Honest Austrians!

 I am so thankful for honest Austrians!  Yesterday I lost my wallet and the keys to our apartment, as I was walking into downtown Leoben to go shopping.  Both things fell out of a shoulder bag I was carrying because the cinch loosened!   A very kind, honest, elderly gentleman tapped me on the shoulder and handed me my wallet when he saw it fall to the ground.  I was so very grateful to him!  Then I noticed my keys had fallen out as well!  I retraced my steps all the way back home and didn't find them.  Not long afterwards the mission office called.  Someone had found my keys!  There was a tag attached to the key chain.  An honest Austrian called the number and we retrieved them!  It means so much when people care to return things they find.   We had prayed and agonized for hours. Our prayers are usually answered through another person!  We went from being so frustrated and worried to relieved and so grateful to our Heavenly Father for answered prayers!    

We finally got our visas!  We had three months to apply and complete the process from the time we arrived in Austria on August 27.  We finally got them three days before the deadline.  We received misinformation about where to send the information and many other details.  We were told time and time again that more documentation was needed.  There were long waits to get appointments and more waiting until we at last received them the end of November.  Whew! 

Our grandson Canon was visiting with us on the phone yesterday.  It is so much fun to keep in touch with our dear family members every week.

Their family went to a performance of “Christmas around the world” yesterday.  I asked him if he was excited to go.  Canon said: “ You are doing that!”  It is true!  We are LIVING “Christmas around the world” right here, right now in Austria!

We got a lot of snow today and we were so grateful to make it to church and back safely.  The beauty of winter in Austria is also magnificent!  

A sweet elderly sister who has not been able to attend church for a very long time, found a ride and was so thrilled!  She bore the most heartfelt testimony expressing her joy and gratitude to our Heavenly Father for his love and nurturing and expressing her devotion.  (See the photo of us from today!)