Quotes from my missionary journal!

In September of 2022, we took on the additional responsibility of being BYU Pathway service missionaries in addition to our Austrian Mission.  Because I became so much busier, I didn’t have the time to continue creating our blog posts.  Hence I felt the need to go back in my personal missionary journal and extract highlights of our last year from Spring 2022 to Spring 2023!

Saturday Nov. 26, 2022 9:25 PM

“A new journal!  I paid $30.00 for this journal in the mall in Leoben Austria.  I am looking forward to continuing the record of our mission in this beautifully bound book.  I love journal writing.  I pray that my journals will be a blessing to our posterity.  I want them to know of my love for the Savior and of his gospel.  I love my fellow man.  I am truly “blessed beyond belief.”

“We are having two branch members to dinner after church tomorrow.  I have more cleaning to do tonight, however I want to go to bed now. This is a wrestle..  We made a big pot of delicious beef soup.  Anneliese and Erna are coming.  We enjoy having friends over for meals.  It is a sweet way to serve and support them.” 

Sunday Nov. 27, 2022 10:27 PM

“Charlotte Cseh also came to dinner and was so thrilled we invited her as well.  Every active sister in the branch came to church and we took a picture together in the Relief Society room.

Today we sang a trio in sacrament meeting with Louise Pierer at her request.  I love to sing!  It brings me great joy! 

Where has November gone?  Another sweet day of missionary service.  I miss our family more and more!”

(This dear sister, Charlotte Cseh passed away since we returned home. We have the sweetest memories her.  Her heart was so filled with love and she had a beautiful way of expressing her love for her Heavenly Father and loved her fellow man very much.)

Friday December 2, 2022

“At 6:00 PM Tonight we went to Monika Sucher and Wolfgang's home. They taught us how to make the most delicious cookies in the whole world: Vanille Kipferl!!!  These cookies are truly heaven to the taste buds!! We got the most delightful photos.  Monika used to be a very active member of the church but we are so grateful that they welcomed us into their hearts and home.  They are such dear friends to us. We are very thankful for them!”

Saturday Dec. 3, 2022 9:30 PM

“Today we drove to Neumarkt, Austria (close to Salzburg) for a wonderful Zone Conference with Elder Kopiscke of the Seventy.  We learned that Elder Holland has taught that all the problems in Stakes could be solved by focusing on two things: Missionary work and Temple worship. 

What a rich outpouring of the spirit is always experienced in these wonderful conferences.  I love all of them!”

Monday December 5, 2022 

“Yesterday was very blessed for us. Charlotte Cseh came to church.  We finally got permission to pick up members occasionally!  Charlotte gave the opening prayer.  I wish I had a transcript of that prayer.

She is a precious soul.  The sisters came to lunch.  Do I love them? Oh yes!  What dedicated faithful missionaries they are.”

Tuesday December 6, 2022

“Today we enjoyed a delightful three hours with Trond and Monika Ollendorf, as is our tradition every Tuesday!  We call it “Suppen Dienstag” because we usually bring a big pot of soup to enjoy together. Today Trond played an audio recording of Hartman Rector Jr. (a former general authority.)  All four of us fell asleep as we were listening.  It was funny and very typical of seniors!”

Friday Dec 9, 2022 9:3

“Yesterday we drove to Grobming (a 1 ½ hour drive) to visit Monika Bein, a very sweet friend of ours who is now in a care center. Judd played lovely Christmas carols, read to her the account in Luke and also read to her the Christmas message from our dear Pres. Nelson.  We knew it touched her heart although because of her Parkinson’s disease she can no longer speak.  These amazing friends bless our lives in countless ways.”

Saturday Dec. 10, 2022 8:18 AM

“We have been delivering Christmas goodies to less active members and friends of the church.  We wanted to volunteer at the center where many of the refugees are staying.  We got the word: No one can enter! Oh well, we will be blessed with opportunities to serve somewhere, somehow!  Opportunities abound, they are all around us.  We must recognize them and recognize the  promptings from the Holy Ghost that we desire.  

I am packing for our Christmas season travels with Meretta and Scott Barnes.  We will worship in the Friberg Temple!  We also went to the Swiss Temple with them last year.  We are so grateful for the financial means to travel some during our mission.  (Our mission president told the senior couples to do so!)”

Sunday Dec 11- Friday December 16th

“On Sunday we drove to Passau, Germany to the Barne’s apartment.  The next day we drove to Prague (in the Czech Republic.)  We went to a Weinacht’s Markt (Christmas market). The next day we drove to Dresden and what a Market that was!  It is considered one of the best in all of Europe.  

Wednesday we worshiped in the Freiburg Temple.  We were able to do an endowment session, initiatory and sealings!  We were so grateful that we could once again worship in the temple again.”

(There are so many more wonderful things I could quote from my missionary journal.  However, I want to get this mission history printed.  It has been over two years since our return and this will go to the printer very soon!  Thankfully!!!)