such a spiritual appointment. He was STRONG the entire time. Her and her son have genuine interest. At the beginning she was telling us all the reasons why she shouldn’t change religions and how its would be tough to get so far away to church and then at the end she asked us if we wanted to make an appointment and said that she wanted to find time to come to church. The Holy Ghost changes people. Like I said, when we ask people to come to church, they don’t do anything, but when the lord tells someone to come, they LISTEN; if they are ready to heed to the promptings of the spirit.
Oh and then there is Elisabeth who is ridiculously ready and knows that the church is true. Last Saturday, we taught fasting and then committed her to fast the next week because it was already too late to start then... and then I saw a strange look on her face and then asked ... you’re already fasting, aren’t you? She had already started. Oh my goodness hahaha so great! The work moves forward with the hand of the lord!!!! Have a great week! There is nothing more true than the gospel of Jesus Christ. It’s perfect.
Elder Sonne
